The light was blinding. I squinted, lifting a hand to shield my eyes as I forced them open inch by inch.
[Welcome to Floor 11]
The blue screen flickered above me.
I pushed myself upright and froze.
A forest stretched out in every direction. Tall trees stood like pillars in all direction, their leaves swaying lazily as a soft breeze passed through them. Sunlight filtered down in broken patches, creating a beautiful pattern. Birds were chirping cheerfully. The air smelled clean and fresh.
It was peaceful.
[Players. Please meet at the location provided on your map function in 3 hours.]
I stared at the message.
…Seriously?
"Does this thing get off on making people walk or what?" I muttered. "Couldn't you just teleport us at that location?"
The screen didn't answer.
"Argh…" I groaned, running a hand through my hair as I started walking.
My boots crunched softly against the forest floor. I kept my guard up, my eyes flicking between the trees, I was expecting something to jump out and attack me. Nothing did.
Then I looked ahead. My steps slowed. Beyond the trees, on the horizon, rose a massive city.
The stone walls surrounded the place, they were thick and high. Watchtowers stood along them, one in every corner. Inside, buildings were packed together. Near the middle was a large church, its spire easy to spot even from here. And behind it all, further back, a massive castle sat above the city.
I swallowed and my breath hitched.
"…That's Floor 11?"
Compared to the hell I'd crawled out of, this place almost looked livable.
The irritation crept back in anyway.
Because no matter how pretty it looked, the truth didn't change. I was dead. Reincarnated as a zombie. Thrown into a game I didn't understand, following glowing shapes like an obedient idiot. The only reason I was still playing along was simple. I wanted straightforward answer to Who the fuck I am? and What the fuck I am? and Why the fuck I am?
[Beep. Notification: 1. Do you want to check it?]
"…Yes."
[Chat request from Player 67. Do you accept?]
I swallowed, then nodded.
[Accepted.]
[Player 67: When I find you, you're dead, you ****, ****, ****.]
My face fell.
…Damn it.
I really pissed that asshole off. I looked at my hand and clenched it. Do I really have the power to beat his ass? I hoped so.
[You: Fuck off.]
[Beep. Notification: 1]
[Player 67: Huh?! How dare you, you whiny dog! Tell me where the hell you are! I'm gonna come punch your face into a pulp!]
[Player 67: After that, I'll feed you to dogs—]
[Are you sure you want to block Player 67?]
My fingers jabbed [Yes] without hesitation.My lips pressed into a thin, irritated line.
Good riddance.
"Well, looks like we can add another person to the list of people who hate Lee Sehun."
I turned.
A man was leaning against a tree. A scar ran from the corner of his lips down to his chin, pulling his smile into something crooked. Long black hair fell loosely over his shoulders. His eyes were blue but it was too sharp to be friendly. An axe rested against his back, casual, like it wasn't a weapon at all.
He was smiling. I tugged my cloak lower and said nothing. Then, He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Why so tense green boy?"
"Who are you?", I asked cautiously. He could be unhinged as that Lee Sehun.
The man walked toward me, stopped in front of me, and extended his hand for a shake.I didn't take it. Instead, I looked up at him, one hand resting on the dagger hidden beneath my cloak.
The man burst into laughter.
"Huh…?"
"Oh my," he said between chuckles. "The monster boy looks more afraid of us than we are of him."
Damn. He's irritating.
"Well, well. Can't blame you. After all, humans really are the worst kind. So...who are you?"
"Why don't you go first?"
"Hmmm. Should I?" He tilted his head. "Very well. I'm Player 11. Ranked ninth...for now. Name's Kim Jihoon." He smiled. "And you?"
"I'm… Frankenstein." Oh, fuck me. Why did I say that?
Player Eleven nodded slowly, as if he understood, which somehow made it worse.
"Well, that's an interesting name," he said. "But perhaps you misunderstood my question. I meant to ask : What are you?"
"Human," I blurted. "Uhmmm...just like you. I had an accident with a monster. Changed my skin color."
Player Eleven eyed me suspiciously.
I raised my hand. "Look, I'm just like you. Except for the skin color."
