Chapter 19

19. Seoul Station, Unlucky Event – 1

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“Chengshu manufacturing, holy weapon workshop, magic engineering construction, portal transportation industry...”

Park Cheolsu muttered and took notes.

Lee Hyunwook had just told Park Cheolsu about the companies that would grow significantly after the 4th Wave, essentially specific 'stock items,' and then handed over his bankbook containing all his assets, asking him to invest in those stocks.

Of course, Lee Hyunwook did not directly mention the 4th Wave to Park Cheolsu; he merely hinted that companies and guilds in those industries were planning to invest large sums of money.

“Hyunwook, is this information really true?”

Park Cheolsu still looked doubtful.

Honestly, it was a sudden and hard-to-believe story.

“It’s all true, and they will grow significantly soon.”

However, it didn’t take long to convince Park Cheolsu.

Lee Hyunwook took something out of his pocket.

Three business cards.

He intended to use these, which he had obtained by chance, without hesitation.

“Y-You mean, you really got business cards from such big shots? You?”

Park Cheolsu’s eyes widened.

Holding three business cards from people who were hard to meet even by chance...

‘How did Hyunwook manage to... Wait, Catherine Yoo, she’s even the second daughter of the Blue Flower Guild. She must have solid information on this business, especially as the head of the Seoul Strategy Department, it’s not strange that she has connections with the upper echelons of AMT...’

Park Cheolsu interpreted it in his own way, gradually lending credibility to Lee Hyunwook’s words.

“These people, did they give you that secret information...?”

“Yeah, otherwise, where would I get such information? And, brother, don’t ask for details yet. You know, this is quite sensitive information. If it leaks, it could be a big problem.”

“...Ah, right, I understand.”

Anyone can say anything, but to make someone believe it, some level of 'proof' is needed.

The overwhelming power he displayed when dealing with Yi Woncheol, his confident attitude, and the bold investment, combined with these high-level business cards, gave weight to Lee Hyunwook’s words.

‘Hyunwook has definitely changed. What could he have experienced over the past two years...’

But at the same time, a question arose.

He looked up at Lee Hyunwook.

“But Hyunwook, what’s going on? You definitely got an F grade at the player training camp. But the power you just showed doesn’t seem like an F grade at all...”

Yes, the fact that Lee Hyunwook had an F grade was known to everyone around him.

‘How could an F grade, which is non-growth, become so strong? It’s natural to be skeptical.’

Lee Hyunwook anticipated receiving this question countless times and had prepared a very appropriate answer.

“Brother, do you know about the achievement system?”

“Huh? Well, I’m the guild master, after all.”

The world had become like a game.

That meant there were countless game-like elements.

The ‘achievement system’ was one of them.

‘It’s the only system that can increase personal stats outside of growth.’

When certain special conditions related to the game are met, an ‘achievement’ is granted.

For example, hunting a very powerful monster like a dragon earns you an achievement.

Depending on the value of the achievement, a significant stat boost is given as a ‘reward.’

“Oh, you increased your stats by achieving an achievement?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow... That’s impressive. An F grade achieving an achievement, what kind of achievement is it?”

“It’s an achievement only possible with an F grade. The condition is to defeat an elite monster with an F grade, and the achievement name was... hmm, it’s right.”

Lee Hyunwook fabricated a plausible achievement that he had never actually earned.

This way, he easily concealed the secret that an F grade could grow.

‘I can’t hide the fact that I’ve become stronger, but I have to hide that I’m not an F grade.’

It was something only he should know for now.

Lee Hyunwook took something out of his bag one last time.

“Here, a gift.”

“Huh?”

It was a small box.

“What’s this?”

“Brother, you said your daughter was born, right? It’s a pair of shoes. I couldn’t congratulate you because I was in the unit.”

“Oh, thank you... really...”

“You’ll be a great dad. You were a good senior to us, so you’ll be even better to your family.”

Park Cheolsu, who was not good at managing his expressions, choked up when he saw the baby shoes.

“Brother, I have to go now.”

“Ah, yeah, let’s have a meal when you come out next time.”

“Make sure to take down Yi Woncheol’s gang and invest in that information.”

“Yeah, thanks...”

Park Cheolsu nodded with red eyes.

‘He’s weak now, but he’ll become the master of a huge guild in the future.’

He had gained this person early on.

Lee Hyunwook prepared to return.

No, to prepare for the next battle.

***

At this point, there have been a total of three ‘Waves.’

The 1st Wave in California,

The 2nd Wave in Shanghai,

The 3rd Wave in Berlin,

The cities that experienced the Waves were all destroyed to a level where recovery was impossible. Some areas even became territories of monsters.

No one could have imagined that California would turn into a pasture for red drakes or that an orc kingdom would be established in Shanghai.

