Chapter 7

[Author’s P.O.V]

The Arkane Boys were finishing up their rehearsal for their Japanese comeback, 'Memories,' and were about to finish their practice for today. Just a little more polishing with the steps and performance before wrapping up.

Everyone applauded when the back dancers who assisted went home, but the boys stayed to rest for a while.

"What a workout!" said Seungjae as he collapsed exhausted on the floor. Sujin grimaced as he saw him lying on the filthy floor that had been stepped on several times by many people.

"What an unsanitary thing to do, Seungjae," he said to the youngster as he lay down next to him.

"Yet you're doing the same thing."

"I never said we couldn’t."

Milton unexpectedly received a message while the boys were relaxing, sitting, sipping water, changing clothing, or lying down on the floor.

He was astonished to receive one from Heric in the G.A.M.E.S. app when he examined who it was from. He had no idea people could send messages from that app, and it was the last thing he expected to get messages from.

But instead of dismissing it, he checked what Heric had sent him. Although he kept silent, his demeanor revealed his feelings, and Yejoon was drawn in by Milton's stunned reaction when he saw him.

"Are you okay, Milton?" he said, which the other members in the room heard.

The boy nodded and stated, "I just got a message from Heric via the G.A.M.E.S. app."

His words drew their attention, and they were as shocked as he was. Curiosity got the best of them, and some crowded around him to see what he received, while others listened instead.

While they gathered, Milton responded, which Heric immediately read and reacted with a comment followed by a thumbs up emoji.

"He said that he and Yumi are planning to get their familiars and asked if we wanted to join in," he said, eliciting slight gasps of interest.

"And what did you reply?" Jaeseong inquired.

"I asked if they were already in the game, and he and Yumi are about to log in."

It was a tough decision for the boys. They went to great lengths to get out of the game. Yet here they are, eager to return to the world they once desired to escape.

As Milton waited for their responses, the room grew silent. He couldn't make a decision for everyone. They might not have the same answers, so it's essential to get everyone on board before doing anything rash.

"Are we joining them or not?" Milton broke the silence.

"Jaeseong Hyung did say that we'd play again in our free time," Yuto explained.

"And we're free now, so are we in?"

For a brief while, the boys exchanged glances to ensure that everyone felt the same way. The silence was broken as Jaeseong stated, "Let's go get our familiars."

[Yumi's P.O.V]

It's a Saturday afternoon, and I'm at a Arkane-themed café with Akari and Reina. I had intended to go shopping for food to bring into the game, but instead I got drawn into yet another idol-themed café.

Don't get me wrong: I enjoy eating out, whether it's at a themed restaurant or a café. But! This is our third idol-themed café for the day, and to be honest, my pants are about to explode from how stuffed I am.

To relieve the discomfort, I unbuttoned my jeans and zipped them open, then covered them with my oversized shirt.

"I swear I can't take another bite," I said, patting my stomach.

"That's why we're only here for the desserts," Akari explained as she got our orders and returned with Reina, who had our drinks.

"We'll be paying for everything; just drink and eat all the grumpiness with these Arkane-themed sweets!" Reina added.

"You girls really are obsessed with them," I said in astonishment.

"I wouldn't say obsessed; we just love them and everything about them, including their music, humor, content, and everything else," Reina responded passionately.

"That's called obsession, bro," I told her.

"We're as obsessed as you are with your app games," Akari observed.

I couldn't respond since they weren't wrong. But if they knew their favorite idols were playing the same game I'm playing right now, they'd surely reconsider.

Instead of complaining about the group, I took a bite of the desert the two had ordered for us, and it wasn't half terrible. It quickly made me forget I was full.

Looking around the café, all I could see were the members' faces taped on the wall, while the walls and décor were coated in rose quartz and serenity colors. Which, according to Akari and Reina, are the group's official colors.

The café smelt like a bakery, and the mood was a combination of customer chatter and Arkane's music. This was the best of the three themed cafes I'd visited so far.

While Akari and Reina were chatting and fangirling, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. When I checked, I believed I had received a message from Heric, but I hadn't.

'Hey~! We'll be waiting for you at your house!' Sent by Joseph.

I was in an Arkane-themed café when Kang Joseph, an Arkane member, wrote me a personal message saying they'd be waiting for me in the G.A.M.E.S. realm. What a coincidence!

All jokes aside, I need to figure out ways to escape here so I can get home before they do. But just as I lifted my head to excuse myself from my friends, I noticed that they had frozen in place.

The unexpected occurrence caused me to straighten my back in confusion, staring at them both before turning around and finding not only my friends frozen in place but also the rest of the customers in the café and outside.

This could only lead to one conclusion: someone had entered the gaming domain, and it was possible that it was the Arkane lads. And as soon as I logged in, my prediction was right.

There I saw Heric and the Arkane boys chatting while eating the bread and tea from the game.

When they saw me come in, they greeted me while I gave back a quick smile, before I pulled Heric aside in the kitchen to have a private talk where the boys couldn't hear me.

