TDWAD 11

TDWAD

Posted by Fahad, Released on August 9, 2025

Chapter 11

“Looks like we’re one seat short, as expected. Then let’s begin the New Humanity Association’s emergency meeting.”

The man’s expression kept shifting between a scowl and a neutral look.
Chiron pulled out his smartphone and set it in the center of the round table.

…According to police investigations, the main perpetrator of the incident has been identified as gang member Cho Mo-ssi, whose body was found in the abandoned factory. More shocking facts are being revealed one after another…

“What? Nothing shocking about that.”

“Why don’t you just get to the point?”

The members seemed uninterested.

“Whoa, what the hell?”

With wide eyes, Siren pointed at the empty seat at the table.

“Don’t tell me Hydra was Cho Mo-ssi?!”

“Correct.”

Murmurs rippled through the members.

“That’s… no way. That doesn’t make sense.”

“Oh, it makes perfect sense.”

Chiron rubbed at his brow.

“His territory, occupation, the kind of things he usually did—and most importantly, we haven’t felt his presence for several days now.”

“Maybe he just went down to the countryside?”

“Yeah, could be a coincidence.”

Chiron shook his head.

“Heard it from a reliable source. It’s definitely Cho Yong-bae. They even confirmed the body.”

“Could it be someone with the same name?”

“There’s a better chance it snowed last night.”

“It would take a military operation to kill Hydra. That kind of thing just doesn’t happen.”

“That’s why I called this meeting. One of two things is true, so let’s find out which.”

Chiron looked around at the members.
Young men and women, middle-aged men and women, even an old man with age spots.

Outwardly, they looked like ordinary upstanding citizens—but they were “rulers” who controlled various districts of Seoul.
Soon, they would control the entire nation.

“The witness requested protective custody. I hear they’re at the Major Crimes Unit now… Siren.”

“Me again?”

“Come on, who else but you?”

“I’m sick of hearing that line. You don’t have anything else?”

“…You know I love you, right?”

“Oh, shut it.”

Siren scowled and left the conference room.

“….”

Another person stood up—Eidos.
While they were walking down the corridor, Siren abruptly spun around at the sound of someone following her.

“Why are you following me?”

Eidos silently came to stand beside her.

“I’m asking you a question.”

“It could be dangerous. If something happens—”

“Why would anything happen?”

“If it does, I need to be there.”

“You and your meddling again.”

Siren sighed.

“Fine, suit yourself. I’m just wasting my breath. But at least tell me why.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling.”

“What the hell kind of—”

Siren’s scowl deepened.

“For the record, I don’t need your help. Just try and follow me.”

She shook Eidos off and headed outside.

Main road.

A car waited at a red light in the third lane.

Knock, knock.

“What is it?”

The driver looked up at Siren with a friendly smile.

“How can I help you?”

“To the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.”

The odd request made the driver tilt his head.

“What’s with this girl? The taxi stand’s over there.”

“When I say go, you go. Why are you talking so much?”

“…?”

His eyes went blank.

“I suppose I did talk too much. Please, get in.”

No resistance.

It was the same at the Major Crimes Unit.

“I’m Superintendent Kim Iknyeong from HQ.”

“Oh! Yes, sir!”

When Siren flashed an empty card wallet, the officer snapped to attention.

“The witness from the abandoned factory case—he’s inside, right?”

“Y-yes!”

“You look tired. Go take a break.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“While you’re at it, delete all the original CCTV footage here and shred the drive. Parking lot and hallway footage, too.”

“As you command.”

There wasn’t a trace of suspicion on his face.

Interrogation room.

The door banged open.

“I told you—just do something already!!”

Han Sang-il, who had been chewing his nails, sprang to his feet.

“What, are you just gonna let Cho Yong-bae’s goons kill me—huh?”

Then he froze.

She was gorgeous.

Han Sang-il was instantly disarmed and grinned like a fool.

“A pretty lady like you in Major Crimes? Are you a detective?”

