Kang Eunseo, a seventeen-year-old teenage boy, never stood out. He was the kind of student who blended into the background, neither excelling in popularity nor drawing attention through failure. At 5'11", with dark blue hair that often fell messily over his navy-purple eyes, he was considered handsome, but not in a way that made people turn twice. A small mole sat beneath his left eye—a minor detail, but one that added to his quiet charm. His posture was relaxed yet guarded, as if he carried the weight of unspoken thoughts.

He kept to himself, speaking only when necessary, navigating through school and his part-time job with quiet efficiency. Outside of responsibilities, he found comfort in books, sketching in the margins of his notebooks, and listening to calm music that drowned out the noise of the world.

Despite his reserved nature, he wasn't cold—at least, not to his mother. She was the only one who saw his real expressions, the flickers of warmth in his otherwise unreadable gaze. He liked his life well enough, though a lingering sense of helplessness gnawed at him—he wished he could do more for her. But life was predictable, manageable.

Or so he thought.

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"Eunseo! Wake up, dear! You'll be late for school!"

The sound of his mother's voice echoed through the small apartment, shaking him from his half-conscious state. His body felt heavy as if he hadn't rested at all. With a deep sigh, he stretched his arms over his head, his loose pajama shirt shifting slightly as he did. The early morning light seeped through the thin curtains, painting soft streaks of gold across his bedroom.

Rubbing his right eye groggily, he sat up, glancing at the digital clock beside his bed. 7:13 AM. He groaned. School.

His gaze landed on his neatly folded uniform on the chair near his desk. With slow movements, he got out of bed, running a hand through his messy hair as he dragged himself toward the bathroom. His reflection in the mirror looked as tired as he felt. Dark blue strands stuck up at odd angles, and the faint shadows under his eyes made it clear he hadn't been sleeping well.

He turned on the sink, splashing cool water on his face. The chill jolted him awake, and he exhaled sharply.

"Another day."

After fixing his hair and getting dressed, he made his way to the small kitchen, where his mother, Kang Yuna, was already preparing breakfast. The smell of warm rice and soup filled the air, wrapping the space in comforting familiarity.

"Morning, Mom," he greeted, his voice still laced with sleep as he sat at the table.

"Good morning, sweetheart," his mother replied with a gentle smile. She placed a steaming bowl of rice in front of him. "How are you feeling? It's the start of the new semester today."

Eunseo picked up his chopsticks, poking at his food lazily. "Ehh... It's a little bit exciting, I guess," he admitted, though his tone lacked any real enthusiasm.

His mother chuckled. "You say that, but you don't look excited at all."

He gave a small shrug. It wasn't that he hated school—he just didn't care much about it. It was just another obligation, another routine.

Finishing breakfast, he grabbed his bag and slipped on his shoes. "I'm heading out."

"Take care, Eunseo! And don't forget your lunch!"

He waved without looking back, stepping outside into the crisp morning air. The streets were already bustling with students and workers. His school was only a short walk away, and he blended effortlessly into the crowd, just another face in the sea of people.

Nothing ever changed.

Or so he thought.

That night, everything did.

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Eunseo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was late, and his room was bathed in the dim glow of his bedside lamp. His phone sat untouched on the nightstand. He wasn't particularly tired, but he knew he had to sleep soon.

Then, it happened.

A faint beep echoed in his ears. At first, he thought it was his phone, but when he turned his head, the screen was off.

Beep.

A soft glow flickered in the air above him. His body tensed.

Beep.

A semi-transparent holographic window appeared in front of him, floating mid-air. His breath hitched.

[Welcome, Player Kang Eunseo.]

[System Initiating...]

His heart pounded. His fingers twitched, but he didn't dare move.

[Mission System Activated.]

[Time Remaining Until Transfer: 00:00:10]

A red countdown appeared.

10. 9. 8.

His throat tightened. This wasn't a dream, was it?

7. 6. 5.

His instincts screamed at him to move, to do something, but his body remained frozen.

4. 3. 2.

His vision blurred. The air around him warped.

1.

Everything went black.

And Kang Eunseo's life would never be the same again.