The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 90
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 90
Eun-sung had decided to move alone for a reason: the Bucheon Station Outskirts would have been too much for his companions.
Expecting 2-star hunters to perform in a 4-star Gate would be absurd.
The Bucheon Station Gate was a multi-layered dungeon composed of three distinct sections.
The Bucheon Station Outskirts, where Commuter Ghosts spawned, was a buffer zone of sorts—the true threat began only once you ventured into the Station Interior.
The Underground Shopping Area, the Station Interior, and the Platform.
The types of monsters that appeared in each region varied wildly, as did the currency they dropped.
‘Skip the Underground Shopping Area. No need to thoroughly sweep the Station Interior either. Straight to the Platform is the way.’
The Platform was my objective.
From there, I would descend into the deeper regions of the Bucheon Station Gate—that was my plan.
Since I could avoid the Underground Shopping Area entirely, a swift passage through the Station Interior would make reaching the deeper regions far from difficult.
Moreover, the Station Interior was far cleaner than expected, with nothing to slow my progress.
“…Not even locusts would leave this place like this.”
I clicked my tongue as I surveyed the Station Interior.
Corpses, corpses, and more corpses.
The Station Interior was littered with the remains of monsters.
Despite the gruesome sight, the battlefield itself was pristine—clear evidence that the Abyss Clan had swept through here.
The scattered Etherium they’d left behind confirmed it beyond doubt.
Every time they signed subcontracting agreements with the Defense Strategy Department, they pocketed hundreds of billions to trillions of won in service fees—they wouldn’t bother with low-grade Etherium.
‘This works in my favor.’
Thanks to their thoroughness, I could continue advancing through the Station Interior unimpeded.
‘Training, really. Maintaining combat instincts and synchronizing movements—I’m sweeping everything from the outskirts through the interior.’
Understanding the Abyss Clan’s intent, I nodded knowingly.
It was a common practice.
As hunters advanced in rank, they preferred to operate in fixed teams.
Gate conquest depended more on a Raid Party’s organizational cohesion than individual skill.
That’s why high-ranking hunters rarely formed teams on impulse.
Hunters who’d worked together for years could read each other’s movements with a glance and react accordingly—some achieved such perfect teamwork that a single look sufficed for communication.
That’s how you survived.
‘I’m grateful for that.’
I descended to the Platform, offering silent respect to the Abyss Clan for cleaning the Station Interior.
And there, waiting for me on the Platform, were presences.
“When… will the train… arrive…?”
“If I’m late… I’ll have to file an incident report…”
Monsters greeted me.
Most of them were office workers who had been waiting for the subway when the Gate Break occurred.
The Gate Break at Bucheon Station happened around 8:30 AM.
It was morning rush hour—when the subway was most crowded.
Perhaps that’s why.
Office workers turned into monsters stood in lines before each entrance.
Commuter Ghost.
More than ten years had passed since their deaths, yet they still waited for the subway to carry them to their workplaces.
They were trapped in an eternal commute.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
The moment Eun-sung descended the stationary escalator toward the platform.
Whoosh!
The Commuter Ghosts turned their heads in unison.
Hollow, vacant eyes.
Twisted necks.
Limbs bent at grotesque angles.
Their gaze fixed upon Eun-sung.
“When… will the train… arrive…?”
They asked him in perfect synchronization.
Shing!
Eun-sung drew Slaughter’s Joy in response.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
The Commuter Ghosts surged toward the stationary escalator with terrifying speed.
“Move!”
“I’m going first!”
“Don’t push!”
The Commuter Ghosts tangled together on the narrow escalator steps.
Crash!
Someone tumbled.
Crunch!
The rest trampled over the fallen one.
There was no order.
Frantic movements crushed and compressed one another.
They pushed, stepped on, and dragged each other down, surging toward Eun-sung as one.
Like a scene from the depths of commuter hell itself.
“Come then.”
Eun-sung welcomed them gladly.
“This is all I can offer you.”
I murmured softly.
“When will the train come… when will it arrive… Kyaaaaaaaaaah―!”
A Commuter Ghost lunged at me from point-blank range.
Screech!
The crimson blade danced its liberation, cleaving through the creature.
Splurt!
The Commuter Ghost’s body split open, blood spraying in all directions.
“Move!”
“I’ll go first!”
The other Commuter Ghosts trampled over his corpse and rushed toward Eun-sung in a frenzy.
The narrow escalator stairs.
The Commuter Ghosts charged at Eun-sung in a single file line as if queuing, only to fall one after another.
“….”
Eun-sung swung Slaughter’s Joy in silence, putting down the Commuter Ghosts again and again.
It was a dance of blades—liberation offered to those trapped in eternal hell.
Brief though it may be.
* * *
The platform resembled a slaughterhouse.
Around the escalator, corpses of Commuter Ghosts piled high like mountains, and blood flowing from them painted the platform interior crimson, creating a sea of gore.
Whoosh!
Ferrets emerged from the [Loot] card and busily gathered the belongings left behind by the Commuter Ghosts.
[You have obtained a Secret Coin (Gold).]
[You have obtained a Secret Coin (Bronze).]
[You have obtained a Secret Coin (Gold).]
…
[You have obtained a Secret Coin (Silver).]
