Chapter 2
YDq2yI was just as startled as the other person. There were two reasons for that.7BjlU
Gob4PKIThe first reason was Mo Haein.Lplz
v1TdMo Haein was one of the main characters who appeared in the Archive World, the universe that connected all of the developer’s games.QL9
UASArchive was a story that began when, one day, a catastrophe suddenly descended upon Earth.C9ENJ
v26oVQlAt 00:00 on February 29, Korea Standard Time (KST), a meteor shower fell across the entire world.o2xhx
6qAJgMEIt was a meteor shower that had not been predicted by any astronomical observation.KJvT
GNSYGaThe sudden meteor shower looked like a festival of lights. Humanity admired the beautiful spectacle, but—boiJwoj
u86sIt was a catastrophe from outer space.3GNf
j2WyThe catastrophes that fell upon Earth hatched in random forms and orders, creating spaces from another dimension.HzxjrJH
z4lThose spaces, similar to fantasy worlds, were governed by rules resembling those of a video game.JmPfWe
cw0The structure consisted of gathering items, completing quests, and clearing them as if it were a game.pZH24d
OgnUYIf they were not completed within a certain amount of time, the catastrophe would explode and transform the entire surrounding area into something of the same nature as itself.2AisS
8AbidXIn other words, it spread an infectious virus capable of mutating both inanimate objects and living beings.0q4
Y30f1IRIt was a catastrophe in the most literal sense of the word, something impossible to explain with modern science.UNyt1
AESEHumanity regarded those catastrophes that came from outer space as a divine trial and called them “Trials.”BNj0D
fxoWith the emergence of the Trials, some humans also awakened special talents.PEkJ
CLlVEIndividuals capable of seeing the system windows appeared.6ACI2u
yxHYXUFThey were called “Compatibles,” and they could overcome the Trials through the System.onrhrDY
Bg74hz4The player awakened as a Compatible within the Archive World and entered various Trials.81cd
zHGfThe premise was that every time he entered a different Trial, he would play a video game from a different genre.3p3i
xW0UMo Haein was a soldier of the Trial Response Agency, an external agency under South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.SbA
DyICaptain Mo Haein, an elite member of the Trial Response Agency, would appear to help the player within the Trials or show up in the endings to speak with him.VQUuSJg
cXhDIt was impossible not to be surprised when I saw a character who until now had only existed as sprites moving and breathing right in front of me.9hivDJ1
cRQwpSAnd the second reason was the system window.HER
8J2q‘Mo Haein’ is a registrable character. Would you like to register her?XLl3
fWZLooking at that system window emitting a faint glow, I remembered the last thing I had seen before losing consciousness.uJs2PbB
NjGN[You are the system of the planet ‘Earth’.]5iOU
72wQA message that only Compatibles in Archive could see.0Yo5Si1
zXC6QCThe thing that guided quests within the Trials and provided all kinds of notifications, collectively known as the System.AbYg
iRRTjrI was that System…?k9OP
Qxcdpc0Not even after playing countless games in the Archive universe had I ever experienced anything like this.nNQI
6Ey4iDI understood absolutely nothing, but there was one fairly plausible possibility.xXUB
mTVUMaybe I had entered the game.dpCG27
9MMIn other words, one of those typical video game reincarnations that were so common in otaku culture.AJqQk
I5QThe situation was so absurd that the headache I had barely managed to calm came back in full force.qD7M3H
h1M6dSFor now, I decided to ignore that suspicious registration window. I couldn’t register something without even knowing what it was.yQYj
IxBC9After ignoring it several times, the window disappeared on its own.h7bb
3ytUI thought it was finally gone, but suddenly a new one appeared.p87
RRJU‘Han Goyo (Gunbam)’ has entered Happy Smile Factory!bg7T
