“You’ve lost.”

Taesan spoke leisurely as he pulled the sword from Seo Jang-san’s chest.

“What will you do? Continue? I won’t stop you if you do.”

His icy gaze pierced through Seo Jang-san.

Seo Jang-san shook his head.

“…I have no intention of continuing. I’ve lost.”

He stepped back cleanly.

“I’ll step down.”

It was an overwhelming strength, a force so great that even if all of them attacked, they couldn’t lay a hand on him and had faced defeat.

Their defeat was absolute. There was nothing more to say.

“Good choice.”

Taesan smiled. That smile sent a chill down Seo Jang-san’s back.

He swallowed and said,

“…I desire power, but not at the cost of my life.”

If he had resisted even slightly or denied reality by raising his voice, he would have died. Seo Jang-san instinctively knew this.

“Now, Kim Hwi-yeon.”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

Kim Hwi-yeon, who had been watching absent-mindedly, snapped to attention and approached.

“I told you, I don’t intend to become the king. And you said you’d handle it.”

“…Yes.”

Kim Hwi-yeon nodded resolutely, looking at Seo Jang-san with a complex expression.

“Seo Jang-san…”

“The next king is you?”

Seo Jang-san gave a bitter laugh.

“I don’t think I was wrong. I lost without being able to fight back, but… in the end, it’s the Hard Mode players who can stand against the monsters. We need to survive by making sacrifices of the weaker ones.”

The world is a hell.

In hell, only the strong survive.

Seo Jang-san had tried to enact this with his own hands.

“Do you plan to take care of them all? I wonder how that will end?”

“Just hand it over.”

Taesan smacked Seo Jang-san on the head. A dull pain made Seo Jang-san clutch his head.

“Now…”

[Seo Jang-san has transferred the kingship to Kim Hwi-yeon.]

[The king has been decided.]

[The individual most instrumental in changing the king is Kang Taesan. A bonus awaits when returning to the labyrinth.]

“Thank you.”

As the fallen Hard Mode players were cleared away and people accepted the change of king, Kim Hwi-yeon approached Taesan and bowed her head.

“For what?”

“…For not killing Seo Jang-san.”

She knew. Taesan had no particular feelings for Seo Jang-san.

And he wasn’t the kind of person to show mercy by sparing an enemy deliberately.

If he had requested the change and then killed him immediately, confusion would have surely ensued. The Hard Mode players, not having witnessed the process, might have revolted.

And that malice would have likely been directed at Kim Hwi-yeon. After all, she would have benefited the most from Taesan killing Seo Jang-san and her becoming the king.

Her authority to speak would have been questioned, suspected of being in cahoots with Taesan. Even if they had survived and returned to the labyrinth, she might have been excluded.

Kim Hwi-yeon realized belatedly that Taesan had considered all this and acted accordingly.

“If you understand, then do your best. That’s how you can repay me.”

Kim Hwi-yeon looked at him with a complex gaze.

Why are you being so good to me? That was the question in her eyes.

Taesan chuckled.

“Think of it as a debt.”

“A debt…?”

“Yes.”

Taesan chuckled again.

A past life.

During his third return, when he was weak and frail,

Seo Jang-san and most of the Hard Mode players vanished due to Choi Jung-hyuk’s rebellion. Only ten thousand survived.

The journey to Seoul next time was hellish. Unstoppable monsters appeared, and humans died like playthings.

There, Kim Hwi-yeon saved half of the lives.

Taesan was among them.

‘I don’t like seeing people die,’

Kim Hwi-yeon had said the night before her death, when asked by Taesan if she could have survived by running away alone.

When order vanished and law meant nothing, she spoke the obvious and protected it.

Taesan still remembered.

“Really… Thank you. For doing all this for someone like me…”

To her, Taesan seemed perfect, capable of anything.

He resolved her issues simply and saved many lives, which were beyond her abilities.

Kim Hwi-yeon even admired him.

And yet, such a powerful figure cared so much for someone as weak as her.

It was almost beyond words.

