Creating Hidden Endings - Chapter 4

A month after entering the game, I know that Lee Jehee, who is in front of me, became a hero who blocked the outbreak by killing the final boss in the game, the Keymaster. Whenever I turned on the TV, articles, and news about him poured out, so I couldn’t help but know even if I didn’t want to know. Even in the entertainment information program, it was noisy about Lee Jehee. 

Despite this, many were enthusiastic about Lee Jehee and paid a lot of attention to him. I’m curious whether he was ever included in textbooks as the hero who saved Korea.

He wasn’t the hero from the movies or the fantasy hero in a suit with money. He is a living legend, a living hero.

“There’s no way it doesn’t work. You can just do what you normally do.”

But why is that great hero doing this to me? 

“The way I normally do—”

“Put me to sleep.” 

“—Do you have insomnia?”

“There’s that, too.” 

So it’s not just insomnia. I frowned secretly at the prediction that Lee Jehee would be very annoying, and then let go of my expression and said. 

Yeah, I’m a slow person. 

“But as you know, my level is low and my ability level is only C-class. Whether I can do well—I’m being honest with you because I think it’s better to recognize someone else.” 

I didn’t refuse because I don’t want to help him, but I sincerely made eye contact with him with the meaning of saying it purely out of concern for him. 

Of course, I didn’t want to do that, either. When a powerless person learns the secrets of high-ranking people, their lifespan will be shortened, and they will be shot even if they stand still. I couldn’t have known it if I hadn’t read several films and novels when I was young.

“It’s possible because of Yeon Seonwoo-ssi. Usually, status effects are abilities that belong to attack skills, not secondary skills. So, it doesn’t work for me. Because I have a high defense and resistance, I don’t get the effects of many skills. On the other hand, the supporter’s ability is It can be used regardless of resistance, like a ‘heal’ that can be used to anyone.”

It was only after listening to Lee Jehee that I realized why I was brought here. The status effect that usually gives a sleep effect was often attached to the attack skill. And if it was an attack skill, there was no way Lee Jehee could accept it. 

The supporter had a buff that removed status effect and increased attack power, defense power, and movement speed. On the other hand, ‘This Yeon Seonwoo’ had a skill that caused status effects as a buff even though he was a supporter. This is because he was a supporter in the primary character, but became a mentalist in the secondary character through a job change.

Mentalists belonging to an extremely rare class did not have the general skills required in the dungeon. Even if there was, the effect was very insignificant compared to other supporters.

It’s a rare class, but it can mean it’s not a good job. One glance at the skill window reveals why Yeon Seonwoo gave up his job as a hunter and set up a clinic with such a strange name. 

If a job like this really appeared in the game, I would have abandoned it and created a new character because it was a ruined job. As such, it was a completely useless job in battle. I think it’s perfect for the ability Lee Jehee wants. 

“So— What Hunter Lee Jehee wants is a sleeping effect?” 

“Yes.”

The man’s answer was very firm. That Chorok jerk standing behind him didn’t do as he was told, and his eyes were gleaming as if I was doing something. How much can I do in this situation? 

“Shall we get started?” 

“…Yes.”

There was only one answer I could give to Lee Jehee. It was the only way now.

*****

After the conversation, which was no different from threats, Lee Jehee brought me to a different place connected to the office. 

The place where there was only one chair in the hazy mood seemed like a resting place that had been made on purpose. Perhaps it is a place where he can stop by and take a break when he’s tired from work. 

“Then I’ll start. Please relax and close your eyes.” 

I followed Lee Jehee, and I stood still and looked at the dark space unfamiliarly. Meanwhile, Lee Jehee was lying on the recliner chair in a very comfortable position. 

As I approached the side of it, that Chorok jerk who I didn’t know was following drew out his sword again with a cool roaring sound. 

They said he’s a berserker, and he pulls out his sword even if he takes a deep breath. 

“Don’t do something nonsense.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not the kind of person who can do that.”

“I hope you don’t forget that I’m watching you.” 

Do you think I’ll forget? When you’ve got such a powerful presence?

Again, looking at the sword that was about digging under my neck, I raised my hands in a sign of injustice. Han Chorok still didn’t like it, so he just stared fiercely. Perhaps, if Lee Jehee didn’t open his mouth with his characteristic relaxed tone, he would have been doing that for a while. 

“Chorok-ah, you should go out and work comfortably.”

“But—”

“It’s okay, so get out.”

“—Yes.”

