Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 2 - Deal

I don't know why.

Bert's movements looked like they were in slow motion.

'Is this a phenomenon that happens when adrenaline is excessively secreted?'

His lowered stance, aiming to stab my abdomen.

One step rushing towards me.

Another step.

His crazed eyes.

Things like that were just visible to me.

Slowly.

'This damn medieval fantasy.'

Then again.

Didn't I hear system sounds, see a shop window, and have garlic fall from mid-air?

Even if the current situation looked like a slow-motion scene from an action movie, it wasn't strange at all.

Because that bastard Bert was so slow, I even had this thought.

'Could it be that all of this is a dream?'

If I get stabbed by that rusty knife, won't I wake up from the dream and return to the modern world?

—A shallow thought like that crossed my mind.

Haha.

Hahaha.

'As if.'

The sensations I had felt since coming to this world were real.

From the feeling of being beaten to a pulp by that bastard, to the frostbite I got from the severe cold.

It hurt like hell.

If it were a dream, I would have woken up long ago.

There is no room for doubt.

'If I get stabbed by the knife, I'm dead.'

But of course, I don't want to die.

I want to live.

That's why I endured six months under that bastard Bert, and why I ate the garlic even knowing this would happen.

In order to live.

And this time, I had to go one step further.

To live, I had to kill.

'I have to kill... that bastard.'

Grip.

In the slowed-down world, I gripped the knife's handle tightly and looked at the bastard.

The bastard is stupidly aiming for my abdomen, but aren't other places more lethal than the abdomen?

For example–

'Should I aim for the heart?'

The human body's most vital point, the heart.

But the heart is protected by the rib cage.

It's unclear if I can pierce it with this kitchen knife.

If that's the case,

'The neck.'

The artery, or the vein, in the neck.

I decided to aim there.

As soon as I decided that—

“!”

The world sped up again.

Only then did Bert's legs move at their normal speed.

Th-Th-Thump.

The distance between him and me closed in an instant.

SHLICK.

I don't know how I did it.

Without realizing, I dodged the bastard's stabbing knife to the side and swung at the same time.

Just like that, I tore open the side of the bastard's neck, and blood sprayed out from the gash.

The blood that had spurted upwards rained down onto the floor.

Splat. Splat.

Bert dropped his kitchen knife and clutched his neck.

He tries to stop the bleeding.

But it was nowhere near enough.

That gushing blood reached me too.

“■ ■■■■.”

It seemed like Bert was saying something to me, but I couldn't hear it.

The ringing in my ears,

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP—.

The ringing in my ears was too loud.

Soon, Bert's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed sideways like a puppet with its strings cut.

Blood continued to flow from his neck.

Only when the pool of blood grew larger did the ringing in my ears finally stop.

“Fu……ck.”

An act I had performed tens of millions of times in games.

And an act that a modern person should never, ever commit.

Murder.

'I... killed... a person?'

But there's something different from what I expected.

My mind didn't break, nor was I greatly shaken by my emotions.

'Why?'

I'm in a slightly agitated state, but,

I was strangely calm.

To the point where I had the composure to take a deep breath to supply my brain with fresh oxygen.

“Hoo.”

I looked again at Bert lying there.

The son of a bitch who had worked me, his slave, to death and tormented me all this time.

But now, he's just a corpse.

'Ah. So that's why.'

I figured out the reason why I could be so calm.

Six months since crossing over to this world.

I had seen countless corpses, something a modern person would find hard to even glimpse.

The corpse of someone who sat on the street and froze to death,

The corpse of someone who died while fighting with another in a drunken stupor, and so on.

A medieval fantasy where people dying is a daily occurrence.

Like the medieval people who live on the borderline between life and death,

I, too, had grown accustomed to corpses.

That's why I was able to maintain my composure.

It seems the time I spent enduring in this world was not in vain.

'To think I'd end up being grateful that Bert played with me for so long.'

What if I had experienced this situation not long after I arrived?

I would have died without a doubt.

The modern person I know as Lee Han-cheol definitely would have.

But the me of now is 'Ian'.

I have experienced the harshness of this world for six months.

