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It’s something they found one time on a whim, when three children, too bored, too ostracized, too lonely-- decided to indulge themselves and play.
A dating game. Perhaps it’s not really something they’re supposed to touch just yet, the three of them that would still be considered as too young by actual, legal adults around them. But they’re also what the people around them usually call as children too mature for their own age, and thus they shamelessly use that as their excuse if any adults were to tell them not to play it.
Not that any bothers.
After all, they’re outcasts. Outliers. Children who are not supposed to be born in this world, and a child who is considered as too great to mingle with other people.
How funny, that their worth is decided upon by adults instead of themselves, and they are not even given any chance to prove them otherwise.
But after so long, they find that they don’t care anymore.
Not Ohn, the oldest of them all. Not Hong, her little brother by blood, younger to her by three years. And certainly not Raon, a child of different species, yet someone they consider as their own, their most adorable youngest brother.
The three of them have discarded any hopes for adults around them, and instead settle with simply relying on themselves and each other, while seeking the pleasure of life from non-living beings.
Like games, for example.
Like this game they’re playing, for example.
Games are safe. Games are alright. Games are fun. While in real world, where you may be ostracized and hated for being too good or too bad at something, the world of games are fair. If you have good stats and do well, you will be rewarded. If you play by the rules and win fair and square, you won’t be banned and instead admired. If you say choose even the most careless and stupid of a dialogue in game, as long as it fits the situation and the type of character you speak to, then nothing bad will ever happen.
They simply need to analyze. They simply need to observe, adapt and overcome. Even if there are failures, they can just restart and try again. There is no Bad End that stays forever. There is no Dead End that is permanent.
In the world of games, they can be loved and appreciated, and they can make their own path and ending however they want.
This is why the three of them love games, and will often play games together. Whether it’s online or offline, any kinds of games. As long as they have fun, isn’t that alright?
Today, too, they play.
Actually, they have been playing this game for months.
If it were any other game, they would have probably called it quits and choose another game for them to play. But the problem is, this game is actually really interesting.
[Indeterminate Fate], an otome game providing multiple routes and multiple endings. The unique thing about this game is how each route you take may lead you to a whole new genre altogether. This is what at first, roused the interest of the three young kids. A game that can branch off anytime into anything depending on your choice in the game. Isn’t that just interesting?
And indeed, it is interesting. Not only the character designs are top notch, the voice acting is also good and seemingly realistic, with beautiful CGI and game effects, the game also provides a lot of routes to choose from and multiple endings you may end up finding yourself in.
The first few times the children try playing the game, they are intrigued with the gameplay but finds the game as an usual otome where it’s lovey dovey with surprisingly soft characters.
Until they enter the route that ends up leading the female MC to the mafia.
To think that it’s a branch off of a soft character’s route! The kids are, obviously, intrigued by it and thus it kicks off the start of their near obsessive playing.
They play whatever route they find, try to get any endings they can possibly obtain, as well as getting any achievements possible. There may be some routes they abandon because they are not all that interested, but overall, the routes are interesting. They can even go into the big bad villain’s route!
But well. There’s actually a character whose happy ending they really really want to obtain. To the point of obsession, their previous casual gaming style changing in the matter of weeks into something akin to fixation, no longer do they even glance at other routes.
They want to fulfill this character’s route and get him a happy ending. They really do.
The problem is… this character is the hardest character to achieve a happy ending for.
Forget a happy ending, it’s even harder to obtain this character’s affection points!
It even drives the children to the wall, the sheer difficulty of this game, this character in particular, to the point where they finally resort to opening forums and guides to find out more clues about this particular character.
In which there are no useful ones. None that can actually help them to achieve a happy ending.
In fact, the forums are more filled with complaints than anything.
This route is downright impossible, someone from the forum says. I have no idea why the devs think this is a good idea. They probably think of this as a prank, right? I bet there’s actually no happy ending for this route. It’s just impossible.
I accidentally got his route while trying to get my daddy Soo Hyuk route, another from the forum makes a post. He killed me in two days. It’s fucking scary. How do we even get his affection? Buttering him up doesn’t even work either! I’m certain this character doesn’t have any emotions.
List of character deaths that can happen if you get HIS route, a thread says. Possible triggers for death flags include lack of trust stats, lack of affection stats, lack of coins in wallet, et cetera.