“Think what you want. I’m here to hear about what happened that day.”

“I’ve already given my statement.”

“I’m not talking about the story you cooked up. I want the real thing.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“The guy who killed Cho Yong-bae.”

“Choi Ki-hyun…?”

“Put some spit in your mouth before you lie. He wasn’t human, was he?”

“…!?”

His face paled at that one line.

“Talk. What kind of guy was he?”

Siren’s voice drilled into his head—an order impossible to refuse.

“Ah…”

Han Sang-il’s eyes went glassy.

* * *

The moment Do-yoon returned home from Haenam, he sensed an unfamiliar presence.

‘It’s not Seo Hye-jin… what is this?’

Just like last time.

Judging there was no danger, he went upstairs—where a woman with an intense aura leaned against the rooftop railing, puffing smoke.

Do-yoon narrowed his eyes.

“No smoking here.”

Siren looked at the e-cigarette in her hand.

“It’s fine. It’s an e-cigarette.”

“Sure, and I guess it’ll be fine if I beat you with an e-bat too?”

“Hyun Do-yoon.”

Ignoring him, she inhaled.

“Twenty-three, convenience store part-timer. Struggling in the mud, with a dark future anyone can see. …But is that all there is to you?”

She blew a plume of vapor toward him and stared.

“Who are you?”

“You’re admitting you know nothing about me.”

“Pfft. Hey, Day-Five Newbie—did catching Cho Yong-bae make you think you own the world?”

Do-yoon’s lips pressed shut.

Hit a nerve?

‘Of course.’

From the way he had Han Sang-il in his grip that day, he must have thought he’d buried the truth in darkness.
Never imagined it would be dug up—much less that someone would track him to his home.

Siren’s pulse quickened.

This was why she always took Chiron’s requests, despite her grumbling—dealing with superior, extraordinary beings.
Her role was to teach fledgling “New Humans” their place.

“Well then. Shall we go? Out into the cold world beyond the nest.”

That thrilling moment when the hierarchy was engraved.

“Our clueless little Do-yoon—keep your mouth shut and follow me.”

Her ability activated.
The moment it was heard, every neural circuit in the brain came under attack.

[The target is attempting Mind Control.]

Like sailors lured by a mermaid’s song, the target should obey the command and nothing else.

Or at least, that was how it should work…

“…Huh?”

It was fine when he followed her expressionlessly—

But what the—

He suddenly closed the gap, ignoring any safe distance.

Zap!

Do-yoon’s hand shot out like lightning.

What… what… what the hell!?

Siren’s eyes flew wide open.

Her power… didn’t work?

Before she could process the mistake, a powerful hand clamped around her neck.

“Let… let go! I said let go!!”

Her high-pitched voice rasped from her crushed throat.

[Resisting.]
[Resisting.]
[Resisting.]
[Resisting.]

“In that case…”

Do-yoon’s blue eyes shimmered.

“…who’s the clueless one here?”

“S-save me… hurry!”

Just then—Han Sang-il burst out of the rooftop room and aimed a pistol at Do-yoon.

Bang!

Do-yoon’s Agility flared—he dodged by a hair’s breadth.
Siren used the opening to slip free and bolt.

“Good job, Han Sang-il. Now jump.”

Without a trace of doubt, he stepped over the railing.

‘Unbelievable.’

Was this seriously the choice she was giving him?

Whoosh.

Han Sang-il hurled himself forward—

“Dammit.”

Do-yoon’s hand caught his ankle mid-fall, hauling him back in.
He quickly looked down from the building—

“Whew.”

Siren hung from a protruding sign, catching her breath.

Thud.

She landed safely.

‘Got away.’

“Wh-what?! Why would I do something like that? That makes no sense…!”

“Sort through your emotions later.”

Do-yoon turned to him.

“We don’t have much time. Answer me.”

“Huh? A-answer what?”

“How far did you let her in? Exactly what did she get out of you?”

* * *

“What do you mean, your ability didn’t work?”

The New Humanity members looked grim.

