Jhin stared blankly at his smartphone, cradled in his hands during the subway ride home.
The announcement on the screen blinked at him, polite and final:
[The service for 'Exodia,' which helps you realize your dreams, will be terminated in one week at midnight. Thank you for all the support and love you have given us.]
He let out a long sigh and chuckled hollowly.
"Is this really the end...?"
Exodia — the one hobby that had kept him afloat for the past five years — was vanishing into thin air.
Just like that.
Jhin shook his head, smiling bitterly.
"Well... figures."
After all, it was the story of his life.
People called it the N-po Generation — a name for those who had to give up dating, marriage, owning a home... even dreaming.
But to him, it felt like a joke.
Because even that was too good for him.
At twenty-nine, Jhin was unemployed, burdened by debts left behind by his parents.
He hadn't even made it far enough to be part of the N-po Generation.
"No dating. No college. No job. No dreams..."
He smiled crookedly to himself.
"I'm more like the N-nothing Generation."
In interviews, he sat alongside eager applicants, each holding certificates and degrees.
Meanwhile, no one even bothered to ask him a question.
"Applicant 97, please come in!"
He would bow low, introduce himself brightly, only to hear:
"You have no experience?"
"I'll do anything! I'll work hard!"
The same answer every time.
The same ending.
The subway clattered on, rumbling through the tunnels beneath the city.
Hunched in a corner, Jhin stared down again at the 4.7-inch screen that held the remnants of his pride.
[Service Termination Notice]
He gave a soft laugh.
"This was all I had..."
A dying game, maybe.
But within Exodia, he had stood tall — Rank #1.
It was the only place where he mattered.
"Five years of fun... that's good enough, right?"
He thought so.
Or at least, he tried to convince himself.
Ding!
A sudden notification pulled him back.
A new message from the game company.
He blinked, expecting another farewell notice — but instead, a different kind of announcement glowed on the screen:
[Pre-Registration Notice. We proudly announce the official opening of 'Exodia 2,' which will make your dreams come true. We'll be returning this October. (Clap clap clap)]
Jhin laughed quietly, rubbing a hand over his face.
"So that's what it was."
Without much thought, he clicked the link.
The pre-registration page opened, proudly boasting:
[Pre-Registered Users: 39,768]
"That's... a lot."
Even if the old Exodia had been called a dead game, it still had its fans.
He remembered something about a celebrity posting about it once — an idol maybe.
The memory was hazy.
Still smiling faintly, Jhin entered his information.
"One last adventure, huh...?"
And so he waited.
Counting down the days, completely unaware of what was about to come.
—
October finally arrived.
Early morning, a chill in the air, and Jhin stood in front of Building 103 of the grand I-Poke Apartments.
He pressed the intercom button and spoke into it, voice cheerful despite the hour:
"Amazon Delivery! Please open the door."
No answer.
Instead, the heavy door swung open without a sound.
Jhin chuckled under his breath.
"Yeah... who else would come this early?"
Carrying the box carefully, he stepped onto the glossy marble floor of the lobby.
Lights flickered on with his every step, almost like a grand, silent welcome.
The place was dazzling — luxury apartments that looked more like a hotel than a home.
A stark contrast to his own semi-basement room, where rain leaked through the cracked windows and mold bloomed like reluctant flowers.
Maybe that was why, just for a moment, riding the elevator here made him feel... different.
As if he belonged.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened.
The 18th floor.
A dark, silent hallway stretched before him.
Jhin's small fantasy dissolved like morning mist.
Setting down the package, he snapped a quick photo for proof of delivery.
[Photo] [Amazon] Early Morning Delivery — 1 box delivered to doorstep. +
That was that.
He checked the time.
"5:50 AM..."
Every muscle in his body screamed for sleep after another sleepless night of deliveries.
Normally, he would stumble back to his room and crash into bed.
But today...
Today was different.
Today was special.
Today was the day Exodia 2 officially launched.
Jhin smiled, heart pounding a little faster.
No more boring mornings. No more mindless scrolling through YouTube.
"Only ten minutes left."
He glanced at his phone, then at the elevator display.
"First... gotta secure my Talaname."
The thought made him a little nervous.
Back in Exodia, his Talaname — just the single letter Kyle — had become a legend.
He couldn't let someone else snatch it away.
"It's the only thing that's mine."
In a world where everything else slipped through his fingers, Exodia was his small, shining victory.
"Kyle."
Simple. Plain.
But now, precious.
"Hope my phone can handle it..."
He chuckled wryly.
His old phone was barely hanging on — every swipe felt like pulling a stubborn mule uphill.
In a race where speed was everything, lag was the enemy.
"Come on, old buddy... you can do it..."
He whispered encouragement to the tiny, battered device as he clicked the pre-registration link.
Seconds ticked down.
Almost there.
Almost time.
The elevator creaked downward.
Jhin tried to brush off the unease curling in his chest.
The elevator was just a little slow today, that's all.
...Right?