That's why I was maintaining a relative sense of calm,

And furthermore, I could think of what I had to do from now on.

The day I saw a murder scene here for the first time,

A conversation I had with Jeros, who came to clean up the body, came to mind.

— Hey. Are you crying?

— W-Well...... because a person died.

— Outsiders are all the same every time. What's the big deal about a person dying? Heh heh.

— Um...... aren't you going to go catch the murderer who ran away?

— What? You crazy bastard. Why would I?

— What?

— Heh heh. Listen carefully, kiddo.

— ……

— In the lands of the Duchy, murder is a capital offense. But self-defense is not a crime. And this case is self-defense.

I understood then.

The reason why there was usually no penalty for killing human NPCs in the game.

But that made it a relief, rather.

Because what I did was, to anyone's eyes, an act of self-defense.

That's why I had to find him.

'Jeros!'

Jeros, the guard.

Because he, more than anyone, would know that I acted in self-defense.

Didn't he see with his own two eyes how I was beaten up and bruised every single day?

Just as I was about to leave the kitchen to find Jeros,

Creeak.

A familiar man entered the shop.

I was so surprised to see him that my legs almost gave out, but I barely managed to hold myself up and spoke.

“Jeros.”

Because he would occasionally stop by at dawn on his way home after his night shift.

Hah. To think I'd be this happy to see a medieval man.

“What's this, Ian. In your hand……”

Jeros was briefly surprised to see the red kitchen knife in my hand and the bloodstains on my body, then,

“This is a picture that exceeds my expectations, huh? Heh heh.”

He snickered.

The same lighthearted laugh I'd always seen.

But now, it felt somewhat ominous.

“Are there any lodging guests?”

“……No.”

“Really? That's good. Very good.”

Then he gave a grin, turned around, and locked the shop door with a thud.

“Did you kill him with that? The kitchen knife?”

I couldn't even think of lying and answered honestly.

“Yes.”

“Aigoo. That bastard Bert must have let his guard down. I knew this would happen someday.”

“……”

“Hey, Ian. I gave you a lot of hints, but I really didn't know it would turn out like this. But you went and did it, didn't you? Attaboy! Bravo!”

Jeros's voice and way of speaking were the same as usual.

But now, it felt different.

Because it was somehow chilling.

'Was trying to find Jeros the wrong decision?'

I instinctively felt a sense of crisis, and an extreme thought came to mind.

'Do I have to kill Jeros too?'

But that didn't look easy.

I might have managed a middle-aged pig like Bert, but Jeros was an active-duty guard.

A professional soldier who undergoes regular training.

Our weapons were also different.

I have a kitchen knife, Jeros has a proper sword.

I was at a disadvantage in every aspect.

It might be a different story if I could see in slow motion like before.

'No. Even then, it would be difficult.'

If we fought, the one to die would be me.

Clomp, clomp.

Jeros's footsteps, waking me from my thoughts.

He sat in his usual seat and pointed to the seat opposite him with his chin.

“Sit.”

After unconsciously swallowing dryly, I meekly sat down opposite him.

“That thing in your hand, how many outsiders do you think have died by that kitchen knife?”

“……”

“The ones I've seen alone number three. So here's the real question. How did Bert continue to run his business just fine even after I caught him killing people? Huh?”

Jeros watched me as if he found this interesting, and after a moment's thought, I gave my answer.

“Because he bribed you?”

“Yes, correct! This is why I took a liking to you. You're incredibly quick-witted! Ah. Did I tell you this before too? Heh heh.”

Jeros had always bragged about it himself.

He'd say that to supplement his rat's-tail of a salary, he had to skim off the top here and there, and that his biggest source of income was bribes.

'Damn it.'

Even if he had told me various things and struck up conversations, Jeros was just another medieval man.

Someone for whom death is close,

A medieval man who would do anything for his own profit and survival.

“The deal I had with Bert…… wasn't much. 10 shillings to turn a blind eye to whatever he did, as long as it was to outsiders. Cheap, so cheap! So, Ian.”

“……”

“What can you give me?”

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were sharp.

