Dusk Howler c1 part1

Translated by End

“..... Mr. Jiha? Mr. Kim Jiha?”

“Will you not answer the questions in our interview?” The professor asked, not masking the irritation in his gaze. At that moment, my throat felt completely blocked.

Then, without me knowing, my left leg began to shake like crazy. I drew in a big breath and pressed down on my leg tightly with my hand.

“I, I, I, I, I, uh…...” The moment I met their eyes, I stopped breathing. I felt like the very air was pressing down heavily on my chest.

At least now I knew the question. Feeling a bit relieved, I opened my mouth and, “Yes, as a highschool student, I often thought about what I could do for the poor and needy people. So I was determined to volunteer personally for the UNICEF during my holiday.”

“.......” The interviewers seem really touched and impressed that they were silent. No, thinking about it, the silence was too long. No, it was way too long. Right at that moment, I realised it wasn’t admiration but astonishment. ‘What cause such reaction……?’ I realised right at the spot.

Shake, shiver, shudder…….

I received a phone call from my father in Busan as soon as I left the interview. It was the usual threat that, it’s my absolute last chance, that if I failed next year’s scheduled university admission test… he reminded me that the army was always waiting.

I attended not just the cram school in Jong-ro, but roamed all the way to cram school in Noryangjin as well. But not one cram school could fix my problem of freezing up.

Yet, at the same time, when my parent shelled out money for 14 years of private education, lowering my expectation and going to a rural university would not be tolerated at all by my parents. In the end, the only thing I could change myself.

[Ah, hello. Sunbae!]

[I am doing great obviously. I heard that you did an interview at our school! How was it? Did it went okay?]

[Ah, if only Sunbae stopped being so shy, you could be so great…… Our school doesn’t seem to have the eye to see such talent.]

[Sunbae, at this point isn’t this some kind of illness? Maybe you should visit a psychologist and get some kind of treatment?]

[What did they say?]

[Oh, right. I think I read an article about this being used to treat an autistic child.]

[Right... as I said, if you did this anonymously, you can express your inner self. I think it’s a brilliant cure. Ah! That game, I have a Sunbae who plays it. Should I introduce him to you?]

[Sunbae, do you think you could possibly get into a better university by attending more cram school? If you think so, then do as you like.]

Trying to use the same method again will only result in an inevitable fourth failure. ‘Should I give it a try? Should I listen to the Doctor? Is this new method the only way?’

[Yeah, it’s really famous. They even showed it on TV a few times.]

[Umm, I only know his student ID…… But he already graduated]

[Should I introduce you to him?]

He must be of some help if he had such expertise. Worst comes to worst, at least I would be able to mooch off some items from this guy.

[Oh, right! About the Game Capsule, what kind are you going to get?]

At my stupefied response, she laughed lightly.

She began to speak words that I could not even begin to fathom. Later, as she meandered into the topic of mainframe and reconstruction, I waved the white flag.

[Okay! You have nothing to worry about!]

The Capsule she chose for me was white, oval and made of some glossy material. The technician installing the Capsule was full of praises after seeing with his expert eye, so it must be quite a famous brand.

Welcome to Trikia. Dear traveler, I am your Guardian Deity, Tethys. Will you create a new character?

Her skin was transparent and without any flaws. She was an impossible beauty that you would never be able to see in reality, and I being so flustered, stumbled at my word’s, “Yeah…… Create.”

Please choose your Race.

Around me, 10 mirrors suddenly appeared. In the mirrors were reflections of what I will be if I choose an Elf, or Dark Elf, or Dwarves and such.

Are you sure that you want to be Human?

As I nodded my head, a window appeared where I could change my hair colour, face and even tattoos. ‘Yup, without a doubt, changing everything is the best.’ While I don’t really want to say it, but I had a complex about my face.

I was thinking about even adding tattoos but thought I did enough change and press ‘Enter’. Then my apparent Guardian Deity spoke up again.

Your name is Jaiha?

I began to like it after hearing another person uttering that name. “Jaiha.”

