People panicked at the sight of insects running around the train car.
"H-Hey! Why would you do something like that—?"
While most people stood in shock, a few who acted quickly shoved past me.
"We'll remember this, you piece of shit."
"...You'd better start looking fast. There's only three minutes left."
With that as a signal, the passengers began tearing through the subway car like wild animals, frantically searching every corner of the seats.
"Got it! Aaaaagh!"
Those lucky enough to grab an insect shouted in delight, only to be immediately attacked by others. Chaos erupted inside the car.
"Hey, why'd you do that? You could've just given up your insect."
I turned to see Kim Namwoon getting up. I watched him warily as he rolled his neck, loosening up suspiciously.
"There are twelve people left in the car."
"...What?"
"And three insects left in the net."
Kim Namwoon stared blankly for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Twelve to three? Hahaha! Right. Not everyone's gonna make it out anyway, huh? So that's why you threw it?"
"Yeah."
"Don't make me laugh."
"...?"
"No one with even a shred of common sense would do something like that just because of a reason like that."
A wide grin spread across Kim Namwoon's face.
"Come on, be honest. You just wanted to see what would happen, didn't you?"
I recalled the Kim Namwoon from The Method of Annihilation. That's when I heard the message in my ear.
[Exclusive skill, "Character List," has activated.]
A window popped up in front of my eyes, unbidden.
I didn't know exactly what my trait was, but looking at the window, I had a vague idea.
---
Name: Kim Namwoon
Age: 19
Star Behind the Scenes: None (Currently, two constellations are showing interest in this individual)
Exclusive Trait: Chuunibyou (Common)
Exclusive Skills: [Abnormal Adaptability Lv.3], [Knife Fighting Lv.1], [Dark Awakening Lv.1]
Overall Stats: [Stamina Lv.3], [Strength Lv.4], [Agility Lv.6], [Magic Power Lv.4]
Overall Assessment: A chuunibyou who has awakened due to a special event. Best not to get involved.
---
Most of the chuunibyous in The Method of Annihilation couldn't withstand the nightmare come true and ended up killing themselves. But Kim Namwoon wasn't like them.
The Delusional Demon, Kim Namwoon.
He would later earn that nickname—because he wasn't just your average chuunibyou.
He had long awaited the world's end, which allowed him to adapt to this new world at an abnormal speed.
"Let's team up. What do you say?"
That young man was offering me a proposal now.
[Character 'Kim Namwoon' expresses interest in you.]
[Your understanding of character 'Kim Namwoon' has increased.]
If I joined forces with Kim Namwoon now, I'd definitely survive—for now.
If I hadn't read The Method of Annihilation, my decision might've been different.
"Sorry, I prefer to work alone."
"Yeah? Hm, that's a shame."
Kim Namwoon clicked his tongue and stepped closer to me.
"Then move. I've got business with that hag in the back."
"Hag?" I turned around. An elderly woman lay collapsed, barely breathing, bleeding out.
"What business?"
"You're seriously asking?"
"You're not going for the insect?"
"Insect? Why the hell would I care about that?"
Kim Namwoon gave a twisted smile.
"There's already a bug caught right in front of me."
I could feel the killing intent radiating off him. A character that had only existed in the novel's words now stood before me in living, breathing madness.
And somehow, I couldn't help but be impressed.
He really was just like the Kim Namwoon I'd imagined.
[Character 'Kim Namwoon's' favorability has slightly decreased.]
"What are you staring at? Move."
"That's going to be difficult."
"What?"
"I said I can't move."
"Ha, you trying to play the hero now? What, got a split personality or something?"
I didn't answer. A shadow spread across Kim Namwoon's face. The warmth in his eyes turned cold.
"Wait—did you throw that insect net over there just to do this? Really?"
"..."
"You did it to save that old hag? Hah! Unreal! I mean… no, right? Right?"
I still didn't answer.
Being this close to him brought back memories from the past.
"So you're the type of person I hate the most. Figures—old people are all the same."
He was the reason I almost gave up reading The Method of Annihilation.
[Character 'Kim Namwoon' looks down on you.]
