Question 1: What in the world is this party?

January 1, 3000.

Hello. I would like to take a minute of your time to do some deep thinking.

Do you wonder everyday? Does new questions pop up in your mind everyday? Do you find yourself searching for the answers to those questions? Does it stay in your mind the whole day? Are you curious about the answers? Was there a question that changed your life?

Now, now. I myself have posed many questions in your mind, haven't I? But, it's fine. These questions are what keeps us going. Curiousity makes us feel alive.

So keep asking yourselves questions. And don't stop till you find answers.

Ah, by the way I haven't introduced myself, have I?

Kim JeongYong. 151 years old.

An age of 151..... it was an impossible feat for humans until about 200 years ago. Year 2800, the day humanity finally found a solution for old age. Even if people can still die by other means, it caused a huge impact. Deaths lessened. It felt like the world attained a whole new level of happiness.

But... that was until....

Mystical powers or mystics were invented.

This was 50 years after the solution for old age was invented. The solution and mystics definitely have a connection. Either ways, mystics are just the real version magic and mana we see in fictional series.

Many were excited about magic becoming real. But the real problem came after that. The mystics that scientists stored in a core-like thing burst out and spread all over the world, becoming one with the human body and thus transforming people into powerful beings controlling unique mystics.

They came to be known as mystical hunters. Though we can't say it is anything special since 95% of the world's population are mystical hunters. The other 5%... well you can guess how they are treated.

After this huge event, the world fell into chaos. The people went on a rampage testing out their newly invented power. Buildings turned to ruins, deaths were uncountable, people were insane and nations fell.

Even the most powerful countries were hopeless. But there was one country, that did not fall. Heck, it barely took any damage.

South Korea.

Perhaps it was because both the solution for old age and mystics were invented here but South Korea had the most powerful hunters.

It is still unknown how South Korea managed to get the hang of the situation so quickly but eventually all countries, continents and islands came under the control of South Korea.

Oh wait, I can't exactly say that all the places were under Korea's control. Only the east part.

There are bound to be opposition, you know?

In the year 2900, when Korea had almost half the world under their control, it was discovered that many other people of the west (North America and South America) who managed to get the hang of the mystics started making a group of their own. The regions controlled by this group are known as 'Terra Nova' (Latin for New World).

The east belonged to Korea and the west belonged to Terra Nova.

In the year 2901, Korea and Terra Nova got into a meeting. The meeting ended in chaos with the representatives of both factions out for each other's necks.

No one except the high ranked officials of both factions know exactly why they got into a fight. After the meeting, war raged on between the two factions. Which....

Continues to this day.

There, we have the entire history of the mystic period.

"Sigh... Why am I even lamenting over history now? I came to get some peace of time. I should forget about those."

I am currently attending a New Year's party at a Neutral land.

Neutral lands. These lands were made by people who were rational enough to survive the mystic event alone, but were not powerful nor numerous enough to create factions like Korea or Terra Nova. They did not want to join any of the factions but created a place where everyone can experience peace when times are rough. These neutral lands are spread all over the world.

Being in the neutral lands is like being in a masquerade ball but without masks. You are not allowed to reveal anything about your identity, not even which faction you are from. And absolutely no fighting.

People who break these rules will be kicked out from the neutral lands.

Let's get back to our situation.

"Hm. Should I try talking to someone? My sister keeps pestering me on how I don't have a girlfriend. This party is also a prom king and queen type..."

As my eyes wandered around the hall...

"Boy you don't have a partner yet?"

I turned around to see a foreign looking girl who spoke fluent Korean.

My eyes widened as though a goddess had appeared before me. Her silky smooth blonde hair flowing along the wind, her ocean blue eyes which were just as deep, that somewhat teasing look on her face, her white one piece dress, her red and white bow by her neck, her heart shaped purple earings, those wings behind her back, goddamn. Who is she?

"Are you an angel.....?" I asked.

"PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT-HAHAHA" She laughed.

"Wh-why are you laughing?!"

"Boy, just because I have wings doesn't mean I'm a literal angel! Did you perhaps forget that this is a cosplay event? See? You also have fake demon tail behind your back!"

Oh, she's right. I forgot..... Ah.... How embarassing....

"Ah well whatever! Could you please stop calling me boy? We are probably around the same age."

Oh wait. Due to that solution thing, I can't know how old she is....

"I don't see any other identity to call you with tho?"

"Hmm...."

Both of us went into some deep thinking. We were really thinking like our lives depended on it.

"Uh... how about you um... call me Devil-nim and I call you Angel-ssi?"

She gave me a dumbfounded look and then started giggling.

"Ok! As you want, Devil-nim!" She is so cute...

"Ahem, very well. And about your question earlier, I hate to admit it, but yes I don't have a partner."

"Great! The guy who was supposed to be my partner left me for another girl!"

"W-woah..."

"Unbelievable, right?! I mean he should be thankful that I even graced him with my presence, let alone accept to be his partner!" she said while doing an extremely exaggerated pose.

Uh oh. Am I stuck with a narcissist?