iS2V1r◆ Happy Smile Factory Main Mission: Complete the factory of killer toys by obtaining the True Ending.U4uck
PMyHNYou have entered your first Trial as a System.r4rz
2O14You must demonstrate the capabilities of a System by obtaining the True Ending.4xqD
k3I3xMIf you complete the mission, you will survive!UXQb0AF
wXsoj0The consequences of failure are unknown.s0piCS
bqRRHowever, you have a feeling that something very bad happens to those who fail.JQi0O
N8A…What kind of madness is this?YFH
SSTT2After reading the system window, I did my best to control my expression.oqXRuFR
qJjWhile trying not to show any strange reaction, I heard a conversation.LUfzGH
WNoo84“Lieutenant Park, there wasn’t any request to enter HasFac, right?”k7o
UokWy“Absolutely none. I checked several times.”Kasmk
8DYqbC“Then he really must be a civilian.”AzX
Na4G00Clack, clack.OiMDs
6IyMoving her claw-like hand, Mo Haein observed me.tJMO5
WX6XVAXOn her left arm she had a toy arm made of plastic.ETi2
nFmoRyIt was a mechanical arm with a claw similar to those from claw machines, an item that could be obtained in Happy Smile Factory.PKhHUS
8dZ8VjAnd it was also what had just strangled me.HVl
v9EjzBoth the system window and that toy arm were far beyond any level of special effects that could possibly exist.TtGWUT
LvYEoWhile I grew dizzy thinking that I was truly inside a game, Mo Haein looked me up and down.bLTpLiJ
Hjimtw“How strange.”3qwa
I6b2oWhen she tilted her head to one side, her short hair swayed slightly.y68f
uPII knew why she was looking at me suspiciously.uVU9
KKsCDIIt was extremely unusual for a civilian to become involved in a Trial that was regularly monitored.xMepYL1
AoxfThere were mercenaries hired to clear Trials and smugglers who entered illegally to obtain valuable items, but it was very uncommon for someone to appear alone like this.hio
NciSelTrials were, quite literally, trials.JXFL
sXY0You had to risk your life, so entering in groups of at least two was the norm to ensure mutual support.36IMn
IeIwgfAnd since smugglers usually had equipment inferior to that of the government or private corporations, they normally compensated for that disadvantage by entering in groups of more than ten people.jha
KwRRYX6Of course, when I played, I always entered alone.UBf6396
C7gxaIn any case, it seemed obvious that if I stayed silent, they wouldn’t treat me particularly well.afdzY2
1AUBp3QSo I put on a frightened expression.39vm
7QW5ToN“Excuse me… Where are we…?”Wq9sqk
YNCgRSeSince I was genuinely confused by the entire situation, I didn’t even have to try very hard to make it convincing.KLh4
yi7gMo Haein, who seemed to be evaluating me as though she had placed me on a scale, raised an eyebrow.oU0FlWs
fOVOaIThen she gave me an answer that would have made any civilian who truly knew nothing faint.EC72LdY
vXC“In a toy factory where completely insane killer toys wander around.”oyI8kTm
FJEAt that blunt answer, I sharply inhaled.lOy
Y6KTNaPThe man beside her let out a laugh.6tzR
halp“It’s true that there are killers here, but relax. We’ll get you out safely.”qOmIwT6
OZ2As he said that, he showed a military identification card.anW4rm
vsDC“Trial Response Agency…?”Lqakrpw
Lnpj“It falls under the Ministry of National Defense. It was created recently, so you probably don’t know about it.”N0tqtQt
e3ZG1In any case, when civilians left a Trial, their memories were erased, so they could say whatever they wanted without worrying.4jSPH
9dsHF3TI nodded while looking at both of their uniforms.VLOd4
sbNfOEmployee: ArenajcF5
Pk4XeUEmployee: Sampleco9AaZ
B3yb7IMo Haein was wearing an orange uniform with a badge that read “Arena,” while the man wore a yellow one with a badge that read “Sample.”bfJ
tzhVaMHowever, Mo Haein’s badge was a little different.2uE4ffF
emX7hThe smile on the Happy Smile symbol was not smiling.FY3fyey
WU1wThe straight mouth instead of a curved one looked completely inappropriate for Happy Smile Factory.AJ2u
sz422The smile on the badge was a kind of life counter.Drqxe
