I Entered an Academy Chapter 1 : How Edge of Gate Became a Ruined Game

[Edge of Gate, Finally Fades into the Annals of History]

[How EoG Beca a Ruined Ga]

[Edge of Gate. Grand Beginning, Pathetic End.]

-Breaking News: EoG is dead!

-Lol hahahahahahaha

-Wondered when it would die, it held on for a long ti lol

-Huh? EoG wasn't dead already??

-How did a single-player ga that destroyed public trust in 3 years manage to last 7 more years? That's what I don't understand

-Exactly lmao

-Most curious about the developer's identity

-Released just EoG with no previous or subsequent gas, never communicated once, then quietly disappeared

-Feels like I was part of so biological experint

-But isn't it just a single-player ga anyway? People who bought it can still play it

-You're right, but EoG also had constant small updates, an achievent sharing system, and so multiplayer elents

-It's been years since all gars abandoned it, but they kept updating?

-At this point, the Arab oil prince theory has to be true, right? Who would operate a ga like that if it wasn't just a hobby?

-Lol watching how they operated it, they definitely showed no interest in making money

-???: I made gars angry! I can control gars' emotions!

-Why would an Arab oil prince co all the way to Korea for that? They'd just raise cheetahs at ho

-There's a rumor he's an illegitimate child with a Korean mother

-This place spreads gossip well

-Anyway, it's a sha. I enjoyed it when I was a kid

-Honest opinion: The ga was actually well-made

-What does that matter if you can't clear it?

-For real. Nobody's properly cleared it yet, right?

-Nope lol

-Even Buddha would have cursed if he played EoG

-EoG is just too much to bear

-Ananda, why are you using your ultimate there?

-Could it be an experint created by AI to test humans?

-If that were the case, I'd at least understand

-Are there any losers still playing this garbage ga?

-Nope, when I quit, I saw the achievent rankings from 1st to 50th place were all the sa person

-That's borderline insanity

'Hmm.'

That was .

-Clank, clank.

On the predawn subway, filled with drunks who couldn't even sit straight.

On my way ho after catching the last train, having burned through Friday with unpaid overti.

I alone was feeling bitter about the news of Edge of Gate's business withdrawal.

"It was bound to happen."

My quiet murmur disappeared, buried under the noisy wheel sound.

'It's been 10 years already?'

I first started EoG when I was in middle school, at the end of childhood transitioning into puberty.

During that ti of particularly rich sensitivity, Edge of Gate's story and gaplay completely captivated .

'It was shocking back then.'

The unique aspect of EoG's setting compared to gas with similar worldviews was that "the demonic energy harbored by demonic beasts can be transmitted to humans."

Based on this single premise, EoG presented a new conflict structure—"hunters who beca Ma-in after hunting demonic beasts" versus the Extermination Squad protecting people from them—which garnered much attention even before its release.

'Using the academy as a setting to develop the scenario was also an appropriate choice.'

I cried and laughed, deeply imrsed in the stories and desires of NPCs who were ultimately just program code.

'Though I never once succeeded in clearing it.'

Nevertheless, it was truly enjoyable to play as the protagonist in that wonderful world.

Sotis I neglected it, absorbed in other gas or busy with entrance exams or job hunting.

But whenever I had free ti, I always turned on my old computer and returned to one of Edge of Gate's nurous save points.

'The first thing I did during my military leave was play EoG.'

That's a sowhat embarrassing mory.

Anyway, during the ti a small boy beca an adult, busily going through military service and community college to find his place as an employee in a small company, EoG was always by my side like a part of life.

The bloggers who occasionally left gaplay reviews and the resident ghosts on the official hopage gradually disappeared over the long period.

At so point, the achievent rankings beca filled with just my ID from top to bottom.

But I alone never quit this ga.

-This station is Geumcheon-gu Office, Geumcheon-gu Office Station.

Ti to get off.

Tap, tap.

Making hollow footsteps echo through the desolate station without a soul in sight, I thought I should buy a can of beer.

Tsss!

I opened a can of beer, placed it on my ssy desk, and turned on the computer.

'I've used this piece of junk for about 8 years too.'

The computer that should have been retired long ago made loud fan noises.

[Thank you to all gars who have loved us so far.]

I entered the free board of the official hopage, which had only this modest notice, and clicked on "Write."

-No matter what anyone says, EoG was the best ga for .

Borrowing the tipsy sentint from a few sips of beer I wasn't good at drinking, I awkwardly transcribed my emotions.

