That's good—really good. But somehow, it got even more awesome.
After a while, David finished his turn and said,
"Hear me out, everyone—except me, because I'm playing, it's my turn."
Then he continued,
"Mei and Jian, please—I beg of you—please teach us martial arts. Make monks out of us, please."
They both looked at each other and replied,
"I don't know… martial arts is an art. It's tradition. That's not something kids like us should be teaching—or something kids like you should be learning."
But David said,
"At the cost of survival, we have no choice but to get into it. Even if it's just for a week—please, I beg of you."
Mei answered,
"I don't know… we still haven't made a plan that will help us escape. So why bother?"
Then he said,
"If you guys teach us, I'll leave your walls connected. How about that?"
She said,
"I don't know… but are you actually hearing yourself? You're planning to return the wall if I refuse?"
Everyone was shocked.
But to be honest—I'm the one who made her say that. From the moment David contacted her, I used my telepathic ability to save the situation.
Then I told Jian to go play the hero.
He hugged her and said,
"Now, now… let's not cross the line. We're all here to help. You don't need to bargain with us for anything—we're part of this group, aren't we?"
Then he said,
"Please forgive me. I thought you wouldn't even consider us allies, and yet—here you are, calling us friends."
That's the moment David gained everyone's trust—because they all comforted him.
Dante said,
"You're really stressed about this whole situation, and you keep playing the hero every time. Hey—get your fuckin' ass off the PlayStation. Play this game. And that one too. Hey—move, Kurai, you big goof!"
And then I said,
"
Fine, damn,"
and gave him the place.
Then after that, we all went on a rampage, playing RPG games turn by turn. I stood up and said,
"Huh… okay, here you go, guys. Damn, playing games like kids,"
after two straight hours of gameplay.
Then I stood next to Lyra and spoke to her telepathically:
"So, how's it going? Is he playing along?"
She responded,
"Yeah, everything is perfect. Everyone's excited about the plan and believing in David more than usual. Rim kept talking about how much he surprised her."
I said,
"Good. That's good."
Then she added,
"But Mei seems to be chill—like she doesn't care about anything. She's still not showing excitement. I guess it's because she only cares about her boyfriend."
"Good to know," I replied, then called Mei telepathically.
She said,
"Wait… what? Who's calling me?"
Then paused and added,
"Yes."
She quickly realized it was thought-to-thought communication. She even heard Lyra's voice.
I said,
"So, I heard you performed well."
She replied,
"Yeah. Thanks for whatever you did. I got to meet Jian."
I said,
"You already know her, but you two should get to know each other properly."
Then Mei said,
"My name is Mei."
Lyra answered,
"My name is Lyra. I like your hair—it really looks good."
Mei said,
"Thanks! And I like your shape. You work out, right?"
And just like that, they faked a first-time mee
ting and started an original, casual chat.
Then they began planning how to become monks—not for real, but just trying to work out like them. When they asked,
"What about you?"
I said,
"I'm not part of your little exercise plan, bro."
They all stared. Taeyang said,
"Why?"
The girls sighed. Dante said,
"Here he goes…"
and they started talking.
Then Jian said,
"I wanna challenge you to a duel."
I asked,
"What duel?"
He replied,
"It's clear now that this place can't be used for a proper duel unless we make it one. And we clearly don't have the time for that."
Then he tore off his shirt, struck a bodybuilder pose, and said,
"Yeah."
The Japanese kid laughed and said,
"What's that? A boob or something?"
Then he flexed his chest and said,
"This is real body."
We all started posing and ended up arm wrestling each other, while the girls just got lo
st watching the chaos unfold.
Days passed. We worked out every single day. We worked, we worked, we worked—until we lost our sanity.
We continued meditating, staying focused on one and only one thing: mana.
We started to control our mana, day in and day out. Eventually, everyone began using their magic.
I trained harder than anyone else—because I didn't use magic in front of them.
In truth, I couldn't actually use magic—just skills, attacks, defense mechanisms, and so on.
Then they told us that sleep was necessary.
We grew weaker. The AI provided gym equipment, but still, we pushed through.
Days later, we started to see changes—one by one, we all began to grow stronger.
One day, we sat on the ground in a circle.
Jian said,
"Let's begin with you. After all these days of meditation, what did it tell you?"
Then he paused… and cried.
Tears began to fall from his eyes.
When someone tried to move toward him, Jian stopped them.
"Nobody moves. Let him talk. He needs to overcome it and speak."
Then David spoke:
"I was born in a rich family…"
Everyone listened in silence.
"…My father was an amazing man, a good person.
When I was three, they told me he was gone, that he'd come back after I grew up.
I believed them… until I eventually found out—he had died long ago."
He took a shaky breath and continued:
"After that, it was just me, my mom, and my sister.
Years later, my uncle—my dad's youngest brother—came with his family to visit us.
They moved into our area, and since our house was large, we invited them to live with us.
