[LOTM x ORV] dreaming, together

ch2: The Taint of Blood

「&a#@!&ah#@! ...」 

"What is this?" 

"Augmented reality?" 

Klein looked at the pale man, and knew that he seemed to slowly understand the situation. Klein understood too. At that moment, he forgot why he was on the train and felt helpless, too involved in the dream. 

Scenes passed by him in a blur. Everything felt a little dull and blurry. 

A couple people went up and approached white ball of fluff, telling it off. The result was many exploded heads, many headless bodies, and blood all over the floor. 

「You have been living too long for free. Isn't life too generous? You were born and paid no price for breathing, eating, pooping and breeding! Ha! You really live in a good world!」

The dokkaebi's voice rang in Klein's ears, and he felt dazed. There was blood that landed on his shoe. 

The rich man, despite the many dead bodies around him, bravely offered the dokkaebi money, and the result was ashes in his hand. 

Klein remembered, in the midst of the chaos, the indifference of people in this modern world. Carelessly stepping over dead bodies, working people to the bone, not caring of the blood smeared on their hands. His vision blurred. 

The smell of blood reminded him, reminded him of old Kohler, of his bread and ham, of the disaster of the Great Smog of Backlund. The many mothers that sold themselves for food for their children, the many fathers that worked themselves to death, that held their pride and begged on the street. Of the children working hard so they could give their parents and siblings better lives. 

These people, they were not working for free. Everything that happened in Backlund, it also happened in this modern society. People were chased by debt collectors, pushed by their bosses, taken advantaged by them. 

In the overwhelming smell of blood, Klein remembered the first scenario. It, it was--

[The main scenario has arrived!]
+
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value]
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear Conditions: Kill one or more living organisms.
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Compensation: 300 coins
Failure: Death 

It was to kill. 

--

"Think about it. We are in a game right now." 

Klein didn't know who said this. The voice felt familiar. Even at the chance of dying, he wanted to shout, this isn't a game, it's human lives that are being played with. How many times throughout the loops have these people died? How many have suffered? For entertainment? A joke. For a moment, Klein felt this was the style of Tianzun. It was working. He shook, tried not to lose control, everything so these people wouldn't suffer at the fate of his loss of control.

"Come on, everybody! Everybody calm down. Start breathing calmly." 

Klein breathed. He needed to calm down. Yes, follow the instructions of that man. He looked up. It was the man with the broad shoulders. 

"Are you calm yet? Please stop your actions and pay attention to me for a moment."

"As you know, in the event of a national disaster, small disturbances can cause large human casualties. That's why I will now control the situation."

"I am currently an army lieutenant serving in the 6502 unit." 

A soldier. Klein felt hopeless again. The government can't do anything about the dokkaebi, nor can the military. They aren't beyonders. Even with the system, it's almost impossible to take down this system. At this, Klein nearly unearthed his slippery tentacles and attacked the dokkaebi, but he kept his cool. He felt that attacking wasn't the best choice. He felt that he would regret it.