“For your information, the death penalty for a murderer can be carried out on the spot.”

Jeros said this while stroking the pommel of his sword, and I, maintaining my composure as much as possible, replied.

“I'll give you everything. Bert's fortune. And this shop, all of it. I won't be greedy for even a little. So please, just let me live.”

“Aha~. Anyone would think I'm trying to kill you. We're making a deal right now, a deal.”

To think he could say something like that in a situation that was clearly a threat.

“All of Bert's fortune and the shop, you say. Hmm. But isn't that a little strange? What would I do with this shop if I took it? A shabby inn like this in a northern front village, when would I ever be able to sell it? So what I'm saying is–.”

Jeros grinned and said.

“This inn, ‘The Fairy’s Leg.’ You take over and run it.”

“……What?”

What did I just hear?

“Profit share is 9:1. Of course, I'm the 9 and you're the 1. How about it? That's not too bad, is it? This is humane enough, isn't it?”

For a moment, my cognitive functions failed.

Because the thought 'that's not bad' actually crossed my mind.

'Because for six months, I haven't been able to own any assets.'

Having worked like a dog without pay while getting beaten, the condition that even a little money would fall to me didn't seem bad.

But, is this right?

'It's a ridiculous ratio. Is my cognitive ability becoming medieval too?!'

No, but.

Honestly, I really don't know.

After being trampled by a piece of trash like Bert, now that Jeros says he'll give me even a little piece, I don't know if this is the industry average, or if Jeros is an angel or a devil.

On top of that, there was one more tempting aspect.

'Since Bert is gone, I'm the boss, aren't I?'

That shitty pumpkin soup he used to boast was a secret family recipe, I wouldn't have to make it anym–.

“You don't like it?”

Jeros's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Was I thinking too deeply?

Jeros was tapping the pommel of his sword, as if finding it hard to wait.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“If I'm the one taking over and running it, can I change the food menu as I please?”

Only then did Jeros take his hand off his sword and speak.

“Do as you please. However, keep the pumpkin soup. Keep the price and taste the same. No, wait, it'll be free for me, of course. Heh heh. Do what you want with the price.”

That crazy bastard Jeros.

So he wasn't eating the pumpkin soup because it was cheap, but because it actually suited his taste.

“Clean up Bert's corpse yourself.”

Jeros said as he got up from his seat.

“Me?”

Cleaning up corpses is the guard's job.

“If a person with no family dies, all of his property belongs to the Duchy. If Bert dies, this shop also belongs to the Duchy, and our contract is void.”

I could understand.

It must mean that I should keep quiet about Bert's death and run the shop in his place.

“Do you understand what I'm saying?”

But in that moment.

For the first time in a long while, my brain cells started to stir.

'If a person with no family dies, their property becomes the possession of the Duchy?'

This part strangely snagged in my mind.

“……Ian. I asked if you understood what I said. Your answer?”

Jeros pressured me again with a strange gaze,

And it suddenly occurred to me that there was something strange about this deal with Jeros.

'What is it? What could it be?'

I maintained my silence and reviewed my conversation with the bastard.

Jeros had threatened me as if he would kill me at any moment and proposed the 9:1 split.

So I was intimidated, and now I was on the verge of sealing the deal.

But recalling what the bastard said earlier, if I die after Bert, the inn becomes the property of the Duchy.

In the end, not a single penny would fall to that bastard.

In other words,

'Jeros needs me to make money too. That bastard can't kill me.'

So that's how it was. I was mistaken.

I thought I was the complete subordinate in this deal, but if I die, the deal itself cannot be established.

The bastard's threat to kill me was a complete bluff.

If that's the case–,

'There's no need to make such an unfair contract.'

Since the goal of money-crazy Jeros is money, he can't kill me anyway.

Having thought this far, I maintained my composure and opened my mouth.

“I'm sorry, but I don't think 9:1 is right.”

Jeros's narrow eyes twitched.

“Let's make it 5:5.”

Before long, Jeros's narrow eyes widened.

His thin pupils stared at me.

“Ian. Your brilliant brain is one of the reasons I like you, but you shouldn't use it on me. Heh heh.”

