Chapter Text
When people write or talk about corpses, murders, death or anything of the like, they tend to forget one thing.
The smell.
Rielt didn't understand how people overlooked it now when describing anything related to death.
The pungent metallic smell that seems to stick to him like the blood clinging to his skin, the awful, awful feeling of guilt crawling up his spine as he pull his hands away from the person he killed, who was now bleeding from the neck.
Because of their blade. Because of their hands.
He tried to ignore how his hands trembled, tried not to move too much to not feel the blood that was drying on his skin, his face, his clothes—
Rielt's movements were jerky as they suddenly yanked themselves away from the corpse. He couldn't bring himself to look any of the survivors of the subway carriage in the eye. Their stares felt too heavy on his shoulders for him to be relaxing his posture.
He killed someone. While they didn't have to.
He almost wanted to feel resentment towards them, but that would mean nothing. Because in the end, it was his decision to take a life for the sake of survival.
He discarded the life of another to survive.
How did things even end up this way?
“Fuckin'— Shit!” A boy cursed to himself as he saw the score tacked onto his Maths Finals Finals Exam. The numbers seemed to be mocking him.
Total Score: 31 / 40
It wasn't enough. It wasn't enough. All they needed was just.. one more point. They ignored the stares they got for their sudden outburst, angrily shoving the paper into its respective folder.
He was so close, damn it! It was bullshit, it had to be. If God existed, he just had to be fucking with him.
He almost qualified for a higher scholarship category. Almost.
And he couldn't. Just because he forgot to write down that one step in the solution… Seriously!? Surely their teacher had enough brain cells to know what they meant.
“Whatever.” Rielt muttered bitterly to himself, grabbing his backpack to head to the nearby library. What was done was done. He had to make up for that score, and moping wouldn't do anything.
They stepped into the building, the feeling of cool air hitting their skin was refreshing compared to the heat of the sun. Scanning the tables and seats, all of them were taken. The one seat left, however…
They glanced at the empty seat next to a girl with long black wavy hair. She was undeniably pretty.
No. Nope. Nope. Absolutely not. That girl was insufferable. The mere idea of sitting next to her made him wince.
Ultimately, he opted to sit on the floor near a socket behind the stairs. He took his laptop from his bag and plugged in the charger, opening it up before getting to work.
He opened a few tabs on his browser, containing a few unpublished stories, drafts of homeworks and essays, and a plethora of unused concept ideas and art.
Rielt pointedly ignored the sky blue tab entitled “Research Manuscript”. That wasn't their focus right now.
He still needed to get that script done before Maya could scold him for not passing it before the deadline.
“Hey, kid. The library's about to close. You should get home already.”
Rielt was jolted awake with a hand on their shoulder, and the middle aged man stopped shaking him awake.
“Finally. I was almost going to call the police. Now grab your stuff and scram, kid.” He said harshly, before returning to the counter to do.. God knows what.
“Right- Right—I'm sorry, Ajhussi..!” They scrambled to unplug their laptop, clumsily stuffing everything into their bag before quickly heading out of the library.
Since when did they even fall asleep? Maybe pulling so many sleepless nights did take a toll on them. They exhaled shakily, checking the time.
5:30 pm.
Okay. They still had time. And while they still had time.. Rielt bolted for the subway. Mama and Papa would kill them if they didn't get home in time.
Nothing but pure relief flooded his body when he stepped into the subway carriage, slipping into an empty seat near a man who wore a business suit, who seemed to be fixated on something he was reading on his phone.
(He looked.. oddly familiar, but Rielt pushed the thought away. It was impossible.)
Rielt knew he would get home in time, so that was a relief. He reached into his pockets for his earphones, putting them in his ears and connecting them to his phone.
He could relax and wait until he arrived at his stop. But for now.. He can just listen to music. Rielt's thumb scrolled mindlessly, swiping at the screen while they searched for a song.
They blinked. Heavy in Your Arms by Florence + The Machine.
Yes. That was perfect. Rielt adored their music and their instrumentals. They had an element in their songs that made them feel impactful.
They pressed play as they waited.
‘I was a heavy heart to carry’
‘My beloved was weighed down’
A pretty woman approached the man who sat next to them. “At this rate, you'll get sucked into your phone.” She said.
‘My arms around his neck’
‘My fingers laced a crown’
They increased the volume so they wouldn't eavesdrop, even if it was accidental.
‘I was a heavy heart to carry’
‘My feet dragged across the ground’
‘And he took me to the river’
‘Where he slowly let me drown’
The two coworkers next to him were chatting now, albeit muffled. He deliberately ignored what little he could hear aside from the music playing in his ears.
