"What the hell?"
No matter how Ren turned his eyes away, the interface was constant, its presence naturally hanging in his vision.
"Wait...Amethyst? Is this the name of the place I was in?"
Then, below it was another line of words.
{Time-limited ability}
• Disguise: Alter outward appearance while preserving true nature.
Note: Only one disguise permitted.
{Time remaining: 23:54}
As he read the description, understanding bloomed in his mind like a suddenly recalled memory—the letters seemed to explain their meaning directly to his consciousness.
It would make him appear identical to the natives in others' eyes—a cosmetic illusion—while leaving his fundamental nature unchanged. He was still human underneath.
Like equipping a skin in a video game. Visible to others, but the character beneath remained the same.
"No wonder no one's staring at me. It's because of this."
Ren straightened unconsciously, relief loosening the knot in his chest.
Below the text was an image: a beautiful black-violet flower standing beneath a dark sky.
Ren frowned. The image triggered something—a sense of déjà vu, as if he'd seen it before, but the memory remained frustratingly out of reach.
Flower... Sky...
The more he studied it, the more familiar it felt. Then recognition clicked into place.
"Wait... The app from yesterday!"
Yes! The app he'd downloaded at the tea shop—the one he'd dismissed as potential malware.
The image of a flower beneath sunlight was still vivid in his mind. The connection was obvious now.
Though the flower's color, species, and background differed, the composition was essentially identical.
"Don't tell me..."
Understanding formed like puzzle pieces sliding together.
A theory crystallized—one that seemed utterly impossible.
After all, who would believe that a random app could transport someone to another world without warning?
But the more he considered it, the more sense it made.
He hadn't encountered anything unusual except that app.
"Wait! Is there a logout button?!"
Hope flared in his chest. If the app had caused this bizarre event, surely it must have an exit function, right?
Without hesitation, Ren searched for what he desperately hoped was the key to returning home.
Moving to the second page—
His attention snagged on something.
"Is this... a treasure chest?"
In the center sat a colorful chest, animated and glowing, practically begging to be opened.
*Ding!*
Then.
Huh?
Movement in his peripheral vision made him freeze.
At a nearby table, a girl sat down. Her hair was white, like spun silk, and she carried a faint fragrance he couldn't quite place—something floral with a hint of ocean. It reminded him of wild lilies touched by sea spray. Clean, refreshing.
As she moved, something warmer lingered—like sun-warmed skin, a soft vanilla that seemed to emerge only when she was close.
She wore a blue-white uniform, like everyone else, but with an intricate pattern embroidered on the chest.
Sensing his gaze, she raised her head and looked directly at him.
"Hello?" She smiled with easy warmth.
Caught off guard, Ren could only manage a stiff nod.
"Hi."
Her eyes lit up at his response. She shifted her chair slightly closer.
"Is it your first time here?"
"...Yes."
He spoke slowly, weighing each word carefully.
"I knew it! It's written all over your face."
She beamed, her smile blooming, and suddenly this alien place felt a little less hostile. At least there was civilization here—rules, culture, social norms. Not so different from home.
"So, what uniform is that you're wearing? It looks similar to mine... wait..." Her eyes narrowed with playful suspicion. "It's *exactly* the same!"
"Eh... Really..."
Ren played it off as naturally as possible.
"This girl is so energetic... Troublesome..."
He felt cornered by her questions, as if a spotlight had been turned on him. He worried that one wrong word would expose him. So he kept his responses brief and deliberate.
He could feel his hands grow colder with nervousness and his facial expressions becoming stiff as a rock.
Fortunately, salvation arrived.
"Asylia. Who is this?"
Another girl appeared, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulder as she took a seat at their table. Her presence immediately drew Asylia's attention away from Ren.
"Do you know him?"
Her voice was lower, cooler. Her gaze felt like frost when it passed over him, and her level stare only intensified the impression of coldness.
"I don't know him."
"Then why did you talk to him?"
"I just wanted to talk."
With her friend present, the girl—Asylia—turned away from Ren and properly repositioned her chair.
"Anyway, they said that the food today tasted even better than usual. I wonder why?"
"Maybe they added new spices? I'm not sure either. You could ask the teacher?"
"Forget it."
Their voices dropped to a murmur just beside him.
'Asylia? So that's her name.'
Ren didn't interrupt. He had mixed feelings—part of him enjoyed listening to their ordinary conversation, but his safety was obviously more important.
He couldn't afford to act suspicious here.
Though he wasn't sure if how he was acting right now was already suspicious.
Refocusing his attention, Ren noted with relief that Asylia hadn't reacted to the panel earlier. She couldn't see it.
Only he could see the interface.
"Now, how do I close this panel?"
The thought was barely formed before the panel vanished.
"So that's how it is."
The staff member had returned. Crystal-clear plates were carried by a floating sphere that radiated science fiction aesthetics—arms extending from both sides of its spherical body, with a glowing blue core at its center that pulsed between the gaps in its metallic structure.
"How does this thing float in mid-air?"
