Another Me in the Darkness

It had been several days since Avery had opened his eyes in this new body.

And he was satisfied.

The sleepless nights of his past no longer existed.

The days of keeping one eye open, never lowering his guard.

The life where he had to survive each day amid ruthless missions, never knowing when he would die.

Here—

He could sleep peacefully.

"This place is truly heaven."

If the leader of the orthodox sects, the very one who had betrayed and killed him,

Had, in the end, gifted him this peaceful life…

Then perhaps dying hadn't been such a bad choice after all.

Adjusting to this world was easier than he had expected.

Of course, there were moments when old habits surfaced unconsciously.

The sharp, instinctive movements of an assassin.

Or the rough tone of speech that sometimes slipped out without him realizing.

But luckily, his coworkers at the convenience store didn't find his odd behavior suspicious—

Rather, they just saw it as a quirky and amusing habit.

And in this new life, he had found something that brought him unexpected joy—

It was none other than the Android phone.

Avery had discovered the vast world of mobile gaming.

And it was nothing short of a revolutionary experience.

He spent hours immersed in the screen, enjoying a variety of games.

But among them, the one he fell in love with the most was a farming simulation game.

The simple life he had always dreamed of—

Even if only in a digital world—was unfolding right before his eyes.

Every day, he diligently harvested crops as they ripened,

And he carefully tended to his virtual chickens, pigs, and cows.

But there was just one problem…

In this game, other players could raid his farm.

The crops and resources he had worked so hard to cultivate

Were often stolen in an instant.

But he was a free-to-play (F2P) player.

There was no way he could compete with the sheer power of the pay-to-win players.

Still, it didn't matter.

Even if it wasn't big,

He loved watching his farm grow bit by bit with his own hands.

Day by day, as he steadily nurtured it,

The slow and steady progress brought him immense satisfaction.

'I wish real life were like this.' 

Avery thought to himself.

The life he wanted was one that built up slowly, but surely.

And then, suddenly, he realized—

There was one thing missing in this new life.

Family.

Sometimes, he wondered.

If his parents were still alive,

How different would this ordinary life have been?

In his memories, his mother had—

Passed away in an unexpected accident when he was in high school.

And as for his father—

There were no memories of him at all.

No matter how much he searched his recollections,

Not once had the figure of a "father" ever come to mind.

He had no siblings either.

Sitting on his bed, Avery picked up his phone, ready to play his usual farming game.

But just as he was about to log in—

His eyes caught on a red notification dot on another app.

[Night Gallery]

That notification had been there ever since he woke up in this world.

Strangely enough, he had no memory of what this app was.

It felt like a fragment of a blurry memory.

It was probably just a pre-installed app.

Something like a simple gallery app for storing photos.

"What? Is it just some system update or something?"

Avery muttered, not paying it much attention.

There were more important things to focus on.

The work announcements the manager had posted in the staff group chat,

And most importantly, his precious farming game.

…

It was the weekend—his first day off in a long time.

Suddenly, Avery had the urge to see the ocean.

He had always heard that it was a place full of life.

People drying seaweed and seafood,

bringing in fresh catches to sell at the market.

In a way, that was just another form of farming.

Wanting to see something new,

he hopped onto a bus.

Settling into a window seat, he prepared for the hour-long journey.

Outside the window, the familiar cityscape gradually faded into the distance.

And then, at some point—

A salty sea breeze brushed past his nose.

The bus rattled along the road,

And the scenery before him gradually changed.

Buildings grew sparse,

Wide lands stretched out,

And soon, a shimmering coastline appeared before his eyes.

The moment he stepped off the bus, the scent of the ocean rushed over him.

The salty tang of seawater, the seaweed-scented air from the tidal flats, and a faint trace of fish—

The smell of the sea.

Following the directions he got from the locals, Avery made his way through a narrow alleyway.

Before long, a small, bustling village unfolded before him.

