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CHAPTER 3: EP. 1 – THE PAID SERVICE, II

When I woke up that day, I would've never expected what would happen in that train. How could I? It was too absurd, but it was reality, our new reality. We somehow had to adapt and survive.

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I didn't know what was happening, my view was still blocked.

Was it a terrorist attack? Possible, but unlikely. People were still too calm for that.

Then a familiar sound ripped me out of my hectic thoughts:

「&ah#?&ah%@! …」

「&ah#?&ah%@! …」

The before startled crowd stopped in their tracks and all looked into the same direction-- me included.

"What is it saying?"

"Is that... what is that thing?"

"Is this some kind of prank?!"

"Mama, look at that. It looks so fluffy!"

"No way.", I couldn't believe my eyes. Of course, these people didn't know what that ominous-looking creature hovering above the crowd was. They didn't know how dangerous it was!

「 It was too strange to call it a fairy, too evil to call it an angel, and too tranquil to call it a demon. 」

One of the first sentences of Ways of Survival popped up in my head that instant. I tried to stop the sound midway, but it had already escaped my throat.

"Dokkaebi."

The odd-looking creature with brown fur turned its head and the big red glowing eyes locked onto me. The 'dokkaebi' flew closer.

The crowd parted and people stumbled away. Everyone held their breath and stared.

I felt my heart rate skyrocketing. If that really was a dokkaebi... then... No. How could Ways of Survival be real? It was a book. A book I last read just today. But if it really was... if it really has come to it... we'd be in big trouble. The first chapter of Ways of Survival had nothing good coming for the train passengers. I-- I didn't want that to happen.

I tried to swallow down my nervousness, but my saliva got stuck in my throat. My chest tightened and it became difficult to breathe. It felt like I was frozen, like I was rooted to the ground. Both my feet and my eyes were refusing to move, my body forced me to watch the dokkaebi approach till it stopped right in front of me. Suddenly, it felt like only me and the dokkaebi existed in that very moment.

It opened its mouth.

「%#!y?u&#」

I couldn't understand what it was saying. The expression on people's faces changed. Suddenly, all eyes were on me.

What did it say? What did it even want with me?!

The dokkaebi started to look annoyed and waved its furry hands around.

「%#!y?u&#!!!」

It repeated whatever it said before, but now it screamed it.

The masses were startled and the child I saw before started to cry.

I didn't notice at all what was happening around me until the man in the suit sheepishly stepped towards me:

"It-- It asked you if you were a... uh-- what was it?"

He looked at the dokkaebi, trying to avoid meeting its piercing gaze.

「%r&!n?#e%!!」

The man jumped at the dokkaebi's words.

"If you are a 'returnee'."

What? How did he understand what the dokkaebi was saying when all I heard was distorted noises that seemed to split my head?

I was stunned. Thoughts raced through my head like there was no tomorrow, seconds felt like minutes, and then the man tapped me on the shoulder with a panic-filled face. I flinched at this sudden sensation.

The dokkaebi lifted its tiny paw-like hand and touched its forehead, massaging it. Then it tapped the air.

I had a hunch at what it was doing, and I was right.

Shortly after its final tap, a notification window popped up in front of my eyes.

It opened a chat.

–Cyril: You bastard! Are you a returnee?! You are way too calm, and you know about dokkaebi.

So this dokkaebi's name was 'Cyril'. Weird...

The chat was exactly the same as described in Ways of Survival, so I had no problem operating it.

–You: Why can't I understand what you're saying?

I needed to know. It was dangerous to disobey a dokkaebi and answering a question with another question, but I had to try– no, had to risk it. Otherwise, I couldn't survive. Not every dokkaebi would open a chat with me, so maybe it'd listen to me. This was an exception only for the first scenario, I was sure of it. They would get rid of me later if I didn't follow their orders or didn't answer them. I'd either die here, right now, or later on if I didn't do anything.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

–Cyril: How dare– a mere human?!

The dokkaebi snapped, and its little arms flailed around, but its claws started to grow. I was certain it could cut me in half if it wanted to.

"Hiiik!"

The people around were even more terrified by the appearance of the sharp claws.

"What did you do??!"

The businessman was visibly upset, he grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me violently. The child was still crying.

I ignored both.

–You: I thought the constellations liked entertainment. I am sure you don't want to ruin this scenario.

Cyril sighed and looked like he wanted to snap my neck any second but held himself back as hard as he could.

–Cyril: Fine. I don't know why you can't understand me. The language patch was successfully downloaded and installed.

「!k#?%l@!!」

"K-- Kill?!"

A young woman started to tear up, and fell onto her knees.

–Cyril: See? They can understand just fine, hahaha.

Cyril's mouth formed a sadistic grin and his laugh was disgusting.

I wanted to punch him.

-Cyril: I assume you're a returnee if you know that much. I won't answer any more questions.

He started to tap in the air again, and...

–Cyril: Luckily, the channel is not opened yet. Put that on. The constellations will annoy me otherwise,... and I will receive a penalty.

A coat appeared out of thin air and I reflexively caught it.

No way. Was that...?

A small window popped up as I looked at it and thought about its name.

Infinite Dimension Space Coat

A coat tailored for returnees. Despite being a mass-produced item, it was given an SSS-Grade for some mysterious reason.

Designed in consideration of the special returnees who cannot activate their attribute window, the subspace storage feature is in effect in the coat's pockets.

But of course, be mindful in using it as there is limited storage space.

This was unbelievable. The 'Infinite Dimension Space Coat'.

The same coat Yoo Joonghyuk wore in Ways of Survival. It was an extremely useful item, especially at the beginning.

