Declaration Of Extra Strike

 

A light tap on my leg made the suffocating weight on my chest lift, allowing me to finally take a deep breath.

 

“Gasp…!”

 

The darkness in my vision was replaced by the sound of children’s laughter. I inhaled sharply, looking around. Bright, colorful buildings, meticulously maintained flowerbeds, and people passing by with cheerful expressions filled the scene. In the distance, I could even make out amusement rides. The open view helped calm the trembling tension in my body much faster than I anticipated.

 

“This is… an amusement park?”

 

I’d never been to this place before, but somehow, it felt oddly familiar. The crowd around me moved like a distant mirage, completely unaware of my presence. Without realizing it, my feet began to carry me somewhere.

 

As I wandered, led by some unseen force, I found myself standing by a large lake at the center of the park. Scattered along the lakeside were white benches, and on one of them, someone was sitting. Even from behind, I knew it was me.

 

‘Am I… dreaming?’

 

Curious, I approached the bench. But as I got closer, an odd feeling crept in. When I finally stood in front of the figure, I realized what was strange. The downward gaze, the tight-lipped expression, the straight posture—it wasn’t just me sitting there. It was Joo Ho-hyun.

 

Joo Ho-hyun raised his head to look at me. We were identical in every way, but the moment we faced each other, I could sense how completely different he was from me. It wasn’t just his appearance—it was his whole demeanor.

 

“…What’s up with you?”  

 

“Sit down.”  

 

I stared at the guy who pointed to the spot next to him, then reluctantly plopped down a little distance away.  

 

Joo Ho-hyun was next to me. I had entered his body, living under that name, and had many questions, but it was as if someone had erased all my curiosities, big and small, so I found myself unable to say anything. Joo Ho-hyun, despite having invited me to sit next to him, also remained silent. Fortunately, the lively noise from the amusement park prevented any awkward silence from settling in.  

 

As we spent some time watching the sunlight sparkling on the surface of the lake, we both spoke at the same time.  

 

“You.”  

 

“Hey.”  

 

“…You go first.”  

 

It wasn’t anything special, but I scratched my head and said, “Seeing this way, we’re really good-looking, right?”  

 

“…”  

 

Joo Ho-hyun didn’t respond and turned his head away. What a dull guy. 

 

Laughing it off, I waved my hand dismissively and tapped the ground with the toe of my shoe as I said.

 

“Just kidding. But weren’t you dead? Are you a soul? Or just my imagination?”  

 

“…I am dead, actually. To be precise, I’m a thought form.”  

 

“Ah.”  

 

I nodded as if I understood, but I didn’t really grasp it. Whether a thought form or a soul, wasn’t it essentially the same? So why had he appeared in my dream?  

 

Feeling frustrated, I found myself speaking to Joo Ho-hyun with nothing but positive feelings. Was it because it felt like I was looking at myself?  

 

“Why did you come into my dream? What do you want?”

 

“…I have a favor to ask of you.”  

 

“What favor?”  

 

“Can you do it?”  

 

“I need to know what it is before I decide whether to help or not.”  

 

At that moment, a system window appeared before my eyes.  

 Quest Initiated!  [Joo Ho-hyun]: “I think you can do it. Protect Su-yoon.”   

I widened my eyes at the sight of Ryu Su-yoon’s name. Was this a quest related to Ryu Su-yoon? But how could I protect someone who was already dead? Before I could ponder that, another notification popped up.  

 「The answer for ‘Kang Eui-jin’ is being generated based on big data algorithms.」   「Complete!」   [Joo Ho-hyun]: “I think you can do it. Protect Su-yoon.”   ►Sure! I’ll protect her.   ►Why should I? It’s a hassle. Just go to the afterlife and leave me alone.   

I grimaced at the two options that were based on my data.  

 

‘Who do you think I am, a character with a broken personality…? When have I ever been like this?’  

 

In truth, my annoyance was greater, but the defiance against the system window that judged me arbitrarily was even stronger. I shot Joo Ho-hyun a sideways glare and asked.

 

“How am I supposed to protect him? He’s already dead.”  

 

Joo Ho-hyun grabbed my hand. The sudden action made me flinch.  

 

“You already have him. Hamal.”  

 

“Cloud? You don’t need to worry about that. I will protect Cloud even without a quest.”

  

“Thank you. I knew you would help, not anyone else but you.”  

 

I could have found Joo Ho-hyun’s trembling voice and determined expression strange, but since the fifth main quest had already been postponed, how could I refuse a request from its owner, Joo Ho-hyun? I thought that way, but…

 

What appeared before me, striking me like a blow to the back of the head, was a golden system window announcing the fifth main quest. At the same time, my hand, which was still clasped with Joo Ho-hyun’s, emitted a faint light.  

 

“I’ll return what’s yours.”  

