NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Prologue
I had been able to see ghosts since I was young.
It hadn’t caused any particular harm.
The ghosts didn’t inflict any damage, and in fact, there were often benefits to it.
Like telling me answers on a test.
Or pointing out fallen coins.
Or letting me know there was a cute cat nearby.
Still, it was a useless ability, so I kept it hidden from others.
Should I have tried being a haunted house streamer or something?
But then…
“—Hey? Can you see me?”
Why could I suddenly see ghosts inside a game?
Chapter 1
0.
The year was 20XX.
It was the dawn of a revolutionary era—the invention of virtual reality.
And with it came the first game based on this new technology.
Eternal World.
Under the grand title of “The Eternal World,” this game captivated and enamored a global audience of over two billion players.
Behind this marvel was the genius developer who not only pioneered virtual reality but also built a groundbreaking game from it: Park Won.
Upon releasing Eternal World, he made a declaration:
“Eternal World is another reality, an eternal world. Anything your brain can accomplish in reality can also be replicated in this game. Even if you possess supernatural abilities, those too will manifest here.“
He boldly claimed that players could do anything in Eternal World that they could do in real life.
The claim resonated with the players—no, they even praised it as something beyond imagination.
Anything the brain could conceive was possible.
That was the ultimate feature of Eternal World.
1.
Yoo Seonghyeon had been able to see ghosts since childhood.
He couldn’t remember exactly when it started—it had always been part of his earliest memories.
Not that it ever caused him harm.
“Hey kid, there’s a 500-won coin over there!“
“Oh my! Seonghyeon, if you go that way, there’s a cute little cat waiting for you!“
The ghosts were always kind to Seonghyeon.
So there was no reason to fear them.
On the contrary, they often helped him.
For as long as he could remember, seeing ghosts had felt so normal that he initially assumed everyone else could see them too.
But as he grew older, he realized he was the only one.
And like any parents, his worried mother and father took action when they learned their child could see ghosts.
First, they brought him to a psychiatrist, as they didn’t believe in such things.
But the psychiatrist merely reassured them:
“Your child’s brain and overall health are completely normal.“
When that didn’t yield answers, they turned to shamans reputed to be highly skilled.
Desperation made them willing to try anything.
But most of the shamans were frauds.
“Ah! The ghost is right above the boy’s head!“
“Huh? It’s not over my head, it’s on your shoulder, lady.“
“Eek!“
No one but Seonghyeon could actually see the ghosts.
Perhaps due to this unique ability, Seonghyeon quickly gained fame in the neighborhood as “the kid who sees ghosts.”
But he didn’t mind. It was true, after all.
To him, lying about it would have felt worse.
Yet as time passed, Seonghyeon realized something:
Sometimes, a lie was necessary.
When he was young, he didn’t understand how much his family suffered from the judgmental stares and whispers directed at them because of him.
And so, for the first time in his life, Seonghyeon lied.
“Mom, I don’t see them anymore.“
He said it because he didn’t want his parents or his sister to suffer any longer.
After moving far away, his family began living in harmony.
His sister, Yoo Mina, doted on him, and their parents poured their love into both siblings.
They were the picture of a happy family, loved wherever they went.
Although the ghosts still talked to him, Seonghyeon only responded when he was alone.
And while their guidance often proved useful, he kept his ability a well-guarded secret.
Only his sister Mina knew the truth.
Because of his experiences with ghosts, Seonghyeon developed a calm, unshakable personality.
He rarely got startled, always maintaining a composed demeanor.
It was a trait that earned him popularity among his friends.
“Hey, Seonghyeon, you know about this, right?“
“Huh? How did you know what I was going to say?“
“You’re talking about that 10,000-won bill you found on your way here, aren’t you?“
“Wha—?! How did you know?!“
This mysterious aura added to his appeal.
He grew up well—so well, in fact, that the only downside might have been his flawless health, which ensured he served in the military as a top-tier active-duty soldier.
When he returned home after his service, Seonghyeon’s typically calm demeanor wavered slightly as he stared at his sister Mina.
“What is that?“
“Oh! You noticed! Seonghyeon!“
“If I didn’t notice, wouldn’t that mean my eyesight was bad enough to get me exempted from the military?“
“Don’t ruin the mood! Look! This is the latest model of a VR capsule!“
Ignoring his reaction, Mina seemed overly excited about the massive device she had installed in his room.
“A capsule?“
Even during his military service, Seonghyeon had heard of virtual reality and the game based on it.
But why was it in his room?
His once spacious room now felt cramped with the capsule taking up one corner.
When he looked at Mina with slight exasperation, she grinned.
“Hehe! No need to thank me! It’s a gift for my little brother’s discharge!“
“I don’t need it, though.“
“What?! Why not?! People would kill to have one of these!“
Though Mina’s enthusiasm might have deflated under normal circumstances, she knew her brother well enough to shrug it off.
And Seonghyeon knew his sister well enough to chuckle and let it go.
She had bought it for him out of genuine care, so he couldn’t bring himself to criticize her.
“Well, if it’s a gift, I’ll accept it. Thanks.“
“Hehe, and look at this!“
Mina showed him a familiar video—an interview with Park Won, the genius developer of Eternal World.
In the video, the famous line played:
“Even if you possess supernatural abilities, those too will manifest here.“
When Mina saw Seonghyeon’s confused expression, she leaned in and whispered:
“Doesn’t that mean you can see ghosts in the game too?“
Seonghyeon stared at her blankly and deadpanned:
“Mina… there’s no such thing as cyber ghosts.“
“I-I knew that!“
Embarrassed, Mina retreated to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Shaking his head, Seonghyeon thought about how his once-bullied sister had turned into a paranormal fanatic.
Later that night, as he browsed videos about Eternal World, Seonghyeon spotted something peculiar.
In the middle of a gameplay video, a faint, smoky figure appeared—its form shifting like broken pixels.
A figure he knew all too well.
“Why can I see a ghost… inside the game?“