The Commuter Ghosts had left behind a substantial quantity of Secret Coins.
Since they were currency used later to purchase various runes and items at the Secret Shop, Secret Coins were essential items.
For now, no one knew their true purpose, so they were only traded at the value of gold, silver, and bronze….
In any case, considering the future, this was quite a substantial haul.
But Eun-sung did not smile.
The corpse of a man wearing a necktie caught his eye particularly.
A blood-stained document peeked out from the gap of a briefcase that had fallen beside him.
“…What sin did they commit.”
A sorrowful murmur escaped Eun-sung’s lips.
They were not monsters.
They were merely pitiful people who had set out for work early in the morning, only to become trapped in eternal hell.
At least Eun-sung was not so corrupted as to laugh while eliminating such people.
Even if his hands were stained with much blood.
But this was something he had grown weary of witnessing.
“…Misfortune doesn’t require guilt to strike. Calamity needs no reason to find you.”
‘Master….’
Serka’s voice reached his ears.
Eun-sung did not answer.
‘It’s not something that just started yesterday or today.’
What good was it to dwell on unanswerable questions and philosophical anguish?
Nothing would change anyway.
Eun-sung sat on a nearby bench, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes.
How much time had passed?
– Beep beep beep beep beep~ Beep beep beep beep beep~ Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep~!
An automated announcement echoed through the station devoid of staff.
This place held only people transformed into monsters and the hunters who preyed upon them.
It was absurd enough that a train would enter a sealed station in the first place.
– The train for Incheon is now arriving. Passengers, please step back one pace.
– The train for Incheon is approaching.
Eun-sung opened his eyes.
The tunnel that had been shrouded in darkness far ahead brightened, and the train pulled into the platform.
[311103]
Eun-sung caught a glimpse of the train’s car number as it passed, then closed his eyes again.
[311102]
[311106]
Two more trains passed, but Eun-sung didn’t so much as twitch.
Like someone with no intention of boarding the subway at all.
‘Why not try using your power, Young Master?’
Seria whispered to Eun-sung.
‘Hm?’
Finding her suggestion reasonable, Eun-sung drew the [Luck & Misfortune] card and summoned Seria.
Clatter!
Seria rolled the dice.
[The dice shows 6.]
[The dice shows 6.]
[The dice shows 6.]
Jackpot!
Seria knelt on one knee and kissed the back of Eun-sung’s hand.
[Seria grants you 180% fortune!]
Ether drained away rapidly.
Eun-sung pulled out an Ether Ampule and chugged it down.
‘If I use it consecutively like this, I’ll end up in that state again.’
Eun-sung recalled the time he’d nearly collapsed from ether depletion.
Seria and Serka’s abilities consumed far too much ether with each use, so he had to be mindful—otherwise he could find himself in a dire situation.
– Beep beep beep beep beep~ Beep beep beep beep beep~ Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep~!
– The train for Incheon is now arriving. Passengers, please step back one pace.
– The train for Incheon is approaching.
The train arrived.
[311100]
This was the train Eun-sung had been waiting for.
“The effect is incredible.”
Eun-sung rose from his seat.
– The screen door opens.
Thud, thud, thud!
Just as I boarded the train, a dull impact echoed from the screen door on the opposite side.
It was Lee Hyun.
Thud, thud, thud!
He shouted something while pounding on the screen door, but his lips moved frantically while no sound reached me.
“…?”
Eun-sung tilted his head for a moment, then turned toward the window on the opposite side.
Thud, thud, thud!
Eun-sung sneered as if Lee Hyun wasn’t worth his time.
Whoosh.
Eun-sung raised his middle finger.
Bang, bang, bang!
– #$*&^%!@))(*(@$!!!
Apparently his temper had flared, as Lee Hyun pounded the screen door harder and spewed out more curses.
“Heh.”
Needless to say, it was profanity.
– The door closes.
Click.
Whirrrrr—
The train began to move.
Bang, bang, bang!
Eun-sung turned his gaze away from the enraged Lee Hyun and took a seat.
Soon the train raced through a tunnel shrouded in darkness.
There were no other passengers.
Inside the silent cabin.
Thump-thump, thump-thump….
Thump-thump, thump-thump….
Only the dull sound of wheels rolling over rails echoed through the car.
“About fifteen minutes, I’d say….”
Eun-sung recalled the last time he’d ridden this train.
The deeper zones of the Bucheon Station Gate were accessed by train.
Moreover, since each train arrived at different deeper zones, it was crucial to verify the car number before boarding.
The 311100 train Eun-sung had boarded typically took between ten and fifteen minutes to reach its destination.
At least, that’s what he remembered.
“I forgot to add music.”
I muttered while glancing down at the smartphone mounted on the chest of my plate carrier.
Click!
The corridor door opened.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
A group of people stepped into the passenger car where Eun-sung was riding.
Thud, thud!
The sound of footsteps echoed.
“…They’re actually chasing me.”
Eun-sung turned his head, thinking Lee Hyun and the Abyss Clan members had caught up.
But what entered his field of vision were… grotesque beings of all shapes and sizes.
What people called [Subway Villains].
“Ah, come on.”
Irritation spread across Eun-sung’s face.
I’d let my guard down.
It seemed I would have to pay the price for underestimating Line 1.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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