Train Station (2)
Even as Go Cheon-su approached, the man couldn't shake off the zombie.
"Ughhh! Fuck, s-someone... help!"
"Need a hand?"
At those words, the man turned to Go Cheon-su.
"What...?"
His surprise was short-lived. He went right back to struggling with the zombie.
"H-help me! Please, help!"
"No honorifics, huh. Tsk."
"Help me, please! Hurry!"
Quick adaptation. Go Cheon-su smirked and raised his dagger.
"Then stay still. Might get stabbed otherwise."
"S-stay still...?!"
The man sounded flustered, like it was an impossible ask, but it didn't matter. Go Cheon-su had already pierced the zombie's nape.
Thud.
Watching the zombie collapse, Go Cheon-su let out a sigh.
"Survival's a bitch, ain't it?"
"Ah, ahh..."
The man stumbled back before slumping to the ground as tension drained from him.
"I... I lived..."
"Forgot something."
Go Cheon-su leaned in close.
"Say thanks."
"Ah, ack!"
The man bowed his head frantically toward Go Cheon-su.
"Th-thank you. I almost died."
"Guys, Yong-jin's just a pitiful kid."
He'd probably been drafted into active duty, only for the world to turn to shit like this. Anyone who knew Jo Yong-jin's story would feel the same—how much hell he'd gone through as a conscript.
"Anyway."
Go Cheon-su pressed the dagger toward the man.
"Mind if I ask who you are?"
"W-wait. Put the knife away..."
"This way's easier for both of us."
Dragging it out wouldn't help. Go Cheon-su preferred quick resolutions.
"Driving here alone and cursing the mayor? You're no ordinary guy."
"Th-that's..."
"Oh, and you seen anyone around here?"
Jo Yong-jin and Yang Min-cheol were nowhere in sight. Go Cheon-su scanned the area as he asked.
"Huh? Why aren't you answering?"
"Ha, gotta ask one at a time. And no, haven't seen anyone else."
"Then answer my first question."
He'd cursed the mayor, so he was definitely City Hall staff.
"You come with the mayor? Where is he?"
"...That bastard."
The man's face hardened at the mention.
"He ditched me."
"Ditched you?"
"Sent me to check if the station was clear... but still."
The man spat out his resentment.
"How am I supposed to survive alone here?! I said let's scout other routes, and he accused me of stirring shit!"
"Stirring shit, huh."
"This ain't stirring shit! Where else you gonna find that? Mayor's lost his damn mind!"
Go Cheon-su motioned up and down at his outburst.
"Got it. So the mayor's coming this way?"
"...Yeah, he'll show."
The man pointed to the black car he'd arrived in.
"Got a few rides like this. Plenty of guys guarding him."
"All your coworkers?"
"Nah."
Unexpected answer.
"Some were strangers. Don't know who, but they're solid at protecting the mayor."
"Hm."
Go Cheon-su pondered.
Not even subordinates, but guarding the mayor.
He had a hunch.
Fine by me.
Whatever their deal, he knew a train would stop here. The mayor was likely involved somehow. No need to scout elsewhere—if the mayor was set on this route, he had solid intel on a train coming.
"Get up."
"Huh?"
"Up, I said."
Go Cheon-su flicked the dagger.
"Can't stay here."
The man's commotion might draw more monsters. Time to move.
"Ah, got it."
The man stood, brushing off dust.
"Name's Yoo Young-han. Nice to meet ya."
Ignoring the harsh viewer comments, Go Cheon-su gave his name.
"I'm Hwang Cheon-su."
"Ah, uh. Hwang Cheon-su."
Something felt off, but Yoo Young-han didn't press it.
"Let's head inside then. That's our goal, right?"
Go Cheon-su led Yoo Young-han onward. First up: the stairs.
"Ah, damn it."
Escalators were stopped, so stairs were the only way to the upper concourse.
"Where the hell is everyone?"
No tickets needed, so normally he'd find a side path by the tall wall next to the first floor and head straight to the platform. But with Jo Yong-jin and Yang Min-cheol missing, no dice.
"Who you looking for anyway? Buddies?"
"Yeah."
Ridiculous guys, but they'd helped a ton getting here. No abandoning them now.
