The Last Day of the Exhibition.
Visitors to Hanul Academy of Comprehensive Arts increased again. The number, which had dwindled during the weekdays, grew as the final day, Saturday, arrived.
Kim Minseo, as always, paid no attention to the other exhibits.
Her destination was always the same, The Sanctuary of Saint Chris.
The path leading to the sanctuary was livelier than ever. Yet, unlike other places, there was something unique about it. Initially, only three people had visited the exhibit, but the number had steadily grown over time.
While there were only about seven regular participants in the “adventure,” roughly thirty others would gather to chat with the saint and pass the time. Today, it seemed even they had come early.
The path to the sanctuary was abuzz with their chatter.
– “Saint! Can we take a photo with you?”
– “Of course.”
– “Saint, I’m leaving an apple here for you. Please take it later.”
– “Thank you.”
– “Chris! Cry for us!”
– “Huu… Waaaah…”
– “Hahaha! What is that! You really look like you’re crying!”
Hearing their voices, Kim Minseo was struck by the reality that today was the last day.
She sighed as she stepped into the sanctuary’s entrance.
“Haa…”
Her heart was filled with a strange mix of excitement and regret. She couldn’t believe a week had already passed. The thought of this adventure, which had become part of her daily life, coming to an end left her feeling heavy.
‘…So, today’s the last day.’
The magical routine of the past week.
Finishing work in the morning, taking a city bus, walking through Hanul’s campus, entering the sanctuary, greeting the regulars, embarking on adventures, occasionally welcoming newcomers, chatting with the saint, and then parting ways.
It was all so simple.
And yet, it was incredibly special.
But now, that time would come to an end.
“….”
With a heavy heart, Kim Minseo opened the door to the sanctuary.
– “Welcome, Kim Minseo, the Brave.”
“…Hello, Saint Chris.”
As Kim Minseo stepped inside, the saint, Chris, greeted her from the screen. Her smile was as bright as ever, but somehow, it seemed tinged with a hint of sadness.
‘No, I’m the only one who feels sad. I’m the only one leaving this extraordinary time behind.’
Kim Minseo gave a bittersweet smile and said, “I can’t believe today is the last day.”
– “I hope the adventure remains enjoyable until the very end.”
“It will be. I’m sure of it… enough to never forget it.”
– Is that so?
Though Chris’s face didn’t change, it felt as if she tilted her head slightly in curiosity.
“Hey! Kim’s here! Over here, over here!”
“Hello, noona.”
“Ajhussi, Woohyung-ah.”
Inside the sanctuary, Park Cheolsu and Choi Woohyung were already there.
Along with high school siblings Lee Yeoil and Lee Yeowol, elementary schooler Shim Hyunwoo, and fruit shop owner Jang Hongseo, others had also gathered in front of the (model) campfire.
The room was bustling like a waiting area.
Their eyes sparkled in the dim light like stars in the dark.
It was as if the scene truly belonged to the continent of Fantasia.
Perhaps this was, in reality, Kim Minseo’s true world.
“…..”
Kim Minseo slowly looked around at them.
Those who often participated in the adventures responded.
The Lee siblings waved enthusiastically.
“Oh, Minseo nuna’s here!”
“Minseo unni! Over here! We brought our little cousin again today!”
“Did you? Then let’s all have fun until the end.”
“Yeah!”
“Alright!”
Their little cousin, Shim Hyunwoo, shuffled his feet and shyly said,
“P-please take care of me.”
“Of course! Let’s have fun, Hyunwoo!”
Jang Hongseo handed her an apple with a warm smile.
“Our leader, Minseo, has arrived.”
“Haha, am I really the leader?”
“Of course. You’re our brave leader, aren’t you?”
Park Cheolsu spoke with an energetic voice, his face glowing with confidence gained from the week’s adventures.
“All the heroes are here now! I’ve got a feeling today’s adventure will be incredible.”
Choi Woohyung fiddled with his digital camera, offering his signature shy smile.
