The train car was quiet, passengers unaware of the storm brewing in Sung Jinwoo's mind. The faint hum of the subway was the only sound breaking the heavy silence.
A familiar presence brushed past him, and he slowly turned. A girl entered the train and sat nearby. Her face... he recognized her, but her name was slow to return.
"Wait, you... You are..." Jinwoo's voice trailed off, unsure how to approach her.
"What?" she asked, with a faint frown. "Do I know you?"
"We know each other… a moment ago, we did. But it seems like you've forgotten." Jinwoo muttered.
"If we know each other, then say my name," she challenged.
Jinwoo remained silent, his mind racing. *Her name is Yoo...Sandals?? No way, that would be a weird name* he thought.
"See? You don't know me. Are you trying to hit on me?" Yoo Sang-Ah's tone was sharp. "Sorry, but it's not working."
Great. Now she's mad at me. Why am I stuck like this? And why does this version of her have to be so difficult? Jinwoo thought in frustration.
Checking the clock, it was 6:52 PM. Eight minutes until the scenario begins, yet everything feels unnervingly calm.
Suddenly, Kim Dokja's words echoed in his mind: *"When you enter the train, you must read the final episode of TWSA which I'm sending you. If you fail to read it, the scenarios won't start, and you might be trapped in that world forever."*
"Oh no! I almost forgot!" Panic surged through him. He opened his system screen to check for the file—but nothing appeared. His breath caught in his throat. What the hell is happening? Why can't I access my system?
"System..." "System..." "System..."
He kept calling for the system screen, but nothing happened. No way I'm gonna be trapped in this world forever!
"SYSTEM!!" he shouted, panic rising, as passengers glanced at him, confused.
"Hey, what's with you?" a white-haired teenager asked with a smirk.
"Can I borrow your phone?" Jinwoo asked, desperation evident.
"Sorry, pal, I don't have a phone," the teenager replied, his grin widening, clearly enjoying Jinwoo's distress.
6:55 PM
Jinwoo noticed an elderly lady holding a phone and snatched it, saying, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I need this urgently!"
He quickly searched for the novel TWSA and, luckily, found it. He read as fast as he could. But just as he reached the last paragraph, he heard laughter—the white-haired teenager was holding his phone, mocking Jinwoo as he clearly lied about not having one.
"You! Are you mocking me?" Jinwoo returned the phone to the old lady and strode toward the teenager. "Let's see if you can laugh after I've cracked that smug face."
"No, son, don't do that," the elderly woman said. "I can tell you're a good person."
*Come to think of it. Why am I acting this way?The pressure of this world is changing my whole personality* Jinwoo thought, breathing deeply.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. That was out of line." He checked the clock. 6:59 PM! Jinwoo borrowed the phone again, only to see the last paragraph slowly fading from the screen.
7:00 PM
No way! I failed to read it! I'll be trapped here! He fell to his knees, memories of his loved ones flashing through his mind. I shouldn't have come here… I messed up.
Then suddenly…
Krrkk The subway car screeched as the train came to an abrupt halt.
"What's happening?" passengers murmured, glancing around in fear.
The announcement system crackled to life. "Attention, passengers. Please remain calm. We're experiencing a minor delay."
But then the broadcast cut off abruptly. And within the tense silence, a strange, round, horned creature appeared.
[The free service of planetary system 8613 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
*What? It started? But I failed to read the last paragraph. How?—Did someone else read it? Whoever it was, I owe them my life.* Jinwoo thought.
The creature—a dokkaebi—floated before them, speaking in an incomprehensible language.
"Is it speaking... Spanish?" someone muttered.
Strange, but I understand it clearly, Jinwoo thought.
[Ah, sorry about that. The Korean patch didn't load. Everyone, can you hear my words now?]
A man was about to say something, raising his voice to address the chaos. "Hey! What are you—"
Before he could finish, Jinwoo interrupted, "Let's start it already! My hand is itching."
[Listen to me first.]
"Are you crazy? A minute ago, you were yelling for a 'system' and crying about a phone" the teenager laughed. Passengers chuckled, forgetting, if only briefly, the surreal scene before them.
[I said, listen to me!] In an instant, the heads of those who'd been laughing exploded in a spray of blood, silencing the entire car.
[As I was saying, this is no joke, so shut up and listen.]
*So this is the beginning of the very first scenario Kim Dokja faced.* Jinwoo thought, uneasy growing in him.
[Everyone, your lives have been nice so far, haven't they?]
An elderly grandmother approached Jinwoo, her voice soft. "Son, do you still need this phone? I don't fully understand the paragraph I read, but it seemed important to you. You can borrow it again if you want."
