The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
The small apartment smelled faintly of dust and rain drifting through the half-open window. Outside, the city lights of Seoul flickered in the distance, glowing like scattered stars against the darkness.
Inside the room, a single chair stood beneath a ceiling beam.
And hanging from that beam was a rope.
Bomin Seo stood in front of it, staring.
His cobalt blue hair fell slightly over his eyes as he tilted his head upward. The rope swayed gently in the faint wind from the window, creaking softly as if whispering something only he could hear.
He didn't feel fear.
Not anymore.
Fear required energy.
And Bomin had run out of that a long time ago.
The silence inside the apartment felt heavier than anything he had ever carried. No voices. No footsteps. No messages on his phone.
Nothing.
He could still hear echoes of the past in his mind.
Why are you so useless?
Your cousin already has a job.
Stop acting like a coward.
Those voices never left him.
They followed him everywhere.
School. Home. Even his dreams.
Bomin slowly stepped onto the chair.
The wood creaked beneath his weight.
For a moment, he glanced toward the window again.
Far away, beyond the endless buildings, he imagined the ocean.
He had only seen it a few times as a child.
But he remembered the sound of waves and the salty wind brushing against his face.
That memory felt strangely peaceful.
If I could live somewhere like that…
His thoughts faded before finishing.
He slipped the rope around his neck.
The rough fibers pressed against his skin.
His hands trembled slightly.
Not because he was scared.
Because his body still wanted to live.
But his mind had already made its decision.
Bomin closed his eyes.
A quiet breath left his lips.
And then—
He kicked the chair.
The sound of wood hitting the floor echoed through the empty room.
Darkness swallowed everything.
---
But death did not bring silence.
When Bomin opened his eyes again, the world had changed.
He was no longer in his apartment.
He stood on an endless white surface that stretched farther than his eyes could see.
There was no sky.
No ground.
No wind.
Only a vast, empty space filled with pale light.
Bomin slowly turned his head.
Confusion flickered faintly across his face.
"Am I… dreaming?" he murmured.
His voice echoed strangely across the void.
Then he felt it.
A presence.
No—
Seven presences.
Bomin lifted his head.
Far above him stood seven colossal thrones carved from something that looked like starlight itself.
And sitting upon those thrones…
Were beings that radiated overwhelming power.
Gods.
Each of them looked different.
One was surrounded by blazing light.
Another was cloaked in shadows.
One appeared calm and gentle, while another stared down at him with clear contempt.
They were watching him.
Like observers studying a strange creature.
One of the gods sighed.
"Another suicidal soul."
His voice echoed across the endless void.
"Humans truly are fragile."
Another god leaned forward slightly, resting his chin against his hand.
"Name."
Bomin stared at them silently for a moment before answering."…Bomin Seo."
The gods exchanged glances.
Then one of them waved his hand.
A glowing image appeared in the air beside Bomin.
It was Earth.
But not the Earth he knew.
Cities were burning.
Skyscrapers lay collapsed like broken bones.
The oceans were dark with smoke.
The sky itself looked torn apart.
Bomin's pupils shrank.
"…What is that?"
The god's expression remained indifferent.
"Your world."
Bomin's breathing slowed.
"That's impossible."
Another god spoke calmly.
"Your Earth was destroyed the same day you died."
Silence fell over the void.
Bomin stared at the ruined planet.
Every place he had ever known…
Gone.
The god's voice continued.
"Humans begged us to save them."
He paused briefly.
"But we refused."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Your species was selfish. Violent. Destructive."
"Why should we save such a world?"
Bomin said nothing.
His expression remained strangely calm.
One of the gods tilted his head slightly.
"How curious."
"Most humans would cry by now."
Another god laughed.
"Maybe he's simply empty."
The goddess seated near the center studied Bomin quietly.
Then she spoke.
"You died by your own choice."
"But that does not mean your soul is useless. We can restore back your body again"
She raised her hand.
A black box appeared before Bomin, floating gently in the air.
Strange golden runes moved across its surface.
"This is a Draw Box."
"If you wish to continue existing…"
"You may become a Missionary."
Another glowing message appeared in the air.
[MISSIONARY SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Bomin's eyes narrowed slightly.
The gods continued speaking.
"Missionaries are souls sent across dimensions."
"You will eliminate corruption that threatens mortal worlds."
Another god laughed.
"Most of your kind die within months."
The goddess ignored him.
"If you survive every mission we assign…"
She paused.
"We will grant you one wish."
Bomin remained silent for several seconds.
Then he asked quietly,
"Any wish?"
"Yes."
His mind drifted back to the memory of the ocean.
The wind.
The waves.
And the friends he once had.
"I just want to live peacefully near the sea with my friends."
The gods stared at him.
Then one of them burst into laughter.
"How pathetic."
The ruined image of Earth appeared again.
"That place no longer exists."
Silence filled the void.
For a moment, Bomin's face showed no emotion at all.