Creepy game glitches that happen around this character in [Indeterminate Fate] may freak you out! An article says, and many others.
It frustrates them. They just want to achieve the happy ending! They are already invested in this character, and yet, no matter how many articles they read, no matter how many bullet points they make with every route exploration, they can’t seem to obtain the ending they want.
This character, this man.
[Kim Rok Soo.]
An aloof, mysterious character who they find themselves enamored with. The character whose positive traits may not be fully seen unless you see underneath the underneath, and attempt to actually analyze his actions in various routes possible.
A character whose good or even normal ending is so hard to obtain.
In some cases, the female MC is thrown out of the man’s life, threatened to never show herself again before him or his family, unless she wants to face the consequences. The MC, being a reasonable lady, agrees and moves on eventually.
The kids yell at this ending, simply because it seems too cheap to be even a fairly normal ending.
In other cases, the MC dies.
Whether it is by the enemy’s hands, an ‘accident’, or Kim Rok Soo’s own hands. The MC dies. In various possible ways. They are honestly more impressed by the many ways the MC can die than feeling scared by it. The writers and devs probably had a lot of fun creating these creative deaths, the children think.
In some cases…
Kim Rok Soo dies. Or he leaves and is never seen again until the credits roll.
Whichever it is, the kids think of it as the worst ending possible, and they make sure to write and mark each choice and route branches that may lead to this kind of bad ending, just so they can avoid the landmines of Kim Rok Soo’s death flags in their next playthrough.
They will reach the end.
They promise they will.
They’ve already invested too much effort and energy in trying this out, they’re not backing out now.
They will get Kim Rok Soo to obtain his good ending, whether it ends with him kissing the MC or not they don’t even care anymore. All that matters is that Kim Rok Soo can be happy in his route, damn it.
Of course, they don’t only play this game any chance they get. In order to prevent burn out, the kids rotate their games, playing various things and doing other activities in between each playthrough attempt.
And when they have the time and energy, they will huddle together and play. Exchanging pointers and opinions, discussing each choice the MC makes in order to get his route and attempt to achieve his happy ending.
Of course, it’s not easy.
It can’t possibly be easy. Not when his happy ending route is something that is considered as a legend.
A myth.
Something no one who played this game has ever achieved before.
It’s another achievement for them if they are ever able to do it. A prize. To be the first to obtain this man’s happy ending. It makes their blood boil and their heart race. They want to do it. They want to be the first.
Perhaps by doing so, they can gain some recognition they so dearly craves from other people around them.
Perhaps by doing so, they won’t only have each other anymore.
Still, their dreams and hopes aside, it won’t mean a thing if they can’t obtain that ending first.
Kim Rok Soo is a character whose heart is hard to obtain, whose affection and trust are hard to maintain. A character deemed impossible to play, considered as a prank done by the devs.
Someone everyone gave up on.
Just like the three of them.
The kids are too invested to give up, and so they continue on.
Even when the MC keeps on dying. Even when they do another new blunder and they fail again.
They want to achieve a happy ending for him.
For this man, whose route everyone gave up about. For someone whose route is abandoned. Just like how they are abandoned.
They see everyone giving up on them.
They see everyone giving up on this character.
They don’t want to give up on him.
(Just like how they wished someone didn’t give up on them).
And so, they continue on.
[What,] Kim Rok Soo deadpans on the screen. [You are here again?]
They continue on.
[You have a lot of nerve, coming here.]
They continue on.
[Sheritt,] Kim Rok Soo addresses their in-name game, [do you understand what you did wrong, hmm?]
They continue on.
[Where’s the rat? Where’s the rat? Come out, little rat~ Come out, come out, little rat~]
They continue on.
[I shouldn’t have trusted you. You ruined everything.]
They continue on.
[Sheritt, Sheritt, Sheritt,] he sighs, voice faux fond. [I hope you like fire.]
They continue on.
[Do you trust me?]
… > Yes.
[Haha.]
[You shouldn’t.]
They continue on.
[You check my affection status bar too often, Sheritt. Are you hoping something will increase? Too bad.]
They continue on.
[Little rat. Here you are.]
They continue on.
[DEAD END.]
They continue on.
[DEAD END.]
They continue on.
[You persistent bastard.]
They continue on.
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[BAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
They continue on.
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[BAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
[DEAD END.]
They continue on.
