– The next stop is Hanul Main Gate, Hanul Main Gate Station.
“…!”
Kim Minseo, an ordinary office worker, hurriedly pressed the stop button and got off the bus. She had been listening to music on her MP3 player and almost missed her stop.
It was a rare Saturday outing, and she couldn’t afford to waste time due to a mistake.
Normally, she would have spent her time playing computer games, but her parents, who disapproved of her staying cooped up at home even on weekends, nagged her enough that she decided to go out.
‘They’re already starting to give me those looks, wondering when I’m going to get married…’
The moment she stepped off the bus, she was captivated by the sight before her.
“Wow…”
The view of Hanul Comprehensive Art School was stunning.
Under the blue sky, white buildings stood clustered like a small village. The trees in the green gardens swayed gently in the spring breeze.
At the front gate, a white fountain bubbled in the plaza where numerous people bustled about.
On a banner fluttering in the wind above the main gate, bold letters caught her eye:
『Welcome, visitors to the Exhibition Week! – From all at Hanul Comprehensive Art School.』
The exhibition week, lasting for one week, was the reason why the school’s tightly closed gates had been opened to outsiders. News of the event had drawn a crowd, turning the scene into something that felt like a festival.
“…”
Having graduated from ordinary schools from elementary to university and then settling into a regular job, Kim Minseo found this scenery enchanting…like something out of a European street.
Not that she had ever been to Europe in her thirty years of life.
Still, it was romantic enough to give her that impression.
“…It’s so beautiful.”
As if mesmerized, Kim Minseo walked through the gates and began exploring here and there. The air buzzed with the sounds of people chatting.
“Where was the Hanmari exhibition again?”
“I think they said it’s in Building A, some hall. Hold on.”
“By the way, where should we eat lunch?”
“They said they opened a cafeteria for visitors during the exhibition week.”
“Oh Yukon? Who’s that? Is she famous?”
“Ah~ she was the most… before Hanmari came along…”
-Currently in Galaxy Hall, Building A, a choral performance by music students is underway…
From sculptures and paintings to street performances, the works were so sophisticated and beautiful that it was hard to believe students had created them. The faint sound of the choir’s performance in the distance added an even deeper emotional touch to the atmosphere.
*
The enchantment wore off two hours later.
The school was simply too vast to explore comfortably, and Kim Minseo’s legs felt like they were about to give out.
“Ugh…”
She stumbled into an unfamiliar auditorium with tired steps. This place was relatively quiet compared to the bustling areas she had visited earlier. In an effort to avoid crowded spots, she had somehow ended up here.
‘I nearly suffocated following the crowd earlier… I always regret going along with others.’
Kim Minseo thought back to what had just happened.
Having no particular knowledge or appreciation of art, she had followed the largest crowd, assuming they were heading to something worth seeing.
That happened to be the exhibition of the geniuses who had made headlines across South Korea. She regretted it almost immediately.
The crowd was overwhelming, and even after looking at the artwork, she couldn’t understand what was so special about it.
‘Everyone was taking pictures and admiring it, but what’s so great about that painting?’
<Title: The Sensation of Time Passing>
– Artist: Han Mari
“….”
She felt guilty thinking this about someone often hailed as a genius on TV, but beyond the large lines and colorful patterns, she couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the artwork. She actually preferred a short sketch sitting next to it.
‘At least what Oh Yukon drew was more enjoyable to look at.’
<Title: The 108 Monks>
– Artist: Oh Yukon
“….”
Again, she felt guilty, but no matter how realistically the faces were drawn, she couldn’t see how it was significantly better than a photograph. It felt like a harsh adult perspective, but that was her genuine impression.
After visiting the two most popular exhibitions, Kim Minseo was utterly exhausted and drifted into a quieter area.
“This place is so peaceful.”
Unlike the other locations packed with displays, this dim auditorium contained only obligatory exhibits….things like a timeline of the school’s history or hastily made posters. To her, this felt more like a school festival.
‘Hah, I bet these are from kids who were forced by their teachers to submit something. Even in a school for geniuses, there must be a lot of kids like that.’
For some reason, she felt a sense of camaraderie. The passive and unremarkable students felt more relatable than the dominant geniuses.
As she ventured further inside, the hallway grew darker and darker.
“?”
Eventually, at the end of the hallway, she came across a dark room. On the entrance, a sign read:
<Title: The Sanctuary of Saint Chris>
“Sanctuary of Saint Chris…? What is this place…?”
As if drawn in, Kim Minseo stepped inside.
-♬
The faint sound of medieval fantasy music played in the background.
“…”
The scenery of the dim room was truly bizarre.
Aside from a computer desk in the center and a few large TV screens on the walls, the atmosphere was steeped in darkness.
On the TV screens, the face of a female RPG game character was displayed.
Scattered around the room were items like a mysterious book and a die, along with props such as cushions and a fake campfire.