Then he slowly looked up at the seven gods.
"…What do I have to do?"
The God of Judgment raised his hand.
The black box opened.
"Draw two skills."
Bomin reached inside.
A bright light flashed.
[Skill Acquired: Search Bar]
Another light followed.
[Skill Acquired: Stealth]
Some of the gods looked disappointed.
"Those are weak abilities."
"Another failure."
But the quiet goddess watching him whispered softly,
"Or perhaps… something interesting."
Behind Bomin, a massive gate of darkness slowly opened.
Beyond it lay another world.
Another life.
The moment Bomin Seo stepped through the gate, the darkness swallowed him.
For a brief second, there was nothing.
No ground beneath his feet. No sound. No light.
Then suddenly—
His boots touched solid stone.
Bomin staggered forward slightly before regaining his balance. A faint wind brushed against his face, carrying scents he couldn't recognize—fresh grass, strange spices, and something metallic lingering in the air.
He slowly lifted his head.
And froze.
The world before him looked like something beyond imagination.
A massive plaza stretched endlessly in all directions, paved with smooth white stone that glowed faintly under a sky filled with swirling colors. The sky itself didn't look natural—it shimmered with purples, golds, and deep blues, like a galaxy slowly moving above the city.
Towering structures surrounded the plaza. Some buildings floated slightly above the ground, connected by bridges made of glowing crystal. Others twisted upward like living trees carved from silver.
Bomin blinked.
Even in his dreams… he had never imagined something like this.
People—no, not just people—moved across the plaza in every direction.
A man with enormous feathered wings folded behind his back walked past him calmly, his boots clicking against the stone.
Nearby, a small girl laughed while speaking to someone with soft feline ears and a long tail swaying behind them.
Further away, a tall figure with blue skin and glowing eyes stood beside a group of armored warriors.
Bomin's gaze moved slowly from one strange sight to another.
What… is this place?
His expression remained calm, but inside, confusion quietly stirred.
This was nothing like Earth.
Not even close.
The air itself felt different—charged with a faint energy that made the hairs on his arms stand slightly.
After walking a few steps into the crowd, Bomin noticed something else.
No one seemed surprised.
Everyone around him walked with familiarity, like this strange place was completely normal.
Some wore armor.
Others carried staffs or strange weapons.
Some talked excitedly, while others looked tense and nervous.
Just like him.
Bomin exhaled slowly.
Then, remembering something, he spoke quietly.
"Search Bar."
Immediately, a golden glow appeared in front of his eyes.
A thin, floating bar of light materialized in the air.
It looked exactly like a search interface, except the letters forming inside it shimmered like molten gold.
Bomin hesitated for a moment before thinking the question.
Where am I?
The golden bar pulsed softly.
Then words began appearing.
Location: Crossroad Plaza
Function: Arrival Area for Newly Assigned Missionaries
Population: High
Risk Level: Low
Bomin stared at the words quietly.
Newly assigned missionaries…
So this was where the gods sent people like him.
Before he could think further, a loud splash echoed from nearby.
Water sprayed upward from the center of the plaza.
Bomin turned his head.
At the heart of the plaza stood a massive circular fountain made of polished stone. Clear water flowed from several carved statues into the wide basin below.
But what caught his attention wasn't the fountain.
It was the tiny figure standing on its edge.
A small creature barely reaching Bomin's waist climbed onto the fountain rim and raised his arms dramatically.
The creature had pointed ears, a bright green coat, and a wide grin stretching across his face.
"Welcome! Welcome, new missionaries!"
His voice was surprisingly loud for someone so small.
Several newly arrived individuals nearby turned to look.
The tiny man bowed exaggeratedly.
"Allow me to introduce myself! I am Pico the Leprechaun, official guide of the Crossroad Plaza!"
He spun once on the fountain's edge as if performing on a stage.
"Lost? Confused? Terrified? Don't worry! That's completely normal!"
A few nervous recruits chuckled awkwardly.
Bomin simply watched silently.
The leprechaun continued energetically.
"First step for all missionaries is registration! No registration, no missions! No missions, no rewards!"
He pointed toward a large stone building standing near the edge of the plaza.
Golden letters floated above its entrance.
Missionary Registration Hall
One by one, the newcomers began walking toward the building.
Bomin followed.
Inside, the hall was surprisingly organized.
Rows of counters lined the room, each staffed by small creatures with pointed ears and long beards—gnomes, judging by their appearance.
Behind them floated glowing panels filled with moving information.
The air buzzed with quiet conversation.
When Bomin stepped forward, a gnome sitting behind one of the counters looked up from a glowing tablet.
The gnome adjusted his small round glasses.
"Name."
"…Bomin Seo."
The gnome nodded and typed something quickly.
Then he asked without looking up,
"Which god are you assigned to?"
Bomin paused.
"…I don't know."
For the first time, the gnome looked up.
His thick eyebrows lifted slightly.
"You don't know?"
Bomin shook his head slowly.
