“I’m Dokja.” (Dokja= can mean only son or reader).
I usually introduced myself to people like this, then the following
misunderstanding would occur.
“Oh, are you an only child?”
“I am, but that isn’t what I mean.”
“Huh? Then?”
“My name is Dokja. Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja (Kim Highly Respected Only Son)—my father gave me that name to
be a strong man by myself. However, thanks to the name my father gave me, I
turned out to be just a normal single and lonely man.
In short, it was like this. I was Kim Dokja, 28 years old, and single.
My hobby was reading web novels on the subway.
“Then I’ll go on my smartphone.”
In a noisy subway, I raised my head reflexively. A pair of curious eyes
were staring straight at me. They belonged to an employee from the human
resources team, Yoo Sangah.
“Ah, hello.”
“Are you going home from work?”
“Yes. What about Yoo Sangah-ssi?”
“I was lucky. The manager went on a business trip today.” Yoo Sangah sat
down soon as the seat next to me became vacant. A subtle scent came from her
shoulders, making me nervous.
“Do you normally take the subway?”
“That...” Yoo Sangah made a dark expression.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d met Yoo Sangah on a
subway train.
Starting with Personnel Manager Kang to Finance Manager Han... There
were rumours that Yoo Sangah had men from the company driving her home every
workday.
Yet unexpected words came from Yoo Sangah’s mouth, “Someone stole my
bicycle.”
Bicycle.
“You commute by bike?”
“Yes! I have a lot of overtime these days and seem to be lacking
exercise. It is a bit annoying, but it is worth doing.”
“Aha, I see.”
Yoo Sangah smiled. Looking closer at her, I could understand the
feelings men held toward her. However, it was none of my business.
Every person had a genre of life, and Yoo Sangah was someone who lived a
genre different from myself.
After the awkward conversation, we looked at our phones. I opened up the
novel app I was reading on before while Yoo Sangah... What was this?
“Por favour dinero.”
“Huh?”
“Spanish.”
“...I see. What does it mean?”
“Please give me some money,” Yoo Sangah replied proudly.
Studying on the subway while going home... She truly had a genre
different from me. However, what was the use of memorizing words?
“You’re working hard.”
“By the way, what is Dokja-ssi looking at?”
“Ah, I...”
Yoo Sangah’s gaze was fixed on the LCD screen of my smartphone. “Is it a
novel?”
“Yes, well... I am studying Korean.”
“Wow, I also like novels. I haven’t been able to read lately because I
don’t have time...”
It was surprising. Yoo Sangah liked reading novels...?
“Murakami Haruki, Raymond Carver, Han Kang...”
I thought so.
“Dokja-ssi, what writers do you like?”
“You won’t know even if I say their names.”
“I’ve read a lot of novels. Who are the authors?”
At this time, it was really hard to say that I read web novels as a
hobby. I glanced at the title of the novel in the app.
[The World after the Fall]
Author: Sing Shong (TL: The author uses the name of his previous novel
and his author’s name, but with slight changes. I decided to go with the actual
novel translation name)
I couldn’t say that I was reading ‘The World after the Fall by Sing
Shong.’
“It is just a fantasy novel. That... Well, like the Lord of the
Rings...”
Yoo Sangah’s eyes widened. “Aha. Lord of the Rings. I’ve seen the
movie.”
“The movie is good.”
The silence continued for a moment. Yoo Sangah was looking at me like
she was waiting for me to say something.
Our conversation was becoming strained. So, I decided to change the
topic. “It has been a year since I joined the company. This is my last year.
Time moves really fast.”
“Yes. At that time, we both knew nothing, right?”
“That’s right. It seems like just yesterday, but the contract period is
already over.” I realized that I’d said something wrong when I saw Yoo Sangah’s
expression.
“Ah, I...” I had forgotten.
Yoo Sangah received credit for a foreign buyer last month and was
already promoted to a full-time employee.
“Ah, right. My congratulations are late. I’m sorry. Ha-ha, I should’ve
worked hard to study a foreign language.”
“Ah, no Dokja-ssi! There is still the performance review and...”
I hated to admit it, but the sight of Yoo Sangah talking was wonderful.
It was like the world’s spotlight was shining down on only one person. If this
world was a novel, the protagonist would be such a person.
In fact, it was the inevitable result. I hadn’t tried, but Yoo Sangah
made an effort. I just read novels on the Internet, while Yoo Sangah studied
hard. It was natural that Yoo Sangah would become a full-time employee, and
that my contract would be terminated.
“That... Dokja-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t mind..., Would you like to know the app I use?” Yoo
Sangah’s voice momentarily became distant.
It felt like the world was far away. I braced my mind and stared
straight ahead.
A boy was sitting in the seat opposite me on the train. He was 10 years
old or so. The boy held an insect collecting net as he sat next to his mother,
laughing happily.
“...Dokja-ssi?”
What if I had a different life from now? I mean, what if my life genre
was different?
“Kim Dok...”
If the genre of my life wasn’t ‘realism’ but ‘fantasy’... Could I be the
protagonist? I didn’t know. It would probably be unknown forever. However,
there was one thing I knew.
“It is okay, Yoo Sangah-ssi.”
“Huh?”
“It won’t work even if you tell me the app.”
The genre of my life was obviously ‘realism.’
“Dokja has a solo life.”
“Huh? What...”
“I am just someone like that.”
In this genre, I wasn’t a protagonist but a ‘solo’ person.
“The life of a solo...” Yoo Sangah had a serious expression on her face
However, I waved my hands to show it was really okay.
I didn’t know why, but this person was really worried about me. Maybe
because she was part of the personnel department... I was already aware of my
performance though.
“Dokja-ssi is really good.”
“Yes?”
“Then I will live an ivory life.” (Sangah=ivory)
Yoo Sangah seemed to have decided something as she turned back to
studying Spanish. I gazed at her for a while before returning to the novel.
Everything had returned to normal, but strangely, my scrolling of the
novel didn’t go well. Maybe it was because I realized the weight of reality
that I couldn’t scroll down.
