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268. Engagement – Warning

Minseo forgot the pain of his broken ribs. He awkwardly got up in his small room, where his arms could barely reach the walls, gazing at the sturdy stainless steel pot, pink plastic ladle, and the vibrating refrigerator. Opening it revealed a freezing cold freezer, summer air feeling unfamiliar.

He had… returned.

Minseo swallowed dryly. His hand awkwardly reached for the switch, and with a flick, the light shone bright. No, the lamp turned on.

It was dazzling.

He would have preferred a candle.

Turning off the lamp, which felt as burdensome as the Oblivion Blade, Minseo pulled back the curtains. Outside the third-floor window lay gray asphalt and a discarded 5L trash bag leaning against a utility pole.

Around that corner, the university awaited. The one I graduated from.

He had returned!

Minseo was overwhelmed with emotion. Disoriented feelings faded away as he jumped up. Ugh. Even the pain from his broken ribs was welcomed.

What time is it? What day is it?

The date seemed to remain unchanged. His phone, neglected after a tedious binge of “O-Tube,” lay in disarray with the pillow. The realization brought Minseo even more joy. It was just as it was before he started “Rena Raising.”

“Wa-hat!!”

Minseo clenched his fists and twirled halfway. He flipped through the administrative law exam question book, went through the clothes hanging on the rack, and huffed with ragged breaths.

He wasn’t this happy even when he was discharged from the military. It felt like he could do anything, ready to step into an unfamiliar world.

Minseo wandered through his cramped room, unable to conceal the smile on his face resembling a weeping mask. After some time, his excitement subsided, and thoughts of the people he loved came to mind.

Mom, Dad. Chaehwa.

There was nothing more to think of. Minseo rushed to the bed and grabbed his phone. It was just the moment to check the date and make a call.

“……”

His finger froze mid-air. Through the phone screen, he saw his laptop screen.

A dark background glowing black.

Over it, the ending credits slowly rolled.

He had to see it. Should he…?

Minseo’s joy began to fade.

He recalled the moment his breath quickened. Dodging the giant goat hoof, he mercilessly kicked Kus’ sweat-soaked belly, gripping the reins tightly.

Struggling to escape the crisis, he glanced back. A colossal Astroth was chasing him, radiating a paralyzing fear. In the end, the engagement arc concluded with Ray’s piercing scream.

He didn’t want to gaze, but his body involuntarily turned towards the screen. Like a dog trained for potty training.

And he regretted it.

[ Congratulations! ]

[ Rena’s dream has come true. ]

[ True Ending 2/2: Complete ]

[ Thank you for playing Rena Raising. You have cleared all scenarios. The player may exit the game. ]

[ Leira Ainar ]

[ Final Class: Knight ]

[ Marriage Partner: Ray Dexter ]

[ Ray Dexter ]

[ Final Class: Knight ]

[ Marriage Partner: Leira Ainar ]

[ Engagement Ending: The Knight ]

[ True Ending ]

– Born in Abrival Castle, Leira Ainar had a happy childhood… (excerpt) …Joining the war, she became a knight after passing through the hundred-man commander. She wed Ray Dexter in the fortress Toridom, which the Austin Kingdom occupied, but was confronted by Duke Astroth. As Leira fled with Ray’s help, she perished under the Duke’s wrath. –

– Ray Dexter, born in the capital Barnau, had a happy childhood but lost his mother early. He moved to Abrival Castle with his father, a knight of the Austin Kingdom’s First Knight Order, where he met Leira Ainar. Upon first sight, Ray fell in love. Together with her, he trained in swordsmanship… (excerpt) …Fighting in the war, he stood against Count Hermann Forte, who invaded the camp aiming for the prince. Imprisoned for overstepping, he was released due to Leira’s and Jensen Bailei’s help, along with Noel Dexter’s merits. Even after losing his squire position, he served under the banner and made remarkable achievements, which reevaluated his past sins as the Belita Kingdom Army retreated. Ray and Leira were knighted in Toridom and wed, yet Duke Astroth descended upon them. While fleeing with Leira, Ray Dexter met his end under the Duke’s kick. –

[ The Beggar Siblings scenario ending has been altered. ]

…

[ The Childhood Friend scenario ending has been altered. ]

…

Minseo couldn’t finish reading the ending credits. Captivated by three photos filling the screen, he lost his senses.