The gnome sighed.
"Typical."
He reached forward and placed a small glowing orb on the counter.
"Hand."
Bomin placed his right hand on the orb.
The moment his palm touched the surface, the orb lit up with golden light.
Symbols and text began appearing rapidly in the air above it.
The gnome leaned forward to read.
Then he stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Huh."
More text appeared.
Affiliation: Seven Light Gods of the Northern Domain
The gnome leaned back in his chair.
A crooked smile appeared on his face.
"Well now."
He scratched his beard thoughtfully before glancing back at Bomin.
"Oh, the Northern Gods, huh?"
Bomin remained silent.
The gnome chuckled.
"They usually recruit from the same group."
His eyes flicked toward Bomin again.
"Suicidal souls."
The words landed quietly in the air between them.
Bomin's expression didn't change.
But somewhere deep inside his chest, something stirred faintly.
The gnome shrugged and stamped the registration tablet.
"Well, welcome to the Crossroads, kid."
He slid a small metallic badge across the counter.
"Let's see how long you last."
After the registration was completed, the gnome slid a thin metallic badge across the counter.
It was cool when Bomin picked it up.
A faint symbol was engraved on its surface—seven thin rays forming a star.
Before he could ask what it meant, the gnome waved lazily toward the exit.
"Follow the guides outside. All new missionaries go through the same process."
Bomin nodded slightly and stepped away from the counter.
The hall was busier now. Newly arrived missionaries filled the room—some whispering nervously, others examining the strange badges they had received.
A tall man with horns muttered curses under his breath.
A girl with silver wings hugged her arms tightly, eyes darting around the room.
Bomin simply walked.
When he stepped outside again, the Crossroad Plaza seemed even larger than before. The sky had shifted colors slightly, deep blues mixing with streaks of orange light like a sunset that refused to settle.
Near the fountain, several leprechauns had gathered.
They stood on crates, railings, and even on each other's shoulders, waving small flags.
"New missionaries over here!" one shouted.
Another blew a tiny golden whistle.
"Group C! Group C! Follow me!"
Bomin approached silently along with a few dozen others.
The leprechaun leading them wore a small vest with dozens of pockets and a bright orange hat that flopped to one side.
"Alright, listen up!" he said loudly.
"Congratulations! You are now official missionary candidates!"
He grinned widely.
"But before you get thrown into real worlds and dangerous missions, you'll need training."
He pointed dramatically toward the distance.
"Welcome to your temporary home—"
The crowd turned.
Far beyond the plaza, rising on a floating island of stone and crystal, stood a massive structure.
It looked like a castle.
No.
A city disguised as a training grounds.
Towering spires pierced the sky. Long bridges connected separate towers suspended in midair. Giant banners of different colors waved from the highest walls.
At the center stood a colossal clock tower glowing faintly with golden light.
Even from this distance, the building felt alive.
Somewhere far above, massive creatures—dragons or something similar—circled slowly in the sky.
Bomin stared quietly.
"So… that's the academy."
A boy beside him whispered in disbelief.
The leprechaun puffed his chest proudly.
"The Missionary Academy of the Crossroads!"
He clapped his hands twice.
The ground beneath them suddenly began to glow.
A massive magic circle appeared under the entire group.
Several recruits gasped.
"Don't panic!" the leprechaun laughed.
"Teleportation is faster than walking!"
The circle flared with blinding light.
For a split second, Bomin felt his body become weightless.
Then—
The world snapped back.
Cold wind brushed against his face.
They were standing somewhere else.
The floating academy towered above them now, impossibly large up close. Its stone walls shimmered faintly with magic, and enormous gates stood open before them.
Hundreds of other recruits were already arriving in different groups.
The air was filled with voices, footsteps, and the distant ringing of bells.
Bomin looked up.
The towers seemed to stretch endlessly toward the sky.
A massive stone arch above the entrance bore glowing words:
MISSIONARY ACADEMY
ONE MONTH ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
Beside him, someone muttered nervously.
"One month…?"
Another recruit laughed weakly.
"That sounds like a survival camp."
The leprechaun guide turned back toward them with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, it's worse than that."
He pointed toward the gate.
"Inside, you'll learn survival, strategy, divine communication, mission management, and combat."
He paused dramatically.
"And if you fail…"
His grin widened.
"Well."
"Let's just say the gods prefer useful missionaries."
The large gates slowly opened wider with a deep rumbling sound.
Inside the academy grounds, training fields stretched across massive terraces.
Students practiced magic in one area.
Others sparred with swords and spears.
A group of instructors in long cloaks observed everything from raised platforms.
The academy wasn't peaceful.
It was intense.
Demanding.
Alive with pressure.
Bomin stared silently at the place where he would spend the next month.
A school.
But not the kind he had ever known.
This was where missionaries were tested.
Where some would succeed.
And others—
Disappear.
Bomin slipped the badge into his pocket.
Then he walked forward with the others into the academy grounds.