David lay on his bed.
No matter how tightly he closed his eyes, sleep refused to come.
Stress kept surging inside his chest.
Especially when he remembered Clara's furious face.
"Reality… this is all reality…"
He stared at the ceiling.
"Fool."
David cursed himself.
He remembered the day he had rejected his uncle and aunt's offer.
"So arrogant… acting so mature…"
He mocked himself bitterly.
The David who once thought he was brave, idealistic, and responsible now saw the truth.
He was just a foolish man, consumed by his own ego.
"Forgive me, Clara…"
"Forgive me, Layla…"
"I dragged you into this suffering…"
Hours passed as he blamed himself again and again.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed him.
---
David jolted awake.
He was sitting on a wooden chair.
Above him, a single lamp illuminated his body.
Around him—only darkness.
"Where am I…?"
He looked around.
No walls.
No floor.
Only an endless black void.
DING
A sound echoed.
[ Welcome to the Shadow Realm ]
A robotic female voice rang in his ears.
"Huh…? Who's there?"
He turned in every direction.
No one.
A holographic screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
"What is this…?"
He tried to touch it.
His hand passed straight through.
[ Congratulations. You have been chosen as the Host of the Dark Triad System. ]
"Dark Tri—"
DING
[ This System will help your life. ]
"Huh? Help?"
"What is this… a dream?"
[ This System will help you escape your life's suffering. ]
[ Are you willing to become the Host of the Dark Triad System? ]
[ Yes / No ]
Two choices appeared.
David tried to stand.
His body forced itself back into the chair.
[ You cannot leave the Shadow Realm until you make a choice. ]
"What…? I refuse!"
He reached for [ No ].
DING
[ If you refuse, your life will remain trapped in poverty and suffering. ]
[ Not only you — your family will continue to suffer. ]
David froze.
Images flooded his mind.
Clara crying.
Layla forcing a smile.
Debt.
Humiliation.
Poverty.
He clenched his fists.
He could endure suffering.
But not theirs.
Slowly, trembling—
He pressed [ Yes ].
[ Congratulations. You have become the Host of the Dark Triad System. ]
[ System Integration Initiated. ]
[ 10% … 20% … 30% … ]
As the loading bar climbed, his vision blurred.
His eyelids grew heavy.
Darkness swallowed him.
---
"Hwaggh…!"
David woke up in his bed.
Morning light streamed through the window.
"Was that… a dream?"
He glanced at the clock.
6:45 AM.
"Damn… I'm late…"
He rushed downstairs.
Clara and Layla were already wearing their shoes.
"Have you eaten breakfast?" he asked.
"Not yet," Layla replied gently.
"Breakfast?" Clara scoffed.
"With what? Air?"
David fell silent.
He looked at them.
Their uniforms were yellowed with age.
Their shoes were torn, patched together with glue.
His chest tightened.
"I'm leaving now!" Layla said cheerfully.
Clara only frowned.
After they left, David poured himself a glass of water.
"I had a strange dream…"
He shook his head.
"Doesn't matter. I need to find a new job."
Drtt… Drtt…
His phone rang.
"Hello?"
"David, come take your severance pay quickly."
Relief flashed across his face.
"Thank goodness…"
He headed to the bathroom.
DING
A holographic screen suddenly appeared.
[ Daily Quest: Strengthen Your Body ]
[ Push-ups: 100 ]
[ Pull-ups: 20 ]
[ Squats: 100 ]
[ Walking: 30 Minutes ]
"What…?"
He tried to touch it.
The screen vanished.
"…I must be hallucinating."
He washed up and went to his former workplace.
After taking his severance pay, he searched for new jobs.
Coffee shop after coffee shop.
"Any vacancies?"
"Sorry, none."
He walked for hours.
Nothing.
Finally, he sat on a park bench.
"This money won't last a month…"
"Clara and Layla need new uniforms… new shoes…"
He lowered his head.
"What now…?"
Time passed.
In the end, he gave up and went home.
---
As he opened the door—
"Layla?"
They entered together.
Clara was sitting on the sofa, playing with her phone.
David walked behind her.
Then he froze.
On the screen—
A registration page.
OnlySlave.
"CLARA!!!"
He snatched the phone.
"What the hell is this!?"
"Huh!?"
Chat notifications popped up.
A middle-aged man's profile picture.
Disgusting messages.
"Are you insane!?" David shouted.
"I want money!" Clara screamed.
"I'm tired of being poor! I'm tired of suffering!"
"Give it back!"
"No. I won't let you do this!"
"You coward!" Clara cried.
"You only dare to bully your little sister!"
She ran to her room.
BANG!
The door slammed shut.
Silence filled the house.