I Was a Sucker

What is the most godforsaken word in the world? If asked this question, most people would hesitate for a moment. But I can answer without a single second of thought. It is sacrifice.

To me, there is no word more disgusting, filthy, and loathsome than sacrifice. I hate it. I despise it.

My absolute hatred for the word began when I was sucked into a certain game.

Runes Fantasy. It wasn't even a game I particularly liked. I only played it because a friend begged me to join him. And then I got dragged into it. Fuck my life.

One moment I thought I was just playing a game, and the next, I woke up in another world alongside my friend, Kim Hyungkeun. We found ourselves in some grand palace, standing before a man claiming to be the king, who urged us to become heroes.

"Please, inherit the three runes and become our Heroes."

Runes. They were the most critical items in the game. The Love Rune, the Courage Rune, and the Rune of Sacrifice. The one who could freely wield all three was destined to be the Hero.

For some unknown reason, only those summoned from another world could become the Hero. The problem was that Hyungkeun and I had been summoned at the exact same time.

"Please, discuss among yourselves and decide who will take up the mantle of the Hero."

Left alone in an empty chamber, we had a serious discussion. Who would become the Hero? It was a monumental decision that would shape our entire destinies, but my mind was completely elsewhere.

"I don't give a shit about being a hero!" I shouted.

Honestly, I had a very good reason. I was a groom-to-be, with a wedding right around the corner.

The day we were pulled into the game was the literal eve of my wedding. I had only logged on to spend my last night as a bachelor gaming with my buddy, and it had ended in this absolute disaster.

"No... Hyungkeun, what the hell am I supposed to do? My wedding is tomorrow. What the actual fuck?"

"Calm down, Youngho."

Kim Youngho. That was my name.

"I get how you feel. Out of nowhere, right before your wedding... it's a total nightmare."

"Sigh... Honestly, screw the Hero stuff. I just want to go home."

"From what I know, we have to clear the game to go back."

"Clear it?"

"Defeating the Demon King."

"Ugh... How long is that going to take? Fuck."

"You and me. One of us has to be the Hero."

Hyungkeun said, spreading his palm to reveal the three runes we had received from the king.

"The Love Rune, the Courage Rune, and the Rune of Sacrifice. Apparently, each of these runes holds immense power. Our mission is to use them to defeat the Demon King."

"I don't care... Besides, I barely know anything about this game."

Runes Fantasy was a game Hyungkeun had recommended to me. Naturally, he knew far more about it than I did.

"You be the Hero, Hyungkeun."

"Are you sure? If I'm the Hero, what are you going to do?"

"I don't care if I'm a porter or whatever. I just want to go home."

"I suppose... Then, if you don't mind, is it really okay if I take the Hero's role?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, Youngho. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠To ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be honest, unlike you, I'm actually kind of glad we got pulled into this game."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't have a decent job, I don't have a good education, and I don't have a beautiful girlfriend like you do... I have nothing. I want to start a new life, even if it's in this world. A Hero! Doesn't that sound amazing?"

"Sigh, do whatever you want then. Take all the runes. Just defeat the Demon King and get me back home. I won't complain."

"But still, you should at least have some basic power to protect yourself."

"Is that so? Then should I take one of the three?"

"Which rune do you want?"

The Courage Rune. The Love Rune. The Rune of Sacrifice.

If only I had been a little more careful with my choice back then... how different things would be.

If only I had noticed the sharp, calculating glint in Kim Hyungkeun's eyes.

But foolishly, I trusted Hyungkeun as a close friend back then. I assumed the Courage Rune belonged to the Hero.

And the Love Rune? I felt it was entirely inappropriate for someone like me, who was separated from the woman he loved.

Thus, my choice of the Rune of Sacrifice was made purely through the process of elimination.

And that single choice ruined everything.

"W-What the fuck is this...?"

"What's wrong, Youngho?"

The moment I swallowed the Rune of Sacrifice—which I was told was how to use it—strange characters materialized before my eyes.

It seemed I was the only one who could see them. The words were incredibly unfair, utterly mind-boggling.

"No... No, this is. This is a bit... No, fuck. Even if it's sacrifice, this is... Ah, fuck..."

"What's the matter, Youngho?"

"No, you see... No... Sigh..."

I tried to tell him. I wanted to explain how absurd the description was.

But for some reason, whenever I tried to put it into words, my tongue tied itself in knots and my voice refused to come out.

You can never speak of it. Was this what that meant? It felt exactly like a curse.

"I know, Youngho... I know."

Just then, Hyungkeun, who had played the game before, patted my shoulder.

"I already read about the Rune of Sacrifice in the strategy guide. I know even if you don't say anything."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The Rune of Sacrifice grants massive buffs to party members, but it's a tragic ability where you never get any recognition."

"Wait... then why did you let me swallow something like—"

"Don't worry. At least I know. I'll always know how much you're helping everyone."

"............."

