TDWAD 13

TDWAD

Posted by Fahad, Released on August 9, 2025

Chapter 13

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing the Seoul skyline through a panoramic window.

Beyond the glittering forest of skyscrapers flowed the steady currents of the Han River.

“Looks like it’s a bumper year for showing off wealth.”

At Do-yoon’s remark, Chiron let out a small chuckle.

“Do you know how many financial companies have their signs up around here?”

“Should I?”

“This building alone houses eleven. If you knew how much we pull in, you’d call us frugal instead.”

Chiron was the only one smiling. The other members simply exchanged cold glances.

What, is he by himself?
How big is that kid’s ego supposed to be?
He’s way too young.
Age doesn’t matter. If you realize it first, you’re the senior.

Chiron gestured.

“This way. Let’s talk in the meeting room.”

Do-yoon glanced over the New Humanity Association members before following him.

A ceiling lit by crystal chandeliers.

A long marble table stretching across the room.

Not a round table. Well, that’s probably reserved for members only.

The place felt oddly familiar.

The 4th-turn regressor had once sat in this very seat.

Do-yoon turned his head.

A man with a languid expression was resting his chin in his palm, staring at him.

Member name: Morpheus. Type…

According to [Surviving as an Unawakened Player by Pretending to be an NPC]:

A growth type—low starting stats but excellent potential. Non-combat.

He could enter others’ dreams to steal information or plant desires and fears deep in their unconscious.

In the 4th turn, his end had been “sudden death due to sleep apnea.”

Members had accepted it as fitting for him, but in reality, it was the regressor’s doing.

Both the regressor and Do-yoon had forced their way into the Association without an invitation—
but unlike the regressor, Do-yoon had already destroyed two members, and everyone knew it.

“Let’s be honest.”

Chiron spoke.

“Whether you diced Hydra sashimi-style or dunked her in sauce, I don’t care.”

“…No sense of camaraderie here?”

“The New Humanity Association isn’t a sandcastle held together by personal feelings. And Hydra… she had it coming. Her own karma. As for Siren…”

Chiron’s face dimmed slightly.

“Unfortunate. But if you run around recklessly, you’re bound to meet your match.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“We only care about one thing—whether Hyun Do-yoon is useful to the Association or not. …I’ll be direct.”

Chiron leaned forward, fingers laced together.

“What exactly are you? I’m talking about your ability.”

The moment he asked, possible answers flickered through Do-yoon’s mind.

What the regressor did back then…

At the time, the 4th-turn regressor wasn’t awakened.
The moment he saw the “N” of NPC, he had to run for his life.

Yet he leveraged his unique advantage to con the Association completely—
by posing as a prophet.

A man who shamelessly broke the regressor’s greatest taboo.

He stored every detail from the 3rd-turn timeline and recited it like scripture.
His incredible memory was packaged as the “ability to foresee up to three days ahead.”

The members, not wanting to cut open the goose that laid golden eggs, protected him fiercely—
even volunteering to shield him personally.

And because his “ability manifestation” came before Awakening Day, no one ever suspected he wasn’t an NPC.

I could do it too… but do I need to?

One card had already been revealed. Just one more would complete the picture.

“Phew.”

Feeling his internal energy rise from deep in his core, Do-yoon pulled out his answer sheet.

—My ability is…

“…!?”

The voice entered their ears and resonated deep in their skulls.

Everyone’s expression changed. Was this a hallucination?

—Don’t be so surprised. It’s not a mass delusion.

The members looked around, bewildered.

—Over here.

Do-yoon waved.

The members’ heads turned and froze.

“I knew it!”

Chiron clapped his hands.

“You can manipulate sound waves at will—create shockwaves, or precisely deliver sound to a specific person.”

…Wrong. It’s called “Secret Voice Transmission.”

A martial arts technique that sends one’s voice through internal energy.
Technically, anyone with at least 1 point of Qi could do it—
but to NPCs, it was impressive.

“A combat type and a non-combat type in one?!”
“You could block sound too—perfect for taking down a Siren…”
“If used well, it could fill the vacant spot completely.”

The hostility in the air thinned, replaced by heat in their eyes.

Except for one.

“We’ll see. It’s interesting, but I’ll reserve judgment until I see it myself.”

“That’s only fair.”

Nine pairs of eyes fixed on Do-yoon—
then shifted, focusing together on one spot.

“Then let’s begin.”

Do-yoon knew.

Even without the sense of danger clinging to his back…

[‘Killing Intent Detection (A)’ activated.]
[Detected killing intent: NPC, stealth skill user.]
[Killing intent grade: A.]

Even without the survival trait’s warning, Do-yoon knew.

Wait—nine? That’s not the right number.

Shhhk—

A silver flash came from above.

Do-yoon sprang from his chair just in time—
the blade missed his neck by a hair, leaving a cold trail.