At that time, a notification appeared at the top of my smartphone. [You
have one new mail.]
It was from the author of ‘Ways of Survival.’ I opened the mail.
-Reader-nim, my novel will become paid from 7 p.m. This will be helpful.
Good luck.
[1 attachment.]
The author said he would give me a gift. What was the gift?
...Like my name, I was also a reader by nature. So, I was excited to
receive the mail.
Yes, it wasn’t bad living as a reader.
I checked the time. It was 6:55 p.m. I had exactly five minutes before
the novel became monetized at 7 p.m.
Then I opened up my list of preferred novels in the app. Since I was the
only reader, I should leave a congratulatory comment and give strength to the
author.
However...
-The work doesn’t exist.
I tried typing ‘ruined’ several times in the search box, but the result
was the same.
The bulletin board for ‘Ways of Survival’ had disappeared without a
trace. It was strange. Had there ever been a case of a novel being deleted
without notification when it was going to be monetized?
At that moment, the subway lights turned off, and the inside of the
train became dark.
Kiiiiiiiik-! The subway train shook loudly and let out a metallic sound.
It caused Yoo Sangah to scream and grab my arm. Then I heard the sound
of other people getting stirred up. Yoo Sangah gripped my arm so tightly that I
paid more attention to the pain in my left arm than the sudden stop. It took a
dozen seconds for the train to stop fully.
Then I heard confused voices coming from everywhere.
“Uh, what?”
“W-What is this?”
In the dark, one or two smartphone lights turned on. Yoo Sangah still
held my left arm tightly as she asked, “W-What is going on?”
I pretended to be unconcerned. “Don’t worry. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is probably a disturbance from a suicide. The engineer will
soon make an announcement.”
As I finished speaking, I heard the engineer’s announcement, –Telling
all passengers on the train.
The loud surroundings became calm.
I sighed and opened my mouth, “See, it isn’t a big deal. Now an apology
will air, and the power will come back on...”
–E-Everyone run away...Run...!
‘What?’
There was a beeping sound, and the broadcast turned off. The inside of
the train became a mess.
“D-Dokja-ssi? What is this...?”
A bright light flashed from the front of the subway train. There was a
loud drumming sound followed by a pop.
Something was heading this way in the darkness. It was just a
coincidence that I saw the clock at this moment—7:00 p.m.
Tick, it felt like the world was stopping.
Then I heard a voice:
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
This was the moment the genre of my life changed.
Starting the Paid Service (2)
「 Dokkaebi. The first time he appeared, someone said so. 」(Korean
goblin. Check out the link for more information.)
I didn’t know why but that sentence suddenly popped up in my head.
The stopped subway train, the dark room... These details gave me a sense
of Deja vu.
The subway had stopped before, but it was rare. Even so, why? I
remembered the familiar words from a novel... but it was ridiculous. Wasn’t it
impossible?
At this moment, the door of car 3807 opened wide, and the electricity
returned.
Yoo Sangah muttered by my side, “...Dokkaebi?”
My head was ringing. I trembled uneasily as the novel I knew and the
reality before me overlapped.
「With two small horns and wearing a small straw mat, the strange and
fluffy creature was floating in the air. 」
「 It was too strange to call it a fairy, too evil to call it an angel,
and too tranquil to call it a demon. 」
「Thus, it was called a ‘dokkaebi. 」
And I already knew the first thing the dokkaebi would say.
「&아#@! &아#@! ......」
[&아#@! &아#@!.......]
Fiction and reality overlapped precisely.
“What is this?”
“Augmented reality?”
Amidst the chattering people, I was thrown into another world alone.
This was unmistakably a dokkaebi—the very dokkaebi that opened the door to
tragedy for thousands of lives in Ways of Survival.
...It was Yoo Sangah’s voice that broke me out of my thoughts. “It
sounds vaguely like Spanish. Should I talk to it?”
I was a bit taken aback and asked, “...Do you know what that is? Will
you ask it for money?”
“No but...”
It was at this time that I heard the correct pronunciation of Korean.
[Ah. Ah. Does this sound good? Ah, I had a hard time because the Korean patch
didn’t work. Everyone, can you hear my words?]
As a familiar language was being spoken, I could see people’s
expressions relax. Then the first one to step up was a big man in a suit. “Hey,
what are you doing right now?”
[...Huh?]
“Are you filming? I have to go because I have to quickly get to an
audition.”
He seemed to be an obscure actor since his face was unfamiliar. If I
were a casting director, I would’ve picked him out for his brimming ambition.
Unfortunately, the presence before him right now wasn’t a director.
[Ah, auditions. That’s right. This is also an audition. Ha-ha, there was
a shortage of data. I just entered when it was monetized at 7 p.m.]
“What? What are you talking about?”
[Now, now. All of you, relax in your seats and listen to me. From now
on, I will tell you something very important!]
My chest was becoming stuffy.
“What? Quickly get off the train!”
“Somebody call the captain!”
“What are they doing without the cooperation of the citizens?”
“Mother, what is that? A cartoon?”
There was no doubt about it. This was the development I knew. I didn’t
want to be mixed up in this...but there was no way. The people present wouldn’t
listen to the small and cute-looking CG creature. The only thing I could do was
stop Yoo Sangah who was trying to get up from her seat.
“Yoo Sangah-ssi, it is dangerous, so stay here.”
“Huh?” Yoo Sangah’s eyes widened.
I spoke during a moment of bewilderment, but there was no way to explain
what I understood. To be exact, I didn’t have to explain.
[Ha-ha, you are really loud.]
There was a presence with a stronger persuasive power than anyone else
right now.
[I told you to be quiet.]
I closed my eyes slowly as the dokkaebi’s eyes turned red. Something
burst, and the subway became silent.
“Uh, uh. Uh...” There was a big hole in the forehead of the unknown
actor who had to go to the audition. The man who had spoken several times
collapsed on the spot.
[This isn’t a movie shoot.]
There was a cracking sound once again. This time, it was the person
talking about the captain.
[It isn’t a dream. It isn’t a novel either.]
One, two... Blood sprayed into the air as the heads of some people
started to burst.
