Chapter 11: Yerin’s Journey (1)

A few days ago, the concept of a “Doppelgänger” appeared in Jeondo New City, but the city is now functioning normally,

and people have returned to their everyday lives.

Normally, such an event would have caused a major administrative crisis, but the lockdown lasted less than a day, so no

significant problems occurred.

Well, unless you’re the Parang Research Center.

Breaking News:

The concept Doppelgänger, which was captured and being transferred after a suppression and special

containment process by the Parang Research Center, has broken free and escaped.

KTT News has confirmed that all 31 Parang Center staff involved in the transfer mission were killed on the

spot.

Team leader Kang Seong-ho, who was in charge of the transfer, tried to suppress the Doppelgänger until the

very end…

According to experts who analyzed the vehicle’s black box footage, despite the sudden attack, Kang Seong-ho

coordinated his team and risked his life to contain the concept.

Due to the Doppelgänger’s violent resistance, they all sacrificed themselves to inflict fatal damage to it—and

ultimately, the entire Parang Center’s Team 2 died heroically.

Their sacrifice prevented further damage in the area where the transport was taking place.

South Korea will never forget their noble and great sacrifice.

We will now read the list of the deceased.

Driver Kim Jin-ah, age 35. Team member Syndri, 23. Team member Kim Shin-ho, 42… And finally, Team

Leader Kang Seong-ho, 41.

Fortunately, Shin Han-sol, the General Team Leader of Parang, and all researchers following behind the

transport, are confirmed to be safe.

Although prosecutors initially suspected a strange doll left at the scene, citizens’ strong opposition shut down

that theory early—

I was spreading peach jam on my toast when I heard the word “doll” on the news and looked up.

A small toy, just a bit larger than my palm.

It strangely looked like the doll from the kindergarten.

But I quickly dismissed the thought. You can find toys like that in any store, and the doll on TV had a crushed face. It

couldn’t be the same.

In the black box footage, the “Doppelgänger” looked like pink cotton candy to me. Probably it looks different to others.

So not all concepts are kind or gentle, huh.

This one was clearly different from the one I met.

Next story: International news—

As the TV changed stories, my sister turned off the power and looked at me.

“Yerin.”

“You’re not feeling sick or anything, right?”

I tilted my head. Then I raised and lowered my arms and shook my head. This was her daily check-in since I collapsed. If I

showed any sign of weakness, she’d spend all day asking about my condition.

I responded as brightly as I could.

“Not at all! Actually, I think I feel even healthier?”

“Good… That’s a relief. Dad’s out at sea, and Mom’s out with a cooperation request. If I leave too, you’ll be home alone.

Are you really okay? Should I stay home?”

“I’m a big girl now, sis.”

“But you won’t be able to see your kindergarten friends.”

Her words reminded me—my Sunlight Kindergarten had been closed indefinitely after the incident.

I was okay, but every other child needed psychological care. They couldn’t reopen just for me.

‘Guess I’ll be stuck at home until elementary school starts in a month.’

But… friends?

As my sister mentioned it, my hand froze mid-jam.

‘Wait… did I even have friends at kindergarten?’

I was sinking into gloom… and suddenly lifted my head. Yes. I did have one. I had just forgotten.

A concept!

“I have a friend!”

“At kindergarten, I mean!”

“Oh, really? Are they a boy or girl?”

“Uh… gender? Of course… Of course…? Huh, what was their gender?”

My sister gave me a look like “Really?”

“Do you remember their name?”

“Name…?”

‘The name… I don’t remember?’

I remembered giving them colored paper to play with.

I remembered what they looked like.

Gummy bear.

I even called them a friend. But I never asked their name. I just called them “Concept.”

My sister looked at me closely, and I turned away.

If I said “My friend is a concept! And they look like a gummy bear!” she’d think I was lying.

So, with all the maturity I could muster, I changed the subject.

“Sis, aren’t you going to work?”

“Huh? Oh… yeah, I should.”

Thankfully, she didn’t ask more questions. When I looked at her with toast in my mouth, she smiled and placed her hand

on my head.

“Yerin, with everything that happened recently, just rest at home today, okay?”

I couldn’t give a solid answer. I’ve been stuck inside for days and I’m getting restless.

Kids’ bodies are full of energy. It’s hard to stay still.

And sorry to Dad, but our house isn’t exactly big enough to run around in.

I followed my sister to the door. She hesitated, then came over and whispered.

“And Yerin… You can make lots of friends once you start school. Don’t feel embarrassed. I’m heading out now.”

Before leaving, she pressed a pineapple-flavored candy into my hand.

The door closed.

I stood there holding the candy, staring blankly.

“I… I really do have a friend…”

Now I sounded like a kid pretending to have friends because they were embarrassed.

But as a person who still has a man’s sense of pride, that label cannot be allowed.

Did I just say I’m a loser? No way.

‘Then I have no choice.’

After waiting a bit, I ate the toast, went to the front door, and tied my sneakers tight.

Even without a reason, my patience had been reaching its limit.

Everyone kept worrying about me, but I really felt fine. Maybe even healthier.

‘Still… I shouldn’t make them worry. As long as I stay in the neighborhood, it should be okay, right?’

If I can just charm one neighborhood kid, making a new friend won’t be that hard.

I even have a plan.

Nodding, I grabbed the doorknob.

Honestly, it’s less about making friends and more about finding a mystery.

Since I was born into the world of Deep Sea Explorers, I deserve to uncover at least one mystery.

I opened the door.

Morning mist filled the fishing village.

I took a deep breath.

Winter had just ended, so the cool wind and the ocean’s salty smell hit my nose.

Adventure.

A system message rang in the air:

• You are in [Invisible Mode].

• Unless user ‘Han Yerin’ wants it, your presence will not be shown.

• You can say “Replay” anytime to review the previous log.

Another message followed quietly:

[Baby Mode] has detected a concept.

Concept: []

True Name: A Gentle Embrace

“Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry.”

“Food. Food. Food. Food.”

Concept: Mist

Human-given name: “Mist”

Abilities: Domain, Sense Interference, Maze

[Unique Abilities]

• Domain:

• Everything it touches becomes immune to outside interference.
  [Cooldown: None] [Limit: Own body]

• Sense Interference:
  Confuses those who enter its domain.
  [Cooldown: None] [Limit: Directional sense]

• Maze:
  Twists and distorts the space within its domain.
  [Cooldown: None] [Limit: Own body]

Destruction Method:

[Condition]

• Do not get lost inside the concept’s domain.

• Reach the true body quickly.

• Fulfill its current desire.

1. Current desire: Body, Essence, Food.

If body and essence cannot be offered, food may be substituted.

The food must match the value of the desired offering.

Physical weight doesn’t matter, only value.

• Left side: [Essence, Body]

• Right side: [Food: _kg]
  (Food type doesn’t matter, but only consumables allowed)
  Note: Fish is currently disliked.

2. Physical destruction:

This concept is highly resistant to physical attacks.

(Minimum required: Atomic Bomb)

Shed State:

This being is eternally hungry.

No matter how much it eats, it’s never full and empties again quickly.

If someone ever manages to completely fill that emptiness, no one knows what will happen.

User [Han Yerin]’s Value:

Measuring…

Error… 42!#$… Calibrating…

[Baby Mode] is interfering…

Measuring complete.

[10,000,000kg vs 0.001kg]

To be continued…