By Zephyria 
Would you like to record your log?
> Yes
* * *
[Day 5,980]
Eating the protagonist’s cooking is definitely a luxury.
Jin Mu-hae is a bit strange, but that’s fine.
Lately, I’ve been eating sandwiches, grilled meat, and even fish made by Jin Mu-hae every single day!
Originally, I only ate cereal, bread, and meat. I passed on the Fiber Blocks that Jin Mu-hae eats because they aren’t to my taste.
So I thought this kind of food was only something you bought outside, but since Jin Mu-hae makes it for me, it seems to taste even better.
Actually, the food I ate at the restaurant with the nice music or the things Cheong gave me had a wider variety of flavors.
But those were just consumption items, and this is a rare item produced directly by the protagonist. I even see recipes that didn’t exist during the time I played!
Hmm… though, thinking about it again, maybe it’s not entirely okay.
Ever since my plan was discovered, Jin Mu-hae doesn’t smile much. He won’t let me go for walks and often makes scary expressions.
When I turn my head while watching TV, Jin Mu-hae is always looking at me. Is that okay? I do the same thing to him all the time.
When we went to the Defense Force, he wouldn’t even let me talk to others. He didn’t even take me to a single training class.
Cha Jung-woo tried to talk to me, but I just greeted him as Jin Mu-hae told me to and hid behind him. Jin Mu-hae said I was sick. I’m not even sick.
Above all, he’s neglecting the Quest again. We’re almost there, but he won’t find the final destination.
He shows no intention of leaving Starlight Road. Still, it seems he doesn’t avoid the Jaegang District entirely, so that’s a small relief.
Fish and fresh vegetables are ingredients that can’t be found on Starlight Road. He must have gone there whenever he locked the door and went out.
I wanted to follow him secretly, but I held back because I felt he’d make an even colder face if I were caught.
Hot dogs look delicious.
I wonder if he doesn’t even remember that he just ate.
It looks like the fried meat sandwiches are almost gone, too.
Has that stuff still not rotted?
I can tell that Jin Mu-hae is angry with me. He’s had that face ever since the talk about the game’s ending came up.
I didn’t think it was anything new. I watched all the records Jin Mu-hae saw right by his side.
To some extent, the main story was exactly as I knew it, so I assumed he’d known since he obtained information about the Starpath.
I don’t know why he’s jumping around like someone who just got their toe bitten by an Aberrant.
Could it be that Jin Mu-hae didn’t know my identity until now? No way. He even swung a sword at me.
Eat it tomorrow. I’ll order some sausages.
Then again, I’m not an ordinary Aberrant. I am Joo-oh, and I can become human and wear the clothes Jin Mu-hae bought for me.
So he might have thought I’d be different. And it seems that wasn’t an ending Jin Mu-hae liked.
It’s unfair! I don’t want to disappear from Jin Mu-hae’s side either. When weighing the opportunity given to Jin Mu-hae against the world of “La Vida Blue” that clung to it like a 1+1 promotional deal, the latter was just a little—a very little—heavier.
I breathed the air of “La Vida Blue,” lived in Goryeo City, and traveled to many places, including Seogyeong City and Bay City.
I met Jin Mu-hae, lived with Jin Mu-hae, and Jin Mu-hae patted and touched me. I formed bonds with memorable people like Teacher Jung, Director Gil, Seo Dae-su, Olga, Cheong, Park Young-chan, and Hwang-jae.
I enjoyed not only the food and puzzles that were in the game but also things that weren’t! I collected plenty of tinkle friends and even gave some away.
I thought I endured for over 15 years because I didn’t want to die, but in truth, I wanted to experience all of this.
That’s why I yielded. Because I like Jin Mu-hae and this world surrounding him. Because I didn’t want to interfere with the perfect ending given to Jin Mu-hae.
But perhaps because Jin Mu-hae doesn’t know that, his eyes flash terrifyingly. He’s so easy to fool about other things, yet he’s always sharp about things like this.
Change.
Huh?
Change into that black thing.
…Why? I can’t. I’m too big here.
He never said such things when we rushed out of Goryeo City, yet now he keeps questioning my identity.
Sadly, whenever I glance at the door wondering if I should go out once more, he looks straight at me with a ghost-like, murderous expression.
My Link Watch was taken away from the day we arrived at Starlight Road. He bought it for me and then took it back; how petty.
Now I can only take photos of Jin Mu-hae on the days he goes to work at the Defense Force. On the Watch I briefly got back that day, the GPS detection function that had disappeared was perfectly restored.
Jin Mu-hae is originally a cold man who has no interest in those who come and doesn’t even try to hold onto those who leave. I wonder what happened to the real-world Jin Mu-hae to make his personality change a bit.
Hmm… for the first time, there are so many things I don’t know about the progress of this game. Several late-game Quests that appeared fixed regardless of the ending route have changed, and I’ve heard hints about Director Gil’s treatment that I’ve never encountered before.