They were all the people who had protested against the dokkaebi, as well
as the ones who screamed or went wild. Those who caused the slightest fuss had
a hole in their heads. Suddenly, the subway became a bloodbath.
[This isn’t the ‘reality’ that you know. Do you understand? So, everyone
shut up and listen to me.]
More than half the people present here died. Blood and body pieces
filled the subway. Now, the people didn’t scream. Like primitive apes in front
of a powerful predator, everyone just watched the dokkaebi with terror.
I was surprised and held tightly onto the shoulder of Yoo Sangah who was
hiccupping.
This was real. The strange message which entered my ears, the dokkaebi
had appeared in front of me, and the train car that had become a bloodbath...
[Everyone, your lives have been nice so far. Isn’t that, right?]
By the special needs seating, an elderly grandmother met the eyes of the
dokkaebi.
[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!]
Free? No one in the subway lived for free. The people strived to make
money in order to survive, and they rode the subway on the way home from work.
Yet at this moment, no one disputed the dokkaebi’s words.
[But now the good days are over. How long can you continue living for
free? If you want to enjoy happiness, it is common sense to pay a price. Isn’t
that right?]
The gasping people couldn’t answer. Then at that time, someone carefully
raised their hand. “D-Do you want money?”
I wondered what type of person could speak in the middle of this
situation, but surprisingly, I knew his face.
“Yoo Sangah-ssi. Isn’t that Department Head Han of the finance team?”
“...Right.”
There was no doubt. He was a typical parachute in the company and the
number one person newcomers avoided. (Parachute: a person who relies on their
connections) It was Han Myungoh, department head of the finance team. Why was
that man riding the subway?
“I will give you money. Take it. Please note that I am a person like
this.”
Department Head Han pulled out his business card as people cheered him
on. It was the atmosphere of a saviour fighting against terrorists.
“How much do you want? A big one? Or two?”
He was offering a sum that was overly large for a department head of a
subsidiary company.
There was a rumour that Han Myungoh was the youngest son of the leader
of the affiliate company and now I thought it might be true. I couldn’t carry
that many cheques in my wallet.
[Hmmm, you are giving me money?]
“T-That’s right! The cash I have right now isn’t much but... I can give
you anything if you let me out of here.”
[Money, good. A plant fibre that many humans mutually agree on.]
The department head’s expression brightened. It was an ‘Indeed, money is
everything’ expression. How pitiful.
“Now, this is all I have―”
[It only applies in your time and space.]
“Huh?”
At the next moment, flames appeared in the air, and the cheques in the
department head’s hands burned up. Department Head Han let out a scream.
[That paper has no value in the macrocosm world. If you do this one more
time, I will blow away your head.]
“U-Uhhh...” Fear once again spread on the faces of the people present.
It was easy to read what they were thinking because it was just like the novel.
「 What the hell will happen now? 」
Only I knew what was going to happen in the future.
[Phew, the debt is piling up during the time when you are noisy. Well,
yes. Rather than explain it a hundred times, isn’t it quicker for you to make
money yourself?]
The dokkaebi’s horns rose like they were antennas, and its body floated
to the ceiling of the train.
A moment later, a message rang out.
[#BI-7623 channel is open.]
[The constellations have entered.]
A small window emerged in front of everyone’s blank eyes.
[The main scenario has arrived!]
+
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value]
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear Conditions: Kill one or more living things.
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Compensation: 300 coins
Failure: Death
+
The dokkaebi smiled faintly as it became transparent and disappeared
into the next space.
[Then, good luck everyone. Please show me an interesting story.]
Starting the Paid Service (3)
People reacted differently after the dokkaebi disappeared. Some people
tried to get out of the train while others called the police.
Yoo Sangah belonged to the latter group. “Police, the police aren’t
answering! What, what should I...”
“Calm down, Yoo Sangah-ssi,” I said, staring straight into Yoo Sangah’s
unfocused eyes. “Yoo Sangah-ssi. Have you ever played the game that the
development team made? A game where the world is destroyed and only a few
people survive.”
“Huh? What are you say...”
“Think about it. We are in a game right now.”
Yoo Sangah silently licked her lips. “Game...”
“It is simple. Don’t hesitate to do as I tell you. Understood?”
“U-Understood. What should I do?”
“Stay still.”
Finally, I slowly controlled my breathing. I too needed time to properly
accept all of this.
[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World]
The descriptions that existed only in the novel were now unfolding right
before my eyes.
「The dokkaebi stretched out its antenna. 」
「 The bodies scattered like trash in the carriage. 」
「 The bloodied office worker shaking. 」
「An old lady groaning in her seat. 」
I watched every scene intently. It was like Neo in the Matrix, who
suspected reality. Observing, questioning, and then eventually being
convinced... I had to admit it. I didn’t know the reason why, but there were no
doubts about it.
‘Ways of Survival’ had become a reality.
Let me think... How should I survive in this new world?
“Come on, everybody! Everybody, calm down. Start breathing calmly.”
Someone stepped forward exactly five minutes after the dokkaebi disappeared.
He was a sturdy man with short cut hair, one head taller than the
average height.
“Are you calm yet? Please stop your actions and pay attention to me for
a moment.”
The people sobbing or making calls stopped. Once everyone’s eyes were
gathered on him, the big man opened his mouth again, “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.”
“What, who are you?”
“A national disaster situation? What are you saying?”
Some people belatedly recovered and strongly resisted the world
‘control.’ Then the young man pulled a government official card out of his
wallet. “I am currently an army lieutenant serving in the 6502 unit.”
Some people’s faces became relieved. “A soldier, he is a soldier.”
However, it was too early to be relieved.
“I just received a message from my unit.”
People gathered in front of the soldier’s smartphone. I was able to read
the contents without difficulty because I was near it.
–A level 1 national disaster situation has occurred. All troops gather
quickly.
I could hear gulps all around me. It was a national disaster situation.
I wasn’t surprised because I had already expected this. In fact, I was
surprised because of something else.