I put it on without a second thought.

–Cyril: I hope you'll entertain the constellations. Or I'll end you myself!

I saw a twisted smile on the dokkaebi's face before it turned away and started to fly above the crowd again.

At that moment, a thought passed my mind. Something was weird. But I don't know what. Of course, this whole situation was absurd, but there was still something amiss even in this situation.

[#CY-9635 channel is open.]

[Constellations have entered.]

I saw a small window appear in front of me, and everyone in the train seemed to see the exact same thing.

[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

'Kill one or more creatures.' I feared as much.

The dokkaebi vanished and with it, the silence.

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Some people were startled by the window's appearance, some started to swear, while other's let out a small scream. I didn't know if these swearwords were directed at the whole situation, the dokkaebi or... at me.

The businessman was dumbfounded.

"Wha–"

Before he could finish his sentence, about 6 people rushed towards me and pushed the man away.

"What was that thing?!"

"What happened?"

"You know something, don't you?!"

"What is this window?!"

"Answer!!"

That were way too many people, questions and hands on me at once, I was overwhelmed, but before I could do anything, the businessman interrupted.

"Stop this! Let him breathe!"

My attackers reluctantly stopped and looked ashamed.

"Thanks."

I tried to fix my clothes.

"Still. Please tell us what you know."

I didn't know what to say. "I read this in a book and that's why I know what's happening.", "My favourite book became reality?", yeah, no way am I going to say that. I couldn't think of an answer that would make sense without being seen as insane. I hesitated, took a deep breath to readied myself but just as I wanted to spew random bullshit, ting!

[The 'First Kill' achievement has been achieved!]

I spun around. 'First Kill'? Already?? Who was it?!

Luckily, the people in front of me forgot everything from a few seconds ago and were fully focused on the sudden message. I couldn't really call it luck though, because, as if some kind of switch was flipped, these people attacked each other. They punched, scratched, kicked and tackled each other.

I was dumbfounded. How could they turn on each other that easily?

"Stop fighting! There has to be another way!"

My cry for a moment of peace was to no avail. They were consumed by their will to live, even if it meant killing another human being. I couldn't help them. I couldn't stop them. It wasn't my place to interfere, but I also couldn't take a life.

Where was the businessman? He didn't fight, at least I didn't see him around.

I slowly walked backwards, away from the brawl in front of me, until... I hit the train's door.

[All types of access to the carriage will be restricted until the scenario is complete.]

I was startled by the sudden message and jumped. The door was sealed tight. There was no way to get through it. It was kill, or be killed. But I– I– How–

Something cold grabbed my wrist.

It was a hand. Did I have to fight? Kill??

Wait. The grip was weak, frail even. My eyes slowly followed along my arm. It was an old lady. She had tears in her eyes.

It was painful to see such an old lady cry. I got on my knees and held her hands while lowering my head.

I didn't know her, yet she felt strangely familiar.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry."

I felt warm liquid stream down my cheeks. She faintly smiled and wiped them away.

"It's okay. Do what you must."

"Why?!"

"You can still save your past, present and future."

I didn't know what she meant.

She reached in her hair and pulled something out, took my hand and placed it into my palm.

I feared the worst.

It was a hair ornament. She was suggesting I'd kill her.

I couldn't speak, the words didn't want to leave my dry throat. My lip started to twitch lightly.

Her smile seemed to get bigger, her hands trembled, and yet her grip was suddenly strong. She raised my hands and...

"STOP!"

I tried to pull my hand away, but it was already too late. The needle pierced her throat. Warm blood splashed onto my hands, she hit her artery. The fountain of blood didn't stop. She gurgled, and I heard her suffer, yet her the smile never left her face.

I felt guilty, guilty that I couldn't help her. Guilty that I hesitated to fight against it.

The stench of the blood seemed to swallow me whole.

She moved her lips one last time before all strength left her hands.

[You have killed a living thing.]

[The 'Killing with consent' achievement has been gained.]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

"Live."

No. This isn't what I wanted to happen. I felt my mind going blank and I felt dazed.

Wasn't there anything I could've done differently?

My face burned, my vision was blurred by tears welling up once again.

My hands were shaking violently, and I couldn't get myself under control. The screams of onlookers were muffled until they were completely overshadowed by the vehement beating of my heart. It was a miracle it didn't explode by the way it beat.

Like a tsunami, thousands of thoughts swept through my head and my mind was slowly crumbling.

I didn't have to kill her. She didn't have to die.

I wish– I wish– Why didn't I resist?!

"Why did she even help me?!"

"Did I actually... want to kill her just to survive?"

Did I throw away my humanity in order to keep living? Is that why I didn't resist?!

[Your constellation has been chosen.]

"Huh?"

[You have used your stigma.]

Suddenly, silence. Not a single sound. I jerked my head upwards and quickly looked around. Every single passenger stopped moving. The blood stopped dripping. It was as if time itself was frozen. No, it was frozen.

Blinding light engulfed me and my eyes felt as if they were about to burst. I tried to close them, but the dazzling light seemed to penetrate my eyelids.

"What–"

What constellation? I didn't choose any const– wait.

"Has been chosen?! Stigma?!"

I felt the surrounding air change. It was colder than before. I noticed myself calm down, and my fogged mind cleared up.

And then, the light vanished as if it has never been there. My eyes didn't hurt, and the air became normal.

I noticed my eyes were still closed.

–Cyril: Returnee bastard! What are you waiting for?! Take it or I'll end you!

As I opened my eyes, the brown dokkaebi hovered in front of me once again, extending its left paw-like hand. In it, the 'Infinite Dimension Space Coat'.