TDWAD 20

Chapter 20

The paper straw stuck into a drink cup—
just like that, a regressor is never welcome anywhere.
No, perhaps even less so.

“Monopolizing resources and sweeping up rewards is one thing—but a regressor holds the future, fate, and everyone’s dirty little secrets in their hands.”

Of course, a regressor knows well that they’re a walking target of resentment.
They also know that “coming out” as one is no different from cutting their own throat, so they do everything they can to hide their true identity.

And the Constellations?
Their focus was in a completely different place.

[‘Patron of Destruction’ is indignant.]
[“What the hell, you’re a regressor?? Now it’s no fun at all…!”]

The Constellations were dopamine addicts of the highest order.
What stirred their guts was an escalating story, electric thrills, taut tension, and conflict.

Above all—surprise!

But a regressor is a walking spoiler.

“Is that really such a big deal?”
Do-yoon rubbed his forehead, baffled.
“Weren’t you watching me because you were interested in me as a person? Why would your interest vanish the second I’m a regressor?”

[“You call that a question? Of course it vanishes—like glaciers evaporating under a solar flare!”]
[‘Patron of Destruction’ trembles with betrayal.]
[‘Ice Queen’ expresses disappointment at your evasive answer.]

“Wow, you’re beating the drum and playing the cymbals all by yourself. Sorry, but I’m not a regressor.”

[‘Ice Queen’ asks if that’s your official position.]

“That’s right.”

[‘Ice Queen’ furrows her brow.]
[Upon truth verification, if deemed false, she will demand the return of the reward from the ‘Trial of the Sword Saint.’]

“Verification? How…?”

[‘Ice Queen’ requests to view your Player Code.]

“What’s a Player Code?”

[“It’s kinda like the growth rings of your soul—every repeated life path recorded neatly.”]
[‘Patron of Destruction’ gives an example.]
[“You can’t hide reincarnations, regressions, or possessions. Everything gets laid bare. Thought you could hide it? Pfft.”]

They’d really picked their moment.
‘They must’ve started suspecting me back when I cleared the trial.’

[Do you accept the request? Y/N]

“If that’s what it takes to put you at ease, fine. I accept.”

[Player ‘Hyun Do-yoon’ unique identification code]
[E-170850124001]

Of the 12 digits, only the last three mattered.
A faint smile touched Do-yoon’s lips.
Naturally, he knew very well what a Player Code was.

[“Holy—wait, is that… 001?!”]
[‘Patron of Destruction’ shouts.]
[“Yep, 001! So you’re totally a newbie?”]

‘…Not that it means they can capture a Descender.’

[‘Ice Queen’ rises from her throne, blinking rapidly, flustered.]
[Her jade eyes flush red to the neck.]
[“Ah, I… suddenly remembered urgent state affairs. I must go.”]
[She apologizes for her abrupt departure and sends sponsorship – 20,000P.]

“…?”

[‘Patron of Destruction’ chuckles.]
[“Knew my eyes weren’t wrong. I believed in you! Keep giving me amazing spectacles.”]

The interrogation-like flood of messages stopped.

‘Looks like I got through that okay.’

Being suspected of regression was unavoidable.
It’s not like he could avoid using his advantages.
Still, it had been the right call to avoid saying or doing anything that confirmed it outright.
There was nothing to gain by making enemies of Constellations so early.

Meanwhile, Siren followed him out, her eyes trembling violently.
Everything had vanished without a trace—
the evil spirits drifting around the train,
the massive status window,
even the Black Ghost’s face.

“It’s… really over?”

“Yes, unni, it’s over.”

[Your contribution: 6%]
[Rewards are given in proportion to contribution.]

• 5,000 points

• 1 Trait Point (A-rank and below only)

• Rare Equipment: Black-Stained Hand Mirror

“…Finally, the terminus.”
Checking the status window, Han Yeon-ha’s face filled with relief, and tears welled up.
“I’m so glad… that everyone’s safe… truly.”