 { Main Quest }  #5. ZODIAC SYSTEM Guardian   Conditions: Protect and guard the light of the constellations. If 10 or more Alpha Stars lose their light, you will fail.   *Remaining constellations: ▒ *Constellations under protection: 2 Difficulty: EX   Time Limit: ∞   Reward: Survival   Failure: Seven great disasters will be unleashed   

“What? Hey!!”  

To think Joo Ho-hyun’s request would mark the beginning of the fifth main quest! If I had known this would happen, I would never have accepted it so readily. Moreover, what about that glowing EX grade in the difficulty section? I was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all.  

 

“Is the EX grade actually real?”  

 

The EX grade was a legendary rank that was revealed to the world when scholars researching ancient scripts while exploring dungeon ruins discovered that there was another rank above S-class. However, no one knew under what conditions or with what kind of power it would manifest; it had never been found in any skill, item, or quest, and was merely a legend. 

 

I wasn’t foolish enough to believe in something without evidence; until now, I had dismissed the EX grade as nothing more than a joke!

 

‘It really exists… Then could it be that I’m the first to discover it?’  

 

If it were an illusion, it wouldn’t matter, but the fact that the golden system window was linked to a quest made it a very rare occurrence. It wasn’t strange for an EX grade to appear in this situation.  

 

The thought of being the first! An EX grade, which was legendary! My heart raced with excitement. 

 

However, when I rubbed my eyes with trembling hands and looked again, the reward seemed too insignificant compared to the grade, and the risks of failure were far too great.  

 

“The reward is what? Survival? Just survival? Are you kidding me? And what’s with the seven great disasters?”  

 

Moreover, the number of remaining constellations kept flickering, alternating between 5, 6, and 7, appearing and disappearing.  

 

The system, if nothing else, was not a negotiable entity. The risk of disasters of unknown extent was something to be avoided at all costs. It was regrettable to give up the opportunity to undertake the first EX grade quest, but it wasn’t something to weigh against the potential risks.  

 

Shaking my head as I looked at Joo Ho-hyun’s face, which was reflected behind the translucent system window, I said,  

 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do it.”  

 

“…”  

 

At my words, Joo Ho-hyun flinched. Then, as if he could see my system window, he stared at the same spot as I did. He bit his perfectly shaped lips and murmured silently.  

 

“What? I can’t hear you. What are you saying… Sorry? Are you saying sorry?”  

 

As Joo Ho-hyun avoided my gaze, a cheerful sound accompanied the appearance of a system window before me.  

 「Accepting the quest.」   

“What? Hey, when did I—! I said I wouldn’t do it…! I won’t! Cancel the quest! Cancel!!”  

 「This quest has already been accepted.」   

“Shit, this is ridiculous! I said I would cancel! It didn’t even say that I couldn’t refuse this time…”  

 

At that moment, the system window subtly shifted, adding small text beneath the risk section.

 

.

.

.

 Failure will trigger seven great disasters.   ※No Refusal Allowed. 

“Are you kidding me?!”  

 

As I started to thrash about, the system window exploded with notifications, as if to block my eyes and ears. Along with that, the surroundings darkened. The lakeside vanished, and my body was pulled into the darkness.  

 「This is the final stage of the linked quest. There are sub-quests depending on the progress.」   「Please meet the conditions.」   「[Kang Eui-jin] ⇄ [Joo Ho-hyun] are in a synchronized state. (Progress: 88%)」   

“If you succeed, you’ll be able to get everything back.”  

 

With Joo Ho-hyun’s voice echoing around me one last time, I was jolted awake, my eyes flying open.  

 

“……….Cancel it!!! I’m not doing it!”  

 

I had already exited the dream. Blinking, I turned my head, feeling my body heavy. Next to me was Han Seo-jin’s face, uncomfortably close.  

 

“Ah! Shi… You scared me.”  

 

I almost shouted but managed to quiet my voice. Han Seo-jin was sleeping, still holding me in an embrace. I remembered everything vividly, not having just woken up from a dream. The rude Han Seo-jin, the cramped room, and the door that wouldn’t open… 

 

Thinking back on it made my head throb. However, the scene before me was entirely different from that room. In fact, it felt comfortable, almost familiar.

 

Of course! This was Han Seo-jin’s house within the Seoul Center!!  

 

“What… What the hell! This doesn’t make any sense!”  

 

How did I end up at the Center?!  

 

Ignoring the arm that was resting on my chest, I threw it off and got out of bed. The layout of the room, the hallway and stairs that appeared when the door opened—it was definitely Han Seo-jin’s house!  

 

“Did you wake up?”  

 

Hearing Han Seo-jin’s voice from behind made me snap with anger.  

 

“Hey! Where the hell did you take me?!”  

 

Han Seo-jin, with a refreshed expression, ignored my words and got up, speaking as if nothing had happened.  

 

“Did you sleep well? I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t know you had a trauma about tight spaces. If I had known, I wouldn’t have put you in there. But it’s okay here since it’s spacious, right? It’s safe to be at home.”

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