Tutorial (3)

[Ah, you're not going?]

"Why would I go? It's certain death."

[You're not going to die. It's a fusion!]

'Where did this guy learn to lie?'

Isel's adorable eyes furrowed. Every time the wings on her back fluttered, glittering dust scattered.

After pondering for a while, Isel clapped her hands as if she had an idea.

[If you do the fusion, you can return to your original world! Let's see, Han Israt, the place you lived in...]

A ledger appeared on Isel's right. Isel flipped through it and stopped at a page.

[To Taonia, where you lived!]

"Taonia?"

[In the Heim Peninsula of Taonia! Your hometown!]

Names of unknown places came out smoothly.

Half in disbelief, I responded.

"My hometown is Gangseo-gu, Seoul."

[Seoul? Gangseo-gu? Those names...]

Isel alternated looking at the ledger and me, his expression stiffening.

[What, what? Who are you? Why do you look different from the picture? Han Israt doesn't look like this!]

"Who is Han Israt and where is Taonia? I'm Han Seojin. I was born in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. I don't know who you are, but you better send me back, understand?"

[Don't tell me you're from Earth?]

"Of course I'm from Earth, where else would I be from, Mars?"

Sweat started to bead on Isel's forehead.

Isel began to rummage through the ledger again. Her hands moved too fast to see, and her pupils darted up and down rapidly.

[How could a higher-dimensional being...]

Muttering in a troubled voice, Isel pointed to a window at the top of my vision.

[Can you see this too?]

[Now Loading...]

"I can see it."

[Ah, ahhh! How could things get so messed up! I'm losing my mind!]

Isel shook his head as if headbanging right there. Her long, braided black hair spun like a windmill.

[Anyway, just get in! Get in there!]

"No! Why should I? You get in..."

[Get in there!]

Isel grabbed my wrist and threw me.

I felt as if I was floating, then I flew headfirst into the fusion chamber.

Thud.

The door of the fusion chamber slammed shut.

I immediately got up and started banging on the door.

I kicked it and charged at it with all my strength. However, the locked door didn't budge.

"You, you bastard! Let me out! You piece of... I'll get you for this!"

For a little guy, she sure was strong! I couldn't even resist.

"Quiet down, you're being loud."

The female knight, Shay, who was leaning against the wall, spoke up. The floor she stood on was engraved with a complex, bizarre magic circle that covered the entire room.

A thought suddenly came to me, and I asked,

"Where are you from?"

"Me? Arantia."

"Arantia? Where is that? America? Canada?"

"Amelika? Canader? What are you talking about? If you're an imperial citizen, you should know the four great families of Ashinis, shouldn't you?"

'What kind of nonsense is this?'

Even a foreigner would make more sense than this.

No, did I say foreigner?

I touched my lips. The words that just flowed from my mouth. It wasn't Korean. Nor was it English or Japanese.

It was an unidentifiable language.

This can't be happening.

Half in despair, I asked the crucial question. Once again, my mouth produced a language I couldn't identify. It was as if the words my brain wanted to speak were being filtered out.

"Are you from Taonia?"

"Yes."

"Not Earth?"

"I don't know of such a place."

So, this knight is from a place called Arantia in Taonia.

My vision darkened. This nightmare was beyond belief.

More importantly, the finale of this nightmare awaited.

[Master, the fusion will begin.] [Drag and drop the hero to be sacrificed to the hero to be fused! You will gain experience points. The sacrificed hero will be destroyed.] [Tips: Register your hero in favorites to prevent accidental fusion.]

What? You can return to your original world?

I recalled the fairy who groaned for a long time when I refused to go to the fusion chamber. It was undoubtedly a lie.

Pick Me Up's final tutorial gateway, the last hurdle.

Named Hero Fusion. Users will realize the massive power-up by sacrificing a hero. I did as well.

The problem is I'm a 1-star and this knight is a 4-star.

"Status!"

"What are you saying?"

"Status window!"

Half in desperation, I shouted. A small window appeared before my eyes.

[Han Islat (★) Lv. 2 (Exp 7/20)] [Class: Novice] [Strength: 11/11] [Intelligence: 11/11] [Stamina: 11/11] [Agility: 11/11] [Skills: None]

The fairy called me 'Han Israt.'

Then these stats must be my current situation.

I met eyes with Shay, who was looking at me strangely. This time, I whispered 'status window' quietly.

[Shay Radasteri (★★★★) Lv. 2 (Exp 3/20)] [Class: Knight] [Strength: 19/19] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 18/18] [Agility: 22/22] [Skills: Combat Logic (Lv.1), Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.1), Knight's Resolve (Lv.1)]

Despite being the same level, the stat difference was like heaven and earth. Moreover, Shay had three advanced skills.

The most notable was Combat Logic. Out of hundreds of skills, it was rated S-class, a top-tier passive. Swordsmanship granted attack bonuses with sword-type weapons, and Knight's Resolve was a support skill that prevented mental disturbances.

In contrast, I had nothing.

"...Shay..."

I spoke in a trembling voice,

"What is it?"

"Is this a dream?"

