Chapter 0

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 0

Chapter Title: Betrayal and Birth

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I couldn't attend my own funeral.

In most cases, there are two possibilities. Either the person died and thus couldn't go, or they faked their death and ran away for some reason. In my case, it was both.

Right now, my consciousness is adrift solely within virtual reality. My body is dead, so it's fair to say I'm deceased, and since getting caught in this state of "living" would be disastrous, I'm effectively a fugitive as well.

How did I end up in such a tragic predicament? To explain, I must first reluctantly boast about myself.

At 15, I earned my PhD. At 24, I shattered the youngest-ever record for a Nobel Prize with my groundbreaking next-generation quantum computer theory. That's me, Jung Jin-hyuk.

Despite my brilliant mind, I had a few physical flaws: a heart that seized up in spasms after just a short walk, and a right leg rendered useless by a congenital nerve issue.

Modern medicine couldn't fix either one, and that harsh reality crushed me. That's when it started—the dream of creating virtual reality.

It was impossible for one person alone, but with the help of a patient investor, unwavering support from generous patrons, and countless trials and errors, what once seemed like fantasy had become reality before I knew it.

A virtual reality so perfect it was indistinguishable from the real thing. You could enjoy worlds of your own creation or dive into those made by others.

People with disabilities could experience it with perfect bodies.

Even my flesh, which had never run until my lungs burned, could sprint there until my breath scorched my throat.

Commercializing this new virtual reality was only a matter of time—close enough to touch. In just a few years, it would be available worldwide.

That's why being murdered by my "generous patron" was all the more regrettable.

"Heading straight home, Jin-hyuk?"

My benevolent patron, GK Group's eldest daughter Kang Su-ah, grabbed me as I tried to leave for home.

Even in a crisp black suit, her beauty shone through undimmed. If anything, the simple attire made her stand out more.

My biggest backer, the one person who truly understood me. And my lover. We'd only been dating a short while, but I was head over heels for her. While everyone else called my dream a "ridiculous pipe dream" and accused me of wasting my talent, she alone supported and understood it.

"Ah, yeah. I've got some experiments left to run."

She widened her round eyes and asked,

"...Experiments? Oh, you mean you work from home too?"

I chuckled and countered, "If I don't work from home, how's it supposed to get done faster?"

"...Then, can I come over to your place?"

She flashed a playful grin and asked in a teasing tone.

Flustered, I stammered, "H-Home? Uh, why all of a sudden—" my face turning red, and she declared it her "prerogative as your biggest patron," dragging me home with her.

When we arrived, she marveled at the room crammed with experimental gear.

"Whoa... I could believe you transplanted an entire lab here."

"Er, well. It's for efficiency."

"...I heard it was almost done, Jin-hyuk."

"Yeah. Truth is... it's already complete." I said it, anticipating her reaction.

"Complete? For real? Why didn't you tell me right away?" She asked, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes wide with surprise.

"Well... I wanted to show it to you first, Su-ah. The completion of this technology."

I led her to the virtual reality access device. A massive electronic rig with thick cables and wires tangled everywhere—a crude prototype.

"Hehe, this is the connector? Design-wise, it's a total zero." She smiled slyly, oohing and aahing as she poked at it curiously.

"Ahem, it's just a prototype. It'll be different for commercial release."

I donned the device, and she followed suit.

"...Um, do I need to do anything special? Like fall asleep?" She asked, a hint of unease in her voice.

"Heh, don't freak out."

A flash. And just like that, we plummeted into an entirely different world.

From a messy room of tangled wires to a golden palace clad in ivory marble.

"Wha...? Am I dreaming right now?" She asked, bewildered.

"A dream? Hmm, a dream more real than reality, Su-ah." I stepped forward and replied.

"Jin-hyuk? Your leg... does that mean all this is...?"

She stuttered, stunned by my stride—strong and unhindered, no limp in sight. Her words came out in fragments, underscoring her shock.

"Whoa... incredible. You weren't exaggerating about it being complete."

"Heh, if you're amazed already, this might be trouble."

In this space, everything bent to my will. Landscapes shifted at my whim; anything, everything was possible.

Savoring the rush of omnipotence swelling in my chest, I gazed at Kang Su-ah beside me.

I owed this vista to her. Through my hardships, struggles, and pain, she'd stood by me unwaveringly.

So I decided. Right here, right now, I'd propose.

It was impulsive, so my words might not be poetic, but she'd understand my heart.

"...Su-ah, will you. Um, marry me?"

"Pardon?" She seemed not to grasp the sudden proposal and asked again.

"I want to spend my life with you, Su-ah."

This time, it landed. She bowed her head shyly.

...What would her answer be?

The silence dragged, anxiety and tension gripping me. Damn, was it just one-sided?

Regret over my hasty proposal hit just as she spoke softly.

"...I'm sorry, Jin-hyuk."

I'd half-expected rejection, but it didn't crush me. There'd be another chance, somewhere more romantic next time...

"I can't marry a corpse, can I?"

My mind froze. No, not just my mind—my body locked up too.

Opening the control panel in a panic revealed one phrase in crimson text, repeated endlessly.

Glitchy, mangled letters screaming dire error warnings. The details were horrifying.

"Hehe, our researchers suck at building stuff, but they're pros at breaking it."

"Khk, Su-ah— what, is this—" It felt like vomiting blood; I barely choked out the words. My breath caught—maybe literally. Who knew what was happening to my body out there?

"Doctor, oh dear, our poor Doctor..." She stroked my head pityingly.

"Why'd you have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to get so greedy... I didn't want to do this."

"Full operational control of virtual reality, rights to 15% of the company's central computing power, decision-making authority on business policies." She pressed her slender hand to my throat as she listed them.

"Decision rights and ops control? Fine, whatever. But blocking every profitable venture?"

"Memory manipulation, emotion control—can't imagine how much money those would rake in?"

"Khk, devices like, this must be, strictly—" She tightened her grip, silencing me. With a sigh like how naive, she asked,

"...Wanna experience it firsthand?"

Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠delicate fingers swiped the air a few times, then she whispered in my ear.

"Hehe, now the Doctor's gonna have 500 times his usual sex drive."

She pressed firmly on my chest, lecturing.

"Will that lofty morality, those convictions of yours hold up against 500 times the desire?"

"5... 4... 3"

Terror engulfed me. 500 times? Manipulating my urges that much?

"2..."

I could overcome it. Stay sharp, especially now.

"1..."

I'd never yield to base lust. Never.

"...Wrong."

.

..

...

"Strip right now, you fucking bitch!!!!"

"Haha! See? Even the Doctor's just a slave to desire in the end."

"You fucking bitch, right— fucking—"

"Whoa, can't even speak properly. Didn't know you had eyes like that in you."

She met my gaze as she prattled.

Eyes gleaming with pitch-black lust, fixed on ravaging the female before me.

"...Chilling."

She sneered her final words.

"Thanks for your service to the company, Doctor."

.

..

...

Kang Su-ah removed the connector and returned to reality. Beside her, a crippled invalid thrashed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in seizure, trapped in the virtual world.

Having that vermin meddle in her company at every turn had been utterly revolting. And a proposal? What an ignorant piece of trash.

Trash deserved a fitting death.

Autoerotic death.

Dying from masturbation using tools to amplify pleasure. For stifling investigation into a celebrity's demise, this shameful cause was perfect.

Who'd dig deep into a man who fried his own brain jacking off, crazed by lust amplified 500-fold?

"Exiting at the right time... that was your role."

She gazed down at the dying Doctor Jung like a farewell, then headed to her home. Leaving no trace behind.

.

..

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