'This doesn't make any sense.'

Kim Dokja scanned around the train.

[Survivors from the 3434 Train to Bulgwang, Carriage 3807: Kim Dokja, Lee Hyunsung, Yoo Sangah, Han Myungoh and Lee Gilyoung. A total of five survivors.]

He shouldn't be complaining that more people survived than expected, but in Ways of Survival, the only people who survived in this compartment are Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon.

However, the latter was nowhere to be seen.

"How is this possible...?" He muttered under his breath.

Kim Namwoon should undoubtedly be here. That guy always survived the first scenario in each of Yoo Joonghyuk's regression turns, possibly killing many people in this carriage to live.

Yoo Sangah, who misunderstood his words, smiled warmly at him. "We survived because of you, Dokja-ssi."

"Ah..." Kim Dokja shook his head, waving at her to dismiss the words. "No, that was a coincidence. It won't happen a second time."

The brunette woman nodded, but she doesn't seem to believe he threw the grasshopper box at her direction unintentionally.

With Lee Gilyoung clutching onto one of his legs, The Dokkaebi Bihyung began to explain the process of choosing a sponsor.

'Let's forget about Kim Namwoon for now. The most important thing is to clear the scenarios.'

He firmly brushed away all his suspicions before proceeding to the next step.

Kim Dokja just hadn't anticipated for his next step to be an unfriendly meeting with the protagonist and escaping out of an ichthyosaurs.

• • •

Present time...

A day had passed ever since the bloody incident. Everyone had pretty much returned to normal and they seemed to have accepted Cale's words quite easily. People were scared of Namwoon (the boy wasn't complaining, he liked it better this way), but they treated the other man with the utmost respect.

Naturally, they regarded him as the leader. However, the said person knew none of this. He simply stayed in his tent, giving out orders and useful tips every time someone came for advice.

Food isn't going to be short anytime soon, because he instructed Kim Namwoon to hunt. The teen reluctantly obliged and immediately dragged people along. They must fight for their own food if they want to eat. Why would they give anything to those who only sit back and do nothing?

In short, people were satisfied. The situation definitely does not call for a joyful occasion, but being under Cale Henituse was better than the previous group of inhumane bastards.

"Henituse-nim?" A woman's voice called out to him.

"Hm?" The black haired man rubbed his eyes, getting rid of his sleepiness.

To no one's knowledge, he had been excessively planning on what to do about Yoo Joonghyuk.

'Avoiding him isn't possible.'

He's currently within the region of the second scenario, getting aboveground isn't preferable. Also, he's trying to help Kim Dokja, so running away won't do.

Aside from that, Cale realized that he had promised these people that he'll at least assist them for a bit so they can survive a little longer. He knows they're not his responsibilities, but he's not the type to turn back on his own words.

'It should be fine, right? Yoo Joonghyuk didn't kill Cheon Inho and his group in the novel even though they're trash. But... isn't that only because Yoo Joonghyuk knows Cheon Inho from his previous regressions? Then what will happen once he sees me, a person he had never seen before in his past regressions?'

Cale was starting to get a headache. Thankfully, the woman's words interrupted his thoughts.

"There are two survivors that recently arrived. Would you like to see them?"

"Did they get poisoned by the fog?"

"They did."

Cale frowned.

'Is it Kim Dokja and Jung Heewon?'

No, there's no way. Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja's companions haven't even arrived yet.

"You healed them, right?" He asked.

There was a short pause.

Outside the tent, the woman's expression turned tender. 'He helped us a lot, and now the first thing he thinks about is whether the survivors are injured. What a good person.'

"Yes, we did," She answered softly.

"Good. Just give them food for now. Not the monster meat, those stuff still has poison in them. I'll come out once I'm done."

"Of course, Cale-nim."

He heard the footsteps that were becoming distant before sighing deeply.

'When will I be able to rest?'

• • •

Thousands of worlds away...

The first time they saw Cale Henituse on the screen-like hologram, they were astonished. It was like a live broadcast that was shown throughout the continents. Their role was similar to a 'constellation', except for the fact that they couldn't do anything but observe.

That was the deal given by the three gods. But it was better than nothing. They could at least check on Cale's condition now.

Everyone was currently witnessing the redhead— who now had black hair for some reason— conversing with someone named Kim Namwoon.

They could only watch as people desperately killed others to survive. Thankfully, Cale was prepared.

"Human— Human seems alright! He's not alone and that's great!" Raon chimed in happily, keeping up the optimistic atmosphere.

"But he really should rest first, nya!"

"True, nya! He looks like he could fall off any second!"

"Haaa, what an unlucky bastard."

Cale truly did seem fine, until he almost got stabbed again and everyone nearly went on a rampage.

"What a weak weak human! IF HE GETS HURT, I'M GOING TO DESTROY EVERYTHING!"

"Destroy everything, nya!"

"I agree with our dongsaeng, nya!"

"Ho," Ron smiled benignly.

It seems that he must prepare bitter lemon tea to be sent to their precious young master.

They watched the massacre with a vicious gaze, but felt satisfied afterwards. Perhaps they could leave Cale's protector role to Kim Namwoon is that world...

When they first got told that Cale was sent to a world nearing an apocalypse, they were in disbelief. Moreso Alberu and Choi Han. They were the ones who knew just what kind of life that Cale has been living. To see him go through a second apocalypse made them worried. Within the temple, they could only glance at each other knowingly. Even now, Choi Han who was watching the broadcast with Alberu in the latter's office was frowning.

"What's on your mind, instructor-nim?"