The arrangement strangely resembled a character selection screen in an RPG game.
To someone like Kim Minseo, who loved gaming, it was a scene that felt incredibly familiar.
“…What is this? A game-themed studio…?”
Following the dim light from the TV screens, she approached and picked up the thick book. Its soft leather cover bore an ominous and intriguing title.
[Book of Adventure]
“…What is this, an RPG game or something…”
At that moment, a woman’s voice came from nearby.
– “Welcome, chosen hero. I am Saint Chris, from another world.”
“?!”
Startled, Kim Minseo looked toward the source of the voice. It came from the large TV that had been glowing earlier.
The previously expressionless silver-haired female character on the screen—designed to look like a healer, perhaps—was now smiling faintly.
‘Her expression changed…?’
– “It’s a pleasure to meet you, chosen hero. As I mentioned, I am ‘Saint Chris,’ from another world. First, let me welcome you to this place. This is a sanctuary where lost heroes gather…”
“…”
As the dialogue continued, the character’s expression shifted naturally in sync with the words. Though Kim Minseo prided herself on her rationality, she quickly came to a conclusion.
“A motion detection sensor, huh? Geez, that scared me…”
– “…Hero? Could you open the Book of Adventure?”
“By the way, which game is this character from? I’ve played just about every major game, but I’ve never seen a character like this before…”
– “Hero?”
“Is it from a Japanese RPG? It looks familiar, somehow…”
– Ahem. “Hero? This isn’t fake. I am genuinely seeing and speaking with you.”
Kim Minseo chuckled at the mildly irritated tone in Chris’s voice.
It was a classic gimmick.
‘Games use this kind of gimmick all the time… At times like this, it’s only polite to play along.’
Smiling to herself, Kim Minseo muttered, “Oh, I see… My name’s Kim Minseo. Nice to meet you, Chris.”
– “I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hero Kim Minseo.”
“…?”
– “…?”
Silence.
“…?”
Then, shock.
Kim Minseo flinched violently.
“What the heck?!”
Chris’s expression suddenly shifted to one of confusion and disbelief.
– “You didn’t know? You didn’t respond intentionally…?”
*
“Ah, so Chris is originally a student at Hanul High?”
…
Chris’s expression quickly shifted to one of sternness.
– “Warrior Minseo Kim, please follow the rules written in the Adventurer’s Codex. Also, the Saintess is cut off from the mortal world the moment she receives her divine mission…”
Minseo Kim sheepishly brushed off the Saintess’s scolding.
“Oh~ Sorry, sorry! Anyway, I’ll roll the dice now.”
– “….yes”
– Rattle!
Minseo Kim grinned triumphantly.
“Yes! I got an 11 with my two six-sided dice!”
– That means Warrior Minseo Kim’s ‘Fireball’ will definitely hit. The Saintess admired the brilliance of your magic, which shone like the sun even in the dark night.
“I’ll aim the spell, not at the Goblin Chief, but beneath the watchtower.”
– Beneath… the watchtower?
“Yeah, that way, the tower will collapse, and everything will tumble down. Instead of picking off the goblins one by one, I can wipe them all out at once by altering the terrain.”
…
Chris’s expression quickly changed to one of surprise.
– The Saintess was amazed by Warrior Minseo Kim’s wisdom. The watchtower of the Ashen Fortress, where the goblins had hidden, crumbled under the warrior’s magic. We ventured beneath it to retrieve the ‘Holy Grail’ stolen by the goblins. Today’s adventure was a success.
Chris’s face appeared on the screen.
A small golden goblet emoji popped up above the chat window.
Minseo Kim looked at it and asked,
“Is that the ‘Holy Grail’?”
– “Yes. The Saintess is gathering the seven Holy Grails scattered across the continent of Fantasia with the help of the warriors. Magician Minseo Kim, you have retrieved one of them. It was a truly splendid adventure.”
“Hehe… Back in my university club days, I played a lot of TRPGs. That experience really came in handy.”
– “Do you enjoy games, Warrior Minseo Kim?”
“Yeah, I’ve been obsessed—hmm, I mean, I’ve really enjoyed RPGs since I was young. Thanks to them, I even studied English and Japanese.”
– …You have more dedication than my friend.
Chris’s casual comment caught Minseo Kim off guard, and he decided to tease the Saintess, who had been so strict about the rules earlier.
“Oh? Does Fantasia have English and Japanese too?”
– Pardon me. A memory from a past life slipped out.
“Hehe…”
Minseo Kim found the Saintess’s oddly cute demeanor quite endearing.
‘Her voice is so young, but her overly mature speech creates such an amusing contrast…’
She truly resembled a naive Saintess straight out of a fantasy game. Perhaps it was because Minseo had never seen her real appearance, but “Saintess Chris” had already taken on a semi-real presence in his mind.
‘The more I play, the more it feels like a real adventure.’