"It might be a dream, but one you can't wake up from." Shay chuckled.

[Do you really want to fuse?] [Yes (select) / No]

A strong light emanated from the magic circle engraved on the summoning room floor. A strange floating sensation engulfed my entire body.

'Is this how I die?'

If this is truly the world of Pick Me Up and the 'Master' is controlling this game, then I will disappear here as Shay's sacrifice. For a few experience points.

Maybe if I had done well in the previous battle. But looking at the number of goblins defeated, Shay had four, and I barely had one.

'Who fuses a 4-star with a 1-star?'

The light grew stronger, and I closed my eyes.

Hoping that when I open them, I'll be back in my living room.

[Fusion complete!] ['Shay (★★★★)' dissolves into light.]

"What?"

I opened my eyes slightly.

On the opposite side of the magic circle, Shay's body was enveloped in light and disappearing. Shey smiled bitterly.

"This is the end."

"Why are you disappearing?"

"I wasn't chosen. That's all."

"No, this is insane! You're a 4-star and I'm a 1-star!"

"Please take care, Han."

Shay turned into particles of light and scattered.

Thunk.

The door to the square opened.

[This is how heroes become stronger through fusion.] [Master, believe in your bond with your heroes. The future of the world is in your hands!] [The tutorial has ended.] [My tips will continue. Don't miss out on crucial information to become a strong Master!] [For more detailed strategies, check the official cafe.] [Rewards have been sent. Please check your mailbox.] [Welcome to the world of Pick Me Up!]

[Ta-da!]

With a loud sound effect, the hologram window disappeared.

Standing alone in the square, I shouted.

"Isel, are you there? Answer me!"

[Why are you calling, when I'm so annoyed to death!]

Isel appeared out of nowhere.

Isel landed on the ground, folding her wings, and waved her arms up and down in a frenzy.

[You idiot! Fusing a 4-star with a 1-star? Are you brainless? I told you to use favorites! Read the tips, tips! Read the tips! I'm going crazy, crazy!]

So that's what happened.

The reason I survived was simple.

The way to fuse heroes was drag-and-drop. You select the hero to be sacrificed and drag them.

'There was a mistake.'

I must have clicked the wrong hero without realizing it and hit accept.

A hollow laugh escaped. I survived just by being lucky. On the other hand, Shay died due to a simple control mistake.

[Master, do you want to log out?] [Yes (select) / No] [Goodbye then!]

A message indicating the end of the game session appeared.

After struggling for a while, Isel wiped away his tears.

[Damn it. Just when it was getting started...]

"Tell me the situation. I'm going crazy with curiosity. Where are we, how did I get here, and how do I get back?"

[Hmph, why should I!]

Isel pushed off the ground and flew away, sticking out his tongue.

His body gradually became translucent.

[If you want to know, climb the tower. The answer is there. Bye then!]

"Hey, wait!"

I waved my hand where Isel was, but caught nothing.

She had escaped.

I was left alone in the square.

The impudent fairy and the calm knightess had both disappeared.

Both of them seemed to know something I didn't. If I had known this would happen, I would have asked Shey about it.

Leaving the empty square behind, I returned to my room.

The room still looked like a luxury house. When I opened the cupboard above the sink, I found some ramen.

With a gloomy heart, I took out a pot and boiled some water.

The electricity, water, and gas all worked. While the water was boiling, I looked for an exit but couldn't find one. This building itself was an enigma.

I slurped down the noodles.

The ramen I hadn't had in a long time was achingly delicious.

Without even cleaning up, I buried myself in the bed.

It was only then that the recent events felt real.

Kerrek.

The goblin's wheezing cry. The bloodshot, menacing eyes. Burning houses and fleeing people. The sound of a sword swinging at me, tearing through the air. The sensation of life slipping away at my fingertips.

I was not chosen. That was all.

Shay's bitter voice replayed in my head.

It's not that you weren't. You just had rotten luck. In the original course of things, it was I who should have vanished. I recalled Shey surrounded by light and disappearing.

'This is ridiculous.'

I had entered the world of a game.

Could such a thing be possible?

If, when I woke up, everything was just a dream,

I would laugh it off.

I would even be willing to give a round of applause to myself for dreaming such a ludicrous dream of entering the game world.

That I could dream something so realistic.

But if it wasn't a dream.

If, when I woke up, everything remained as it was.

If this inorganic room and the desolate square outside remained the same.

If I had entered the world of the game not as a master, but as a mere hero.

As I pulled the blanket over my head, I recalled.

What kind of existence I was in Pick Me Up.

Ranked 5th among the 100 million masters worldwide.

There was no user who knew more about this game than I did.

I knew almost all the skills and item recipes, efficient strategies and tactics, hero development methods, and hidden elements.

People called me the Master of Masters.

That's me.

If, when I opened my eyes, everything was still the same.

'If it comes to that.'

I thought back to just before I came to this world.

An unknown level 999 bug monster.

It was definitely laughing at me.

It was that thing. That thing surely brought me here.

'You messed with the wrong person.'

I gritted my teeth.