Chapter 3: Seoul Station (2)
After the call, the students all boarded wagon No.7 — the one reserved exclusively for their class.
The interior was spacious, luxurious, almost unreal. Nothing like an ordinary train.
The seats were wide and reclining, equipped with footrests and individual screens. Every detail seemed to have been designed to ensure the comfort and well-being of the passengers.
There might not have been cabins for sleeping, like in traditional night trains, but the seats were so soft that one could easily fall asleep in them.
Some students had already chosen their seats without wasting time, hurrying, and even arguing, to sit on the seats near the windows where the view of the illuminated platform was magnificent and vibrant with light.
Others, less hurried, had gathered in small circles of friends, a little scattered all over the wagon, laughing and chatting loudly about everything and nothing.
A warm clamor filled the wagon where the rolling of suitcases on the metallic floor, bursts of laughter, and loud conversations intertwined and filled the air of the wagon with a joyful atmosphere.
"Wait! You're joking, I hope?" shouted a young man with a studious appearance, with perfectly combed black hair. His voice cracked through the air and echoed strongly throughout the wagon.
"Big idiot! Do you really think I have a face to joke about that kind of subject, huh? Then tell me, how do you explain the mysterious disappearances that have happened in the world these past two years, huh?"
A group of talkative and exuberant young men had gathered on the seats to the left of the wagon, speaking loudly. Their strong and deep voices echoed throughout the compartment, almost covering the laughter and conversations around.
"Think a little, for god's sake, it's obvious! Everywhere, it's the same: whether in America, in Europe, or even in Asia… In every corner of the globe, people disappear for no reason, leaving not the slightest trace. As if they had vanished."
"There's no shortage of examples. In Spain, for example, numerous mysterious disappearances have been recorded these past two years. And it's the same in France, in the United States, in Korea or Japan… In several countries, some witnesses even claim to have seen strange and unidentified structures flying in the sky."
"It's really not hard to understand. Between hikers lost in the mountains who suddenly disappear without a trace, a bus full of students leaving for a school trip found empty after a serious accident, or even airplane travelers who evaporate mid-flight… The patterns and evidence are too overwhelming!"
Then, suddenly, the studious young man fell silent.
A heavy silence fell on the wagon, almost suffocating.
He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and shouted in a trembling voice:
"Of course, there's no longer any doubt: it's aliens behind all that!"
"Seriously, Kang? Only a pompous idiot like you would believe in aliens!" replied his companion sharply, a slightly chubby boy who crossed his arms with an exasperated air.
"No, on the contrary, it's surely a paranormal phenomenon. My grandmother is an exorcist. She told me that spiritual energy has been particularly unstable these past two years. These disappearances are definitely the work of evil spirits."
"Big idiot! Ghosts don't exist! I'm telling you it's aliens!"
"No, spirits, idiot!"
"Aliens!"
"Ghosts!"
"Aliens!"
"Ghosts!"
Suddenly, the third boy of the group, sitting behind and silent until then, suddenly closed his book with a loud snap. He jumped up, climbed on the seat in front of him, and threw his book at their heads, his face distorted by a horrible grimace.
"Kang… Min-woo…"
Grrrrrrr…
"Damn it, shut the hell up, you bunch of morons! You're pissing everyone off with your stupidity!"
The two nerds, startled, swallowed hard. A brief silence settled in the whole wagon. Then the young man, adjusting his glasses with his fingers, resumed more calmly:
"Anyway, everyone knows these disappearances are linked to a multidimensional phenomenon… a rift in the space-time continuum, teleporting people into other realities."
"_"...
The two young men stared at him for a moment, making complicated grimaces, before turning to each other, looking at one another face to face, ignoring him as if he didn't exist.
"It's aliens, I'm telling you!"
"No, ghosts! My grandmother never gets it wrong, she even predicted the end of the world!"
"You and your old witch, you tire me! It's aliens, period!"