Unless shit hits the fan.
Either way, concourse it was. Side paths might exist, but unconfirmed. Wandering could mean monsters. Plus, maybe some ticket-less boarding condition inside—worth checking.
"Huh...?"
Mid-stairs, Yoo Young-han gaped.
"Th-there."
"Hm?"
Go Cheon-su followed his pointing finger upward.
There was...
"What the hell?"
A small girl's silhouette.
Go Cheon-su froze.
"A kid?"
As he muttered, Yoo Young-han reached out.
"Hey... mmpf!"
"You nuts?"
Go Cheon-su clamped his mouth, growling low.
"Why call out? Wanna die?"
A little girl alone in a creepy spot like this? Obvious red flag.
Viewers were freaking out. Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly.
"What's the deal, guys? Scary shit? Then hurry up and drop that invincible mission reward or whatever! Now!"
Way pricier than expected.
100 Zen?
Go Cheon-su couldn't gauge it.
He clutched his face at the reply.
"Whaaat? That much?!"
10k won to a shut-in wasn't just paper—it was a lucky charm.
"Whatever..."
Go Cheon-su kept eyes on the girl above.
"She's no normal kid, huh."
Girl-shaped monsters were the scariest. Tense, he told Yoo Young-han:
"I'll let go—stay quiet. She ain't human."
Yoo Young-han nodded. Go Cheon-su slowly released.
"Hoo."
Exhaling held breath, Yoo Young-han whispered:
"Wh-what now? Back off?"
"Wait a sec."
She hadn't come down despite the noise. Might've wandered here—could vanish if they waited.
Clang!
Something dropped from above. The girl twisted wildly, chasing the sound.
"Ah, ahh."
Yoo Young-han trembled.
"N-no way."
"What no?"
"Can't go that way."
That girl was not normal. Yoo Young-han was terrified.
"I-I'm heading back to the car."
"After coming this far?"
"I'm going."
Yoo Young-han bolted down the stairs. Go Cheon-su watched silently. Someone that spooked was a liability anyway.
"Gah...!"
But he tripped rushing down.
"Guh?!"
Tumbling, he landed before another small girl.
"Huh?"
As Go Cheon-su's eyes widened, the new girl grabbed and tore into Yoo Young-han.
"Gaaah! Gaaaaah!"
Inhuman strength for her size. Flesh ripping, Yoo Young-han screamed at Go Cheon-su:
"S-save me! Please, save meee!"
Scream loud enough to draw every monster. Go Cheon-su panicked.
"Why'd you go down...!"
Couldn't just save him again. He fidgeted, fearing she'd turn.
Go Cheon-su checked chat.
Relief—she was blind, so no spotting him.
Clang clang!
Then a huge noise from above.
Shit.
The lower Silent Girl turned toward Go Cheon-su's stairs.
Fuck...
She'd heard it clearly and started climbing.
Go Cheon-su froze, trapped.
Saeroun Juin has set a sponsorship mission.
Saeroun Juin's Mission - Stay still until the Silent Girl in front of you passes by.
🎁 Reward: One-time skill to deprive a touched target's hearing. 1-minute limit.
Mission popped. Viewers giggled—rival to Han Do-choe.
Hoo...
Go Cheon-su was losing it.
A mission?
Absurd. The approaching Silent Girl was nightmarish up close. Eyes hidden by long hair, but glimpses of snarling lips revealed razor teeth stained with blood. Normal mind couldn't handle it.
Better to dive into the escalator now.
Ugh.
Skill to deafen her? Tempting. But...
Step step.
She was nearly on him. Go Cheon-su wryly smiled.
Too late anyway.
Last one stopped his breath. She halted right in front of him.
Gulp.
Heard me?
If yes, leap to escalator. The low wall between would buy seconds.
Heard me?!
Arm's reach now. Go Cheon-su gritted teeth.
Step.
She passed a handspan away.
He couldn't even sigh.
Still close. He eyed her back.
Reward granted.
Check skill window for details.
Eons passed. Only when she vanished from sight did Go Cheon-su exhale.
"Hoo, haa."
Almost collapsed. He glanced at Yoo Young-han's remains.
"Damn."
His path was up.