Three Goddess floating on top of a gigantic continent. One of the Goddess was in chains with her eyes closed, while the other two Goddess each flared their black or white wings as they attacked each other.

Seemingly hearing the outcry, the Goddess with the black wings took out her bow and retaliated. The Goddess of the Past, Erune. The Night Mother. The Beastial Races, Dark Elves, Vampires and similar Races unsheathed their weapons.

Over the gigantic continent, a river of wind was created and in that moment, the Goddess wrapped in chains opened her eyes.

Her ruby eyes were looking straight at me. I was frozen in place, captured by her eyes. Why did she…..? I shook my head.

Twilight, The Sorrow that is Dusk. Dusklight, of that which left sketches of the destruction of the earth upon the sands. As the two Goddesses of Light and Darkness became entwined, the two continents collided and became one. But the continent of the Goddess of Present shifted further and further away.

BOOM! With the accompanying the sound, my bum became stiff and dull with pain.

I think his ID was Nine….. Though even if I had his ID, I had no previous contact with him at all. As I was standing around aimlessly, ‘You have a message’ suddenly range in my ear. At the corner of my eyes, an envelope mark was blinking.

If you can tell me your location, I will seek you out immediately.

---

Even though they said this was Virtual Reality, I was amazed how human the NPC was. The sky was devoid of any clouds and was the frustratingly clear day. Seoul was a constant grey overtone. The tuition fee for cram school suddenly crashed into my mind. If my father ever found out the truth, I realised, I would never live to see the sky again.

Was that a humongous Bone Mammoth trampling on any beginners on it’s path? Aahhh!!! Shouts came from everywhere. As the Bone Mammoth looked at it’s surroundings with its blackish eyes, it stamped all over the 2 story inn.

The inn’s roof collapsed and the people scattered, trying to escape. I was so surprised, I was breathing in short stops. A guard walking nearby unsheathed his sword and shouted, “Those evil Darksiders have invaded! Protect the village, fight! We will reward anyone who joins!” As the guard finished speaking, a message popped up in front of me.

[Protect the Village!]

Death will result in Quest Failure.

Without a doubt, as the number increases the more courage that seems to be generated that even I found myself taking out my beginner short sword. At that moment, the huge Bone Mammoth looked in my direction. From its empty eye socket, I could see a glowing red, gloomy eye. Silent danger. But everyone’s eye was clouded to the promise of the rewards.

I saw at that moment. There was someone riding atop the Bone Mammoth. A man wearing a robe upside down spoke in a loud voice, “Is Jaiha-nim here?!?” The shout was accompanied simultaneously with the Bone Mammoth’s trumpeting and it’s trunk swinging left and right.

Yaarg! People yelled out as they died. Then the man on the Bone Mammoth cried out cheerfully. “Is Jaiha-nim here?”

Looking on the village that was soon to be a ruin, I squeaked out like a mosquito, “......... That’s me. ”

Kwaang!!!

Right then and there, I woke up to the epiphany that something seriously wrong was happening. With fear swallowing me whole, I tried to press the logout button when the man snatched me by the scruff.

Wha~ What! I can’t log out? I was just snatched from the scruff of my neck! I should be allowed to log out from something so insignificant, right? The man looking at my struggle just smiled.

“What do you mean you got lost! You destroyed everything in your path!.....” Was stuck in my throat and wouldn’t come out. That was because the face hidden underneath the robe was revealed.

The man, no, I mean the man corpse laughed with his blood red eyes. “Ah, if only I found the place sooner, I would have been here faster. It’s quite unfortunate.” Seems like he already forgot to say ‘I can’t here yoou~’ and going off to empty the bank.

The man spoke, “Let’s go! Dumbo!” This moment reminded me of Disney’s, ‘Baby Elephant Dumbo.’ The timing was exquisite as the Bone Mammoth lifted it’s heavy body.

‘What do you mean greatest like you!’ Was the scream that I held back with all my might.

‘I think…… I need to call Yunhe.’ Without a doubt, this was the moment that the game became twisted beyond belief.

Chapter end