Suddenly, a soft and harmonious voice, but just as firm, cut short their noise.
"Why not… all three at once?"
"Impossible!" they shouted at the same time, quickly turning toward the source of the voice.
"Huh?!"
"President Seo Hanna!!!" they shouted in unison, standing up at once.
The trio froze. They stared at the young girl in front of them, completely dumbfounded, admiring and slightly panicked.
The young girl stepped forward with natural elegance. With a light gesture, she gave them a small wave, while a calm and enchanting smile lit up her face. Her soft floral perfume filled the air with every step she took.
"Please, could you be a little quieter? You're disturbing the others," she added in a soft, low, almost angelic tone.
The three boys shivered and blushed immediately, like overripe tomatoes. It was as if a goddess had just spoken to them.
"W-what are… you doing here, president?" stammered one of them, looking completely dumbfounded.
"Nothing special. I just wanted to make sure everyone was settled," she answered softly, smiling.
Seo Hanna is the only daughter of the prestigious Seo family, one of the three most powerful and influential in Korea. Legitimate heiress of a vast empire of international companies, including the famous Seo Group, she embodied success and prestige in its purest form.
She was considered one of the most beautiful flowers of the city, even of the country, and certainly the most resplendent in the high school: popular, admired, desired, and, without a doubt, unreachable.
President of the student council, she commanded respect by her mere presence, combining grace, charisma, and intelligence. One simply could not ignore her.
Her long black hair, dark as the night, fell in silky waves down her back. Her perfect, delicate face seemed straight out of a fairy tale, and her sapphire-blue eyes instantly captured the gaze. Her beautiful lips, soft and plump pink, only completed her dazzling beauty.
Even the strict school uniform couldn't hide the perfect elegance of her figure.
After a few moments, the young girl walked away from the group, giving them one last smile and a wave before going to greet other students…
When suddenly, at that precise moment, the door of the wagon opened with a metallic creak.
All eyes turned at once, captivated by the one who had just crossed the threshold.
A heavy silence fell over the compartment. Then, like a broken echo, muffled whispers immediately rose.
"Tss… Wait, am I dreaming? Wasn't he supposed to be dead?"
"It's been two years since he's come to school… What the hell is that demon doing here?"
The students, stunned, stared insistently at the newcomer. Shock and confusion were clearly visible on their faces.
After a few seconds of muffled whispers, one of the young men among the group burst out angrily:
"Seriously… what the hell is he doing here? Couldn't he disappear for good, that one?"
His friend beside him immediately nudged him nervously.
"Shut up, are you crazy? You want the Demon King to smash you or what?"
"Did you forget? That guy's the devil. Better not provoke him."
The president, motionless, eyes frozen, observed the scene.
Fascinated despite herself, she followed with her gaze the boy who had just passed in front of her without even noticing her.
Curious, she stepped toward the two talkative students.
"Who is he? A new student? I've never seen him at the high school."
"Huh? Uh… No, president!" replied one of the two, blushing under her gaze, while pointing at the silhouette walking away.
"Oh right, it's true… You couldn't have known him, since you transferred to the high school only last year."
The boy briefly closed his eyes, pensive, before crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's not surprising. That guy hasn't attended classes for three years. According to the teachers, he supposedly contracted a rare disease that weakened his health. Since then, he's been studying from home."
His comrade burst into a mocking little laugh.
"A disease, huh? Everyone knows that's nonsense."
He lowered his voice.
"President, you should avoid him at all costs. He's bad company."
The young girl frowned, intrigued.
"What do you mean?"
"It's just that he has a bad reputation. Several rumors are circulating about him…"
She looked at them one after another.
"What rumors?"
The two boys exchanged a worried look, checking that no one was listening, before leaning closer to her.
"They say he's the leader of a powerful city gang. That he's already been to prison… and that he killed someone."
"You're also forgetting the festival incident," added the other with a nervous smile.
