1st Person View | Solution's (5%) PoV
The "Immersion" feature kinda scares the hell out of me.
I understand exactly what it means. The higher I set the slider, the more my body sharpens into Solution's, but the more I slip. My thoughts are shaped like my characters', and somewhere in that process, the real me drowns a little.
At five percent, it's manageable. I still feel like myself — just… sharper.
But the moment I drag the slider back to zero, everything goes dull. My reflexes sag and my focus blurs. It's like stumbling out of a dream into a stranger's body. I hate it.
Which means high Immersion is a leash, a bargain of sorts. The more I use it, the more I risk turning into Solution. And unlike every manhwa I've read, that's not a scenario I've ever wanted.
I know the isekai tropes well. Usually, the protagonist transmigrates into another person's body but keeps their own mind intact.
Sometimes, the opposite happens: I recall reading a manhwa called "The Player Conceals Their Past!?" In that story, the game character that the protagonist created ended up hijacking the protagonist's body, completely taking it over.
The protagonist became a prisoner in his own body, just a ghost watching from the backseat as his character did what he wanted. Over time, his character adopted traces of the protagonist's humanity.
My case is the reverse. If I'm not careful, it won't be Solution learning from me, it'll be me dissolving into him.
And let's be honest: Solution is awesome. He's brilliant, ruthless, strong, precise, good looking, funny, charming—you get the idea. He's always thinking ten steps ahead, and never lets anyone outsmart him.
And is that useful? Yeah, sure.
But I like me better, and I'll be damned if I let my fictional character take over my body and mind. If I let that slider climb high enough, then maybe Nazario fades, and all that's left is Solution.
So yeah. That's the rule I carve into my head right now: keep the slider low. Zero, if possible. I'll raise it only if I have no other choice. Solution is already strong enough, and I don't need to literally lose myself to get stronger.
I take a long, steady breath, forcing the thoughts in my head to slow down before they spiral.
In the span of half an hour, the world has turned into a video game, I've become my own character — probably the strongest person in existence right now — and I've unlocked a feature that could strip away my humanity piece by piece.
That's a hell of a lot to swallow.
I'll make myself a promise: stay calm, and take things one step at a time. I'll figure things out as they come.
"Hey, Solution—sir—look at this." Scout's voice severs my train of thought. She's standing near the rooftop edge, her hand hovering in midair like she's pressing against something.
I push away from the ledge and walk over. At first, I don't see anything. Then, when the light hits just right, I notice it: a faint shimmer of crimson, only noticeable when you're about to touch it.
A barrier. It wraps the school in a nearly transparent dome, curving overhead until it vanishes into the sky.
Scout pulls her hand back, frowning. "It's solid. I can't get through."
A red barrier around the school, huh? Yeah, I've seen this before.
"That's pretty typical," I said. "We're stuck until the boss is dead."
Her face lights up. "A boss!? Like a raid boss?"
"Exactly," I say.
"Oh my God, that's amazing!" she blurts, bouncing up and down. "It's just like Sablethorn, or Hunter's Trial Wilds, or—oh! That one manhwa where the high school gets turned into a labyrinth, remember? They couldn't escape until they killed the Minotaur!"
I think she forgot I said I wasn't from earth; despite that, I barely stop myself from smiling. "You catch on fast."
She beams, chest puffing with pride. "Well, yeah. I read manhwa, you know; and manga. And watch movies. And play games, tons of them. If this really is like those stories, then you're right, we'll need to find the boss and take it out."
Her enthusiasm is radiating off her, and I gotta admit—it's kinda cute, in an endearing way. Before I can respond, she closes her eyes and mutters something under her breath.
When they snap open, her irises are glowing that vivid violet again. Hunter's Mark.
She scans the horizon with a grin. "If there's a boss hiding in here, I'll find it. My eyes are made for this."
Her enthusiasm makes me hesitate. The truth is, she's sharp. Eager, sure, maybe even reckless, but she's genuinely quick on the uptake. And she seems… nice. Really nice. Too nice for me to keep stringing her along with this NPC act.
I know the cliché well. The "secret identity" or "hidden personality" reveal always comes with fallout.
Anyone who's read a story with a grand reveal like that knows one thing—lies never last. But looking at her, I figure she'll understand why I had to do it. I'll tell her the truth after we deal with the boss. No need to lie to people longer than I need to, right?
For now, I force myself back into the role.
"Great. Then let's not waste time up here," I say. "The faster we end this, the faster we can reach the city. That's where we can try to find some real answers."
She pumps her fist. "Boss fight it is!" She grins at me. "You're incredible. I can't believe I get to learn all this from you."
The words sting a little.
I brush my hand against my revolver. "Boss fight," I echo. "Quickly."
With that, I motion for her to follow, and together we head back toward the stairs.
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◆ System Notice: [Immersion Feature]
The Immersion Slider adjusts synchronization between the user's consciousness and their in-game persona.
Higher settings grant significant stat amplification and instinctive combat proficiency. Side effects may include emotional disassociation, loss of personal memory, or behavioral override. Use only when necessary.
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