Five months had passed since I awoke in this world. Counting the days spent in the labyrinth, that time seemed much longer. Many things had happened since then: killing a monster for the first time, and many other atrocities to survive. However, the nature of a modern man remained the same.
Tap, tap, tap!
As soon as I typed the password, my pinky finger naturally pressed the Enter key. Realizing this, I stiffened.
Is this… my body?
It wasn't the rough, calloused hand of a barbarian, nor the broad-shouldered frame of a warrior covered in rock-hard muscles. It was Hansu Lee's body, about 5'7", of average build, with smooth skin. The moment I realized it, I felt as if the ground gave way beneath me and my body was being pulled somewhere.
"Oh, fuck!"
When I came to, the surroundings were dark. It wasn't so strange because I had experienced it many times in the labyrinth, but…
Click.
With the click of a switch, the surroundings lit up. Surprisingly, I was in my room, Hansu Lee's room, where I enjoyed playing until I was brought into this world.
So, what am I supposed to do?
First, I looked around: bookshelf, computer, slightly yellowed bed. When I left the room and inspected the living room, the kitchen, and even the bathroom, everything was just as I remembered it.
Ah, so could this also be…?
I hurriedly opened the refrigerator. For some reason, inside there were only cold cans of cola. I wondered what kind of harmony this was supposed to be, but I didn't think much of it. How could I help it?
Click, chii-i!
The sound was refreshing. I could endure everything else, but I missed this terribly. I quickly put it to my mouth in case it disappeared before my eyes.
Damn.
I couldn't taste it. There wasn't even a painful sensation that made my throat feel like it was being cut in half, just a tasteless, odorless liquid running down my throat. I couldn't hide my disappointment.
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang. When I checked the intercom, a white woman with blonde hair was standing there. I was certain this wasn't a religious invitation. I was about to say, "Who are you?" in my usual tone, when I realized my mistake and opened my mouth again, judging that they might have deduced I was a barbarian from my accent. "Can I help you?"
But why is it so uncomfortable?
I was speaking normally, but I felt like there was a thorn growing in my throat. After a short while, the answer came through the intercom.
"I'm Soul Queen, serving as a guide for the Ghostbusters. May I come in?"
Hmm, I didn't know it was this kind of system. I quickly opened the door before they disliked me. But what was this? «Um, why are you going through the wall?»
«Oh, was this the wall? It seems like a blank space to me».
Was he talking about the space I saw earlier? They said it was a spiritual world. There must have been mysterious rules in that space.
As he guided her into the living room with rough directions, the woman exclaimed in admiration. «You are amazing. Normally, no matter how faint it is, you should be able to see the outline».
«What's the side dish?»
«I mean this place. Sir...»
«You can call me whatever you want.»
«...If you say so.» True to the content of the letter, which guaranteed anonymity, the woman showed no regret despite my firm refusal. «Anyway, this space is the embodiment of your imagination, the place that the inner spirit first brings to mind. It is usually the place where you feel most psychologically comfortable».
«¿Y?»
«It is usually visible to others. Sometimes there are people with strong defense mechanisms, but I could still recognize the shape...» The woman looked at me in amazement.
I couldn't say if it was curiosity or suspicion, but I decided to point out the contradiction to begin with. «So how did you ring the doorbell before? I thought it couldn't be seen».
«It seems that they have expressed it to you like this. I didn't ring any doorbell. As soon as I arrived, all I did was call you. Makes sense?»
To be honest, broadly speaking I understood what he was talking about, but at the same time I didn't understand anything at all. I just smiled awkwardly and nodded. «Thank you for your kind explanation».
«It's a relief. The truth is that it is a difficult concept to understand even for magicians, so I get lost every time how to explain it.»
Anyway, since he introduced himself as a guide, I comfortably asked him the things he was curious about. «Oh, what if the password is incorrect?». I was able to deduce it, but there must have been people who couldn't.
«Oh that? Nothing, really. It's just a trick of the eye. There are very few people who guess the password before I arrive. Whether you enter the password or not, I have to come check it anyway».
For reference, the confirmation I was talking about was simple. Apparently, he realized it just by looking. I wondered if I had any special abilities, but I realized it when I saw my current appearance. I was wearing a tight-fitting navy blue suit, clothes my ex-girlfriend bought me to celebrate getting a job.
Is it obvious from the clothes...?
True, as soon as I saw this woman I knew that she was also a modern person, so the same thing must have happened to her.
«Wow, you're very fast. The differences between players and NPCs are obvious from there».
«¿NPCs?»
«It is a slang term to refer to locals. Anyway, the difference between the two is not just the clothes, but can be clearly seen when entering this space. Although it's the first time I haven't seen anything».
«You mean it shows in the room».
«That's right. Rockstar posters aren't going to hang in NPC rooms, you know?».
I understood. With such verification, it would be impossible for locals - I mean, NPCs - to hide their identities to enter here.
