Chapter 75: These days, I would believe even if NPCs were real people

“The virtual reality game I… I dreamed of… is here…!”

In the private VR Chat channel, ‘Witch Rosy’s Workshop’.

In the virtual space dyed violet, Jina and Rosy were monitoring Summer’s broadcast.

“It’s been my dream since I was young… to make a game like ‘Sword Master Online’…”

Rosy muttered in a hoarse voice.

“It’s just the level of having barely taken the first step, but… feeling like I’ve gotten even a little closer to that dream… is touching… sob!”

Unlike Rosy, who looked like she might cry any second, Jina’s expression was indifferent.

“Still, it’s fortunate that it’s running well without critical bugs. Ah, wait. The campfire flame effect’s RGB value looks strange. Was there a problem with the color channel settings?”

“Wow… Jina-, you pay incredible attention to detail.”

Rosy clicked her tongue and laughed.

Still, Rosy was a lowercase ‘f’ (feeling type) who understood the minds of ‘T’s (thinking types) somewhat.

“This much isn’t a big problem, is it? Everyone’s busy focusing on Yoo Da-hee, they won’t be analyzing the flame color…”

“First of all, I saw it. And someone might just stare blankly at the fire there.”

Saying one must be meticulous to create a more ‘realistic’ world, Jina narrowed her eyes.

“If you’re so concerned about realism, why did you put a king-size brand-new bed in that inn room? Isn’t that breaking the setting?”

“But it was enjoyable, wasn’t it? It’s producing good content too.”

“…That’s true. Nyahahaha~”

It’s sudden, but Jina isn’t someone obsessed with photorealism.

If she were, she wouldn’t have made avatars like Hana or Seasons in an animation style in the first place.

If realism is the 1st priority.

Then fun and sexiness are the 0th priority.

“Anyway…”

Rosy turned her gaze back to the broadcast screen.

“Summer-nim plays the game really deliciously~ Over-immersion, it’s spot on?”

“That’s Summer’s charm. Unadorned, easygoing, honest. Above all, sincere in everything.”

Just then, Summer was singing a song for Yoo Da-hee.

Her pitch was unbelievably clear for an a cappella live performance.

“Watching her, I get drawn in too and lose track of time~”

“Actually, I once put on Summer’s broadcast as background music for work, but ended up not working at all and just watching the stream.”

It wasn’t just Jina and Rosy who were absorbed in Summer’s broadcast.

[-Crazy, was Summer always this good at singing??]

[-What’s the title of this song 1 try What’s the title of this song 2 try What’s the title of this song 3 try…]

[-But am I the only one whose singing voice sounds familiar?? Why does it feel like I’ve heard it before???]

[-Seriously the vibe is insane]

[-Anyone not boarding the SummerDahee coin ship??]

[-Streamer! Quickly open donations!! Take my money!! And communicate!!]

The viewers, already well over ten thousand, were also cheering enthusiastically for Summer.

Crying, laughing, waving glow sticks.

“Hiya~ The song really has feeling. I love it so much… I have no regrets even if I die now…”

“Ah, if I knew this would happen, maybe I should have added an instrument playing system…”

Just as Summer finished singing and Yoo Da-hee and the viewers were about to applaud, Rosy muttered in a downcast voice.

“Haaah. Seeing this makes it even more regrettable. I really should have forced myself to increase the number of ending routes.”

“You were the one, Rosy, who said let’s unify it into one ending with clear limitations, rather than making various ending routes and having the story get stuck due to branching complexities.”

“That’s true, but… watching Summer-nim’s play makes me greedy for no reason.”

More than anything, the fact that she knew the ‘ending’ of this story was incredibly disappointing.

If there had been multiple ending routes, there would at least have been the fun of wondering what choice Summer would make.

“Well, it’s still the test version. Rosy can just refine it well before the official release.”

“Heehee~ I should… Huh? Wait. Why only me??”

Rosy’s head snapped towards Jina.

“Weren’t we a team? Weren’t we kkanbu (close partners/friends from Squid Game)!!”

Despite Rosy’s sharp glare, Jina merely shrugged her shoulders.

“My work was only up to the test build. Besides, there’s not much left for me to do after this.”

“Uwaah- Too mean! Traitor!!”

Unlike Jina and Rosy, who were bickering back and forth.

On the screen, Summer and Yoo Da-hee were creating quite a tender atmosphere.

---

“Dahee, what about you? What do you want to do after saving the world?”