After hearing the clear orders, Han Chorok looked at me with a dissatisfied expression. The one who told him to leave is Lee Jehee, so why is this kid chasing me? 

Because I’m the easiest one to deal with. 

The obvious attitude was ridiculous, so I just forced myself to smile. However, despite my good and harmless smile, he couldn’t erase the light of doubt.

“I’ll be waiting outside. If you need anything, please call me.” 

Han Chorok looked at Lee Jehee with regretful eyes and left the room. While staring at his droopy shoulders pitifully, I glanced down at the laughter that was heard from below. Lee Jehee, who was sitting with his back bent as much as he could, was making a sound of laughter. 

I didn’t know what to say in this atmosphere, so I chose the most ordinary word and said it. 

“You must have a good relationship with him.”

“He’s extraordinary and bothersome. But he’s also cute.” 

“….”

This bastard got a lot of swear words in the game for flirting unintentionally regardless of gender— Is he really such a natural person? 

Lee Jehee seemed a bit crazy when he talked about how cute a grown man was. However, at the sight of him opening his closed eyes, he quickly put on a sullen expression. Seeing my mouth wide open as if I was going to make a sound like hehe, Lee Jehee narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“How long are you going to be like that?”

“Oh, yes. Then, let’s get started.”

“Yeah.”

If I make even the smallest mistake from now on, I’ll end up with a bloody lump like someone I saw not long ago. With a trembling heart, I returned to the back of the chair where Lee Jehee was lying and took a deep breath without a sound. 

I couldn’t even be sure how much my abilities would work for Lee Jeehee. However, no matter how much the difference in grade was, the healer’s heal was bound to go in, so it wouldn’t be ineffective at all. 

As he said, the effect of the offensive skill differs greatly depending on the opponent’s defense and status effect resistance, but it was common for the abilities of the buff type to not be limited by such things. 

With trembling hands, I placed my hand near Lee Jehee’s face and placed the tip of my finger on his temple side. In that state, when the skill ‘state transition’ was activated, a long status window appeared in the field of vision. 

[Preparing state transition. Please set the status to be transferred.]

I touched Lee Jehee’s forehead with one hand and looked at the set value window that rose along with the other. Perhaps because most hunters who visit the clinic often complain of insomnia, the letter ‘Sleep’ was seen at the top of the set value window. When I chose it without hesitation, the skill was activated as in the game. 

[Activate the state transition skill. It gives ‘sleep’ state according to the setting value.]

At the same time as the skill is activated, warm energy gathers at my fingertips. Feeling the energy flowing through the opponent’s skin, I lowered my gaze and looked at Lee Jehee’s condition. Lee Jehee, who had closed his eyes with an expressionless face, seemed to gather his forehead slightly, and then slowly loosened his expression. 

Is it okay? Did we really succeed? 

It hasn’t been long since I used this ability either. Now that I’m barely learning how to use my abilities, I couldn’t take my hands off and focus my mind. After a while, the sound of breath continued evenly enough to barely be heard only by listening.

I let out a silent sigh and remove my hand carefully so as not to wake the opponent. The status transition skill only requires contact when activated, and there was no problem in maintaining the skill even if it was far away from a certain range after activation. 

After confirming that Lee Jehee was asleep, I stepped back from the chair and went to a corner, and sat cross-legged. As time passed, I could feel that the mana was being cut little by little and the ‘sleep’ skill was going well. 

I let out a small sigh at the relief that I had successfully completed Lee Jehee’s request. Then I leaned my back against the wall and closed my eyes, hoping to tidy up a bit for the rest of the time. 

The game, called ‘The Return of D-Class Hunter’, was an action role-playing game famous for its high degree of freedom. It was also a game that made it possible to see the ending with anyone by mixing weakly unexplained elements.

Here, ‘with anyone’ means literally. Since it is a worldview that allows homosexuality, men or women of any age or gender might see the last ending if they had good feelings, and as a result, it was popular regardless of age or gender.

In addition, although the story and character setting were a bit childish, the background was set in Seoul to match the characteristics of a Korean game, which made it particularly popular with Koreans. 

It was Lee Jehee, the main character in the game, who contributed the most to its popularity. It wasn’t even a fuss when a handsome character that was precisely embodied in 3D was caught on a billboard at a subway station. 

It was so popular even before its launch that a fan cafe was created despite the fatal flaw of not having a save function. Thanks to it, the company that made the game sits on a cushion of money.