Player of the Ruined World – Chapter 007
When they arrived at the fourth-floor unit where his wife and child were hiding, Park Sangil dropped the long kitchen knife he was holding and choked up.
Seeing that his family was safe, his emotions seemed to overflow.
The family embraced each other tightly, shedding tears of relief.
Only then did Sangil finally relax. He turned toward Doyoon and spoke.
“Thank you… really, thank you so much.”
“You can thank me later. This place isn’t safe.”
At that, Park Sangha, standing behind him, tilted his head.
“Is there somewhere safe?”
“I’ve cleared out an area. Let’s head there.”
Without further explanation, Doyoon led them through the rain to his hideout.
After about three minutes of walking—
They froze at the sight of over a dozen zombies gathered on the first floor.
Doyoon raised a finger to his lips, signaling them to stay silent, then gestured for them to follow.
Suppressing their footsteps, they entered the villa behind him.
As soon as they reached the fourth-floor unit, Doyoon tossed his soaked padded jacket onto the balcony and checked outside.
No zombies. No survivors.
Just in case, he drew the curtains.
The books taped around his forearms and shins were completely soaked and soggy.
They were only getting in the way now, so he tore them off.
Only then did his limbs feel lighter.
Removing his gloves, he checked his hands—his fingers and knuckles were swollen and red.
At least the gloves hadn’t been pierced.
“Now, explain.”
A man’s voice came from behind.
Turning around, Doyoon met Park Sangil’s gaze.
Moments ago, he had been tearfully grateful. Now, his expression held tension.
He was wary—perhaps suspecting ulterior motives.
Had he been betrayed by survivors before?
Doyoon wasn’t particularly good at conversation, but the tense atmosphere needed easing.
After a deep breath, he spoke calmly.
“Is that your son?”
He pointed at the child.
Sangil nodded, subtly shielding the woman and child behind him.
Why so cautious?
Watching someone crush zombies up close must have left an impression.
“I’m not here to hurt you, so relax. Right now, we need to work together.”
“….”
“You’ve all seen the episode notification, right? There’s not much time left. The first main episode will begin soon.”
“How can you stay so calm?”
“Do I look calm?”
Doyoon gave a bitter smile, showing the blisters on his palms.
His lips were purple from the rain, his face pale and exhausted.
That was his current state.
Sangil scanned him from head to toe, then swallowed.
“What’s your name?”
“Baek Doyoon. You’re Park Sangil, right?”
“…Yes.”
“And they’re your family.”
Sangil glanced at Sangha.
Sangha gave a wry smile.
“I told them. He’s the one who saved all of us—me, you, Sanghoon, sister-in-law, and Gyeongseo.”
“….”
Doyoon sighed softly.
“If you want to protect your family, listen carefully.”
Doyoon explained that this world was based on a game called No Way Home.
He kept it general—just the framework, withholding details as insurance.
Only enough for them to understand.
Sangil frowned.
“You expect us to believe something that ridiculous?”
“And suddenly being summoned into the streets isn’t ridiculous?”
“….”
“What about the zombies?”
Sangil ran a hand through his hair, conflicted.
Sangha stepped in.
“Hyung, what he’s saying isn’t wrong.”
“…What’s your basis?”
“It matches the messages we saw.”
He wiped his glasses and asked,
“Baek Doyoon, right?”
“Yes.”
“Can you explain more?”
“What part?”
“So… we’re inside a game?”
“Not inside. More like reality has been terraformed using the game as a base.”
Sangha stroked his chin, thinking.
Then asked,
“So you know what happens next?”
“Yes.”
“How far?”
“Far enough to survive to the end.”
A roundabout way of saying he had cleared the game.
Then the youngest, Sanghoon, spoke.
“If you survived to the end… doesn’t that mean you saw the ending? Then you know how to end all this?”
“If it follows the game’s scenario… yes.”
Sanghoon looked between his brothers.
“We should stick with him.”
Sangil stared at Doyoon.
“Isn’t that information too easily given?”
“No point hiding it.”
“….”
“I can’t clear everything alone. I need you.”
“….”
“To progress and survive—we need a party.”
As a Buster, early survival required strong allies.
And later… some episodes couldn’t be cleared alone.
Sangil still looked skeptical.
“We met ten minutes ago. What makes you think we’re reliable?”
“You brought a child.”
“….”
“I like responsible people. That proves everything—strength, guts, mentality, humanity.”
“We’re family. In danger, we might abandon you.”
Doyoon smiled faintly.
“I know. That’s why I like it.”
“…What?”
“Because I know you won’t.”
“You’re that confident?”
“Yes. I know the ending.”
“….”
“Why do you think I told you all this?”
“….”
“I need you. And you need me to survive.”
Silence.
Sangil asked,
“How do we know you’re telling the truth?”
“The first episode—Safehouse.”
“…What?”
“That’s tomorrow morning’s episode.”
He shrugged casually.
Sangha grabbed Sangil’s arm.
“He saved us. No need to doubt further.”
“….”
“This isn’t trust—it’s mutual survival.”
“….”
“We won’t betray him because of the information. And he needs us too.”
“….”
“You saw him fight. That’s not normal.”
“….”
“If he meant harm, he wouldn’t have saved us.”
Sangil slowly nodded.
Sangha continued,
“We can’t abandon him even if it gets dangerous.”
“….”
“And he only told us the basics because of that.”
“….”
“This is the best partnership we can get.”
Doyoon agreed.
If they didn’t trust him, they could leave.
That was his way.
Sangil finally sighed deeply.
It was obvious why he was so guarded—
‘He has a wife and child.’
As the eldest, the burden was heavier.
Doyoon liked that.
But the one who stood out most—
‘The second brother is sharp.’
Quick judgment. Calm thinking.
Essential for survival.
And the youngest could mediate between them.
Sanghoon smiled.
“Ah, I’m Park Sanghoon.”
“Baek Doyoon.”
“How old are you?”
“28.”
“Hey, same age.”
“Is that so?”
Sanghoon was 28, Sangha 33, Sangil 35.
They had gathered for a family trip when all this happened.
Their hometown wasn’t Seoul—likely their parents were elsewhere.
No need to pry further.
Then the woman spoke.
“Gyeongseo, say hello.”
The child hesitated but stepped forward.
“…Hello.”
“What’s your name?”
“Park Gyeongseo…”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Uncle Doyoon.”
She blushed and hid behind her mother.
A shy kid.
Her mother smiled.
“I’m Kim Heeju.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You said you know how to end this?”
“Yes.”
“And after the emergency episode… the Safehouse?”
“Yes.”
“Is it really safe?”
“It needs to be secured first. Since this is reality, there may be differences from the game.”
She nodded.
Doyoon continued,
“I want to team up because of the second episode.”
“The second?”
“It’s about recruiting allies.”
“….”
“Once survivors gather at the Safehouse, that episode begins.”
“Then we can clear it easily.”
Sangil asked,
“Mind if we speak casually?”
“Go ahead.”
“What character did you pick?”
“Buster.”
“…Buster?”
“Yeah.”
“Was that even an option?”
They didn’t know Buster.
No one did.
Doyoon narrowed his eyes.
‘Wait…’
Maybe people who didn’t know the game couldn’t choose Buster.
Otherwise, they’d die early.
It seemed the system had restricted it for beginners.
