So, Is Being Sexy Your Full-Time Job?

"Excuse me, Rian," came the dialogue in Vergil's characteristic color, "allow me to take you to the group so you can meet your teammates."

[Nod and follow] [Refuse] [Look back] [Say and do nothing]

Rian chose [Look back], which triggered a new interaction with the character accompanying them all this time. Outside of the game, Rian understood that depending on the choices, it could have been any character in the program. The character with the distinctive glasses smiled, baring their teeth.

"See you later," he said, waving his right hand and making the wooden beads on his Tibetan bracelet clink. He then walked away to rejoin the group that had surrounded them earlier.

With that, the main character had no choice but to follow Vergil.

"What are you doing?" asked a sleepy Hannah, her palms red.

"Playing the app you sent me," Rian replied bluntly.

"Oh, I see," she chuckled mischievously. "You couldn't resist."

"Why don't you eat the breakfast Rian made for us instead of letting it get cold from all your gossiping?" Mario chimed in, face marked with handprints on both cheeks.

"I'm surprised you can chew with that mark," Rian said, laughing awkwardly.

"I'm used to it. She's hit me for less. One day, I'll find a law student and ask them to take my case as their final project: 'Domestic Abuse in Shared Housing.'"

Meanwhile, Hannah waved her hand, mimicking Mario in a mocking puppet-theater voice.

"You're going to bite your tongue," Mario said, mouth full.

And Hannah did, in fact, bite her tongue.

"Told you so," Rian added, giving Mario a high-five as they passed.

While Hannah groaned and climbed onto the kitchen island to sip her coffee pleasantly, Rian quietly escaped the crossfire and returned to the game story.

Vergil guided Rian—in-game—to the center of the lower floor, where several NPCs surrounded them in a cloud of strange noises and irrelevant chatter. The dialogue box popped up again.

"It's a pleasure to have you with us," said a character with fuchsia eyes and a gentle smile, offering a handshake.

[Shake hand] [Painted nails] [Poliosis?] [Freckles!] [Greet] [Abstain]

Too many tempting choices for Rian, but the one that most piqued their curiosity was [Poliosis?]

"Oh, this? I had an accident as a kid, and it changed color. It used to be red," the character replied, visibly affected by commenting on their appearance.

[Greet] [Compliment] [Congratulate] [Flirt] [Sympathize]

"These options never stop surprising me," Rian commented sarcastically, choosing [Congratulate].

[Now it looks like a warrior's mark. Super cool.]

A trail of magenta glittering sparkles fluttered across the screen.

"You think so?" he said, twirling the white strand of hair and smiling wider. "Thanks. By the way, I'm Elijah. We'll be working together from now on."

Rian smiled behind the screen as the app pronounced their username aloud in the introduction.

[I'm Rian]

Suddenly, a cinematic began. The wall of the room projected what was happening on the second floor. A man with a purple tie put in a wireless earbud and adjusted the microphone, then smoothed the wrinkles from his olive-gray suit sleeves with careful fingers, aligning his cufflinks. He brushed his jet-black hair from his face, revealing steely blue-gray eyes. Then he cleared his throat softly before speaking, his voice resonating throughout the space.

"First of all, as CEO of Golden Moon, I want to thank everyone who volunteered for this plan. And to those currently with us, I welcome Project Epiome, which aims to help people in ways once deemed weakness or madness. Today, we understand that facing ghosts from the past or pressures of the present is a daily act of courage. With your help, we will be able to support anyone in need, regardless of their situation."

The speech stirred light emotion among volunteers and staff alike, prompting applause. A slight tongue-click noise popped in the dialogue box, along with new options. Rian selected the most obvious one: [Turn and applaud].

"Now, let us introduce all the people involved in the project. I'm handing over the mic to someone who will be very present with you throughout," announced the CEO, giving space to the most imposing woman on stage.

The new round of applause quickly died as the modestly dressed woman took control. Her slender, feminine figure moved gracefully in the confined space. Her fitted, but conservative dark outfit highlighted the delicate gold jewelry hanging from her neck, ears, and hands. She adjusted her earpiece, then the mic, and began her speech.

"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Sophia, Director of Strategy at Golden Moon and representative of Project Epiome." Applause followed, but she silenced it with a gesture.

"Previously, you heard from Victor, the CEO of Golden Moon, who brought the raw idea of this project. Next to him is Leon, Head Software Engineer."

A blonde young man with green glasses appeared, wearing a childishly designed shirt and a white lab coat. He scratched the back of his messy hair, cheeks pink with discomfort and shyness.