uFiIn Happy Smile Factory, or HasFac for short, three chances were granted, and the expression of the smile changed every time a fatal mistake was made.xN8
aRuLjFrom Happy Smile, it changed to a neutral expression.NBbKN5
qaRZTNjAnd then to Sad Smile, with the corners of its mouth turned downward.lWB8vi6
spMz3quThe Sad Smile state was the last chance.Lez
N21aCIf you made a mistake after that, it was an immediate Game Over.tEaS
KHuBJI couldn’t believe that a character like Mo Haein had already lost a life so early.NdMFQfa
Mn0ZAYn“What was that loud noise I heard a moment ago?”MwMu
smaI asked in a low voice, as if feeling out the situation.ykmhzB
AJOHonestly, I wanted to ask what the hell they had done, but unfortunately I didn’t get an answer.aNXLmfp
rOfs“That isn’t a civilian’s concern.”v4MD4Fi
2N7XDMo Haein coldly cut me off and pulled something out of her inventory before tossing it to me.ir00F2
Kdxc9sI caught it by reflex.0MxkVc
ZIVe5It was a toy arm exactly like the one she had equipped.7E5
eQ8Cherry Picker: You can use the power of Happy Smile! Let’s spend happy moments together!MAKbWo
2n5“Put it on.”6Ykde
2Glsb0cAt Mo Haein’s words, the man’s face twisted slightly with annoyance. He didn’t seem to like a valuable item being given to a civilian who knew nothing.HiXEXi
zxxZphI didn’t care.UZLyX
gLQt“It’s okay.”vbSp29Z
bNSndrI was planning to refuse the item anyway.gGbFw
JmE“Since I don’t know anything about this, wouldn’t it be better if the experts used it? Besides, it kind of scares me.”3CFg
vbCI even raised my fist to show enthusiasm while saying that the flashlight hanging from my waist seemed sufficient and that I would simply follow behind them.cYt
MDKHearing me, the man seemed satisfied, while Mo Haein narrowed her eyes as if she were looking at some strange person.DcZpn
8jmc2The reason I refused the item was the True Ending.vPL1
iTRX0KuHasFac had multiple endings, and the conditions for obtaining the True Ending were especially demanding.YQrKIv
95rO‘First of all, I must not equip any of the toy limbs obtained within the game.’48pP27
idA9JAs the story progressed, NPCs gave the player toy limbs one by one.1GpjFL
DpsDBSince they appeared to be indispensable items for progression, players naturally ended up equipping them.k2Uv
UYPQpThey were extremely useful items, but if you gave in to greed and replaced all your arms and legs with toy versions, you immediately obtained a Bad Ending.a49kofB
VZugCTIt was an ending where you became a toy employee of HasFac and worked in the factory forever.TAvM
hoI1Mo Haein surely knew something that basic.vx3DR
cGF3SiUHowever, seeing her using a toy arm, it seemed that she was unaware of the existence of the True Ending.wAAf6Nc
m6eFor now, I planned to follow Mo Haein and the man while fulfilling the conditions necessary to obtain the True Ending.bpOZ
wT9ODAnd it wasn’t only because of the strange threats in the system window.Ap4
FQbq1‘If I can only see one ending, then it has to be the True Ending.’tfl2Sd
LiTsynUBecause I was a firm supporter of happy endings.7Mz8k
aOlx1RIn most games, the True Ending was also the Happy Ending.ZX2soIA
LUvrEven when I played Archive games, after seeing every ending, I always finished by obtaining the True Ending to conclude the story.cdz
rHiI could only feel satisfied when I saw the characters happy in the end.ddOdm
pUQgbiF‘Although I’m also curious about that man.’xsN8B
YKwKI had a pretty good memory.Odr0T7x
oXMKQJSince I loved Archive, I usually remembered even the smallest details, but this was the first time I had seen a man with the nickname Sample.WxLJw
NnSTyNI had never seen him either inside the Trials or in the extra scenes that came after the endings.FrJBa
74YIt wasn’t all that strange, though.Ww6mz
N9DDying during a Trial, becoming trapped forever, or surviving only to end up isolated because of a viral infection were fairly common occurrences.kzHACN
jtnMd0IMost likely, Sample was a character who had disappeared from the world of Archive before I ever had the chance to meet him.nMLK1lD