"I said move."
I was watching for an opening when I ducked my head. His fist flew at me before he even finished his sentence.
"Oh? Not bad."
Even though I clearly dodged, I still felt heat brush past the top of my head. That wasn't a normal punch.
[Dark Awakening Lv.1]
A dark aura began to emanate from Kim Namwoon's body.
It was an exclusive skill tied to the 'Chuunibyou' trait.
Normally, characters didn't unlock skills before the first scenario ended—but he was already unleashing his.
There was a reason the protagonist eventually recruited him, despite his insane personality.
Thwack!
Pain shot through my shoulder where he hit me. If I fought head-on, I wouldn't stand a chance.
...Should I use that now?
Just as I was mentally calculating the timing, I heard another message.
[Your understanding of character 'Kim Namwoon' has increased.]
[You are approaching the activation condition for exclusive skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Stage 1.]
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint?
What now?
[You have fulfilled the condition to activate exclusive skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Stage 1!]
Boom!
Kim Namwoon's fist slammed into the floor.
"Haha, not bad, right?"
A faint crater marked the subway floor. He was beginning to realize his strength.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each blow could've easily broken bone. He kept pounding the floor in frustration.
"Goddammit, why can't I hit you!?"
Of course he couldn't.
It was all thanks to my second skill.
[Exclusive skill, 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Stage 1 activated!]
The moment the skill activated, I could practically see his attacks coming—like I could read his mind.
For example:
「Right side, ribs.」
I slipped out of the strike's angle.
「Right eye.」
I ducked low, avoiding the next incoming punch.
"Fucking hell, you just won't get hit!"
My athletic ability sucked, so counterattacking was out of the question—but I could dodge most of his moves.
「Left thigh.」
That was enough to hold out.
The key was buying time.
Dodging another blow, I pointed toward the clock floating in midair.
"Two minutes left, kid."
Kim Namwoon looked back and forth between me and the old lady.
"You son of a bitch!"
Faced with a choice, his eyes locked on the old woman.
I had no choice but to roll with her in my arms.
If she died, Kim Namwoon would clear the scenario. No way I was letting someone like him reach the next one.
"Hah, I knew you'd do that."
A bad feeling crept in. He was already pulling something from his bag.
The blade gleamed under the white fluorescent light.
A portable MacGyver knife.
I'd forgotten—this guy was a hardcore military otaku.
Shhhhk!
A combo: the technical skill [Knife Fighting] and the enhancement skill [Dark Awakening].
And the knife's tip?
「Heart.」
An attack that can't be avoided, even if you know where it's coming from. I make a quick decision. If it's unavoidable, then it's better to take the hit. If possible, with minimal damage.
Screeeeech!
The blade narrowly missed my heart, slicing deeply across my shoulder.
It hurts. It really hurts.
So this is what it feels like to have your skin seared. My vision wavered, and I could feel the presence of death creeping closer.
"Haha, just die already!"
1 minute and 30 seconds left until the scenario ends. I glanced toward the old woman. I felt sorry for her, but now, I really had no choice but to use that.
"Kim Namwoon, 2nd year at Cheongil High. I have a question for you."
"...What?"
"Are insect eggs considered 'living beings' or not?"
I pulled out the corpse of the grasshopper I killed earlier from my pocket. Its bulging egg sac had a hefty volume.
Squish. With a wet sound, the fluid burst out.
A sticky feeling soaked my hand as a message came through.
---
[You have killed a living being.]
[Bonus reward: 100 coins acquired.]
[You have killed a living being.]
[Bonus reward: 100 coins acquired.]
---
Countless messages echoed in my ears.
Kim Namwoon grimaced.
"Insect eggs? What the hell are you babbling about? Trying to stall time?"
"Something like that."
"How the hell should I know? I always slept through biology class."
He laughed, looking at my blood-soaked shoulder.
"But there's one thing I know for sure. Wanna hear it?"
"What is it?"
"That you're about to die!"
Before I could even respond, Kim Namwoon's utility knife moved. Just as I thought—an attack too quick to dodge.
[You have gained a large amount of coins! Would you like to view the coin usage guide?]
