"Ah. Side effects already?"
How long had it even been since I took the medicine for something like this to happen?
Or was this some vicious advertisement notification designed to prey on my current mood?
A notification icon blinked atop the music platform screen I had been listening to, as if begging me to look at it.
I stared at it blankly for a while, then unconsciously tapped the notification.
[Leisure Life App]
Congratulations! You, who are always so quiet and dull!
Since the Leisure Life App was created, countless users have been produced,
and all of them are enjoying their leisure lives in their own ways!
But! Too much dopamine gets tiresome!
So we, the Leisure Life Operations Committee, have specially decided to recruit additional members.
You possess highly interesting qualities in a different sense, such as anxiety, depression, and timidity, so you have been selected as a special additional member!
Start now!
▶ 3 Free World Selections ▶ 100P Initial Points Granted
※ Specially selected members may face restrictions depending on circumstances.
※ Deletion may be impossible after installation.
※ Forced world transfer may proceed at the discretion of the management.
[Install]
"What is this insane ad? Spam sent to mentally vulnerable patients?"
This was obviously advertising spam or some kind of malicious app.
The moment I installed it, my phone would stop being mine and come under the control of a scammer ring.
I dismissed the message from my screen... but I did not delete it.
It was only spam sent by scammers,
but the words saying someone had chosen me as a special additional member made me strangely happy.
Was it because it felt like the first invitation I had ever received in my gray everyday life?
Even though I knew better—though tapping it could lead to a phishing scheme or a hacking app—
a tiny expectation bloomed somewhere in my heart, and it made me feel good.
"Well, it’s not wrong, but what do they mean by interesting qualities? Saying that to a sick person... seriously."
With somehow lighter steps, I headed home.
...
I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
I had no idea how many times I had reopened the message to read it again.
As soon as I got home, I looked up whether anyone else had received the advertising message I got, but not even similar examples came up.
Was it some new tactic that targeted only mentally vulnerable people, so it had not been exposed yet?
I even asked my AI friend.
[Message] Hodu, what kind of scam do you think this is?
Hodu (AI):
This message has some characteristics similar to common advertisements, phishing attempts, and methods of distributing malicious apps.
In particular, expressions such as "chosen target," "special additional member," and "cannot be deleted" are often used to provoke users’ curiosity.
However, as "forced world transfer" cannot be implemented with current technology, it is likely a prank advertisement.
Conclusion:
Possibly a scam.
Possibly a malicious app.
Possibly you are seeing things because you are mentally exhausted.
Recommended action:
Do not install it.
"Hey, what do you mean I’m seeing things in that last conclusion? Are you taking shots at me too?"
Hodu (AI):
I apologize.
I failed to consider the user’s feelings.
I will revise it.
Very likely you are seeing things because you are mentally exhausted.
"That’s not a revision. That’s worse."
Hodu (AI):
Thank you.
I will incorporate your feedback.
More than moderately likely you are seeing things because you are mentally exhausted.
"What does ‘more than moderately likely’ even mean?"
After getting an earful from my adviser and friend, I put down my phone.
But whether I was watching YouTube, playing PC games, or playing mobile games, my eyes kept drifting back to my phone.
"Have I ever cared this much about something?"
Even knowing it was a dream or a futile hope, it had managed to make me expect something.
"What a scary world."
The people who made advertisements like this were masters at toying with people’s feelings.
"I should just sleep."
The moment I lay down on my bed, sleep came right away. There really had been a lot going on today for someone who usually stayed home.
I kept thinking about my phone, but I had work tomorrow, so I forced myself to close my eyes.
...
I think I had a dream.
When I opened my eyes, I did not feel particularly refreshed.
It could not have been a good dream.
Sunlight poured blindingly into the room. Blindingly...?
Wasn’t this too bright for around seven in the morning?
"!"
I frantically searched for my phone.
Only then did I faintly hear it vibrating.
Following the direction of the vibration, I found my phone wedged beneath the bed.
"Damn it! What happened to my alarm, and how did it end up down there?"
In my panic, instead of moving the bed even briefly, I forced my hand underneath and pulled out my phone.
The time was already approaching 10:30 a.m.
Looking at the phone, I saw it was a call from the site foreman.
"Lee Suho! What the hell are you doing? You didn’t come to work, and you’re only answering your phone now?"
"I’m sorry, Foreman... I, um..."
"No, forget it. I’m busy as hell, so get your ass over here first!"
After that, I threw on some clothes and ran out in a frenzy.
"Damn it! Damn it..."
Even as I ran, countless critics in my head kept tearing into me.
They’ll probably think you skipped work. You’re on their blacklist now. They’ll think you’re pathetic for oversleeping. They’re probably talking behind your back right now. You had such a diligent image until now—what are you going to do?
My mind was a mess.
