The sudden announcement of Hunter Lee Jehee, the Master of Yeolmu Guild, calling off his engagement has left many citizens both surprised and puzzled.
It's been just over a month since the engagement was announced, and numerous individuals have contacted the guild seeking clarification on this news.
However, the guild has remained tight-lipped, only fueling suspicions further.
Hunter Shin Sora is currently confirmed to be in seclusion, cutting off all communication with the outside world, while Master Lee Jehee is attending the World Hunter Union Conference, making it difficult to reach him...
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"What's going on...? Is this some kind of reality show?"
The anchor's grave tone didn't quite match the usual content of a comedy show. It was clearly news, but the story was unbelievably absurd. Guild, hunter, master—these terms were too ludicrous to be taken seriously.
Could such nonsense be broadcasted on the news, a platform that should prioritize public interest and fairness? Moreover, what was up with the names Lee Jehee and Shin Sora? They were the names of the main characters in the game I had immersed myself in until just yesterday, prompting me to burst into laughter.
"Has the news gone completely bonkers...? Hold on a moment, Lee Jehee from Yeolmu Guild?"
I tilted my head, an unsettling sensation creeping up the back of my neck. I had encountered the name Hunter Lee Jehee countless times in the game 'D-Rank Hunter's Regression.' With a stern expression, I examined the hunter's badge in my hand once more.
I slowly raised my gaze to the TV screen and absently muttered, "Status window."
Yeon Seonwoo Lv. 52
Trait Rank: C-Rank
Primary Trait: Supporter
Secondary Trait: Mentalist
Awakening Trait: - (Non-Awakened)
Physical Attack: 52
Magic Attack: 204
Physical Defense: 82
Magic Defense: 30
Abnormal Status Resistance: 1,052
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I sat there, utterly stunned, as I gazed at the board hovering in the air. The Yeolmu Guild, Lee Jehee, Shin Sora, the hunters, and this transparent, blue-tinted board that materialized when I uttered the words "status window." It was all an exact replica of what I had seen in D-Rank Hunter's Regression—a game known for its insane freedom but lack of a save function, making it incredibly challenging.
"This can't be happening...."
My eyes instinctively darted back to the TV screen. There, a strikingly handsome man, uncannily resembling the 3D character from the game, waved his hand. Below him, the caption read, 'Master Lee Jehee departs to attend the World Hunter Union Conference.'
Was I going insane, or had the world taken a turn for the surreal?
Without wasting another second, I hastily grabbed my phone and connected to the internet. My fingers raced across the keyboard, typing in keywords like Hunter, Guild, and Lee Jehee into the search bar. Articles popped up, depicting Lee Jehee as a living, breathing person.
It was utterly mind-boggling.
How was this even possible? Lee Jehee was unquestionably the protagonist of the game I had been playing. The very title, 'D-Rank Hunter's Regression,' was a direct reference to the game's central character, Lee Jehee. It followed a typical storyline where you assumed the role of Lee Jehee, gathered allies, leveled up, and ultimately saved the world from impending doom.
I, too, was a player who had experienced the game's ending.
In a virtual realm offering an abundance of choices, I had single-mindedly pursued the affection of Shin Sora, disregarding the favorability of other characters. Consequently, in the game I played, they had become engaged in the ending. As someone who held a deep affection for Shin Sora among all the game's characters, it had been immensely gratifying.
Even though I hadn't explored all the possible endings, I had considered it a fitting conclusion to my gaming journey. However, the news now reported that Lee Jehee and Shin Sora's engagement had been broken. This revelation came as the first search result when I looked up Lee Jehee.
If this was indeed factual, then that meant...
"…Are you kidding me?! Am I now trapped within the very game I once played? And not just any game, but one that has already reached its conclusion?!"
The moment this realization dawned on me, I clutched my head in sheer disbelief and let out a piercing scream. It was a surreal and unbelievable truth, but it was my new reality.