Taesan waved his hand.

“Enough of that. I didn’t save him just for that.”

Seo Jang-san was different from Choi Jung-hyuk. Whereas Choi was a parasite who did no good, Seo Jang-san, despite being self-centered, had tried to save humanity.

During the second return’s waves, Seo Jang-san had led the front line, taking down monsters.

‘He’s problematic, but if I beat him enough, he’ll listen.’

If kept alive, he could be useful. If he didn’t listen after a beating, he’d keep beating until he did.

“And there’s another problem, right?”

“…The food issue.”

How to feed over a hundred thousand.

That issue still remained.

The kingship had changed from Seo Jang-san to Kim Hwi-yeon.

This fact was announced to everyone through the system window. Even if not, those who had seen it directly made up the majority and it would have spread soon.

The reactions were mixed.

“Are we okay now?”

“Can we survive?”

People from Easy and Normal modes were happy. Hard Mode players had oppressed them, and resisting meant literally risking their lives, so they had no choice but to endure.

But if the new king cared for them, it was a good thing.

On the other hand, the atmosphere among Hard Mode people was not good.

“We’re fighting for our lives…”

“Shouldn’t there be benefits for that?”

Under Seo Jang-san’s leadership, they had acted without hesitation. Suddenly removing those benefits would not be welcomed.

Kim Hwi-yeon was aware of this too.

“I’m not denying the benefits. Everyone should receive benefits commensurate with their capabilities.”

It was true that they were protecting the majority of players. Rights had to be given for responsibilities.

She had pushed Seo Jang-san aside because he used Easy and Normal modes as scapegoats. She intended to leave other benefits untouched.

Hearing this, the Hard Mode players did not show much resistance. Kim Hwi-yeon was well-respected in Hard Mode, and most of them didn’t really prefer to oppress others.

Many in Hard Mode had connections with those in Normal Mode.

They had been forced into the labyrinth by nearly coercive choices. Cases like a parent in Easy Mode and a child in Hard Mode were common.

No one wanted to see their acquaintances being toyed with by other Hard Mode players. If the benefits were not removed, it was a decision they had no reason to refuse.

With those thoughts, they accepted Kim Hwi-yeon’s intentions.

“What do we do now?”

Geum Jung-geun asked. Kim Hwi-yeon closed her eyes.

The lives of a hundred thousand hung in her hands.

It was overwhelmingly heavy.

‘But.’

She opened her eyes.

It was her responsibility to accept. There was no room or reason to complain.

“How much food do we have?”

“Almost none. If it was just for Hard Mode players, maybe, but if it’s for a hundred thousand, it won’t last even a day. We have some rations each brought, so we might last a few days… but the quest is longer than that.”

Jung-geun explained. It was a month-long duration. The food they had was insufficient no matter what.

Of course, Taesan had a basic magic skill. Food production. He could create food by using mana. In this situation, it was an excellent magic, but the problem was the numbers.

Even using all his mana, it wouldn’t suffice for a hundred thousand.

Unless they were absolutely desperate, there was no reason to use it now.

Kim Hwi-yeon spoke after a moment of thought.

“Is there anywhere nearby where we can find food?”

At Kim Hwi-yeon’s question, Seo Jang-san sneakily glanced at Taesan. Taesan nodded nonchalantly, and Seo Jang-san cautiously spoke.

“There’s a large supermarket nearby. But we’ve already cleaned out the nearby food supplies, so there’s likely nothing left to salvage.”

“We’ll have to go far, then.”

She made her decision.

“Let’s move.”

“All the way?”

“Yes. If we need food, we have no choice.”

Most agreed with her statement, but what followed was the problem.

“Why do we have to go?”

A portion of the Hard Mode objected. Their logic was simple: if it was dangerous, just send the Easy Mode, why should they risk their lives?

“What are Easy Mode players for if not for this kind of work?”

Expecting this response, Kim Hwi-yeon spoke calmly.

“Everyone earned points after the first return to the labyrinth, right? You all know its effects since you’ve used it.”

