Chapter Text
A young lady sat in front of the crowded cafe, suddenly flinched. Her eyes were dazed and showed a hint of confusion. Once she snapped out of it, the young lady looked around frantically.
‘What just happened? Where am I?’
In order to understand what happened, we need to look back an hour back in time.
_________________
“So everyone in the company received this hidden scenario notice?”
Kim Dokja inquired his party about the scenario window currently in front of him. For some reason, a hidden sccenario was activated and the only ones that received the notice were the incarnations of [Kim Dokja Company]. It was something he didn’t knew existed and have not read from TWSA, so it’s hard to trust. But,
“The amount of people needed for this scenario are 4 people in total. The clear conditions doesn’t seem that bad, and the rewards are pretty good too, so I think it’s fine to do it. Who wants to participate?” he asked.
Yoo Sangah, Han Sooyoung, Jung Heewon, Lee Jihye, and the kids, all raised their hands. Lee Hyunsung seemed hesitant, but seeing all those that raised their hand made him back out. Did he want to give out the opportunity to the others? Jang Hayoung kept asking me to choose him…considering the scenario's clear conditions and how he didn't even realize who the Demon King of Salvation was before, I feel like I shouldn't. Meanwhile, Yoo Joonghyuk stood in the sidelines silently.
Kim Dokja noticed that most of those that raised their hands were all present during the Theater Dungeon scenario. He figured that they must have volunteered, most likely because they’re confident on how they’ll do, after going through the Theater Dungeon.
Kim Dokja contemplated on who should participate in the scenario. Thinking back, Heewon and Jihye have been busy dealing with the rowdy and ignorant incarnations in Seoul, and the kids have been training all day to prepare for the next main scenario. Figured the said members could need a break, he took them out of the list. Though they were a bit let down when he told them to participate next time.
He then looked at the two ladies remaining. Han Sooyoung returned back the stare, and opened her mouth to speak.
“What, so it’ll be you, me, this girl, and Yoo Joonghyuk?”
After hearing this, Kim Dokja turned towards the said man. “Will you be participating as well?”
Yoo Joonghyuk was silent for a moment before saying “do what you want”.
Ah, doesn’t this line up remind you of something? Kim Dokja realized that it was just like when they were against the Disaster of Questions during the fourth scenario. Despite the tension between the two girls at the time, they worked well together. This made him think that maybe, the hidden scenario will proceed smoothly.
“Then, shall we start?”
[ Initiating world transfer… ]
[ Warning! Skills cannot be used during the scenario. ]
What?
[ Clear the conditions to complete the scenario. ]
“Dokja-ssi, this–!”
“Tch…!”
“Everyone! Make sure to secure communication as soon as possible…!”
Light enveloped the four, then disappeared.
.
.
.
.
“That…have we arrived at the scenario location?” The young lady stood up from her seat. “Seeing how they are not here, we must’ve been separated from each other.”
The lady’s deep thought were cut short by the vibration coming from her pocket. A notification showed up in the screen of the unfamiliar phone.
[ RFA Messenger New Message: Unknown: Hello? ]
“...Huh?”
It was a familiar message.
“Sangah-ssi, what are you playing?”
“Oh, It’s Mystic Messenger. I wanted to try it out to get ideas for our future projects.”
The young lady–no–Yoo Sangah, was currently transported into the world of one of the games she has played.
Vvzzt.
Another vibration.
[ Unknown: Can you see this? ]
At this point, things became obvious. The scenario relates to the game she had played.
Before doing anything else, Yoo Sangah checked to see if she can summon the scenario’s detail window. Sure enough, a light blue panel appeared before her.
<Hidden Scenario - Mystic Mystery>
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: A+
Clear Conditions:
Enact and unravel the mysteries of a certain story. Finish a route and reach the ending of this world.
Duration: ???
Reward: B-grade skill, 100,000 coins
Penalty: None
[ Scenario has been updated. ]
“!”
<Hidden Scenario - Mystic Mystery>
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: A+
Clear Conditions:
Enact and unravel the mysteries of a certain story. Finish a route and reach the ending of this world.
* In certain circumstances, the 'Restart' function can be used. 'Reset' function can only be used with a specific role. (Current role is applicable.)
Duration: ???
Reward: B-grade skill, 100,000 coins, ???
Penalty: None
As Yoo Sangah continued to looked through the scenario details, the more she became anxious about this scenario.
From how things are, she has become the main character of the game for this scenario. But what about Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, and Han Sooyoung? What are their roles for this scenario? To make things sure, she planned on meeting every known character in the game.
“Let’s start with this person first.”
Unknown. His first and last appearance on the route she played was only in the beginning part of the game. Though there was a way to meet him and still survive the encounter.
‘By lying.’
And so, Sangah typed, remembering the dialogue choices she made that got her that certain bad ending.
‘If I can afford to reset, I might as well use the opportunity.’
***
After chatting with Unknown, Yoo Sangah immediately headed to the apartment in the address he sent. As expected, the suspicious texter sent her the passcode for the door, but Sangah kept insisting that there was no lock on the door. It didn’t take long for Unknown to reveal his true colors to her.
