Heaven and earth were remade.
Literally overnight, the world completely transformed.
It started small. My body suddenly burned with fever, and I was bedridden for three straight days. Up until then, I thought it was just a nasty flu.
"..."
Yeah, right up until I checked the mirror.
...Is this a dream?
A clichéd thought, sure, but it was the most rational one right now.
My features had sharpened, my jawline slimmed down.
...I have been skipping meals a lot lately...
But I couldn't brush it off like that—not with my drastically shrunken frame and the unmistakable swell on my chest as proof.
...Did I get cancer or something?
I figured it was just some tumor...
But can a tumor feel this soft...?
The sensation was vivid, pressing firmly through my sweat-soaked clothes clinging to my skin.
An utterly unreal yet painfully vivid dream.
And the next day, I still hadn't woken from it.
Heaven and earth were remade.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The world had changed.
Or more precisely, the world of 'some' people had.
📰 Breaking News[Don't know who the god is, but super lucky lololol]💬 Comments— AnonymousSudden empathy lololol... gotta enlist now?— Ministry of National DefenseSuper lucky lololol— AnonymousYeah lololol— AnonymousChili pepper lolololol📰 Breaking News[Holy shit, if only I'd been born a year later] (Air Force discharge certificate photo)— AnonymousIf you've seen it, GTFO holy shit⭐ Top Comment— Anonymouslololololol biggest victim— AnonymousBut you gained 'memories,' right? ^^— Anonymous↳ ReplyChoosing +3 months you moron get executed lololol📰 Breaking News[Alright, now who's the real Korean male?] (Screenshot of a café post whining about turning into a man)— AnonymousThat's the feminist you chose. Tough it out with grit and spite.— AnonymousEnlist time lolololol— AnonymousGudgeon's grinning ^^— AnonymousIs this that mirroring thing lolol?
While some busied themselves mocking others over what might be an unfortunate change,
📰 Breaking News[Please let me manifest too...]— AnonymousHolding my breath until it happens. Inhale!— AnonymousInhale! Agreed, already turning back lol— AnonymousThink it'll happen? Think it'll happen? Think it'll happen?— AnonymousGaygay first check the mirror...
Others surprisingly showed unexpected envy.
[133 confirmed cases of 'Tereasis Syndrome' manifestations in South Korea so far. Authorities struggle with false reports...]
A physical change that modern medicine couldn't explain, striking without warning. 'Manifestation'.
Known by nicknames like 'gender swap disease' or 'TS-ification', but renamed 'Tereasis Syndrome' out of concern for offending those affected, this phenomenon struck men and women, young and old alike.
📰 Breaking News[My parents might divorce.]📰 Breaking News[(High severity) My girlfriend turned into my boyfriend overnight]📰 Breaking News[Active duty soldier, this is serious.]
Dozens of posts venting woes popped up and vanished daily on the internet.
A newly emerging social issue.
Some were satisfied with the change, but most weren't.
📰 Breaking News[(Proof) It manifested.] (Full-body mirror selfie with face obscured)— AnonymousFuck. There is no god.— AnonymousGod was killed by Nietzsche ages ago lolololol— AnonymousHey there's your gf walking by lololol Hey there's your gf lololol📰 Breaking News[Looking at proof posts, God really is fair]— AnonymousWhy not a cute girl? Why not a cute girl? lololol— AnonymousSurprisingly familiar wwww— AnonymousAah... that's called 'plausibility'.
And rightly so—reality isn't a novel, so most manifestations just followed the person's original looks. I was no exception.
Except...
I got lucky.
Extremely so.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I hadn't holed up in anticipation of this mess.
I had no one to meet, so I never left the house. Never leaving meant long hair, pale skin, no muscle to speak of. That was it.
It used to be my complex...
A scrawny build that got me bullied in school, now an unintended boon.
A small face with delicately placed, sharp features. Subtle curves showed through my clothes.
Dark circles under my eyes even lent a decadent air to this woman. The woman in the mirror turned when I did, raised her arm when I did. But even so. Is this really me? Or, I opened my eyes to find I'd become the top beauty in the district?! Such trite thoughts never crossed my mind. Because nothing much would change anyway... I meant that sincerely. A handful of shallow relationships that barely counted. Social life? Nonexistent. What's the point of getting prettier if no one's around to see it? Four days flat on my back, and the only notifications on my smartphone—from some open chat—proved it.[Dokgo]: Maknae. Late behind even me? I'm disappointed. [Na Hani]: Hurry to Iron Mountain channel 3~ [Firefly]: No doping here, gimme some elixirs and food pls [Rat Mouse]: Beggar Evan lolol
Even in a game with ten million players, my only connections were these four. That was Noeul Lee's reality.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A roaring furnace and thick steam filled the air. At the center loomed a named boss dwarf far too massive for its kind, exuding menace, a huge hammer slung over its shoulder gleaming ominously.
Its bulk dwarfed our characters by five times over—a brute that could one-shot you just brushing past.
"Maknae, slash pattern."
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: ;;
"Ah, my shield's on cooldown!"
'Kwaaaa—'
Raid Leader Jeong Dokgo—nickname 'Dokgo'—called it out, and simultaneously, a heavy yet swift hammer swung down from above.
