NOVEL NEXT #003
#003
‘Could it be because I called it vile?’
Nah, how would a game know that? No, no.
“I take back what I just said!”
After pondering for a moment, I realized I was alone here and stared blankly at the phone. Then I tapped the quest window again…
: *Go to the Awakened Center*
Quest Rank: Tutorial
Kim Sehyun has arranged a house for you. Let’s visit the Awakened Center to check out your new house.
Reward: ???
The expression had really changed.
‘Does the game have a will?’
It’s an absurd thought, but honestly, too many absurd things have happened today. From being possessed into a book to seeing novel comment sections, there were too many things to question.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the system window’s emoticon.
“You heard me, didn’t you?”
As I spoke grumpily, the emoticon started to twitch. The previously excited expression changed instantly.
: *Go to the Awakened Center*
“Hey.”
It was obvious it had been caught. I pressed the emoticon firmly with my finger.
“What are you?”
Then the quest window suddenly turned off. As if it was scared of my interrogation.
The game window is moving on its own without being hacked. Everything was so abnormal that it felt like watching an augmented reality screen, but the game was something I interacted with daily, so it felt completely different. It’s not like the game is possessed, so what’s going on…?
I think I need to have a proper conversation with the game.
: Hello, Yeonsoo!
When I pressed the game’s default notification window, the usual system window popped up.
The gentle smile I always thought was cute. But after what just happened, it felt ominous.
“It’s you. It’s you, isn’t it?”
: Hello, Yeonsoo!
“Stop sweating and talk to me.”
As I raised the phone as if I was about to throw it, the emoticon’s face changed instantly.
: I’m scared, Yeonsoo!
See? I gently held the phone and tried to talk to the game.
“Did you possess me like this?”
: I don’t know anything about that! I just deliver the quests when they come down!
“Who gives these quests then?”
: I don’t know! I don’t know anything!
After several more attempts at conversation, all I found out was that the game seemed to have been possessed along with me. It says the sudden gain of will happened after I was possessed. I couldn’t know if it was true, but I couldn’t disbelieve it either. There was no way to find out.
I gave the game window the name ‘Nine’, shortening the game name. It felt odd to keep calling it ‘game window’ anyway.
After that, I checked the game’s status with Nine. Most of the game’s functions were still alive, but content involving other people like chat, auction house, and friend list were all inaccessible.
: Follow the quests! There must be a reason for the instructions, right?
Nine, now calm again after I treated it nicely, suggested to keep following the quests. Given that there’s nothing else I can do right now, it wasn’t wrong. It’s not like there’s a quest accept or reject button anyway.
“How does this help me?”
: I’m on your side, Yeonsoo! If you follow the quests, you’ll find your abilities and good things will happen!
Good things? What kind of good things? Does it mean returning to the real world? And what abilities do I have?
‘I guess I should try it since it says it’ll help.’
For now, I had to follow the main outline of the story. If I lose track of the flow, I don’t know what might happen.
But I can’t meet a brutal ending, so it seemed the only option was to be nice to Kim Sehyun and Shin Haejun as much as possible within the flow.
No matter how much I want to die, I can’t die in a different world from my family.
‘I want to meet my family in heaven.’
If I die in another world, I might not be able to meet them. I don’t want to be unable to meet them even after death.
These gloomy thoughts made me desperately crave the new alcohol swabs and cutter I had bought and was carrying before the traffic accident, but I couldn’t self-harm right now. For now, I had to go to this place called the Awakened Center as the quest wanted.
: *Go to the Awakened Center*
Quest Rank: Tutorial
Kim Sehyun has arranged a house for you. Let’s visit the Awakened Center to check out your new house.
TIP: Check the map for unknown areas!
Reward: ???
When I opened the quest window again to check the tip, there was a very obvious message.
Just in case, I opened the in-game map and saw a completely different area from what I knew. As expected of a game, all important locations were marked in bold text.
Things like ‘Temporary Home’, ‘Jaeha’s House’, ‘Awakened Center’, ‘Haejun+Sehyun’s House’.
“Quite useful.”
It seems the auto-move function has disappeared since nothing happens when I tap the map, but just being able to check my location and nearby geography was enough to bring back some peace of mind.
For now, the current house is the temporary home. Based on the flow of the text, it seems I’ll be moving to the real house soon. ‘Jaeha’s House’ was marked in gray text, indicating it was still an unopened area. It seems I need to visit the Awakened Center as per the quest to unlock it.
