DRMB Chapter 4

“…”

Was this what it felt like to be swayed by sweet words?

Before she knew it, a completely different life was being painted in her mind.

A life where she didn’t have to give up on what she wanted to do was too tempting for her, who had lived a life of constant abandonment.

The being, who had somehow approached her from behind, placed his hands on her round shoulders. For a fleeting moment, a shimmering, white light bloomed and scattered outside her field of vision.

[Isn’t it worth living a new life, just once?]

Like someone falling into a dream, her eyes lost focus, and she parted her lips.

“…I’ll do it.”

[Good choice.]

Smiling as if he had been waiting for those words, he snapped his fingers once again.

At the same time as she returned from the accident scene to the white space, he tapped her forehead with the tip of his index finger.

In that instant, her mind cleared, her eyes regained focus, and she realized the words she had just uttered.

“Wait, I take back what I just said! I need a more detailed explanation…!”

But it was already too late. Her vision began to fade slowly.

[The contract has been established.]

[I have high expectations. …My Ipersha.]

With his elegant smile as the last thing she saw, darkness enveloped her.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

“That damn swindler!”

Ipersha opened her eyes in an unfamiliar space and immediately let out a scream-like cry.

Seeing her reflection in the mirror only fueled her frustration.

‘Shouldn’t important contracts be double-checked?’

Ipersha seethed, her chest heaving.

‘Of course, I was momentarily tempted by the 10 billion won.’

However, she had no intention of accepting such an absurd offer so readily.

There was no set deadline, nor any mention of what would happen if she failed the reformation. It was a highly suspicious contract in many ways.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, she was already in this world.

It was after she had uttered words completely against her will as if possessed by something. It was frustrating enough to drive her crazy.

‘I shouldn’t have left any room for doubt.’

Based on her experience of living so far solely relying on her wits, without anyone to depend on since her days at the orphanage, her experience had taught her that carefully reviewing and scrutinizing contracts was fundamental.

However, this contract had many questionable aspects.

She was drawn to the new life, but such a large reward usually came with equally significant problems.

Above all, she lacked confidence.

’How am I supposed to succeed in the reformation when I had terrible luck both in reality and in the game?’

She was someone who had only ever gotten dead ends throughout the game.

Because it had happened so repeatedly, all she could properly remember were the initial encounter episodes with each capture target and the numerous dead ends.

Knowing yourself and your enemy guarantees victory, they say. But knowing only how to die by the enemy’s hand rather than the enemy themselves, she wondered if there was any chance of winning.

’Even with a notebook of wrong answers, you only know the right answer after you understand exactly why they were wrong. Just having a page full of incorrect answers doesn’t tell you the right one…’

She sighed at the daunting situation. Just then…

The dim room suddenly brightened, and a translucent screen appeared before her eyes. It was the same as the one the being had conjured up beside him as if performing magic.

Ipersha stared at the screen filled with unknown characters, her eyes wide open.

“A contract?”

Surprisingly, she could read the unfamiliar characters naturally. Perhaps the system being had given her this ability as well.

Thinking so, Ipersha continued reading the rest of the text. Her gaze stopped at the very last part.

Items she hadn’t heard from him were written in bold.

「For smooth reformation, pain during the process will be converted into pleasure, and the reformation progress of the capture target can be checked at any time through the reformation rate.」

「You can check the capture target’s information at any time during the process. In addition to basic information, one special piece of information is provided for each capture target.」

「There is no set deadline or failure condition. If you succeed in reforming all capture targets, the reward ‘Return to your original world and 10 billion won’ will be given.
However, if a capture target’s reformation rate decreases before successful reformation, or if there is no initial change after a certain period (10 days) following the first contact, a penalty will be applied.」

“I knew it.”

Ipersha glared at the last item with cold eyes.

She had been sure that the contract wouldn’t be entirely in her favor from the start, but to reform not one, but all the capture targets!

The progression was vastly different from the original game, where you chose only one capture target.

Moreover, there was a penalty?

It didn’t even clearly state what kind of penalties would be given.

‘That’s why he rushed the contract like a snake slithering over a wall.’

Before she could inquire further, before she knew the existence of the penalty. He was a very cunning man.

Ipersha sighed and swept her long, flowing hair back.

It was the same black color as her own, but unlike hers, the smooth, fine hair that glided between her fingers without a single tangle was truly befitting of a heroine.

That small but distinct difference made her realize the complete change in her circumstances, and her feelings were very complicated.

‘…Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to capture them and return to reality quickly.’

Staring at the screen displaying the contract for a while, Ipersha slowly closed and opened her eyes.

She wasn’t sure if she could do it well, since she hadn’t succeeded with even one in the game, but it was already done.

She had only one option.

Well, had her life ever gone the way she wanted? Ipersha accepted her situation with quick resignation.

Having lived a life of constant injustice, she was more accustomed to accepting and adapting than rebelling.

’But still, when I meet that bastard again, I’ll definitely get my 10 billion won and punch him.’

Of course, regardless of that, her resentment and desire for revenge towards the being who had thrown her into this situation burned fiercely.

-Knock, knock.

At that moment, a knock echoed on the door. 

As Ipersha turned her head, the door opened, and a woman in a maid’s uniform entered.

Ipersha stared at her with curious eyes. It was as if she was watching a medieval European drama unfold before her eyes.

’〈In the Name of the Oracle〉 was set in a newly created world based on Medieval Europe with ancient Greek motifs.’

The images that had filled the screen throughout the game came to Ipersha’s mind.

Gorgeous dresses and uniforms, carriages and mansions that resembled palaces rarely seen in modern times.

The fact that she was inside the game hit her once again.