In the first photo was Leira.

But he wasn’t sure if he could truly call that Leira. Having dropped dozens of meters and buried in the bushes, her neck was twisted, and her arms were torn. Her legs hung from her burst abdomen, nearly touching her forehead.

Yet, he should say it was better than Reriana in the third photo. The third photo merely showed the castle walls, lifelessly reflecting the scene. A mark that looked struck by cannon fire stained the wall, seeping red.

The Childhood Friend scenario wasn’t much different. With two walnuts squeezed in one hand, Saint Maryel and Leah were caught in Astroth’s grasp.

He could slowly hear the sound of breaking screams. The saint, who should never have fallen, had been forsaken by her divine. Maryel had become one with Leah.

“Ugh.”

Minseo turned his head, gasping for breath. The clouded sunlight pouring into his small room and the catchy tunes coming from the next room felt eerily serene.

‘I-I saw nothing…’

The sudden thought made Minseo’s breath quicken.

It was a cowardly thought, wanting to dismiss everything that had happened. He even thought that he must have been hallucinating after playing the game for too long.

He felt like throwing up.

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

No. This can’t be. I made a vow. I promised to make Rena happy and then leave. I absolutely won’t run away alone.

This ending was far from happiness. All three scenarios were.

But… still…

He didn’t know how difficult it had been. He had no idea how many years he spent there.

Every day was a struggle.

In the Childhood Friend scenario, he searched fields and mountains for food every day, occasionally hunting.

Exercising unfamiliar authority, he incited the barbarians, spinning lies in front of nobles like Duke Harvey Gaidan, who had seen it all. He put on a brave face, but every frown or piercing gaze made his heart sink.

The Beggar Siblings scenario was much worse.

Without the {initial funds} and Kasia, survival would have been in question. Though things gradually improved as the cycle repeated and everything loosened after meeting Ksenia, there remained an unchanging requirement to carry out tasks diligently.

In that world, he had never seen someone lazy. Except for their younger sister, Reriana. There were only relatively lazy individuals.

The Engagement scenario fared a bit better.

It was financially easier, allowing him not to toil excessively. But other issues arose.

Leira and Ray were in a romantic relationship.

As comfortable as his body was, the mental stress was intense. He immersed himself in Ray’s mindset, forgetting Chaehwa, and he had no choice but to love Leira. Ray’s disdain toward him stemmed largely from this.

Observing every scene where they expressed their love felt like being trapped in one body, making Ray view him with disgust.

There was no way he could feel good about it, and knowing that Ray knew how he felt made him endure it. Since the arc after the broken engagement, he hadn’t held back.

Minseo buried his face in his hands.

He didn’t want to go back. Truly. It wasn’t just the ethics of living diligently there, but he didn’t want to endure horrific endings anymore.

Even the endings he received, framed as happy, were equally torturous. The moment he married Leah, he had to part ways with her; Reb actually felt sad.

Behind the joy of having made Leah happy lay a profound sorrow, which he felt vividly. It was unavoidable, so he and Leo hadn’t even mentioned it.

– Right. Leo always sacrificed for Rena. I swore too. I love them now. So go back. Go back and make them happy.

‘Right… it’s not just someone else anymore…’

– Are you crazy? Why would I go back there? Do you think I got out easily? Is there a guarantee I can leave again? Now’s the time you think of others? Don’t get too absorbed, idiot.

His heart wrestled in turmoil. Minseo struggled with his conflict until the sun began to set, and when his neck ached, he finally lifted his head. He steeled his resolve with a firm gaze.

