Chapter 04 …
Drip.
A thick cloud of dust hung in the air.
I barely managed to open my eyes amidst the chaos that had erupted in an instant.
“Cough…”
I coughed lightly and surveyed my surroundings.
How did this happen all of a sudden? I staggered among the fallen debris, turning my head.
“…What…”
The restaurant was in ruins. I tried to steady my breathing as I assessed the scene.
“…Ah! Teacher…!”
I spotted my teacher collapsed nearby and hurried over to her.
She had lost consciousness. I checked her pulse—thankfully, she wasn’t dead.
I quickly lifted her onto my back.
[■ Survive.]
I suddenly noticed the system window floating beside me. It had appeared just before the chaos erupted.
“…A quest, right?”
What’s a quest, and what does that message mean?
I had never even heard of a quest. It felt like yet another strange event repeating itself.
‘What’s happening?’
I didn’t understand the situation at all.
I clenched my teeth.
‘Survive?’
That was something I wanted more than anything.
At that moment.
“Hey…!”
A voice rang out. I turned my gaze and saw someone trapped under debris on my left, desperately calling out.
“Please… save me…!”
It was the restaurant owner.
I sprang into action immediately.
“Are you okay?”
“My… my leg…”
‘Damn.’
Her leg was trapped under debris. What should I do? I reached out to lift it.
Whoosh—!
“…Huh…!”
It lifted more easily than I expected. I was taken aback, almost unconsciously.
‘Is this because of my awakening?’
Maybe my strength had increased from becoming a superhuman. They said something about the “story harmonization rate,” but it seemed my power had indeed grown.
After clearing the debris, I supported the collapsed owner.
“Ugh…!”
“Hang in there a little longer.”
I helped her while shifting my gaze to the restaurant’s entrance and exit, which were also blocked by debris. Judging by the aftermath, it seemed caused by the explosion.
‘Over there.’
Thankfully, another exit was visible. I headed in that direction.
It was cramped, so I had to move my feet carefully.
Bang—!!
I kicked aside some debris; the wall cracked and then crumbled.
I was trying to apply my increased strength—and it worked.
“…Done.”
An exit was cleared. I stepped outside and saw…
Screeeeeech—!!
Wheeeeee—!!!
The outside was already chaos.
“An ambulance…! Hurry, an ambulance…!”
“My child is still inside…!”
“Ugh…!”
Sobs and screams filled the air as I looked up at the building.
‘…Oh my God.’
The entire first floor I had been on was destroyed, and the upper floors were cracked or burning heavily.
How did this happen? Why did this building suddenly explode?
As I pondered, the restaurant owner I was supporting murmured,
“T-terror… It’s a terror attack…”
“…Terror attack?”
Hearing that, news reports came to mind—the recent terrorist incidents happening worldwide.
‘…Unregistered superhumans’ terror attacks.’
I bit my lip.
I carried the restaurant owner to a safe location and set her down.
“Student… thank… thank you.”
“No problem. They said the ambulance will be here soon.”
I glanced around.
‘…It’s a mess.’
The building was burned and cracked.
‘Damn it.’
I thought about the people still trapped inside. Should I go rescue them? I hesitated for a moment, but then…
[■ Survive.]
The system window kept flashing in front of me, reminding me to survive.
It felt like it was telling me,
‘Don’t go in.’
Don’t go back in. It’s dangerous; focus on survival.
“…Yeah.”
It was right. It would be dangerous to go inside. What could I possibly do there?
‘The ambulance and superhumans will arrive soon.’
So there was nothing for me to do.
‘I can’t die.’
I had work to do, so I couldn’t die.
I thought that and prepared to move to a safer spot, but then…
“My… my child is still inside…!”
“Damn it…! People are still inside! When will the rescue team come?!”
The voices reached my ears.
Though they weren’t directly related to me, as a superhuman my hearing picked them up clearly.
[■ Survive.]
“….”
I brushed my hair back with trembling fingers.
[■ Warning.]
[■ Survive.]
“….”
The repeated notifications confirmed it: the system wanted me to survive. It kept flashing because it wanted me alive.
Even though I understood that,
Mom… I’m scared…
A voice reached me.
[■ Survive.]
Another alarm appeared.
Waaahhh…
The crying continued. I carefully set down the teacher I was carrying.
Immediately after:
“Ah, damn it.”
“Student? Student!!”
My thigh moved involuntarily.
Jinwoo.
My parents had said this to me countless times:
Cherish your life.
They wanted me to value myself, not live just for others.
It was ironic. The people who lived most selflessly saying such things.
Maybe because they lived that way, they wanted me to live differently.
‘If that were the case…’
I should have made different choices at the end. That was all they left me with.