Well, I won't deny that she ain't wrong, tho... That guy who dumped her is stupid but I'm thankful since I get her instead. Wait, what am I thinking?

It was at that moment.

"Hello participants! Welcome to the party! As you know, we are hosting a prom king and queen event. We will now explain the rules of this event. The couples who would like to participate in this event should go to the counter and register your code names. The employees will give each couple a number which will be pasted on their back. It's very simple! There will be a series of challenges for the couples to overcome and prove their love!" said the host.

I am really starting to wonder....

What in the world is this party?

The host continued...

"And the couple who wins all these challenges, will be branded as the King and Queen and whichever neutral land they go for the next year, they will be provided with free food!"

My soul sparkled. Did he just say free food?

"Angel-ssi."

"Yes, Devil-nim?"

"Let's become the Prom King and Queen." I said while offering her my hand.

She tilted her head, smirked a little and then took my hand.

I could not quite understand what she was thinking....

"Let's do this, Devil-nim!" suddenly she was really motivated.

"Oh, by the way. I was alone before because my partner dumped me, but why were you alone?"

"Uh... I just came here to enjoy the new years. Is it a requirement to have a partner?"

She looked at me, extremely dumbfounded.

"Hey, do you even know what this party is about? This is the couples' new year party! The single people have a separate party across the street!"

"What kind of system even is that?!"

"Well, there was a change in host last November and he is pretty new to party stuff so he didn't know much. During the Christmas party, of course there were a lot of couples. The host was quite the jealous single man. He threw a fit and told the administrators to find a new host. But there weren't any candidates for a new host so they arranged different parties, one for single people and one for couples. The host would take care of all the payments and arrangement but the administrators had to take care of the events."

"That is ridiculous! My sister... she definitely purposely set this trap. She is gonna get quite the earful from me." I gave out a menacing look.

"Quite the caring sister. Is she older or younger?"

"Older."

We then registered our "names" and soon after came the commencement announcement.

"So, the first challenge is that the male participant would answer questions about the female participant and vice versa. To avoid cheating, the answers to the questions about the female participant will be discussed with the female participant alone in private and then vice versa." I calmly explained.

"Mmm. That will be hard for us, right?"

"We should come up with a strategy."

"Nah. Don't think too much. We should just guess."

"What?"

"Definitely there wouldn't be any questions about our identity. It will be some random questions. Just guess from my appearance, my personality you have seen so far and if it's a yes or no question, look at my eyes and you'll know the answer. I'll do the same."

"Will that really be okay?"

"Yep!"

This girl... as expected, she is really reckless, isn't she? But it's rather adorable. Ahem let's focus. I'm first, right? Let's do this!

And so began the first event.

My heart was beating way too fast.

"Welcome, Sir Devil-nim!"

Ah with him saying the nickname so loud, it's ridiculous.

"Hello." I gave an awkward smile.

Me and her were sitting, facing each other with the host in the middle. She seemed very confident.

"So here goes the first question!"

Ah! Already?!

"What type of outfits does she like to wear?"

Shit! The first question is already this hard!

Gulp. I took a look at her and she so dazzlingly put her hair behind her ear. Think! What does her outfit say? What does her personality say?

...

Ah.

"She prefers her outfits to be simple and comfortable but a bit trendy and adds on a few accessories to make even the simplest outfit fashionable?"

"Wow... that's exactly right! Simple, comfortable but fashionable! 1 point!"

Wait. Really? For reals?! Let's go! Then came the next question.

"Which season does she like the most?"

Mm. Let's see. I looked at her again. She pointed at her white dress. Oh. That's an unexpected season.

"Winter. She really enjoys making snowmen, having snowball fights and snuggling at home."

"That is also correct! We have quite the couple here!"

She was blushing slightly. Was I spot on?

And then questions poured in as we used our secret language to answer them. The same questions were asked for her and she nailed it too. Soon, the tense atmosphere disappeared and we started to giggle, laugh and have fun.

I'm so glad I came today.... maybe I should scold my sister a little less.

I looked at her again and my heart skipped a beat. Gulp.

What could this feeling be? Is it really....

"Okay! The first event is now ovvveeeeerrrrrr!! Now we'll have a minutes break to prepare for the next one. 8 teams have been selected for the next round."

"Oh. Its finally over! We got past the first one!"

"Yeah" Let's leave that thought aside for now.

Then suddenly we heard people speaking behind us.

"Ahh... Boss-nim, today's event is a success! So many people participated! But... I have a question. Isn't free food for one year a bit too much? We are the ones who will handle the cost...."

"Its not about the money, Assistant. Did you see the participants? Most probably there were some couples who would have had a fight but came for the prize, some new couple who are yet to know much about each other, some who are not even a couple. Of course there were sincere and long term ones too, but the common thing all of these people have is that they had fun today and got to know more about their partner. The fighting couples might have mended their relationships those who weren't a couple might have developed feelings, new couples got to know more about their partner and long term couples made an unbreakable bond between them. Isn't it wonderful?"

All three of us, the assistant, me and Angel-ssi widened our eyes in surprise, completely speechless.

Oh. So that's what this party actually is.

Question answered, I suppose.