**Precaution Note:**

Before reading the following content, please note the following:

1. **Content Sensitivity:** This narrative includes explicit descriptions of sexual themes and may not be suitable for all audiences.

2. **Emotional Impact:** Expect intense scenarios and complex emotional dynamics throughout the story.

3. **Mature Themes:** Themes of attachment and seduction are explored within a simulated gaming context.

4. **Psychological Considerations:** Remember that the characters and events are fictional and may not reflect reality accurately.

5. **Self-Care:** Prioritize your well-being while reading. Take breaks if needed and seek support if discomfort arises.

6. **Informed Consent:** By reading further, you acknowledge these precautions and consent to continue at your discretion.

Thank you for your understanding and take care while engaging with the content.

Sincerely,

            Tl Bree

Chapter 01. For Your Misfortune

 

* * *

 

The reddened eyes, bathed in sunlight, blinked downward momentarily before lifting up in awe. They were enchanting and captivating, never tiring to behold.

 

The vast coastline sparkled like emeralds. Innocent children and lovers frolicked there. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the inn. And in the distance stood the grand and lofty palace.

 

The nobles would once again attend the royal banquet today, showcasing their glamorous dresses and uniforms. This kingdom, abundant in resources, was a paradise for tourists.

 

The kingdom of Lannu (a fictional ancient country, the tutorial location in the game “For Your Misfortune”) was undoubtedly the land of the gods.

 

Three years ago, Dia also marveled at the scenery pouring into her sight as she journeyed to the kingdom of Lannu.

 

Her homeland was the Hittite Empire. In the desolate Hittite lands, one couldn’t witness such lush landscapes.

 

However, this arid land. The flowing grains and colorful fruits. How splendid it was compared to the barren and cold Hittite Empire.

 

Taking a bite of the bright red apple, Dia indulged in the momentary pleasure.

 

Ah, if only she could stay in Lannu forever…

 

“Dia, urgent announcement.”

 

But her reverie was shattered by the urgent voice of a man.

 

The interrupter’s name was Khan Heramut. He was a royal bodyguard and had been accompanying Dia during her journey. His chest was drenched in sweat, likely from the hurried run.

 

Dia was bewildered. Not only was it an announcement after three years, but it was also labeled as urgent. And to top it off, it was in Lannu, far away from Hittite.

 

“Are you mistaken? It’s still far from the time to return…”

 

“It’s urgent.”

 

Khan knelt before her with a somber expression. Only then did Dia realize he wasn’t joking.

 

Before she could shake off her unease, Khan delivered the grim news.

 

“Tabarna has passed away.”

 

Tabarna. That term referred to the emperor in the Hittite Empire. That meant Anaya was dead. The young empress, and Dia’s only blood relative.

 

“My, my sister is dead?”

 

“Dia, please.”

 

As Khan lifted his head to look at Dia, she felt a sudden chill.

 

Had this man ever looked at her like this before? With such a firm gaze?

 

The eerie atmosphere lingered. Time seemed to rewind like fate. She had a premonition.

 

Something terrible was about to happen.

 

“Dia, you have been granted the right of succession.”

 

As Khan finished speaking with a deliberative tone, strange characters floated into Dia’s vision.

 

[SYSTEM: Tutorial End. Entering Character Common Route.]

 

Her dazed mind began to work quickly. Memories she had forgotten for a while resurfaced. Finally, the reason for her presence here became clear.

 

[Will you accept the right of succession?]

 

[Yes/No]

 

Skipping the tutorial could indeed increase the immersion and understanding of the game, as they said. She had almost completely forgotten that this was inside a game. No, even if that were true, this game…

 

[Will you accept the right of succession?]

