Summer vacation, the holy grail for the people like me. Dreaming of beaches,indulging in ice-cream, and hanging out with friends until the late hours. Life's sweet moments are meant to be savored.
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But fate seems to have a different plan right now.
"Why in the world do I have to take on the Demon King solo? Where are my party members, like in other games? How does one tackle an entire demon army alone? Screw the developers!"
I shout at the screen as my main character is mercilessly pummeled. And so, my entire summer vacation is squandered on this game called "Serenara."
No, I don't have any peculiar interest. I was coerced into playing this game by my niece. Now, as for why I was blackmailed, here's the short version: My sister-in-law, who happens to be my former college girlfriend, married my brother.
I missed their wedding due to studying abroad, and the whole affair was so rushed that even family members were clueless. My sister-in-law was surprised when she first saw me at my brother's house.
This summer, my niece discovered the secret and blackmailed me into playing this game. I didn't want my brother's family to feel uncomfortable, so I reluctantly complied. Turns out, the reason my niece strong-armed me into playing this game was due to some silly bet she made with her friends, to conquer the second version.
The first version was your typical RPG game with a male protagonist wooing strong female targets to defeat the Demon King with their help. Simple, right?
It was popular among girls. Filled with cliches and dialogs that will make you vomit blood.
Enter the second version, a disaster. The main character is female, a loner with no friends. Any attempt to increase favorability with other characters backfires spectacularly.
The developers even added other playable characters, but their cheat levels are subpar, making the game even more challenging.
Despite the stress, I soldier on. Why? Because beneath its terribleness, the game is oddly fascinating.
The character interactions are eerily real; you can literally type your conversations with them, leading to infinite possibilities in the second version. After an entire summer of solitary gaming, I finally defeat the Demon Lord.
"Hahaha! You imbecile Demon Lord, not so cocky now!"
The demon lord had mocked me throughout the fight, using names and phrases I barely understood. With the demon lord's HP hitting zero, a congratulatory message pops up on my screen.
"Yawn~"
"Now that the game is finished, it's time for some rest," I declare, lounging on my sofa. After a rejuvenating rest, I descended to the kitchen, only to be met with unsettling sounds, rustles that shouldn't be there. "Hmm? The door should be locked. Is it my brother? Only he has the extra key to my house."
"Hey! When did you—"
Entering the room, I found myself face to face with two masked men.
"Shit. Thieves! Somebody call the police, where's my phone?"
I panicked, and my mind went blank as I sprinted towards the stairs.
"Shit, we got caught."
"I thought there's no one in the house. Dammit, I don't want to go to jail again. Bill, stop him now."
"O-okay."
Their conversation echoed as I climbed the stairs—then, two loud noises.
—Bam, Bam.
Glancing down, my white shirt transformed into a canvas of red. Losing my footing, I tumbled through the stairs.
"Screw my luck! Run, Bill, run."
"O-okay."
The thieves escaped through the window they entered, leaving me bloodstained on the floor. Pain set in, and the cold began to seep through.
"I-t hurts."
"So-somebody, hel—"
I struggled to breathe. The pain was unbearable. My vision faded, and my hearing dwindled as I succumbed to an eternal slumber.
"Aghh!"
My eyes slowly opened to an unfamiliar ceiling. My head throbbed; it feels like a hangover. The memories rushed back—I remembered what happened. Glancing down at my chest, I sighed in relief.
"Huu~ Thank God, looks like someone brought me to the hospital in time."
Yet, something felt off; this didn't resemble any usual hospital. Was I discharged? It's possible. Surveying the room, it struck me as an odd blend of medieval and modern, filled with countless books, like a library. As I attempted to rise from the bed, I noticed a slight height difference. Heading towards a smaller door, likely the bathroom, I encountered an unfamiliar face in the mirror.
I frantically checked my own features, tapping all over my body for confirmation. Splashing water on my face, I muttered,
"If this is some prank, come out. I'm not in the mood."
As I prepared to curse, a sudden, pounding headache hit me like a hammer. Unfamiliar memories flooded in, and my world spun as I collapsed to the floor, consciousness slipping away.
After waking up, it took me a few hours to calm down and organize my thoughts. It wouldn't be wise if I continue to cry and curse.