On the Rails (4)
‘Now, let’s take a look at the rewards I’ve received.’
Go Cheon-su, grabbing the railing of the locomotive just outside, moved on to the next step.
“Skill window.”
Aggro (10 min): The more monsters targeting you, the stronger you get. Physical abilities increase by 10% of your base per monster, calculated cumulatively from activation to end.
Record Accumulation: 10% of the boost from your highest Aggro record is permanently added to your base physical abilities. This strengthens your original self and updates whenever a new record is set.
New Owner's Reward: Steal the vision of a touched target for 10 minutes, 1 use. Activation timing free. [Use]
Han Do-choe's Reward: Voice volume 7x increase for 1 minute, 1 use. Activation timing free. [Use]
The skill window displayed Go Cheon-su’s innate unique skills alongside those received from viewers all at once. The two types were distinguished by their names. Reward skills were explicitly labeled as ‘[Someone]’s Reward.’
‘They’re making sure I don’t forget who paid up.’
He’d seen them before when activating reward skills previously, but he still wasn’t used to it. Go Cheon-su turned his gaze to the viewer-given skills. [Use]. Unlike the crawler fight where it activated instantly, a button appeared next to skills that required manual activation.
“Not much longer till the small station, folks.”
Go Cheon-su said while eyeing Han Do-choe’s skill.
“Perfect timing—I was shocked it’s exactly what I need.”
“You’ll see.”
More than that, Go Cheon-su had a question.
“If Han Do-choe foresaw the future and gave me this skill, it’d be straight-up chills.”
“Hype gift? You think my big bros would waste cash on me?”
Go Cheon-su chuckled.
“New Owner probably foresaw everything too when sponsoring. Cheaper way to help me out.”
Of course, predicting all his actions perfectly to sponsor wasn’t easy. Knowing that, Go Cheon-su clenched his fist and feigned deep emotion.
“Having folks like you makes me feel unbreakable. Looking forward to more.”
The chat was in disarray. Still, Han Do-choe and New Owner stayed silent, not asserting themselves.
‘They must be baffled.’
Go Cheon-su spun his finger in the air toward the locomotive’s rear. Like a broken clock hitting the right time twice a day, any skill had its uses somewhere. Meaning Han Do-choe probably hadn’t predicted this exact situation. Go Cheon-su was just good at fitting pieces together.
‘Yeah, nailed it.’
Their silence confirmed his guess since he hadn’t spilled where he’d use it.
Go Cheon-su smirked.
‘Not just messing with them, though.’
Building this vibe beforehand tensed up Han Do-choe, New Owner, and any other watchers’ shoulders. He was nudging viewers toward useful rewards. That way, no more emotional spending sprees like last time.
“Alright, big bros, time to prep.”
Of course, no reward would go to waste on his end, words aside. With that, Go Cheon-su raised both arms and stripped off his shirt.
“Hoo.”
His upper body revealed subtle, defined muscles here and there.
“Shut-in doesn’t mean I skipped self-care.”
No drive for life, but he’d done everything possible indoors. Why? He couldn’t say exactly. Maybe he just couldn’t die feeling cheated. Like a desperate last stand.
“I’ll spill my story someday.”
As he dropped that cool line—
Click.
Something cold touched Go Cheon-su’s back.
“Gah!”
Startled by the sudden touch, he flinched. Someone else jumped back too.
“Hic...”
It was Yang Min-cheol. Go Cheon-su blanked out seeing him hastily pull back his outstretched arm.
“What the— it was you?”
“Y-yeah, it’s me.”
Yang Min-cheol stood awkwardly, arm folded in.
Go Cheon-su sighed.
“You scared the shit outta me. Why touch me?”
Yang Min-cheol flailed an explanation under Go Cheon-su’s glare.
“I-I came out and saw you shirtless, just standing there. Back to the cab, couldn’t see your face... thought something happened.”
“Ha. Nah, I’m good. But how’d you sneak up so quiet? Nearly shit myself.”
“You didn’t close the door all the way. No sound when it opened, I guess.”
Go Cheon-su glanced at the cab door, then forward.
“Min-cheol, you done talking?”
“Huh?”
“Said your piece? Go inside.”
“W-wait a sec.”
Yang Min-cheol rushed on.
“Engineer said comms aren’t connecting right. Not sure if her message got through. That’s why I came out.”
No time left then. Go Cheon-su gripped his shirt in one hand.
“Bro?”
“Min-cheol, got it—don’t worry, head in.”
Go Cheon-su’s face turned dead serious.
“Got a plan.”
“Plan?”
