A loud thud shattered the silence in one of Seoul Station's hallways. With a brutal crash, the frail and skinny body of a young boy was violently slammed against a wall.
"Plank!… Ergh…"
"Didn't I tell you not to come here without cigarettes? Are you doing this on purpose, or did you lose your memory?!" barked one of the attackers, frowning as he slowly rolled up his sleeves.
Another guy, with a mocking tone, wrapped his arm around the first one and chuckled:
"Maybe it's your fault he lost his memory, after all the hits you gave him on the head yesterday. Ha ha ha!"
The boy on the ground, frail and curled up in pain, was named Jae-sung. What people commonly call a punching bag. Since middle school, he had been the target of constant bullying. For him, school life had never been anything but a living hell. And even now, nothing had changed. He had never dared to speak about it, terrified of worrying his mother—or worse, of the consequences he might suffer if he opened his mouth.
Standing in front of him were five tall and intimidating boys, a stark contrast to his fragile frame.
But among them, one clearly stood out. Without question, he was the leader of this gang of bastards. He exuded a cold, oppressive aura that was impossible to ignore.
"Do-Wan."
That name alone was enough to send chills down Jae-sung's spine. Since middle school, Do-Wan had been his personal tormentor—his own living nightmare.
The son of a wealthy businessman and one of the school's top sponsors, Do-Wan enjoyed an untouchable status. No matter what he did, the teachers always looked the other way, preferring to avoid trouble.
A complete bastard who took twisted pleasure in crushing the weak… and Jae-sung was his favorite target.
"Finish with this trash before someone shows up," Do-Wan said lazily, leaning against the opposite wall, eyes glued to his phone without even bothering to look up.
"Yes, boss!"
The attacker with the tense face crouched down, grabbed Jae-sung by the hair, and yanked his head up violently.
"You're gonna make it up to us, you little piece of shit. Go get us some cigarettes. I saw a shop on the other side of the station."
"Huh?! But that's way too far! If I go now, I'll miss the trip…" he replied, trembling.
"And why the hell should I care?! Now you're talking back? Sounds like you need another lesson!"
He raised his hand to slap Jae-sung, still gripping his hair, when a voice suddenly cut through the tension:
"What do you think you're doing here?"
The attacker immediately let go. He straightened up and raised his hands, putting on an innocent smile like nothing had happened.
"Nothing, Madam President. I was just helping our classmate who fell by accident," he said with an angelic face. Then, turning toward Jae-sung, he added in a threatening tone:
"Isn't that right, Jae-sung?"
"Y-Yeah... it was just an accident. My laces were untied, and I tripped... They were just trying to help me, President," Jae-sung said as he slowly got up, brushing dust off his school uniform.
The girl wasn't stupid. Her gaze dropped to his shoelaces—supposedly untied—but they were perfectly laced and tight. She looked him over carefully from head to toe. The bruises on his body clearly weren't from a simple fall.
The station's speakers crackled:
"Passengers for the train to Busan, please proceed to the platform."
"Well then, President… See you on the train," said one of the bullies, walking off with the others.
Once the group was gone, she quickly approached the boy, took a small first aid kit from her bag, and gently began treating the wounds on his face.
"Are you really okay?"
"Damn… They really didn't hold back. I'm gonna report this to the teachers…"
"No… it's… it's fine, President. Thank you, but I told you I just fell," he said, eyes down, his gaze empty.
"Why are you doing this…? Don't worry about me, it's a waste of your time."
She pouted, staring stubbornly at the boy in front of her. Then…
"Ow… President, why did you hit me?" he asked, scratching his head, embarrassed.
The girl stepped a little closer, her expression turning thoughtful and concerned. She tilted her head, observing him more closely. His face was covered in bruises, and his uniform surely hid even more.
"The next time they mess with you, come tell me immediately. It's the student council's duty to handle things like this."
A short silence fell between them.
Then she added softly, her voice breaking the quiet:
"Don't carry everything on your own. If you need help… I'm here."