‘And the 4th Wave is in Seoul.’

And the harbinger of this event is starting right now, at Seoul Station.

The heart of South Korea’s transportation, with a daily footfall of one million people.

Lee Hyunwook stood in this place that was about to turn into hell and checked his watch.

– 15:34

He then checked a text message.

– Corporal Choi Seona: Corporal Lee Hyunwook! I’ve already arrived at Seoul Station. Let me know when you get here!

He received a text from Choi Seona about an hour ago but hadn’t replied yet.

“Hmm...”

Lee Hyunwook had no intention of returning with Corporal Choi Seona.

He had been prepared for today’s events, so it wouldn’t make sense to go with her.

‘We agreed to meet at 17:00, why did she come so early?’

Two days ago, Lee Hyunwook contacted Choi Seona and agreed to meet at 17:00.

If she had arrived at the agreed time, she wouldn’t have been caught up in the events here.

‘According to my memory, Choi Seona wasn’t involved in this incident...’

This meant that due to the variable of him taking leave together, she had arrived at Seoul Station early, and he had no choice but to be with her.

“Still, Choi Seona is a support class, so she might actually be helpful.”

Thinking positively, he sent a text to Choi Seona asking her to come over.

At the same time, he scanned the metal items in his bag.

A dagger purchased from Master Gang Jeongdu, 20 steel balls made of magic metal, and 20 meters of 2.23mm thick steel wire in three rolls...

He had prepared a considerable amount of weapons for this moment.

He then looked around the station.

Numerous people were moving around inside the station.

It was a world where a gate could open anywhere at any time, but people were living their daily lives without much worry, thanks to the player security forces stationed throughout the area.

‘Especially, the security forces at Seoul Station are quite skilled, but...’

Lee Hyunwook knew that even they would be neutralized.

‘As a result, most of the people here will die.’

He knew this, but he couldn’t save them all.

No one could predict what would happen.

That was normal.

Therefore, warning them in advance was impossible, and even if he did, it wouldn’t work...

‘...No one would believe me.’

Ultimately, there were people he couldn’t save.

‘But there’s a lot to gain.’

Thousands of civilians and many player troops were sacrificed, but the world would not consider their sacrifices meaningless.

This was because of one ‘item’ obtained by clearing the dungeon here.

‘In the future, this item will be worn by Han Tae-san, the second-ranked player in Korea.’

Currently, there are only about 3,000 ‘Hero’-grade items in the world, and this item was even a ‘potential item’ that could continue to grow.

‘But the valuable item wasn’t just that. The villains had stolen something...’

Today, at this very moment, a villain was waiting at Seoul Station, eyeing that item. The villains could collude with certain monster races according to the game rules.

Then, someone in a black combat uniform waved from a distance.

“Corporal Lee Hyunwook!”

The short female soldier, Choi Seona.

She approached with a bright smile, and for some reason, her makeup seemed heavier than when they left on leave.

“Did you enjoy your first leave?”

“Yeah! How was your leave, Corporal Lee Hyunwook?”

“Yes, I enjoyed it too.”

“Did you eat a lot of good food? I really ate a lot!”

While greeting her, his senses were scanning the surroundings.

‘I should go to the fire equipment cabinet first.’

He might need a gas mask.

He had prepared so much for this, specifically for ‘poison.’

‘Not for me, but for Choi Seona...’

He had some resistance to poison, but Choi Seona wouldn’t.

‘According to the plan, it starts at 15:24.’

Lee Hyunwook checked his watch again.

– 15:14

There were about 10 minutes left.

He used his metal control ability to unzip his bag halfway.

This way, the dagger, steel wire, and steel balls could be quickly accessed.

“...Corporal Lee Hyunwook, are you in pain?”

“Huh?”

“Your expression just now... was it... scared?”

“It’s nothing. Sergeant, there are too many people here. Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Ah, right!”

Lee Hyunwook subtly moved to the fire equipment cabinet where the gas masks were stored.

‘I never thought this facility, installed at every station, would be useful...’

But it wouldn’t be enough on its own.

Unlike the black smoke created by Cobalt’s dark mage, the poison that would sweep through here today couldn’t be blocked by just covering the respiratory system. It would seep through the skin as well.

Then,

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind swept through Seoul Station.

“Ugh! What’s this?”

“-Squeal!”

People in the station had to stop and hold their collars.

“What was that wind just now?”

“Yeah...”

It was a completely unnatural wind.

It was as if a part of a building had collapsed, and a strong wind had burst through the gap.

“...Huh?”

The gazes of the countless people in Seoul Station were suddenly drawn to one side.

Whoosh!

“Is that... a gate?”

It wasn’t a wall of the building,

but space itself had torn open.

A wind from another world was pouring out from there.

