TDWAD 16

Chapter 16

[The flashlight pierces the darkness…]
[The hidden monstrosity reveals its true form…]

A stark white light shone outside the train window.
Within the circle cast by the flashlight, sticky, crawling letters appeared in a disturbing script.

• Domain of the Black Ghost.

• Abominations drawn to the emanating noise.

Grim as it sounded, it was still trustworthy information—
Maybe even more reliable than what the status window provided.

[Aggregated forms of vengeful spirits, lingering souls, and earthbound ghosts.]
[The tunnel’s malevolent spirits are running wild!]

‘So, they’re basically like… extras tagging along.’
Do-yoon’s eyes flicked slightly.
A blue status window hung beside the window.

[Toy Repairman’s Tool Belt (S)]:
<Conductor of Madness>
<Owner of the Galaxy-Class Bad Taste>
<Second place in “Companion Most Likely to Prefer Being Sealed Away,” as voted by the constellations>
A rented set of tools belonging to the notorious “Toy Repairman.”

• One of the three pillars forming the “Uncanny,” capable of seeing through and identifying the true nature of anomalies.

• Comes with the basic tools needed to “repair” and “collect” identified anomalies.

[VVIP Tip: Handle rentals with care!]

The constellations—beings who far exceeded human understanding—
And among them, one especially infamous for being eccentric.
The kind you should never get involved with, never attract the attention of.
The rumors about them were nothing but ominous.

‘…Still, they say if a tool has been touched by the Toy Repairman, even your mortal enemy would trust it.’
Which meant the information was accurate.

“First, let’s stop the train.”
“Stop it?! Are you crazy?!”

The conductor looked up at Do-yoon with horror in his eyes.
“Out there… things like that are crawling everywhere!”

“Look here.”
Do-yoon pointed to the edge of the window.

Black, spectral hands hammered persistently against the glass.
The shadows outside thickened and squirmed.

Crrrk—

A hair-raising crack spread across the reinforced glass.
“They’re physically striking it.”
“Dear god…”

“They’re still gathering. The screech of air being ripped apart, the friction of the rails, the train’s noise—it’s drawing them in.”

“And what if we stop and get completely surrounded? Then what?!”

“We can’t get out of the tunnel anyway. I’m sure you’ve already realized that.”
Do-yoon spoke with certainty.
“If we keep going like this, they’ll pour in like a tidal wave.”

“Ugh…!”
The conductor stood and slapped his palm on the emergency brake.

Screeeeeeech!

As the train came to a halt, the swarm of shadows dispersed slightly.

“Phew…”

His nerves began to settle, but he knew full well they’d only bought themselves time.
They were now trapped inside a nightmarish tunnel.

“It’s over… we’re doomed… huh?!”

A sharp grip clamped down on the conductor’s shoulders.
“No time to be afraid.”

A news headline flashed through Do-yoon’s mind.

Seoul-bound KTX 002 train, missing for 15 days after entering tunnel… whereabouts of passengers still unknown.

“131 lives. That’s how many you’re responsible for.”

“How am I supposed to—”

“‘How’ doesn’t matter. What matters is that this moment decides the direction of your life.”
Do-yoon locked eyes with him.

“You’re at the crossroads—will you shoulder it, or turn your back and abandon them? Choose.”

The conductor’s expression hardened.
The fear in his gaze began to settle into resolve.

“…What do I need to do?”
“How many crew members are on board?”
“One team leader, two attendants.”
“Call them in and make them understand the situation.”
“They’ll think I’ve lost my mind.”
“Maybe under normal circumstances. But the world’s gone insane—haven’t you noticed?”

“Ah…!”

“They might doubt you at first, but with physical proof, they’ll believe enough.”
“And then?”
“Control the passengers. Don’t let anyone go outside.”
“They’re already unhappy. We won’t hold them long.”
“Then stop them by any means necessary. Fail, and this happens.”

The conductor was so absorbed in the warning that he didn’t notice Do-yoon slip away.
“Huh?”

When the driver’s cab door rattled, the conductor hurried after him.
“What are you doing?”

Do-yoon turned the emergency handle and stepped out of the train.

“You’re insane!”

The color drained from the conductor’s face.
‘He’s determined to get himself killed!’

Because what came rushing toward them… was made of flesh and blood no longer.

Ssssss—!
Shhhhhh—!

The tunnel’s spirits charged, ravenous.

Fwoosh!

Light burst forth, blasting the shadows back.
The glow poured from the Seogwang Sword in Do-yoon’s hand.

Shaaah!

As the blade traced an arc—

KIIIIIIIEEEEEK!!

The spirits closing in from all sides blazed white and shattered.

‘W-what the hell am I seeing?!’

The conductor gaped.

Do-yoon glanced back at him.
“They’re nothing but prey once they show up. Understand now why your responsibility is so heavy?”

The conductor could only nod, dazed.
‘Where the hell did that dazzling sword come from? …Is he some kind of magician?’