“I’ll take care of documenting everything again. This feels like a moment we need to preserve.”
And so, the seven brave adventurers gathered.
They stood before the [Book of Adventures], looking at the saint.
Saint Chris, with a solemn expression, seemed to take a deep breath.
Somehow… it felt as though her gaze met each of theirs. Though they couldn’t truly see through the screen, it was a feeling they could sense.
Like stars shining in the dark night, they simply felt it.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The group sat together by the (model) campfire, watching the final adventure unfold. In their eyes, too, starlight seemed to shimmer.
Saint Chris’s voice filled the room:
-Today marks the final adventure. Thank you to all the brave heroes gathered here. Over time, I’ve witnessed so much because of your courage. Across time and space, those who could not meet have come together. We’ve seen what could not be seen and touched what could not be touched. Yet the emotions here were real. Within this fiction, we found something genuine.
“…”
“…”
“…”
– “I… as the Saint… I found it truly beautiful.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere was more solemn than usual.
The first hero, Kim Minseo, carefully asked,
“What kind of story will today’s adventure be remembered as, Saint?”
Chris’s face changed to one of a gentle smile.
– “That depends on the choices of you brave heroes.”
*
The final adventure was on a different level. The heroes began their journey at the sanctuary of the Saintess, tasked with finding the ultimate Holy Grail hidden in the Dark Cavern.
A vast map, intricate puzzles, and powerful enemies stood in their way. Working together, they tackled each challenge one by one.
Kim Minseo, the leader, used her experience to devise strategies and guide the team.
“This path feels like a trap. Yeil, Yeowol, can you both use your thief skills to check it out?”
“Sure, sis! But let oppa go first.”
“What? Why me?”
The sibling thieves bickered but always provided crucial support when it counted. Park Cheolsu stood boldly before the occasionally clumsy pair, fearlessly defeating enemies.
“Haha! The level gap makes this way too easy—it’s almost boring!”
The bard Choi Woohyung and the wandering merchant Jang Hongseo supported the three combat-focused members from the rear. Meanwhile, the young clown Sim Hyunwoo had to reluctantly use the artifact they’d obtained.
“Ahhh?! Yeowol noona! I don’t want to! If a clown uses the Magical Girl Wand, they’ll be permanently turned into a girl! I don’t want to be a girl!”
“Want me to smack you into using it? Or will you use it willingly? It’s happening in the land of Fantasia—why do you care so much?”
“Still…! I just don’t want to be a girl!”
For some reason, the Saintess, who rarely inserted personal opinions into the GM narration, reacted.
…The transformation of a man into a woman could very well happen in the real world. Sim Hyunwoo, we honor your noble sacrifice.
“Saintess! Why are you saying such ominous things?!”
“Hahaha!”
At last, they reached the end of the Dark Cavern, where the final boss awaited. During the fierce battles in the cave, the sibling thieves, the magical girl, and the wandering merchant all fell.
The only ones left for the final showdown were the three original members. Blocking their way was an ancient demon whose name had been long forgotten.
“Kekeke, so it comes to this.”
“Well, I suppose this is what you’d call romantic.”
“Shall we roll the dice?”
In the climactic battle, Park Cheolsu fought valiantly, Choi Woohyung supported with music and healing magic, and Kim Minseo delivered precise judgments and devastating spells to lead the team to victory.
Gasping for breath, Kim Minseo shouted, “It’s… it’s done!! Eek!! A 16 on a d20—success!!”
…You’ve done it.
Chris spoke with a “smiling expression.”
-The Saintess witnessed the final miracle. The mana radiating from Mage Kim Minseo’s staff reached the mythical beast far away. With the desperate efforts of the knight and the bard exposing its vulnerable neck, the ‘Fireball’ struck with unerring accuracy. And thus, the demon, forgotten even in myths, was vanquished by the first human-created magic.
“!”
“!”
“!”
-Deep within the dark cavern, amidst the intense demonic lair, the golden chalice finally revealed itself. The Saintess grasped the chalice and understood.
