You Took the Bait (2)
The game quality looked pretty solid overall. I hadn't actually played it yet, but the footage I'd seen online of streamers running through it felt well-made for a sequel. The streamer’s verdict was positive, and the general user reviews were decent too. For a game that had been out for a while, holding a 4.6 out of 5 was impressive enough to build some real anticipation.
Most of the comments praised how it perfectly scratched that seedy romance itch, which pretty much confirmed it was a masterpiece. If it wasn’t a god-tier game, nothing was. The overall consensus stayed positive; even people who complained still ended up praising it. So yeah, this was definitely a god-tier title. Of course, there were still plenty of detractors. Their complaints all boiled down to the same thing: the previous game had been a grim, hopeless dystopian RPG set right before the apocalypse, yet the sequel turned the former heroine’s little sister into an academy student living out a romance fantasy in what felt like an MMORPG dating sim. They were furious that the original cast had been reduced to background noise and didn’t hesitate to curse out the developers.
It was a fair enough opinion, so I couldn’t really argue. They just didn’t like the direction. Different tastes, that’s all.
“Still, I think it looks good.”
As long as I enjoyed it, everyone else’s opinions could take a hike. The idea of revisiting the old world while killing time with a fun game had already hooked me.
“It better be fun.”
While waiting for the download to finish, I slipped into one of the communities, skimming strategy guides and lurking through comment threads. I was scrolling absentmindedly when a particular post made me pause.
The thread left me with a strange feeling.
“...Leticia really was a popular character.”
I nodded, willing to admit what was obvious. I still couldn’t forget the overwhelming emotion I’d felt the first time I met her after waking up as a character who didn’t even exist in the original Damian Radius—lost and wandering the northern frontlines. It remained vivid in my mind: those purple eyes that looked down coldly from atop the snowfield, carrying both the dignity of a mage and the spirit of a warrior. The arrogant smile hidden behind an icy expression that declared her the ruler of the snow was captivating enough to steal anyone’s gaze. Even though the situation had been terrible.
Our first meeting had been full of misunderstandings that led to a fight to the death. But as time passed, our relationship gradually improved. Back then we still spoke formally to each other.
“Those are some memories.”
While I was lost in nostalgia, the download finished. I hurriedly launched the game. Skipping past the promotional video on the title screen, I let out a pleased laugh.
What character should I play? There were multiple options with completely different races and classes, making the choice difficult. Since the base framework was still a dating sim, maybe I should pick one with good base appearance that would look nice in different outfits.
“The customization is nice, but performance matters too.”
My friend had recommended mage or elf characters, saying they had great visuals and strong skills. Unfortunately, neither appealed to my tastes. At the end of the day, even if a character’s performance was a little weak, the best choice was always the one I wanted to play.
“I was a swordsman last time, so maybe a rogue this time?”
Rogues were nice. Stealth was useful, and nothing beat sneaking up behind someone and planting a knife in their back. I was humming cheerfully, smiling at the thought of enjoying a game after so long, when a particular female character caught my eye.
It was one I had never seen in any strategy guides or official art books.
“...Charlotte Cyclamen?”
I raised an eyebrow in confusion. I was certain I’d never seen this character before. Just to be sure, I compared her to the official homepage roster, but there was no female character with that name.
“She’s definitely beautiful, though.”
She looked like the type who would wear a decadent, chilly smile like falling winter snow. Her hair and eye color were different, but she somehow resembled Leticia. It was strange that a character designed to be popular with both male and female players had zero strategy guides or videos on the community forums, YouTube, or anywhere else. She had the kind of striking looks that usually made coordinate enthusiasts scream “I paid for this myself!” while showing off their outfits. What was going on?
“She looks incredibly gloomy, though.”
Her default illustration featured half-dead eyes overflowing with decadence and a tattoo running across her cheek. The expression that seemed to say the world has wronged me was just the cherry on top. If she were smoking a cigarette, the whole thing would scream noir.
“Whoa.”
She had the exact appearance that someone like me would go crazy for. My interest was officially piqued. I stared hard at the character named Charlotte, intrigued. Even though the game had MMORPG elements, making a female character this gorgeous in a dating sim—what were the developers thinking? It wasn’t like they were aiming for girls-love content. Or maybe they were. I burst out laughing at the absurdity.
“...Male characters are usually my thing, but damn, she really makes me want to raise her.”
There was a strange pull. Deciding it wouldn’t hurt to try her once, I read the short backstory written in the character description window.
"The Tragic Half-Demon"
Charlotte Cyclamen is a hybrid born to a human father and a demon mother. Despite being a half-demon, she was born with immense power and thus lived without discrimination in the dog-eat-dog Demon Realm. However, after her mother’s sudden betrayal led to the murder of her father, two younger siblings, and all her brothers, Charlotte attacked her mother in a fit of grief and rage—only to be defeated. In the end, her story concludes with her eternal sealing in Narak, the deepest pit of the Demon Realm. A tragic half-demon who hates her fellow demons yet feels conflicted love and hatred toward humans. The tale of a half-demon seeking the truth begins.
⟨ Remember that Charlotte Cyclamen excels in skill synergy and mobility. Now then, Player, would you like to take a bite? ⟩
The last paragraph felt a little weird, but I brushed it off. Maybe she was a new character. Still, she looked ridiculously strong. And cool as hell. Whether it was a dating sim or an RPG, a character with style was always the best choice. Plus, she had a transformation system with separate human and demon forms, meaning I could coordinate two completely different outfits. My inner fashionista was already burning up.
Without hesitation, I selected Charlotte on the character selection screen. It felt like I was being pulled toward her. Like I had to play this character.
“The whole half-demon thing does bother me, though…”
I frowned. Thinking back on the countless life-or-death battles I’d fought against demons on the frontlines, it wasn’t exactly a welcome choice. But this was just a game. Nothing more, nothing less. It wasn’t reality. There was no reason I couldn’t do it.
“It’s been years since I last played. Might as well enjoy something good.”
I clenched my slightly trembling hands, took a deep breath, and smiled.
Proceed with this character?
YES / NO
I immediately pressed YES. After that, I created a username, finished customizing, and smiled in satisfaction.
“This is it. This is perfect.”
It was the birth of a masterpiece. For her human form, I kept the default base appearance but changed the hair to black and the eyes to silver-gray. The tattoo under the eye combined with the lifeless silver gaze created a slightly creepy atmosphere, yet it somehow felt mystical. The demon form was even better. Long pink hair that reached her waist, heterochromatic eyes with red pupils, horns resembling a goat’s rising from her head, bat-like wings, and sharply pointed ears—she looked less like a demon and more like an ancient devil. The default outfit had a vintage, high-nobility feel that was nice, but… this was definitely going to require some cash shop purchases. I could already hear the sound of my wallet crying, but I told myself it was just my imagination.
“I absolutely can’t hold back.”
Bursting with anticipation, I pressed Start. The screen went black, then brightened again. Right as the prologue video began to play, my vision flipped upside down. Just like the first time I had been possessed, my sight flickered.
Huh?
Game starting. Welcome, Charlotte Cyclamen.
It called me by the character’s name instead of my username.
“This is—”
And welcome back to our world, Ryu Laon.
With that inorganic, mechanical voice that somehow felt eerily familiar, my consciousness sank deep into an endless abyss.