‘I guess I should move first.’
I gently stroked Nine, who was jumping with joy at being called useful, on the screen before putting the phone in my pocket.
***
This world was very similar to the South Korea I lived in. Is this what they call a parallel world? The streets were ordinary, just like I always saw, and the Seoul subway was still the same.
After changing clothes by rummaging through Lee Jaeha’s closet, using his wallet to take the subway, getting off at the area marked on the map and walking a bit, I soon saw a large, sophisticated building.
It was a building with a constant stream of people going in and out. As I entered, swept along with the crowd, I saw a kind-looking information desk staff in the stylish lobby.
“Hello. What brings you here today?”
I flinched for a moment at the staff’s sweet voice. Wasn’t the quest about going to the Awakened Center?
However, I didn’t hear the familiar notification sound, ‘ding’, that usually plays when a goal is achieved.
‘Ah, it said to check out the new house.’
I thought for a moment about what to say to the staff to hear about the house.
Since Kim Sehyun arranged the house, shouldn’t I ask him? He also hung up abruptly during our last call, so it would make sense as a friend to look for him.
“I’m here to meet someone.”
“…Are you looking for a center employee?”
“Um… Kim Sehyun. An S-class guide.”
The staff, who had hesitated a bit at my mention of meeting someone, frowned slightly when I said Kim Sehyun’s name.
“Are you an esper or a guide?”
“Ah. I’m Lee Jaeha… F-class…”
The moment I said I was Lee Jaeha, I felt like something clicked into place and I really felt possessed. It suddenly felt real that I would have to live as Lee Jaeha for a while.
By the way, esper and guide seem to be some kind of job or position, but not knowing whether I was an esper or a guide, I trailed off, and the staff replied in an disapproving voice.
“F-class guide Lee Jaeha, I see. Guide Sehyun left some items for you.”
“What items?”
“A map and a card.”
The staff handed me a map and a key. When I opened the map, it matched the address and location of ‘Jaeha’s House’ I saw earlier.
‘This must be a key card.’
It was clearly an access card for the house.
I said “Thank you” to the staff and quickly left the Awakened Center. I don’t know how bad F-class is, but I was quite displeased by how the staff’s attitude changed as soon as I mentioned my rank.
Ding!
: *Go to the Awakened Center*
Quest Rank: Tutorial
You have completed the quest. You will receive a reward!
Reward: New Residence
Nine, it might not be your intention… but I just got the key card, is it right to call this a reward again? Shouldn’t you give a new reward other than what I’ve already received!
I pouted at the terribly meager reward and pressed the mission complete button.
I should go to the new house now. It seemed I could clean up the temporary house later after checking out the new one.
***
I took the subway again and followed the map, panting.
As I arrived at the place, swiped the key card, and rode the elevator, I thought that Kim Sehyun had a right to brag. It was such a luxurious building that I would never have visited before being possessed. I’m grateful for the arranged house, but I’m not sure if I can afford the maintenance fees.
‘It seems F-class guide isn’t much of a position.’
Since I can’t check if it’s a qualification for company employment, I might need to take a part-time job at a convenience store like when job hunting…
“Wow.”
My house was right below Kim Sehyun and Shin Haejun’s.
As soon as I opened the door and saw the luxurious house, I suddenly thought that Kim Sehyun must really be Lee Jaeha’s best friend.
A high-rise building perfect for falling to death. The view of the Han River seemed good for worsening depression. Unlike the temporary house, all the furniture was high-end. With three rooms, it’s an extravagant house for a single person.
‘Maybe he’s a tsundere?’
His words were mean, but is he actually a character who doesn’t know what to do because he likes his friend so much?
I looked around with my mouth agape and sent a message to Kim Sehyun.
“Sehyun, this house seems a bit too luxurious… I want to go back to my own house.”
The house was too nice, but I don’t think I can handle the maintenance fees. I shook my head. This is the kind of house that’s only good for one day.
As I was sighing and wondering if I should return the card to the Awakened Center, suddenly Kim Sehyun called.
– Jaeha, what do you mean you’re going back! The Haesun Group has already decided to dispose of the house you were living in!
No, what do you mean! Disposing of the house as they please?
‘Should I meet Shin Haejun?’
It seems it’s time to meet the owner of the upstairs house.