Creator’s Favoritism

「Tito ponders for a while about why Maeng Sun-woo would activate in such a peaceful situation.」

This was the narration box that appeared right after the cut. From Tito’s perspective, who thinks I’m just going to buy donuts, this behavior might seem odd.

“…Even on holidays, I should keep practicing using abilities.”

I hope that’s enough… right?

While I was trying to play it cool, the system message announced the skill’s activation.

[SYSTEM: activated. Please select a skill to use.]

No way, why did that garbage skill show up again? I immediately decided to eliminate option 3 from consideration.

‘Only two choices left…’

After brief contemplation, I chose the second skill, . If I picked , I might have to walk on tiptoes throughout the entire fight.

Besides, sounded cool from the name alone. There wasn’t much hesitation in choosing the skill.

[SYSTEM: Through ’s effect, has been temporarily awakened.]

Alright. Let’s see what kind of skill this is.

As I stood there anxiously with my arms crossed, an unbelievable system message appeared before me.

[SYSTEM: activated. Unfortunately, both dice roll 1.]

‘What does that mean?’

As I unconsciously stepped backward, I felt something sticky and unpleasant under my right foot.

Checking my sneaker’s sole, I found a long strand of gum stuck between it and the ground.

It must have been spat out recently because no matter how much I scraped my shoe against the ground, it showed no signs of coming off.

As if mocking me, clear chime sounds accompanied a series of hologram messages.

[SYSTEM: When is activated, you are blessed with the worst possible luck.]

-Rumble

While I stood there dumbfounded staring at the system message, the sky that had been clear just moments ago began to darken stealthily.

The warm spring sunlight was completely blocked by menacing storm clouds that rolled in with a growl.

Lightning struck a distant mountainside. Tito drew a panel of me wiping my dry face with my palm.

After a few seconds, an unpredictable downpour began furiously pelting down. It was nearly a torrential rain.

The water droplets bouncing off the ground created a white mist that made the asphalt surface appear foggy.

I let out a bitter laugh as I watched the raindrops thoroughly soak my clothes and shoes.

Naturally, there was no way I would have brought an umbrella.

* * *

Snake Eyes.

A term in dice games referring to when both dice show 1 – in other words, the worst possible roll and extreme bad luck.

After belatedly looking it up online, I crouched down holding my head.

When I closed my eyes, I could almost see Tito drawing while thinking, “Have a taste of this, Sun-woo.”

wasn’t even a skill that could be canceled at will. This meant I had to endure this state for 24 hours no matter what.

If the skill name had been something like , I would never have chosen it. Tito was meticulously setting me up for failure.

I saw what looked like a convenience store employee hurriedly bringing out an umbrella stand near the entrance.

Yeah, no. Absolutely not buying an umbrella.

I passed the convenience store gritting my teeth. The moment I spent money on an umbrella, the rain would definitely stop as if it had never happened. I kept my back defiantly straight to prove a point.

[SYSTEM: activated.]

Splash!

Along with a cheerful sound, rainwater pooled by the roadside suddenly surged up. I stared with dismay at the tail end of the car that had just passed by, spraying water everywhere.

Although it was spring, the temperature in early to mid-March became surprisingly cold once the wind and rain mixed in.

People glanced at me as I finally entered the convenience store looking like a drowned rat. A group of young-looking teenagers seemed to recognize me and started whispering among themselves.

Small puddles formed with each step I took. With blue-tinged lips, I headed straight to the counter.

“S-sorry, but wh-where are the um-umbrellas?”

The cold made me stutter. It was fortunate I hadn’t bitten my tongue as my teeth kept chattering.

“I’m sorry. We just sold out of umbrellas…”

The employee furrowed their brows sympathetically as they delivered the bad news.

「Tito references numerous online photos of Seoul Station while drawing the scene of ‘Park Sang-oh’ arriving at Seoul Station with a bag full of cash.」

From the narration box, it seemed there wasn’t much time left before Park Sang-oh made his escape.

No choice here. Although my shoes were squelching with water, I started running like mad.

That’s when I felt something squirming slightly inside my top. It was Nemo, poking its head out as if checking the situation outside.

While trying to correct my imprecise pronunciation, I pressed down firmly on the slime’s head.

“It-it’s c-cold, stay inside…”

◉∼◉

Nemo’s expression as it looked up at me was puzzling.

Soon, a warm sensation began spreading from the zippered pocket where the slime had hidden itself. It felt just like having a portable hand warmer.

I didn’t know it had this ability.

A strange feeling of appreciation washed over me, thinking this little one could be helpful when needed.