 

[Yes/No]

 

[Time limit: 10 seconds… 9 seconds… 8 seconds…]

 

So, this game was nothing but a high-level hardcore filled with bad endings and immorality…

 

[Time limit: 5 seconds… 4 seconds… 3 seconds…]

 

In other words, it was a fixation love simulation game devoid of hope, dreams, or morality… She hadn’t even considered that…

 

* * *

 

Seo Jia was the one and only launcher in South Korea. In the past, a launcher referred to a mediator program for running games or patches. But now, it meant “Virtual Reality Game Immune.”

 

Here, virtual reality referred to the Second World inside the human brain connected to computer language.

 

When the technology was made public, it garnered global attention and attracted investments. However, there was one fatal problem: the instability of most people’s brain waves posed significant risks when directly connected to programs.

 

So, various virtual reality companies sought out individuals who could handle their Second World creations, which eventually settled into the profession known as “launchers” today.

 

To put it nicely, they were beta testers for virtual reality games; to put it harshly, they were guinea pigs for game companies’ experiments.

 

Mainly, launchers connected to games to explore paths for stabilizing brain waves or remove anxiety-inducing bugs. For virtual reality games that even had demo versions, they also wrote strategy guides, as playing without one was nearly impossible due to the intricate and complex algorithms of the games.

 

Among them, Jia was a launcher who boasted a full clearance in the field of virtual reality games related to romance. Being a Korean launcher in a country with limited investment in the science field also made her a rare gem.

 

Was that why? She received a suspicious email amid her successful career.

 

Surprisingly, it was an email in Korean. Considering that most of her clients were foreign companies, this was quite unusual. However, there didn’t seem to be any particular virus in this suspicious email.

 

Sender: Tempt Co., Ltd. [Anase@temptgame.co.kr]

 

Title: Request for Strategy Guide Production for Tempt’s Unreleased New Game

 

Content: Hello, Ms. Seo Jia. I am Moon Tae-eul, the responsible developer at Tempt Co., Ltd.

 

The reason for contacting you is to recruit you as the launcher for our upcoming game.

 

The game is a virtual reality romance simulation game created directly using artificial intelligence. You can find brief information about the game in the attached file.

 

We will meet to discuss the detailed contract terms. Of course, you will not be disappointed with the compensation.

 

Please contact us.

 

At the end of the email, there was contact information provided.

 

Tempt Co., Ltd. was a completely unfamiliar game development company. Even after searching on portal sites, there were no informative articles. There were only a few blog posts waiting for the website and the new game.

 

Jia began to feel a bit uneasy. Most domestic virtual reality game companies started with a big bang but failed to complete the game due to budget constraints.

 

Above all, for a romance simulation, the tactile and motion sensors had to be programmed with such precision that they matched human sensations, and there were few developers in the country with that technology.

 

Jia narrowed her eyes. Normally, she would have just chuckled and passed by such an email. However, there was a phrase that caught Jia’s attention.

 

“They claim to have implemented artificial intelligence…?”

 

Artificial intelligence, also known as the realm of the divine. If virtual reality became a dense world, artificial intelligence created the Second Humans that made up that world.

 

This was still a subject of research, requiring at least another 10 years to reach the commercialization stage. But to think that a mere startup company claimed to have implemented artificial intelligence. Could it be true?

 

Jia hesitated for a moment, then clicked on the reply button on the left side of the email.

 

If you could provide the office address, I will visit.

 

As she finally hit send, a smile spread across her lips.

 

Developer Moon Tae-eul. Are you a god, or just a failed amateur?

 

Her curiosity sparkled brightly.

 

* * *

 

The next late afternoon, Jia went to the address she received via email. Surprisingly, it was a high-rise building located in the middle of the most expensive street in the area.

 

She thought perhaps they had rented only one office space, but that was not the case. Tempt Co., Ltd. occupied all floors except for the first and second, where there was a coffee shop.

 

“We’ve been expecting you, Ms. Seo Jia.”

 

Led to the reception desk, a man dressed in a flashy suit guided her.

 

The developer’s office was on the 9th floor of the building.