Differentially awarded rewards. Points. Their effect was significant. Gold, stats, and proficiency could be increased without risk, and whether one had gained many points or not had made a considerable difference.

“This time, it’s stated that rewards will be distributed based on performance. So, the more you contribute to acquiring food, the more you’ll gain.”

At that, they closed their mouths. Indeed, if they could earn points, it was worth the risk.

“And Easy and Normal modes won’t just be idling. We’ll move in teams based on certain ratios to bring back as much food as possible.”

“We’re supposed to protect them?”

“I won’t ask you to risk your lives. But please, do your best to protect them. I’m asking you.”

Kim Hwi-yeon bowed her head. The Hard Mode players hesitated.

“Ah, okay.”

“It makes me seem like the bad guy.”

As everyone accepted, Seo Jang-san spoke.

“But it’s still not enough.”

“What?”

“A hundred thousand. Even if we spread out to gather food, there’s a limit. We might manage for a week, but what about the next week? How will we survive a month?”

“Seo Jang-san.”

Taesan spoke.

“I didn’t give you permission to go that far, so shut up.”

“But your question is valid.”

“Then why tell him to shut up?”

“Because it’s noisy.”

Seo Jang-san shut his mouth, feeling wronged.

Taesan had a grudge against him. Seo Jang-san had oppressed Easy and Normal modes and hadn’t provided them with adequate food.

The main argument was that Hard Mode needed to fill their bellies to prepare.

Being an Easy Mode player himself, Taesan had not received food. He remembered clutching his starving stomach and peeling tree roots to eat.

Not killing Seo Jang-san was already a great mercy on his part.

“Don’t worry about what you mentioned. I’ll take care of it. And if you find any seeds for potatoes or corn, bring them.”

“Are we going to grow them? Wouldn’t that be difficult?”

If they could cultivate corn and potatoes, it would be a great help, but the time was too short.

They would have to leave before the crops matured, and they might be rotted by the time they returned.

Taesan shook his head.

“Not for that. Just bring any that can be grown.”

“Hmm… Okay.”

Hwi-yeon was puzzled but nodded.

Then, quietly, Jung-geun spoke.

“Is it enough if it’s just food that can be grown?”

“Probably.”

Taesan wasn’t sure. Back then, he had only obtained potatoes. But if potatoes were possible, other things should be too.

“Then I know a place nearby.”

“Then you come with me.”

After that, Lee Taeyeon started forming teams, and Taesan moved with Jung-geun.

“Where?”

“This way. It’s not too far.”

Taesan followed behind Jung-geun. Monsters sporadically popped up, but neither Taesan nor Jung-geun were their match.

“Here it is.”

Jung-geun arrived at a small building next to the lot.

“It’s not broken.”

Jung-geun entered. He passed through a room devoid of any household items and reached a door leading to the basement.

He entered the password familiarly and went inside.

“Oh?”

Taesan was intrigued. Numerous plants filled the basement. They were all rotten now, without human care, but it must have been quite a sight when alive.

“Just wait here.”

Jung-geun went deeper into the room with the plants. He returned shortly with several vacuum-packed seed packets.

“They’re well-preserved, so they haven’t rotted or shriveled. They should be viable for planting.”

“What kind of seeds are they?”

“Corn, watermelon, various greens… there’s a bit of everything?”

“Good.”

That was very good. With so many seeds, survival was more assured.

“Sorry, but there are no potatoes. They were all grown from seed potatoes and have all rotted.”

“That’s okay. How did you know about this place?”

“I had a friend who loved to farm. I used to bring him here occasionally. I never thought it would be useful like this.”

Jung-geun gave a wry smile.

The fact that he didn’t bring the person himself meant that they were likely dead. A flash of sadness crossed his face.

“At least this way, it’ll make him happy. But why are you collecting these?”

“There’s a skill I can gain from it.”

Instant cultivation. A skill that could rapidly grow food anywhere. Essentially, it was a skill that kept humanity alive till the end.

Taesan knew how to learn it.