Army lieutenant Lee Hyun sung... That ‘Lee Hy unsung’ was this man.
I knew who he was. It was the first time actually seeing his face, but
his name was clear in my head. He was one of the main supporting actors of Ways
of Survival.
「 Steel Sword Lee Hyun sung. 」
A character from the novel had appeared. Now I really had to acknowledge
the situation.
“Soldier-nim! What is happening?”
“I have been trying to contact my unit, but...”
“The Blue House! What is the Blue House doing? Please contact the
president quickly!”
“I’m sorry. I am just an ordinary soldier and don’t have a hotline to
the Blue House.”
“Then why are you taking control?”
“For the sake of the safety of all citizens...”
As Lee Hyun sung calmly responded to the absurd questions, I realized
that the descriptions in the novel weren’t wrong.
However, did Lee Hyun sung originally appear like this? While thinking
about these complicated questions, I had a strange hunch.
As the only reader of Ways of Survival, I could assure you that Lee Hyun
Sung’s first appearance wasn’t like this. The point at which he appeared in the
novel was at the end of the first scenario.
...Then what was this situation? My mind became confused. I would know
more clearly if I could read Ways of Survival once again.
“The prime minister is making a speech! It is really a level one
disaster!”
Everyone turned on their smartphones at someone’s cry. Yoo Sangah turned
her screen toward me. “...Dokja-ssi, look at this.”
There was no need to enter a search term. It was because the first result
for all portal sites was ‘Prime Minister’s Speech.’ Of course, I already knew
the content of the video.
–To all my fellow citizens, unidentified terrorists are currently active
in an unspecified number of areas, including Seoul.
The contents of the speech were simple. The current government would
mobilize all means and methods to fight the terrorists, and there would never
be any negotiations. Thus, everyone should confidently continue with their
lives...
I hadn’t thought much of it when I read the novel, but now I was a bit
shocked when hearing those words. Terrorism... Yes, that would be more
comfortable.
“But where is the president? Why is the prime minister making the
speech?”
“The president has already been hit.”
“What? Really?”
“I’m not sure. A Naver comment―”
“Shit, then it is fake!”
Of course, I knew it wasn’t a fake comment.
“Uwaaaaack! What?”
People dropped their phones as gunshots were heard from all over. It
originated from their smartphones.
Chiiiik, there was a loud sound, and blood filled the screen. After a
moment, people held their breaths as they realized what had happened.
“P-Prime Minister...”
The prime minister had died. His head had exploded in real-time. There
were several more sounds like gunfire before the screen became silent. The next
thing that appeared on the screen was a dokkaebi.
[Everyone, I’ve told you already. This isn’t a game like ‘terrorism.’]
People were at a loss for words as their mouths gaped open like dumb
goldfish.
[Do you still not understand? This won’t do. Do you still feel like this
is a game?]
It felt so ominous because his tone was so relaxed. Subconsciously, I
made a fist using all my strength.
[Ha-ha, according to the data, the people of this country are very good
at games. So, why don’t I try raising the difficulty?]
Beweep. A huge timer appeared in the air. At the same time, it started
decreasing rapidly.
[The remaining time has been decreased by 10 minutes.]
[There are 10 minutes remaining.]
[If the first killing doesn’t occur within the next five minutes, all
lives in that carriage will be wiped out.]
“W-What is this? Is it a joke?”
“Didn’t you hear the message just now? Hey, didn’t you hear it?”
“Soldier-nim! What do we do now? Why aren’t the police coming?”
“Everyone, calm down and listen to me―”
The words of the dokkaebi caused the situation in the carriage to become
so severe that Lee Hyun sung couldn’t fix it. I could feel Yoo Sangah gripping
my collar tightly.
Still, I couldn’t shake off the incongruity of this situation. Lee Hyun
sung, a supporting character, had already appeared. So, why hadn’t ‘he’
emerged? According to what I knew, I should’ve seen him by now.
“T-There is a murder back there!”
A scene from the 3907-train car could be seen through the aisle window.
The complexion of the killer in that carriage was white.
“We have to keep them out! Don’t let anyone in!”
People held tightly to the iron door, but it wasn’t necessary. The enemy
wasn’t there in the first place.
[All types of access to the carriage will be restricted until the
scenario is complete.]
Along with this message, people were thrown back from the iron door like
they had hit a transparent barrier.
“W-What is this?”
Once again, the voice of the dokkaebi rang out, [Ha-ha, there are some
places that are quite fun while other places haven’t started yet. Okay, this is
a special service. I will show you what will happen if nothing occurs in the
next five minutes.]
A giant screen appeared in the subway. The place that appeared on the
screen was a classroom. Girls in their navy-blue school uniform were shaking.
A boy bit his fingernails and muttered, “...Is that the school uniform
of Dae pong?”
Beep beep beep beep―An ominous beeping sound was
heard.
Then the high school girls started to scream.
[The given time has run out.]
[Paid settlement will begin.]
Once the announcement ended, the heads of the high school girls sitting
in the front row exploded.
One by one, one by one again... More and more heads exploded. The high
school girls screamed and ran toward the classroom doors or windows.
“Ahh, uh, how―”
Cleaning tools broke and nails were torn out, but the doors didn’t open.
No one could get out.
Peong, peeong. The heads of the high school girls continued to burst.
Then a high school girl strangled her friend, who died with a groan. After a
while, the only thing that remained on the screen was the last schoolgirl
looking around.
[#Bay23515 channel. Dae pong Girls’ High School, Year 2 Class B
survivor: Lee Jihye.]
The figure of the girl on the screen disappeared. Then the dokkaebi
asked, [How is it? Interesting?]
The dokkaebi spoke with a smile, but people weren’t looking at the
screen anymore. The people who made eye contact were gradually moving away from
each other.
“Shit! What is this?”
Even Yoo Sangah released her hold on me. However, she didn’t move away
from me. Both my hands were freed, and I turned on my smartphone.
Why was ‘that guy’ still not showing up? There was a mixture of
information that I knew from the novel and information that I didn’t know.