‘How could I have known another way?’
It was frustrating. Look at me now.
“This idiot.”
I cursed myself, yet continued like this.
“Damn stupid idiot…”
I cursed again and again, endlessly.
The smell of burning and falling debris made my body tremble.
‘I don’t want to die either.’
I wanted to live. More than anyone. How could I waste a chance like this?
I had things I had to do if I survived. That was why I was still alive.
“…Damn it.”
I was an utter fool.
Crack—!
I lifted the debris in front of me and cleared it.
“Are you there?”
“Gah!”
A person trembling inside looked at me in surprise.
“Get down quickly. It’s dangerous.”
“Th…thank you…!”
I rescued one more person. My body moved as I spoke.
I continued searching the ruined building, finding and rescuing others.
[■ Survive.]
The alerts kept flashing in front of me.
“Shut up.”
Does it think someone doesn’t want to live?
[■ Survive.]
Ah, I couldn’t turn it off? I just wanted to shut it down.
‘…Fourth floor.’
In a ten-story building, the fire was on the sixth floor, and smoke filled the building.
‘When will the rescue team arrive…?’
If the rescue team were awakened superhumans, they should have been here by now. Somehow, the response seemed slow.
“Phew.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and moved cautiously.
I looked around.
‘…It’s really dangerous if I go up further.’
With the building shaking and smoke thickening, going up would be deadly.
It was time to descend. I had to abandon the arrogance of thinking I could save everyone.
Then:
Mom…
“….”
The cry was clearer this time.
“…Just one more.”
[■ Survive.]
I ignored the alert again.
6th Floor.
I finally reached the source of the fire.
Flames roared continuously.
“Ugh.”
I hesitated against the heat but pushed forward.
Huh…
The crying was close.
‘Here it is.’
Where exactly? Where should I go?
Mmm… mmm.
I pricked up my ears and located the source.
I turned sharply. A metal door appeared ahead. I kicked it with all my strength.
Bang—!
The door flew open with a loud crash.
Flames licked inside.
I saw one thing immediately.
“Waaahhh…”
A little girl was trapped under a fallen desk, crying.
“…Are you okay?”
I approached her. She looked at me, terrified. Probably no more than five years old.
“Come on… let’s go to your mom.”
“Mom…?”
Her eyes lit up at the mention of her mother. I carefully picked her up. She didn’t resist. I exhaled, holding her small hands around my neck.
It was time to move.
We had to push through the flames and descend.
Flames roared, black smoke obscuring vision.
Where did the explosion originate? What was the terrorist’s motive? Why target this building?
I wondered:
‘…Did they just want to cause an explosion?’
Was this meaningless chaos without any purpose?
[■ Survive.]
The alert flashed again.
[■ Survive.]
[■ Survive.]
[■ Survive.]
[■ Survive.]
[■ Survive.]
[■ Survive…]
The alarms screamed relentlessly.
‘Why—’
No time to think. I held the child and ducked.
Boom—!!!
“…Guh!?”
A massive wave of heat swept overhead.
Boom—!!!
I felt wind from the blast behind me. A hole had been blown in the wall, flames everywhere.
‘This is…’
I widened my eyes and faced forward.
“Oh, crap.”
Someone was there.
“Dodged, huh?”
Chills ran down my spine. Cold sweat dripped down my face.
“I didn’t expect you to dodge… How did you do that?”
“…Who are you?”
“Ahahaha.”
The masked figure laughed.
“If I were going to tell you, do you think I’d wear this mask?”
“….”
True. I said nothing.
“Wait a minute.”
“Eek…”
I set the child down and grabbed a nearby broken plank.
“Oh?”
The masked figure reacted when I lifted it.
“Trying to fight? Stop. You’ll die.”
“If I don’t fight and just run, you’ll let me go?”
“Oh.”
Chuckle. His laughter echoed in my ears.
“You’re sharp, and spirited. A superhuman, huh?”
“….”
“What’s your rank…? You must have just awakened since I don’t recognize your face. Too bad.”
Flames engulfed his hand. Fire.
‘The one who set this building ablaze.’
He was the mastermind behind this incident.
“If you survive, you might be useful.”
His hand opened.
Whoosh!!!
Flames shot out. I rolled on the ground just in time.
I dodged the fire sweeping the floor and lunged at him, swinging the plank.
“Huff.”
I swung with all my might.
The plank flew…
“…Ah, I see.”
Crack—!
It hit his moving arm and broke easily.
“I said just run.”
The broken plank flew through the air, and I followed it with my eyes.
No.
“Gah!”
I was lifted into the air by a blow.
Thud—!!
I fell to the floor with the plank.