[ Unknown: Plan failed. ]
Yoo Sangah heard footsteps coming from behind her. She turned to her back, to be greeted by a man in a punky outfit and pinkish-white hair. He was wearing a mask, so his face cannot be recognized. He had a funny voice, as if using a filter of some kind.
“The plan failed. I’ll have to find someone else.”
Yoo Sangah took a step back. “...Who are you?”
“You don’t need to know,” the man, Unknown, continued to stare at her. “What should I do with you…?”
“I’d like to let you go, but you already know me.”
Unknown took a step forward.
“Sorry, but you’ll have to come with me.”
“I could just get rid of you…but that’d be a shame. You’re so cute.”
Yoo Sangah anxiously waited for his next words.
“You can be my assistant.”
Sangah internally sighed in relief.
This was the outcome she was going for. Yoo Sangah wanted to test if somehow, one of her companions possessed another character of the game, so she tried it with Unknown first. Not only that, but to also test the ‘Reset’ function of the scenario.
Unknown abruptly snatched her hand then hit her nape.
"Urgh..!"
"Sweet dreams."
___________________
It took quite a while for the two to reach their destination. After getting out of the car, Unknown took off the blindfold that he had made Yoo Sangah wear throughout the whole trip and pushed her out of the car.
Looking around, she deduced that they were in a remote place of what she assumed to be in the middle of the woods, the trees seemingly never ending no matter what direction you looked in. The forest also appears to be placed on the mountains, as the ground wasn't a flat surface. Certainly a place you can get lost in if you try to escape.
With Unknown’s orders, she cautiously followed him into an unassuming mansion in the middle of the woods. The place definitely had a dark and unsettling atmosphere, that you can tell something was off. As they walked around the halls, they ran into some men in robes, which Yoo Sangah found strange and eerie. As she walked around behind Unknown, she caught a glimpse of a blonde streak of hair flutter in her peripheral. She stopped in her tracks as she stared at the view.
‘Huh–wait…!’
It seems the woman whose the hair belonged to also noticed her, as she also looked her way. An expression of surprise was evident in her face. Yoo Sangah noticed this and realized something.
“Han Sooyoung-ssi…?” “...Yoo Sangah?”
“!”
With this, Yoo Sangah believed she hit multiple birds with one stone.
“Hm? Why did you– !!” Unknown became startled at the sight of the woman.
“My god…what brings you here? I thought you were in your quarters.”
The blonde woman intently stared at the man. She seemed to observe Unknown’s facial features and expression.
“I felt like walking around and go to the garden,” she replied, then proceeded to turn towards Yoo Sangah. “I want to talk to her for a moment. Will you please leave us for now?”
“Of course, my god.”
Unknown bowed, then slowly walked away. The two women watched him as he left their field of vision.
“...”
“Hey…” “You…”
“Ah…”
Well, things started quite awkwardly.
“Yoo Sangah,” the blonde woman called out her name. “It’s you, right?”
“And you’re Han Sooyoung, yes?” Yoo Sangah asked back.
“Mhm.”
The two fell silent for a while.
Han Sooyoung opened her mouth to speak first. "From how it looked earlier, you recognized the identity of whose body I'm in right now," she raised her hand to point at Yoo Sangah. "But how did you realize it was me?"
"I could say the same. But as for me, I was already searching if one of us happened to possess characters I know of, my theory was just confirmed when your expression changed and then called out my name."
"Huh. Well, as soon as I saw you, I thought it was you since you looked nothing similar to what I remember from what I can remember of your character."
Yoo Sangah's eyes widened for a moment. "Is that so?"
"Mhmm."
“Say…” Han Sooyoung started up a new topic. “Do you know the world we’re currently in?”
Yoo Sangah nodded. “Yes. It’s Mystic Messenger. It’s a messenger-style dating simulator game. I happen to have played it a long ago.”
“Ah, so you’ve played it too?”
Yoo Sangah’s eyes widened at the other’s remark. “‘Too’? Does that mean Sooyoung-ssi has also played it? I definitely didn’t expect you to bother doing something like playing these type of games.”
A frown formed on Han Sooyoung’s face. “Hey, hey. Don’t get it twisted. I played it because I got curious about the good reviews on the story. Though I didn’t even managed to get halfway through it ‘cause I keep failing everytime for some reason.”
“Ah…that does make sense.”
Han Sooyoung stared at Yoo Sangah.
“Hmm… But why are you here? I’m sure you must’ve also known about the Prologue’s Bad Ending, yeah?”
“Yes. Actually, about that, I came here on purpose.”
Yoo Sangah then started explaining the ‘Reset’ feature in detail. Han Sooyoung intently listened in as she talked. As Sangah spoke, her companion’s eyes lit up, as if epiphany came to her.
"...Seeing how we can interact right now, despite the fact that the Bad ending is done, means that we—no, you–can reset at will."
Sangah nodded.
“And so, I’ll be resetting after gathering enough clues here, since I can’t go back to the main plot by usual means.”