‘My love has concrete feet’
‘My love's an iron ball’
‘Wrapped around your ankles’
‘Over the waterfall’
He checked his phone's notifications. Aside from school reminders and emails, there wasn't much. Then again, maybe it was his fault for not attempting to make friends aside from Maya.
‘I'm so heavy’
‘Heavy, heavy in your arms’
‘I'm so heavy’
‘Heavy, heavy in your arms’
Rielt leaned their back against the wall, closing his eyes. Maybe they should nap for a little. They'd probably wake up in time for their stop anyway.
‘And is it worth the wait’
‘All this killing time’
‘Are you strong enough to stand?’
‘Protecting both your heart and mine’
Suddenly the subway was enveloped in complete darkness. It shook and slowed to a stop, making a grating, ear-piercing metallic screech that caused Rielt to wince and open his eyes.
His backpack had fallen off of his lap, the papers inside falling out and scattering. He paused the music, stuffing the earphones into his pocket. The people in the carriage were starting to get scared.
“H-Huh!?”
“What is this!?”
“W-What's going on?” They glanced to their side when they heard the woman's question to the man beside them.
“Don't worry, it probably isn't a big deal.” He replied, seemingly unbothered.
“Really?”
“Yes, it's probably a disturbance from a suicide. There will be an announcement soon.” He reassured.
He really was familiar. Those words he just spoke were familiar. Rielt wracked his brain for something, anything. He bit his lower lip, picking at his fingernails. Where did he hear those words before?
It's probably a disturbance from a suicide.
Then the puzzle pieces clicked.
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
They glanced at the two beside them. No wonder they looked familiar. His eyes focused on Kim Dokja's face. He really was attractive without the Fourth Fall distorting it. Yoo Sangah was pretty too. As expected of one of the protagonists of the story.
But as of now, they hoped they were wrong more than anything. They loved the story that made them cry a dozen times more than anything, but Rielt didn't like the idea of actually having to survive an apocalyptic world.
As the announcement rang through the subway through the speakers, dread built up in their gut.
“Telling all passengers on the train, telling all passengers on the train,”
Everyone seemed to calm down at the announcement, most likely expecting a minor inconvenience to be announced.
They didn't expect the same.
Dokja was saying something to Yoo Sangah, probably something about how he was right about it really not being a big deal, but he wasn't listening to that.
“E-Everyone, run away… Run..!!” The speakers beeped, indicating the end of the announcement.
People started to panic after that announcement and it's abrupt end.
Rielt couldn't help but freeze. The desperation in the announcer's voice was chilling. Without a doubt, the announcer was certainly dead. He grabbed his bag, already reaching for the scissors hidden away.
Who knew the thing he bought for cutting paper strip decorations of all things would help out in this fucked up, unreal scenario after all?
A flash of blinding light almost made them drop their bag, quickly hiding the scissors in their pocket.
The clock striked 7:00 pm.
A blue holographic screen appeared in front of them.
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
This was the beginning of the apocalypse. Rielt thought to himself, keeping his gaze stuck on the floor. He didn't want to look at that damned dokkaebi, even if it would end up helping Dokja in his ventures.
...Odd. He couldn't remember the dokkaebi's name. He swore he didn't have that bad of a memory, did he?
[&아#@!&아#@!…]
They could hear most of the people around them talking amongst each other. Some were asking if this was a prank or joke. Others thought it was augmented reality.
Rielt didn't have the luxury of Dokja's knowledge about TWSA. They knew his story, but not Yoo Joonghyuk's.
(Of course he didn't. Because Yoo Joonghyuk's story was only for one.)
They knew their place in this world—this story. They weren't a supporting character or a main character.
They were just an unnamed side character in Dokja's story. They would have to find a way to survive this damned scenario, without interfering with too much.
[Ah. Ah. Does this sound good? Ah, I had a hard time because the Korean patch didn't work.]
Rielt was jolted out of their thoughts from that voice.
[Everyone, can you hear my words?]
Barely. They replied mentally, mind still buzzing with disbelief in their current situation. They couldn't help but hope this was a nightmare. A horrible, no good nightmare.
A big man in a suit stepped up. “Hey, what're you doing right now?”
[...Huh?]
The dokkaebi seemed dumbfounded.
I'm sorry, but you're kind of stupid for confronting a possible threat like that anyway… They mentally commented, glancing at Dokja and Sangah to see what their expressions were.
"Are you filming? I have to go because I have to quickly get to an audition.” The man said. Although ambitious, he must've been not so popular.
Rielt's eyes met with Dokja's for a brief moment before he quickly pulled back and ducked his head.
Fuck. That didn't just happen, did it? No way. No way. That was so embarassing. He'll just pretend that didn't happen at all.
[Ah, auditions.]