I ignored the explanations buzzing in my ears. I already knew how it worked.
"No, you're the one who's going to die."
As I spoke those words aloud, I mumbled something internally.
[Investing 2700 coins into 'Stamina.']
[Stamina Lv.1 → Stamina Lv.10]
[Stamina has significantly increased!]
[Physical durability has greatly increased!]
Kim Namwoon's utility knife drove straight toward my heart.
Or at least, it looked like it did.
Only a shallow scratch remained on my skin, like the blade had scraped against a rock. Kim Namwoon's eyes widened in shock.
"H-how?!"
"I'll give you the answer to the earlier question. The answer is, 'Eggs are living beings.'"
"W-what?"
"And grasshoppers in their breeding season lay over 100 eggs at once."
Eggs. Living beings. 100.
Unfortunately for this dimwitted high schooler, there wasn't enough time for him to process what that meant.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"I didn't expect you to understand. One minute left now."
Finally, fear crept onto Kim Namwoon's face.
"AAARGH! DIE! I'LL KILL YOU!"
His knife swung at my neck. I didn't bother to block it.
Clang!
Maybe because the neck is more vulnerable than the chest, this time the scratch was a little deeper—but it didn't hurt much.
"Kim Namwoon."
Behind his frenzied figure, people were still frantically hunting bugs, even fighting each other for survival.
"If you're right about anything, it's this—I'm the same kind of person as you."
People I might have been able to save.
"Damn it, why won't you die?! Why won't you just die?!"
55 seconds. 50. 45.
The knife continued to leave only surface wounds.
Blood trickled, but the blade never pierced below the skin.
He spoke again when 30 seconds were left.
He dropped the knife and collapsed to his knees before me.
"P-please... spare me."
25 seconds.
"Please, I'm begging you! Spare me!"
"Why should I?"
20 seconds.
"P-people's lives matter! Isn't that just... obvious?"
"That was the rule in the 'old world.' You said it yourself. A new world needs new rules."
10 seconds.
"No! I don't wanna die! Aaaaahhh!"
5 seconds.
With a desperate scream, Kim Namwoon lunged at me, aiming the knife at my eyes.
The blade was just about to pierce my retina when—
[Time limit has been reached.]
BOOM!
Kim Namwoon's head exploded.
[Paid settlement is beginning.]
Starting with Kim Namwoon, people's heads began bursting all around.
One, two, three, four...
Heads popping like fireworks, announcing the birth of a new era.
I watched the scene unfold with a strange mix of excitement, guilt, and a sense of detachment I couldn't understand.
Why?
Why am I so calm while watching this?
As if I were just reading a novel.
[You have massacred 124 lifeforms.]
[Massacre Log: 1 grasshopper, 123 grasshopper eggs]
[Because the targets had no resistance, coin rewards have been halved.]
[You have earned 6,200 coins.]
[Coins used for leveling have been automatically deducted.]
[3,500 coins acquired in total.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Mass Murderer – due to excessive slaughter.]
My reflection appeared in the pitch-black subway window.
A face I'd never seen before, despite all the mirrors I'd ever looked into.
I wiped at the blood on my cheek. It didn't come off.
It wasn't my blood—it was smeared on the glass.
Screech.
The train jolted and started moving again, rumbling down the track.
Then came light, driving away the darkness in the window.
The above-ground section of Seoul Metro Line 3, from Apgujeong to Oksu.
Outside the window, the scenery of Seoul came into view.
Ah.
Someone let out a shuddering gasp. A gasp filled with relief—I survived.
But it didn't take long for that relief to morph into horror.
Ah... ah...
The scenery outside the window was no longer the Seoul they knew.
A ruined city, cloaked in smoke and dust.
The collapsed bridges over the Han River.
The river stained red with soldiers' blood, monsters stomping on K1 tanks like toys between fallen buildings.
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]
[Base completion reward: 300 coins acquired.]
[100 coins deducted as channel usage fee.]
[Bonus reward settlement beginning.]
One world had perished, and a new one was being born.
And I was the only reader who knew how this story ends.