The Gap Between Reality and IllusionWELCOME TO LA VIDA :)~Year 5, Day 17~QuestsJournalAdded ModsDing.[Added Mods]Reader ModInven PlusMore Form (Loading…)Far SightAlways 5 StarInfinite Stomach▶ MoreDing.[Open Journal?]YesDing.[Day 1,842]InventoryWow—InventoryThe day after returning to Tae-eul District, we rested well.Before sleeping, Joo-o had been dragged by the arm into the study and lay down; when he opened his eyes again, it was morning. Lying beneath the plain ceiling, he hummed any OST from La Vida Blue until a knock sounded.As expected, the door swung open, but the upside-down view of Muhae sprawled on the mattress was so pleasing that he didn’t mind. He’d never seen Muhae from that angle in the game; everything felt delightful, and he grinned.“Come ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ eat.”“What about meat?”“What meat at breakfast?”He fussed a bit before even sitting, but the cereal wasn’t bad. The famous Gamna brand foods in Goryeo City were all colorful, oddly shaped treats. The cereal bowl in front of Joo-o was full of multicolored fruit rings. It wasn’t something Muhae usually ate—it was a new purchase just for him.“You picked it, so deal with it.”Muhae had nearly let the brand name slip casually—but the vintage ad on the front, boasting fourteen essential nutrients, looked cheerful. Joo-o tapped the cheerful duck mascot on the box, then tilted the room-temperature milk carton over his bowl.“Not bad for fake milk.”He licked a drop from the back of his hand and murmured.“Fake milk—what a rude way to put it.”Muhae replied dryly. His tone wasn’t kind, but at least he was engaging. Until a few days ago, he’d have ignored nonsense with a single eyebrow raise—considerable progress.Surely it was thanks to advancing the story. Joo-o spooned up a hefty mouthful, but his empty stomach dulled his judgment. The colorful crunch melted under his teeth.“Huh… doesn’t taste like fruit.”Of course not—there was no real fruit. Sweet enough, though, so who cared? He devoured the bowl in no time and poured more from the bag. The soggy star-shaped pieces vanished instantly.“I was curious about the taste.”“……”“Want to try some?”“Eat your own. I’ve got mine.”Muhae indicated the torn box fragment of his cereal. Its yellowed, paltry flakes looked more like animal feed than food.“Looks awful.”“If you only ate delicious things, you’d die young.”He’d heard something similar when asking for a hot dog at the rest stop—maybe because of his line of work, or perhaps he’d had some schooling. For such a big guy, Muhae was quite picky—his restraint made him seem more attractive.‘The hero must be cool,’ thought Joo-o. He nodded, filling his bowl again—Muhae’s face flickered with mild disgust.After breakfast, Joo-o watched TV while Muhae sat at the cleared table, engrossed in something. It was obvious what he was thinking. With a full belly and peace of mind, Joo-o no longer felt resentment over yesterday. His head worked properly again.‘The quest advanced.’While Muhae was away, he’d met the man Dr. Jeong hinted at: Shin Dae-su—Muhae’s first collaborator beyond Boss Gil and Dr. Jeong. According to the story, that meeting would branch paths to other contacts, and soon a quest about communications gear would follow—Shin Dae-su had given Muhae a number for specific equipment.―“Tok-tok Star Soda that thrills your taste ♪ A sparkling, electric soda ♪”Joo-o already knew the ad lineup by heart. Every new commercial delighted him anew. But one thing nagged him: Muhae kept leaving him behind. After the favor of feeding him the Thorn Wolf, he didn’t know how long Muhae’s gratitude would last. For now he could insist on tagging along, but as quests grew tougher, he feared Muhae would drift away.―“Gamna Tok-tok Star ♪ Gamna Sparkle Bell ♪”“Aren’t you watching?”“Huh?”“If not, turn it off. It’s noisy.”“I’m watching.”He fixed his wide eyes on the TV’s jingles. He hadn’t yet seen all eighteen La Vida Blue commercials—he couldn’t turn it off.Muhae frowned, rose from the table, and returned with a duffel by the shoe rack. He began pulling out square cases—his equipment. More than just the items on his jacket, they were all well-maintained despite wear.“Going to clean them again?”“I’m checking them.”“Why? Got work soon?”“You’re not watching TV, right?”That was cheap. Joo-o muttered but couldn’t take his eyes off Muhae. The quest list showed no combat tasks—yet he felt Muhae was about to leave again. He’d stared so intently that Muhae frowned while counting supplies.Haah. Muhae pressed his temple and sighed.“You.”“Hm?”“Can you stay alone for a few days?”Muhae’s hesitant gaze flicked over Joo-o’s face—asking even knowing the answer would be no.“I didn’t expect you to.”“I won’t get in the way.”“You think I’d believe that?”“Then, I’ll help.”“No need.”Muhae shook his head and picked up a pad—apparently a new job had arrived. At this point, Muhae wouldn’t accept a simple gig, so Joo-o was puzzled. He slid to the sofa floor and crawled over.“Where are you looking?”Muhae brushed the pad aside, but Joo-o had glimpsed the screen. It was a City Company dispatch: departure from Goryeo City in two days.‘Has the story… changed?’He opened the system window and saw the familiar lines flicker in his mind.WELCOME TO LA VIDA :)~Year 15, Day 122~“Aha.”Only then did he realize the issue: the flow of time. The world he’d entered ran at a vastly different pace than the game. There was no longer a cutscene that flashes and then skips a week ahead.‘I didn’t know at playtime.’During the days that zoomed by offscreen, the player never saw what Muhae did or how he spent his ordinary life. One guessed from his monologue at the door or a drink can on the table.Later there would be quests tied to City Company work, too. He’d suspected Muhae had been taking gigs there, but never imagined it arriving like this—suddenly, Joo-o’s face brightened. This positive blank in time pounded his heart. His mind cleared, and he loved diving deeper into La Vida Blue again.“Muhae.”“……”“Muhae, Muhae.”“Stop calling me. How about you go to the clinic? I’ll ask them to feed you three good meals a day.”So far, Joo-o’s quests had been light combat tutorials. City Company missions were riskier, grittier horror-action plays. It was only natural Muhae insisted on his opinion each time. Joo-o met his steady gaze, understanding his anxiety.“Listen. If I don’t get in your way this time—and help you…”“Well, what then?”“Then—no more leaving me behind, okay? Muhae. If I’m useful.”Joo-o’s head spun. He no longer felt fogged—his chest swelled with hope. What Muhae needed most was an ally who helped without hindrance. Until he’d earned enough favor, Joo-o resolved to stay right at his side.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.