***

Seoul Station Integrated Control Center.

This was a place where all the CCTV cameras in Seoul Station could be controlled, allowing immediate confirmation and response to any incidents within the station, like a control tower.

However,

“...Huh?”

Zzzz-

Hundreds of CCTV screens that filled the giant screen suddenly went dark.

“What? What’s happening all of a sudden?”

An emergency was declared in the previously relaxed Integrated Control Center.

“The CCTV cameras on the second and third floors are all malfunctioning simultaneously!”

“What? Simultaneously...”

“It’s... a mana dispersion... I think!”

The center manager swallowed hard and stared at the employee’s face.

If the CCTV malfunction was due to mana, there were only a few possible causes.

“Could it be...”

The employee nodded heavily.

“Manager, this... means a gate has opened inside the station.”

The disaster had begun.

***

In the middle of Seoul Station, a purple shimmering gate had definitely appeared in the air.

The first to move were the security personnel stationed throughout the station.

A total of seven of them,

They were players trained specifically for such situations.

“It’s a gate! Everyone, equip your weapons and surround the gate!”

As people panicked and rushed towards the exits, they moved in the opposite direction.

“Don’t back down no matter what comes out in the first wave! If we hesitate, civilians will die!”

The team leader shouted, raising his main weapon, a ‘Crossbow.’

“Huff...”

He lowered his stance, held his breath, and aimed at the gate.

The massive gate, about 10 meters in diameter, was bubbling and boiling.

It looked like it was about to explode at any moment.

“...It’s coming!”

At that moment, the gate stretched and spat out something, something very large.

Plop!

Like a monster giving birth, it emerged and fell to the ground...

Squish!

An insect with eight legs... a spider.

“F*ck, why is a spider so big!”

It was at least 5 meters in size, yes, as big as an elephant.

Its appearance was also unusual.

While spiders are usually smooth or covered in thick fur, this giant spider was covered in a hard, armor-like substance.

“Fire! Kill it first!”

Bang! Plop! Boom!

The moment the team leader gave the order, the security personnel surrounding the gate launched various attacks, which exploded one after another on its body...

Squish! Squish!

But it didn’t seem to take any damage.

It crouched for a moment and then sprang forward.

The security personnel scattered in panic, and the benches, flower pots, and signboards that the spider passed over were knocked over and shattered.

“D*mn, what the hell is this?”

“Team leader, where should we attack it?”

“I don’t know... I’ve never seen it before.”

They were at a loss.

Dealing with monsters always required a ‘strategy,’ and one of the qualities of a player was to know these strategies, but this spider was a monster they had never seen before.

“It’s probably a recently updated monster.”

New monsters appeared almost daily, like game content updates.

Since this was a common occurrence, it wasn’t strange for a new species to appear from the gate that opened here, but there were too many problems.

“Keep firing! Don’t let it get close to the civilians!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Even my bolts aren’t working...”

The team leader, a C-grade 1-tier marksman, could normally take down an orc with a single shot if he hit it properly.

“It reacts to magic attacks!”

It flinched when hit by fire and ice magic.

“Good, then focus on magic attacks! Buy time until the civilians evacuate...”

But the team leader couldn’t finish his sentence.

Several lines of text appeared in front of his eyes.

– An ‘Unlucky Event’ has occurred in this area!

* You can enter this area but cannot leave.

* There is a level restriction for entering this area. (LV. 15)

* To escape, you must survive for 6 hours or defeat the ‘Boss Monster’!

“...Huh?”

But the text wasn’t visible only to him.

Players and civilians alike saw the same message.

“What? I can’t leave?”

“...Ah, no!”

Unlucky Event (Unlucky Event),

As the name suggests, it’s an unfortunate event.

In simple terms, it’s a phenomenon where a ‘debuff’ harmful to players is attached to a specific area, or a ‘rule’ that makes the game more difficult is created, which is like a natural disaster for players.

Especially in a place with so many people, it was a disaster.

“...Aaah! I can’t get out!”

“S-Save me!”

Hundreds of people were tangled together at the closed exits, screaming and shouting.

“Team leader! Another spider has come out! And it’s heading towards the exits!”

The team leader instinctively turned his head at the terrifying report.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud

Like a pelican swimming towards a school of sardines, the giant spider moved its eight legs and crawled towards the hundreds of people.

‘No!’

A terrifying scene flashed through his mind in just a few seconds.

Piles of civilian bodies crushed by the spider...

“...Damn! We have to stop it! Fire quickly!”

The team leader drew his crossbow and ran towards the creature.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

But his bolts, as before, failed to scratch its armor-like skin.

“D*mn, why does a spider have steel armor! Everyone, get out of the way!”

Since they couldn’t stop it, all he could do was shout for