Yang Min-cheol looked clueless. But Go Cheon-su was firm.
“Don’t trust me? Time’s short. Stay inside.”
“Mm...”
“Now!”
Pushed by the yell, Yang Min-cheol opened the cab door and went in. Through the window, Go Cheon-su saw him blocking Jang Seo-yeon’s view—she’d just stood from the controls, probably heading out at the noise, but Yang handled it.
“Alright then.”
The small station loomed close, visible to the naked eye. Go Cheon-su activated Han Do-choe’s reward skill right away.
Duration: 00:54
Voice volume 7x. Useless normally, but perfect for Go Cheon-su—passing the station without stopping the train.
Clack-clack.
The locomotive neared the platform. Go Cheon-su peered out. Soldiers in uniform clustered there.
‘7.5 Division?’
Unclear if they were from there. Anyway, someone frantically waving a flag meant they wanted the train stopped.
Go Cheon-su drew a deep breath.
“Suuup!”
“Train breakdown!”
No hesitation—he bellowed.
“Train breakdown!”
No other words. Arms waving, he shouted.
“Train’s broken down!”
Soldiers’ eyes snapped to him, wide in shock.
Clack-clack.
It was over in a flash. The locomotive passed the platform, station behind them. Soldiers frozen, none pursuing.
Makes sense.
“They heard that clear as day.”
Train breakdown.
“Haa.”
What could they do? Delays were inevitable. No manual for this. Plus, a shirtless yeller? No quick grasp.
Good enough for Go Cheon-su.
“We passed...”
No reaction time given. Stunned or not, results mattered.
Spot-on description—Go Cheon-su let out a hollow laugh in agreement. He slipped his shirt back on and headed inside.
“Hey, you!”
Jang Seo-yeon’s nagging hit immediately.
“What’s wrong with you? Why shirtless?”
“You saw, huh.”
“You saw, huh. That’s not the point!”
She sighed long.
“How’s your voice that loud? Thought the engine blew.”
“Old-school talk much?”
He got her feelings, but he’d just done the job.
“Pulled some Aggro—they’re stumped on what to do now.”
“That a brag?”
“Damn right.”
Delaying the secondary checkpoint’s response was victory enough. Better than silent passage—they’d treat it urgent.
“They’ll say some lunatic yelled ‘train breakdown’ heading their way.”
Classic deception: look dumb on purpose.
“If that makes the checkpoint slack off even a bit, mission accomplished.”
“Accomplished my ass!”
Jang Seo-yeon looked troubled.
“They might’ve switched us to the siding thinking uncontrollable train!”
“Doesn’t matter.”
No clean pass meant siding anyway.
“Key is ‘uncontrollable train headed your way.’”
They’d prep for that for sure.
“We stop early, bypass, take the checkpoint. Worst case, secure the terrain somehow.”
“You...”
Her face hardened.
“Dead serious? Guessed it, but reckless.”
“You know it too, Jang Seo-yeon.”
No alternatives. Sandwiched between unknowns post-station.
“7.5 Division. Zero reason to call ’em friendly.”
“You got some?”
She half-joked. Go Cheon-su grinned bright.
“Same hometown folks.”
“Aigoo, so trustworthy.”
“Kidding. Judge by the facts.”
He’d shared life-and-death with Jang Seo-yeon at least. She knew he wasn’t all talk—personally killed the Silent Girl threat.
So she replied:
“Just don’t drag my ankle.”
“Wouldn’t dream.”
Go Cheon-su smiled.
“Uninvited guests like us—let’s stick together.”
The locomotive kept rolling. Shortly after the station, it passed a tunnel.
Roooar!
Noise cut in amid the dark path.
‘Zombie?’
Go Cheon-su checked outside—too dark to see. Sound alone said zombie, amplified by the tunnel.
“Guess you’re right. Tracks unmanaged here. Small station can’t be fine either.”
Jang Seo-yeon said flatly. Monsters here meant poor rail maintenance between stations. Unrealistic to expect anyway, but Go Cheon-su couldn’t afford delays before Daejeon.
‘Once in Daejeon, dig into those 7.5 Division guys first.’
Adaptation kept him busy till now, but he’d investigate properly.
‘Essential for survival ahead.’
Enemies meant intel first.
‘What’d the mayor say again?’
Jeong Chan-guk, scrambling to board, spat some ‘code.’ Go Cheon-su racked his brain. Three syllables for sure.
“Hey.”
As it clicked, Jang Seo-yeon braked and spoke.
“Stop here.”
Rail split, about ten minutes’ walk away.