Summer, having finished singing, asked as she sat down next to Yoo Da-hee again.

Yoo Da-hee seemed to ponder, lowered her gaze slightly to the floor, then spoke with a lonely expression.

“I… just want to live normally. Settle down in some small village and grow fruits or something…”

“Still, you’re the Saintess who saved the world, isn’t it okay to live being revered a bit more?”

Living in a luxurious palace.

Eating lots of delicious food.

At Summer’s added words, Yoo Da-hee slowly shook her head.

“The happiest time was when I helped out at the orchard as a child. Taking care of the trees, picking ripe fruits and sharing them with people…”

The moment she heard her longing for such a peaceful, ordinary daily life.

Summer felt a strange heaviness in a corner of her chest.

The fact that the girl carrying the heaviest burden, that of a Saintess, most desired an extremely simple daily life felt inexplicably poignant.

“You’ll have a lot to do when you go back. Plowing the fields, planting new trees too. It’ll be tough.”

“Still, I think it would be less tough if you were with me, Summer. Hehe.”

Summer felt her heart drop for a moment.

Of course, she might have just said it casually.

But even that light remark felt sweet to Summer.

“Nyahaha~ Trying to boss me around when we get there?”

Summer deliberately threw a joke to lighten the slightly awkward mood.

“I probably won’t be much help even if I go. While you work hard, I’ll likely just be singing and playing around nearby.”

“Just having Summer by my side will be a great strength.”

“Hiya~ Our Saintess is good at brewing yuksu (flattering/charming).”

“Uh, huh?”

“It’s nothing. Just saying I might fall for you at this rate.”

“…!”

The two spent the long night exchanging trivial, heart-fluttering words.

‘NPCs these days, you’d believe they were real people.’

An unknown sense of responsibility and affection welled up from deep within Summer’s heart.

How many battles had they overcome together, how many conversations had they stacked up layer by layer.

Yoo Da-hee’s existence was.

More than just a game character.

---

As time passed, Summer and Yoo Da-hee became a team.

Summer appropriately used her bow and rapier to deal with enemies.

Yoo Da-hee used holy magic to reliably support Summer from behind.

The two’s adventure continued into deeper territories.

Collapsed ruins, a tower sealed with magic, underground passages near ruined royal palaces.

As they found the keys illuminating the path to the sanctuary one by one, the hidden secrets of this world were gradually revealed.

The problem was that the contents all hinted at an ominous sacrifice.

[The final key that illuminates the sanctuary shall be the Saintess’s soul.]

[There is no complete salvation without sacrifice.]

Every time such text appeared, Summer felt sick to her stomach.

[The door will open with the Saintess’s blood, and her soul will melt into the seal to save the world.]

On a scroll found in an old temple library, an even more direct sentence was written.

‘It’s just an old document.’

‘We don’t necessarily have to follow it.’

Although she tried hard to pretend it was nothing…

She couldn’t help feeling distressed.

“…”

Yoo Da-hee also showed no particular reaction, just giving a light smile at Summer’s words.

But Summer had noticed.

That Yoo Da-hee’s eyes had become increasingly detached since some point.

Like someone who had already accepted the ending.

‘A system where the world is saved only if the Saintess sacrifices herself…?’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ Summer denied it internally numerous times.

‘Still, this game… it’s about saving Yoo Da-hee, right?’

Summer pinned her hopes on the game’s title.

‘I just need to try harder.’

Summer clenched her teeth tightly and gathered clues more desperately, fighting battles more fiercely.

The adventure the two shared together.

Had long since deepened beyond simple fun into affection.

---

Finally, they arrived before the final boss.

A roar that seemed to shatter the world tore at their ears.

A huge wave of darkness surged with a fierce wind.

A dragon with crimson scales, looking as if it crawled out of hell, blocked the path before the sanctuary’s altar.

Its green, glistening eyes shone stickily like mucus.

Smoke-like black flames leaked from its fang-baring mouth.

The Dark Dragon.

Along with Yoo Da-hee, the only being set with fixed values in this world spread its wings wide.

The dragon, having already occupied the sanctuary, radiated its will to destroy the world with its entire body.

“Why the hell… Why is it the final boss already…!!”

Summer caught her breath, tightening her grip on the bow (controller).

She hadn’t found anything to turn the situation around yet.

At this rate, she would have no choice but to sacrifice the Saintess, Yoo Da-hee.

…But.

“I don’t know, yet.”

Thinking there might be some twist if she beats that dragon.

Summer drew the bowstring taut.