We lived together, like one big family... until one day, my uncle killed my mom using a drug."
Gasps rippled around the circle, but no one interrupted.
"From that moment on," David said, "the house I once loved became hell.
It got even worse when I learned the truth:
They killed my father the same way.
Every holiday, every weekend became a day I wished I never existed.
And I knew… I knew one day, they'd kill me too."
His voice trembled as he continued:
"All of this… was for money.
They could've just asked my dad—he would've helped them start a business.
So why?
Why did they have to kill my parents?"
Silence fell.
"In our religion," David whispered, "suicide is forbidden.
If it wasn't a sin, I would've done it—without a second thought.
That's what's been haunting me all this time.
But I've come to accept it.
I can't take revenge.
I can't change what happened.
But my sister—she's studying law.
The moment she graduates, I know she'll come for them.
That'
s why she chose law. She's going to bring them to justice."
Then Jian said,
"Let's continue—with you, Rim."
She hesitated.
"I'm really embarrassed to say this, but… I've lived a happy life compared to you all. I mean, I truly feel sorry for you."
She looked down, nervous.
"I was born into a wealthy family. My father always took great care of me.
I lived in a hotel, and eventually… I got bored. I complained about how being rich was boring—like you're always being watched, and you can't stay outside.
Modeling at an early age made it hard to have freedom. And that's all I really wanted.
I lived my life with no regrets—except one."
Everyone stayed silent, listening.
"I got into an argument with my dad—the one and only person who cared about me.
He left the house afterward, probably feeling bad about what happened, and wanted to cheer me up by buying me something cute…
That's when he got into a car accident and died."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I was only five. I took all the blame for what happened.
If I hadn't been a kid… it wouldn't have happened."
I was left alone with the house manager—my monitor.
He always looked after the house and took care of me.
Years later, I was asked to take a couple of pictures… and eventually, I met a guy, my pair.
We talked, liked each other… but one day, I heard him on the phone say I'd make a 'good hoe'.
He even said I was a 'lonely, good-for-nothing', and that they had a new target.
I dumped him right after that."**
She sniffed and wiped her eyes.
Then Kurai said,
"At least you dumped him. That's your luck.
And besides—don't blame yourself for what happened. I'm really sorry for your loss, but it's not your fault for being a kid. That's just how you were raised."
I added,
"And don't take the 'good-for-nothing' insult personally.
If someone doesn't know you personally, and something happens with them—don't take it personally. Got it?"
She nodded.
"Yes… thank you."
Then Jian smiled.
"You know just what to say at the right time, don't you?"
He looked around.
"Let's continue. Who wants to go next?"
Then Taeyang raised his hand.
"I will."
He took a deep breath.
"I had a life kind of like hers.
As a kid, I was funny, dramatic, proud of my family—though I only ever knew my father.
Life got boring after a while, even with all the fame.
Dad was super rich, and I thought… I need something new."
He looked serious now.
"So I asked my dad about my mother.
He said, 'You're already grown… you want to know about your mother?'
And I said, 'Yes. I want to know her badly. Please help me.'
He gave me a location and said, 'That's where she lives.'
So I walked there, hiding my face under a hat.
It was an old house, and an old woman—my grandmother—stood outside.
I didn't know she was my grandma at first. She said, 'Come in, may I help you?'
I showed her a photo and asked, 'Is this woman here?'
She looked surprised.
'Yes… she's my daughter. Why are you looking for her?'
Then I said, 'Where is she?'
She told me to come in and asked if I knew her daughter.
When she called her over…"
His eyes softened.
"…That's when I saw where my elegant and handsome looks came from.
She was absolutely gorgeous.
I walked out to her and said,
'I… I wanted to meet you for so long.
I waited… for so long, I came all the way here.'
She looked confused.
'Wait… do I know you?' she asked.
'You're my mom,' I said.
'Yes. I'm your son, mother.'
That… that moment turned my entire life around.
I lived with her for a month.
I asked her about her relationship with Dad.
And then… I learned the truth."
He clenched his fists.
"My dad was just a player—not even a real father.
He used his money, authority, and influence to mess around with families and their daughters.
Even my mom… he took her by force.
I was just an unexpected child.
She said Dad never supported them.
Not even once.
She was surprised he even remembered me.
I asked, 'So he has many children… then why did he choose me?'
And she said,
'Mainly because you're the most handsome one.'
I lived another month with them… until Dad stopped me from visiting.
So I did everything I could to convince my mom to move on—
to build a better family.
I told her I'd always be her son.
No matter what."
His voice cracked slightly.
"She got married, had another child… and I visited her when she was pregnant.
But over time, I stopped coming.
It felt like I was just reminding her of the past.
Like I was bothering her.
So I lived alone again."
He looked down.
"I was never good at communicating.
And when you have haters, even the kindest person gets talked about.
The only person I care about is my m
om… but I guess the same doesn't go for her.
Still, I want the best for her.
I'm just… a worthless bastard's son.
It makes sense."