The wave of appreciation was brief, as a tremendous downpour struck my crown with a “whoosh.” Water dripped from the ends of my rain-soaked hair.

Well, what’s done is done with getting soaked. I just hoped no one would take photos of me in this state.

Occasionally, paper boxes and broken umbrellas would fly toward me in the strong wind, but thanks to my heightened alertness, I barely managed to avoid these dangerous situations.

Catching my rough breath, I looked up at the large Seoul Station building before me. Though I was a bit later than expected, at least I hadn’t been hit by a car.

Just as I climbed the stairs to Seoul Station’s second floor through the howling wind and rain…

[SYSTEM: activated.]

Click!

“It’s Maeng Sun-woo.”

“No way.”

People were raising their rear cameras toward me as I entered Seoul Station, each holding their phones.

“This is awesome.”

“Wow, putting this on my story.”

I made direct eye contact with a woman who was taking burst shots. What a fantastic skill effect.

“Hunter Maeng Sun-woo! I’m a fan!”

“So cute~”

“Don’t you have an umbrella? Aren’t you cold? Where are you going?”

“Excuse me. Just passing through.”

The second floor was full of facilities like convenience stores and restaurants. This meant people were visible wherever I looked.

I could feel the attention increasingly focusing on me among the already dense crowd. Barely suppressing my burning face, I pushed through the crowd.

“Sun-woo?”

“Sorry…?”

As I tried to pass by with a habitual apology, I stopped at the familiar voice.

There stood Lee Chan-yu in civilian clothes, carrying a duffle bag.

Standing with the ‘Sugar Engine’ store behind her, Chan-yu wore a baseball cap pulled low and a mask to avoid recognition.

I caught a glimpse of a train ticket on her phone screen.

Chan-yu, who had been staring at me intently, pulled down the mask covering her lower face. Her eyes showed complete bewilderment at why I was here.

“Why are you here…”

BOOM!!!!

As if timed perfectly, a bright light flashed. Perhaps because it was particularly dark and gloomy outside, the light seemed especially blinding today.

“Chan-yu. I need to tell you something first. I’m having really bad luck today.”

Chan-yu frowned, her expression showing equal parts confusion and perplexity.

“So…”

Before I could even finish one sentence, the “ding” sound of another system message rang out.

‘This thing really activates disgustingly often.’

I thought it would be that damned again, but an eerie silence filled the station.

The eyes of the people gathered around us were fixed on the hologram window that appeared all at once.

[SYSTEM: A gate has opened at Seoul Station, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.]

“Oh no…”

Chan-yu’s face crumpled as she read the system message. Immediately after, the vast space of Seoul Station began tearing apart with red rifts appearing here and there.

[SYSTEM: Seoul Station Gate, Yongsan-gu, Seoul/7 monsters have awakened.]

The station interior, previously bright with white fluorescent lights, turned blood-red. Cracks that looked like thick blood vessels twisted together pulsated with sounds like tough leather being ground up.

Soon after, black shadows began probing through the gate’s fissures. Chaos like lightning struck among the civilians who hadn’t yet grasped the situation.

―This is a real situation. This is a real situation. Due to gate emergence within the station, monster prevention shutters will be activated at all exits.

Whirrrr

Along with the thunderously loud announcement, heavily welded iron doors began descending like shutters at each Seoul Station exit. The doors looked at least 30cm thick.

―This is a real situation. Please evacuate immediately. Emergency exits and special evacuation stairs are located within 3m of the monster prevention shutters. Please evacuate immediately…

Seoul Station staff burst out like bullets, struggling to guide terrified passengers outside. People ran frantically toward the emergency exits, screaming.

The stench emanating from the monsters’ bodies – shaped like beasts with only blackened, rotting bones remaining – intensified people’s panic. Some people fled, pushing and trampling others indiscriminately.

Lights exploded throughout the station with repeated “pop, pop” sounds. Soon the station interior darkened as if switches were being flipped off in sequence. Items dropped or left behind by people lay scattered across the floor like a war zone.

It looked like what might happen if you took the entire Seoul Station building and shook it violently. This chaos had unfolded in mere 10 seconds.

Chan-yu threw her duffle bag to the floor.

In the distance, a man caught by a monster screamed at the top of his lungs.

Names of various people echoed with torn voices from all directions.

A child who looked barely five years old burst into tears in extreme terror.

A woman who appeared to be the child’s mother supported her heavily pregnant belly with one hand while struggling to hold the child with the other.

I saw a blackened cow skull turning toward the mother and daughter.

‘No..!’

Viscous fluid dripped from the jawless monster’s black tongue. Without weighing any options, I activated my skill.

[SYSTEM: activated. 6 D-rank monsters now focus on you.]