I Became the Mid-Boss Who Kidnaps the Heroines (1)
Total Clears: 999 Runs
Ending Achievement: 99.99%
"What a fucking insane game."
I cleared the game again today. But that final piece of the ending still wouldn't fall into place.
"This is such bullshit, for real."
I tossed the joystick connected to my PC and grabbed the mouse, scrutinizing the clear data records on the monitor screen.
"What the hell is the true ending, seriously."
The first time I cleared it, there was this thrill of peeking into the future my characters would face. But now? It was just a boring verification process, checking for any lingering variables.
"This one's basic in the main story route, this one I killed off this time, this one I tried killing since the save-her branch didn't unlock the ending last time..."
I quickly scanned the characters' endings. Those who stuck with the protagonist as comrades got happy conclusions. The ones who were comrades but died got bittersweet ones. And the recruitable allies who turned into enemies met tragic fates.
"Heroine issue? Or side male character? Fuck, what is it?"
I'd conquered all sixteen heroines differently each run. Gone down pure 1:1 romance paths, seen the full harem ending with every single one. Hell, even in the main story event where the heroines get kidnapped, I'd deliberately let them all fall to hypnosis and brainwashing.
Failure after failure after failure. Amid countless branching endings full of variables, I couldn't pinpoint that one missing piece.
A game that took at least ten hours even on speedrun, and I'd already seen 999 endings—but failed to unlock the main true one.
"......."
I sipped from a disposable pet cup of coffee, ice crystals thick on the sides, trying to wet my parched throat. But even the cool iced coffee couldn't wash away the frustration; the sweltering summer heat had turned it lukewarm, like burnt coffee bean water.
I'd poured so much focus into my playthroughs, yet still couldn't reach it. I fired up STEAM to check playtime—total clocked in at over 50,000 hours.
50,000 hours. If I'd worked part-time instead, minimum wage would've netted me over a hundred million. Anyone hearing this would sneer "50,000 hours wasted." But to me, those hours were pride, an investment.
"Rice farming's a bitch."
Click.
I opened the game company's site. Connected to the bold banner plastered there.
Clear 100% of Endings and Win 200 Billion Won!
200 billion won. People might scoff—what game company throws around 200 billion for promo? But this one actually had the cash.
'Hit it big with gacha, then pivoted to story games.'
A company raking in trillions yearly from character gacha. Was the CEO nuts, or just hyping their new title? Either way, he put up 200 billion as bounty.
Ten years ago. And no one's hit 100% yet.
-Isn't this a scam?
But the CEO went live on YouTube, showing 200 billion in cash locked in their vault. Inside: storage drives with all 100% clear data. He even roped in a legal clerk for the stunt: "If it's a scam, I'll donate my whole fortune to society."
That bold move? Skyrocketed sales for a visual novel RPG—highest ever. Ten years of revenue easily topped 200 billion, they say. From scam accusations back then to pro analyses of his viral marketing now.
But I don't care. I want the 200 billion.
'Reddit update?'
I hit the site with the biggest player traffic, game-linked account login. Checked the banner.
1. BB [99.99%] (-0.00%)
2. Strawberry Addict [98.81%] (+0.81% !!)
3. ThisShittyGameDontPlayIt [96.30%] (-0.00%)
4. 200BillionIsMine [95.32%] (+0.04% !!)
...
"Ah, fuck."
While I ground out 999 runs, the chaser below had crept right up my ass.
'That percentage? Two endings behind me.'
98.81%.
'I was around there at 960 runs.'
Hit a new route there, broke through, jumped to 99.99%. Second place breathing down my neck.
Yeah. If I were a scrub, I'd quit like anyone: "Fuck this trash game." But publicly? I'm rank 1.
Just one more ending. Scour the whole internet—no one knows it. Nail it, 200 billion's mine.
Problem: time left. Official site downplayed it, but community banners screamed it.
D-Day. This goddamn race has a deadline.
CEO's limit closing in—under four weeks now. Millions challenged worldwide, quit. Now just a handful like me—"hooked" obsessives—grinding to death.
"25 days... enough to burn it all?"
Checked clock: Sunday, 3 AM. No work today, good. But rechecking 999-run variables and replaying? Weekend over.
Back to rat race: wake, subway, 90-min commute, office till sunset, home. Repeat.
'Quit job, grind 25 days straight?'
If 200 billion guaranteed? Everyone'd drop everything, glue to monitors.
"Still some buffer... wait, fuck no."
Thought next weekend or PTO for leeway—
Second place just quit the 200 billion race.
Par for the course. Before I jumped in, folks a year ahead bailed one by one.
"You madman."
This guy's lost it. Words slipped out, but I couldn't stop the data dump.
Not save files. But follow the strategies? Anyone climbs to second in time. Old players wipe their clears? Even faster shots.
"Hah, for real."
Everyone spamming "lololol" thinking they grabbed opportunity. But some "lol"s aimed elsewhere.
Mockery at me.
"......."
Soon cyber mob makes it global. Millions of gamers—maybe normies too—scratch at 200B lotto.
Hiring pros with cash. Point proven.
"......."
Quit? Game enjoyed as game, event as event?
"Fuck it."
Time's equal for all anyway.
"One free run for fun, then strategy from 1001."
Second might bluff, hunt big data sneaky. But two endings behind still.
'1000th run though.'
I didn't start for 200B. Post-work boredom, curiosity.
'Whatever, play loose.'
Ignore endings, play free.
....
....
....
"...Huh?"
New route.
"Wait, what?"
New conclusion.
"......No way, insane?"
New. Ending.
Total Clears: 1,000 Runs
Ending Achievement:100%
"......?"
I saw the ending. One I'd never glimpsed—totally new.
Beep.
Phone alarm blared.
"Channel... emergency live?"
Game company channel alert: live stream started. Title: '100% Clear Player Appears!' Like announcing an event winner.
To me, obvious. To others? Gold rush.
-200B OWNER DROPPING!!
Thud, thud.
"Hello, players."
CEO appeared himself. Same bald dome as ten years back, faint smile facing camera from vault front.
"Moments ago, a player unlocked the final ending on our servers. As promised, we'll pay them 200 billion won."
"......No way."
Lie, right?
"The first to 100% endings is... 'Bir.D.Blue'."
"Insane."
BB. Not my Reddit alias—my STEAM-linked nick.
"Player who enjoyed every ending we prepared. We have one more gift for you."
Kind smile twisted. Hand extended forward.
Godly Domain: Blue Flames
Snap of fingers.
"......?"
World engulfed in blue flames. Consciousness faded.
Enjoy the DLC.
So, yeah.
Lots to say, but in three lines:
Cleared the visual novel RPG promising 200 billion for 100% endings.
Moment I saw it, CEO snapped fingers at me on live stream.
Got isekai'd.
"......Three more lines."
Not protagonist, heroine, or side character.
Mid-boss. Kidnaps heroines, tries brainwashing, gets killed.
That's me. Fuck.