Their attention snapped back to the dokkaebi, even if it didn't look like it with how they were staring into the ground, only occasionally glancing up.
[That's right. This is also an audition. Haha, there was a shortage of data. I just entered when it was monetized at 7:00 pm.]
"What? What are you talking about?"
[Now, now. All of you, relax in your seats and listen to me. From now on, I will tell you something very important!]
It felt like bile was climbing up Rielt's throat, bracing at what they knew they were about to witness.
"What? Quickly get off the train!"
"What are they doing without the cooperation of civilians?”
“Mama, is that a cartoon?”
That was a child's voice. Rielt couldn't help but press their palm against their mouth so tightly that his nails almost tore through skin. They feared they'd vomit otherwise.
[Haha, you really are loud. I told you to be quiet. ]
Blood sprayed across the carriage as the actor who spoke earlier now had a hole in his head.
He did his best to ignore the dokkaebi and the brutal death, glancing at Dokja who he now realized was also looking at him.
Rielt didn't like that he couldn't tell what that look meant from Dokja. Was it because he was also being too calm for someone who was in this situation?
[This isn't a movie shoot. It isn't a dream. It isn't a novel either.]
More and more people died in the subway as the heads of the people who protested or made a fuss exploded—it was nothing but a bloodbath. It shouldn't have been possible. It shouldn't have been real.
And yet Rielt was standing here, staring at the corpses that now littered the carriage's floor.
[This isn't the 'reality' that you know. Do you understand? So everyone shut up and listen to me.]
More than half the people that was here were dead now, lying in a large puddle of blood.
His grip on his scissors tightened. Focus. They scolded theirself.
[Everyone, your lives have been nice so far. Isn't that right?]
That doesn't apply to everyone. They bit their tongue to stop a retort from escaping.
[You have been living too long for free. Isn't life too generous? You were born and paid no price for breathing, eating, pooping and breeding! Ha! You really live in a good world!]
No one lives for free. Anyone who truly believed that was foolish and naive. Still, no one protested the dokkaebi's words, probably likely from the fear of dying.
Then, someone raised their hand and stepped forward. “D-Do you want money?”
Rielt had to hold back from cringing or making a stupid retort. God, he hated Han Myungoh, especially early on in Omniscient Reader.
"Yoo Sangah-ssi. Isn't that Department Head Han of the finance team?" Kim Dokja asked.
"…Right.” She replied.
How stupid. If they wanted money, they didn't have to take it, unless they were especially sadistic. It didn't take much to know that the dokkaebi didn't want payment through just money.
"I'll give you money. Take it. Please note that I am a person like this." Han Myungoh pulled out his business card as the remaining people in the subway started to cheer him on. "How much do you want?"
They were 100% taking the chance to make fun of Han Myungoh, they couldn't help it.
Tugging lightly at Kim Dokja's sleeve, Rielt asked, whispering quietly as to not catch the attention of others. “..Ahjussi, do you know that weirdo?”
Dokja seemed to startle at their question and they were quick to notice. “..Sorry, Ahjussi, I didn't mean to eavesdrop.” They apologized. Maybe he shouldn't have butt in so suddenly. That was stupid of him.
Before Dokja could reply, the dokkaebi started speaking.
[Hrmm, you are giving me money?]
"T-That's right! The cash I have right now isn't much but… I can give you anything if you let me out of here."
[Money, good. A plant fibre that many humans mutually agree on.]
Rielt had to hold in the expression of disgust that would've formed at how Han Myungoh seemed to agree too much at the dokkaebi's words. It was really both pitiful and pathetic.
[It only applies in your time and space.]
The money went up in flames within seconds. He had to admit, the look of despair on Han Myungoh's face was the best thing right now.
[That paper has no value in the macrocosm world. If you do this one more time, I'll blow your head up.]
Maybe Rielt should've been less happy at the evident fear that was slapped back into the faces of the rest of the people—with the exception of a few, of course—but he was a little sick of people thinking that money could've solved all of this.
He disregarded the things the dokkaebi—Bihyung. He finally remembered the dokkaebi's name!—was saying, since it wasn't anything important. He knew Yoo Sangah and Kim Dokja were right beside him.
Scanning the rest of the carriage, he spotted familiar faces. Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, and Kim Namwoon.
The moment Rielt's gaze landed on Kim Namwoon's figure, a small blue window appeared in front of them.
[#BI-7623 channel is open.]
[Constellations have entered.]
[The main scenario has arrived!]
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear Conditions: Kill one or more living things.
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Compensation: 300 coins
Failure: Death]
Rielt blinked. ...Did he seriously take that long to find the other characters in the story?
Bihyung grinned.
[Good luck everyone. Please show me an interesting story.]
…Rielt was really starting to hate dokkaebis.