REu9RMo Haein stared at me while speaking.Ap5p2d
FHgvxI2“Lieutenant Park, you put it on.”95H
MwGls“Yes!”zkgMKLH
DiDzEThe man immediately took the toy arm and equipped it on his right arm.dkNdeRb
ApfAs soon as he brought the item close to his arm, the human arm disappeared and was replaced by the toy arm.SkR6g
glDHDeProudly moving the claw with a clack-clack sound, he smiled in satisfaction.Qgid
H0TFHYR“If you want to live, just follow me.”LV7
UZNyDYMo Haein clicked her tongue without saying anything else and started walking ahead.akhmMI
q61ZKI moved alongside the man as we followed Mo Haein.gwr
6aObsCjAt the same time, I discreetly shifted my eyes to the side.N1vnL
Ql1There was a Smiley embedded in the wall.sllW
QGzLscSmiley, with his smiling face, was the main toy of Happy Smile Factory.hePJns
Qlfjm0The colorful plastic figure had the same claw arm as the items received by players.P5nqK
925vyUpon entering the factory, the first NPC you encountered was Smiley.hEXfdK1
l2OIxdoUnlike the mass-produced models, which were barely fifteen centimeters tall, NPC Smiley stood one meter tall.kHhAISe
dH2VNPractically the size of a small child.HkvS9zY
3qqPLater on, it was possible to fight Smiley, but at this stage you only exchanged a few lines of dialogue and received the toy arm item.HOP
C57LDmI didn’t understand why someone had gone so far as to attack him and lose a life because of it.MeUQ
i6XaYh8Judging by Mo Haein’s expression, which didn’t seem particularly pleased, I suspected the man had made some sort of mistake.YgDQD6R
WPqGOWith his head embedded in the wall, Smiley’s toy arms and legs hung limply.Z2gnPZ
WytkBroken mechanical noises came from his body.db6fGHH
dKO3f3“Sm-Smiley-we-welcomes-everyone-to-Ha-Happy-Smile-Factory-let’s-all-be-happy-happy-….”EJhxbRN
a3KrMIt was not a pleasant sight to look at.krToaY
uGdHe was an NPC I had grown somewhat attached to while playing, so seeing him half-destroyed in person made me quite uncomfortable.T3qXh
nFDIt felt as though Smiley was going to appear in my dreams tonight.jnBp8ww
ZDaVoHWUnlike me, Mo Haein and the man didn’t seem to care.Kdat
SF6YnsVThe man spoke to me with a friendly smile.dzOy18X
wa8“We should introduce ourselves! Park Seonggyeon. You can call me Lieutenant Park.”KqnXIp
kFD“I’m Han Goyo.”M1iL
Qy2ifZg“The person over there is Captain Mo Haein….”jFKRI
eNyQ“Lieutenant Park. Did you come here on a field trip?”mlt
8AGm6V“Sorry.”Kfh
5IwPark Seonggyeon quickly apologized and closed his mouth, though he rolled his eyes in dissatisfaction.hoTK
whTxSeeing that, I more or less understood why he was a character I didn’t know.eYHv0h
QJ4KHe had probably made some mistake during a Trial and died.UxkSq
VTSGMlKAnd with bad luck, it was even possible that the day he would make that mistake was today.25hp
3KLWhile Park Seonggyeon walked with a hardened expression, I crouched down, pretending to tie my shoelaces.JB8ocwY
84BHTaking advantage of the moment, I gathered a handful of candies that were scattered around the area.PJh
bAIThey were candies whose wrappers had a hexagonal nut drawn on them.MMPjHo
CIxNut Candy: Crick-crick, repairing toys….2Iy
2Sr8Nut Candy was a recovery item that could easily be found throughout HasFac.gHn
1SWg8PIt was supposed to taste like nuts when eaten, although unfortunately I had never been able to try it myself.cDa2
pOCBecause it could only be used when you had a toy limb equipped.MFScyd
or2LSI walked past Smiley and discreetly dropped one of the candies onto his claw-shaped hand.2Vgd
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dihnblls 300
Golden Coreoh thats gore of my comfort character.
Sara Mos
MortalAwwww he is so soft??? I instantly know I’m going to love this mc
Sara Mos
MortalSo you just want to eat candy . I see
Sara Mos
MortalSo you just want to eat candy . I see
dihnblls 300
Golden Corelike nuts u say…
dihnblls 300
Golden Corewhat drawn on them
dihnblls 300
Golden Corewow what a sneaky little thing -_-
dihnblls 300
Golden Coreloolll