Though I'd surely wake up tomorrow, kick my blanket in embarrassnt at these cringe-worthy sentences, the bridge of my nose still stung inexplicably.

'Today should be fine.'

To so it's a shit ga, to others a ruined ga, but to , it's a ga where 10 years of my ti is thoroughly lted in.

'I'm really pathetic. I can still continue playing the ga anyway, right?'

Even while mocking myself, my fingers didn't stop typing on the keyboard.

How much ti had passed?

"Done."

After aimlessly finishing the aimlessly started writing, I clicked the upload button and took a sip of beer.

The bitter taste of the lukewarm beer stimulated my taste buds, having been left unattended for too long.

'The most recent post was 6 months ago?'

Even that was a mocking post asking if this ga wasn't dead yet, with only 2 views.

One of them was from .

'I thought everyone would rush in to terrorize, but did they block new registrations?'

I tilted my head briefly, then gave up.

In any case, my heart was too unsettled to spend energy on good things.

Instead, I clicked on my post again and read down the emotional soliloquies floating on the white screen.

"Huh?"

After scrolling all the way down, the view count had increased to 2.

Who else read it besides ?

'They must have nothing better to do at this hour.'

That's when it happened.

-GM: Kim Seong-yun-nim. Thank you.

I blinked my eyes slowly at the ssage that suddenly appeared.

"GM?"

Isn't the GM of EoG famous for never once communicating with users?

'And how does he know my na?'

As if anticipating such a question, the next ssage arrived imdiately.

-GM: No need to be too surprised. I can access mber information with my authority.

'Well, I guess so.'

But the identity of the person who sent the ssage was so unexpected that I hurriedly typed on the keyboard, lest I miss the chance.

-: Are you the developer?

-GM: It's complicated to explain... but you can think of

that way.

"If you're the developer, just say so. What's complicated about it?"

-GM: I regret having to inform you of the sales termination like this. Thank you for loving our inadequate ga.

-: Not at all. At least for , it was the best ga that accompanied nearly half of my life.

-GM: I know that well. I've been watching Kim Seong-yun-nim's gaplay for a long ti.

-: You've been watching ?

-GM: Yes. After all, achievent ranks 1 through 50 are all Kim Seong-yun-nim's na.

'Well, that's.'

Others stopped playing, but I kept stagnating, so that's how it is.

-GM: Novel strategies, rational judgnt, brilliant boldness, and perseverance beyond asure. I declare that Kim Seong-yun-nim was the best among all Edge of Gate gars.

-: I appreciate you saying that.

-GM: You must be frustrated that you couldn't clear it till the end though.

"What the hell, are you mocking

or what?"

Who's fault is that anyway?

Isn't it because you made the ga difficulty that way?

And then never once communicated properly.......

'Wait a minute?'

Co to think of it, it's quite strange that such a person is now sending ssages to an ordinary gar.

'Am I seeing things after drinking half a can of beer?'

I continued typing as if sowhat entranced.

-: It's very disappointing. But I still plan to continue playing. It's just a sales termination, not a service termination, right?

Sudden silence.

The answer ca after about 10 minutes.

-GM: So Kim Seong-yun-nim still hasn't given up on clearing it.

-: I want to see the happy ending soday, no matter when.

-GM: I thought you'd say that.

-GM: Now I can tell you...

-GM: The reason Edge of Gate could be serviced for 10 years was because of Kim Seong-yun-nim's will.

"...What are you talking about?"

Is this so new scam?

-GM: Kim Seong-yun-nim. We have concluded our experint on Planet 10491-3 as a final failure.

-GM: But believing in your endless competitive spirit and enthusiasm, we would like to make one proposal.

"Sudden change of atmosphere here."

At this point, it's chilling to the spine.

The so-called GM has been saying incomprehensible things all along.

-GM: If you succeed in clearing the ga with your next play, we are willing to provide a massive reward accordingly.

'What kind of concept is this?'

I didn't know where to begin pointing out the issues.

The most plausible assumption would be.......

'Still, is this so kind of event to thank

for playing until the end?'

With the thought of playing along just once, I answered playfully.

-: Sure. I'll definitely succeed this ti.

-GM: I thought you'd say that.

And then.

-GM: Kim Seong-yun-nim. I wish for your victory.

That was the last of it.

"Huh?"

-CRACK!

That day, a spark as intense as broad daylight flashed in the small one-room building.

And the figure of 26-year-old small company employee Kim Seong-yun could no longer be found anywhere.

When I opened my eyes, I had beco the protagonist of Edge of Gate.