“Ugh…”
Pain hit late; I clutched my abdomen. The solar plexus? My bones ached. Something felt broken.
“Huff… huff.”
Breathing was difficult. I had been overpowered.
‘Superhuman, my ass…’
I had thought I was stronger. I could break doors and save people.
‘…Pathetic.’
In reality, he was a monster capable of demolishing the entire building.
‘How strong is he?’
His rank must be unimaginably high. I dared to swing a plank at him—a foolish arrogance.
“Ugh…”
“Oof?”
Still, I got back up.
“Phew…”
“…Wow. You’re getting up again?”
I knew it was impossible.
Still, I had to try.
“Wanna run now?”
Tempting words.
“Hahaha…”
I laughed. Would he actually let me go if I ran? Maybe I could survive.
“…Not a chance.”
I erased the thought instantly and stared at him.
“Hmm.”
He brushed his mask against his face.
“Really a pity.”
Once more, his hand was engulfed in flames.
“I’d like to negotiate a bit… but looking at your eyes, that won’t work… time’s almost up, so nothing can be done.”
Fire.
I had to dodge. I couldn’t defeat him yet, but I had to survive.
As I assessed my escape path and tensed my legs…
“Here, a gift.”
He shot flames—toward the ceiling this time.
“…Crazy…!!”
Beneath the flames, the child was there.
Crack—!!!
Debris collapsed.
“Waaahhh—!!”
The child cried.
Thud.
Debris fell, and I spat out some saliva.
I blocked the falling rubble with my back. The child was in front.
“You okay?”
“Ugh… sob…”
I forced a smile while holding the crying child.
“Just as I thought.”
Voices sounded behind me.
“Figures. There are always those types. They can’t even handle themselves, yet meddle in others’ business.”
“…You.”
“Truly… useless people.”
The masked figure waved his hand, directing flames toward me and the child.
“Stop…! Ugh…!”
Debris threatened to bury us.
I tensed my veins and said to the child,
“Quick… get out…!”
“Sniff…”
The child trembled, tears streaming down her face.
‘Damn…’
I clenched my teeth. We couldn’t hold out much longer.
[■ Survive.]
The unyielding system alarmed again.
I wanted to ask:
‘…How?’
How could we survive? There was no method.
It was too heavy. We wouldn’t last long—maybe a minute at most.
‘Ah.’
I thought I might die. I focused all my strength and said to the child again,
“…Run… quickly….”
[■ Survive.]
“No time… get down…!”
“Sniff…!”
“Now. Let’s end this.”
Flames surged.
My energy drained completely.
[■ Survive…]
Static appeared on the system window.
Then:
I cannot understand.
A voice sounded. Time seemed to stop.
‘Huh?’
Flames were in front of me—but they seemed frozen.
Why have you returned?
The tone was puzzled.
You could have survived if you ran initially. Why come back?
‘…Is this to me?’
Weird. Was this a vision before death? Or had I gone mad?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
Answer.
Why didn’t you run?
‘….’
Why didn’t I run? I thought I was foolish too.
The reason was clear.
‘…Because it’s embarrassing.’
Huh?
‘If I knew I had to save someone, running would be too humiliating.’
I had to save the people. Even though I knew they might die, I couldn’t run.
‘…Better to die than run and live in shame.’
I wanted to survive. To live desperately, but not like this.
Is that so?
The voice grew heavy.
Do you have no regrets?
Regrets?
‘Too many.’
Many, countless.
‘…But this is better.’
Was it a comfort for me, or did it truly think that?
I wasn’t sure, but I knew one thing.
‘This was inevitable.’
Even if I went back, I wouldn’t have chosen differently.
Ha.
The old man laughed.
A pitiful answer. Powerless conviction is arrogance and recklessness.
The tone was mocking.
But:
First, I’ll be satisfied you didn’t run away shamefully.
He wiped his smile and spoke bluntly.
Take this.
[■ Hidden Quest Completed.]
[■ Reward: Story Harmonization Rate Increased.]
[■ Harmonization Rate +3%.]
[■ Story Harmonization Rate Increased.]
[■ Acquired Simgong: Pacheon Gong.]
Alarms rang repeatedly.
Somehow, my stomach felt warm.
Something stirred beneath my navel.
[■ Pacheon Gong Activated.]
[■ Pacheon Gong Activated; Acquired Pacheon Martial Art.]
[■ Pacheon Martial Art (破天武) Activated.]
This is it.
My body moved on its own. Time began to move again.
Flames surged over me.
This is the path you must walk.
A small tremor followed.
Thump—!
“Eh?”
With the masked figure’s word, a shockwave burst through the surrounding area.