The only way to break through this situation was to read Laws of
Survival again. However, where else could I find the novel? The novel wasn’t
popular enough to be shared illegally... No, wait a minute.
[1 attachment.]
I was stunned for a moment as I saw the notification on my smartphone.
Perhaps... No? I was confused the moment I opened the mail attachment.
The name of the attachment sent by the author was:
[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.TXT]
Starting the Paid Service (4)
Laughter emerged. I had to clear my eyes and look again to see if it was
a lie. The file extension was TXT. Then this person... The gift he sent me was
a copy of his novel?
[You have obtained an exclusive attribute.]
[The exclusive skill slot has been activated.]
I heard a message in my ear after running the file. It wasn’t surprising
if the world had changed into ‘Ways of Survival.’ All survivors of Ways of
Survival had exclusive attribute and skills.
I quietly said ‘Attribute Window’ in my mind. I needed to know the
attribute that I received.
[You can’t activate the Attribute Window.]
What? I once again tried to call out ‘Attribute Window’ but the result
was the same.
It was absurd. There was something like this? If I couldn’t use the
Attributes Window, I couldn’t know what attributes or skills I have.
Knowing oneself and one’s enemy meant being invincible. But this was a
situation where I didn’t even know myself, let alone the enemy.
After staring into space for a while, I gave up and decided to read the
text that the author gave me.
[Your reading speed has increased due to the effect of the exclusive
attribute.]
I didn’t know what the attribute as, but it took me less than a minute
to read the first act of Ways of Survival thanks to the attribute effect.
I found it. The place where my finger stopped was the beginning of the
work, where the main character was doing some ‘action’ in the train scene.
「He saw people gathered at the back door of the 3707 carriage. The wheel
of the tightly held lighter was cold.
In this life, he absolutely couldn’t make a mistake. He would use any
means for his purpose.
The expression of fear on the people’s faces. He didn’t feel any guilt.
Everything was fleeting.
He looked at the people with merciless eyes. After a while, his
fingertips moved and fire rose. Then it all started. 」
A chill went down my spine and I had to read the passage again and
again. The reason for my discomfort was soon revealed.
“...3707.”
I reflexively checked the number of the carriage I was riding.
[3807].
The carriage I was on right now was behind the carriage that the
protagonist was riding. My hands faintly shook.
...Wait a minute. How many people originally survived this carriage?
「 He looked through the blurred window at the 3807 carriage. It was
already too late. It was inevitable. Anyway, only two people survived in that
carriage. 」
Only two survived. It meant that everyone died except for two people.
And I already knew who those two people were.
I raised my head and looked blankly at Yoo Sangah. Maybe this woman
would die. Me as well.
“Dokja-ssi, shouldn’t we stop this?”
Something was starting in the place where Yoo Sangah pointed. It was
groaning. A young man was crouching down in front of the elderly woman.
“Shit, I’m in a bad mood and this old lady keeps whining and groaning!
Won’t you shut up?”
The young man was a male student who had been leaning against the
entrance.
He was thin and had dyed white hair. His name was written on the badge
attached to his uniform.
Kim Namwoon. It was a name that I knew.
「 Only Lee Hyun sung and Kim Namwoon survived in that carriage. It
doesn’t matter. They are the only two I need anyway. 」
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”
The agitated Kim Namwoon grabbed the grandmother’s collar. The
grandmother’s powerless legs staggered. Kim Namwoon’s palm moved through the
air.
Slap. Slap.
In normal times, somebody would run to stop this. But now nobody was
moving. It wasn’t long before the slaps changed to punches.
“S-Save me. Save me...!”
I could hear the sound of a hard fist hitting flesh. Some of the men
around Kim Namwoon hesitated but none of them wanted to go forward.
Surprisingly, the first person to act was Han Myungoh.
“Young me, treating an elder like this...!”
However, all he got in reply was a voice mixed with scorn.
“Mister, do you want to die?”
“...What?”
“You still don’t understand the situation?”
“What bullshit is this brat saying?”
Kim Namwoon only laughed at the cursing Han Myungoh. He pointed to the
ceiling of the subway carriage with his finger.
“Can’t you see that?”
On the ceiling, a holographic screen was playing.
[S-Spare me!]
[Aaaack!]
[Die! Die!]
It wasn’t just train carriages or Dae pong High School. It was a live
video of people dying all over the country. Kim Namwoon continued speaking.
“You still don’t understand? The army isn’t coming to rescue us. And
somebody must die.”
“W-What are you saying...?”
“We have to choose a person to die.”
Han Myungoh wasn’t able to answer. The hairs of his exposed wrist were
standing up.
“Of course, I know what you are thinking. You have to kill your fellow
countrymen to live. It is something only sons of bitches will do. But you know,
it is a force beyond our control. Beyond our control. We will die if we don’t
kill. Who will blame us? Are you going to die in the end because of your
morals?”
“T-That...”
“Think carefully. The world you have known so far has just ended.”
Han Myungoh’s shoulders trembled. It wasn’t only Han Myungoh. Cracks
were showing in people’s eyes. It was a scene where the vague morality was
collapsing. Kim Namwoon put a wedge in that crack.
“A new world requires new laws.”
Kim Namwoon. A young man who adapted to the world of Ways of Survival
the fastest.
Kim Namwoon turned around and resumed punching the grandmother. This
time, nobody stopped him. Han Myungoh, the other men... Even Lee Hyunsung.
The soldier’s fists were trembling as he stared into the air with a lost
expression. Maybe he had also made a decision.
“Sigh... It is hard to kill. Are you doing to just watch? Do you want to
fall behind?”
People trembled at Kim Namwoon’s words. Their facial expressions were as
easy to read as the sentences in a cheap novel.
「If there is no killing in five minutes, everyone in this carriage will
die. 」
People’s eyes were changing.
「If the grandmother doesn’t die, we will die in five minutes... 」
The most primitive eyes that a living creature could have.
“Yes... This bastard is right. If we don’t do this, everyone will die.”
The first man rushed towards Kim Namwoon. He kicked at the old lady who
had collapsed and was curled up.
“Have you forgotten? Someone must die! So, we can live!”