Tears rolled down her pale cheeks.
The passengers freed from zombification began stepping out of the train one by one.

“What… happened?”
“It’s like waking up from a long nightmare…”
“Sunlight! We’re alive, we really are!”

Just as Do-yoon had promised—
once the Black Ghost’s influence vanished, everyone returned to their original selves.
And with the darkness gone, they had escaped the endless maze.

Everything he had guaranteed had come true without a single error,
just like the countless miracles he had pulled off at the edge of the cliff over the past week.

“Um… excuse me…”
Han Yeon-ha clasped her hands, hesitantly looking up at him.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Are… are you some kind of messenger sent by God?”

‘…What the hell is she talking about now?’
His brow twitched.
Amusingly, she was almost right, but that wasn’t the point.

The first goal of this trip to Busan:

• Protect Han Yeon-ha’s mental world.

To stop her from making the desperate choice of offering her own blood and flesh to zombie passengers.
To free her from the crushing weight of the title Saint of White Snow.
To become a great tree that could give her shade.

He had intended all that—
but things seemed to have gotten way bigger than he expected…

News Headlines:

• “‘Rift’ appearance causes 10% stock index plunge!”

• “‘Black Monday’ nightmare returns… successive sell-offs drop index 15%, circuit breakers triggered worldwide.”

• “Unprecedented -20% crash halts global markets! Gate Crisis shatters investor confidence.”

Gate Crisis (G17-Crisis) – Live Status

<Global Status> – Remaining Gates: 7,043 (+124 from yesterday) – Gates Cleared: 2,501 (+323) – Casualties: – Deaths: Over 10 million – Injured/Missing: Unknown <Korea Status> – Remaining Gates: 46 (+2) – Gates Cleared: 25 (+5) – Casualties: – Deaths: Over 50,000 – Injured/Missing: Over 150,000

<< Nationwide NPC Warning Issued! >>

While Players generally have little motive to threaten society,
NPCs have been confirmed to grow stronger through crimes (assault, murder, etc.) and urban destruction.
These indiscriminate attacks exploit the lack of public security, posing serious threats to both citizens and Players.

• Avoid contact with NPCs.

• Avoid NPC activity areas.

• Report and request support immediately upon sighting.

“The combined threat of Gates and NPCs is shaking society to its core. The government’s swift response and cooperation with Players will determine survival.”
— Minister Joo Sun-a, Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Do-yoon scrolled through his smartphone as a paramedic took his blood pressure, reviewing the past eight days.

‘…That same spicy taste as always.’

He was used to it now—though really, who could get used to this?
The figure of 200,000 casualties weighed on his chest like a boulder.

If there was one comfort, it was that things hadn’t gone as catastrophically as they could have—
the kind of disaster that leaves your brain frozen like biting into a chili pepper.

‘Honestly, this counts as a decent run.’

Evidence?

• Bitcoin ₩1,247,500 +15.09%

• Ethereum ₩48,526 +36.72%

• Ripple +23.7%
  …

Not just the crypto market—

• KOSPI Index 1,143.71 +3%

• NASDAQ Composite 3,310.55 +5%

• Nikkei … -2%

• Shanghai Composite 1,775.33 +3%
  …

Global markets were showing signs of rebound after the steepest drop in history.
Considering the beating they took last week, there was still a long road ahead.

Stock markets had at least been protected by circuit breakers, capping losses at around 50%.
But crypto, with no brakes, had charged straight off a cliff.

‘Bitcoin down to a third, Ethereum to a quarter, Ripple to a sixth… a scene too gruesome to watch.’

If the rebound was this much, it meant the bottom had been much, much lower.

His heart began to race.

He felt a bit sorry for the descendants who had wept blood,
but there was no way he could just ignore the money lying around.

‘Enter Bitcoin at ₩4.1 million.’
‘10x leverage short.’
‘Close out completely on June 8, the day it bottoms.’

