episode_0002

Episode 1: Deal.

From the long darkness emerged a chilling cold.

Having a habit of falling asleep in corners, it was a familiar occurrence.

However, the weather greeted me with a coldness beyond imagination.

“Ugh…”

A clear, immature voice.

It should be morning, about to wake up and split.

It was a distinct, clear sound.

Awkward yet familiar body.

The moment I realized I had woken up in a different world.

A sound that awakened any doubts.

The notification sound passed through my mind.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah…?”

“Luckily. No issues.”

I blinked.

Even when I closed and opened my eyes.

The hologram in front of me did not disappear.

“What is this…”

“Do you not remember?”

Gradually, memories resurfaced.

I had made a deal when I was about to commit suicide on the Han River.

A world where genders were reversed. Yes, it was a world of reversed genders.

As if the fog clouding my mind was dissipating.

A refreshing and clear sensation emerged.

Though in my twenties, the alcohol-soaked brain vanished.

A clean brain untouched by alcohol.

I had a sound mind and a healthy body.

“Haha, it was real.”

A hollow laugh escaped.

Looking at my hands, the body from my past life was no more.

The hardened skin softened, the voice cracked by tears and alcohol was gone.

“It might be a bit painful.”

“What…?”

A throbbing pain pierced through my head.

It wasn’t just a simple headache.

A new world.

New information.

The original name and age of this body.

What kind of life I lived and what life I had to lead.

Everything came flooding back.

“Haa, haa…”

“I will now explain the details of the deal.”

“No, what is this…”

Words rose to my lips but couldn’t spill over.

Recalling the conversation with her, the woman right before my death.

She clearly mentioned a deal.

Although she promised to let me live an easy life, she didn’t reveal what she wanted in return.

It was a story I should have naturally questioned, but I didn’t question the absurdity.

Who could have known I would face death and come to another world?

My head grew cold.

I recalled reality and assessed my situation.

I didn’t know much about her identity or powers, but one thing was certain.

I woke up in her world.

I had already started an inevitable deal with unknown demands.

Fear crept in.

Did she sense my apprehension?

The hologram, that is, the deity, sent me a reassuring message.

“Don’t worry. It’s something you can do.”

“What does that mean…”

“Please help me.”

“…?”

Doubt arose.

No, doubt was inevitable.

Why would something all-knowing send me here and ask for help?

“I will explain it in an understandable way. This world runs on points, World Points (WP).”

The hologram’s sentences began to appear.

Reading carefully, I understood the content.

It resembled something from a game.

In summary.

This world is maintained by World Points (WP).

The woman, referred to as the administrator and deity, brought me here to prevent the world’s collapse.

The deal was this.

I earn WP to save the world, and in return, she provides a comfortable life within the saved world.

Simple yet lingering doubts remained.

So, how do I earn world points?

She answered.

[Emotions.]

“…?”

[There are women with important souls. Amplify their emotions to earn points.]

“Amplify?”

[The greater the change in emotions, the more extreme the deviation, the better. Make them unhappy, wretched. Drive them to madness.]

“What about happiness?”

[That’s possible too. However, human happiness is predetermined. It will dull and become familiar.]

“So, what are you saying?”

“Don’t you already know?”

It wasn’t a voice, just a simple statement.

But those words pierced my heart like a dagger.

Naturally, countless past memories surfaced—pain, suffering, and fleeting pleasures.

“Ha, hahaha… Hahaha!”

A bitter laugh escaped.

Memories of what happened on the Han River Bridge resurfaced.

An answer to the question, “Why me?”

[I think you’ll do well. You look like the right person.]

Now I understand the reason.

I knew best how to hurt the lover I loved.

Because I had experienced it myself.

Endlessly regretting, trying to understand her actions and psyche.

Ruminating over things.

“A selfish life?”

“Don’t like it?”

I had lived my whole life as a pushover.

Always kind, always helping others.

But maybe it’s okay to be a bit selfish?

In a brief moment of contemplation, my first hint of selfishness emerged.

A kind of rebellion, a declaration of change within me.

“Why should I? What reason do I have to agree to this deal?”

Even the hologram fell silent.

Not even a word was spoken.

The hologram itself didn’t materialize.

About five seconds passed.

“Shout ‘remaining time,’ or just think about it.”

“…Remaining time?”

[3 months, 4 days, 25 minutes, 15 seconds]

Curses flowed from my lips.

What is this? Is what I’m thinking correct?

Doubts and anxieties fit all too well.

“It’s your lifespan.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“You agreed to the deal.”

“And…”

The hologram seemed a bit off.

As if emotions were visible.

The administrator, she.

Seemed hesitant.

“To bring you here, many points were used. As an outsider of this world… ”

“…?”

Was it okay for the hologram to be frustrating?

It felt like watching an incompetent subordinate.

“Including maintenance costs… and also…”

“Don’t beat around the bush.”

“It’s your remaining time in this world.”

“What happens when it runs out?”

“The soul returns to its original world.”

“What about my body in the original world? Don’t say it. I already know.”

It would be submerged in cold water.

I knew the end of life.

I cupped my eyes with both hands.

The headache was gone, but a sense of unease crept in with the increasing thoughts.

Eventually.

I decided to think lightly.

“Damn… To survive, I need to earn points.”

A sigh escaped.

Suddenly becoming a debtor felt familiar.

It was the same in my past life.

Thinking lightly did bring a strange sense of ease, but given the circumstances.

I decided not to view it negatively.

If I hadn’t met her, I would have surely committed suicide.

A life already lost. Pursuing a comfortable life as she suggested seems right.

Before that, there was something I needed to confirm.

“When do I have to repay? Surely you’re not asking me to earn points for a lifetime?”

It was the most crucial point.

From the debtor’s perspective, the most important thing to consider is whether they have the money to repay.

As someone who had borrowed forcibly, it was essential to make sure.

[The world is in an unstable state. If we stabilize…]

“How much?”

His tongue felt heavy.

He was extremely anxious.

[It’s 500,000 WP.]

“Sigh…”

A significant figure, without a doubt.

He was uncertain.

Not knowing how many points he could earn immediately, it was challenging to gauge when he could repay all of it and to what extent.

“If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be by your side at all times.”

“Thank you very much.”

It was a reassuring statement.

There were still many things he was curious about.

“Important souls? How do you differentiate them? Any tips? You should know since you’re the administrator. Like some insider tips.”

[Ask questions step by step…]

“Quickly!”

“A woman with an important soul is someone close to you. Starting from your sister, to women who are becoming closer to you.”

“It’s vague.”

“Let me tell you first.”

“…Got it.”

“You’ll probably do well. Even if you don’t have an obsession…”

“Insider tips!”

“Oh, I see.”

Do people really have to shout to be heard?

The frustrating administrator was a lady this time?

In the midst of other thoughts, the hologram that appeared was hard to comprehend with a clear mind.

[Sex, that is.]

“What… did you say?”

The hologram appeared a beat late.

Similar words, but it was a declaration.

Surely there’s no need to feel embarrassed, right?

“Normal sexual relations are not allowed. The more you amplify a woman’s emotions, the more points you accumulate, harvesting through relationships…”

Her words became longer due to embarrassment.

In short, replicating what I experienced would suffice.

That could be summed up in one sentence.

And sex was a bonus.

It was said that negative emotions would yield more points.

Being passive rather than taking the lead would be more effective.

Numerous scenarios flashed through his mind.

Feeling incredulous at himself, he let out a hollow laugh.

As she had said,

I was someone suitable for earning points.

The conclusion was drawn.

I.

Had to be exploited to survive.