“Ah ****... I don’t know.”
The second and third.
The people standing aloof from the grandmother. The cowardly men who had
been lingering. The university student filming this with their phone. The
mother of the child and Han Myungoh.
They all lynched the grandmother, aiming for her death.
“Die! Die quickly!”
They were like guards cooperating for the death penalty. Like the guards
pulling the lever at the same time so they couldn’t tell who killed the
prisoner, these people passively kicked and punched the grandmother.
And I was watching all of this. I was standing by, like someone watching
what happened in another world.
The grandmother whose name I didn’t know was someone who wasn’t meant to
live. In the original scenario, the grandmother died. So, it wasn’t a sin to
observe that death.
At that moment, Yoo Sangah got up.
“You will be killed.” I reflexively grabbed her. “I told you not to
move.”
The arm I was holding was shaking. Yoo Sangah made tight fists in an
attempt to hide her trembling.
“I know, I know...!”
“Yoo Sangah-ssi will die if you go now.”
Yoo Sangah’s eyes were shaking with fear. Even so...
I realized it. Despite the genre of the story changing, some people
still shone brightly.
“Yoo Sangah-ssi. Sit down.”
However, the person who could change this story wasn’t Yoo Sangah. Yoo
Sangah wasn’t the protagonist of this world.
“Huh? But―”
“Do as I say, just this once. I won’t interfere after that.”
After forcibly putting Yoo Sangah back in her seat, I took a deep breath
and turned around. I straightened my back and shook as I breathed out. I slowly
loosened my ankles and wrist.
In fact, it was a little early to come forward. This wasn’t my plan
originally.
“...Dokja-ssi?”
I didn’t answer her call as I looked at the people. The people intent on
assaulting the grandmother.
I wasn’t still because I was afraid or Kim Namwoon and the people, nor
did I consent to their inhumanity.
I was just waiting. It was for the moment I had to move. Thus...
Kwaang!
Right now.
“Ack! What?”
An explosion filled my ears and the train shook. People cried out. Smoke
rose from the front right corner of this carriage. It had started. ‘He’ had
moved.
I kicked off from the ground as hard as I could with my right foot. I
passed by the people screaming and sitting down towards the grandmother.
“What? Eeeeok!”
Kim Namwoon collided with me and fell to the ground with a scream. At
first glance, it seemed like I was saving the grandmother, but that wasn’t what
I was aiming for.
Where was it? I looked around quickly.
Somebody had fallen towards the grandmother due to the explosion. It was
a kid crying in the middle of this hell. The kid who was holding the insect
collecting net before.
“Excuse me a moment.”
I took the net from the child.
Once I put my hand into the net, the chitin of a grasshopper reached my
fingertips. I took one out and placed it in the kid’s hands. Then I turned
towards the people.
“Everybody stop. You can’t live if you kill the grandmother.”
My voice was surprisingly clear due to the temporary silence after the explosion.
One by one, people started looking at me.
“Let’s say you kill the grandmother. What next?”
Their surprised faces looked good. Let me tell you a bit more.
“The grandmother’s death will be recognized for what the dokkaebi calls
the ‘first murder’ and sometime will be bought. Then what next?”
“Ah...”
“If what the dokkaebi says is true, you each have to kill one thing. So,
who will you kill after the grandmother? Will you kill the person next to you?”
The people who thought about something retreated from each other. Horror
was in their eyes. In fact, everyone knew. The grandmother was just the
beginning.
Kim Namwoon noticed the shaky atmosphere.
“Ha-ha, what are you all worried about? Then kill him next! Cowards.
Don’t worry about your turn in advance! The odds are equal!”
I figured that Kim Namwoon would say something like this. I cut him off
with a slight wave of my hand.
“There is no need to gamble like that. There is a way for you to
survive, even if you don’t become a killer.”
“What?”
“W-What is it?”
The people became greatly agitated. Kim Namwoon’s expression distorted.
“Have you forgotten? The scenario clear condition wasn’t to ‘kill a
person.’”
Most people were still puzzled but a few people noticed something.
[Kill one or more living things.]
That’s right. From the beginning, the word ‘person’ was never specified
in the contents of the scenario.
Kill one or more living things. In other words, any life was possible. A
quick-witted person shouted at the collection net in my hand.
“Insect! Insects!”
The grasshoppers were jumping in the collection net. People’s eyes were
shining. I nodded.
“That’s right, the insects.”
I put my hand into the net and took out a grasshopper. It was a chubby
one that I saw earlier.
“G-Give that to me! Quickly!”
“One only! I just need one!”
I stepped back slowly as I looked at the approaching people. I was now
facing the explosive madness that tried to kill the grandmother. Yet a smile
emerged. Why? Even in this breath-taking tension, why was my heart beating with
joy?
“Would you like it?”
I waved the net like a trainer provoking an animal. Several impatient
people leapt towards me.
“Then catch them!”
I smashed the grasshopper in my hand.
[You have achieved the ‘First Kill’ achievement!]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
At the same time, I threw the net in my other hand as hard as possible.
It was towards the opposite side of the area where the grandmother and the
crowd were gathered.
“This is crazy!”
The insects were released and jumped as hard as they could for freedom.
Starting the Paid Service (5)
People panicked as they saw the insects running around the carriage.
“H-Hey! Why would you do such a thi―”
While some people were staring blankly, the quick-witted pushed toward
me.
“You son of a *****.”
“...You better find them soon. There are only three minutes left.”
These words were a signal as people started to look everywhere among the
subway seats like beasts who had lost their minds.
“I got it! Aaack!”
The joy of those fortunate enough to obtain an insect, as well as the
malicious attacks on them, caused the carriage to become chaotic.
“Hey, why did you do that? Couldn’t you have just given them the
insects?”
Looking back, I saw Kim Namwoon raising his body. I responded cautiously
to Kim Namwoon, who was stretching his neck, “There are 12 people remaining.”
“...Huh?”
“There were three insects left in the collecting net.”
Kim Namwoon frowned for a moment before smiling broadly. “12 to 3?