The protagonist is rejecting the happy ending and is instead staging a parade of dishes that go beyond sandwiches, simple cereal, smoked ribs, scrambled eggs, and toast.
According to the description, it’s a Quest with no time limit, yet I feel anxious. What if Jin Mu-hae neglects the Quest forever?
Jin Mu-hae. Aren’t you going to take the request?
Stop playing tricks and just watch TV.
When does my outing ban get lifted?
…
I hate that look in your eyes.
A story without a conclusion is nothing more than incomplete, no matter how wonderful or touching it is.
I was excited to eat plenty of the food Jin Mu-hae makes by taking advantage of this unexpected opportunity, but my heart isn’t entirely at ease.
Moreover, for some reason, I can’t remember well, but I feel like I’m repeatedly dreaming of the past.
I was in front of a bright monitor again, lying down. I had no strength in my body, yet I knew I wouldn’t die immediately.
♪♩♬♪-.
Some kind of notification rang in my ear. I’m not sure about what followed, but I think I received some kind of guidance.
Even though it’s hazy, I did hear it. In the dream, I didn’t even have the energy left to express likes or dislikes.
While looking at the monitor, I desperately wished for something. That’s as far as I can recall, even by a speck.
Whenever I woke up, Jin Mu-hae was always lying beside me. Even though Jin Mu-hae had become strange, I loved that fact so much.
Jin Mu-hae, smile. Please?
But as expected, he seems to need someone to help him.
Coincidentally, I am on Starlight Road, and Director Gil and Teacher Jung live here too.
Teacher Jung said so. He told me to tell him if Jin Mu-hae seemed sick or strange.
Since it was a promise made with a pinky swear, I have an obligation to keep it.
* * *
Log saved.
* * *
Joo-oh was quieter than expected. He didn’t stomp his feet wanting to go out, nor did he actually break the door to leave.
He looked for opportunities from time to time, but he calmed down whenever Mu-hae looked at him with a stern face.
Except for the days he commuted to central, Mu-hae spent all his time with him at the house on Starlight Road, chopping ingredients until his hands were sore and running the oven.
Is this really right? Doubts occasionally surfaced. No matter how he looked at it, that wasn’t a prisoner being confined, but an unemployed person lounging at home after causing trouble.
He didn’t even know why he wanted to lock him up. He just wanted to keep him within sight and monitor him within a predictable range.
“I’m going to the study.”
Joo-oh, who had been in a bad mood for a while, grumbled as he walked away. It seemed the command to change into an Aberrant had been too much.
It wasn’t that he spoke without knowing the other’s feelings. He did it because he felt that if he saw that form again, he would be certain.
Whether the Crystal Blue should be there or not. Though it had been a while since he learned his identity, in some ways, it seemed he still hadn’t fully accepted it.
“Damn it.”
Jin Mu-hae let out a long sigh and rubbed his eyes. Whenever Joo-oh looked toward the door, his blood froze and he could see nothing else.
At any other time, it would have been merely bothersome and annoying if he rushed out and caused trouble, but since that day, it felt as if he might vanish forever like smoke.
By the time he came to his senses, Joo-oh’s Link Watch and shoes had all been shoved into a deep drawer. He only reluctantly took them out when Joo-oh pretended to be fine to go to the Defense Force.
And then, while diligently grilling meat to soothe him, he felt that staying like this forever might not be so bad.
He set aside the pad he had been glancing at. It was almost mealtime again.
Today it was steak with mashed potatoes and pieces of meat. As he counted how many slices he should grill, he felt a sense of helplessness greater than when he handled mercenary requests.
Sizzle—
Bubble bubble…
Because he was processing relatively simple dishes in large quantities, it didn’t take long. Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and meat piled up like a mountain on a large plate.
The potatoes seemed fully cooked too. Poking and mashing them with a fork, he glanced toward the study.
Since there was an appetizing smell, even if he was upset, he would come out on his own soon.
Thinking that, Mu-hae called Joo-oh as a formality. No answer came back. He seemed to be seriously angry.
“Joo-oh.”
The guy’s hearing was insanely good, so there was no way he didn’t hear. Mu-hae raised his voice a bit more while scooping out the mashed potatoes.
“You’re not answering, huh.”
By now, he should have opened the door a bit while grumbling. He was far too quiet today.
A chilling sensation brushed the back of his neck without reason. Mu-hae quietly set down the utensils he was holding and walked silently toward the study.
Bang. The door opened abruptly, and the mattress was hit. It didn’t feel like he had hit a person, so he probably wasn’t the one struck.
The blanket was bulging upward on the mattress. As if he were lying there curled up in a ball, as he usually did when he was upset.
…Suddenly, time seemed to stop. Mu-hae extended his foot and kicked the blanket away forcefully.
“Fuck.”
Rolled-up pieces of Mu-hae’s clothing, stolen at some point, were crumpled there in the shape of a person.
245 – I Became an Aberration in a Dead Game