"I didn't know that everything would be like an RPG game-there are too many secrets..."

"Welcome to the virtual realm, Minjeong!"

Boa smiled as she welcomed the younger seated on the pitch-black floor, looking more confused than ever.

Next to her was the newly assigned familiar ever since she disappeared from the older's vision back in the bathroom.

A husky with the soul of a ferocious wise wolf. A glowing star in the middle of his forehead. He opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out, huffing while sitting close to his owner. He stared at the older, appearing to be confused as well.

Minjeong named the big gray fluff; Gre. Mainly because of his gray fur— and how she thought it suited him cutely.

Ever since Minjeong typed in his name, Gre never left her side.

"Okay, how the heck did you get here?"

Minjeong questioned while scratching her cheek inhabit. Boa only smiled and snapped her fingers, transforming the pitch-black room into a modern-looking living room.

The younger was stunned and rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She immediately stood up and began touching everything she landed her eyes on— all of it felt real.

Solid. It's solid!

She always thought about how virtual things remain virtual and cannot be touched. So the system remained as pop-ups that gave her supernatural abilities and were never this complicated.

Boa chuckled at the reaction, "This is the virtual realm, existing between dreams and reality. I warped you here against your will, time doesn't exist here. Fun fact, each player like us gets to own one upon reaching a particular level. Could be level fifty— could be level one hundred." she shrugged. "Depends on how you play it."

Minjeong furrowed her brows and slightly tilted her head. Gre closed his mouth and mirrored her owner.

"Play it?"

Boa nodded, "It depends on how you use the system. Who knows? You might even get it earlier than me."

Minjeong ruffled her hair as she couldn't take in all of the information she received all at once, "I think I'm going to get a headache." she took a deep breath and sighed.

Nodding her head in understanding, Boa approached Minjeong and gently pushed her to sit down on the nearby couch. She sat beside the younger and patted her back for comfort.

"I know you're busy with the show because of your outbreak— Practice this, practice that. Then the system giving you dirt- Are you okay?"

Boa could relate to Minjeong. She couldn't help but recall her first time finding out about the system.

How hard it was for her to manage things alone, how complicated the tremoring pain was, and how hard it was to be the first player to reach level one hundred and counting.

She told Minjeong about this, and the latter was shocked once again.

Just how hard was it?

"I think... besides the Goddess... I'm the very first player to exist."

Minjeong solely gazed at Boa in silence. She couldn't find the words to say— it must be traumatizing.

Boa heard the younger's thoughts and softly patted her head. The touch served as a comfort to Minjeong, akin to her grandmother's presence as she habitually closed her eyes. As a result, she felt her worries slowly dissipate.

"..."

"Minjeong?"

"..."

"Minjeong!"

Minjeong finally snapped out it and flinched. She landed her eyes on Boa apologetically and forced out a smile.

"I'm okay..."

"You don't seem like it."

"This is normal! I daydream a lot, hehe my bad."

Minjeong acted out a cheerful smile while scratching the back of her head nervously. Boa seemed to have taken this gesture and believed her reason. She explained the system's basics and gazed at the younger with focused eyes.

The older explained how the system had multiple categories and would change from time to time, depending on how the player would use it. Like her, she was already a celebrity when all of this happened.

She mostly used the system for self-defense and her benefit.

Therefore, results for the system give her those categories of stats. However, it's still confusing for Minjeong as she'd occasionally scratch the back of her head.

Boa could only smile and pat her head in comfort. By the time Minjeong knew what was going on. The information she had acquired reached its end, and the older handed her a weapon.

"A gun?!"

Boa chuckled, "What?"

"What am I going to do with this?" Minjeong stared at the older with a nervous smile.

"Wait for it..."

Boa pointed her index finger somewhere in mid-air. After a second, a UI popped up exactly where she honed her finger, and Minjeong couldn't help but arch a brow.

*DING*

"Okay, I'm aware with those stats... but NPC?" Minjeong subtly tilted her head, "Almost like we're in an MMORPG." she released a small peal of laughter, supposedly a joke, but when she turned to look at the older— that laughter instantly faded away.

Boa had a severe expression. Eyes focused on Gre, playing with his reflection in the mirror from across the living room. Curious, Minjeong landed her eyes on the husky as well. Somehow, it felt strange, but she couldn't explain whatever it was.

"This is a game. Well, I guess in the Goddess' perspective. We're her players, puppets- I wish I could tell you more but the system will shock me."

Minjeong pursed her lips and didn't push the topic further. Instead, she gazed at the gun she held intensely before trying out a command she had never done before.

Open inventory?

A UI showing her ten empty slots of usable storage