“…”
“…”
“…”
-Our long journey was a success.
The golden chalice emoji appeared in the chat under Chris’s name. Seeing this, Kim Minseo raised her arms and shouted.
“We did it!!”
“Wow!”
“Yaaay!!”
Everyone in the room raised their arms and cheered. Some clapped, while others chuckled at the excitement around them.
-Today, this moment will be forever etched into the [Book of Adventures]… or rather, the Saintess’s memory.
“…!”
Hearing this, Choi Woohyung stepped back, overwhelmed by emotion. With slightly trembling hands, he held up a digital camera and captured the scene.
The Saintess standing among them in a dream-like glow.
People dancing with joy in their fantasy.
All of them sharing a gentle happiness in a kind illusion.
And that happiness was real.
“…”
-Click!
They laughed and chatted with the Saintess like this.
When the appointed time finally came, the Saintess began her farewell speech.
-I am so glad to have met you all. Thank you for accompanying me on this adventure, brave heroes.
Chris…the “girl who was once Chris”….stood up and bowed deeply. The sound of the microphone tapping her head softly filled the silence. With that, the music from the Saintess’s sanctuary ended.
A stillness enveloped the darkened room.
“…”
“…”
“…”
*
– We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the visitors who came to the Hanul Project Exhibition. We are…
“…”
“…”
“…”
Kim Minseo, Park Cheolsu, and Choi Woohyung stood at the top of the stairs, staring blankly at the evening sunset behind the Taesan Hall, where the sanctuary had been. Though they knew they had to make their way toward the front gate, their feet felt rooted in place.
Choi Woohyung murmured wistfully, “I thought that blonde student was the Saintess…”
“Oh, you mean that tiny student?”
As they exited the now-dark sanctuary, they had seen a petite blonde Caucasian girl carrying a broom to clean up. Thinking she might be “Chris,” the group had rushed over, only for her to exclaim, “Uh, I’m not Chris!” before running away.
Kim Minseo rested her chin on her hand and spoke thoughtfully.
“Hm, I don’t think that’s the case, Woohyung.”
“?”
“Yeah, her voice was way too different from the Saintess’s. Even if she tried to imitate that serene tone, it wouldn’t work.”
“?”
“Ah, so we never got to see the Saintess’s real face after all. It feels kind of disappointing. Sigh…”
“Really? I’m fine with it,” Woohyung replied.
He glanced at Kim Minseo, who was chuckling softly while holding the Book of Adventures. In her hands was the completed version, documenting their final quest.
“What matters is that we met her there. It doesn’t really matter who the Saintess actually was, right? Let’s just cherish these memories.”
“…”
But Woohyung had noticed the faint tear trickling down the corner of Minseo’s eye—a tiny droplet glinting in the light of the sunset.
“You’re right,” he said.
“…Yeah.”
Park Cheolsu grinned as he looked at the two of them.
“It’d be a shame for us to part ways just like this, don’t you think?”
“!”
“!”
“How about we grab a drink?”
“Sounds great!” Minseo giggled.
“Yes, I’m in too,” Woohyung said with a smile.
Exchanging contact information, the three began walking together toward the glowing horizon. They were determined to share the magic of the past week one last time.
“So, here’s what the Saintess said…!”
“Oh, no, my theory is that the Saintess actually meant…”
*
I staggered as I pulled the doorknob.
–Creak…
Then, the door to the small partitioned room behind the screen, where Saintess Chris appeared, opened.
When the scenery I had always seen beyond the camera unfolded before my eyes, I couldn’t help but shout.
“Ugh… Freedom!”
Ah.
I’m going to collapse.
This is so unbelievably exhausting.
‘My voice is completely hoarse, and staying up every night has left me utterly drained… If I push myself even a little more, I might actually die.’
In the end, I slumped down in a corner of Saintess Chris’s sanctuary.
“Hah… Respect to all VTubers…”
I hadn’t been able to shower for days, and my entire body reeked. I think I had been wearing my gym clothes for the entire week. My hair was tied up, but only because leaving it down was even more bothersome.