“Huh. That’s true,” Han Sooyoung rubbed her chin. “Then, I’ll tell you everything I found here, and you tell me everything you know about Rika. I only got to play until around the fourth day, so I’m pretty much still ignorant about this world.”
And so, the two took their time with their discussion.
***
“...!”
“...ven!”
“...Seven!!”
“Ack!”
I felt a hard slap to my back.
What? What the hell just happened?
Just a moment ago, we were in the middle of the Industrial Complex, and about to transport into the hidden scenario…
I looked around to see a spacious, classy room, except that there are mess everywhere and there’s…
“What the hell are slacking for, Seven?!”
…This guy.
“...Who are you?” I asked.
“Hah? So this is how you’re gonna play it?”
Shit. That was a bad move, I guess.
“Hahaha…yes i’ll continue working…!” I completely have no idea what’s going on, so I’m just gonna wing it.
I stood up from the sofa and started cleaning up all the empty cans and packets of chips lying on the floor. I also tidied up the laundry placed everywhere in the room. Since this room is too messy, I figured he meant I was slacking from cleaning. It just happened that one of the dirty laundry was in front of this guy, that I noticed him blankly staring at me as I crouched down to pick up a jacket.
“You…”
“Uh, what.”
This guy scoffed. “Wow. I can’t believe you’re actually cleaning.”
???
Was I not supposed to??
“Then what am–” THUD
“Damn, why are you weirder than usual today?”
Hey, will you give me a break? I just hit my head on the table and I–
“W-whoa, are you good?”
The part of my head that got hit wasn’t the only one hurting. For some reason, I started feeling dizzy, resulting to me wobble to the floor. This person with me supported me as my vision started becoming blurry.
“707.”
“Seven? You’re fine now?”
Vanderwood. This guy’s name is Vanderwood.
And I’m 707.
No, wait. Isn’t my name Kim Dokja?
With the confusion from all the mixed memories loading in my mind, I ran to immediately look for my phone–707’s phone.
“Hey, at least answer me, will you?” Vanderwood kept speaking.
I had no time to deal with him right now, so I forcefully sent him off. He complained endlessly that I had no choice but to promise him I’ll finish my work by tonight. Wait, ‘my’?
After it has become quiet and without anyone else in the room with me, I opened the messenger app in the phone, then typed out a message.
[ 707: Anyone online?? ]
[ 707: (anxious emote) ]
‘I didn’t mean to use that emote…’
Someone replied.
[ Yoosung: I’m here! Is there something wrong?? ]
Somehow, I felt the need to say something else.
[ 707: I feel like I’ve seen the future!!! ]
I felt natural saying all these things, yet at the same time, strange and out of character. Typing these cheerful messages were like trying to change a bad habit, but still ended up failing.
Zen: Ah, here he goes again.
Yoosung: Eh?!
Yoosung: Really? What is it about??
Jaehee: Yoosung, are you really believing Seven right now?
Jaehee: (disbelief emote)
707: How mean!
707: I just wanted to share an amazing prophecy!
707: (giddy emote)
Yoosung: Still…I’m curious what it is!
Zen: Isn’t it just a waste of time?
Jaehee: Agreed.
Zen: But wait, isn’t Jumin also online? I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything yet.
Jumin: I am not Jumin.
Yoosung: omg
Jaehee: Mr. Han…? Are you alright?
Zen: (surprised emote)
Zen: Seriously?? lolol
‘Huh? Wait a minute…’
It was just an if …a 'what if'. But…what if he really was not Jumin? If it was someone who was in the same situation as me…it could be…
[ 707: Yoo Joonghyuk? ]
After I sent that message, everyone followed with a ‘?’, then, Jumin replied.
[ Jumin: Kim Dokja? ]
Bullseye.
It really was Yoo Joonghyuk. So he became Jumin, huh… How fitting…Huh? Who the hell is Jumin in the first place?!
It seems that the more time I spend in this scenario, it seems the more I am affected by this body’s memories. Another factor is also that we can’t use any skills, so my Fourth Wall is also currently deactivated.
Vvzzt.
New messages popped up.
Zen: What the hell are you two talking about now?
Yoosung: Huh? Who is Yoo Joonghyuk? Kim Dokja?
Jumin: Where are you?
707: I have no idea. How about you?
Jumin: The same for me. I woke up in an office.
Zen: Stop ignoring us.
Zen: (angry emote)
707: Alright. Mr. Kim, your personal driver, should be stationed just outside your office. I’ll send him the coordinates, so let’s meet.
Zen: Hey…
Yoosung: What are you two gonna do??
707: Nothing our precious Yoosung needs to know lolol
707: 707, logging off!!
707: (wink emote)
[ 707 has left the chatroom. ]
Immediately after leaving the chatroom, I went ahead and texted Mr. Kim a series of numbers that signify the coordinates of a nearby cafe. Just like how it was when I was chatting with the others, knowing about everything while also having no idea about it feels bizarre. I fixed myself up and prepared to leave.
I was about to walk out the front door but I suddenly felt the urge to turn around and walk towards to…what's up with all these luxury cars? Is this 707 person that rich?
"Which of my babies should I use today~?"
'???'
Seriously, what is happening right now??