Surviving in the Trash Hell Game by Tossing a Coin

Chapter 5 - Dark dog(4)

“Now, listen. Here’s my plan.”

I slowly began to explain my plan to her.

The name of the first plan was the Foot Trap.

Of course, given the pressing time, I couldn't make a precise and deadly trap.

This meant I couldn't make classic traps like a pitfall or a falling rock either.

I would simply fix a sharpened dirt chopstick to the ground and lure them into stepping on it.

I had no intention of killing or seriously injuring them with this trap.

Even a scratch would be fine.

In the end, if the chopstick caused an injury, it would satisfy the element of having inflicted damage with the provided weapon.

Furthermore, dealing with the Dark Dog after that would satisfy the element of it being unaffected by Maletta.

It meant the quest could be successfully completed.

From here on, a second bit of luck was needed.

In the end, the important thing was the method of the ‘final disposal’.

Even if I injured it with a chopstick and met the condition of Maletta not being involved, it would be meaningless if I didn't kill the Dark Dog.

Fortunately, the nearby environment was suitable, so I was able to settle on that final disposal method.

And that method was the very reason why a second bit of luck was needed.

It was easy to say, but there was no certainty in any of those elements. It was all in the realm of possibility.

Therefore, it was also in the realm of luck.

“That’s too much luck!”

“That's why I said we need luck. Still, isn't it a truly brilliant move?”

It was somewhat natural for Maletta to get angry after hearing my plan.

All the probabilities were slim.

And if those slim probabilities didn't align, I would meet death in some form.

Whether torn to death, bitten to death, however I died.

“I’ll take on that role instead! I’m stronger than you, Commander! It’s too dangerous for you!”

“It’s not overconfidence, Maletta.”

Even while I was looking for a good place to set up the chopstick, Maletta’s protests didn’t stop.

If it were a plan that used her as bait, she would have readily agreed.

But as soon as my life was involved, she became furious and tried to dissuade me.

I knew the reason, too.

Not emotionally, but rationally, this plan was not logical at all.

If even one thing went wrong, it was failure or death.

The first plan and the second plan.

The probability of either of those plans failing was higher than the probability of both succeeding.

“It's a certainty, that we will succeed.”

But isn't that how it is?

If the world were one where you should only follow the higher probability, the word ‘luck’ would have no reason to exist.

“The name of that luck is.”

And above all, I had certainty.

Because I am Kang Woon of bad luck.

Because I am the Kang Woon who will surely succeed.

“You, Maletta.”

And also, because the mercenary in front of me is ‘Kang Woon’s’ character.

Because it is the strongest mercenary of the ‘Annyeong-wangnyeong’ mercenary company, created at the end of Kang Woon's three years of countless efforts.

***

“They're coming. Move to position.”

“Be careful. If it’s dangerous, shout. I’ll come save you right away.”

It seemed those nine were not all of them.

The pack of Dark Dogs had grown to over a dozen. Maybe even over twenty.

But I had no intention of changing the plan just because the pack had grown.

I immediately gave Maletta instructions.

She glanced at me with worried eyes once, then ran in the southern direction.

Because they knew the difference in power, the Dark Dogs didn't bother to chase Maletta.

Their eyes held only me, weak and easily killable.

Now, nothing was left on this forest path but me and the pack of Dark Dogs.

Piercing through the gloomy, shaded air of the lush trees, the red gazes of the Dark Dogs were fiercely directed at me.

Grrr, the boiling growl of the beasts ripped through the atmosphere and descended upon me.

The distance between me, standing still, and the approaching pack of Dark Dogs gradually closed.

A shiver ran down my spine on its own.

The pearly white, sharp teeth revealed between their black skin were enough to wrap me in fear.

Naturally, if there were a way to escape, I wanted to escape.

A comfortable life was better than a dangerous one.

I was sick and tired of a life that risked danger.

However, this was not a situation where only my own present was at stake.

Not just mine, but Maletta’s strength and future actions would be decided by this one quest.

So, I had to do it, and in the end, it would be done.

Because I am Kang Woon of bad luck.

After taking a deep breath.

I gathered strength from the pit of my stomach and shouted thunderously.

“Over here, doggies!”

“KYAAAAAAA!!”

The forest trembled. Once from my voice, twice from the howls of the Dark Dogs.

And a third time from the chase that finally began.

The Dark Dogs, without any hesitation, began to charge at me all at once.

Harboring only the fierce instinct to kill just me.

And I led that instinct and began to run toward the trap.

