Memorize

The first to speak was Lee Shin-Woo. While his alignment was Lawful and Good, which generally indicated kindness, it also came with its downsides. He often lacked resolve and was prone to being swayed by others. Although his Luck stat was a bit disappointing, his overall stats didn't offer much to brag about. I gave a light prayer for Lee Shin-Woo's fate.

"I—I really want to join the team!"

"Hmm..."

Park Dong-Gul, who had been assessing Lee Shin-Woo, spoke in a low voice.

"You need to take care of yourself. If you become a hindrance, I won't hesitate to leave you behind."

"I understand! I'll do my best!"

"…Alright! If you fulfill your role, I'll do my best to help you in return. Let's survive this hell together. And… I apologize for earlier. I was too sensitive. I'm sincerely sorry."

As soon as Dong-Gul gave his approval, Lee Shin-Woo, with a face full of relief, rushed to his side. The scene of them embracing tightly wasn't exactly pleasant to watch. After securing Lee Shin-Woo, Park Dong-Gul turned his attention to An Hyun.

"You there. Think carefully. If it's you, we will always welcome you."

The thug subtly emphasized the word "we" with a gentle tone. An Hyun's face showed clear signs of contemplation. He stood at a crossroads, and the choice was entirely his. Watching him, not only An Sol but most of the others were anxiously waiting to see what An Hyun would decide. Finally, An Hyun began to speak slowly.

An Hyun's response was calm and unwavering. 

"My answer remains the same. I will never abandon my sister."

His tone was steady and even, causing An Sol's face to brighten instantly and the woman with the cold demeanor to show relief. An Hyun continued:

"However… if you include Sol in the team you're talking about, I'll consider it positively."

'Oh dear.'

With that statement, the situation shifted back in Park Dong-Gul's favor. Essentially, the decision was now in his hands, which was exactly what Dong-Gul wanted. After a moment of deliberation, Dong-Gul replied with an expression of mild displeasure.

"That's a bit problematic. To be honest, whether it's you or your sister, we don't have the capacity to protect her, nor do we intend to."

"That's not something you need to worry about. I can handle the responsibilities for both of us myself."

"No, it's not that simple. There are unforeseen circumstances… Like the open area incident, it becomes problematic if someone becomes a hindrance."

"Well, I…"

"For now, I'll put it on hold. If you had mentioned it first, it might be different, but once the team is finalized, we'll discuss it again."

Dong-Gul deliberately cut off An Hyun's words, leaving room for negotiation. His approach was calculated. In reality, only An Hyun and I had shown proactive actions against the Deadman, but with me absent, it was natural for the weight to shift toward An Hyun. However, Dong-Gul had no intention of accepting him, and by leaving room for negotiation, he successfully unsettled the others.

"You… do as you please. Arguing over it just makes things harder for me."

Dong-Gul shrugged off the discussion with Lee Yun Jung, who frowned but said nothing. He then turned his attention to the still-silent Lee Bo-Rim and Kim Han-Byeol, ready to address them.

"Alright… then I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"..."

"Don't get me wrong. If I really intended to abandon anyone, I wouldn't have accepted this friend here. He clearly told me he wouldn't be a hindrance, that he would protect himself and be helpful. I didn't take on this role out of desire; I'm prepared to leave alone if necessary. But if you want to survive, you need to make an effort, right? So, if you want to join this team, make the same promise. In front of everyone."

"What should I do…?"

Ultimately, it was Lee Bo-Rim who responded first. Park Dong-Gul glanced briefly at Kim Han-Byeol before continuing.

"Just promise that you'll be helpful to the team in some way, not just through blind protection. If you're not beneficial, I'll kick you out without hesitation. Conversely, if you are helpful, we'll do our best to support you. If you're ready to make a firm commitment, join us."

The phrase "helpful to the team in some way" carried an ominous and dangerous undertone. Lee Bo-Rim seemed to vaguely understand this, continuing to hesitate, while Kim Han-Byeol's face showed a hint of disdain. Park Dong-Gul, tasting his words like they were fine wine, turned his attention to Kim Han-Byeol.

"You're the same."

"…Just a moment."

Kim Han-Byeol kept her cold demeanor but closed her eyes as if to think deeply. Although it was somewhat worrying, if my guess was correct, she was likely considering her decision carefully. Park Dong-Gul, seeming to allow for that, took a step back and put an arm around Lee Shin-Woo's shoulders.

Assuming that everyone would automatically refuse to join the team is a notion confined to novels and comics. In reality, humans are emotionally fragile creatures. When it comes to their own lives, people often set aside their pride and make decisions based on survival.

How much time had passed?

Eventually, it was Lee Bo-Rim, the bank employee, who made the first move. After a hesitant nod, she weakly stood up and took a step toward Park Dong-Gul. Although she seemed to be struggling with inner conflict, she ultimately bowed her head and joined the place where Park Dong-Gul and Lee Shin-Woo were.

At that moment, Park Dong-Gul's face lit up with a triumphant smile.

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