And the missing stomach, but he didn't need to know that.
"Really?" he asked. "Which monster caused this?"
"Uh…"
"I don't know?"
"…What?"
"I mean- I don't know its name. It was too powerful. I didn't even get a good look at it." I scratched the back of my neck.
Player Eleven placed a hand on my shoulder. His grip tightened, hard enough that I thought he might crush the bone.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Hah." He studied me for a moment. "That's why I didn't feel the usual disgust."
I laughed along, nervous and awkward.
He gave me a thumbs-up and a sleazy wink. "And don't worry about others isolating you. If you ever have trouble, come to me."
I lowered my head, my eyes stinging.
Well… warmth...after being buried alive for gods know how long really does feel good.
[Player 11 Wants To Add You As A Friend. Do You Accept?]
[Yes]
***
The city walls were gigantic, far larger up close than they had looked from the forest. You could stack a hundred humans on top of each other and still not reach the top.
Behind me, Player 11, Kim Jihoon, studied the walls with a thoughtful gaze.
"Why do you think they're this high?" he asked.
"Because they wanted them to be."
He shook his head and pressed a palm against the stone. "Since you've just joined the game, let me give you some advice. Pay attention to everything. Even the things that don't seem important."
"Then, you're saying-"
"Huh! Who are you two?!"
He turned, however i just lowered my head.
A man in heavy armor stood there, spear pointed straight at us. On his chest was an emblem, a dragon coiled around a diamond.
I reached for my dagger, ready to charge. A hand settled firmly on my shoulder. Player 11 shook his head. Don't.
"Sir...wait!" Another knight hurried over, armor clanking, clearly lower rank. "They're glowing. Gold."
The first knight frowned. "Glowing?"
"Yeah. Same aura as the summoned ones."
"What the hell are they talking about…?" I muttered.
"It's a system marker," Kim Jihoon said quietly. "So we can be distinguished."
The spear lowered a few inches. The knight clicked his tongue. "You sure about this?"
Kim Jihoon stepped in before I could react, one hand resting casually over his chest.
"Looks like we caused a misunderstanding," he said with an easy smile. "We're among the summoned heroes. Got separated from the others and ended up outside the walls."
The knight studied us, then glanced to my side.
"And who is he? Show me your face."
Hell no!
"My brother is… not exactly easy on the eyes. He's very...uh...self-conscious, if I may add."
"Check it."
"The lie detector's clean," the subordinate replied after a pause.
My face fell. That ugly part is a lie. Yes, definetly a lie!
A breath escaped the knight. He straightened, then dipped his head.
"…In that case, welcome. I don't know why you were summoned out here instead of inside the city like the others....but follow me."
I followed behind them, putting my dagger back.
Player 11 walked ahead of me, already chatting away with the knights. It didn't even take a minute before they were laughing with him, completely at ease. I watched from behind, mildly amused.
Of course he'd charm them.
"⟟⟒⋏⌖⌇⋔⟟⋏⟒ ⌇⍜⋏⟒ ⌇⟟⋔⍜⎅⟒⍀ ⟒⍀⍀⍜⍀."
I stiffened.
"Huh?" I muttered.
All three of them turned to look at me, brows furrowing.
"Didn't you hear that?" I asked.
They exchanged glances, confusion deepening.
"Hear what?" one of them said.
I pressed my lips together. "…Nothing."
Must've been my imagination.
"⟒⋏⌖⌇⋔⟟⋏⟒ ⌇⍜⋏⟒ ⌇⟟⋔⍜⎅⟒⍀ ⟒⍀⍀⍜⍀."
Again.
This time, my feet refused to move.
I stopped dead, my gaze snapping toward the forest, then the wall. The sound was coming from both directions at once, overlapping, whispering into my skull. Cold sweat slid down my temple as I looked around.
Why was I the only one hearing it?
Ignore it.
It had to be a side effect. A glitch. Zombie brain, maybe.
Then it spoke again. And this time I understood it perfectly.
My breath hitched. My fingers trembled as my eyes widened, dread crawling up my spine.
"The sinner has returned."
…What?
TO BE CONTINUED