"That night, he supposedly beat up several members of a dangerous gang because they looked at him the wrong way. They say their boss is still in a coma."
"And that's not all…"
"Some claim he has compromising photos of the principal and blackmails him to keep his privileges."
"Which would explain why he's still here, despite his three-year absence… and his excellent grades," continued the other sarcastically.
The president looked at them, completely lost, an uncertain smile at the corner of her lips.
"And that's not even half of the rumors going around about him," concluded one of the two, almost whispering.
"Believe us, president… For your own good, stay away from him. Don't even cross his gaze. That guy is dangerous… he's a demon even."
"The Demon King."
---
A few hours later, the train was speeding toward Busan.
Outside, the sky was tinted with shades of orange and pink, already announcing the end of the day.
Inside, the dim lights reflected on the tired faces of the students.
Some still spoke in low voices, others were dozing, lulled by the steady rolling of the train.
Ken Jiheon, meanwhile, was sitting in an isolated seat near the window.
No one dared approach him.
The other students sometimes threw furtive glances at him, a mix of curiosity and fear, but none had the courage to cross the invisible barrier separating him from the rest of the group.
Ken, however, didn't care.
He didn't give a damn about what others thought or said about him.
Elbow resting on the window armrest, head supported by his hand, he watched the blazing sky, letting his mind drift with his thoughts.
Until a feminine voice pulled him from his torpor.
"So… you're the famous Ken Jinheon?"
A calm, steady, almost melodious voice.
Seo Hanna was standing there, her light-blue eyes shining with curiosity and mischief.
She gave him a slight smile before moving toward the empty seat beside him.
"Can I sit here?" she asked.
And without even waiting for an answer, she sat down facing him.
Ken slightly turned his head.
His neutral gaze immediately darkened, radiating a silent threat.
Hanna, far from being intimidated, leaned forward, locking her gaze into his.
"You know… there's a question that's been on my mind for a while. And I think you're the only one who can answer it," she said softly but firmly.
Ken slowly turned his eyes toward the window.
The golden light of dusk reflected in his red irises, giving them an almost supernatural aura.
"What do you want from me?" he asked coldly, without even looking at her.
Seo Hanna raised an eyebrow, a smirk curling her lips.
She crossed her arms, then her legs, with calm elegance.
"You know, my dear Ken… looking at the person you're talking to is basic politeness."
Ken gave a thin, ironic smile.
"For someone who asks permission to sit, then does it without waiting for an answer, I'd say you're rather bold, don't you think?"
A long silence settled, only broken by the regular clatter of the rails.
The young girl kept watching him, serious, almost thoughtful.
Ken Jinheon had never been talkative.
Even when he still attended the high school in person surrounded by students, he remained distant, locked in his own world.
Others didn't interest him.
And when he deigned to speak, his words were often enigmatic, full of double meanings, leaving everyone free to interpret them as they wished.
That cold indifference had earned him the hatred of many classmates — especially the boys.
But he couldn't care less.
He never participated in school activities when he could avoid them.
Absenteeism had become his trademark.
And if he was on this train today, it was only because of his mother, Heajin Jinheon.
Otherwise, he wouldn't even have come.
So why had a student so undisciplined, insolent, and without family support never been expelled from such a prestigious high school?
The answer held in two words: his monstrous talent.
Ken Jinheon excelled in everything.
Sports, arts, sciences — nothing escaped him.
His results crushed the competition and made the school proud.
From then on, the administration turned a blind eye to his behavior: no one was ready to lose such an asset.
That reputation gave him a freedom few students could afford.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
Seo Hanna.
Her voice, soft a moment earlier, suddenly became sharp.
She leaned slightly toward him, her eyes shining with a dangerous gleam.
"I saw you… at the end of the hallway, near the stairs, at the station.
No doubt about it.
It was you I saw, when Jae-Sung was hit, hidden at the back of the corridor."