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—Searching for you! Live! Oh-e-oh!

“Ugh, damn it.”

Another day begins.

Feels like being resurrected from the dead. How do these zombie bastards get back up after they fall? Only after forcing my motionless arm to move and turning off the alarm was I barely able to lift my upper body.

This is like a coffin, not a bed, damn it.

“Ah.”

So damn tired, really.

I vowed to wake up early and live diligently every day after my military discharge, but once I was out, waking up like I did in the army was anything but easy.

Why am I this tired without even having to stand guard? Then I remember today marks the first anniversary of my discharge.

Regardless, I have to go to my part-time job later. Then I’ll study a bit, play some games, and sleep. A day in the life of an early-twenties man with military service is indeed hectic.

Anyway.

I reflexively grabbed my phone and opened the community site I visit daily. DC Inside. Once I’m up, I scroll through the galleries, check the trending posts, and that’s how I wake up.

If I don’t do this, I can’t get out of bed.

What kind of posts came up overnight?

Thinking this, I tapped on the gallery’s trending post window.

-★Has the Academy’s War Hero DLC dropped??? (388)

What the hell, over three hundred comments first thing in the morning? The post was too overwhelming to miss, and it even had over a thousand likes.

I clicked right in.

-It dropped, you sons of bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What greeted me was an image of an insane, muscle-bound frog charging forward, its eyes ablaze with a massive red, bold Hangul font.

The comments were nothing but praise.

“Academy’s War Hero?”

I remember this being an older game.

Two years ago, was it?

That would be considered an old game by now. I recall it being released when I was in the army.

It seemed popular, but I’ve never been interested in this genre, so I hadn’t played it. However, seeing everyone lose their minds over this DLC, it must be a masterpiece.

“Is it fun? This is the seventh time I’m asking.”

I fired off a pointless comment and got out of bed. Then I powered up my computer.

No games to play after work these days, should I give this one a try?

“It’s viral.”

I’ll download it and then take a shower.

I hit the purchase and download buttons and headed to the bathroom. Brushing my teeth, I searched the game’s name on Wikipedia and checked out some information.

—Brush brush.

—Foam foam.

So what’s the game about? Young superheroes enrolled in an academy battling entities like monsters and abominations.

Raising characters. Living academy life. Following the story. Gathering friends. And finally, thwarting a massive invasion of creatures from another world.

That kind of game.

Apparently, the playtime is insanely long with a lot to do. With multiple story branches, it definitely looks like something you’d stick with until you’ve seen all the endings.

“Damn kids these days, how can they be so dedicated?”

A truly Korean-style game, I must say. A game where you must do a lot, grow strong, and smash things. Even kids are living this fiercely; what am I doing with my life?

After briefly skimming the character profiles, I turned off my phone.

Now it’s time to wash my hair and face.

As for gaming, I like to glance over about 5% of the information and dive into the rest without any guides.

Just enough to keep it a light and enjoyable experience.

As for the DLC that actually prompted me to download the game, I haven’t even checked what it is. But looking now would just spoil it. Better to save the fun for later.

“Ugh.”

All clean and back at the computer.

“It’s done.”

The game download was complete.

Perhaps I’ll give it a spin, get dressed, and head out. The rest I can do after returning from work, study a bit, and then play before bedtime.

Feeling somewhat excited about taking up a new game after a while.

—Click.

Just as I settled in and launched the game.

Suddenly.

“Hm?”

—Wobble.

“What?”

I felt extremely dizzy, as if I were being suffocated… What is this? I struggled to move, but it was as if I was paralyzed, damn it!

“Wha—?!”

What is going on!

—Whoooooosh!

There was a blinding white flash erupting from the monitor! I couldn’t run away…!

“Oh.”

Could I be having some sort of acute attack?

“Ugh…!”

I have to alert someone…!

I can’t die like this!

Especially living alone, if I collapse, I’m done for!

“Arrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Hoping someone would notice, I screamed with all my might.

And as I felt my body’s strength ebbing away,

I closed my eyes.