The One-Way Wormhole
"This is our shelter's central command post. Once you complete the training camp enlistment procedures here, you'll be official trainees. From now on, this instructor will speak casually with the trainees."
"Brack, you know that? You're a total rules freak."
"Is that praise? Thank you."
"Ha... you stubborn bastard. Yeah, praise. Praise."
What would a building made entirely by human hands look like, after losing all modern civilization? If you imagined a wooden hut woven from trees and dried vines, or a cave dug into the earth with the entrance sealed off, you'd be wrong.
A massive structure with surprisingly sleek, sturdy outer walls welcomed us. Looking closer, I could see seams dividing the entire building into small blocks, designed for easy disassembly and reassembly.
Before that... that's all metal.
I knew from the novel's setting that those materials were lightweight yet tough alloys with complicated names. For the record, even on modern Earth, they were ridiculously expensive and a pain to process.
Why were such hard-to-work metals here on this non-Earth world? I'd find out soon enough.
"You hicks look like you've never seen KFC before. Kick! Quit gawking and follow me!"
Even inside the building, people couldn't help but glance around. No matter how you sliced it, this was the shelter's most important structure, yet it was filled with traces of modern craftsmanship everywhere. Clocks, glass, even electricity.
The people inside bustled about their work. We occasionally caught brief glances directed our way. Being here felt like stepping into some quirky Earth research lab.
If not for that eye-catching wormhole over there.
"Um... what's that? Is it some kind of magic too?"
"Ah, that? That's the dimensional gate to Earth. We didn't make it—it was already here."
"Earth! A passage to Earth?"
Everyone jumped in surprise. Except for me and the protagonist, of course. Whispers rippled through the group.
The instructor leading us wouldn't hear, but I was in the thick of it, so I caught every word. This body's hearing was sharp, too.
"What? We can go back?"
"If we go in there..."
"But it looks dangerous... What if there are side effects?"
"Come to think of it, I heard if you jump into a black hole naked, it rips you apart at the molecular level..."
"If it was as dangerous as a black hole, they wouldn't leave it out in the open without barriers. It actually looks pretty safe to me."
The wormhole really did connect to Earth. The entrance on that side was probably surrounded by a government building the moment some country spotted it. The novel didn't describe it, so I was just guessing.
"Argh! I can't live like this anymore!"
That's when it happened. Someone shoved through the crowd ahead and bolted out.
What the hell? This wasn't in the original story.
I tensed my body, ready to react to any sudden move, and eyed the guy. It was Midachi Kenji, the Japanese guy Chris had beaten the crap out of.
"Training? Combat? Why the hell should I do that shit! See ya, you bitch! I'm going back to Earth! Hahaha! You crazy bitch can get yourself killed fighting monsters!"
"Hey! No! Stop!"
Midachi Kenji spat curses at Chris—who'd pummeled him—with a look of sweet relief, then charged straight for the dimensional gate. The researchers around it tried to stop him, but he barreled through like a madman.
That's when I realized his goal.
Crazy idiot...
I foresaw what came next and pinched my forehead in secondhand embarrassment.
Midachi Kenji made it close to the gate and dramatically hurled himself toward it. His body sliced through the air and hit the gate...
Thud crash!
"Keh-hek!"
...only to smash face-first into the floor behind it. The gate remained unchanged, right where it was.
"Puhahaha! Ahahaha!! Did you hear that? 'I'm going to Earth!' So damn cool. Puhahat!!"
"Heehee..."
"Khkh..."
The one laughing her ass off was, naturally, Chris. Honestly, even I could barely hold it in. Midachi's baffled face planted on the floor was just too much.
It was so ridiculous that even some researchers who'd come to gawk covered their mouths, chuckling.
"Hey, you never disappoint! I half-expected it, but you went and did exactly that? Fucking hilarious. My eyes are still tearing up. Khihik!"
"H-how... You said it connected to Earth... You! You tricked me! You goddamn bitch!"
His face turned beet red—whether from rage, pain, or humiliation, it was flushed dark crimson as he screamed. The impact had started a nosebleed too.
A few researchers couldn't hold back and collapsed in laughter.
"...Whew. As I was about to say, this dimensional gate is one-way. You can only go from Earth here. Think of it less as a gate and more like an entrance with no exit."
"See? Worth holding my tongue. This moron's got zero awareness—figured he was cannon fodder, but this is gold! Full circle to liking you now. Wow... Can't wait for training already. You're my plaything starting today. Got it?"
"P-plaything...? How can you say that to a person..."
"What'd you call me earlier...? Bitch? Crazy bitch? Drop dead? Think I'll beat you just like two hours ago?"