Jae-sung's eyes widened, surprised. Those few words were enough to warm his heart. He, the weak, useless boy no one ever cared to notice.
"Thank you… President," he said, holding back tears, hiding his eyes behind his arm.
"Huh?! Are you crying? _" she asked, surprised.
"Sorry for being so pathetic… I can't even control myself… sniff sniff"
The girl crossed her arms over her chest and let out a sigh.
"It's nothing. Use this trip to reflect, to clear your mind. And when you're ready to talk, come see me. Just remember this: being weak or scared isn't a flaw. The real flaw is choosing to stay that way."
"Sniff… sniff… Thank you…" murmured Jae-sung, his eyes clouded with tears.
Suddenly, the girl stopped and turned her head, glancing discreetly over her shoulder. Her gaze scanned the far end of the hallway, as if something had disturbed her… then, without a word, she calmly resumed walking with Jae-sung.
"What's wrong, President?"
"Nothing… I thought I saw something."
---
Train Boarding
"Wow, this train is massive!" exclaimed a student, mouth agape at the luxurious locomotive.
"Are we really going to ride this? I mean… I hope we are," added a timid girl in the crowd.
"Silence, everyone! Group up! Boarding is about to begin. Gather here for roll call!" ordered Ms. Park, suddenly appearing with her head buried in a folder.
"Before anything else, let me remind you: this trip to Busan, aboard the luxurious KTX-Sancheon, is a reward from our school for your outstanding results on the provincial exams."
Ms. Park paused, letting the information settle in.
"Tomorrow morning, we'll arrive in Busan. You'll be staying at the Paradise Hotel Busan, one of the most prestigious hotels in the country. Then, we'll visit research centers like Busan Techno Park…"
Gasps of awe spread through the students. Most had never even dreamed of stepping foot in such a place.
A single night at that hotel could cost anywhere from 400,000 to 600,000 won—about 200 to 450 euros, depending on the room. Way beyond the reach of average students.
"Wait… isn't that the hotel where a night costs over 400,000 won?!" exclaimed one student, eyes wide.
"You mean we're staying somewhere even my parents couldn't afford, even if they spent their whole savings?!" shouted another, dumbfounded.
"But that doesn't mean you can slack off." retorted Ms. Park.
"You represent the elite of our school. Act like it."
She closed her eyes briefly, then reopened them to glare at a noisy group of boys on her left.
"I'm especially talking to you: Min-Woo, Tae-Jin, and Hyun-Soo."
"Why us, ma'am?! That's unfair!" protested Tae-Jin, the boy with glasses.
The crowd burst into laughter.
Ms. Park clapped her hands.
"Silence! We'll now begin roll call. I'll call you one by one, and once I'm done, we'll board."
---
Inside the Train – Car No. 7
After roll call, the students boarded the train one by one. Car No. 7, reserved exclusively for their class, was spacious and luxurious—nothing like a regular train.
The seats were wide and reclinable, with footrests and personal screens. Each student had an assigned seat, two by two, just like in a high-end airplane.
Some sat by the windows, others grouped with friends. The sound of rolling suitcases, laughter, and lively chatter filled the air.
There were no sleeping cabins like in a night train, but the seats were so comfortable that one could easily sleep in them. Soft lighting bathed the cabin in a warm glow, and meal trays were already prepared at the front, ready to be served.
"You're kidding!" someone exclaimed.
"I'm not. Then how do you explain the disappearances in Busan, Daegu, and even Seoul? And it's not just in Korea—it's happening worldwide. Korea's not the only country affected by this phenomenon."
The young man with glasses spoke seriously, his tone grim.
"It's the same all over the world: people vanishing without cause, leaving no clues, no prints, no footage. For example, in Busan, several people disappeared overnight without the police finding a single lead.
Same thing in Daegu—hikers vanished in the mountains without a trace. And in Seoul's busiest districts, witnesses claimed to see strange silhouettes right before the disappearances. I'm telling you, this has got to be aliens."
"Jin, seriously? Only a naive, brain-dead fanatic like you would believe in aliens!" replied his chubby friend, arms crossed and eyes serious.
