Obsession... What's That? I Just Wish Someone Would Help Me Escape - Chapter 36
I hadn’t collected enough because I was messing around with this guy.
Of course, Johann was in the same boat.
When we arrived at the assembly point, he shamelessly took a basket full of corn that another prisoner had diligently gathered.
That confident expression, such a brazen act… truly, a despicable man.
Seeing a prisoner getting whipped by the guard for not meeting their quota snapped me back to reality.
I hurriedly approached the lower-ranking prisoners and held out my empty basket.
“Hey, fill this up.”
I signaled to Johann, who was standing beside me, and the lower-ranking prisoners quickly began to put the corn they had harvested into my basket.
They must have thought it was Johann’s basket.
Thanks to that, I quickly met my quota and avoided the harsh whipping.
“You’re really shameless.”
Johann, who had witnessed everything, laughed incredulously.
“I couldn’t work because I was busy being your lap pillow. You understand, right?”
“You never intended to work in the first place, did you?”
I don’t like men who catch on too quickly.
“I’ll continue to supply you with what you need like this. So, let’s…”
“Do whatever you want.”
Johann replied flatly and walked away.
It’s not easy to win him over.
But by allowing the lower-ranking prisoners to tribute under his watch, he showed a form of camaraderie and approval.
***
Days passed, and the survival training day finally arrived.
While I had piqued Johann and Enrique’s interest, I hadn’t fully won them over.
Time was short, and as the reigning top prisoners, they had nothing to lose.
Our common goal of breaking out of jail would have to wait.
“See you in five days, you filthy humans. Try surviving on a demon-infested island.”
The cruel prison officials dropped 49 prisoners, including me on an uninhabited island.
And they didn’t even provide us with food or water
The lush jungle stretched out before us, and the humid moisture clung to our skin.
It was a wild island befitting the word ‘survival.’
It was literally a matter of survival of the fittest and natural selection.
“Number 49.”
Clara strode up to me and stood in front of me.
She raised an eyebrow and looked me up and down.
“I thought you’d die quickly, but you’ve lasted quite a while.”
“Yeah, I’m the type to live long with a tough life.”
Clara had a slightly bitter look in her eyes.
“I’m here to say goodbye in advance, as an old friend. After this training, you’ll definitely be gone from this world. Honestly, I never really disliked you.”
She was completely convinced I wouldn’t survive this difficult training.
Those eyes, the sad eyes of someone watching a comrade die from a gunshot on the battlefield.
“What… won’t it be embarrassing if we meet again after I survive?”
I rubbed my forehead and laughed weakly.
“Well, I’ll call you by your name instead of prisoner number 49. It means I’ll acknowledge you as an equal.”
Clara shrugged her shoulders and turned away.
In the distance, lower-ranked prisoners with low survival odds were huddling together, trying to bolster their morale.
I heard Enrique’s sentimental voice next to me.
“Hmm, the lower-ranked prisoners choose to band together and die together. I think going out peacefully isn’t so bad. Don’t you agree, Lady 49?”
Johann, rolling up his sleeves and crossing his arms, snickered.
“After this, all of the 40s will be wiped out.”
“Well, they’ll be replaced quickly enough, so it’s not like anyone will notice.”
These cold-hearted bastards. They say such terrifying things so casually.
“Hey, don’t follow us. Stay here.”
Johann warned and then ran off urgently somewhere with Enrique.
I thought they were starting to care a bit more lately, but I guess I was mistaken.
I had no choice.
With monsters around and it being my first survival training, I’d better find Leah, the leader of the 20s and ask to join them.
“Ha, you’re left alone after all.”
30, with a bruised face, approached and began mocking me.
“Do you think you can survive here without my help? Did you see? Those guys will never help you. A girl like you, who relies on her somewhat pretty face to get help from the big shots, is just a parasite…”
What’s with all the jealousy and bitterness?
I’ve often seen people who don’t get enough attention, and degrade others and hate them like sour grapes out of spite.
Especially the ugly ones.
“What’s wrong with getting help to survive? You suck up to the higher-ups all the time. It’s your inferiority complex that’s holding you back.”
At my words, Number 30 trembled with rage and stepped toward me menacingly.
“Why don’t you just abandon your pride? I’ll take good care of you.”
“No thanks. I don’t like the terms you’re offering.”
Why is he being so pathetic? It’s really annoying.
“Hey, let’s go.”
Number 30 stepped back in surprise when Johann appeared and grabbed my arm, pulling me away.
I was just as shocked.
“I thought you’d left me…”
“You can’t exactly follow me to the bathroom. I held it as long as I could.”
Johann, staring blankly at Number 30, asked in a detached tone.
“That bruised potato look-alike, is he your ex? He glares at you like a jealous ex-boyfriend every time he sees you.”
I shook my head in disgust.
“No way. I have eyes.”
Number 30 bit his lip and looked down.
He seemed to be struggling with something, and then he suddenly raised his head and made a shocking statement.
“In fact…”
He blinked and blurted out something completely unexpected.
“She’s my woman. We were even engaged.”
Isn’t he crazy?