 

The overall atmosphere was sharp and overly clean. With many glass walls and white furniture, the interior seemed like it would be a challenge for the cleaning staff.

 

It looked more like a laboratory than a game company, resembling a pharmaceutical company.

 

“You can have a seat here.”

 

The man led her to the innermost meeting room. A spacious room with a table for six was set up. Through the glass window, she could see the view of the Han River.

 

As expected, the high cost of land, she thought naively.

 

Clever.

 

At that moment, the door to the meeting room opened.

 

“Welcome. I’m the responsible developer, Moon Tae-eul.”

 

Jia couldn’t close her gaping mouth. Even though she knew it was rude, she couldn’t help it. Well, no wonder. Moon Tae-eul had his face wrapped tightly.

 

Thick glasses with an unknown degree, a large mask. It was understandable to wear a mask during the flu season, but those outdated glasses looked like they belonged in the 90s.

 

Is this developer really the one who developed cutting-edge technology?

 

“I understand what you’re thinking, but I am indeed the responsible developer, Ms. Jia.”

 

“Uh…”

 

She quickly averted her gaze. The man seemed more shrewd and observant than she had initially thought.

 

“I, I stared too much. I apologize.”

 

“No, it’s okay. I often hear that I’m good-looking. It’s fine.”

 

A moment of stifling silence ensued.

 

“Well then, let me present the contract terms.”

 

Cutting through the awkward air, Tae-eul promptly slid the contract onto the table.

 

Jia felt relieved as she skimmed through the text. She had almost frowned from the sheer amount at first sight.

 

“Firstly, the amount. Upon signing the contract, we will deposit a down payment of 2 billion won, and after the game’s release, we will pay an additional 1% of the first-year revenue.”

 

“…2 billion and 1% of revenue? Did I hear that correctly?”

 

“Yes. We will provide you with the best treatment in the industry.”

 

The highest amount of down payment Jia had received before was 1.5 billion won. It was for a game with a crazy difficulty level that lasted for 2,000 hours of playtime.

 

Furthermore, except for her, other launchers couldn’t endure the grueling mental strain and gave up halfway through. It was only after Jia published the strategy guide that the balance of that terrifying legendary game was adjusted.

 

Yet, even after the game became a massive hit, she didn’t receive a measly 0.1% of the revenue. In that sense, the man in front of her now knew exactly what she wanted.

 

1% of revenue. Not 1% of profit but 1% of revenue. She couldn’t even imagine how substantial that amount would be.

 

“… What kind of game is it exactly?”

 

Jia decided to approach cautiously. The offer was too sweet to dive into without hesitation.

 

“As mentioned in the email, it’s a virtual reality dating simulation game.”

 

“So, you’re saying you’ve implemented artificial intelligence?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct.”

 

The man simply nodded without hesitation. It wasn’t just a baiting phrase.

 

“As I mentioned, the targets of the strategy can feel emotions and sexual desires just like humans. Depending on the player’s words and actions, they can laugh or cry, or even become aroused.”

 

So, this developer is essentially making an AI 19+ game. Jia, trying to regain her composure, asked him, “You mean it’s not programmed?”

 

“No, it’s not. Instead of reciting lines according to programming, an AI that has learned human behavior and emotions will participate in the game.”

 

“So, they’ll move more naturally compared to other games?”

 

“That’s correct. It’s like they’re real…”

 

A meaningful smile appeared on Tae-eul’s lips for a moment. But Jia, who didn’t catch that moment, was just lost in her thoughts.

 

Targets behaving like humans.

 

If players immerse themselves in the game, they might feel like they’re genuinely in love with the targets.

 

“What’s the story?”

 

“I’ll explain. Actually, the reason why you, Ms. Jia, are needed is here.”

 

Needed? Jia changed her relaxed posture and stared at the man. Tae-eul smiled back at her showing interest.

 

“This game is not just a simple dating game.”