Jinwoo realized, it was her who read the last paragraph, "Eomeonim, thank you! You're so kind, but I don't need it anymore. You might not realize it, but you saved my life. I swear, I'll protect you." Jinwoo replied, his heart swelling with gratitude.
"Protect me from what? I'm perfectly fine, son," she smiled, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding around them.
[The main scenario has arrived!]
[Main Scenario #1: Proof of Value] Category: Main Difficulty: F Clear Conditions: Kill one or more creatures. Time limit: 30 minutes Compensation: 300 coins Failure: Death
[Then, good luck. Show me an interesting story.]
*What the hell is this? Killing innocent people to survive? This system is even more ruthless than the old system I was once followed.* Jinwoo thought.
Passengers panicked. The elderly woman prayed softly. Some tried breaking down the doors, others resorted to fighting.
Jinwoo noticed a tall man calmly addressing the crowd. "Everyone, please calm down. I'm a Lieutenant in the military."
This guy looks familiar, and I sense he's trustworthy. If I need an ally, he's the one to approach.
A screen flickered, showing the prime minister's image—and his brutal execution. People were shocked.
[I warned you. This isn't a joke.] the dokkaebi smirked.
Jinwoo glanced at the timer: 24 minutes remaining. What do I do? The system's gone, my powers are sealed. And there's no way I'm killing an innocent person.
A loud beep rang out, and a huge timer appeared in the air, immediately ticking down fast.
[10 minutes have been deducted from the timer]
[10 minutes remaining]
[As an added penalty, if the first death doesn't occur in the next 5 minutes, every living organism in this cabin will be terminated.]
People scrambled, trying to break through the train car doors, but invisible barriers blocked any escape.
Just then, a message flashed in his vision.
[The constellation, Secretive Plotter, is looking at you.]
Jinwoo's eyes widened. The Secretive Plotter… Could he be here, even across worlds? He glanced around, his voice barely a whisper. "Secretive Plotter, I know you're watching. Help me one more time. You hear me?"
Silence. The Secretive Plotter's presence faded, leaving Jinwoo with nothing but unanswered questions.
Then, as desperation settled over him, a new message appeared.
[Exclusive Attribute unlocked.]
[A skill slot has been unlocked.]
Attribute window?
Jinwoo opened his attribute window, amazed by the fact that he was using a new system other than he once used before.
Name: Sung Jinwoo
Age: 24
Sponsor: ???
Exclusive Attributes: Player of the Unknown System (Legendary)
Exclusive Skills: System Lv.1, Crafting Lv.1, Longevity Lv.1
Overall Stats:
Physique Lv.8, Strength Lv.4, Agility Lv.4, Magic Power Lv.1
General Evaluation:
A low-ranking hunter with dormant, immense power. Though weak now, your potential is formidable—unlock it wisely in this world.
As he read the last line, a realization struck him. Wait, does that mean my powers didn't disappear? They're just sealed? he thought, smirking at the realization.
I have this skill called 'System.' That explains why it didn't appear earlier. I had almost no mana since I returned to being weak, so I couldn't summon this old system without help from the Star Stream system.
"System"
[Exclusive Skill, System, has been activated.]
A black screen appeared in front of him, revealing the options of the Architect's system:
{Shadow System:
1. Character Profile
2. Modes
3. Inventory
4. Shop}
"Modes" he whispered.
Modes:
1. Daily Quest
2. Story Quest / SPOILER
His heart beats faster as he saw and selected the "SPOILER."
Story Quest / SPOILER:
1. 5 Survivors
2. Grasshopper (Locked)
3. Sponsor Selection (Locked)
*Five survivors?* Jinwoo skimmed the list.
1. Kim Dokja
2. Yoo Sang-Ah
3. Lee Hyeonseong
4. Han Myungoh
5. Lee Gilyeong
"Dokja's name is here? Maybe it's pertaining to me since I'm taking his place. Wait, the old lady. I don't know her name, but I could say she's not listed as one of the survivors. No way! If I followed the original story, then that means…"
A scream jolted Jinwoo back to reality. The white-haired teenager was closing in on the elderly woman, raising his hand threateningly as she pleaded, "Help! Please!" But no one moved; everyone understood that someone had to be the first to fall, or they all might face the same fate.
Then, just as the teenager's hand descended again, Jinwoo's arm shot out, catching his wrist mid-air. "Enough," he said, his tone firm, holding the teenager's gaze. "If you're so eager to target someone, then try me,".
The crowd held their breath, taken aback by Jinwoo's sudden intervention, a quiet strength in his stance as he stood between the two.