Chapter 24 – Virtual Reality – The Hero (2)

Beep-

[Broadcast has started.]

Just as the girl sat down at the virtual reality access device and connected to “The Hero”…

“Guild Master, I’ve linked it to the internal broadcast as you requested.”

“Good work.”

An unscheduled broadcast appeared on Chungseong Guild’s internal channel.

The employees were clueless about what was happening.

-…What’s this? A sudden game broadcast?

The screen was split vertically into two perspectives.

One half showed a first-person view of the city, as if through the girl’s eyes.

The other half displayed a third-person view of the girl’s back.

This was to gauge ordinary people’s reactions to the girl.

Some might wonder why the leader of one of the top three guilds would bother with such concerns.

‘If ordinary people fear or avoid her, we’ll need to completely separate her two selves.’

It was all for the girl’s sake.

The Guild Master had the power to let her live comfortably for life if she wanted.

But from what he’d seen, that wasn’t her personality.

She’d insist on doing her duty even if it killed her.

Worried that her brainwashed state might be seen as villainous and cause her further emotional pain, he came up with this method.

Creating a separate persona for the brainwashed girl until the brainwashing was completely gone.

Of course, this was assuming the worst-case scenario.

– Isn’t this “The Hero”? But why is there a kid in it?

– Oh, you’re right! Is she even ten years old?

– Isn’t “The Hero” pretty brutal? Is it okay for a kid to play this?

– Fact: Surprisingly, it’s rated for all ages because it’s educational.

As guild members logged in and their chat messages scrolled up…

“Wow… So this is a fake world…?”

The girl slowly began to look around, seemingly synchronized with the game.

The scenery of Guro Digital Complex, the starting location of “The Hero,” spread out before her.

Countless rectangular buildings reflecting the sunlight.

Cars running on three-lane roads.

Even people in suits carrying coffee!

Wow, wow!

As the girl waved her hand, a passing NPC citizen kindly approached her.

“Little hero, are you lost?”

“…Wow.”

The expressions, voices, and reactions were perfectly lifelike.

To think this was fake…

As the girl excitedly explored her surroundings, a thought suddenly occurred to her.

If such a vivid world could be fake, was the world we lived in truly real?

Then what about the existence of heaven and hell?

Perhaps we were on a trial path to reach the real worlds of heaven and hell?

If so, her deceased mom and dad must be happily living in heaven by now, right?

For a moment, the girl’s cat-like narrowed pupils returned to normal.

She giggled happily.

“Oh my, how cute…”

The few players connected to the tutorial turned their attention to her.

Since the game had no customization options, this must be the child’s real appearance.

How could such a doll-like, adorable child exist?

It was surprising to see such a small child playing this infamous game.

The gentle smiles didn’t last long.

“The Hero” was notorious among gamers and Awakened alike.

Its excessive realism, implemented to raise awareness about villains, was infamous for being unpleasant, with scenes of gore and blood despite its all-ages rating.

Concerns for the girl quickly poured in.

As everyone wondered if they should help or warn the child, a woman stepped forward.

She had a plump, motherly appearance, like a typical neighbor you might see anywhere.

However, despite her looks, she was a C-class certified Awakened.

She had entered “The Hero” on her colleagues’ recommendation as good PvP training.

She couldn’t leave a child alone in such a dangerous game.

The girl looked similar in age to her daughter, or perhaps a bit older.

Not wanting to startle the child, the woman smiled warmly and crouched down to greet her.

“Hello, sweetie. Are you here to play the game?”

The girl instinctively stepped back, warily watching the woman’s actions.

After all, the Guild Master had said demons would appear in this game.

And weren’t all these internet users demon-possessed trash?

Who knows what she’s really thinking behind that smile!

If she tries to touch me, I’ll break her wrist and burn her!

The girl tensed up, as she’d been taught in the cult.

“What do you want…?”

Of course, to others, she looked like a tiny kitten trying to hiss threateningly.

No matter how much she puffed up her hair and glared, the woman wasn’t about to back off in fear.

Instead…

‘She’s scared. Surely no one forced her to play this game?’

Worried, the woman tried to persuade the girl in an even gentler voice.

“You remind me of my daughter. Do you know this is a dangerous game? There’s killing and blood and stuff like that.”

But such talk backfired.

Ah! She said I’m like her daughter?!

The girl had seen countless news articles online where people testified, “I did it because she was like my daughter” or “because he was like my child.”

I knew it…!

This lady is after my body…!

Contrary to the Guild Master’s expectation that meeting other players in-game would clear up misunderstandings, the girl’s misconceptions only grew.

If she couldn’t correct her prejudices, her view wouldn’t change.

“I-I’m not interested in that kind of thing…!”

Gasp! Oh my god! This lady likes children!

Even in her original body, she wouldn’t have accepted such a proposal.

