Hold up.
Let’s take a moment to delve into Baek Saheon’s turbulent encounters with his psychopathic roommate.
The psycho who mocked him for losing his left eye.
The dopamine junkie who used people as bait in dangerous Darknesses.
The lunatic who pretended to be a serial killer, hacking away with an axe.
‘And now he’s playing cult leader too??’
At this point, the sheer absurdity of the situation surpassed all reason, and Baek Saheon began to feel the anomie phenomenon—a breakdown of norms where everything about this chaotic lineup just seemed expected just because it involved that bastard Kim Soleum.
Fine. Let’s say that’s all whatever.
But how the hell was he facing that lunatic here and now?!
‘I even took a vacation leave!’He hadn’t just left the company dorm—he had left Seoul altogether!
Baek Saheon shook his head violently, wondering if this was a nightmare, but the reality was unyielding.
With two elite team superiors by his side and leading dozens of people, Kim Soleum stood in the center of Car 3’s corridor, raising his arms dramatically—just like a cult leader would.
“There is no need to worry. We can all pass this test safely.”
The only comforting thought Baek Saheon had was the fact that the people in this car were smart enough to point fingers and ridicule the guy.
“Who the hell is that guy?”
“Jesus, now we’ve got another lunatic.”
“Ugh…”
“D-Don’t make eye contact.”
Ridicule and rejection erupted toward Kim Soleum, who was spouting nonsense.
‘Yeah… This is normal.’
But Kim Soleum wasn’t shaken in the slightest.
With a gentle smile, he calmly scanned the people in Car 3.
“…?!”
That made it even scarier!
“Everyone, I understand that you’re confused by this sudden gathering, and you probably think this is insane. ‘A test? What test?’”
Kim Soleum gave a sheepish smile, his demeanor that of a composed office worker.
“To be honest, I know this sounds cultish, even to me. It’s a bit embarrassing, really.”
His tone was calm and steady, like someone giving sincere advice over coffee.
“But in such terrifying and dreadful circumstances, we have to muster courage to speak up. If someone knows an answer, sharing it is the right thing to do.”
Kim Soleum’s expression hardened as he made eye contact with those around him.
“I ask that you set aside your discomfort and think this over. We are not fools—there is a reason why so many of us are here, sharing the same story.”
Baek Saheon glanced around at the people teetering on the edge of madness, trapped in this surreal loop of dying and restarting on the same train.
Kim Soleum was telling them exactly what they wanted to hear—the promise of an escape.
And his voice brimmed with conviction.
“This is a test, and there is a way to pass it.”
Suddenly, someone spoke up.
“So… you know how to get out of here?”
“Yes.”
“…!!”
Kim Soleum subtly turned his gaze behind him.
The people from Car 7, standing excitedly with eyes brimming with fervor, spoke up enthusiastically.
“We just need to go out through the window!”
“Just jump out the window, and it’ll be over!”
“What kind of bullshit is this?!”
The horrified passengers of Car 3 were met with a barrage of explanations.
“It’s not nonsense! There’s a way to make it painless! At least ten people have already gone out!”
“Sure, it’s a bit gross, but you just follow the light, and you’ll find the exit. Anyone can do it.”
“If anyone has trouble walking, someone else can jump out with them to help! It’s not hard at all!”
“As long as the venerable Pathfinder helps us…!”
The surprising part was that, although only ten people had jumped so far, there were dozens—nearly a hundred—following this group, including passengers from other cars.
Kim Soleum, watching the hopeful and eager eyes around him, turned his gaze forward and smiled faintly.
“That’s right, everyone. You can all make it out through the window.”
And at that moment, Baek Saheon realized something—
“There will be no problems.”
“That’s right!”
—It’s a scam!
‘T-This fucken psycho.’
He’s rallying all these idiots to jump out of the windows so that he can escape safely himself!
‘But he won’t fool me.’
Baek Saheon swallowed, convinced he had figured it out.