For the execution of the plan, it was paramount that one Dark Dog get hurt by the chopstick ‘I set up’.

I would lead them and lure them onto the path where the chopstick was installed.

“Here, over here!!”

At my loud provocation, the beasts gradually began to pick up speed.

Soon, following me, they entered the forest path where the trap was installed, where the chopstick stood tall.

Now, for the execution of the first plan.

Get caught.

Step on the chopstick.

Thump-thump-thump, the heavy sound of running feet drowned out the pat-pat-pat of my own footsteps.

A difference in speed that would have had me caught five times over if not for the variable of the forest path.

The fundamental difference in specs between a human losing momentum and a beast.

“Don’t go crying that it hurts, doggy!”

But I am not one to give up over something like that.

I increased my speed, leaped over the chopstick, and then focused my senses on the pursuing pack.

Unlike me, I prayed for those Dark Dogs to get caught.

But, just like me, all of them leaped and jumped over the chopstick.

“Damn it!”

The first attempt failed spectacularly.

It didn't even graze them.

Since I had sharpened the tip, they would have certainly shown a reaction if they had stepped on it.

But among those dozen-plus Dark Dogs, not a single one showed any reaction.

But it was still okay.

I didn't think I would succeed on an attempt like this.

Again.

Instead of heading to the destination, I turned right, then right again, and right again.

I ultimately ran in a square.

The goal, of course, was to enter that path once more.

The distance with the Dark Dogs had narrowed, but it was still okay.

I entered the trapped path again and ran hard.

“Damn it, again!?”

“KRAAAAAA!!”

However, the second attempt also failed.

The goddess of fortune had decisively turned her back on me.

The coin toss of whether they stepped on the chopstick or not kept landing on tails.

But.

“Over here, you idiots!!”

In the end, if you do it, it gets done.

Because I am Kang Woon of bad luck.

Again.

Third attempt. Failure.

Again. Fourth attempt, failure.

Failure, failure, failure.

But, again.

The coin landed on tails eight times, and I drew the ninth square.

My legs were starting to scream.

My heart pounded as if it would burst, and my breath caught as if it would run out.

The chopstick still just stood tall in the middle of the path, as if it had no intention of being stepped on.

I was so tired that even taking a single step was exhausting, and I just wanted to stop walking and rest endlessly.

This feeling was familiar. It was the life I had lived.

It was one of the fragments of my past that forced me to live with this game as my only pleasure.

And for that reason, I let out a hollow laugh born from my fighting spirit.

Looking back on my life, I have never once given up. Now it will be the same.

I have no intention of giving up and dying, nor do I intend to be defeated and die.

The effort is sufficient. It’s just a matter of timing.

I just haven't done it until it worked.

Then what I have to do is simple.

Do it until it works.

That’s me. That’s the way I’ve lived.

Ninth attempt. I picked up my gradually falling speed.

I let out the breath caught in my throat and put strength into my legs.

“Come on, doggieeeees!!”

I leaped over the chopstick and ran toward the destination.

And I focused my senses on the Dark Dogs that would either jump over that chopstick chasing me, or be pierced by it.

And finally.

On the ninth coin toss, it landed on heads.

“Yelp!”

“It worked!”

Behind me, one Dark Dog was limping near the spot where the trap was installed.

The first plan was a success.

But I had no intention of resting on my laurels.

This operation would only succeed when the second plan was also completed.

The destination was still far, and the burden on my body grew heavier as the tension eased, but.

I still had the strength to run.

Also, I had to run.

I ran towards the destination.

My legs were in so much pain it felt like they would break, and the Dark Dogs, led by instinct, were chasing me, still going strong.

The beasts, who unlike me, showed no signs of exhaustion.

They were chasing me with the intent to follow me wherever I went and rip my throat out.

Yes.

Literally, wherever I went.

This was the grand Stage 2.

That was my plan, which required ‘luck’.

And a plan that was at hand.

Now.

It was time to toss the last coin.

I squeezed out my last bit of strength and made a final spurt.

For the liberation of my screaming body, I stepped on the edge of the land.

“Malettaaaaaaa!!”

And just like that, I took flight.

The name of the second luck was the cliff.

The existence of a cliff, where throwing your body down would result in it being shattered to death.

Fortunately, there was a sheer cliff not far from this place.

Reaching that cliff was Stage 1 of the second plan.

Stage 1 was a success.

The end of the land I faced after breaking through the forest.

A cliff that gaped into an empty void where nothing could be seen, ready to swallow anyone who fell.

To fall down that cliff, along with the Dark Dogs that chased me.

