Warning: Will Life Go According to Plan?
Life never unfolds according to plan, does it? I used to think it did. But countless variables and sudden crises have drilled into me, down to my bones, that existence defies any blueprint.
"Elevator out of service?" Case in point, right now.
I sprinted like a madwoman down the tenth-floor hallway, but a cold "Under Repair" sign stared back at me from the elevator doors.
"Fuck, why now of all times!"
The notice said the breakdown had been reported three days ago. What the hell—was the management office just a den of salary thieves? I glanced up; the display panel was completely blacked out.
No time to bitch about it. I hurled myself toward the emergency stairs.
"Hah... hah..."
It wasn't even climbing—just descending ten floors—and my breath was already clawing up my throat. Sure, I'm a shut-in who never sees sunlight, but my stamina wasn't this pathetic.
Right—I'm in a girl's body now!
I'd assumed this avatar was a fellow hikikomori like me, but her owner must've been a top-tier "trash-tier loser." Her endurance was utter garbage.
Gasping raggedly, I finally staggered into the first-floor lobby. Just around the corner was the building entrance. Only minutes left before they arrived. My brain cells screamed: How the hell do I convince these people?
Just charge in. My flawless logic will sell it.
Gathered at the entrance were about twenty residents, from a grandma in her seventies to kids not even ten. Men, women, old and young, all murmuring anxiously. I sucked in a deep breath and bellowed.
"Hah, hah! Big trou— hah hah! Get out— hah hah!"
Shit, should've caught my breath first. My scream-like shout drew every eye in the lobby straight to me.
As expected, they were officetel residents. A few familiar neighbors mixed in with some new faces.
"Gasp!"
"Whoa..."
A bizarre silence blanketed the room. The moment they saw me, they froze, eyes wide like they'd rehearsed it. Over twenty people packed in, yet only my ragged panting echoed through the lobby.
Breaking the ice was the delinquent high school punk radiating pure Gold Sun vibes. I'd spotted him before, spitting and smoking behind the building.
"Whoa, fuck... she's goddamn gorgeous."
I wheezed back at his crude awe. "Shut it, Gold Sun. Hah, hah... that's not the point right now."
"The fuck? This little bitch just say something to me?"
The blond thug bristled and lunged forward, but a burly forties guy blocked him and turned to me. The 702 resident—Mr. Lee Cheolyoung—we'd exchanged light nods in passing. Married with a daughter, I recalled.
"Miss, what's going on? Catch your breath first and tell us."
I forced my breathing steady. Every second counted.
"We gotta evac now! I looked down from my room—armed freaks heading this way from afar. Doesn't this whole situation feel off? Phones dead, power out—is this normal?"
I yelled loud enough for the whole lobby to hear. Logical, plausible warning, right? A few looked rattled, murmuring among themselves.
But they were the minority. Most snorted in disbelief or eyed me like a lunatic.
"Hey, kid. You think that makes sense? You high or something?"
Snark from the asshole who'd always glared at me like prey. Never returned my greetings, the rude prick.
"Shut your trap. You can stay here and die. We're heading up."
No way I'd play nice with scum like him.
"This rude bitch is asking to get wrecked...!"
"More importantly, who is this girl? Resident? Never seen her before."
Now the Galmaegi Director from the second floor scanned me suspiciously. Migratory-bird husband type, or so I'd heard.
To dodge suspicion and lend credibility, I needed ID first. No one buys warnings from strangers.
"I'm the hot young guy's little sister from 1004."
"Oh, that bachelor has a cute sister like you? Come to think of it... those folks over there look new too."
His attention snapped to the college kids in the corner.
"We're from 605! These are my friends—they dropped by for a group project and got caught in this mess..."
"Ah, got it. All of you look sharp; nice to see."
My blood boiled. They'd doused the tension I'd built. Lives on the line, and they were turning this into a neighborhood chit-chat?
"Nice my ass, fuck! We don't have time! We'll all die at this rate!"
The curse slipped out. The director's face twisted like poor kid's unhinged, and he openly ignored me. The others followed suit, clustering back up.
"Internet still down?"
"Water's out too, I think."
"October and it's this hot? And what's with the view outside? World ending?"
No dice. I made one last desperate shout.
"Everyone, listen up!"
They flinched and turned.
"This is weird! Why would the scenery change and phones die out of nowhere? Everything I said is true. Stay inside till we figure it out—that's safest!"
The brief attention cooled to ice. They dismissed me as a nutjob and turned away.
...Did what I could. Time to bail.
I spun on my heel, no regrets. I'd warned them; what happened next was on them.
Stepping toward the stairs, a familiar grandma grabbed my wrist.
"Miss, everything you said—is it true?"
Kind eyes peering through wrinkled skin. One last meddle, then.
"All true, Grandma. I'm outta here. You should hide too."
She nodded firmly, gripping her ten-year-old grandson's hand tight.
"Hankyeol, follow this big sis and let's get inside with Grandma."
"Okay, Grandma."
I strode up the stairs; she and the boy trailed close. Behind us, the casual murmurs continued—then Cheolyoung Lee's voice.
"Honey, take Nara and head up first. I'll be right there."
Thankfully, Grandma's place was second floor. She and Hankyeol rushed inside, leaving me with Mrs. Jinhee Yoo from 702 and her little girl.
"Hah... hah..."
This avatar's stamina was a critical defect. Just three floors up, and my lungs burned like they were ripping apart; legs wobbling like a newborn giraffe's.
"Miss, you okay?"
Jinhee eyed my ashen face worriedly.
"Heh... fine... hah, hah."
"No, you're not. You look awful. Rest a sec."
She steadied my shoulder, forcing me onto the stairs.
No time for this...
Logically, every second was do-or-die. Stopping meant doom. But my body rebelled. Push harder, and my heart might burst before any enemies showed.
As I slumped, gasping, the seven-ish Nara squatted beside me. Big eyes blinking, she whispered.
"Pretty sis, you hurt?"
"Hah, hah... yeah. Pretty bad."
Dropped into a fucked-up world, gender-swapped, trash stats. Yeah, it hurt. Miracle I wasn't insane yet.
No more delays—I hauled my trembling legs up. That's when gut-wrenching screams erupted from the lobby.
"KyaAaAaK!"
"Uwaaak! What the fuck is that monster!"
"Help! Run!"
"Move! Don't push!"
Raw howls climbed the stairwell, chilling my spine. The mother-daughter duo froze solid.
"Run! Don't look back!"
"B-but... my husband..."
Tears welling, she glanced down. I snapped at her.
"Save your daughter first! Go!"
Snapped to, she yanked Nara's hand.
"You too, miss!"
"Don't worry about me—just run!"
Guilty nod, then she hoisted the girl and bolted up. No way I could match that pace. My thighs had already mutinied.
...Should've picked the goblin warrior.
Choosing the cute hikikomori over her was my life's biggest fuckup. Stats over looks next time.
One shaky step up—then the thunder of dozens of feet below. Survivors fleeing Black Orcs, screams laced with terror. Chased people meant orcs incoming.
Damn, knew meddling would bite me someday.