Abandoned House Exploration (1)
A brilliant light erupted as the holy sword pierced my life vessel.
"It's over, Necromancer King!"
The hero, clad head to toe in gleaming silver full plate armor, shouted with majestic authority. There was no hesitation in his voice, no guilt, no despair or frustration. It was filled with pure hope—the firm belief that slaying this scourge upon the world would soon bring peace.
How enviable.
I wanted a life brimming with that kind of hope, too. I never asked to be summoned by a dark sorcerer, forced to learn necromancy, and branded the enemy of the world!
"I curse you... Hero...!"
You, who achieved the dream I longed for.
"Even in death, I'll resent you...!"
Even as my soul began to dissipate, even as my mind grew hazy, I spat ugly jealousy at the hero.
"I wanted... to be a hero, too...!"
"Whoa, really?"
"Yeah, I wanted a holy sword... Huh?"
It was cold.
A dagger flew into my chest. As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw our Korean teacher smirking down at me, rolling up his textbook and tapping it against his shoulder like he was saying, Let's see how long you keep this up.
"I see. So our Seorin wanted to be a hero, huh?"
Hahaha! The class erupted in laughter at the teacher's mutter, like a chorus.
The moment the laughter hit my ears, I bolted upright.
"Just let it slide this once."
"That's the third time this week alone, isn't it?"
"Oh, that many?"
"Sigh."
The teacher lightly tapped my head with the rolled-up textbook and turned away.
"I get that you've been buried in studies and finally picked up a hobby like games or novels, but moderation, okay? I won't say anything about messing around at home, but at least study in school."
"...Sorry."
"Alright."
Class resumed, and I stared down at the Korean textbook—ugh, drool stains. I pulled tissues from my bag, wiped the spit off the book and the corner of my mouth, then focused on the teacher's voice.
A little later, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. The teacher waved and left.
Then came footsteps approaching me, like they'd been waiting.
"Seorinang~"
Lee Ha-eun. Dyed blonde hair, skirt hiked up so high her thighs were practically on display, long nails decked out with pink bling—she looked every bit the delinquent high school girl. Add a cigarette dangling from her lips and a tough boyfriend by her side, and she'd be the full package.
But she only looked the part. In reality, she was sweet. The kind who'd go out of her way to look after a total bookworm with zero friends.
"You were hilarious just now, pfft! What was that? You playing fantasy games these days?"
"Games... Well, I do enjoy some fantasy."
"Whoa, our school's poster girl for perfect student Baek Seorin is finally getting a hobby! Good call! There's so much fun stuff out there in the world—especially at our age, when we should be living our youth. Wasting it all on studying would be such a shame! What game? If you're curious about anything gaming-related, hit me up! You know I'm a pro gamer!"
I looked up at Ha-eun's passionate rant and let out a small chuckle.
Honestly, it still didn't feel real. That I was living an ordinary high school life in South Korea... It was so dreamlike that I half-feared waking up to find myself not in Baek Seorin's body, but back as the Necromancer King of that other world.
I'd been your average middle-aged guy in South Korea. I'd long forgotten my original name. Vaguely, I remembered having a family and living decently happily. Then I got summoned by a necromancer from another world, spent centuries as an undead... and somehow ended up as the infamous Necromancer King.
I figured that was the end after the hero's holy sword pierced my weakness, but when I came to, it'd been about a month since I awoke in this body... Baek Seorin's body.
"Anyway, how are your parents these days...?"
"Oh, yeah. They're cool now—they said from here on out, I can do whatever I want."
"Phew, glad to hear it. Truth is, I held back on saying it before, but your folks were way too much. When I first saw you, I thought, If they leave her like this, she's gonna snap for real."
"Ahaha..."
I wasn't entirely sure, but from what I gathered, the original owner's parents—Baek Seorin's—had been classic helicopter parents. They even made her get permission to make friends... and constantly nagged her about getting into S University. No wonder she had no friends. If Ha-eun hadn't made a point of reaching out, Baek Seorin might still be friendless.
But a month ago, the real Baek Seorin tried some internet ritual, abandoned her body, and fled with just her soul. Her mom walked in on it by chance, and they found her diary spilling all the pain her parents had caused... It crushed them.
I, now in Baek Seorin's body, spent two weeks in therapy and resting at home. Her parents reflected on their actions and decided to loosen up.
Too late, though.
This was the treatment the real Baek Seorin deserved. But she'd already left.
You fool... Why'd you run off so rashly?
If you'd just told them you were suffering and needed a break, you might've had this freedom instead of me...
I pitied the real Baek Seorin.
"Oh, right! Seorin!"
"Yeah?"
"We're friends, right?"
"Uh... yeah? Friends?"
"Friends help each other out in tough times, right?"
"Y-yeah. Sure."
What was this? The free friendship trial period ending, now requiring payment to renew?
"Then check this out for me?"
The moment I nodded, Ha-eun whipped out her smartphone screen.
The screen showed a thumbnail: a cute blonde mini-girl character sweating bullets in a The Scream pose, staring left—where a roulette wheel spun wildly.
I glanced between the blonde character and Ha-eun. They looked extremely alike.
"...Is this you?"
"Yup! Didn't I mention? I stream games as Mirinae. Argh, you forgot again!"
"Sorry."
Ha-eun showed me the last part of her 10-minute YouTube video, starting from the online roulette spin.
"Ah, aaaah! Nooo! Please, anything but abandoned house exploration!! God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Olympian Twelve—spare me from the haunted ruins!!"
Ha-eun—Mirinae—in her school uniform wailed at the roulette on screen. For reference, the wheel had six options:
1. Eat nuclear spicy ramen
2. Maid outfit flash at the Han River
3. One hour straight Zero Two cosplay and Zero Two
4. Abandoned house exploration
5. Clear a trash game with no continues, no walkthroughs
6. Bunny girl cosplay 24-hour camwhoring
Down in the bottom left, viewers enjoying Mirinae's reactions flooded the chat.
"Reverse bunny? You little shit, banned."
Mirinae chatted happily with viewers but kept side-eyeing option 4.
"Um... can we skip abandoned house? They say trespassing ruins is illegal now. Doesn't fit my stream image either, right?"
"You evil bastards!!"
After venting at the viewers who refused to drop the abandoned house option, Mirinae let out a deep sigh and limply moved her mouse.
"Fine, what're the odds? One out of six... like 18% tops?"
"Ugh, ganging up over one math slip-up! Whatever, let's go!! Gazuaaaaa!!"
The roulette spun fast. Mirinae squeezed her eyes shut, praying in a little voice: "Please no 4. Please no 4."
The chat exploded with viewers rooting for their faves.
The wheel slowed... then more...
Click. Click. Click.
When the needle stopped dead.
It pointed to—4. Abandoned house exploration.
"Kiyaaaaaaaah!!!"
"Ah, aaaah, nooooo!!"
The screen froze on Mirinae striking her The Scream pose.
I looked up quietly at Mirinae—no, Ha-eun.
"Seorin!"
Ha-eun dropped to her knees in front of me, grabbing my hands tight.
"Abandoned house solo is terrifying! I can't go alone! Please!"
Her doe eyes pleaded with me.
"Come with me to the ruins!"