He studied it with fascination. Anti-gravity technology? Some kind of magnetic levitation?
"Dear guest. Thank you for waiting. Your order has arrived."
Ren nodded mutely.
As the mechanical arms lowered the plates to his table, he finally saw what his hasty selection had produced.
Arranged among various seasonings and garnishes was a tender piece of cooked meat—soft and bulbous, resembling an octopus or jellyfish, but with thicker tendrils.
Heat rose from the dish in delicate wisps, curling around his face.
He leaned closer and inhaled. His eyes widened.
It smells incredible.
"It's made from a unique species found in our region."
The staff offered a brief introduction before departing.
Staring at the steaming dish, Ren's mind caught on a crucial detail he'd overlooked.
"How am I going to pay for this?"
He patted his sides and chest, searching for a wallet or pouch.
"Yeah, it's empty. I don't have cash or any form of currency here."
Looking down, shock rippled through him as he realized his clothing had changed. He was wearing a blue-white uniform.
"What the hell? When did I put this on?"
He hadn't noticed earlier, even though Asylia had pointed it out.
"It looks like what that girl was wearing. Is it a school uniform?"
Ren's brow furrowed, then relaxed. If space-time travel was possible, then changing his clothes mid-transport seemed almost mundane by comparison.
He was already here. There was nothing he could do about it now. And he was hungry.
"Let's eat for now."
The texture was perfect—not too firm, not too soft, but precisely balanced in a way that felt almost luxurious. The taste was surprisingly familiar, yet distinctly alien.
"Do people here have the same taste buds as humans?"
Ren closed his eyes, savoring the bite, and surrendered the future to fate.
He felt like a prisoner on death row tasting his last meal.
"What do you think?"
The question came without warning, startling him. His spoon practically fell out of his hand but he quickly grabbed it and turned to look at who was speaking.
Asylia had leaned closer, flipping through an expensive-looking menu in her hands.
"Is it tastier than usual?"
The other girl had apparently gone somewhere, leaving Asylia alone once more.
"Oh!~ I forgot—it's your first time here. Silly me~ hehe~"
She knocked her head playfully, her expression so open and bright that the distance between them seemed to shrink.
"Yeah. Why *is* it tastier today?"
Ren seized the opportunity. She was his best chance to learn about his surroundings.
She opened her mouth to answer, then suddenly froze. Her body tensed. Her pupils dimmed but sharpened with focus.
In an instant, her entire demeanor transformed. It was like looking at a different person wearing the same face.
"Oh no."
Ren's expression froze. He felt a chill climbing up his back.
"...What's wrong?"
Nervousness crept into his voice.
"Wait. Did I somehow expose myself?! Is the disguise failing?!"
Panic churned in his gut. He frantically replayed their conversation, searching for whatever had given him away, desperate to fix it.
He summoned the panel. The disguise was still active.
"Damn! Let's just play it cool and ignorant."
"Actually, I—"
"Be quiet."
She cut him off, her glare sharp enough to silence him.
Her voice carried an edge of authority now, an unexpected command.
Seeing him comply, she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, her expression distant and focused, as if listening to something only she could hear.
"What is it?"
When she found nothing, her eyes opened.
Then she looked at him.
"Sorry. I was just thinking about something."
The apology was sincere, acknowledging her abrupt behavior.
"...No, it's okay..."
Ren didn't know what to say. The entire interaction felt surreal, his mind struggling to keep pace.
"Looks like I'm not exposed. Am I safe?"
"What happened just now?"
He asked tentatively.
She merely raised her eyes to meet his. Didn't answer.
"I have something to do. I'll leave you alone for now."
She stood and walked away, leaving Ren confused and alone at his table.
---
In a wide common area nearby, a holographic screen flickered to life, displaying footage of scenic wonders from across the region.
Then a sharp beeping sound cut through the ambient noise—the kind of sound that makes your stomach drop.
The screen flashed red with a warning triangle, and the narrator's voice shifted to urgent tones that immediately captured everyone's attention.
Those who had been admiring the underwater vista turned in surprise.
"What's going on?"
The narrator continued, each word carrying weight.
*The Regional Energy Surveillance Tower has detected a surge of unidentified energy in the eastern sectors. Primarily concentrated in Silver Coral City and Aresvale City.*
*A suspected biological weapon has been detected in Aresvale City. Authorities have ordered an immediate lockdown with an undetermined duration. Residents in affected areas are advised to remain indoors, secure all entrances, and store emergency supplies.*
The people in the room seemed to turn to stone, hanging on every word.
"It's actually in *our* city!" someone whispered.
*Currently, specialist teams are en route to assess the situation and develop containment protocols. Remain alert for further updates.*
Then—
Without warning, with a buzzing whine, the lights died. The holographic projection sputtered and vanished.
The entire space plunged into darkness.
Only the bioluminescent glow from the water provided any illumination.
The dim, eerie light revealed a spectrum of expressions—surprise, confusion, mounting fear.
The room temperature seemed to drop by a few degrees in an instant.