Chapter 3

The text on the screen scrolled by quickly, as if the scene had been fast-forwarded.

I usually skipped the story even when playing games. I didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t seem like an important story. It probably had nothing to do with me.

Soon, the text was skipped, and a new screen appeared, this time with an input field.

Age:

Blood Type: ]

Was I supposed to input this? I could ignore it, but I was a little curious about what would happen.

‘My name is Lee Gil, my age is… I regressed three years from when I was 26, so I’m 23 years old. My blood type is O…’

I pressed the button on the TV screen to input my answer.

The strange TV’s questions continued.

1) Money

2) Fame

3) Power

4) Rest

Of course, the answer is 4.

While money is important, what’s the point of earning it if you can’t enjoy it before you die? Ultimately, money is needed for 4.

I only realized this after I died.

At least in this life, I wanted to take it easy and enjoy a balanced work-life. I wanted to experience the work-life balance I had only heard about.

1) Self-improvement

2) Exercise

3) Socializing

4) Rest

I chose 4 again.

When I had a day off, I was busy catching up on sleep.

Self-improvement? Exercise? The exercise equipment I ordered was still in the box, tucked away in the closet. Socializing? I only occasionally checked in with my few friends via text.

1) Go out to meet friends

2) Say I’ll meet them later and keep sleeping

Obviously, the answer is 2. How precious is a good sleep?

A few more similar questions followed. I don’t know the purpose of these questions, but I chose answers like rest, wanting to relax, and wanting to play. It felt like a psychological test.

Eventually, a final message appeared on the black screen, and a door suddenly appeared on the wall behind it.

I was sure that the wall was empty when I cleaned it earlier.

‘Am I supposed to go in there?’

...gulp.

Even the door emitted a faint blue light. The strange aura, different from the fluorescent lights in the room, reminded me of a dungeon gate.

‘It can’t be a dungeon, right?’

In my previous life, I only entered a dungeon once, and it was because of a rift. The result was death.

If this door leads to a dungeon, I absolutely don’t want to go in. I’ve only been back for a few days, and I can’t die again. Besides, being stabbed by a monster was incredibly painful. I never want to experience that again.

I slowly backed away from the door.

But at that moment,

A beeping sound came from the TV.

It was even more suspicious. The sound grew louder as I backed away, to the point where I could hear it even with my hands over my ears.

I covered my ears and shook my head, shouting,

“Ah, I won’t go! I won’t go in!”

I have a dungeon trauma, a dungeon allergy, and a dungeon phobia. Call it whatever you want. I just don’t want to go in there.

This time, a voice spoke directly in my head, giving me a chill.

What’s on the other side of that door that keeps telling me to go in?

“Should I report it to the <Dungeon Management Office>?”

What’s the emergency number for dungeon-related issues? Right, dungeons should be handled by hunters.

But as I reached into my pocket to get my phone, the floor vibrated with a rumbling sound.

“...Ah!”

I dropped my phone, and it slipped into a gap where I couldn’t reach it.

The blue door was still in front of me.

It seemed like going through this door was the only option I had.

Well, it’s fine. This is where my grandmother lived, so it can’t be that dangerous.

I was scared, but I was also curious about the results of this strange test.

Alright, I’ll open the door and if a monster jumps out, I’ll run away quickly. I’ll just take a peek. If it’s not good, I’ll run.

With that resolve, I closed my eyes tightly, opened them, and stepped through the door.

As soon as I opened the door, a blue light enveloped me, and the scenery changed.

“Huh?”

My hand, which had been holding the doorknob, was now touching cold air. The door that was there a moment ago had disappeared.

Oh no, I’m trapped.

I couldn’t go back because there was no door.

That strange TV must have tricked me! I should have reported it immediately, but who would have thought the door would disappear?

“Ah, let me out! Help!”

I screamed, but the only response was a calm voice.

Wait, where is this voice coming from?

I calmed down and slowly looked around.

I was standing on a grassy field surrounded by a forest. It was about twenty steps wide, and beyond the dense forest, a thick fog obscured the view.

It was past 7 PM, but the clear blue sky and bright sunlight indicated that this was a different space.

The atmosphere was peaceful, contrary to my tense state. A gentle breeze even blew from somewhere.

Is this not a dungeon?

Dungeons that occur due to rifts are usually in the form of caves or tombs. I’ve heard of some outdoor structures, but I’ve never heard of one with a blue sky and the sun.

However, that’s not important. I need to find a way out, wherever I am.

I looked around the grassy field for a hidden door. There was a small flower bush in the middle, and on a flat rock next to it, a cat was lying.

The calico cat was taking a nap on the rock. Its fur was smooth, and its plump body looked soft.

Did this cat come through the door like me? As I approached carefully to avoid waking it, a voice spoke in my head again.

What’s an agent? Could it be this cat?

“...Name it? Me?”

I asked, but there was no response. Instead, a prompt appeared in front of me.

This mysterious notification is what brought me here. I guess I have to do what the message says to get out. Thinking about it, I put my hand on my forehead and started to think of a name.

A cat’s name.

Cat’s name... Cat’s name... Cat, meow...

“...Meow?”

If it’s a cat’s name, this is the only one that comes to mind. But the system rejected it with a beep.

“What’s wrong with Meow?”

It’s a traditional cat name.

Name Input: ]

I was incredibly serious.

Reluctantly, I tried to think of another name, but I couldn’t come up with a good one. I’m not good at naming things. Butterfly... doesn’t quite fit, Mandu? No, that’s not good either. It has three colors, so Miim, hmm... hmm...

Then a name came to mind.

What about ‘Miim’?

My name, Lee Gil, was given to me by my grandmother.

It literally means ‘Miim’. Gi, Nieun, Digut, and then Miim. I’m the fourth grandson, but I don’t know why my cousins have Gi, Nieun, and Digut, while I have Miim.

Originally, my name was supposed to be ‘Lee ㄹ’, but a civil servant at the registration center rejected it, so it became ‘Lee Miim’.

I don’t know who they are, but thank you. You saved my name. There was justice and righteousness in the civil service. I bowed in the direction where the registration center might be.

Anyway, since this cat was found in the space left by my grandmother’s shop, ‘Miim’ seemed like a good name. It means ‘Miim’, the next letter after Gi, Nieun, Digut, and Miim. ‘ㅁ’.

“...Miim?”

I was nervous that the picky notification would reject it, but no sound came. Did it pass? Instead, Miim opened its eyes.

“Meooow...!”

The cat stretched, its fur rippling and its round tail rising. Its chin was round, and its plump belly looked soft.

Cute.

I forgot about looking for a way out and instinctively approached Miim, extending my hand. I just wanted to touch its soft belly. Just as I was about to stroke it with my fingers,

Thud.

Miim swatted my hand with its paw and looked at me with a stern eye.

“Hey, you can’t just touch me.”

I was scolded by a cat.

“Huh?”

I turned my head, doubting what I had just heard. Who just spoke? But there was still only me and Miim here.

“I did.”

“You’re a cat, but you can talk?”

“Meooow, do you think I’m an ordinary cat! As an agent executing the system, I’ve been waiting for a suitable visitor. I almost died waiting. Anyway, quickly put your hand here.”

Miim extended its round paw. I didn’t understand what it meant, but I wanted to touch the pink paw, so I did as it said.

At that moment, a translucent window appeared in front of me with a ting sound.

Huh?

So, I guess I just awakened.