'28 hours. That's the time I spent playing just for this secret route.'
I grabbed a half-empty can of cola, my eyes bloodshot as I stared at the screen. My character stood at the entrance to the final boss room. With a deep breath, I entered.
The fight was a blur of high-level mechanics and frame-perfect dodges. When the boss finally fell, a hidden wall rumbled open behind the throne—the path to the game's final, most elusive secret achievement. I walked my character into the darkness of the passage, but instead of a cutscene, the screen suddenly went pitch black.
[Achievement Earned: ???]
"Finally..." I leaned back, the tension leaving my body. "Every achievement, every route. I've finally cleared it all."
I stood up to finish my cola, but a sharp ping echoed through my room. I looked back at the monitor.
[Background Character Route Unlocked.]
'Huh? Background character route? I've never heard of this one.'
Two options flickered on the screen: [YES] or [NO].
Without thinking much, I clicked YES. The room didn't just go dark—it felt like the world tilted. A wave of intense dizziness hit me, and my legs gave out. As my head hit the floor, a final message flashed in my mind.
[Synchronization Complete.]
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in my cramped apartment anymore. I was lying in a room that looked like it belonged to a medieval noble. I scrambled to my feet, my heart racing, and stumbled toward a full-length mirror.
I touched my face, but the reflection didn't feel like mine. "Wait... this isn't me..?"
A blue semi-transparent window flickered into existence in front of my eyes.
[Name : Julian Blackwood]
[Age : 16]
[Gender : M]
[Race : Human]
[Element : none]
[Attributes]
Strength : 10
Health : 5
Mana : 6
Luck : 2
[Skills]
Basic Swordsmanship Level 1
One's proficiency in handling a sword. It covers the most basic movements of the blade.
'Julian Blackwood..?'
The name sent a chill down my spine. I knew this guy. In the world of Sylvan's Saga, Julian wasn't a hero, a hidden boss, or even a respectable rival. He was a bottom-tier extra, a minor antagonist designed to be hated.
He was the stereotypical arrogant noble who had a delusional crush on Edna, the genius flame mage of the academy. In the game's script, Julian spends his days harassing her, blinded by a mix of obsession and insecurity. When he eventually sees Edna talking to the story's actual protagonist, Felix Alistair, he loses his mind. He challenges Felix to a duel, gets utterly humiliated in front of the entire student body, and slinks away in shame.
But that wasn't the worst part.
I remembered his true ending. During the 'Great Descent' at the final act of Chapter 1, the academy is overrun by demonic energy. Julian, weak-willed and desperate for power, becomes one of the first to be 'demonified.' He turns into a mindless, low-level mob. Just another monster for Felix to cut down on his way to save the world. After that, his name is never mentioned again.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Young Master Julian, The carriage is prepared."
"alright I'll be there in a sec."
'maybe I can change the fate of Julian.'
I grabbed Julian's sword from beside the mirror and headed to the carriage.
Sylvan Academy—a place full of talented people and the stage for all the major characters. My plan was to stay out of the way, but as soon as I arrived and stepped off the carriage, two of Julian's lackeys immediately fell in line behind me.
Inside the academy, I saw them. Felix and Edna, talking to each other.
If they were already talking, then the script had already begun. This was the moment Julian was supposed to challenge Felix. I forced a look of irritation onto my face and walked toward them, playing the part of the arrogant noble perfectly.
"Hey, Edna. How long are you going to keep ignoring me?"
As I reached out, Felix Alistair intercepted me, his hand clamping down on mine. Edna looked at me with pure disgust, while Felix gave me a look that told me exactly where to stay.
I glared back at him.
"Oi, get your hands off me."