“Listen to the people who’ve already been out the window…”
“We have! We’re the couple who went through the second altar during the third life loop…”
Watching the passengers from Car 3 gradually lean in to hear the testimonies of the Car 7 survivors, who sounded like they were sharing triumphant stories from a self-help seminar, Baek Saheon clicked his tongue.
Idiots.
‘I could fabricate testimonies like that with my pen anytime!’
Clearly, Kim Soleum had used the pen he confiscated from Baek Saheon to brainwash these fools.
Fine. If that’s how he wanted to play it, Baek Saheon had a strategy of his own.
‘Just stay put.’
As long as he didn’t join the procession of Kim Soleum’s worshipers, he’d be fine.
Baek Saheon grinned confidently, relieved by his quick thinking. He had nearly gotten dragged into this mess!
‘Stay under the radar, and once that psycho fools the rest of them into jumping out all at once…’
Just then—
“Alright, let me show you right now! I’ll jump through the window this time!”
Huh?
“This time, I’m the one qualified to go through the altar.”
“Yes, you’ve been approved this time.”
“Wow!”
“Let’s give a round of applause!”
Wait, what?
“The first altar is the loneliest and scariest because you have to go through it alone…”
“It’s fine! I want to follow in the venerable Pathfinder’s footsteps exactly.”
“I-I’m not a Pathfinder, just the first one to try it… Umm. Yes. Well.”
Kim Soleum smiled shyly before earnestly grasping the participant’s hands as if in prayer.
“I’ll do my best to ensure you’re protected from pain by strengthening the mark I’ll give you.”
“…! Yes!”
First Altar Entrance
Baek Saheon watched the scene unfold, his expression blank with disbelief.
Under the dim, crimson lighting of the train, he saw Kim Soleum gently grasp the volunteer’s arm and do something subtle…
“I’m off!”
“See you soon!”
“Good luck!”
Amid cheers and encouragement, the volunteer, now resolute, stepped through the window.
This repeated over and over until—
Fourth Altar Entrance
“And now, we have our final participants.”
That’s when it hit him.
‘…Items!’
Kim Soleum had been secretly using some kind of item on the participants before they jumped.
Whatever it was, it actually helped them avoid going insane after falling through the window!
‘Wait a second.’
Could he actually be doing something about this?
And if that psycho was going so far to ensure people were safe, then—
Baek Saheon’s mind spun rapidly as he switched gears.
‘This Darkness is a first-come, first-served clear system!’
A system where you had to fill the quota before anyone could clear the game!
‘Jumping through the window isn’t just some symbolic act—it’s the main event!’
And Kim Soleum would be the type to stir up a frenzy to get people to willingly jump. Why?
‘Because that gives him more dopamine!’
Forcing people through the window wouldn’t be as fun for him. No, he’d prefer this method because it was more exciting and rewarding.
What a terrifying lunatic.
Baek Saheon shivered.
But that wasn’t the issue right now.
‘If that psycho has a plan—’
Then!
“S-Supervisor!”
Baek Saheon shot his hand up and stood, finally revealing his presence right after the train passed the fourth altar and the light returned.
“Who’s that?”
“Wait, was someone else in here?”
The passengers, who had become familiar with each other after looping five times, were startled by the unfamiliar face.
But Baek Saheon put on a shocked expression, pretending to be as surprised as they were, and turned to address the person he knew would give him the best chance—Kim Soleum.
Sure, approaching the elite team was tempting, but he doubted they’d entertain a random new face meaningfully.
Better to play the roommate angle.
And judging by how Kim Soleum had made himself the ringmaster of this whole circus, it seemed like the safer bet.
“My goodness… Hello, sir! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“……”
Kim Soleum stared at him silently for a moment.
Then, he smiled.
“Really? But I did.”
Fuck!
“Truly?”
“Haha, of course not. Just kidding. How could I have known?”
“……”
Driven by his rising fear, Baek Saheon barely stopped himself from blowing a goddamn fuse.