"A-Ah?" Choi Han snapped out of his daze, slightly shaking his head. "I apologize, Your Highness. I know Cale-nim will do well, he always seems to have a plan. I just... I don't have a good feeling about this..." He confessed, gripping the handle of his sword tightly to erase his uncomfortable feeling, but it didn't go away.

"Hm..." Alberu hummed in acknowledgement, his eyes sharpening as he looked at the screen, particularly towards the redhead who was talking with a creature called dokkaebi. "I don't have a good feeling either."

"... You too?"

"Yes. It feels like there's something big we're missing here, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

After that, they stayed silent.

Choi Han continued watching intently, while Alberu diligently did his paperworks, giving occasional glances to the stream.

It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but tension and unanswered questions were lingering in the air.

There was no way that the gods had told them everything. It's impossible that they're doing this without trying to gain benefits. But Cage and Jack had told them that they could feel the genuineness.

Still... what would the god bastards get out of this?

'For once, I hope my gut feeling is wrong,' Alberu thought, glaring down at the paper he signed on.

• • •

Some time ago, in Gumho Station...

"Namwoon-ssi, this is the last one," a middle-aged man threw an underground rat monster's body at the teenager, which the other caught swiftly. It was Kang Gunwoo, someone who got beaten up badly last time. He was already healed, thanks to Cale's strange potions that the guy had pulled out of his bag.

The teen then placed it on the pile of corpses. There are people who worked to skin the monsters and washing the meat. With this many people in the station, there seemed to be enough food for the next few days.

For now, they were told by Cale to survive through the usual human food, saying that they'll soon find something that can cook the monster meat. Obviously, they chose to believe him.

Some people felt suspicions towards the mysterious man, but after realizing that Cale hadn't done anything wrong and in fact— is keeping his promises, they simply followed his words.

"You four, patrol the station. Cale-nim said we have to keep this place safe so check all entrances," Gunwoo firmly instructed to the people who hunted with them.

"Understood, Gunwoo-ssi!" They answered and began doing their own set of work.

Gunwoo turned towards Namwoon who was scratching his ear with his pinky finger in boredom. "How about you, Namwoon-ssi? What do you plan on doing?"

The boy clicked his tongue. "Tsk. I'll do whatever I want, no need to poke your nose in my business," He rudely replied before walking away with his other hand in his pocket. Namwoon truly looked like a delinquent.

However, as he watched the other's back, Gunwoo chuckled. "Ah, the rebellious phase."

'He says that, and although he always acted like he never wanted to help, he does it anyway.' The man shakes his head before helping the others arrange the monster meat.

Meanwhile, a pair of man and woman patrolled through one of the entrances, casually walking alongside each other and talking in a quiet voice.

"Oh, I remember something. Cale-nim told Aecha to save her coins as much as possible to prepare, we should definitely do that too," The woman said to the other, swinging the flashlight around to see if there was anything unusual.

The man laughed, patting his chest. "Already did the moment I heard it." He sighs, "Haaa, honestly I never even thought I'd survive through the first hour of that breakout, but I'm thankful that I managed to end up here out of all places."

"Well, considering this is the place where we meet Cale-nim, it's normal to feel that way. He helped us a lot."

"True. He's practically my savior. I don't mind if he tells me to grovel at his feet or something."

The woman deadpanned, giving him a judgemental look.

"What? He's gorgeous! His care for people is admirable. He's knowledgeable, he's also a very good leader. And didn't you know about how people assumed he knows the future or something? Doesn't that make him omnipotent?" He retorted defensively, pure admiration in his voice.

"Gosh, just say you're gay," She heaved out bluntly.

The man almost tripped while exploding into a red stammering mess.

He tried to respond, but a loud noise interrupted their peaceful conversation. Both of them tensed, and they gave each other a look before cautiously approaching the gate entrance.

They gasped, spotting two people, presumably poisoned after looking at the spots on their skin.

'Survivors!'

"Call the others! We need to treat them immediately!" The woman said, and the man nodded before running to the base.

She quickly approached the two new people.

It was another woman, panting heavily as she carried an unconscious girl wearing a high school uniform on her trembling arms.

"H-Help... please..." The long haired woman pleaded with a shaky voice.

"We will. Hang on a little bit, okay? We have something that can heal you both, so stay conscious, you hear me?"

The poisoned woman nodded in relief, and all three of them finally settled down on the floor, waiting.

For the first time after what seems to be forever, she smiled as she felt hope slowly filling her chest.

• • •

Present time...

Cale exited his tent, and everyone he walked past nodded at him with a smile and occasional call outs of polite greetings. He could sense relief in the air, probably because of the new survivors that arrived and they were able to cure them.

"Where are they?" He asked the woman who stood by. Apparently, she worked as a nurse before the apocalypse happened, so the conditions of the survivors were quickly stabilized.

"Cale-nim, good evening! They're inside. They said they want to meet you."

"Lead me to them."

"Of course!"

The nurse woman entered the tent, and Cale followed suit.

When he lifted his head, he froze.

No f*cking way.

There was no doubt in his mind.

The appearance description, the strong gaze, and the obvious aura of an important character.

It was Jung Heewon.

'How is she here? Isn't she supposed to be make an entrance with Kim Dokja in around 3 days? No, perhaps she had always been in Gumho Station way before Kim Dokja arrived. She was simply thrown out by Cheon Inho's lackeys.'

And...

His gaze drifted to a teenage girl with short hair and familiar school uniform, or particularly, her name plate.

Na Bori.

'Sh*t, isn't that Lee Jihye's supposed dead friend in the novel?'

But no, the girl is alive, and she was looking at him with a bright smile and the clearest gaze he had ever seen.

———

a/n: MWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH—

help pls. i feel both excitement and regret.

and yes... i rested... i swear...