"Even if you can't tell others because of the restriction, isn't it enough that I, your best friend, know the truth?"

I suppose... If Hyungkeun had taken the Rune of Sacrifice, he would have been hated unfairly without a single soul acknowledging his efforts.

They say that if there is even one person in the world who acknowledges you, there is salvation.

Since Hyungkeun would at least recognize my hard work, it wouldn't be a meaningless sacrifice.

—Or so I thought. At least, back then.

"Then I'll take the Courage Rune ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and the Love Rune. I'll be the Hero, and you'll be the porter. You're really okay with this, right?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm fine with it."

We shook hands then. As friends who had shared a life, and as companions who would journey together.

Then, we returned to the king and reported that Kim Hyungkeun had been chosen as the next Hero.

"Then I shall decree to Hero Kim Hyungkeun and Porter Kim Youngho: surrender all belongings from your world, equip yourselves with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠our garments and gear, and set forth on your journey."

Our clothes, phones, and watches were confiscated, and we were outfitted with medieval attire and weapons. It felt like we had slipped back in time.

"Whoa... this really feels like a proper adventure! Exciting, isn't it?"

"Exciting, my ass..."

Compared to me, who was desperate to return to Earth and hold my wedding, Hyungkeun was completely relaxed. Part of me couldn't help but resent him.

If only Hyungkeun hadn't begged me to play that game, I would have already been married to my beloved fiancé, Gaeun.

Even so, having Hyungkeun beside me—someone who knew the game inside and out—was a source of reassurance.

After all, he was the one who recruited the members of our Hero party.

"Hmph... So this is the Hero's party. A bit modest, but... now that I've joined, defeating the Demon King will be a breeze."

"It is a pleasure to meet you! I am the Saintess. I will be in charge of healing your wounds!"

"This is my first time traveling with humans, but let's get along."

The knight, Cara. The Saintess, Lora. The elf, Stella. It was like looking at a girl group—one gorgeous girl standing right next to another.

When I first saw them, my only thought was, Wow, they're beautiful. Nothing more.

The only person I loved was my fiancé, Gaeun. My feelings for her were pure, absolute, and unwavering.

Traveling with beautiful women wasn't going to make my eyes wander. I treated them strictly as companions.

"Youngho? You look quite dependable for a porter," Cara had said.

"Pardon? You're the porter? I naturally assumed you were the Hero!" Lora had remarked.

"Hmm... Your human scent is strong, but I can sense a gentle aura about you," Stella had noted.

In the beginning, we got along well. They showed me genuine goodwill, and we made many fond memories together.

But as time passed, they grew increasingly cold.

They stopped speaking to me, and if our shoulders brushed by accident, they would shudder as if I carried some infectious plague.

I realized immediately that this was the curse of the Rune of Sacrifice. The bearer of the rune was destined to be hated without reason.

But honestly, I didn't care. I had no intention of getting closer to them than necessary anyway.

If I had been rejected by someone I loved, it would have broken my heart. But being hated by people I didn't particularly care about didn't hurt at all.

Yes, that was how it went... until the day Hyungkeun called me over.

"I think it's about time I used this power."

"This power? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, right. You don't know what kind of powers the Love Rune and the Courage Rune have, do you?"

"Well... I'm not a gaming fanatic like you."

"A gaming fanatic... Hmph. Not exactly a flattering title."

For some reason, Hyungkeun's smile looked incredibly chilling that day.

"Well, whatever. Let me fill you in. The effect of the Love Rune is to make the target fall desperately in love with the first person of the opposite sex they see. But it has an expiration date. The effect lasts for exactly one year."

"Hmm... And?"

"By my calculations, we'll defeat the Demon King within a year. Which means now is the perfect time to use it."

"What do you mean by—"

It happened in an instant. A circular ring inscribed with complex runes materialized around Hyungkeun's wrist.

Before I could even ask what it was, Hyungkeun thrust his hand forward, striking me with the edge of his palm.

"Ugh... What the hell? What are you doing all of a sudden?"

"I just struck you with the Love Rune. Now, you will fall deeply in love with the first women you lay eyes on."

"Cut the crap. The only person I love is Gaeun."

"Is that so?"

Suddenly, Hyungkeun began to scream at the top of his lungs.

"Cara! Lora! Stella! Everyone, get over here!"

The party members, who had been setting up camp nearby, rushed over at once.

"What is it?"

"What's wrong?"

"Why are you calling us?"

The moment they entered my field of vision,

"Ugh..."

I completely lost my mind.

"O-Ohhhhh! You three are so incredibly gorgeous! *Pant... pant...* I love you, Cara, Lora, Stella! I'll dedicate my entire life to you!"

"Ew! What is wrong with him?!"

"Youngho, why are you acting like this?"

"Wait... he reeks. Get away from me!"

And so, a man destined to spend the next year as the emotional punching bag and the ultimate doormat of the Hero's party was born.