Above all, the atmosphere of the room, decorated in a medieval fantasy style, only added to the immersive experience. It genuinely felt like he was embarking on adventures with the Saintess in his dreams.
Minseo Kim addressed Chris on the screen again, almost reflexively.
“Saintess, can we play the next round too?”
– Hmm…
Truthfully, Minseo wasn’t that curious about TRPGs. He just wanted an excuse to keep talking to the adorable Saintess.
Chris’s expression quickly changed to one of hesitation.
– Hmm, the next section isn’t ready yet… uh, the next divine revelation hasn’t arrived.
“Hehe… Then, shall we just chat?”
– Sure. Listening to the warriors’ stories is part of a saintess’s duty.
“Hmm, Saintess, do you have a favorite food?”
Chris’s face quickly changed to a confident expression.
– The saintess enjoys a breakfast of white bread and coffee. Adding ham and sausages makes it truly heavenly.
“My, that sounds so luxurious. Isn’t that a bit inappropriate for a monastery?”
Chris’s face instantly shifted to a blank expression.
“…Ahem, ahem. The saintess made a slip. That was from a past life.”
“Hehe…”
*
Minseo Kim, half-reclining on a cushion, was deep in casual chatter with Chris when a second guest arrived in the dimly lit room.
The newcomer was a middle-aged man in his 40s, with thinning hair and a flushed face that hinted at daytime drinking.
Park Chulsoo, slurring slightly, spoke up.
“Wh-what is this? Isn’t this a lounge…?”
“!”
– !
*
Chulsoo Park sat next to Minseo Kim, gulped down some bottled water, and spoke.
“Ah, back in the day, I was pretty into games too, you know! Our guild? Oh, it was legendary! We held the number one spot in the biggest server’s rankings for a whole month! Back then, I even went grinding like crazy just to get the Assassin’s Longsword.”
– The Saintess was deeply impressed by Chulsoo Park the Hero’s passion.
“Wow, so you were really serious about gaming too, huh, Mister?”
“Well… everyone grows older and ends up with so many expenses, so I had to quit eventually.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s how people gradually move on.”
“Haha, isn’t that the truth.”
Perhaps it was the alcohol, or the quiet empathy of the two young women, but Chulsoo found himself sharing thoughts he usually kept to himself. With a wistful expression, he murmured,
“At one point, I used to daydream about being a great hero after reading martial arts novels. Then, I wanted to become a lord in the games I played. But now? Now I’m just a washed-up guy who got laid off from work…”
“….”
Minseo could relate to his words. She didn’t say anything, but her silence conveyed her agreement.
– In the Saintess’s eyes, Chulsoo Park the Hero still appears as a courageous man fighting against the trials of reality.
“…Haha, isn’t that something.”
Chulsoo’s ears flushed at the Saintess’s words of comfort on the screen. He had never heard such words in real life before.
Minseo suddenly made a suggestion to Chris.
“Saintess! You know that role-playing game I was doing alone earlier… the TRPG? Could we try it again, but this time with Mister Chulsoo and at a higher difficulty?”
“What, what…? TRPG? What’s that?”
On the screen, Chris’s expression shifted to one of excitement.
– The Saintess eagerly accepts the challenge posed by the Heroes.
*
Chulsoo Park shouted boldly,
“You goblins! Taste the sword of this knight!”
– Before the Saintess’s eyes, the sword of Knight Chulsoo Park shone brilliantly. With a strike fiercer than that of the Empire’s Sword Masters, five goblins were slain instantly.
Minseo Kim turned to Woohyung Choi, a twenty-something unemployed man who had somehow joined as the third member.
“Woohyung, now it’s your turn to bring the key.”
“Ah, so this is the kind of game it is. Got it now.”
At first hesitant and awkward, he finally seemed to be getting the hang of the game.
– The Bard Woohyung Choi unlocked the final treasure chest of the Ashen Fortress with the key. The Saintess witnessed it. Inside lay the radiant Holy Grail.
When Mage Minseo Kim placed the Grail on the magic circle she had prepared, it was safely transported to the most secure location.
Your adventure was a success.
Golden goblet emojis appeared again in the chat window beneath Chris’s screen. Each reacted in their own way upon seeing it.
“Wow!”
“Hehe…”
“Oh…”
Just then, a distant announcement echoed.
– The exhibition will close in 10 minutes. Visitors are advised to…
“Ah.”
“Oh.”
“Hmm.”
A hint of disappointment crossed all their faces.
Chris’s expression shifted to a warm smile.
– Don’t worry. Your adventure is recorded in the [Book of Adventures]. The journey will continue tomorrow. The Saintess will be here, waiting for you Heroes again.
“!”
“!”
“!”
Minseo Kim, Chulsoo Park, and Woohyung Choi felt as if they were under a spell. And then, they all made up their minds.
‘…I have to come back tomorrow.’