Hahahahaha! Yes. Not all of them can survive anyway? So, you threw that thing?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“...?”
“A person with common sense wouldn’t do such a thing for that reason.”
Kim Namwoon’s smile widened. “Tell me honestly. You just wanted to see this scene,
didn’t you?”
I recalled the Kim Namwoon that I knew from Ways of Survival.
At this moment, I heard a message in my ears, [Exclusive skill,
‘Character List’ is activated.]
Next, a window opened in front of my eyes. I still didn’t know exactly
what my attribute was, but I looked at the window in front of me.
[Character Information]
[Name: Kim Namwoon.
Age: 19.
Constellation Support: None (Two constellations are currently showing
interest in this person).
Private Attribute: Chuunibyou (General)
Exclusive Skills: Unusual Adaptability Lv. 3, Knife Fighting Lv. 1,
Blackening Lv. 1
Overall Stats: Stamina Lv. 3, Strength Lv. 4, Agility Lv. 6, Magic Power
Lv. 4
Overall Rating: A chuunibyou who was blackened by a special occasion. It
is recommended that you don’t get involved with him.]
Most of the chuunibyou that appeared in Ways of Survival committed
suicide because they couldn’t endure the nightmare that had become real.
However, the chuunibyou before me, Kim Namwoon, was different.
He was the Delusion Demon, Kim Namwoon. The young man, who later became
known by this nickname, wasn’t an ordinary chuuni.
This young man had been waiting for the destruction of the world for a
long time and adapted to this world at an ‘unusual speed.’
“Team up with me. How about it?” That young man was now making an offer
to me.
[The character ‘Kim Namwoon’ has a favourable impression of you.]
[Your understanding of the character ‘Kim Namwoon’ has increased.]
My immediate survival was guaranteed if I held hands with Kim Namwoon.
If I hadn’t read Ways of Survival, my choice might’ve been a little different.
“I’m sorry but I like to be alone.”
“Really? Hmm, it is regrettable.” Kim Namwoon licked his lips lightly
and stood close to me. “Then can you step aside? I have something to do with
that old lady behind you.”
Hearing his words, I looked back to see that the bleeding and collapsed
grandmother was barely breathing.
“What do you want?”
“Do you have to ask?”
“You aren’t catching the insects?”
“Insects? Why would I catch that?” Kim Namwoon laughed. “I already have
a caught insect in front of me.”
I could feel Kim Namwoon’s murderous spirit. The character that had only
existed in the novel was facing me with vivid madness. Therefore, I felt a
little bit in awe.
Kim Namwoon was really the person I had imagined.
[The character ‘Kim Namwoon’ has a slight decrease in favourability.]
“What are you looking at? Aren’t you going to move aside quickly?”
“It is tough.”
“What?”
“I won’t move aside.”
“Ha-ha, are you now going to imitate the apostle of justice? Do you have
multiple personalities?”
I didn’t answer.
A dark shadow slowly crept onto Kim Namwoon’s face, and his shining eyes
were becoming cold. “No, wait a minute. Did you throw the net over there to do
this from the beginning? Really?”
“...”
“You want to save the grandmother? Hahaha! Amazing! Really amazing! No?
Yes?”
I still didn’t answer. As I looked closely at this guy, old memories
resurfaced.
“Ah, it turns out that you are the type of person I hate the most. All
old bastards are the same.”
They were memories of all the times I had been frustrated by this brat
during Ways of Survival.
[The character ‘Kim Namwoon’ despises you.]
“What did you say?”
I considered the timing and lowered my head, avoiding the fist that flew
before the words were even over.
“Oh, not bad?”
Despite knowing it was coming, I felt a sense of heat from above my
head. It wasn’t an ordinary punch.
[Blackening Lv.1]
A dark aura rose from Kim Namwoon’s whole body. This was the exclusive
skill of the ‘chuunibyou’ attribute.
It was rare to release a skill before the end of the first scenario, but
Kim Namwoon was already showing a skill. There was a reason why the main
character had recruited him, despite his psychopath nature.
Peeok!
After he hit it, my right shoulder spasmed. There was no way to win if I
kept fighting this way.
...Should I use ‘that’ now? I was calculating the time when I heard a
message.
[Your understanding of the character ‘Kim Namwoon’ has increased.]
[You are close to the conditions of use for the exclusive skill
‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Lv. 1.]
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint? What was this?
[The conditions of use for the exclusive skill ‘Omniscient Reader’s
Viewpoint’ Lv. 1 have been reached!]
Kim Namwoon’s fist missed me and struck the ground.
“Ha-ha, what? Haven’t I become stronger?
A faint fist mark was left on the ground. Kim Namwoon was realizing his
current strength little by little.
Kwang!Kwang!Kwang!
The fist that could break a bone with a single blow kept hitting the
ground. Kim Namwoon was frustrated and couldn’t control his temper. “Ah, why
can’t I hit you?”
Of course, he couldn’t hit me. It was all thanks to my second skill.
[Exclusive skill, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Lv. 1 has been
activated!]
As soon as this skill was activated, I was able to observe Kim Namwoon’s
attack direction like I was reading his inner thoughts. For example, like
this...
「 Right side. 」
I quickly moved away from the direction of the attack.
「Right eye. 」
Then I quickly bent down and avoided the flying fist.
“You really are good at not being hit!”
It was unreasonable to counterattack because I was poor at sports, but I
could at least avoid most of the attacks.
「 Left thigh. 」
This was enough to endure it. The important thing was to buy time. I
avoided Kim Namwoon’s first and pointed at the clock in the air. “There are two
minutes left, Kid.”
The distressed Kim Namwoon alternated looking between me and the
grandmother. “Dammit!”
At the moment of choice, Kim Namwoon’s gaze was fixed on the
grandmother’s side.
I was forced to grab the grandmother and roll away. If the grandmother
died, Kim Namwoon would clear the scenario. No matter what, I absolutely
couldn’t send this guy onto the next scenario.
“Ha-ha, I knew you would move like that.” As Kim Namwoon took something
out of his bag, I had an ominous feeling.