"H-ha... but... I thought that was your nickname..."
"Right, we're so close we exchange nicknames? Why don't we drop the formalities while we're at it, you fucking prick?"
"...I'll do it... plaything..."
Midachi Kenji hung his head and slunk back into the group of prospective trainees.
The central command building had three above-ground floors. Following the instructors up to the top one, we reached a room that screamed "important people inside." Unlike the other doors with a single panel, this one had double doors.
Knock knock knock!
"Come in."
Creeeak...
The room was huge. Even packed with fifty people, it felt spacious.
"Welcome. You must be this batch's trainees?"
"Prospective ones, still."
"Haha. Right you are."
Classic Anglo-American. Neatly combed-back sporty cut with chin-curtain beard from sideburns to jawline. The epitome of a handsome aging Westerner.
"Our shelter welcomes you all."
The man spotted me and gave a light smile. I was floored.
*
"Nice to see you again."
"Such an impressive figure?"
"Haha. I'm just curious by nature. I come greet new batches every month."
"Doctor, physicist, biologist... The shelter leader is incredible."
"Grateful the university let me get my degrees simultaneously."
I'd complimented his genius, but he credited the generous university. No ordinary person could snag even one degree with permission like that. His genius and humility had earned him the leadership role willingly.
"Don't call me shelter leader—Doctor works. Everyone does. It's a nickname I like."
"Doctor suits you."
"Right? Hahaha."
This was the guy who'd investigated my background when I first entered the novel. The one who'd quietly suggested I drop combat duty out of consideration. Who knew he was the shelter leader? An unmentioned Easter egg.
I had to use my traits to quickly suppress my shock after seeing his face.
"Anyway, fascinating. The gate's one-way, but communication with Earth works."
"Oh! Interested? It's because physical forces from Earth toward the gate persist! Toss an apple at the gate from Earth, and one flies out here with momentum. Electricity's just electron flow—a physical phenomenon—so we apply that for one-way wired..."
"Haha..."
"Ah, sorry. Philosophy major, right? Not your thing... I get carried away sometimes."
I shrugged to show it was no big deal. Small talk was fine, but I needed to wrap this up quick—people were waiting behind me.
"So, as you said: from Seoul, Korea. No assets left behind... No friends or parents to send regards to... Correct?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... Really nothing? Seems like there's a story there. Miss this chance, and Earth ties are cut for good. Comm gear's for official use only."
"It's fine."
"...Understood. Then, Park Chanyoung, you're officially a trainee from now."
COMPLETED
Content: Receive assignment to the combat division.
Reward: 50 Karma.
Failure Penalty: Restart from the beginning.
50 Karma obtained!
Finally, the first quest complete. Seeing the message made it feel like I'd taken my first real step. I wanted to check what I could do with the Karma right away, but I tamped down my excitement, bid the Doctor farewell, and left the room.
"See you when there's a chance."
"Yes. Stay safe, Park Chanyoung."
*
"Huff... huff..."
Panting voices came from everyone but me. After finishing enlistment, we headed to the training camp. It was on the shelter's outskirts, farthest north. The shelter was shockingly vast. With population growing by a hundred monthly, it made sense.
Even after trudging three or four hours from the central command post, the camp wasn't in sight. Everyone looked beat. We traveled light—just issued canteens, no packs—so no stragglers...
Surprisingly, I was holding up fine. My trait's recovery outpaced the stamina drain from walking.
Throat parched, though. I wanted to chug the canteen, but with no clue how much farther, I sipped sparingly.
"Short break! Depart in ten minutes, same as before!"
"Ugh!"
Plop! Men and women alike collapsed in the middle of the path.
I was just lightly winded, so standing and catching my breath sufficed.
During the remaining ten minutes, I scanned the surroundings. The outer buildings differed sharply from the sleek central residential quality. These were slapped together from raw logs, screaming hasty construction.
Glances... People living here eyed us curiously. We were definitely nearing the outskirts now. Dingy facilities, ragged clothes, skinny limbs from malnutrition... Low-rankers lived on the edges, it seemed.
Above all, their eyes lacked spark. Just rejection, exclusion toward us. A hint of fear too.
It made sense. Even as raw trainees now, in three months we'd outrank them untouchably.
"A safe life at rock-bottom standards, or risking death for top-tier treatment... A choice between those."
"They're not wrong. Just chose and accepted the consequences."
I startled at the voice beside me and turned. Had to school my face to hide the shock.
Lee Kangin!... Why are you here?
The one who'd spoken was this novel's protagonist—and regressor—Lee Kangin.