XG 110 - Are you actually the protagonist?

It was impossible to continue their conversation like this, so the teenagers suggested changing places to continue their discussion. They had truly worked hard to beg them to listen to their trouble.

The kids were originally more reserved, but seeing that Kang Xunsu’s group did not do anything to them, they became more outspoken. Thus, it was not so surprising that they managed to get most of Kang Xunsu’s group members to agree to shift places to talk. They randomly picked an empty house right opposite where their car had parked.

“Tsk, brainless kids,” Kang Xunsu grumbled.

“Brother Xunsu, are you actually the protagonist?” Wong Xue Guo asked drearily.

“If I am, where’s my harem?” Kang Xunsu asked in return, equally drearily.

“Beom Seok fits the requirement,” L.L. added his own option. Although he did not indulge in novels and such, with his roommate being one, he learned the terms without effort.

Three sets of eyes stared at Beom Seok, who was confused about what they were talking about. “Should I not agree to listen to them?”

Beom Seok grew even more confused when they sighed without giving him a reply.

Hunched in a corner while bullying a white teddy bear she found that was kept mostly clean inside a glass display cupboard, Wong Xue Guo stared at her mobile screen, reading her new message.

Yibo: How are things going on your side?

Xue Guo: Terrible.

Xue Guo: We are now on a rescue mission on top of a scouting mission. Ridiculous.

It turns out that this group of students had been hiding in their school and had been doing well under the guidance of their teachers. Except for some students that left to search for their parents or refused to listen to the adults, the rest were coping well. That was until the church members broke into their school and grabbed people.

Wong Xue Guo squeezed the teddy bear’s soft paws in resentment. They were not actually asking for company, but fighters to help them rescue people!

This is a pit!

“Are we going to help them?” Ash asked. After they had listened to whatever the teenagers had wanted to say, Kang Xunsu’s group moved into a room to have their own private conversation.

“Do you want to help them?” Wong Xue Guo answered with a question just as Chen Yibo asked the same question over the phone.

Her heart does not want to help, but her mind keeps on thinking ways to make use of them to topple the church. But she could not think of anything they could help them other than adding more numbers to their reckless attack group.

“Don’t underestimate determined kids. They are more terrifying than adults if they want to,” Kang Xunsu snickered.

“So you want to make use of that trait of theirs to our benefit? Risky,” Beom Seok frowned. He had joined different groups and met different types of people before. Hot-headed teammates were one of the dangerous types and would easily sabotage their well-made plan.

Xue Guo: Say, what advantages do we get for bringing them along with us.

Chen Yibo must be taking a break now, because he replied quickly.

Yibo: You got more people to help you, and block attacks directed at you.

Wong Xue Guo blinked her eyes, let her eyes take a rest by looking around the place, before re-reading the message. Damn, Chen Yibo really just told her to treat the newcomers as cannon fodders!

Xue Guo: Is that you, Yi Wen?

Yibo: No, I’m Yibo. Do you want to speak to my elder brother?

Xue Guo: Are you stressed out?

Yibo: Manageable, but I'm happy to help.

That sounds like Chen Yibo, alright.

Xue Guo: So happy that you will suggest having people act as my shield?

Yibo: I rather they got hurt than you.

Wong Xue Guo turned the screen away from her and rested her forehead on her knees. Did this guy know he was playing around her heart? Was he doing this on purpose? Or was this his good service of keeping his promise to her mother to protect her?

Yibo: Remember to stick close to Xunsu or L.L. I’m sorry that I couldn’t follow you with the researcher needing my help so that they can focus on more important issues.

Wong Xue Guo decided that Chen Yibo was a natural flirt. An airhead flirter!

“Brother Xunsu, Yibo says to use them as meat shields,” Wong Xue Guo sold Chen Yibo out with a rather vicious tone.

Kang Xunsu shrugged. “Well, if we could not think of anything, at least we still have basic use for them.”

“Kids are also good at sneaking into places,” L.L. said and Wong Xue Guo subconsciously felt self-conscious. During her short period of rebellious behaviour, while she was unhappy without her parents' attention, she had entertained the idea of running away from home.

Not only did she think of it, she also did it.

Without knowing where to go, she got the idea of hiding in Kang Xunsu’s car boot and successfully followed him back to his house. Before she was locked in, she climbed out of the boot at a risky time and was caught quickly by L.L. Luckily, they decided not to tattle her and sneak her back home without her mother knowing.

“Little princess, did your parents say anything?” Kang Xunsu asked, assuming she did since she was busy texting the moment they holed up in this room. 

“They say we can do what we want, as long as it won’t endanger our lives,” Wong Xue Guo sounded rather depressed. Why could they not just give her a solid answer instead of letting her choose like they usually did?

Aren’t they her parents? Don’t they like to give orders and expect her to follow it? Now that she allowed them to do it, why don’t they do it?!

The contradicting Wong Xue Guo just does not want to think anymore. Just the idea of going against the church was too risky, especially when those people were also murderers. Self-justified murderers were the scariest because they could not be reasoned when they believe their ideas were right.

“What am I expecting anyway?” Kang Xunsu sighed.

A knock stopped everyone’s discussion.

It was the only adult among the group of students that had knocked on the door. This man had introduced himself as a teacher, working in the same school as the students. With his worn out turtleneck sweater and comfy slacks, he looked like a gentle and caring teacher who genuinely worried for his students.

It was that reason or he was actually a slacking off teacher that does not care much for his image.

Wong Xue Guo’s eyes lingered on the thin necklace with cross accessory hanging around the teacher’s neck before shifting her gaze to Kang Xunsu, waiting to see what he would do.

To be honest, in the apocalypse setting movies or novels, teachers that stayed behind to look after their students was one of the people that Wong Xue Guo respected. Teachers also have their own families to worry about after all. But their endings usually were bad, either killed to protect their student or getting killed because of their student's stupidity.

Either way, their ending was not good and pitiable.

“Teacher Jang,” Beom Seok greeted and silently encouraged the rather taciturn looking teacher to speak as to why he knocked on the door.

“First, I would like to apologize for my students’ outrageous request. They had no right to force you to help us.” Teacher Jang sighed. “To be honest, I’m already glad they still retain their spirit in such times. Thank you for having patience with them.”

“Bravery should not be scorned. Children are taught to seek adult’s help if they encounter danger,” Chanyeol excused.

“...Thank you for your understanding. Actually, my reason to seek you out is not only to apologize on behalf of my students.” Teacher Jang stood straighter. “Please ignore my students' suicidal request.”

“Oh? Teacher Jang does not feel anxious about your kidnapped students?” Kang Xunsu asked.

“That’s not it! It’s just that we won’t be able to rescue my students with only our little number. The church members are dangerous and could not be reasoned easily. I will try to get my students to give up and you can continue doing what you are here to do.”

“Teacher Jang is very clear about the church members' strength?”

“Everyone that stayed here knew it,” Teacher Jang said helplessly. “No one other than the people from the shopping mall would dare to go against the church members. But even they are wary of the church members. No one had ever rescued the sacrifices before, and those that had tried always failed… and lost their lives.”

Wong Xue Guo put away her mobile screen. “Teacher Jang, what about your kidnapped students? They might be waiting for someone, or you, to rescue them. What do you think?”

Teacher Jang closed his eyes. “... I will have to disappoint and wrong them.”

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