A blade shone in the fluorescent light. It was a portable MacGyver
Knife. I had forgotten. This person was a diehard military otaku.
Swiiik-
There was a link between the technical skill ‘Knife Fighting’ and the
strengthening skill ‘Blackening’. The direction that the blade was pointing was
obvious.
「Heart. 」
It was an attack that couldn’t be avoided even if I knew the direction.
So, I made a quick judgment. If I couldn’t avoid the attack, it was better to
be hit somewhere with minimal damage, if possible.
Chiiiik! The blade narrowly missed my heart and made a deep cut on my
shoulder.
It hurt. It really hurt. There was a searing pain in my skin. My vision
shook, and it felt like death was approaching.
“Ha-ha, now die!”
The time remaining to the end of the scenario was 1 minute and 30
seconds. I glanced toward the grandmother. I was sorry for the grandmother, but
now I really had to use ‘that.’
“Chungil High School, 2nd year, Kim Namwoon. I have one question for
you.”
“...What?”
“Do you think an insect egg is a living thing?”
I took out the body of the grasshopper I had killed earlier from my
pocket. The plump egg-sac was clearly abundant. There was the sound of
something popping, and something fluid spilled out. The disgusting feeling
spread over my hand as I heard a message.
.......
[You have killed a living thing.]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
[You have killed a living thing.]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
.......
Multiple messages bombarded my ears.
Kim Namwoon frowned. “Insect egg? What are you suddenly saying? Are you
trying to waste time?”
“I guess so.”
“How would I know something like that? I was always sleeping in Biology
class.” Kim Namwoon looked at my bloody shoulder and laughed happily. “But
there is one thing I know for sure. Do you know what it is?”
“What is it?”
“You will die right now!” Kim Namwoon moved his Swiss knife before I
could answer. It was an attack that was hard to avoid.
[A large number of coins has been acquired! Do you want to check the
coin usage tips?]
I omitted the explanation that entered my ears. There was no need to
listen when I already knew the contents.
“No, it is you who will die,” I spat out while inwardly muttering
something else.
[2,700 coins have been invested into ‘stamina’.]
[Stamina Lv. 1 -> Stamina Lv. 10]
[Your stamina level has increased dramatically!]
[The durability of your body has greatly increased!]
Kim Namwoon’s knife penetrated toward my heart. To be exact, it looked
like it was penetrating.
My skin was like solid rock, and the only thing that remained on it was
a scratch.
Kim Namwoon’s eyes showed that he was astonished. “How?”
“I’ll tell you the correct answer to my question. The answer is: an egg
is a living thing.”
“W-What?”
“And in spawning season, grasshoppers lay more than 100 eggs at a time.”
Egg, living thing, 100...
Unfortunately, the time left to understand the meaning of the
information was too short for the schoolboy with a bad brain.
“What are you saying?”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. There is one minute left.”
Now fear appeared on Kim Namwoon’s face. “Aaaah! Die! Die!”
The knife moved toward my neck. I didn’t even bother defending against
the attack.
Kakakang!
Was it because the area was more vulnerable than the chest? The wound
was a little deeper than before, but it still didn’t hurt much.
“Kim Namwoon.”
Behind Kim Namwoon, there were people who were still crawling and looking
for insects, as well as those who were willing to hurt each other for their own
survival.
“You are right. I am the same type of human as you.”
Maybe I could’ve saved some of those people.
“Shit! Why won’t you die! Why won’t you just die!”
55 seconds... 50 seconds... 45 seconds...
The knife kept leaving only scratches. Blood flowed but the blade
couldn’t reach under the skin. There were 30 seconds left when Kim Namwoon
opened his mouth. He dropped the knife and knelt before me.
“S-Save me.”
25 seconds.
“Save me! Please! Help me!”
“Why should I?”
20 seconds.
“P-People’s lives are important! That’s obvious!”
“That is the rule of the old world. It is just as you said. A new world
requires new laws.”
10 seconds.
“I don’t want to; I don’t want to! I don’t want to die! Aaaaaaack!”
5 seconds.
Kim Namwoon ran at me with a loud scream and aimed for my eye. The
moment that the knife tried to dig at my retina...
[The given time has run out.]
There was a loud sound, and Kim Namwoon’s head exploded.
[Paid settlement will begin.]
Beginning with Kim Namwoon, people’s heads started exploding everywhere.
One, two, three, four...
The bursting heads were like fireworks announcing a new era. I watched
the scene with a bit of joy, a bit of guilt, and a mysterious feeling.
Why? Why was I so calm at the sight in front of me? It was like I was
looking at a novel.
[You have killed 124 living things.]
[Kill History: One grasshopper, 123 grasshopper eggs.]
[You have killed non-resistance living things, so the number of coins
you have acquired is reduced by half.]
[6,200 coins have been acquired!]
[The number of coins used for the stats level up is automatically
subtracted.]
[You have a total of 3,500 coins.]
[The ‘Mass Murderer’ achievement has been gained through excessive
killing.]
My face could be seen on the darkened window of the carriage.
It was a face I had never seen before, despite looking into the mirror
countless times in my life. I wiped at the blood on my cheeks. The blood wasn’t
erased. It turned out to be blood on the window.
Kkiiik.
There was a lurching feeling, and the train started to move again. It
made the familiar train noise.
Soon, light flooded in, and darkness was lifted from the windows. We had
arrived at the surface ground section of Line 3 between Apgujeong and Oksu.
Outside the window, the Han River and Seoul were revealed.
Ahh. Someone let out a ****. It was a **** which contained deep relief
that they survived.
However, it didn’t take long for the meaning of that **** to change. Ah,
ah...
The landscape outside the window was no longer the Seoul that they knew.
Smoke and dust rose from the ruined city.
The Han River bridges had collapsed. The Han River itself was red with
the bodies of soldiers, while among the fallen buildings, a monster was
trampling on a K1 tank like it was a toy.
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]
[300 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]
[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee.]
[Additional compensation settlement will begin.]
One world was destroyed, and a new world was born.
...And I was the only reader who knew the ending of this world.
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