Chapter 54

Justin blinked in disbelief.

‘Did I hear that right? He wants to hand over the leadership role… to me?’

The leadership position wasn’t just any title—it came with immense authority. Even if there weren’t many immediate benefits, it was still powerful enough to be terrifying in the wrong hands.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Zachary’s expression was raw—not angry, but weighed down by frustration that had long been suppressed.

“I even asked Aaron about it. Turns out the leader can transfer their position at any time. The only mandatory vote is for the first leader.”

Of course, future leaders could be chosen by vote—if the current leader wanted it that way.

But if they didn’t, there was no need for another election. The position could be handed over freely at the current leader’s discretion.

“So, if I can pass it on, I want to give it to someone else. And out of everyone, you seem like the best choice.”

“You’re really that sick of being the leader?”

“It’s not the position I hate—it’s the people.”

With a heavy sigh, Zachary turned toward the edge of the wall, pointing to a section of the village.

“Have you seen the fields recently?”

“The ones from the daily labor quests for settlers?”

“Yes, those.”

After the leadership election, a new daily quest had been introduced for the settlers—‘Plow the Fields.’

As a pioneer, Justin couldn’t accept those quests, but apparently, settlers would receive their own plot of land to till. Upon completing the task, they’d earn rewards.

“I saw them. But I haven’t seen anyone working since the first day.”

“They gave up after two days.”

Unlike Justin, who spent his time hunting, Zachary had witnessed the situation unfold firsthand.

“At first, they actually tried. It was safe, and the system rewarded them with mana stones. But by the second day, they decided it was too hard.”

“…Seriously?”

Of course, plowing fields wasn’t easy—it was backbreaking labor.

“But even if it’s hard, what else do they plan on doing?”

His thoughts were interrupted as Zachary clenched his teeth, voice dripping with resentment.

“As soon as they accepted the quest, they were given tools. But instead of using them, they just left everything lying in the fields. They didn’t even bother bringing the tools back to their homes. And they’re not hunting either.”

“You mean… they’re literally doing nothing?”

“They still come around to complain, though. They’re suggesting we implement taxes—on the pioneers—so the rewards can be redistributed to them.”

“That’s… ridiculous.”

They weren’t just being lazy—they wanted to sit around and be supported by the very pioneers who risked their lives.

Whatever sympathy Justin might’ve felt toward the settlers evaporated in an instant.

“It gets worse. You know what they’re saying among themselves? That no one should volunteer to work. If anyone starts doing the quests, the pioneers might begin to expect them to keep working. And later, they might even demand taxes from those who aren’t contributing.”

“What kind of twisted logic is that?”

Bang!

The table shook violently as Zachary slammed his fist down.

His breathing grew heavy, his emotions barely under control.

After a long pause, he exhaled deeply and muttered an apology.

“Sorry. I just… I can’t take it anymore.”

“I understand. It’s infuriating.”

“That’s why I want to give you the role. I can’t keep doing this.”

“Why me, though? We’re not exactly close.”

At that blunt question, Zachary let out a bitter laugh.

“It’s my last bit of conscience, I guess. Honestly, it’s between you and Nox—and giving it to him would be a disaster.”

“It’s not like I plan to pamper the settlers either.”

“Yeah, but you’d probably stop at beating them with a stick. Nox? He’d tie them to chairs and bring out torture tools.”

As blunt as the comparison was, Justin couldn’t help but nod.

‘He’s right. Nox wouldn’t hold back.’

Even if the settlers deserved punishment, turning the safe zone into a torture chamber wasn’t the solution.

But for Justin, there was another thought weighing on his mind.

‘Honestly, maybe they need to hit rock bottom before they wake up.’

At this point, any attempt at compromise would likely be seen as weakness.

They needed to experience true suffering under a real tyrant for their entitled attitudes to change.

‘And the timing might be perfect.’

In different circumstances, he might’ve reluctantly accepted the role just to keep things from falling apart.

But now? There was a third option.

“To be honest, I don’t want the leadership role either.”

“You’re not seriously suggesting handing it to Nox, are you?”

“Actually, that might not be such a bad idea.”

“Are you insane? You think he’d stop with the settlers? He’d screw us over too!”

“That’s assuming we stay here.”

“…What?”

The confusion in Zachary’s eyes was clear as Justin leaned forward with a smile.

“Why don’t we just leave this place?”

“Sigh…”

Rachel paused at the entrance of her village.

The so-called safe zone—a place that was supposed to offer rest and shelter in this hellish world.

But every time she approached, a familiar discomfort twisted in her stomach.

‘I don’t want to go back in.’

She already knew what scene awaited her inside.

Still, there was no point in lingering. After today’s events, everyone was exhausted, herself included.

This was the only place where they could lower their guard.

“Let’s go in.”

Her team nodded in agreement, though their expressions were strained.

The moment they set foot inside the village, the sound hit them.

Smack! Smack!

“Aaaaaagh! Please, stop! I’m sorry!”

The gut-wrenching screams of pain echoed through the streets.

Turning toward the noise, she saw it—a settler being mercilessly beaten by a pioneer.

“You think I’m joking with you? Am I funny to you?”

“N-no! That’s not it!”

“Then why didn’t you meet your quota? Did I ask for too much?”

Thud.

The pioneer’s boot slammed into the man’s stomach, sending him rolling across the ground. His wife, sobbing, clung to the aggressor’s pant leg in desperation.

Other pioneers watched with sadistic amusement, laughing quietly at the scene.

“Please, stop! He’s going to die!”

“Oh? Should I just kill him now, then? Save myself the trouble?”