Don't Pick Up the Male Lead in the Apocalypse - Chapter 5
Isn’t this what people mean when they say “my heart almost stopped?”
I was so shocked I couldn’t close my gaping mouth.
The man had feigned ascending the stairs with the long metal rod, only to approach me.
He had silver hair as white as snow. His great height and bulk made him seem more like a beast than a man.
Because he was so much taller, I had to tilt my head fully back to look up at him.
His gaze pierced me from behind his transparent goggles.
Was this the threat detection the tutorial mentioned?
I quickly read the system window that appeared above his head. The threat level was written in orange letters, marked as medium.
The silence was so profound that I could hear the wind howling outside the house. The only sound between us was my audible gulp.
Had I heard anyone else follow him in after he entered?
No, then this man was alone right now.
“Okay, if that’s how it is…”
Just as the man’s piercing blue eyes began to scan down my body, I saw my chance.
-Bang!
My valiant swing of the frying pan created a satisfying sound as it crumpled the metal rod he held.
“What are you?”
The man, surprised, tossed the twisted metal rod to the ground.
And suddenly, I felt the cold blade of a knife against my neck.
“Ah f*ck.”
It was the first time I’d ever felt a knife on my throat, and I inadvertently let go of the frying pan handle.
I’m screwed. My future now looked utterly bleak.
With the blade at my throat, there was no chance for resistance.
‘Just grovel, keep talking. Wait until he loosens his grip on the knife.’
“The plan was brave.”
He smirked, looking down at the frying pan on the floor.
“It’s just that it failed.”
His laugh was full of scorn.
“P-please… save me.”
“……”
“Can’t you do that?”
At that, the man tilted his head.
“First impression? I don’t see why you’re asking such pointless questions right now…”
Anyway, there’s only one ending for me now.
Would I die appeasing him, or resisting him?
If I had to choose, it wouldn’t be the former.
“Your scar makes your face look like sh*t.”
Quietly, I reached for the rolling pin I had hidden behind my back.
I hadn’t only grabbed the frying pan from the kitchen.
‘I might have missed the metal rod before, but this time I’m going to crush you.’
As I was about to swing the rolling pin, the man with the scar on the bridge of his nose frowned and said,
“I’ll be generous and give you another chance to answer.”
With the second opportunity, the blade that had cut through the neck of my sweater was once again under my chin.
The temperature of the blade was chilling against my skin.
‘But… Why does he keep giving me chances?’
He could easily kill me right now, yet he hesitates, which feels oddly deliberate.
Whatever the reason, I was thankful for it.
‘I’ll play along and try to figure out everything that’s going on.’
My only conversational partner here was this man, but before trying to strike him with the rolling pin, I wanted to learn as much as I could about this place.
“So, you’re showing me an image of kindness to someone in mortal danger, not the image of an unkind man, then?”
“Ha.”
He chuckled, but it seemed my answer hadn’t completely satisfied him.
He slightly lifted the blade under my chin as he continued speaking.
“Try to give a lengthy response. I’m contemplating whether to spare your life or not. The longer I ponder, the higher the chance I might decide to save you.”
“What are my chances of survival right now?”
“Hmm… 5%?”