Shhh, shhh, shhh!

Three throwing knives followed immediately.
Do-yoon bent backward at an almost impossible angle, dodging them—
then sensed another attacker rushing in.

An invisible blade came down at his thigh—

Clang!

He spread his legs into a diamond shape and fell back,
the dagger gouging the marble instead of flesh.

Clang, clang, clang!

Marble dust flew as Do-yoon slid back, arms moving fluidly.

“Mind taking it easy?”

Chiron clicked his tongue, then shrugged.

“The shine’s all gone. Guess we can use it as a grill for pork belly now.”

No more room to retreat.

“Uhh?”

Do-yoon dropped under the table.

The members’ faces flickered with disappointment—

Until—

Shhhhk!

From the front?

No—Do-yoon read the air currents and tilted his head up toward the ceiling.

“Haaah!!”

The lion’s roar shook the room.
The members felt it—a chilling wave sweeping past them.

And then they saw it—
four streams of blood erupting from empty air.

What they didn’t see was Do-yoon, hidden in the blind spot,
slamming an internal-energy-packed fist upward.

“Urghhh!”

With a spray of blood, a blurry figure appeared—
Eidos, his stealth broken, coughing violently.

“Oh?”

Chiron gave a thumbs-up.

“Pass.”

The others nodded.

“Eidos, taken down so easily? He hits harder than he looks.”
“Stealth or not, just smashes through. And it’s AoE? Nice.”
“Useful guy.”

“Alright, let’s vote.”

All hands went up.

“Approved.”
“Same.”
“Any reason to oppose?”

“Then it’s settled.”

Chiron stood, bringing wine and glasses.

Pour.

Blood-red liquid swirled.

“Take it.”

“…?”

“Just take it.”

He placed the glass in Do-yoon’s hand and pulled out something like a thick pen.

“Relax, it’s not a poisoned needle.”

He pricked his own finger and pressed the drop of blood into the wine.

“Drink it down.”

“…Shouldn’t you explain first?”

“Ugh.”

Eidos raised his head.

“This is the tricky part,” Chiron said.

“You only earn the right to know the secret after you drink. But once you drink, there’s no point explaining.”

“Don’t… do it…” Eidos rasped.

“If you had reservations, you shouldn’t have come.”

Ignoring him, Chiron tilted the glass toward Do-yoon.

“So—are you joining the Association? Then drink.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then we’ll just… develop some personal grudges.”

“Why not just pull a knife instead?”

Do-yoon tilted the glass.

“No! It’s poison—!”

The glass touched his lips.

Eidos’s body began to fade—

Gulp.

The wine and blood slid down his throat.

[‘Blood Bond’ begins to bind you.]
[Joined: Level 3 Clan (12/12).]
[Can roughly sense the location and condition of clan members.]

Even without seeing, he could hear.
Even without hearing, he could feel—
the presence of clan members, bound by threads of fate.

Even as Eidos’s blade cut the air toward him, Do-yoon didn’t move.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed.

“Arghhh!”

The outline of a man appeared, dripping red.

[Any attempt to harm a clan member is reflected equally back at the attacker.]
[Tip: To leave ‘Blood Bond,’ perform the Release Ritual with the clan leader’s approval.]

“Hyun… Do… Yoon…!”

Eidos’s blood-choked scream rang out.

“This isn’t over! I’ll get Siren’s blood price!”

“…Were you two that close?”

Chiron’s expression turned strange.

“So you opposed because of revenge. Doesn’t matter. You see that?”

Do-yoon looked at Eidos.

“See what?”

“The stab you were supposed to get—Eidos took it. So forget the blood price thing.”

“That’s your ability?”

“Yeah, now you get it.”

Chiron spread his arms.

“Forget everything else. You only need me. I’m the foundation and the rock of this Association.”

“If you say so.”

“Hm?”

A fleeting doubt crossed his eyes.

“By the way, what’s my member name?”

“Oh, right. You get one now that you’re officially in.”

Chiron’s lips moved.

“…Hercules.”

“Eh? That’s a bit…”

The members frowned.

“Too high-tier.”
“Hero names are overkill.”

“Hercules killed Hydra, you mythology-illiterate fools. And who else here made the 9 o’clock news? …Wait.”

Chiron tilted his head.

“How did you know we were twelve? Did Hydra tell you?”

Here ended the path pioneered by the 4th-turn regressor—

—Surviving as an Unawakened Player by Pretending to be an NPC

When Chiron gives you a name, bow in all four directions and thank him like your life depends on it.
These clowns can be turned into hounds—or meat shields.

The author doesn’t need to explain why this is useful.
Just remember: until you quit, you are an NPC.

Final tip: Think like an NPC. Act like an NPC.

The idea of spending the early game safely under the wing of an NPC clan—
That was part of how the regressor grew so fast.

But Do-yoon was not a regressor.
A descender has their own path.