The Leisure Life Awakens
Ah. My body froze the instant that phrase entered my vision. A chill ran down the back of my neck, and goosebumps crawled up my spine, snapping me back to reality.
“[Ahahaha!!]”
Completely at odds with the serious situation, the sound of a YouTube video blared from my phone and echoed through the silent room. I closed the window, swiped down on the screen, and tapped the pop-up that appeared.
Would you like to download Leisure Life?
[YES] / [NO]
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly bone-dry despite having just drunk something. With trembling fingers, I pressed YES.
Download starting.
0% 1%
The percentage crawled upward at a snail’s pace, like some ancient 90s computer. In the 21st century, in Korea no less—the speed Koreans hated most. The excitement in my chest plummeted.
“Ah. Why the hell did I do that?”
I frowned at myself for tapping it as if possessed. Just as I was about to cancel, another message popped up.
Canceling the Leisure Life app may result in significant penalties. Cancel anyway?
Heat rose at the back of my neck. The message had appeared even though I hadn’t pressed cancel.
“...What the hell? I didn’t even press anything. Is this really hacking? Who’s threatening me now?”
Annoyed, I hit cancel anyway, but the download continued. When I lifted my finger, the cancel button had vanished. A cold sensation crept through my veins. Just as I was about to force-shutdown the phone, another message appeared.
This is not a threat. Kim Shin, you have been selected as a player.
“What the fuck!”
I shot up like a spring, frantically turning on the lights. The pitch-black room, sealed by blackout curtains, brightened in an instant. My right eyelid twitched violently from the sudden stress.
Please calm down. Current heart rate: 160. 170. Rising. A sudden spike could be fatal for Kim Shin, who stayed up all night.
“Because of who, exactly?”
I raised my voice to argue, then swallowed the rest. Following the message’s advice despite my irritation, I took deep breaths as a faint ringing and darkening vision set in.
“Huu... haa... hup... hoo, hoo.”
My heart, which had been forced into a sudden sprint, grumbled in protest. I apologized and soothed it. Maybe it appreciated the effort—my heart rate gradually dropped. I sighed in relief, only for my body to go limp from the sudden calm. I slid down the wall and sat on the floor.
The download continued steadily, oblivious to my turmoil.
Download complete.
Now eyeing it warily, I tapped the app labeled Leisure Life in cheap fishing-game font.
[Status Window] [Trait List] [Skill List] [Inventory] [Gacha] [Start Leisure] [Manage Leisure]
---
[Character Summon] (Locked) [Quest List] (Locked)
“Ha... fuck.”
Even in this situation, my heart raced with anticipation. I hated myself for it. As if reading my mind, the system sent another message like an insurance salesman.
Congratulations. Leisure Life has been fully installed. This app prioritizes user convenience—
The flood of flowery, pretentious text made my head spin. I wasn’t a fan of long passages outside of novels. Three-line summaries, anyone? Why so long?
Condensing content per user complaint.
1. Congratulations on awakening Leisure Life.
2. Check the special reward in your inventory.
3. Enjoy yourself.
“...No, this time... never mind.”
It flipped back and forth. Not exactly a model user. I gave up thinking, glared at the phone for a moment, then closed the screen and stared at the ceiling.
“Am I actually insane now?”
I muttered blankly at the ceiling.
—
After downloading the app—or rather, worrying whether I’d truly gone mad—I felt a wave of self-loathing. So, like someone quitting a coin app, I forced myself to ignore it and went about my practical life. A full week passed that way.
First, I went to a modern clinic for a drug test and psychiatric consultation. The result: “You’re normal.” I even visited a famous shaman at Taebaek Mountain. Thinking back, the memory of just a few hours ago surfaced vividly.
The shaman had stared straight through me and said:
“Are you crazy? No, that’s not the important part. My eyes see someone who should’ve been dead long ago still walking around. How bizarre.”
“What?”
“Tsk tsk. Live with gratitude to the heavens. Every minute you’re alive is already a miracle. Now get out. Aigoo, look at my temper. Hey, don’t take the offering money when this customer leaves.”
It felt like I’d gone to remove a lump only to come back with another. Or maybe...
“Is there really something to this world? I never even mentioned my weak body as a kid.”
Frowning at the unsettling feeling, I stared blankly at my phone. The Leisure Life app was still there. After all the tests and theatrics to check if I was crazy or if something was actually going on, I tapped the app and glared at the UI like it was my enemy.
[Status Window] [Trait List] [Skill List] [Inventory] [Gacha] [Start Leisure] [Manage Leisure]
---
[Character Summon] (Locked) [Quest List] (Locked)
The week of hell had been for nothing. Though if I gained anything, it was becoming a proper young man who fixed his reversed sleep schedule and went outside for fresh air.
“Should I be happy about this? No. Is this actually real?”
Answer: It is reality.
“.....”
The message hadn’t appeared during the week I left the app alone, but the moment I opened Leisure Life, it popped up like a ghost.
Answer: That thought is incorrect.
“I didn’t say anything. What are you, Big Brother?”
...Answer: No. There is no entity monitoring or controlling Kim Shin’s every move. To be clear... there will be no Truman Show scenario either, so don’t worry. Nor will there be developments like The Prisoner of the Long Orphan or The Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss from certain novels.
“.... Fuck.”
....
The system—or helper—didn’t respond to my muttered curse. I sighed and pressed my fingers to my forehead.
“Rather than that, can’t you just talk to me directly in my head like in other novels? With a voice only I can hear?”
.... One moment... Confirmed. Processing player Kim Shin’s request.
I narrowed my eyes at the message. There’s something higher up?
After waiting a while:
Answer: Player...
“Holy shit, you scared me!”
A sudden female voice echoed in my ears—or rather, inside my head. I jumped like a freshly caught fish. The helper paused, cut off by my startled reaction. I calmed myself like I had a week ago.
.... May I continue the explanation?
“Uh... yeah.”
This was awkward as hell.
Scratching my neck for no reason, I listened to the continued explanation.
Player Kim Shin’s request for mental and physical stability measures has been approved. I will now provide full support and assistance.
“Uh. Thanks... I guess?”
Answer: It’s fine. I exist solely for player Kim Shin.
“...Right.”
Listening to the helper explain that the interface had changed from phone-based to the status window commonly seen in novels and webtoons, I looked at my phone. The app had vanished. I coughed awkwardly at the discomfort of speaking to something that existed neither in front of me nor on a call.
“Uh. Sorry.”
It’s fine. Player Kim Shin’s reaction is rare but not unheard of.
Probably... right? I’m the normal one here?
After receiving that lukewarm reassurance, I heard the rest of the explanation.
“So in conclusion...”
I cut off the words leaving my mouth and swallowed them back down.
This is real, isn’t it?
The swallowed words seeped into my once-cold heart, awakening a childlike excitement that vibrated through me. A ticklish sensation spread from my ribs to every corner of my body. Tears welled up unbidden—something I’d never felt in my entire life. I clenched both fists, brought them to my chest, and pressed down on the joy again and again. Then I stretched out, flung my fists into the air like a stretch, and let the bottled-up happiness burst from my mouth.
“Ahahaha! Damn it! Goodbye to this shitty life!”
My laughter rang out like a battle cry, filled with bone-deep exhilaration. Just as I was savoring the feeling that the world was finally mine—
BANG!!! BANG!!
“Hey, you bastard!! What time is it?! Shut the hell up!!”
The angry pounding and shouting yanked my spirit back from heaven. I whipped my head toward the clock so fast my neck cracked. The time displayed made my spine chill as I gulped.
AM 01:20
“Ah.”