Mi-Na

Mi-Na sat alone at a high-end bar in Seoul, staring into a half-empty glass of soju as her thoughts drifted to a time when things were simpler. She'd built an empire—a massive gaming company known as VERSE, the creator of "I Am True Villain," the #1 game worldwide, breaking countless records and redefining the gaming industry. But tonight, none of that mattered. Not the money, the fame, or the success.

Her mind wandered back to her high school days, to a boy she once knew, her closest friend, Hae-Won. Back then, he had been the steady, kind soul who knew how to bring everyone together. The world knew him only as an exceptional bartender in his prime. But to Mi-Na, he was the heart of their friend group, the one who kept them all grounded.

She took another drink, trying to drown the ache of regret that wouldn't go away. She hadn't been there for him when he lost his career and fell into obscurity, battling his own demons in silence. The news of his downfall had come like a shock, and she could never shake the guilt that she had been too focused on her company to reach out when he needed her most.

As she looked up, the bartender approached, his movements oddly reminiscent of Hae-Won's old routines behind the bar.

"You remind me of a friend I used to have," Mi-Na said, her voice slurring slightly from the soju. "He was a bartender, too... but probably a bit clumsier than you."

The bartender chuckled, clearly used to hearing all sorts of tales from his customers. "Sounds like a good friend."

Mi-Na sighed. "He was... the best. But life happened, and we drifted apart." She raised her glass, as if in a silent toast to old memories. "I'd give anything to see him happy again."

Just as she was about to continue, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced down and saw a message from Kyu-Min.

**[Kyu-Min: Hae-Won disappeared from the hospital! The last thing he did was play that game—*your* game, Mi-Na. "I Am True Villain." Explain! What the hell is going on?!]**

Mi-Na's hand trembled, and her heart raced as the words sank in. She'd heard rumors—whispers from the development team about a glitch in the VillainVerse that nobody could explain. But this... this was impossible.

Her hand slipped, and the glass bottle fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. The sudden noise snapped her back to reality, but before she could react, the massive screen behind the bar flickered.

The usual promotional graphics faded out, replaced by a strange, foreboding glow—the same glow she'd seen only within the VillainVerse system interface.

**[SYSTEM MESSAGE: Welcome to the VillainVerse, Master. Connection presence with another master detected… Searching...]**

Mi-Na felt an inexplicable force pulling her toward the screen. She staggered, trying to resist, but the pull was too strong.

**[DONE. Connection with Master Hae-Won established.]**

A chill ran through her, both fear and hope swirling within her. As her vision blurred, the last thing she saw was the VillainVerse symbol flashing across the screen before everything went dark.

---

When Mi-Na opened her eyes, she found herself in a vast, dark realm, surrounded by an otherworldly red and black aura that pulsed with a life of its own. The air was thick, almost suffocating, but there was a strange, unmistakable sense of power in it.

She tried to process what was happening, her mind reeling. *Am I... in the game?* she wondered, her heart racing.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the darkness.

"Welcome, Master Mi-Na. You have entered the VillainVerse."

Mi-Na's eyes widened as a holographic screen appeared before her, showing Hae-Won's name along with a list of recent activity. She could hardly believe it—Hae-Won was here, inside the game, a world she had helped create.

**[SYSTEM MESSAGE: Master Mi-Na, prepare yourself. The VillainVerse connection has linked you to Master Hae-Won. Explore carefully, and remember, here, every decision has consequences.]**