[DEAD END.]
They--
[Achievement unlocked! A Determined Heart!]
“Huh?” On blinks, her finger hovering over the left mouse button. “We got an achievement.”
“Huh? How?! What did we do?!” Hong leans forward, his face leaning closer to the computer monitor. The three of them are sitting in front of the computer, with On currently taking the controls with the keyboard and mouse. In On’s another side, Raon is practically buzzing with excitement.
“What achievement is it?! Quick, Noona, check it out!”
“Mn,” On nods, clicking the notification that suddenly pops up in the middle of their yet another attempt to restart the game and obtain Kim Rok Soo’s route. She can’t help but to be excited as well, her mind racing a mile a minute trying to think of anything they did in the last failed playthrough that may trigger the sudden achievement.
The page loads for a few moments, before revealing their massive achievements collection from this game alone. And at the very top, their newest achievement…
Achievement: A Determined Heart
Obtained through failing and restarting Kim Rok Soo’s route 30 times. Congratulations, you are a lovestruck lady who never gives up!
The children can’t help but to sigh, their shoulders sagging at the words. “It’s been 30 tries already…? Time sure flies by,” On sighs.
“Right… Hm? Noona, there’s a new in-game mail.”
“Huh?” Spotting the red number [1] in the mail section, On blinks. “You’re right.”
“Maybe it’s an achievement reward?” Hong wonders aloud.
“If it’s not an achievement reward to raise Kim Rok Soo’s affection stats then I don’t want it,” Raon grumbles next to her. Laughing a little at her cute little brother’s words, she clicks on the icon.
Dear Sheritt,
Upon receiving the achievement A Determined Heart, this mail has been sent to you, as you are the first person to ever receive this achievement.
Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations! Important things must be said three times! Truly, you are someone who is determined to achieve your good ending!
As a reward, Indeterminate Fate universe will give you a one-time offer to possibly clear this route, but to obtain this, we will have to ask you some questions first!
“Wait, really?!” Raon perks up, “A bonus for Kim Rok Soo’s route?!”
“Wow,” On gasps, clicking on the link attached as quick as possible. Of course they want this bonus, they want to get the happy ending!
Luckily enough, the questions are pretty simple, if a bit weird.
[Do you have any lingering attachments around you, people and things you can't bear to leave behind?]
The three children blink, wondering what kind of weird questionnaire is this. However, the three of them know the answer. The three of them are [Sheritt]. They play as one. They can’t leave each other behind, for they’re each other’s only treasures.
However… if they count out who may include as the joint identity [Sheritt]...
Then they don’t really have anything else they’re particularly attached to either.
The answer is,
No.
[Are you willing to possibly risk your life to obtain the Happy Ending?]
Yes.
[Are you willing to leave your current life behind to ensure a Happy Ending?]
???? What a weird question. Yes.
[Congratulations! You are eligible for the reward [Indeterminate Hope]!]
The kids cheer. Yes! What will they get? An item? A buff? Hints?! The screen on their computer loads, though the kids can’t help but stare when the screen starts to flash and glitch.
[Attempting transport of player [Sheritt] into Indeterminate Fate…]
“H-Huh? Noona, what’s going on?”
[Identified player-- ERROR ERROR ERROR -- s --
--[Sheritt]. Transport commencing…]
The world quakes around them--”An earthquake?!?!”--and the computer flashes in a bright light. Almost immediately, On drags her two brothers into her embrace, covering their heads with her hands. “Raon, Hong, hold tight!”
[10% … 40% … 60% …]
“Noona!”
[80% …]
Raon casts a barrier with his magic, lest the ceiling falls on them.
[90% … 95% … 97% …]
The ceiling doesn’t fall.
[100%].
[Playe-- ERROR ERROR ERROR --successfully transported.]
The room is deserted, without any soul living in it.
[Welcome to Indeterminate Fate, our Indeterminate Hope.]
The only things left in that room are belongings and an abandoned PC, the computer screen flashing and glitching once in awhile.
[Commencing global data deletion.]
The computer works itself, and throughout the world, massive data loss occurs.
[Data deletion success.]
In the whole world, Indeterminate Fate is no longer playable nor is it available to download anywhere else.
[Entering self destruct mode.]
And in this computer too, it shall be gone.
[Success.]
[Goodbye, Player Sheritt.]
The computer shuts down.