I’m Just an Ordinary Human

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I captured the [Painter].

You could say they’re the kind of talent suited to be a task leader.

From their behavior, they don’t seem to be the type who possesses a lot of information.

There’s a reason I aimed to capture the [Clown] instead of just dealing with the [Painter].

In fact, this is even more so because of the unique nature of the [Artist] group, aside from the [Painter] being a fool.

The [Alliance] relied solely on the personal strength of the Alliance Leader.

The [Company] determines its opinions through board meetings.

The [Temple] follows a [God].

Unlike these three forces, the [Artist] organization is quite a decentralized one.

Rather than a singular power, it’s more like a coalition of individuals belonging to the higher-ups.

Although it’s called a coalition, its unity is far from remarkable.

While they do have a leadership, true to their name as [Artists], the individuality of the higher-ups is so free-spirited that real unity is almost impossible.

Well, it seems they can cooperate, albeit only while moving together as in the current scenario…

“Essentially, this attack is really just the [Painter] being unilaterally used by the [Clown].”

It’s no wonder they see their comrades as nothing more than trash.

“Thanks to that, my work has become easier.”

The [Artists] themselves are inherently unstable elements.

They’re nothing but powerful terrorists.

Had they been weak, they would have surely ordered the [Streamer] to eliminate their number one target.

Unfortunately, that was impossible.

The reason this ragtag organization is called one of the Four Great Powers is precisely due to the overwhelming strength of its higher-ups.

Of course, the implication is that if they lacked those leaders, the [Streamers] could manage just fine on their own.

“We’ve really set up quite the presence here in Seoul.”

Even though I missed catching the [Clown], it’s not as if there isn’t any information to extract from the [Painter].

As previously mentioned, the [Artists] are a coalition of powerful higher-ups.

Each higher-up usually commands their own following, and that means…

“Ah, no! You devils! Don’t tear my painting! Cough, cough—”

“When is [Painter]-nim coming!”

“AAAH! My masterpiece!”

This presents an opportunity to wipe out the stragglers left behind by the [Painter].

The screen displays the [Streamers] attacking the workshop where the [Painter]’s disciples were hiding.

Even if the [Painter] is oblivious to the workshops of other higher-ups, if I can extract all the information from the [Painter]’s workshop, I can gain significant results.

While the risk level might be lower compared to the higher-ups themselves, they are still dangerous elements that could go berserk at any moment.

At the very least, it’s correct to root out those in Seoul, where our main base is located.

Of course, I didn’t send just anyone.

“Damn it!”

“Those who don’t even know about art!”

Due to the nature of the [Artists], the higher-ups’ subordinates are usually the disciples of those higher-ups.

It’s only natural that they possess a certain level of power, which is why I sent the locations of the hidden workshops and quests of the [Painter] only to [Streamers] who exceed a certain level.

“This should get them riled up.”

I thought about the escaping [Clown].

He likely seems to be one of the heads of the [Artist].

Even if they call themselves the [Painter]’s disciples, cleaning them all up would definitely inflict damage on the [Artists].

Even if it’s all about [Art] or whatever, they still ultimately fall under the umbrella of [Abnormality].

Creatures that live off the human psyche.

Unlike the [Ghosts] born from the curses left by dying humans or the [Ghost Stories] that sprout from people’s fears, these are distinct cases.

They aren’t derived from public concepts or emotions like fear but are entities changed by individuals falling into their own sort of [Abnormality].

While they pull power from one concept, these guys need to draw in thoughts to wield theirs.

Who could deliver the largest psyche to these beings?

“AAAH!”

A scream echoes from beyond the open door.

The [Painter] must be feeling his existence sliced away in real time.

Of course, the dismay of the other [Artists] wouldn’t compare to the anguish of the [Painter], witnessing his direct disciples being slaughtered, but it still must be frustrating enough.

If I can sever a faction during this opportunity, that’s even better.

Well, truth be told, I initiated this out of frustration, but if he didn’t want to get hit in the first place, he should’ve stayed hidden like before.

Since he’s the one who jumped out first and took a swing at my base, he should experience a little retaliation.

At that moment, a new [Streamer] appeared on the screen.

“What? This is just a person.”

Seeing a human figure in a place I thought was filled with monsters seemed to throw me off for a moment.

He seemed to have lost his determination to fight, as if unable to go through with killing.

“What a shame.”

He seems like a decent person.

“Cough—”

Thorns shot out from a painting hanging on the wall and pierced the [Streamer]’s neck.

Even if the [Painter]’s disciples are weaker in comparison to the higher-up themselves, they too have encountered [Abnormality].