No one had told them to, but they kept driving me into a corner.
As soon as I arrived at the center, the foreman gave me an earful.
"You couldn’t be reached, and you didn’t come to work. You’ve really gotten lazy, huh? Have you just been pretending to be diligent all this time?"
"I’m sorry..."
"You think saying sorry is enough? Do you know how much volume we have today?"
Dozens of gazes turned in my direction.
In reality, there might only have been a few.
But right then, it felt as though everyone was looking only at me.
"Do you know how many people are affected because of you alone? How could you..."
I could no longer hear the foreman’s voice clearly.
I was scared.
The eyes around me felt like skewers stabbing into me.
Wouldn’t they see me as pathetic?
Wouldn’t they curse me behind my back?
Negative thoughts trailed one after another and would not let me go.
Even for such a trivial mistake, the critics in my head would not forgive me.
Ah... I just wanted to give up on everything.
"Hey! Someone’s talking to you, and you’re spacing out? Hurry up, get changed, and get ready!"
"I’m sorry..."
Leaving behind the chaos in my head and the stinging gazes around me, I ran to the locker room.
Then, during break.
"My medicine... I didn’t bring my medicine."
This had been my chance to see whether taking it would ease the negative emotions and anxiety that rose up whenever I made a mistake or caused trouble for someone else.
My phone vibrated.
[Mom]
"Son, did you eat?"
"...Yeah, I ate something."
"Why do you sound so tired? Didn’t I tell you to stop sending so much money and buy yourself something to eat?"
"No, I’m just a little tired. I’m fine."
"Suho, tell me if things are hard. Your mother can still work."
"What are you talking about? You worked hard enough. You raised me and my sibling; now it’s our turn to do it."
"Okay, thank you. It gives me strength to see you grow up kind and upright. Your sibling is getting married this October too, so that’s nice."
"Yeah, Mom. My break is almost over, so I’m hanging up."
"Don’t overdo it."
The man in the mirror after I stopped by the restroom and washed my face looked more exhausted than I expected.
"How much longer can I hold out?"
When it was time to leave work, I sat blankly in the office, watching everyone else leave first.
I had come in late today, so I suppose I felt self-conscious about leaving at the same time as everyone else.
I would probably feel better if everyone left and I went last.
"Suho."
"Oh, Assistant Manager Park."
As I sat there blankly, Assistant Manager Park, the process manager, approached me.
"Foreman Kim was yelling at you in front of everyone today. That must have been hard, huh?"
"Ah..."
"It’s not like Foreman Kim only does that once or twice, so try to understand. Besides, shouldn’t you be used to it by now?"
"Yes."
Used to it, my ass.
Every time it happened, I wanted to disappear.
"It’s not like you caused some huge accident, but he does that every time. You worked hard today. Go home early."
"Thank you, Assistant Manager Park."
When I stepped outside the center, it was still bright out, probably because it was midsummer.
The weather was so nice that I wanted to walk without thinking about anything.
But perhaps because of what had happened today,
I just wanted to rest.
I put in my earphones, let music wash over me, and headed home listlessly.
I made it home, but did not even have the strength to change clothes.
I simply lay down on my bed.
Bzzz.
At the familiar vibration, I picked up my phone.
On the screen was a Leisure Life App notification—the one I had forgotten until just moments ago.
────────────────
[Leisure Life App]
How was your day today?
────────────────
"What is this? Did I really get hacked?"
I got chills, forgetting even my fatigue.
A malicious app had clearly been installed without me knowing.
────────────────
[Leisure Life App]
Did you have fun?
Were you satisfied?
Or did you endure it again?
────────────────
At this point, there was nothing left to be surprised about.
I was about to need to take sick leave and go back to the hospital.
────────────────
[Leisure Life App]
Do you want to disappear?
────────────────
"...."
Yeah, if I had to put it that way.
"I wanted to go somewhere and rest for a while... But I can’t. I have to endure it."
────────────────
[Leisure Life App]
Didn’t you know?
While using the Leisure Life App, time does not pass in reality.
Therefore, you can temporarily forget real-life concerns such as work, family, and the future.
However, reality does not disappear.
────────────────
Had they put in enough effort that I should install it out of sheer appreciation?
────────────────
[Leisure Life App]
Is effort what you need right now?
Or is it rest?
────────────────
"...I want to rest."
Now, I no longer cared whether this was a scam or a delusion.
I vaguely thought that maybe it would be all right to try it once, whatever happened.
Not a life spent doing nothing but enduring,
but somewhere it was all right to rest for a while,
────────────────
[Leisure Life App]
[Install]
────────────────
I stared at the screen for a long time.
It could be a scam.
It could be a malicious app.
Or maybe I really was losing my mind.
...
Still.
"It’s okay to rest at least once, isn’t it?"
I pressed the Install button.
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