Chapter 5: Reality is worse than fiction

Reality is stranger than fiction.

Kim jun-seo.

Known among friends as the “freeloader,” he was at an internet café, playing a three-man queue while waiting for a friend who never showed.

“Why isn’t he here?”

“Dunno?”

Among Kim jun-seo and his four friends, there were two unspoken rules: start the game on time, and if you can’t, let the others know.

Missing a game wasn’t a big deal, but since they always waited for all four to gather, the rule was to give a heads-up to avoid keeping everyone hanging.

And now, one of Junseo’s friends hadn’t contacted them for over an hour.

“Hm.”

Next to him, kang-hyeok Park, nicknamed “Tong-tong,” asked. Junseo checked his phone, but the “1” next to his message still hadn’t disappeared.

“Why no contact… Ugh, why’s that guy over there?!”

“Ha, you got wrecked. Heh.”

Meanwhile, Min-jae Seo, dubbed “Skinny,” started an assassination spree, and their game went south fast. Junseo’s team surrendered, and within five seconds, a big “Defeat” splashed across the screen.

Letting out a hollow sigh, Min-jae pushed up his glasses with his middle finger and leaned back.

“Still no reply? Just call him.”

“Hold on…”

Scrolling through his contacts, Junseo found “Garam Lee” and tapped without hesitation.

The ringtone sounded.

Click!

Contrary to the three’s expectation that he wouldn’t pick up, the call connected in under ten seconds. Junseo immediately demanded why there was no contact, and then…

<Sorry, I forgot to text. My bad.>

A woman’s voice, one he’d never heard before, came through.

“… Who’s this?”

The speech pattern was unmistakably his friend’s, but the voice was completely different. Caught off guard, Junseo could only muster that short question.

A brief silence.

After ten seconds that felt like ten minutes, the call cut off with a beep.

“What? What’s that?”

“Was that a woman’s voice?”

“Wait…”

Did he call the wrong number? Checking the call log, “Garam Lee” was clearly there.

So, did someone else answer for his friend who couldn’t pick up? But then why the same speech pattern, and why hang up right away?

Puzzled, the three bombarded the group chat, but it took forever for the “1”s next to their messages to disappear.

“You okay?”

No.

Seeing the group chat explode, I quietly turned off my phone and slipped it into my pocket.

It’s fine. I didn’t reveal what happened to me. I can smooth this over with a good excuse.

I’ll have to come clean in a week, but for now, I want to keep it under wraps.

They’d probably tease me mercilessly if they knew.

“The 0-kill, 15-death guy, so committed to pacifism he became an angel!”

So unfair. That game wasn’t just me doing badly—they flopped too, but I get all the flak.

…

Anyway.

I’ll figure out an excuse before bed. For now, phone off, escape mode on.

Ugh, I want ice cream.

Leaving the restaurant, the sun had fully set, and it was dark outside the windows.

The building was still bright with lights, but the absence of sunlight hit differently… It felt strange.

“You okay?”

“Huh?”

“You look super down. You sure you’re okay?”

Down?

Now that she mentioned it, my wings were drooping, and my halo was glowing faintly.

My body felt weak, like I was dragging myself along, probably looking pathetic from the side.

No way a little issue like explaining to my friends could drain me this much.

I tried to stand up straight, but my body wouldn’t cooperate and wobbled.

“Ugh…”

“Oh no…”

Jimin quickly steadied me, keeping me from falling.

Why am I so weak…

Ha.

“An unfamiliar ceiling.”

Hehe, I always wanted to say that line.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, hitting my face at an angle.

“Feels nice…”

So cozy. Sprawled on the bed, it’s like paradise. I’m an angel, so maybe this is paradise? Heh.

Giggling, I sat up and reached for my phone to check the time.

“… It’s off.”

Pressing the power button, I stretched my arms up while the phone booted.

Wings flapping too.

“Ughhh…”

As my stiff body loosened, a groan slipped out. Finally, the phone turned on.

“Yikes. What’s all this?”

An unread group chat with 999+ messages. And seven unread messages from Jimin.

The group chat… I’ll deal with it later. I can’t handle that right now. I opened Jimin’s messages first.

—You suddenly passed out, so I brought you to your room.
—I got worried and took you to the doctor first.
—They said you’re just sleeping.
—Since you’re an angel, you might pass out at night.
—Still, if anything hurts, tell them right away.
—Text me when you wake up, I’m worried.

Aha. Now I get what happened last night. An angel that passes out at night? That’s harsh.

Scrolling down…

—Oh, and I asked the staff to get you clothes. Your old ones are in the closet.

She even got me clothes. I feel bad. And my old clothes are in the closet… Huh?

Looking down, my old clothes were gone, replaced by a cute light blue T-shirt with a cat on it.

It fit perfectly, and there were holes in the back for my wings.

The pants were comfy and the right length too.

“What.”

Who changed me? Jimin? A staff member?

In my panic, a terrifying thought hit me. If both my top and bottom were changed, then…

“… No way.”

With a twitching lip, I peeked inside my pants…

…

…

…

Feeling like my virtue was stolen, I slumped onto the bed, depressed. Gotta soak up more sunlight to shake this off.

The warm sunlight feels like it washes away bad vibes. So warm, so soft.

Let’s forget about the teddy bear underwear.

Yeah.

After texting Jimin that I was awake, I brushed my teeth, showered, and turned on my phone.

Time to clear that 999+ notification.

With a determined look, I tapped and tapped.

Entering the group chat, the “1”s next to the messages vanished, and then—

—Yo
—He’s here
—Finally checking
—Where you been
—So late
—Who answered your phone
—Where’d you go without telling your parents
—To the abyss! Abyss! Abyss!
—What’s the rule if you don’t contact on time?
—Abyss! Abyss! Abyss! Abyss! Abyss!
—Hurry up, I’m dizzy

The chat was going wild. Ignoring it, I scrolled up to see them speculating about my whereabouts.

They asked my parents, who said I was out, but what was with the woman’s voice? Did I get a girlfriend behind their backs? Why no reply? Did I get in an accident? If I’m dead, secretly wiggle a carrot. Wait, how do you wiggle a carrot if you’re dead?

Obviously joking, but still.

Scrolling back down, the chat was moving at an unbelievable pace for just three people. Messages flew up before I could read them.

Head aching from figuring out an excuse, I clutched my forehead and typed my first message.

*

Managed to smooth things over.

My friends are still suspicious, but whatever. They’d never guess their friend turned into an angel overnight.

Hehe.

Time for breakfast, so I’ll meet up with Jimin.

For some reason, I was sucking on a lollipop by the bed as I stepped out.

The elevator’s starting to feel familiar.

Just before the doors closed, someone rushed up, so I hit the open button. The doors slid open quietly.

In came a massive green silhouette. Glossy, elastic scales, a thick tail, and an appearance about 120° different from human.

Hissing with their tongue, they said…

“Thanks, little lady.”

It was the bipedal lizard!

Gasp.