«So, did I pass?»
«Of course.
I was worried because she couldn't see the room because of my defense mechanism, but the woman nodded without hesitation. After seeing that, I realized one more thing. Aside from clothing, tone of voice, expression, and this imaginary space, there must be a clear way to identify NPCs.
The reason they didn't tell me is probably for safety.
«Now, then... You are officially a member of the Ghostbusters».
«By the way, who came up with the name 'Ghostbusters'?».
«Oh. You'll see. You're probably wondering what kind of crappy name that is, right? I begged them to choose another name, but...».
It seemed like a very sensible name to me.
«Everyone always starts with that question», he sighed.
I nodded awkwardly. I couldn't agree that it was an unwise name, but I could pretend it was. Being able to read the room and act accordingly had always been my main specialty. «It's... definitely an unusual name».
«True? Oh, where was I...» Soon, the woman returned to the main topic and continued. «Ah, we can no longer use the method of forcibly killing NPCs who sneak in by separating them from their souls. Instead, we can prohibit them from being called back here, so if you have time, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules.» The woman then explained the basic method of using the Ghostbusters community. «Is there a computer here? If there is, walk towards it. If there isn't, you'll have to imagine one».
«Lo hay ».
«That saves time. Go ahead and turn it on».
When I turned on the computer following the instructions, a window appeared instead of the familiar operating system screen.
«Oh, un segundo. Your code is…»
When I entered the code the woman told me, the screen changed to a page where she could assign me a nickname.
«The nickname you choose here is definitive. Once you do, you'll never be able to change it, so be sure to choose it carefully».
What should I choose?
While I was wondering this, the woman gave me some advice. «You used Iven Stone, right? Most people use their nicknames from that board. That's how I chose my nickname Soul Queen».
As befits a community board from a failed game, there were fewer than 30 messages a day on Piedra Iven's main bulletin board. Still, anyone who played this game had used it at least once, including me.
It's not my real name anyway, so I can probably use my nickname from there, right?
I typed the nickname and pressed enter.
[This nickname cannot be used].
«Oh, I see someone is already using that nickname».
That? Is anyone using it?
I didn't understand it, but I changed the spelling a little. When she saw what I chose, the woman smiled strangely. «Haha, I guess you're a fan».
Fan? What does that mean?
Before he could ask, he continued his guide with explanations on how to use the community going forward. «Well, I've already told you almost everything you need to know. I let you use it freely. If you have any problems, please contact us directly».
Shortly after, the woman nicknamed Soul Queen left and I was left alone in the room again. After completing the tutorial, I navigated the community board without any problems.
[For men between 20 and 30 years old]
[American Union]
[The beast people enter]
[Sorcery]
[Hang out]
There were several active chat rooms. If you clicked and entered any of them, could you chat with them? It was a futuristic but fantastic system.
Some rooms have level restrictions or passwords.
To get used to this place, I chose a room at random and went in on a trial basis.
[Rookie room]
It was a special room that only those who had entered the community in the last year could enter. I chose it because I assumed there would be a lot of people like me.
Click-click.
As soon as I double clicked, a bright light emanated from the monitor. Like the day I woke up in the body of a barbarian in the middle of the game, when I came to, I was in an empty lot.
¡Crackle!
A bonfire burned in the center of the lot like a bonfire. Fifteen people were standing nearby, all men. Right, I wondered how many girls would play this kinky, tough game.
«Oh, you're new!»
His eyes focused on me at my entrance. Whites, yellows, blacks; The races were more diverse than I thought, but having lived in a different world for several months, I felt a sense of kinship from coming from the same place. The same thing probably happened to them.
«What country are you from?»
«Ah, Korea».
«I see! Welcome».
I took a quick look around and checked what was around me. There was no racist look, and the atmosphere was purely welcoming to newcomers.
Is that your nickname above your head?
Translucent letters floated above everyone's heads. Just then, a black man dressed in an impeccable suit approached me and started talking to me. «A little empty, right? There aren't even points to decorate. I'm Darkman, the head waiter. Could you give your nickname to the public and introduce yourself briefly?».
«¿Mi apodo?»
«Looks like this is your first time in this room. You just have to think about it. In the community, there is power in cognition and clear thoughts».
Cognition and clear thoughts... Maybe I had to use it as an active skill?
Reveal nickname.
As I muttered that to myself, people's eyes turned to my head. It seemed like they could see my nickname now. «Hello. I am Elf nuna «.
The moment I revealed my nickname, thinking it was an anonymous space anyway, a cold silence fell over the lot.
"Elf, never?!"
"Santo, the guy who did the statistics summary?"
"Um... wasn't that someone from the game company?"
"So you were Korean! I knew it."
"Excuse me! Is this true? Are you really him?"
After a moment, for some reason, a commotion erupted. However, before I could grasp the situation, I calmly let out a long sigh.
Sigh.
What was this?