The Extra's Harem In Dead End Game

Chapter 89: The Underground Bargain

Their expressions were of great shock, as if they had been struck in the head with a hammer.

All the effort they had put into acting had paid off. It is no easy task to act on a stage where heads drenched in blood fly about.

However, it seemed they still hadn't fully grasped the situation. I decided to kindly make them aware.

"Am I wrong? Is my thinking incorrect? If you think so, then any one of you try leaving. Why not? Earlier, you were all so desperate to get out."

I threw these provocative words at them with force.

Had it been earlier, such words would have caused eyes to roll and curses to spill. But now, they just clenched their mouths shut and flinched.

"Why don't you speak? Does that mean you all agree with me? No, I see doubt in some of your eyes. So, let's do this. Hey, second rank junior."

I called out to Kamian.

"...What is it?"

"You go check it out too."

I said just that without any further explanation.

Kamian, sensing the atmosphere and the importance of the moment, seemed to get it.

"Haah... well, okay. I'll be back."

Kamian moved out.

His expression was calm, as if he had become certain of something in his heart. Or perhaps he was just not showing his concern for Anette.

"As quickly as possible."

"Yes, yes."

Kamian went up immediately.

Once again, everyone's gaze focused on the elevator. Anette clasped her hands tightly as if in prayer. About ten seconds passed. The elevator came back down. And the door opened.

Kamian emerged unharmed.

"This is... unbelievable..."

"Doesn't make any sense..."

The residents, who had been skeptical, were once again shocked.

Now, all the conditions were met.

If even one of us had ended up like the residents, my hypothesis would have been wrong. But this confirmed my hypothesis perfectly. It could even be said to be the truth itself.

"If you want to prove me wrong, send someone up from your side," I suggested with a tilt of my head.

"Ugh."

But not a single one of them moved.

Life was precious to everyone, after all. And with the severed head of a comrade staring back at them with eyes wide in pain, they were even less inclined to act courageously.

"Ah, why such faces, everyone? This is good news for you too," I started, heading to the main point.

"What do you mean by that?" Gwen asked, glaring at me.

"It's not hard to answer, but before that, a moment."

"What is it?"

"Do you have the qualifications to represent them? Earlier, I saw you were blatantly ignored."

"Umm...."

"Cough, cough..."

The residents' expressions turned uncomfortable.

They thought they would never see him again and had freely spoken their minds. Now, they were stuck seeing him until the day they died.

"I am the representative!" Gwen suddenly shouted with force.

His voice echoed robustly through the underground.

"I am the representative!" Gwen roared again.

Finally, the residents seemed to catch on to Gwen's intention and stuttered out.

"Ye-yes, he's the leader, the representative."

"Gwen, you have always been our representative..."

"I was just out of my mind earlier and spoke nonsense..."

They had faced a momentary problem, but now that the situation had changed, Gwen's absolute charisma wasn't something the other residents dared challenge.

The current scene confirmed that clearly.

"Good, then let's have a representative-to-representative talk. An important talk."

I took a seat first, right in front of the bloody severed head.

The residents looked at me with an intimidated gaze.

But Gwen alone seemed pleased and laughed happily.

"Alright. Let's hear it."

"You're suggesting to re-enter?"

Gwen looked at me incredulously as if the idea of re-entering this hellish space was absurd.

"Is that a joke, or are you mad?"

But I promptly informed him of what he was overlooking.

"We can get out again anytime."

That was the crucial difference between us and the residents.

Whether it's a hell with no escape or a hell from which one can leave at any time is an entirely different dimension.

At that, Gwen's expression returned to normal.

"But... why would you even bother to do such a thing?"

It must have seemed like a pointless, unprofitable act to them.

However.

I, of course, had my reasons.

And I was certainly not foolish enough to be blatantly honest about them.

"To summarize in two points. First, I want to help you. You're human, we're human. It's not strange at all for humans to help other humans in difficult situations..."

Anette behind me nodded vigorously as if in fervent agreement.

Such a kind soul.

On the other hand, Kamian had a complex expression.

In the current setup, he was meant to be the hero, unwilling to abandon humans threatened by undead and monsters.

But even knowing there was a way out, having deeply felt the dangers of this space, reluctance was understandable.

