Dear Diary,
This man named Buck is extremely irritating.
I don't know how long I can deal with him.
I do wonder…
During my journey I've met Kang Jaehyun — someone I don't quite understand —
and then another one called Buck, what a strange individual.
Someone who genuinely claims to be "the main character."
I don't think I've ever met someone so deluded before.
That's strange.
I feel like I've met people before these two…
but I don't quite know who.
— Kwon Sohyun
Floor 6 — Cleared
It was full of skeleton cats that summoned mini paper puppets.
Weird floor. Quiet, too.
Kwon was upset.
She wouldn't touch any of them, even though they were clearly monsters.
So Buck and I dealt with it.
I actually felt bad.
Buck closed his eyes the whole time, muttering he was "a cat person."
Went from acting tough to… something completely different.
Made me realise that in one way or another, all three of us are similar in some ways.
Floor 7 — Cleared
This one was strange.
It was the first time I've seen Kwon genuinely angry.
Terrifying, honestly.
Me and Buck didn't even need to do anything.
The thing called itself a "siren"—
a very big fish woman that moved like it was beautiful…
but it looked like a blobfish.
Kwon sliced it down in one go.
Didn't even hesitate.
She just looked disgusted.
This World Tree is a strange place.
Floor 8 — Present
A wide patch of grass stretched out before them, surrounded by tall trees.
Above them, the ceiling wasn't a ceiling at all.
It was a sky.
Blue. Bright. Beautiful.
Kang blinked.
…the sky?
Buck gasped.
"Are we outside?"
Kwon looked around, eyes slightly wide.
"How big is this place…?"
They walked deeper in.
No monsters.
No threats.
Just open space and—
Smoke.
Kang narrowed his eyes.
Not fire.
Not incense.
Vapor.
A man sat in the center of the field, legs crossed, lazily exhaling a long stream into the air.
Above his head:
Chris [NPC]
Short, scruffy purple hair.
Dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days.
Clothes straight out of an old Japan era — classic JRPG vendor aesthetic.
The man yawned.
"Yo. You kids want some gear?"
A system window slid open in front of Kang.
SYSTEM POP-UP
Buy Items?
Yes
No
Kang tapped Yes.
The world flickered.
A scroll of items unfolded in front of him like a shop menu dragged straight out of an old JRPG.
Black Blade
Level 60 Requirement
Price: ???
You do not meet the requirements to analyse this item yet.
Naginata
Level 30 Requirement
Price: 50 Hex Cores
???
You do not meet the requirements to see this item yet.
???
You do not meet the requirements to see this item yet.
???
You do not meet the requirements to see this item yet.
A soft chime echoed.
You have 100 Hex Cores remaining…
Kang frowned to himself.
Hex Cores…?
"I guess this is this world's currency," he muttered under his breath.
Kwon glanced over. "Huh?"
She clearly tried to catch what he said, but he didn't repeat it.
Buck dragged a hand down his face, sounding like he was physically suffering.
"Bro… the Black Blade sounds so cool…"
Chris took a slow pull from his vape, exhaled like he had all the time in the world.
"If you can't afford it now," he said lazily, "don't you worry, kids.
I show up everywhere."
He stretched his arms as he stood, posture loose, casual —
a man who looked like he was in his early thirties,
bored, half-awake, and completely unbothered by their presence.
"Save up," he added, tapping ash off the end of his vape.
"And spend wisely."
A loud rush of water echoed from the floor above—
like a waterfall crashing so hard it made the sky tremble.