The 'slash' pattern we named: a quick hammer strike at a marked player that vaporized 99% of their HP on hit—a near-instant kill.
Reaction too slow. As death loomed, a clear clang rang out.
'Chaeng!'
The massive hammer clashed with a greatsword, ringing metallic. When I came to, Seongil Kim—nickname 'Rat Mouse'—stood before me.
"Uahahat, that's the taste! Perfect parry~"
Wrong timing and we'd both be toast!
Rat Mouse, who'd pulled off what most wouldn't dare, was hyped.
"Lil sis!! Awesome, right?!"
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: (thumbs up emoticon)
"Yes! Thanks frontliner, repeat after me!"
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: (thumbs up emoticon)(thumbs up emoticon)
Rat Mouse's voice brimmed with smug glee. I sighed in relief, spamming thumbs-up emotes in thanks.
"Regaining aggro."
"Oppa-bung, scoop that up quicker."
"Butterfly, quit hitting, not drawing aggro."
"Not easy."
Calmly tackling what was the ultimate challenge for others.
"Taunt cooldown 3 seconds. DPS halt briefly."
"I'm too strong, that's why it's tough."
"...Phase shift incoming. Group up."
They joked around, but briefing via Discord sent characters moving in perfect sync.
Two years of honed teamwork, flawless under Dokgo's lead. Phase cleared.
"Final burst. DPS through death."
"Kids, buffs up."
"Dying? Not easy."
The 5-named raid, spanning two hours, neared its end.
Blazing fireballs, dozens of mana bullets slamming the boss. Swords stabbing sharply behind.
Soon, the Iron Dwarf chieftain roared skyward,
'Kraaaah! The tribe's will shall endure!'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙'Iron Artisan Veronica' writhes in agony!⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Successfully conquered 'Iron Artisan Veronica'!
Raid cleared.
Notifications flooded the screen as tension drained from my body.
"Good work."
"GJ."
"Guys, can we expect something this week?"
"Hahat, I asked yesterday—legendary maybe?"
Tension broken, headsets erupted in chatter.
"Pray."
And the moment we craved every week arrived.
With that, Dokgo's greatsword smashed the chest that appeared where the boss vanished.
"Please, just once!"
"Yellow go!"
I clenched my fists instead of shouting, others voiced their hopes, but,
"Ah... grapes again!"
"Oppa-bung difference."
No luck this time either.
Four weeks straight. Dry run.
"Next week, I'll open the chest...!"
Hanna Lee—Na Hani—griped, invoking Eden's local faith, but Jonghun Oh—Firefly—fired back.
The widespread Bard hate in Eden society.
"Sis, Bards touching chests is too much."
"...Wanna die?"
"Come to Floché Plaza, challenge flag awaits."
"..."
Phrasing aside, Dokgo's 'Raid Leader's Grace' buff boosted drop rate by 1%.
Firefly wasn't wrong.
I hammered the keyboard in full agreement.
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Fr lol
'Shouldn't the one with Raid Leader's Grace buff be the one opening?'
—Or so I meant.
"Our lil sis speaks pretty well."
"Dori, even you? I'm gonna cry??"
"...Whoa."
Message landed; Na Hani wailed immediately.
But that wasn't the point now.
"Lil sis, how much we make this week?"
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Wait sec [Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Hmm, about 100k per person lol
100k. Not bad, not great. One week's labor per person.
...Still, just scraping by safe.
"Chicken for dinner tonight."
"Party finder now??"
"Go go, still got entry ticket. Channel swap."
"Bye all!"
[Tasty Apple (Sage) / First to Summit Iron Mountain]: Good work
Weekly chore done amid their rowdy farewells. Time to clock out.
"Another fulfilling day..."
Work wrapped, body ached all over.
Party members dropped from Discord one by one; heavy silence settled.
Not unfamiliar, yet never fully comfortable. To break it, I fired up a stream on one monitor, prepping end-of-day routine.
My two-year routine.
📰 Breaking News[(Apple) Eden Iron Mountain Carry 17th Try! 3rd Named Challenge!]
『It's not my skill that's lacking, it's my gear, okay?』
『Kyaa!! No, we should've grouped here!』
『Ah! Carry gap! Recruiting new Dragon Knight!!』
Streamer's familiar voice as BGM, I sorted inventory.
A week's all-nighter haul of precious loot. Materials and items to auction house.
'Dawn Herbs 1500 gold each, Savage Herbs 1000 gold. ...Sacred Awakening Helm? How much for this?'
In my tiny one-room, lit only by the monitor, I wrapped up the week.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
There was once a terribly quiet kid.
Frequent moves meant no friends; comics and games eased the loneliness.
So self-intros were torture, especially 'hobbies'.
Still, cared about eyes on them—wrote 'reading' and 'computers'.
Basement Lü Bu, outsider, hikikomori, rice bug, unemployed, societal misfit—lots of labels, but over the negative...
— Anonymous[(1:1000) Pure farming gold for sale @@@@@@]
...Industrial Laborer suited best.
Thus, the kid grew into Eden's economy backbone—an 'Industrial Laborer'.