Questions kept surfacing about this mysterious young man, but he knew that if he started asking, he might never stop.

“If anything happens while I’m gone, or if it’s too much to handle, get help from Siren.”
“…Who?”
“The woman who came with me earlier. Terrible temper, but her skills are solid. Think of her as a hidden trump card.”
“I—uh… where are you going?”
“Got to find a solution.”
“A-alone? Will you be okay?”
“Probably.”

Clunk.

Do-yoon shut the door behind him, looking down at his hand bathed in the sword’s holy light.

‘The power to purify evil… works exactly as I expected.’

Vmmm—

A tingling vibration seeped into his palm.
It was an uncanny feeling—almost as if the sword itself had a will to kill.

“Getting restless, huh? Fine, go on and dance.”

He released the hilt, and the Seogwang Sword shot forward like lightning, slicing through the spirits.

[E-rank Threat Eliminated!]
[E-rank Threat Eliminated!]
…
…
[E-rank Threat Eliminated!]
[E-rank Threat Eliminated!]

Message after message filled his vision, matching the number of spirits vanquished.

[Honor Points Gained: 250]
[Honor Points toward next rank: (1,575 / 5,000)]

‘Oh?’

He’d earned points earlier too, but he’d assumed that was for defending the train from abominations.

[Guardian’s Sword] was a selfless skill that grew by fulfilling its role as a “shield.”
When used purely as a sword, it wasn’t supposed to give returns…

‘Must be because innocent lives are still in danger. It’s treating potential threats as actual ones.’

A skill that even accounted for such nuance—

Which meant—

Do-yoon’s lips curved into a crooked grin.
“…I can go all out, huh?”

[Equipping ‘Belt of Theseus (Rare)’]

A golden plate rimmed with blue light wrapped snugly around his waist.

Click.

When he pressed the center of the plate, a shining thread unraveled from his spine and wound around the train’s exterior.

[Belt of Theseus (Rare)]

• A must-have for labyrinth exploration! Only visible to the wearer, the golden thread will guide you back to your starting point.

• Can attach the thread to the terrain.

• The thread ignores physical obstructions and can extend up to 100 km.

• Greatly reduces damage to the spine.

He’d earned it as a reward for the achievement “Smells Like Blood From the Start.”
No longer stuck in the shadow of his fourth regression, Do-yoon had carved out his own path—this was one of the perks.

The moment he saw the options, he knew exactly how he’d use it now.

“Lucky the right piece dropped for me.”

Ssshhh—!

The spirits, watching like hawks, rushed the moment the Seogwang Sword strayed too far.

Thwap.

Do-yoon recalled the sword to his hand.
“Bad luck for you.”

Whoosh—!

He swung hard, raising a storm.
Shadows caught in the arc of the blade were engulfed in light.

• …!?

Their distorted, faceless visages seemed to scream, Isn’t this cheating?!

“What, you think I was going to hug you barehanded?”

Shhhh—

The spirits crumbled into black ash.

Kyaaaaaaah!!

A few survivors scattered along the walls and ceiling.

Shrrrkk—

Golden thread exploded outward from the Belt of Theseus.
Do-yoon sprinted into the darkness without hesitation.

‘Pretty fast for something without legs.’

As he thought it, he channeled his inner force and hurled the Seogwang Sword like a thunderbolt.
The blade tore through the air at terrifying speed.

[E-rank Threat Eliminated!]
[E-rank Threat Eliminated!]
[Honor Points Gained: 10]
[Honor Points toward next rank: (1,890 / 5,000)]

‘Five points each… at this rate, killing six hundred of them will take forever.’

The tunnel twisted like a nest of tangled pipes—
A space warped into an endless labyrinth by the Black Ghost.

But he didn’t need to worry.
The golden thread tied him securely to his path.

Do-yoon relentlessly hunted the spirits, throwing the Seogwang Sword, recalling it with “Dismiss” and “Summon,” and repeating the cycle.

After a few rounds—

‘…!?’

A chill like ice water ran down his spine.

[“Cold Premonition (A)” Activated]

One of Do-yoon’s three core survival traits, alongside [Underworld Escape Compass] and [Killing Intent Detection].

[Killing Intent Detection] warned him of hostile intent aimed directly at him.
[Cold Premonition] whispered of unintentional accidents or sudden, unforeseen dangers.

[Accident Type: Omnidirectional Rockfall]
[Danger Level: B-rank]
[Collapse detected… currently contained to your location… Collapse beginning!]

Ruuuuumble!

The tunnel roared, and massive boulders rained from above.

‘Black Blood Armor—activate.’

Do-yoon spread his inner force through his body and raised the Seogwang Sword like a shield, deflecting the falling rocks.

Then—

[“Killing Intent Detection (A)” Activated]
[Detected Intent: Condensed Grudge of a Powerful Spirit]
[Threat Level: AA-rank]

The ground trembled, an ominous rumble filling the air.
Do-yoon licked his lips.

‘It’s here.’