Damn it. In the end, killing intent began to creep out from Jeros's entire body.

It feels like my breath is being choked.

But I decided not to be fooled.

Jeros can't kill me anyway,

And in truth, I wasn't hoping for 5:5 either.

Because I learned that in a negotiation, you're supposed to make a high first offer and then gradually cut it down.

“Okay, then. 6:4.”

“8:2. That's my limit.”

Just as I opened my mouth to counterpropose 7:3, which was my original goal.

“……!”

I couldn't bring myself to speak.

Because the air around Jeros had sunk coldly.

Furthermore, his hand was gripping the hilt of his sword.

I knew instinctively.

'If I say 7:3, I'll die.'

It wasn't a judgment of reason or emotion.

It was simply a judgment of instinct, and I kept my mouth shut.

And a moment later.

“8:2 of the profits should be enough, right?”

I meekly nodded my head.

“Heh heh. As expected, you're an interesting guy.”

Only then did Jeros's killing intent and the atmosphere change completely.

Back to the incredibly frivolous Jeros I originally knew.

'How can a person change so drastically like this?'

It was to the point where I wondered if I had just seen something that wasn't there,

Jeros said nonchalantly.

“Work hard. I'm leaving.”

Absurdly,

I asked Jeros's departing back.

“Aren't you going to eat?”

“What kind of dick-like nonsense is that? I made a huge score today, I should eat something good. Heh heh heh.”

Saying that, Jeros waved his hand and left the shop.

Tring.

< Customer-Jeros Silver acknowledges the service. >

< You have obtained 1 ‘Recognition.’ >

The timing of this system sound is so fucking shitty.

……

While working at The Fairy's Leg, no one was kind to me.

If anything, they only treated me more roughly, throwing punches even while ordering.

Because I was an outsider, a black-haired East Asian.

But Jeros didn't do that.

As I managed to survive, struggling under Bert,

From a certain point on, he started acting friendly and striking up conversations with me.

At first, I thought it was just because he found me amusing.

But I don't think that was it.

'He probably smelled money on me.'

After becoming Bert's slave, I was the one who mastered all the kitchen work in just two weeks.

After that, I did most of the work too.

In Jeros's eyes, he must have figured that the shop could run with me alone, even without Bert.

'Is that why he gave me hints so that I wouldn't be killed so easily by Bert?'

It wouldn't matter to him if I died by Bert's hand, but,

What if, by some chance, I were to kill Bert?

Because then, a great profit would fall into his lap, just like now.

'The deal we made today also seemed like a prepared script.'

This is all my speculation, but knowing the Jeros I've seen so far, the possibility was high.

'Because Jeros is money-crazy.'

A money-crazy person who filled his stomach with cheap pumpkin soup every day just to save a single penny, and who bragged about the bribes he received from here and there.

He talked so much about money.

“Haa.”

These are the thoughts I had while burying Bert on the wild mountain outside of town,

and the conclusion I soon reached.

'There's not a single bastard in this world I can trust.'

I trusted Bert and ended up becoming a slave,

I tried to trust Jeros and ended up in an unfair contract.

Of course, thanks to that, I managed to save my life, but,

Anyway, I'm realizing it to the bone.

'This is the Middle Ages.'

Modern times or the Middle Ages, it's a world of the law of the jungle where the strong survive.

In this world, if you're weak, you really die.

Meaning, death.

Therefore, I made a promise to myself once more.

Never let my guard down.

And.

'Never again will I trust the medieval people.'

There is only one thing to believe in.

Myself,

And the ability I possess.

'Shop Window.'

Tring.

[Satisfaction : 0] x 1pt

[Recognition : 1] x 10pt

-----

[Rice (150g) : 5pt]

[Napa Cabbage (1 head) : 3pt]

[Radish (1) : 3pt]

……

……

[Garlic (5 cloves) : 1pt]

..

.

.

[White Sugar (1kg) : 2pt]

[Coarse Salt (150g) : 5pt]

[Miwon (100g) : 10pt]

You lowly medieval bastards.

I'll show you what the taste of the modern world is.