I closed my eyes in the dim sanctuary.
“…”
I did it.
In the end, I managed to revive something resembling a VTuber.
I made something nonexistent come into existence.
I achieved what I had wanted through this project.
“…”
But that was all.
‘In the end, it was a complete failure in terms of popularity.’
Of course, it wasn’t surprising. Who would expect a student exhibit with no budget to gain any traction?
But for this project exhibition, commercial appeal seemed to be a key evaluation criterion.
Professor Ahn Sooyoung had told me right before the exhibition began.
-“Hana, Mari, and Yujin’s exhibits will be evaluated by representatives from the art fair. They’ll probably assess whether there’s commercial potential.”
-“The art fair…?”
-“Yeah. Well, if you’re concerned about that, you could display your paintings in another exhibition space for a solo show instead.”
-“…”
I ended up refusing.
Thanks to that decision, Mari and Yujin-sunbae had already received invitations to participate in the art fair, while I became completely irrelevant.
‘Compared to the thousands or even tens of thousands of visitors to their exhibits, mine was small and insignificant. Plus, the theme of my project wasn’t exactly suited for commercialization.’
So my participation in the art fair was postponed… or more accurately, outright declined.
Instead, I stayed in my little corner, continuing my modest exhibition.
“…”
The VTuber project that had entangled countless people ended with no results.
It was a fitting conclusion for someone who had chosen to stray from the safe path.
“…”
However, at least my conscience was clear.
“…”
For the first time…
I wrote not the story of Ko Hoon,
but the story of Ko Hana.
That alone made me feel deeply satisfied.
‘…Let’s rest for a while until Mija, Juri, and Mari arrive.’
Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep just like that.
“People…”
It was only a brief nap.
But it was the best rest I’d had in a long time.
That day, I had a wonderful dream.
In the dream, I went on adventures in the land of Fantasia with Kim Minseo, Park Chulsoo, Choi Woohyung, Lee Yeoil, Lee Yeowol, Shim Hyunwoo, and Jang Hongseo.
In that world, I was Saintess Chris.
*
Choi Woo-hyung, still slightly tipsy, finished writing his blog post. A smile lingered on his lips as he reminisced about the memories.
–Tap tap tap… Clack!
“Phew, I should go wash up.”
On the monitor he left behind, notifications of real-time comments were popping up.
The post Woohyung had uploaded was a witty recounting of the previous Adventurer’s Chronicle.
The story of people embarking on adventures with a virtual saintess received unexpectedly high praise.
The photos and videos attached to the post vividly captured the intense emotions exchanged with the virtual saintess. Though it had only lasted a week, it left traces that might remain unforgettable for a lifetime.
And soon, the stories on that blog began spreading to foreign sites. They were actively translated by international TRPG fandoms.
*
One day, a post with a photo and the following title appeared on a Japanese website:
“Was Korea an Otaku Holy Land? (LOL)”
– Loving 2D isn’t just for Japan w
The photo showed people laughing and crying alongside cute anime characters on a TV screen. Japanese users, perceiving it as a humorous overseas subculture worship ritual, eagerly shared the content.
– “Huh? I heard this was a school exhibition.”
– “An otaku worship ceremony at school? ww Koreans are pretty into it too ww”
As the interest grew,
the exact origin of the photo… and, thanks to a few translations, the detailed story behind it began to spread.
108) “I only read a few translated entries, but I cried.”
109) “If you’re an otaku, there’s no way you won’t cry at this.”
110) “Can someone translate this whole thing?”
112) “To 110<<< There’s a full translated version linked here.”
134) “To 112<<< …I read it all and cried.”
135) “Which school did this happen at? Was it a club activity?”
136) “Who knows?”
Foreign websites even slightly interested in TRPG (Tabletop Role-Playing Games) were ecstatic about the story. Slowly but surely, interest in the event began to build in a place where the involved individuals had no idea they were becoming a topic of fascination.