I, who was falling, would be rescued by Maletta, and the Dark Dogs would fall to their deaths.

I tossed the coin named Maletta.

Over the cliff, I threw my body.

The scene reflected in my gaze as I fell was a spectacle.

The blue sky with white clouds flowing, which the forest couldn't quite hide.

The fierce sound of the wind, proportional to the approaching ground, and a cool, almost chilling sensation.

And.

“KRAAAAAA!!”

“KYAAAAAAAA!!”

The pack of Dark Dogs, following me and falling down the cliff all at once.

It was truly an art, named the Black Wave.

A black wave, made of killing intent and instinct that defied even death.

A black wave that threw itself off without fear or dread.

And that black wave is only completed when the impurity called me is gone.

“Commandaaaaaaa!!”

My coin named Maletta.

She splendidly landed on heads.

The chill of the wind was erased by a heat that blazed up from below.

Maletta, who flew up to me with giant wings made of crimson flames unfurled, grabbed me tightly in mid-air.

She flapped her wings to keep me from falling any further, hovering in the air while embracing me.

The Dark Dogs cannot touch us, stopped in the middle of the sky, held in her arms.

The pack of Dark Dogs, with no one to stop them, plummeted straight to the ground.

Just that before they fell, dozens of red eyes had stared at us.

Thud, thud.

Along with the sound of the ground shaking, the sound of wolves howling could be heard.

Dozens of red and black flowers bloomed on the ground below.

……

.…It was over.

“Commander, are you hurt anywhere!? Are you okay!?”

“I’m a little tired.”

“Ah, really… I, when you didn't come no matter how long I waited….”

Maletta, who landed on the ground while still hugging me, folded her wings and grabbed my shoulders.

The emotions mixed in her eyes as she stared at me silently were indescribable.

I couldn't bring myself to answer her tearful face and just scratched my head.

“It's over, it's okay.”

In the end, the words that came out were such dazed ones.

I couldn't think of what to say to her reaction, which was more intense than I thought.

“I’m begging you. Next time, please use a safe method….”

“I told you I knew we would succeed, didn't I? Because you're my best mercenary!”

“…Really?”

“Really!”

Her voice was even tinged with moisture, so I had no choice but to pour out all the words from my heart.

Fortunately, it seemed to have an effect, as Maletta wiped her eyes and returned to her usual expression.

“Right. That’s that. Good work, Commander!”

Letting out a final, rough breath, Maletta smiled brightly, just like when we first met.

After saying that, she supported my shoulders as my body went limp and started walking.

“Wait, Maletta. Let’s wait a bit for our reward before we go.”

“Ah, the quest? Okay, got it.”

Instead of moving right away, I stopped her and waited for the quest window that would soon appear.

I also waited for the reward that would appear with the quest window.

I waited to at least confirm the completed second objective if it wasn't a full completion yet.

But even after waiting for about ten seconds, the completion window did not update.

Only the quest window pointing out that I was a Dirt Spoon remained floating there.

So, wondering if it wasn't an annihilation, I lifted my head and looked behind me.

The steep cliff looked to be over 50m high.

I couldn't imagine anything surviving a fall from that height.

I also couldn't imagine the entire area from the top of the cliff to the bottom being the Dark Dogs' hideout.

However, even if there were surviving or pursuing Dark Dogs, all I had to do was escape the hideout.

In fact, as long as I killed a Dark Dog, it didn't matter if it was escape or annihilation.

The only pursuing pack, those Dark Dogs, must have surely died from the cliff.

So I thought the update was just a little late.

Because if one fell from that height, they couldn't have survived.

Unless their ‘luck’ was exceptionally good.

So I let my guard down.

No, it wasn't even letting my guard down.

I just accepted the obvious as common sense.

“Grrrrrrr….”

I thought I was hearing things.

I heard the growling sound of a Dark Dog that should have been dead with its head smashed.

I thought it was a fear unconsciously etched into my instinct, so I didn't pay it any mind.

But that was a misconception.

Just as the dice could roll in a favorable direction, they could also roll in an unfavorable one.

It was a divine punishment brought down upon me for having forgotten that fact.

A single moment when Maletta, unable to control her heightened emotions, was not paying attention.

I didn't even have time to throw my body to dodge the attack.

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

As if to say it wouldn't end like this.

“GAAAAAAARGH!!”

“Commander?!”

The last remaining Dark Dog of the pack charged at me venomously.

Into my shoulder, it plunged its vicious fangs.

Blood spurted out.