“Couldn’t you be mistaken?”

From the speakerphone came Siren’s sharp voice.

Mistaken? Do you think I’d mistake something like this?

“Hyun Do-yoon, was it? Sounds like a real nuisance.”

Chiron’s gaze darkened, and the members fired off questions.

“What about Hydra? He got him, right?”

Definitely.

“What kind of guy is Hyun Do-yoon?”

He’s… weird.

“How so?”

He looks like my type, but the more I look at him, the more I hate it. Why is that?

“…?”

The members exchanged baffled looks, but Siren’s instincts were correct.

Do-yoon possessed the title [The First Purifier]—

—Increases NPCs’ wariness toward you.

Something they couldn’t guess, since they didn’t even know about status windows or players.

“Doesn’t he have some kind of weakness?”

Weakness? He’s got nothing to lose. Orphan, rock-bottom social status—urk?!

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

She lowered her phone with a trembling hand, eyes fixed across the street.

“Hy… Hyun Do-yoon…”

Got you.

She could read the words on his lips.

Shivering, Siren thought fast.

“Excuse me.”

“Y-yes?”

She grabbed a passing woman, making her eyes widen.

“No need to be so startled. I’m not gonna ask if you know the Way or anything.”

“O-okay… what is it?”

“Nothing much. Just go get hit by a car right now.”

“Alright.”

Without hesitation, the woman ran into the street.

BEEEEP!

A horn blared as a car slammed its brakes—but too late.

At the last instant, Do-yoon appeared as if crossing space itself and grabbed her.

BAM!

They were knocked clear of the lane.

“Ah…!”

Tears welled in the woman’s eyes.

‘I… I’m alive? But why did I do that?’

One thing was clear—someone had thrown himself in harm’s way to save her.

“You’re hurt, right? I’ll call 119!”

“I’m fine.”

Do-yoon turned away.

“B-but you should go to a hospital—”

A burning sensation spread inside his temples.

“…Thanks,” she called out.

His chest went cold.

‘She had no qualms about sacrificing an innocent descendant.’

Even as the car bore down, his gaze stayed locked on Siren.

‘This NPC… is a walking time bomb.’

Today it was just Han Sang-il and one passerby—but if this scaled to crowd control, the disaster would be unimaginable.

She was a seed that would grow into a great evil—one that had to be stopped early.

“Well, well. Fancy seeing you here again.”

Do-yoon climbed up to the overpass, where Siren waited at the center.

“Let’s be clear—this is all your fault.”

Her tongue darted between her smiling lips.

She was openly mocking him.

“You won’t be able to pull off a save like with Han Sang-il or just now.”

Goosebumps prickled across Do-yoon’s skin.

People on the stairs, those about to go down, others gathered at the elevator—

The veins on Siren’s neck bulged.
Her throat worked.

“Eeeeveryoooone…”

Her lips formed the words.

Could he even stop her if he lunged?

‘No.’

Could he save them all with superhuman agility?

‘Impossible.’

The fear he’d felt earlier was about to unfold into the worst-case scenario in under 30 seconds.

Do-yoon stood still, recalling why he hadn’t left Haenam despite the urgency of each passing day—

The basics of the special stat called Qi.

Without learning the process of internalizing, infusing, and releasing internal energy, he couldn’t raise his mastery of [Heavenly Fortune Sword Art].

In the past two days, he’d taken his first steps.

“Scatter and dive…”

Heavy energy surged from his danjeon.
He channeled the gathered Qi into his vocal cords—

“Do it.”

“GAAAH!!!”

Do-yoon’s lion’s roar shook the overpass.

“KYAAAAAH!”

Blood streamed from Siren’s nose and ears.
A mouthful of blood burst from her lips.

The bystanders clutched their ears and collapsed—but none as badly as Siren, who had taken the roar head-on.

‘Knew cutting off her voice was the answer.’

Do-yoon waved his hand, and blinding light coalesced in his grip.

“…Guess I should’ve trusted Eidos’ gut.”