Chapter 3: The Saint of the Back Alley (3)

“What the hell… did you do to my body?”

Her trembling eyes turned toward me.

“You didn’t inject me with anything. You didn’t adjust any software.

There’s not even a trace of network access.

So what is it? How did you do it?”

Her tone was almost accusatory, but understandably so.

Something that defied common sense had just happened.

Even in the original game, there wasn’t a single instance where Cybernetic Overmodification Syndrome was cured.

If someone told me that an incurable disease had vanished in an instant, I wouldn’t believe it either.

Her grip on my shoulder had started to hurt.

The pressure steadily increased, as if demanding an answer.

“W-Well…”

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to speak easily.

Because I had no real explanation for this power.

A game skill? Some kind of superpower?

Anything I could say would sound like nonsense.

The world of Neo Front Cyber City wasn’t one where magic or the supernatural existed.

How was I supposed to explain a Saintess’ divine ability in a setting like this?

Magic belonged in children’s fairy tales.

It wasn’t an acceptable answer.

But I hadn’t come up with any better explanation.

Honestly, I had rushed straight to Kyla because the idea to use this ability as leverage came the moment I realized what it could do.

I hadn’t taken the time to properly think it through.

Some might call that reckless or naive.

And honestly, even now, I felt like I was going crazy.

‘Why did this happen to me…?’

If anything, I was the one who wanted answers.

I had no idea what kind of nightmare I’d been dropped into.

It wasn’t like I had ever wished for this.

I didn’t want this ability.

I didn’t want to be thrown into a game world made real.

I never asked for any of it.

All I wanted now was to be sent home.

“……”

That sorrowful thought made my eyes suddenly sting with heat.

The tears welling up startled me.

It was strange.

No matter how overwhelmed I was, I wasn’t the kind of person to cry over it.

My emotions felt more unstable than usual.

Like I couldn’t control how my body reacted to my feelings.

But tears wouldn’t solve anything.

That was something I’d learned long ago, back when I was much younger.

And yet, here I was again, at my age, falling apart like this.

As I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand, I apologized for the mess I was making.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

And when I looked up, I was met with an unexpectedly softened expression.

Her hand had released my shoulder at some point.

Kyla spoke.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to scare you…”

I tilted my head.

Just moments ago, she’d sounded dead set on getting an answer, and now her voice was gentle… the sudden shift caught me off guard.

And then I realized how I must look right now.

‘No way…’

That beautiful, innocent-looking girl I’d seen reflected in the glass earlier—

A girl like that crying probably evoked something completely different than when a grown man cried.

The gentle pat on my shoulder left me stunned.

“Forget what I said earlier. If it’s too hard to talk about, you don’t have to force yourself.”

I was honestly taken aback—was she really treating me like a kid?

But there was more than just pity in her eyes.

It looked like she was trying to understand something deeper.

“With an ability like that, and the guts to come here all on your own… yeah. You must have your reasons. I won’t ask anymore. In this city, the more you know, the more dangerous it gets. Sometimes ignorance is a blessing.”

“……”

It was hard to describe how I felt, being misinterpreted like this.

Her cautious tone made me think she misunderstood where this power came from—maybe she thought it was some kind of black-market corporate tech.

That wasn’t even close to the truth, of course… but I didn’t correct her.

I couldn’t think of a better explanation, and honestly, it was better to just go along with the misunderstanding.

I let out a quiet breath of relief.

She seemed to come to her own conclusion and gave a small nod.

“Come to think of it, I never thanked you properly. Thanks. I’m still reeling a bit, but if you really cured me… then that’s no different from giving me a new life. I’ll make sure to repay you.”

“So the request…”

“Yeah, since I’ve already been paid, it’s my turn to work. Just wait a moment.”

With that, Kyla disappeared into the back of the office.

She came back a short while later and laid a few items on the table.

“Fake ID and room key. The address is in District 13… no, I’ll guide you there myself later. Just grab these first.”

I picked up the plastic card she handed me.

An Omega Detroit citizen ID.

The photo still felt unfamiliar, but I was slowly getting used to the silver-haired girl’s face printed on it.

And the name etched beneath it…

“Evinia?”

I looked up, puzzled, and Kyla explained.

“Unfortunately, you can’t pick your own name when forging an identity. These are made using profiles of missing persons. If you really want to change it, you can apply for a legal name change at city hall later…”

I shook my head lightly.

“No, this is fine.”

It was probably better this way.

With this appearance, my old Korean name would stand out way too much.

Eve… Evinia…

I quietly repeated what would now be my new name and tucked the ID and key away.

Kyla watched me, then asked again.

“So, how long does this ‘healing’ effect last? Weeks? Months?”

“As long as you don’t add any more implants, there shouldn’t be a problem. I think…”

I felt a little guilty that I couldn’t give her a more confident answer.