"Why are they back again?" I asked softly, but because the cabin we are in is designed as an open space, they could effortlessly hear my complaints as they awkwardly chewed on their food.

"You said it was up to them whether they came back or not," Heric whispered back.

"I know I said that, but I wasn't expecting them to actually come back! You know how busy they are, plus they're idols!"

"There’s no need to worry; time will stand still for them when they enter here, and no one will notice their disappearance," he soothed her.

Overhearing their chat, Jaeseong decided it would be best if they explained why they had returned to the gaming realm after having escaped from it only a few weeks before.

"We came back because we wanted to see you guys again," he said.

"Plus, having powers again makes life more exciting," Jun continued.

Yumi can't do anything about the boys' return, and she certainly can't be angry about it, knowing full well that she's been returning to the game realm, doing the same thing as them.

In defeat, she sighed gently. "Fine, but keep in mind that I only saved you before because it was your first time in this world and you needed help; now that you've returned here on your own accord, I won't protect you like I did a few weeks ago," I pointed out.

"You say that, but you're too nice to ignore people who are in trouble," Heric snickered quietly.

"Shut it; I said what I said."

The boys were fully aware of the repercussions of their return here and were well prepared for what might happen in the future. They had expected to be scolded, and they will do their best not to be a bother and to be more cautious on each return to this realm.

"Alright, I understand," Jaeseong said, nodding. "We'll handle ourselves."

"But of course, we'll buy our groceries and eat all together so that no one gets left behind," Yumi explained.

The boys all nodded in agreement, excited for their voyage deeper into the game realm. Knowing how they felt on their second journey to this dimension was relatable for me.

Now that we have the knowledge of how we can return to the earth realm without any worries, we can go and explore much more and see what this game realm has to offer. But our first trip for the day is to get our own familiars, our partners in crime, to assist us with our solo hunts, chores, and other missions.

We traveled in Seungjae and Sujin's vehicle, which luckily can expand to fit all of us when merged. Milton and Heric guide us to the location where we can obtain our familiars, and the location is known as the Holy Land.

According to our cellular gadgets, this holy territory is located in the sky, making it difficult for hunters to reach it. But I'm confident that we'll be able to get there with the help of these vehicles. All we need to do now is find it.

"I'm so glad we have Milton with us, or else we'll just get lost," Heric sighed in relief.

I agreed: "His compass power is useful."

"About this familiar thing, is it difficult to obtain?" Yuto inquired.

"Will we have to fight monsters?" Sujin wondered.

"Oh, it is difficult. Not many hunters have one, and it's claimed that we'll face numerous problems inside, whether it's puzzles or monsters," I responded.

The boys sighed anxiously. Although they were all prepared to face these monsters, it was still terrifying to be face-to-face with one, especially for those members who block their vision during an upcoming jump scare when watching a horror movie. Knowing how these monsters in the gaming realm can look hideous and horrifying, it’ll be the most difficult for them.

"I just hope whatever we're up against isn't too difficult," Seongho said with a sigh at the end.

"Let's not jinx ourselves, shall we?" I said.

Milton, our guide, noticed a mountain-like figure over in the clouds. He gasped as he looked back at the map, realizing they had arrived at their destination.

"Hey, over there!" he yelled, drawing our attention to the floating island in front of us.

When the Holy Land palace appeared clearer in front of us, I was a little worried. To be honest, I've been wanting to visit this place ever since I heard of it. But, after hearing how difficult it was to reach the top, Heric and I decided to wait and return when we were stronger.

With 15 of us, I'm confident we'll be able to survive and overcome whatever challenges or monsters we encounter inside that building.

As the others exited the vehicle, I gazed at the entrance, mesmerized by it.

"You ready, Yumi?" Heric said, and I huffed all the tense tension away before returning my gaze to him.

"Ready when you are," I said, and then we both led the way inside.

We had to squeeze our way through the tight entryway, but once inside, the path was bigger than we had anticipated. The insides resembled a dank cave, and you could hear water trickling from afar.

Normally, being inside a cave would be very hot, but that wasn't the case here, and with each step made, waking farther within, the temperature dropped.

Our first challenge has appeared in front of us from a mile away. We couldn't go any further since a transparent blue wall was obstructing our path.

"What are those?" Heric inquired, and I bravely poked it to confirm its identity as it squirmed in response to my touch. Although the texture was slimy and squishy, the juice it created burned my skin, causing me to hiss in pain.

"It's slime. Ow..." I said as Jun washed my palm with his water element, easing the scorching sensation.

"Usually slimes are cute in anime, but being face-to-face with one," Seungjae winced. "Ugh, that looks disgusting."

As a reply to the boy's harsh claim, the slimes wiggled, making the sound of water. Joseph was astonished to discover he understood what they had just said. His brows furrowed in bewilderment.

"They told me they were offended by what you said, bro," he explained.

"I was just telling the truth," he said, shrugging.

Just then, a loud voice could be heard echoing through the cave as the hunt-mates busily worked their way through the sticky wall.

"And what may be the reason for your visit, young ones?" it asked, causing everyone to freeze in place.

"What was that?" I wondered, terrified.

