Idol Factory

21 | System Basics

"Welcome to the virtual realm, Minjeong!"

Boa smiled as she welcomed the younger seated on the pitch-black floor, looking more confused than ever.

Next to her was the newly assigned familiar ever since she disappeared from the older's vision back in the bathroom.

A husky with the soul of a ferocious wise wolf. A glowing star in the middle of his forehead. He opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out, huffing while sitting close to his owner. He stared at the older, appearing to be confused as well.

Minjeong named the big gray fluff; Gre. Mainly because of his gray fur— and how she thought it suited him cutely.

Ever since Minjeong typed in his name, Gre never left her side.

"Okay, how the heck did you get here?"

Minjeong questioned while scratching her cheek inhabit. Boa only smiled and snapped her fingers, transforming the pitch-black room into a modern-looking living room.

The younger was stunned and rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She immediately stood up and began touching everything she landed her eyes on— all of it felt real.

Solid. It's solid!

She always thought about how virtual things remain virtual and cannot be touched. So the system remained as pop-ups that gave her supernatural abilities and were never this complicated.

Boa chuckled at the reaction, "This is the virtual realm, existing between dreams and reality. I warped you here against your will, time doesn't exist here. Fun fact, each player like us gets to own one upon reaching a particular level. Could be level fifty— could be level one-hundred." she shrugged. "Depends on how you play it."

Minjeong furrowed her brows and slightly tilted her head. Gre closed his mouth and mirrored her owner.

"Play it?"

Boa nodded, "It depends on how you use the system. Who knows? You might even get it earlier than me."

Minjeong ruffled her hair as she couldn't take in all of the information she received all at once, "I think I'm going to get a headache." she took a deep breath and sighed.

Nodding her head in understanding, Boa approached Minjeong and gently pushed her to sit down on the nearby couch. She sat beside the younger and patted her back for comfort.

"I know you're busy with the show because of your outbreak— Practice this, practice that. Then the system giving you dirt- Are you okay?"

Boa could relate to Minjeong. She couldn't help but recall her first time finding out about the system.

How hard it was for her to manage things alone, how complicated the tremoring pain was, and how hard it was to be the first player to reach level one-hundred and counting.

She told Minjeong about this, and the latter was shocked once again.

Just how hard was it?

"I think... besides the Goddess... I'm the very first player to exist."

Minjeong solely gazed at Boa in silence. She couldn't find the words to say— it must be traumatizing.

Boa heard the younger's thoughts and softly patted her head. The touch served as a comfort to Minjeong, akin to her grandmother's presence as she habitually closed her eyes. As a result, she felt her worries slowly dissipate.

"..."

"Minjeong?"

"..."

"Minjeong!"