I didn’t even fully understand this power myself.

Even so, Kyla accepted it without hesitation.

“That’s fine. Even if it doesn’t last forever, it’s enough. My head hasn’t felt this clear in years. I never thought I’d experience the world this clean again. I even remembered some things I’d forgotten. Thanks again.”

She bowed deeply, her gratitude genuine.

As if that wasn’t enough, she handed me one more item.

“Oh, and one last thing.”

What she gave me was a handgun.

Small, but heavy enough to feel the solid weight of metal.

Realizing that it was a weapon capable of killing someone, I swallowed hard.

Whether she noticed my tension or not, Kyla said casually:

“You’ll need at least a basic self-defense weapon if you’re gonna survive in this city. Especially someone who looks like you. If anyone shady approaches, just shoot. I loaded it with smart bullets, so even if your aim’s off, you’ll probably hit them. Got it?”

I flinched a bit at the sudden burst of lethal advice, then awkwardly nodded.

For the first time, Kyla gave a faint smile.

“Alright, I think I’ve done just about everything I can for now…”

The conversation paused for a moment.

The sunset light had stretched into the office, casting long shadows that caught both of our eyes.

The city outside was slowly shifting into darkness.

Skyscrapers glowing with every color of neon. A sea of signs lighting up alleyways below.

The mega-buildings, lit by thousands of windows, sparkled like massive lighthouses.

Even the narrow streets lit by shopfront signs looked like a river of stars.

I found myself watching in awe, unable to look away.

She chuckled beside me.

“What, never seen a night view before?”

“No, it’s not that…”

It really was amazing.

It was the same cityscape, but it felt so different from the modern world I knew.

The ultra-tall buildings pierced the clouds, ignoring all density regulations.

A cyber Kowloon Walled City, built with the power of advanced architecture.

(TL note: Kowloon Walled City was a unique Chinese enclave within British Hong Kong, known for its extreme density and lawlessness.)

Everywhere I looked, there were lights of people living their lives.

It was overwhelming.

‘So this is Cyber City…’

That night view I saw that day—

That moment when I truly felt I had entered another world—

I’ll never forget it.

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“Keep the room key close. Call me if anything happens. I’m off.”

After Kyla guided me to the place I’d be staying, the door closed behind her.

And I sank to the floor.

“Whew…”

Now that I was alone, the tension I’d been holding finally snapped.

‘What the hell is going on…’

It still didn’t feel real that I was in another world.

It felt like a vivid dream I couldn’t wake from.

But no matter how hard I pinched myself, it just hurt.

There was no sign of waking up.

The situation was so absurd that I found myself thinking: Is this even reality?

What if I’d been kidnapped by some mad scientist and trapped in a simulation?

What if I was just a brain in a vat, dreaming all of this?

But if I started doubting like that, I’d never find answers.

All I could do was trust what I could see, hear, and touch—and do my best.

After sitting dazed for a while, I stood up and looked around.

A tidy, single room, completely empty of belongings.

This would be my place now.

‘I guess the immediate danger’s passed?’

At least I wasn’t going to die homeless in the streets tonight.

But the real goal, of course, was to get back home.

And right now, I had no idea how to even start.

Not only did I not know how to get back—I wasn’t even sure I could survive in this lawless city.

‘Either way… I need money.’

Here, even breathing cost credits.

I had to secure a way to earn some.

I wondered if I could use my knowledge of the game to make money quickly.

But when I checked earlier with Kyla, I found out this world’s timeline was set after the main story had ended.

Most of the events I knew had already passed.

In hindsight, it made sense.

‘I was downloading the post-ending expansion pack when I got dragged here…’

And to make matters worse, I knew nothing about the DLC content.

I’d avoided all spoilers and info on purpose, waiting for release day.

I hadn’t even visited the game forums.

I never thought I’d regret that choice so much.

Frustrated, I ran my hands through my hair and groaned.

“Ugh…”

The feel of the long, silvery strands between my fingers only made me more irritated.

When I looked up, I saw that same unfamiliar girl reflected in the window.

I knew she looked just like the Saintess from Cinder Knights.

But what I couldn’t understand was… why had I been turned into her?

If someone had done this on purpose, was it the work of a devil? Or a divine being?

If so, then maybe God was real after all.

Once, I wouldn’t have hesitated to say “no.”

I preferred straight answers.

Blind faith in unseen supernatural forces never sat right with me.

But now that I was living this absurd, impossible situation myself…

I felt the tiniest bit of hope.

So I closed my eyes and, just in case something was watching—I prayed.

Please, just let me go home.

Or at least, give me a reason.

Why me?

Why this body?

“……”

But no voice answered.

When I opened my eyes, I was still alone in this strange world.

A quiet, empty room.

A view that made me sigh.

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