Above all, this body belonged to Mia now!

She couldn’t let even a hair on her skin touch such a suspicious, demon-possessed lady!

The girl turned and ran away.

“Huh? Huh?! Sweetie?!”

What did I do wrong?

Kids these days are so hard to understand.

Forced to give up, the woman retreated. Only then did the tutorial begin.

Beep! Beeeep-!

Loud alarms that would startle even normal adults blared throughout the city.

At the same time, text appeared in the players’ view.

[Tutorial: The First Villain]

– When society was in chaos after the appearance of Gates, the first villain in Korea emerged, drunk on their newly awakened power. Let’s work together to subdue the villain before they cause more damage.

It wasn’t just text.

True to the game’s purpose as government promotional material, raw footage of real-time news broadcasts and police communications from when the villain first appeared played.

“H-hello, police? There’s a crazy person here killing people!!”

“The ground! The ground is suddenly rising up!”

“You bastards! Are you planning to come after everyone’s dead?!”

Voices filled with raw emotion, driven mad by the fear of death.

“…What the hell? They made this game so damn realistic?”

Players scattered across the streets grimaced in shock.

Even Awakened who had experienced multiple real Gates froze at the stark realism.

“The child! Where’s the child now…!”

The woman who had lost sight of the girl frantically scanned her surroundings, her limbs shaking.

She soon spotted the girl not far away, but…

“Kyaaaah! Help me!!”

Amidst the chaos of NPCs fleeing madly, the girl stood still.

“…Is this a real demon?”

She turned her head slowly, as if in a different world.

Looking in the direction the citizens had fled from, she showed a chilling smile.

Grin.

Sharp canines peeked out from behind her cute lips.

Normally, people would think her smile was adorable and pretty, but…

‘What’s with that kid’s expression…’

It seemed full of killing intent.

Yet she also looked excited.

Her reaction was like someone who had found the enemy who killed their parents.

The girl’s gaze captivated not just the woman, but others as well.

“What are you all doing?! Come and fight!”

While the Awakened who had rushed ahead struggled to restrain the villain…

Those behind the girl stared at her blankly.

Judging by their reactions alone, it was as if the girl herself was the villain.

“Shit! Our attacks aren’t working! How is this only C-class?!”

The girl’s gaze remained fixed solely on the villain, ignoring these reactions.

Crack!

A fist-sized hole appeared in the head of the first Awakened to confront the villain, and another player collapsed.

Though the villain was only C-class in terms of raw power…

“The Awakened’s ability is petrification! According to the guide, we just need to avoid getting within range!”

The Awakened class system was based on monsters from beyond the Gates.

Even a mere C-class could excel in PvP combat.

Moreover, most Awakened here were beginners just learning PvP…

They frantically tried to follow strategies they’d read online.

But they could barely defend themselves, dying from a single mistake in judgment.

Watching the situation, the girl clenched her tiny fists tightly.

Blood, blood, and more blood.

Veins bulged on her thin wrists, and she breathed heavily, struggling to contain her anger.

A murderer who killed 80 people?

These were someone’s father, mother, and child.

Some might have sacrificed themselves to protect their loved ones, like the girl’s parents.

Could a fellow human really commit such a horrible act?

No. It couldn’t be.

It was inconceivable that someone chosen by the almighty God to become an Awakened would commit such sins.

Therefore, she was certain.

This was a demon.

Someone possessed by a demon, or who had sold their soul to one.

The girl’s pupils, which had briefly returned to normal, sharpened like a cat’s once more.

Demons must die.

They mustn’t create any more innocent victims.

[Kill the demon. That’s your shortcut to heaven.]

Kill, kill, you must kill.

Red room, room of flesh, death, screams, skulls.

Flash-

Light flickered before her eyes.

“Shit! Kid!! Get out of the way!!”

An Awakened fleeing the villain’s attack blocked the girl’s path.

No matter how dangerous, this was still a game.

No, even if it wasn’t a game, he couldn’t run away and leave a child behind.

Better to be mocked as an idiot who couldn’t clear the tutorial than to let a child get hurt because of him.

The man gritted his teeth and crossed his arms to brace for the attack.

Grab-

Something small and soft pulled on his arm.

“Huh? Huh?!”

A powerful force that even his large build couldn’t resist pulled him back.

What was going on?

What just happened?

As the man blinked in confusion after being yanked backwards…

The sharp rocks flying towards the girl and the man crumbled into dust and vanished, like citizens disappearing with a finger snap in a movie.

How was this possible?

To nullify another’s ability so easily?

As the man stood dumbfounded, the girl stepped in front of him and warned in a low voice:

“Mister, just watch my back!”

Then, on the girl’s delicate hands, smoothly-

A large, heavy double-barrel shotgun appeared, completely at odds with her appearance.

—