[Bone and Blood.]

The reason I got hooked on that game and found myself eagerly waiting for its sequel was simple: a captivating universe.

At first glance, it resembled your typical fantasy world, yet the deeper you dug, the more hidden, darker stories emerged. These elements truly captivated me and pulled me into that world. Among them, the most striking was the story related to the hidden mines underground.

A place you could stumble upon while chasing a quest to track down human traffickers. There, children were mining magic stones. Without any protective gear.

Being exposed to unrefined magic stones was a shortcut to mana addiction and a ticking time bomb for a terminal fate. Yet, those criminals were operating the mines using kidnapped orphans and children sold off by slum families as parts. They even shamelessly recycled the bodies of the dead children, selling them elsewhere.

Once a player uncovers all these horrifying truths, they face two options: expose these ghastly acts and eradicate them from the world, or take the bribe from the criminals and keep mum. Who would choose the latter, you ask?

That’s the charm of this game. If you eliminate all those mines, naturally, the price of magic stones skyrockets, plunging the empire into panic. All transportation using magic stones becomes a tangled mess, the prices of essential items for progressing in the game soar, and even a few fond NPCs faced with economic despair might decide to take the tragic final leap.

Moreover, the children’s corpses were used for researching cures for mana addiction; stopping this process meant that later on, the heroine would die because she couldn’t procure the necessary medicine. It was absolutely clear which choice was the right one.

Yet, the outcome of making the right choice led to an unsettling and disturbing conclusion. That contradiction—the varying outcomes based on the choices you make—fascinated me. To that extent, the magic stone mine quest was etched deeply in my mind.

Yes. That quest was indeed impressive. It was impressive, but…

“I didn’t want to become one of those orphans mining magic stones…”

*

[A day in the magic stone mines is incredibly monotonous.]

With everything resolved by a single whip, could anything be more tedious?

If a slave slacks off? Whip them!

If a slave throws a tantrum? Whip them!

If a slave begs for mercy, fearing death if things continue as they are? Whip them!

So, what’s left?

Profit remains.

This method might not leave a single child standing, but children are easy to buy with money.

In this painfully difficult empire to survive in, slum residents eager to offload their burdensome kids are in ample supply.

Moreover, there’s another added bonus to this whipping.

You whip those who don’t listen, and even those who do sometimes just because you’re feeling bored; you end up with only the smart, quick-witted elites left. Who would’ve guessed that the way to create elite slaves was to beat the non-elite ones to a pulp?

And those bodies produced in the process? Well, sell them in the right places, and you’ve got yourself a tidy profit.

Earning money has never been this easy.

A diary entry I stumbled upon during gameplay flashes through my mind. I could almost be certain of it right then and there— the scoundrel who wrote that must be the one running this place.

“…It really hurts like hell.”

My body still throbs all over.

This isn’t your typical love tap.

Maybe it’s because I’m in a child’s body, but if I take any more licks, it feels like I might just kick the bucket.

And fighting back isn’t even an option.

It’s almost expected, really.

Why would those precious managers risk contracting an incurable disease?

They’re all decked out in top-of-the-line protective gear, complete with self-defense features.

Remembering the in-game market rates, I’m furious knowing the price of just one piece of their gear could buy adequate protection for us all.

But I’m not dull enough to shout about those rebellious thoughts and end up on the wrong side of a whip. So, I take whatever this indescribable glop being served is and plop down on my seat.

Up to this point, I could endure it a bit.

What really drives me bonkers is something else entirely.

“Hey… are you okay? You’ve seemed a bit off since yesterday.”

A kid casually plops next to me and asks.

Considering I just possessed this body yesterday, his reaction makes sense.

He must be my friend…

“Buzz off before I stab your eyes out with a fork,” I think to myself.

If you think like that, you’ll face consequences.

I swiftly grabbed his wrist. Sure enough, he was trying to sneakily make off with that tasteless loaf of bread of mine.

The friendly smile on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by an expression that screamed danger.

“What? Wanna fight? Go ahead and try. Though, I doubt you’ll be able to do much with those injuries.”

When I said that, he just clicked his tongue with a tch and swaggered away.

This is how you survive here. Underestimate someone, and you’ll have your food robbed from under your nose, leading to a pitiful demise.

To me, fighting skills didn’t seem all that critical.

After all, if you get injured and can’t work right, you’ll end up getting whipped to death. Everyone wants to avoid a brawl.

“…Ha.”

Surviving a tough situation naturally draws out a groan.

This is the issue that drives me insane.

There’s not a moment’s rest.

Letting loose children into this hellscape made them turn into demons just to survive.

Having to battle not just the overseers but also fellow slaves totally fries your sanity.

Think positive. Stay positive…

But dwelling in darkness only decreases any chance for escape. So, I had to pull myself together, forcibly.

Actually, there’s a silver lining to this mess.

Who would have thought that splurging an extra 50,000 won for the premium edition would pay off here…?

The kind of package that gives you a bunch of in-game items for an extra cost.

Like most games of that kind, it could often feel like throwing money down the drain. Even as a passionate fan, I hesitated at the cash register.

But looking back now, I think there couldn’t have been a smarter decision.

One rare-grade trait choice, one legendary-grade trait choice.

And even an option for a sword and armor.

Sure, there are some unhelpful extras like titles or the game soundtrack, but the traits alone made it worthwhile.

The reason I’m managing to keep my head above water is thanks to the ability I acquired from that rare trait selection.

◈ Healthy Body (Rare)◈

You become immune to all status abnormalities except those caused by poison, curses, and magic. You won’t tire easily and will maintain a consistently healthy state.

A trait that wouldn’t even warrant a second glance normally, since it can’t even block a simple sleep spell.

However, now that the game has bled into reality, nothing is more precious than this.

Nothing is as crucial to me right now as immunity to illnesses. Without it, I could’ve been living on borrowed time already.

Now that I had the trait screen open, curiosity prompted me to poke around various status windows.

It’s convenient to manipulate simply by thinking about it, but…

[This feature is available after completing the tutorial.]

With most features locked up tighter than a drum, it’s practically worthless.

I can’t even see my own status, let alone my name.

But I don’t think it’s too huge of a problem.

I have other weapons at my disposal.

Legendary grade.

The right to select a trait typically reserved for the very end of the game, along with a reasonably useful sword and armor.

If I play my cards right, a way out must exist…

‘…Hm?’

Lost in thought as I made my way back to the mines, I suddenly felt something bump into me.

I double-checked the obstacle blocking my path.

Black hair.

Red eyes, unfocused and dull.

A beautiful girl stood there, completely out of place in this wretched atmosphere—her beauty clashing with the surroundings.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought and didn’t see you there.”

I was the first to offer an apology. However, the girl just stared blankly at my face, without any expression.

I would’ve understood had she glared at me, but strangely, I could read no emotion in her gaze.

After an awkward yet somewhat bizarre moment of eye contact,

“Why are you standing here? Did you lose your way? If that’s the case, hurry up and follow me; if we don’t move, we’re gonna get hit,” I blurted out, unable to endure the horrid silence anymore.

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

The girl replied with an inscrutable face, still giving no hint of her thoughts.

After watching her for a while, a certain realization hit me.

This is the world inside a game.

Surely, the protagonists of the game must also exist here too.

Could this strangely unique girl be someone entirely unrelated to the original story?

…If this wasn’t just coincidence, but fate.

If this was a meeting preordained.

“What’s your name?”

At my question, the girl, with her same vacant expression, opened her mouth to respond.

“Siel.”

That was the moment I met my first comrade.