SnowFlake (完)
'What the hell is this post.'
Was it written pretending to be all fun and jokey on purpose? It wasn't funny to me at all. Since she seemed to still be alive, I shot Fractal a private message right away.
Goal?
I touched my lips. Swollen, split open from the hit, crusted with dried blood. Over this......
My heart sank at those words. I didn't want to imagine what "too late" meant. It packed too many possibilities. One thing was clear: she wasn't getting on that portal.
My gut burned. I wanted to scream anywhere, everywhere. She got played, so why was I feeling like this?
'Ah.... Right, that's it.'
The dungeon's starting point is random. The soldier I shoved into the portal first wasn't with me for the same reason. Even holding hands into the portal doesn't drop you in the same spot.
To party up and stick together, you need a mage's binding spell first.
I got it. But I still couldn't accept it.
Roguelikes test judgment, not physical skill. The dungeon's vast. How long to find her? Sword through the gut. How many minutes till she bleeds out? Unless I awaken teleport, no way to regroup. Even finding healing and bringing it, odds she's alive by then? Zero.
I knew. Even a miracle save, no hope left. Mana circuits shattered, apostasy penalty. Half-crippled already. Forcing the impossible won't make it possible.
In a game, it'd be a "lost run"—restart clean. Dungeon's no safe zone. Trying to save her risks me dying too.
So not trying is the right call...... Emptiness washed over me.
I read her quiet reply.
Not hard to understand. Pure loathing for this game-made-real. And that hate turned on herself too. The only one it spared: a pure newbie like me, fresh-possessed, untainted.
Fractal planned to die from the start. Hit me suddenly. I knew next to nothing about her as a person.
From prison meet to escape to here. Two hours? Understanding her fully was impossible from the jump.
If I were greater, I'd have found a way for both to survive. Forced a reason to live on her. "Good things come eventually. Hang in with me a bit longer."
Did I have the right? Who was I to say? I couldn't.
She shared spots hidden before arrest for possession charges. Item list too.
What? No edibles on the list...... Ah, "laundered" meant the cash. Damn, embarrassing mix-up.
Transfer gear among them. Useless to mage her, awkward to sell, so buried. For me? Game-changer. Beyond comfy—cheat-level loot. Tiny early gains snowball huge.
'Gotta overhaul the build plan.'
Huge win. Obviously. But it was her legacy. Hard to just celebrate.
Revenge? I'd proxy it gladly. More if needed. But nah, something trivial. Last wish before death? Pathetic. But something I could grant.
Clutching my still-bleeding shoulder, I leaned against the sewer wall and replied.
Foreigner. Dwarf Stone was bigger in the West—rare case for me?
Guessed Russia cuz weirdly many Russian DW top rankers. Wrong.
Not world politics, just quick fun bits. Winter Olympics golds, villain wins in popular movie killing half the heroes...
Felt distant. Was, really.
Community info: time flows different. 4 days here = 1 Earth day?
Explains the pretty smile. Kept medieval teeth good post-possession.
Ten minutes? Short, but endless chat.
Personal stuff. Family, school days, hobbies, ideal types, even secret kinks you'd never say normally.
'That her taste? Surprising.'
Funny. Secret. Silly. Topics wandered to weather.
Then silence. Over 30 seconds, no reply. I knew what that meant. Community thought-writing slows with blood loss...
Heart clenched in dread. Replies always razor-sharp, max 3 seconds. I braced.
Out of nowhere. Not a question—a wish for me.
No reply after. No read receipt. Swallowed dread, called again.
Nothing. I knew what it meant.
'Yeah. You're gone.'
Truly alone now.
"......"
I bowed my head silently. Curled up in the dark sewer. Only filthy water gurgling through pipes.
Pondered her last question long. Snow falling out there? In Seoul still? Can't see white, feel cold. Winter snow read in lines. My first possessed winter—bitter cold. Her last today—what temp? Always cold? Or warmed by our shared breaths...
Can't mope forever. Rubbed face rough, sent final goodbye.
No read receipt. Profile guestbook? Consistent reply:
"User has left."
Shared my story as newbie barbarian wished, tips on daily life and acting, saw him off to dungeon. Hope it helped... At least don't die on layer 1.
"Hoo......"
Long exhale. Never shared my backstory before. Till today's newbie asked.
Obligation—community helped my newbie days, so help new ones. Felt right.
'Not a bad feeling.'
Hope the newbie thrives. Sincerely.
'...Was she feeling this?'
Lost in thought, newbie posted update. Status report. Not just me watching—tons across community cheering unseen.
Community vibe changed a lot from 8 years ago. Tougher times then for possessors... Plus generations turned over, old ones died.
Sudden chill. Turned—window open, curtains flapping.
Closed community, got up from bed. To window, pulled curtain: Labyrinth City outside, winter as ever.
Watched people move. Standouts: battle-geared adventurers. Still tons heading in. Our newbie among 'em probably.
Stared blankly. Unfamiliar. Used to be part of that scene—now observer behind glass.
Adventurers noticed, stared back. Eyes everywhere. Shit... Gut churned, breath short. Slammed window shut. Locked tight, no auto-open.
Then new message. Newbie already? Checked: unexpected name. Faint memory, winter snowfall farewell long ago.
......Reunited after 8 years, she had a "blue badge" for some reason.