Anyway, since we've become involved to this extent, they'd have to follow me, whether they liked it or not.

I smirked inwardly.

"It's really kind of you to offer, but how exactly do you plan to help?" Gwen asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"A simple question indeed. Have you ever heard of supplies?"

It must have been decades since they had heard that word.

Living in an isolated underground world, self-sufficient for so many years, when would the concept of supplies have come up?

Naturally, it was a word they hadn't heard in many years.

The mere mention of supplies instinctively perked up the ears of Gwen and the residents.

"Su-supplies?"

"...What are supplies again?"

"Don't be stupid, it's what you supply to a unit on the battlefield. That's what supplies are."

"What do you supply?"

"That... I don't know..."

Their responses were dumbfounded after so long.

I made sure to spell it out for them, letter by letter.

"Wheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, salted meat, cheese, wine... Things like that. I can add or subtract to my heart's content."

At that moment.

A hush fell.

Just like the reaction when something unbelievable had just happened.

Then.

"Wheat, wheat?!"

"Potatoes?! Sweet potatoes?! Corn?!"

"Sa... Sa... Salted meat?!"

"Ch, ch, cheese... cheese, really...?"

"Wi, wi, wi, wine?! Al... alcohol? Real alcohol?!"

The residents were in complete uproar.

With eyes wide in astonishment, they looked at each other as if they couldn't believe it.

Then they looked at me earnestly.

Hoping, hope that what they heard was real,

"Are you saying you'll bring them?"

I nodded.

Then.

"Wowww!"

"We're saved! We're alive!"

"Sob... I've missed it. The taste of wheat...

Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! Cheese!"

"It's alcohol! Alcohol!"

They were shouting with joy as if they had won a victory.

I completely understood, since they had been eating nothing but moss for decades.

Kamian and Anette looked at them with expressions that seemed to realize the preciousness of everyday life.

"Calm down! Calm down, you guys!" Gwen shouted loudly.

Only then did the residents calm down a bit.

"What is it, captain?"

"Why are you spoiling the mood on such a happy occasion..."

"Don't get too high and low over a single word! Nothing's been decided for sure yet!"

"Well, he, he looks trustworthy."

This might have been the first time this Max creature was ever told he looked trustworthy.

Gwen turned to me, who had made this miracle possible, and said,

"Are you saying that it's actually possible? Even the cost must be enormous."

"Don't worry about it. I've got more money than I can handle."

I spoke without a hint of exaggeration.

But to someone hearing it for the first time, it might sound like an absurd boast.

Realizing this, I gestured to Kamian and Anette.

"Yeah, that's right. Our senior is from a very wealthy family."

"I can guarantee there's no lie in that."

When they said that, Gwen nodded as if he understood.

"It's quite a coincidence. It's a very good thing for us. It feels like God really exists." Gwen continued.

"If you really do that for us, all the people underground will be deeply grateful."

"We need supplies to hold a sword and fight properly. And I need your help too."

"Help?"

"Yes. The second reason I've been wanting to speak is that I want to uncover the secrets of this underground space. For that, I'll need your help, at least on this 10th level underground."

"The secrets of the underground space?" Gwen looked incredulous.

The other residents reacted similarly.

They were in no position to indulge in the luxury of uncovering secrets when they were just surviving day to day.

But I was different.

To me, who knew that this underground space was one of the most important places outside the Academy, as it has a series of significant quests.

"Senior, that's getting a bit ahead of ourselves..." Kamian said, apparently concerned.

"Ah, of course, I'm not saying to rush anything. We'll just see how things go and give it a try. Aren't you curious too? There's such a secret space underneath the city, yet why haven't we heard anything until now? Why doesn't anyone know?"

"That's true, but..."

Kamian seemed genuinely curious.

Annette's eyes also shone with the same sentiment.

"Well, I see. Fine, we'll gladly help. Of course, under the condition that you keep your promise to supply us."

Gwen eventually said that.

They probably had no choice anyway.

"Anyway, we only hope to survive today." Gwen muttered bitterly.

"We'll help with that too."

"What? You mean, you won't go out and will fight with us?"

A dangerous fight.

Yet, despite having a clear way out, you choose not to leave and fight together?

It had to be unexpected for Gwen.