"It's more likely a multidimensional paranormal phenomenon. Something magical. Or even mystical."
"Jin. Hyun. Stop with the nonsense, you morons," Min-Woo snapped. "Think. Maybe it's just abductions or murders by a serial killer. It wouldn't be the first time."
Jin adjusted his glasses with two fingers.
"Min-Woo, my dear friend… if these disappearances were the work of a serial killer, where are the bodies? Where's the surveillance footage? Where are the witnesses? There's nothing in the newspapers.
Even the local police seem overwhelmed by these cases. Sure, we could say the killer is extremely talented—but with this many victims? No mistakes at all? Impossible. That means this isn't human work."
Min-Woo lowered his head, hand covering his mouth, thinking.
"Okay… that kind of makes sense. But a serial killer still seems more realistic than aliens, UFOs, or witchcraft."
"You're forgetting something important, boys. Some of the disappearances happened almost simultaneously… like the ones in Incheon and Jeju, less than three hours apart."
The group of nerds turned, startled by the unexpected voice.
It continued:
"According to reports, similar cases happened in Busan and even overseas—within the same timeframes."
"You're saying no human, not even an organized group, could pull off something this precise in such distant locations… and leave no trace behind," Jin muttered.
"Exactly. It's too perfect. Too clean. I believe it's the work of an international criminal organization. That's still the most plausible explanation."
"President Seo Hanna!"
The nerd trio jumped, stunned to see her approach. All three stared at the girl, caught between awe and disbelief.
Seo Hanna walked gracefully toward them, offering a small wave and a calm smile. A soft, enchanting perfume lingered in the air around her.
"No need to shout," she said with a tranquil voice. "I just wanted to check if everyone's settled in."
The three boys instantly blushed, eyes wide like they'd just seen a celebrity.
Seo Hanna, nicknamed "the flower of the school," was the student council president. Hard to miss her: her long black hair fell in silky waves down her back. Her face looked like it had been sculpted straight out of a drama series.
Her hourglass figure drew attention even in the school's strict uniform. Her full, rosy lips completed her surreal appearance, but it was her deep sapphire-blue eyes—piercing and intense—that made you feel as though she could see right through you.
"You're discussing an interesting topic," she said, arms crossed. "Honestly, I think Min-Woo's theory makes the most sense. You can tell he's the son of a respected police officer."
Min-Woo blushed instantly, embarrassed but flattered.
"Thanks, President… but I don't like being compared to my dad. I want to do better than him. Solve even more cases when I become a cop."
Seo Hanna gave him a sincere smile, then gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you already know the path you want to take. Keep it up—you're on the right track."
She turned to leave, ready to rejoin the other students, when the train door suddenly slid open.
A heavy silence fell over the cabin, as if the air had frozen.
Jin narrowed his eyes.
"Him? Seriously… can't he just disappear already?"
Kang nudged him with an elbow.
"Jin, shut up. You want the Demon King to hear you? He'll wreck you."
Seo Hanna stood still. Her eyes were locked onto the new arrival.
"Who… is that guy?" she asked, almost mesmerized.
"Oh right… you haven't seen him yet. He doesn't come to school anymore. And since you're new this year, you never got the chance to meet him…"
"A word of advice, President: that guy's a demon. Don't look him in the eyes. Avoid him completely," Min-Woo whispered into Seo Hanna's ear.
---
Later That Night
A few hours later, the train sped through the countryside toward Busan. The sky was painted in warm hues of orange and pink as the sun began to set. Inside the cabin, the soft lights gave the space a calm, cozy atmosphere. Students sat in their seats—some whispering, some already dozing off.
"Hey… so you're the famous Ken Jinheon? Nice to finally meet you. Mind if I sit here?" said Seo Hanna, taking the seat beside him without waiting for a response.
Jinheon slowly turned his head toward her, silent.
His usually cheerful face turned serious—even threatening.
"I've got a question that's been on my mind for a while… and I want a real answer."
---