"Next to him is Elliot, an external advisor in Digital Simulations, who will work closely with both Software Development and Psychiatry."

With his vibrant red and turquoise hair, Elliot beamed as he waved. He threw an arm around Leon and raised both arms, which brought loud cheers. Then he noticed his shirt had ridden up above his belt, quickly covered himself, and winked at the camera with a mischievous flick of his hair.

The CEO chuckled silently as he mimed scissors with his fingers, implying they'd edit that out. Elliot looked relieved, prompting Leon to give him a light punch on the shoulder. They both laughed. A tongue-click sounded again, and the same scene replayed, confirming Rian's earlier choice had triggered.

"Standing beside me is our legal advisor, Edmond."

A graceful man with ash-blond hair and a Victorian-style suit stepped forward, drawing delighted gasps from the audience as if he were a celebrity. He winked, but the reaction earned Sophia a stern voice, clearly annoyed.

"He will advise you on what is and isn't permitted during and after participation. Please treat him with the respect he deserves."

Edmond returned to his place beside the CEO, who gave him a playful smirk. Edmond responded with a resigned sigh and a knowing expression.

"Next, we have Serena, our Marketing Lead."

A long-haired woman with braided locks, dressed in earth tones and modest jewelry, stepped forward with the poise of a beauty queen. Her clothes had a homely, floral-stitched charm, soft fabrics, a long skirt, fine boots, and leather accessories.

"Please cooperate with her requests, as they will be essential to the project's promotion."

Sophia then concluded:

"And last but not least, overseeing the volunteers and leading Psychology and Psychiatry: Vergil."

The serene man with sky-blue eyes greeted them. Bathed in soft light, he radiated calm like a sanctified figure. His posture was relaxed yet commanding, reaffirming the confidence Rian had sensed from the start. The camera focused on Elijah, who clapped enthusiastically.

Suddenly, Rian realized their legs no longer felt like their own—Hannah had curled up on them. Meanwhile, Mario leaned over their shoulder from behind.

"Ah... That game again. You too?" he sighed. "Hannah was glued to it, especially whenever that 'slick-haired dude' showed up."

"The fact that a savage like you doesn't understand styling to impress is one thing. Not knowing fashion is another," replied Hannah from her pillow perch.

"Don't mind her," Rian said, ruffling Mario's unruly hair. "She likes your type. Just wants to see you with a sleeker haircut."

"Pfft, never!" Mario laughed, enjoying the affection.

"Aren't you overdue for a bark?" Hannah teased, only for Rian to flick her forehead.

Rian returned their gaze to the phone. Edmund was now explaining project confidentiality and remote communication.

"So... lots of ways to talk to the characters, but none direct," Rian thought, frustrated.

There was an update-news group chat, one group chat with romanceable characters, one for volunteers with Vergil alone, and one just for volunteers chit chat due to confidentiality contracts prohibiting sharing personal numbers.

"If you say the wrong thing in the volunteer chat, you get a bad ending and get kicked from the project," Hannah warned, swinging her legs in the air.

"But your timing's on fire," Rian said, rubbing the spot they'd flicked.

"It's the voice of the white-haired guy. I think she's listened to that speech two hundred times," Mario teased. This time, he got the forehead flick.

"Ha!" laughed Hannah until Rian's finger approached again. She covered her forehead. "Sorry, mom. I got carried away."

Rian laughed loudly, the joy lifting everyone's spirits.

"Alright, time to get ready," said Hannah while Mario picked up the breakfast dishes.

"But there's no University today," Rian protested.

"No, but you don't have work either," Mario answered from the kitchen.

Rian let out a guttural groan as let their body slip over the couch lazily. Real life couldn't be skipped like a game cutscene.

"By the way, you need to start thinking about your in-game activities," Hannah mentioned.

"Activities?" Rian asked, uncertain.

"Yeah. You can go to the bookstore, watch movies, the arcade, or the university library..." Mario said. "Oh! And there are restaurants: Italian, Mexican, Korean..."

"Is that the only thing that really interests you?" Hannah teased. "He'd complain: 'That shrimp's unhealthy; they didn't clean out the intestinal line!' Blah blah."

Rian turned pale.

"Does the character have to eat?"

"Oh yeah. You also have to manage your money. Part-time jobs, too. Pick your favorite. If you do well in the mini-game, you get a bonus," Hannah chirped.

Rian's face morphed into sheer panic.

"The character has to work?!"

That was when Rian understood that real life couldn't imitate video games... But video games could definitely imitate real life.