"We're sorry for intruding, but we came here to get our familiar," Heric said as he continued to gaze around warily, seeking to identify the source of the voice that spoke.

"I see. We've been waiting for brave travelers like you all to come visit this Holy Land." It spoke again.

"Uhm, we're honored to be here," he said, before asking, "May we enter?"

"In order to enter, you must solve one riddle to demonstrate your worth for this first challenge; if you pass, you may proceed to the next."

"But what if we fail?" Milton questioned.

"We will kindly request that you all leave immediately."

We all exchanged uneasy glances as we watched us all nod their heads before accepting the challenge.

"Challenge accepted," I responded.

"Very well."

The challenges had begun with a "ding," and everyone listened intently as the slime continued with its riddle as it resonated through the cave.

"You measure my life by hours, and I serve you by expiring. I'm quick when I'm thin and slow when I'm fat. The wind is my enemy; what am I?"

Riddles were something I was always terrible at guessing as a kid, and I still am. My mind refused to cooperate, and anxiety seized control. I was panicking, which was distracting me.

I took a couple glances around at my hunt-mates, and it appeared that I wasn't the only one struggling. Some had perplexed expressions on their faces, while others were buried in their thoughts and stared through thin air.

"Darnit, I'm terrible at riddles," Seongho grumbled.

"I've got nothing," Jiho answered, shrugging.

We were all trying to think as hard as we could, but it appeared like today was not our lucky day. And it got worse when the voice scared us with, "You have 5 seconds to respond."

The majority of us began to curse, and our brains panicked, which did not help us at all and instead kept us distracted.

"Tik tok, tik tok, tik tok."

Will this be the end of our visit? The long and awaited days of leveling up—will they just go to waste?

"Three... two..."

Jiwoo's eyes brightened up as he managed to think of an answer and hastily exclaimed, "CANDLE!" before time ran out, surprising us all.

"Oh? And are you sure about that answer?" the voice questioned, trying to make him reconsider, but he nodded confidently.

"Yes, I'm sure," he replied, "Candle. It measures its life in hours; it melts faster when thin and slower when fat; the wind is its enemy because it puts out the fire."

Everyone gasped in realization as they heard his explanation. It just made perfect sense for his response to be correct. We were all waiting for the voice to respond, hoping to win this challenge.

"I had no idea someone was this smart; go ahead, you guys can pass."

The slime wall then gradually disclosed the passageways one by one, putting a smile on everyone's face as we congratulated Jiwoo on our win and made our way up to the second challenge.

We then entered a dark room with boards as its floor, in front of the cliff we were standing on. When I examined the boards more closely, I noticed that they were very old and didn't appear to be able to withstand severe duty.

"Squared-shaped wooden boards?" I wondered as I looked at it.

Yejoon inquired, "Is it safe?"

"Only way to find out. Seongho, sacrifice yourself and jump on one of the boards," Jaeseong urged, taking the man by surprise as his eyes widened at the clown's sudden terrifying order.

"Why me? I don't want to die!" he cried out.

"You'll be reincarnated anyway."

"Even so! Death pain is something I don't want to experience—ah!"

Jaeseong pushed the knight onto one of the boards, but the board collapsed. Falling the knight beneath the spikes and piercing its body.

The boys beside them turned away in fear from Seongho's lifeless figure, while the suspect felt a bit regretful about what he had done as he stared at the leader's dead body.

"I guess these aren't safe," he muttered, wincing as if the anguish of death were telepathic.

Minjoon screamed in terror, "Jaeseong Hyung just killed Seongho Hyung!"

"No, I didn't!" Jaeseong protested, and while he denied it, Seongho reappeared next to him, glaring at him. "See!" he exclaimed, demonstrating to them that the leader was fine and he had done nothing wrong.

Seongho exclaimed angrily, "Bae Jaeseong!"

"Welcome back!" exclaimed the clown with a smile.

"That was excruciating, you murderer!"

"Well, at least you're fine now."

While the knight and clown were arguing, Sujin saw a piece of paper on the ground beside him. He picked it up as he scanned its contents. He saw that the number on the board corresponded to the image he had discovered.

"Hey guys! I think I found something that can help us," he said to the others as he handed the paper to Jiwoo to be analyzed by the gamer.

The paper Sujin had discovered was definitely useful; in fact, upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a floor plan for the room they were in.

There were 10 boards vertically and horizontally, for a total of 100 wooden boards. Some were crossed out, while others were left blank. Jiwoo has come up with a solution after carefully analyzing the document.

"The uncrossed-out boxes on the map are the safe boards; if we just make a path using those boards, I'm sure we'll be able to get to the other side without dying."

"How are you sure it's the ones without the x's on them that are safe?" Sujin inquired.

"The map shows an x on the board where Seongho Hyung had fallen."

"See? I told you your death would be useful!" gloated Jaeseong, to which Seongho responded by glaring menacingly at him and clicking his tongue in disapproval.

With no time to waste, Jiwoo traced a trail with his fingers on the map and then followed it as he hopped from one board to the next, while the other hunt-mates carefully followed his path.