A Rude Awakening in the Cell

"Pwah!"

A sudden water bomb to the face jolted me awake in terror, my eyes snapping open. The droplets trickling down my neck felt gross, making me grimace on instinct. In my drowsy haze, my old college roommate flashed through my mind—but wait, that was ages ago. I'd graduated years back. So who the fuck would splash water on someone sleeping like an asshole?

Dazed, I scanned my surroundings. Iron bars right in front of me, brick walls on the other three sides. I was in a cell. Beyond the bars, a gravel corridor peeked through, swallowed by pitch blackness.

"Huh."

My place was a mess, sure, but not this gloomy. Hell, this looked straight-up like a prison. Why? Why me? My biggest crime was holing up like a hermit—Mom even nagged me to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stir up some scandal just to get out more.

Okay, calm down. Think back—what was I doing last? Finally mustered the energy to make sundubu ramen, that rare treat. Then, feeling blah, I trashed some recommended post on the community forum. That's when a mod suggestion popped up in the comments.

Super Coward Mode.

Yeah, I installed it to make Snow Castle more... educational? Fired up the game to test it, and... blank after that. Something happened, clearly.

First things first—figure out where I am. Circling the cell, a weird familiarity hit me, sending a shiver down my spine. Why did this place feel like I'd been here before? I tried to stand for a better look, but my body wouldn't budge. Glancing at my wrists—wooden stocks? Not even metal cuffs?

"What the hell?!"

In this day and age, wooden ones? The absurdity made my voice boom louder than expected. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clapped a hand over my mouth in shock. Idiot, you trying to piss off the guards outside?

Luckily, no footsteps echoed. Sighing in relief, I stared at the wooden cuffs—then a creepy presence prickled the back of my neck.

Too dark to spot someone earlier? Heart pounding—not panicking, just cautious—I slowly turned. A faint human shape. Twitching slightly.

I tensed, assuming anger, dropping low. But no hostility. Then I heard faint breathing. And... laughing?

"Pfft—finally looking this way?"

"A... woman?"

"Yep, a woman. Like what you see?"

Her nonsense left me speechless; she snorted again, giggling. Once my eyes adjusted, I made her out: black hair tied back, dark clothes. She'd clearly cracked up at my startled yell.

How'd I miss her? She was shaking with laughter—should've noticed.

Trying to talk, but she wouldn't stop. My face heated up. Okay, fine, that was embarrassing.

Then I spotted what she held. A water bottle? Open, droplets on the rim.

No way.

Glared between her and the bottle; she waved her head and bound hands frantically.

"Pfft—n-no, wasn't teasing! Promise! Khk..."

You bitch? Splashing a stranger? I geared up to snap, but a déjà vu nagged me. What was this? Not just vague—felt like I'd seen her before.

"Shut up, thief."

"What—another one?"

"Heehee, sorry. Been ages since someone fun showed up."

This time, she'd held her breath stealthily. But that voice... familiar too. Suddenly, it hit—a chill raced up my spine, forcing denial aside. Memories crashed like a tsunami, frontal lobe screaming face it.

The creaking head against the side wall delivered the killing blow. Outer God Slayer. Outer God Enforcer. Outer God Killer Man. The protagonist of Snow Castle: Hunter.

Her cloak muffled heavy breaths as she slowly sized us up—like deciding whether to drag us on her escape or ditch us.

"Why the death glare all of a sudden? Guess laughing in prison is weird, huh? Heehee."

The thief beside me—Agartha, she'd introduced—blabbered on. Realizing this was Snow Castle's world clicked it: the prologue thief chatting with Hunter. Extra who dies quick in the breakout. No wonder I blanked.

"So, what're you in for?"

After yapping about herself, now curious about me? But I couldn't answer. Hell, I wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to ask why the fuck am I here? Not even protagonist-possessed.

No reply? She took it as brushing her off, sidling closer.

"Ignoring me? I'm curious about you."

Up close, her figure hit home—definitely a woman. Uh. Too close. And what could I say?

"Dunno."

"Huh? Who doesn't know themselves?"

Me, apparently. If only I knew who I possessed.

Prologue's just Hunter and Agartha bullshitting—no extras.

"Oh, no way?"

Expecting nonsense, she made lewd finger gestures instead.

"Look so innocent, but ass-fucked everywhere from your rampages?"

Wanted to deny, but... maybe? Games usually pop a status window. Oh, shout it?

"Status window."

Whispered it—nothing. Fucking trash game.

"What'd you say? Status window?"

She heard that? Barely a breath!

"Nothing."

"You said it. Can't fool my ears."

Dead serious tone, but her sly smile screamed new tease material.

First chapter death hid it, but damn, she needed a flick.

Calming my rage, she suddenly gawked, pointing.

I tilted my head; she grinned.

"Hey, paper in your pocket?"

Identity clue? Reached in—empty.

"What—it's not... hey!"

Snatched lightning-fast. Cat-with-stolen-fish grin as she unfolded it.

Her playful eyes scanning turned serious. What? Super dangerous killer? Sweat beaded under the stocks.

Tension hung; she finished, dropped it, started trembling. Lips quivering—holding back.

Swallowed. Tremors built—then exploded.

"Puhahaha! Khk! Hnngh—yeah, you'd wanna hide that."

Agartha clutched her gut, rolling, kicking wildly.

What the hell's on it? Snatched the dropped paper.

Fuck. Out of everything, a nutjob?

Agartha wiped laugh-tears, patted my shoulder.

"Mental case? Worth locking up. Streaking the streets, Leydan Tantun?"

Rejected reality, shoved her lightly—her grin stayed plastered.

No, can't be. Paper just happened to be there—not me. Killed the guy, took his note? Excuses got uglier.

Silence; she eyed me like a psycho.

"I'm not crazy!"

My desperate plea worked? She nodded sympathetically.

"They all say that."

"Why not think the note's fake?"

"Then what was 'status window'?"

"That—argh, just no!"

"Sigh, fine. Tantun, truth? I'm innocent too—dragged here for nothing."

My words that hilarious? As I opened my mouth, Hunter from her chair scowled at the thief.

"Even jokes should have some plausibility. Not from a woman reeking of rot."

"Eek, harsh much?"

Hurt, Agartha leaned on me, pouting. Braced for corpse stink—nothing. Soft, feminine scent instead.

Whining: "You think so too, Tantun?"

Truth suited me, but payback for teasing: lie.

"Not much, but enough to bug me..."

Her pupils shrank—hilarious.

"Th-that bad?"

"Perfume can't mask that." Hunter murmured, head low.

Butthurt, Agartha snipped: "Then you? Here means guilty, right?"

"Don't lump us."

"Why're you here then?"

"No obligation to tell."

I knew: this underground prison hid an Outer God. She'd gotten caught on purpose to hunt it.

"Hah! We're all innocent here!" Pointed at me, Hunter, herself.

Clapped bound hands—drew eyes. Natural buildup.

"Can't stay. How to ascend with our heads chopped innocently?"

Heads rolling? Chilling, but normal here. Snow Castle: dark fantasy baseline.

Grinning between pondering us: "So, wanna bust out?"

Impulsive, but her smile hooked me.

And so it began. The tale of the Hunter, the thief, and the madman.