‘…No. I can’t just leave Rena like that.’

Just one round needs to be played.

It seemed the issue was killing Count Forte; if that were erased, all three scenarios would surely wrap up with happy endings. Thinking this, he raised his head—and…

– Damn.

– L-Look at that. Damn. What the hell. Another mess has started.

A dark laptop screen. In the space where the ending credits had disappeared, a single message window blinked conspicuously.

[ You have logged out with the Guardian Quest unlocked. Would you like to re-enter? You cannot exit the game until the Guardian Quest is completed. Yes / No ]

[ 08:14 ]

If those numbers were hours and minutes, how nice would that be? Unfortunately, they were minutes and seconds. The laptop let out a click as it ticked away the time.

Swear words surged in his throat.

Minseo exploded with curses, and the catchy music from the next room came to a halt. However, the counter never ceased.

[ 07:31 ]

“Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.1)

After spitting out curses, Minseo panted for breath. He finally understood why the religious folks, who claimed to believe in a god, prayed not to be led into temptation.

Minseo flailed in front of the rapidly decreasing counter. Like a scene from a silent film. Eventually, he stood up with a blank expression and sat on the edge of the bed.

He tried not to think as much as possible. Licking his lips and blinking his eyes. Stretching his back and patting his knees while seated.

[ 05:29 ]

Nothing compared to Ray Dexter’s thick legs. A mountain valley boy’s lower body was even weaker than Reb’s. He was far better than Lean…

Mom. Dad.

But the thoughts he tried to shove down surged uncontrollably. Passion swelled within him. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his nose tingled. Unable to hold back, Minseo eventually raised his hands to cover his eyes.

[ 04:50 ]

A sob burst forth from between his clenched gums. He pounded his knees with his palms, drenched in tears, unable to endure it otherwise.

His eyes fell on his phone. Checking the time, Minseo picked it up.

Mom, Dad. Your foolish son is about to make the world’s dumbest decision. I want to hear your voice… at least before I go.

He forgot his parents’ phone numbers.

Minseo searched for his father’s number in the address book, but at that moment, he shivered as if struck by lightning. Ashin, Seares’ warning resurfaced.

= You will soon stand at a crossroads. When that happens, never contact those you love.

That wasn’t a warning to Reb. It was a warning left for… me.

Minseo clutched his tear-soaked face again. The truth was, deep down, he truly knew.

If I contacted my parents, my heart would weaken. I tried to use them as an excuse to abandon Rena.

It was the devil’s sweet temptation.

[ 01:42 ]

Minseo rose weakly from the bed. He pulled out a single Lesion Blue that his father used to smoke, lighting it up. He gripped his phone in one hand and the mouse in the other. This laptop was a gift from his father.

In Seoul, no less! It was hard-earned! He gifted it to celebrate his college admission, and the smartphone had been given by his mother, something she had never used.

His parents had divorced.

Somehow they managed separate meetings. It was an old story.

Huh.

Blowing out smoke, Minseo steeled his resolve. He positioned the mouse over the button and pressed in his phone number with the other hand. He remembered Chaehwa’s number.

[ 01:06 ]

I know it’s foolish. But Chaehwa will be fine. Hearing her voice won’t shake my resolve.

Just as I had ruined the dreams of Rena, I will return without fail. I will make Rena’s dreams come true! Make her happy…!

…And come back to ask for your forgiveness. Together… we will move forward.

[ 00:34 ]

Doo-doo-doo, the ringtone echoed, the colorless waiting tone repeated. Then click, the call connected.

“…Yeah. Minseo. How have you been?”

Her voice sounded weary from reality. Chaehwa spoke in an effort to maintain a bright tone.

“I’ve been going to interviews lately. Is your studying going well? ……Why so quiet?”

[ 00:01 ]

The counter had stopped. In the opened room, there was no one. Outside on the asphalt, only a single Lesion Blue fell.

1) The Christian Lord’s Prayer.