Do-yoon had placed that order before boarding the train.
Now, a week later, the results were in.

Hyun Do-yoon’s Assets
₩99,231,068,517

‘…Holy shit.’
992 billion won.

A rush of euphoria exploded from the top of his head.
Maybe this was why his descendants couldn’t quit the get-rich-quick mindset he once despised.

“Fortunately, nothing’s wrong physically. But the psychological shock might linger, so you should rest for now.”

“If that’s what I should do, then I will.”

Do-yoon bowed lightly to the paramedic and stood up.

The scene was crowded, but there was a faint atmosphere of hope in the air.
Rescued passengers were moving with aid or being carried out on stretchers.
Police were securing the perimeter.

‘Compared to previous runs, this is an incomparable start.’

No animalistic screams, no wails of grief.
No eyes filled with horror.
No hellish desperation.

Most of all—

‘…?’

He spotted Han Yeon-ha—
and a man stuck to her side like glue, nodding repeatedly.

Do-yoon’s gaze dropped to the man’s neat business suit and polished shoes.
The man looked up from the notepad he’d been writing on and locked eyes with him.

They held the gaze.
Then the man began walking straight toward him.

‘…Who’s this?’

Two seconds was enough for Do-yoon to recall.

“Are you Hyun Do-yoon?”

A polite, formal tone.

No need to dig too deep—he already knew.

“A government official. Central ministry? You must’ve flown down from Seoul as soon as you heard.”

“Ah…”

The man’s hand froze mid-gesture as he tried to hand over his business card.

“…Kim Soo-min, Policy Advisor at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Was I that obvious?”

“If you were a lawyer, you’d be chasing the ambulance. A reporter would already have a camera in my face.”

“Uh…”
Kim Soo-min’s eyes flickered.

“As expected, you’re sharp. I heard you played the decisive role in resolving the incident.”

He glanced around, lowering his voice.

“…And that you’re an Awakened. Oh—don’t be alarmed.”

Do-yoon stood still, while Kim was the only one fussing.

“No agents in black sunglasses will grab your arms or lock you in a lab. Never.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, right—you’ve been inside this whole time. Hahaha…”

Kim wiped cold sweat from his brow.

“Recently, malicious fake news has been rampant. In any case, the government needs the cooperation of Players. There can’t be any oppression.”

“You’ve got a fire at your feet—you think you’ve got time for side dishes?”

“My thoughts exactly. We seem to get each other. I understand that this ‘being different’ part is sensitive.”

“You sure take a long time to just say, ‘Please cooperate.’”

Kim’s expression froze awkwardly.
‘Damn, why is everything I’m trying to hide so obvious today?’

“I mean, it’s actually a consultation meeting. The Minister personally invited you to hear your experience.”

“Pack the room with bureaucrats and sprinkle in some reporters?”

“Well, reporters will probably come. Attending events is their job.”

Do-yoon’s tone turned mocking.

“Then slap it on the front page, flood the 9 o’clock news?”

“Uh, well… if you’d rather not, we’ll ensure full anonymity.”

“Of course—if they don’t take credit, they wouldn’t be this country’s bigwigs. You want to use it for publicity, to pad your achievements?”

“No, that’s not…”

“Why not hold a full press conference? Go live, broadcast it worldwide?”

“I-I apologize.”
Kim bowed hurriedly.

“I was too hasty. We can discuss it slowly after you’ve rested…”

“I think you misunderstood me.”

A meaningful smile.
Do-yoon twisted his lips in thought.

“I said let’s do it. If we’re going to, let’s make it a proper, grand spectacle.”

“…You’re not being sarcastic?”

“I’m serious.”

“If that’s the case, we’d be more than happy.”

“But—on one condition.”

“What is it?”

Do-yoon’s gaze shifted to his smartphone.

[1:15 PM]

There was still time before the market closed.

“Set up the venue in an hour. If it’s ready, I’ll handle any script you want.”