Certainly, they aren’t strong enough to defeat a tense [Silver Streamer], but if they lose their fight spirit in front of an enemy, this is what happens.

He was a capable individual who had managed to rise to at least the Silver rank…

It’s unfortunate.

But if this is the worst he sees moving forward, dying now might actually be better for that [Streamer].

“We just hit Silver, didn’t we?”

“Huh? Who?”

“That, the girl you were hoping for, Yuseong.”

“Ah.”

I recalled it.

The moment the incident occurred, she killed zombies and awakened.

What was her name again? Lumi-chan?

“I’m a bit late, huh?”

“This girl is pretty fast, though. Because she successfully suppressed the zombies, she had a harder time with initial growth.”

She had killed the zombies appearing on Hongdae street right when the crisis began, which meant there were no zombies to hunt in the early game, leading to delayed point acquisition.

“Being too capable is a problem.”

Even so, that’s pretty impressive.

Despite being pushed back at first, she has managed to successfully re-enter the lead.

“87th place…”

87th among the top 100.

To be honest, that isn’t exactly an impressive ranking…

“Should I expect a bit from her?”

Suddenly, on the screen, a girl with short black hair came into view.

*

■ [World Quest] Subduing the [Artists]

└ A massive force operating in secret in the world.

Among them, [Artists] are malevolent beings committing various acts of terror and crime.

They are entities that must vanish for a bright tomorrow for the world.

A force led by one of their members, the [Painter], currently exists in Seoul.

Locate and eliminate them.

■ Conditions

└ Eliminate the [Painter]’s disciples (0/???)

■ Reward

└ Rewards will be distributed based on ranking.

“New quest?”

As soon as I achieved the Silver rank, the quest hit me like clockwork.

Lumi focused and read the content.

The mention of conflict between factions was a bit bothersome, but it’s a quest that only goes to leaders above the Silver rank.

It’s likely a privilege granted to frontrunners, much like a starter pack.

Considering starter packs, this reward is most likely going to widen the gap even further between lower-tier individuals.

The man who is the head of this system doesn’t seem to care about creating an equal world.

Survival of the fittest.

People have learned the structure of the world over the past month of the apocalypse.

It’s something unavoidable.

The system doesn’t provide a balanced structure simply because it imitates a game.

It concentrates power among a few leading individuals and has them guide the other humans.

Unless there’s a way to oppose that, we must cling fiercely to it.

If I don’t want to get swallowed by trash like Kim Min-seong.

“Rewards based on ranking?”

It’s implying I need to take out as many as possible…

“More importantly, these are people.”

Up until now, I’ve been smashing zombies without hesitation because those were monsters.

Even if they were once human, they’re rotting corpse monsters now.

In fact, I thought it would be a respectful act to end their suffering.

“People…”

Can I kill them?

For my own gain?

I felt a slight hesitation.

“Sister, is something wrong?”

Just then, a man who was brought from the stronghold approached and asked.

He’d been a fan of Lumi-chan since before the incident and approached her with a concerned look on his face.

Everything had gone smoothly in the battle without any injuries, yet seeing Lumi’s gloomy expression made him worry.

“No, I’m fine.”

Lumi responded with a smile.

‘Yeah, it’s not the time to hesitate over such things.’

Even if it isn’t this quest, I was already prepared to kill if it came down to fighting Kim Min-seong.

I had stepped forward to the forefront by my own choice and gathered people around me.

At first, I merely thought it would be advantageous for survival.

It was a way to gain strength, but seeing those who gaze at me inevitably made me feel a sense of responsibility, even if I didn’t want to.

I need power not just to live alone but to protect them as well.

As a result, even if it meant killing humans outside the fence…

“Let’s return.”

For now, let’s take a short break.

*

A man marveled at the smartphone screen.

“Wow, you really hit Silver.”

Just two days ago, she didn’t even have any skills.

Well, considering how recklessly she fought, it was inevitable that points would accumulate quickly.

‘Still, it seems like it’s going to be a bit tricky.’

Thanks to drawing some pretty good skills, it’s going to get a bit complicated.

‘Maybe I should have just captured her back then?’

If I had done that, I could’ve avoided the hassle and simply consumed her.

If I hadn’t heard that Silver was needed, I would’ve caught her back then.

“Now that they’ve gone Silver, we can’t keep hiding them anymore, you know?”

The man, Kim Min-seong, said while looking back.

“I don’t care. In fact, it would be troublesome if they didn’t attack us.”

A girl painting on a canvas that was a school property responded with an expressionless face.

A disciple of the [Painter].

Among them, she was touted as the most outstanding one.

“You just need to act according to the plan.”

To turn me into a new [Painter].