In the shallow waters, men and women of all ages waded through the mudflats, skillfully swinging long poles to catch octopuses.

Nearby, several women were soaking squid in basins, preparing them for drying.

Every movement was effortless, practiced.

Avery wanted to get a closer look.

But just as he was about to step forward—

"Hey there, young man."

Someone blocked his path.

A middle-aged man with a broad smile.

His hair was slightly receding, and when he smiled, his eyes nearly disappeared into thin slits.

"You don't seem like you're from around here."

"Yes, I'm a traveler."

When Avery answered calmly, the man tilted his head slightly and asked again.

"What brings you all the way to this quiet village?"

There was something… subtle about his tone.

It was friendly, but there was a faint hint of caution mixed in.

…Is he assessing me?

Avery gazed at him with an indifferent expression.

Something about the atmosphere felt unusual.

As he hesitated to answer, the man waved his hand lightly and added,

"Oh, if I sounded too stiff, I apologize. I'm Theodore, the acting village chief here."

"We're a close-knit community, like family, so when we see a new face, we get curious. Nothing more than that. The world is a rough place, after all—there's no harm in being careful, right?"

With those words, the man smiled again, his expression soft and warm.

Looking into Theodore's kind eyes, Avery naturally let his guard down.

"No, not at all. I was just curious about how people here harvest seaweed and dry squid."

"Oh~? So you have an interest in this kind of work?"

"Well, something like that."

As their conversation continued, Theodore naturally began guiding Avery around the village.

Just as he had imagined—

No, even more vibrant and full of life than he had expected, the scenery unfolded before his eyes.

The intricate process of drying squid,

The skilled hands harvesting seaweed.

To others, it might have been nothing more than a simple daily routine,

But to Avery, every step of it felt fascinating and beautiful.

Breaking free from a past soaked in blood,

Just watching the steady rhythm of ordinary labor

Seemed to bring a sense of peace to his heart.

Eventually, as the sun rose high overhead

And the blazing sunlight bathed the sea in a golden hue—

People began finishing their work and retreating into the shade one by one.

As Avery was preparing to leave,

Just as he was about to thank Theodore—

"Before you go, why don't you have a cup of tea?"

Theodore asked with a broad smile.

"That sounds nice."

Avery responded naturally.

Following Theodore, he made his way to his home.

A small bungalow, surrounded by tall shrubs.

A cozy haven, enclosed by a naturally formed barrier.

But what surprised Avery the most—

It was a well-tended garden.

Rows of neatly planted vegetables,

A small, carefully maintained backyard farm.

It felt as if the quiet, peaceful life he had always dreamed of

Had unfolded right before his eyes.

"Maybe I should try making a small garden behind my apartment too?"

The thought popped into his mind.

…And immediately after, he imagined Ms. Kim's reaction.

"Why are you digging up dirt? You can't even pay your rent!"

A mildly troublesome scenario played out in his head,

But still, it wasn't a bad idea.

As they approached the house,

The door creaked open, and Theodore's wife stepped outside.

She wore a vintage-style skirt, patched together with old fabric.

There was something warm and familiar about her presence.

Avery suddenly thought of

The kind "neighborly auntie" from old soup commercials.

"Honey, we have a guest. Could you bring out a warm cup of tea?"

She spoke with a gentle smile.

"He's come a long way—we can't just let him leave empty-handed."

"This is perfect timing!"

His wife smiled brightly, dusting off her hands.

"I just brewed a fresh pot of tea. You two can share it.

In the meantime, why don't you show him around the backyard?"

At her words, Theodore naturally led Avery along.

Passing by the small bungalow, they stepped into the backyard—

A small oasis, filled with vibrant greenery.

A neatly organized vegetable garden

Flourishing under careful hands.

"Have a seat."

Theodore gestured toward a sturdy wooden bench,

And the two of them sat down, gazing at the garden.

The rich red hue of ripe tomatoes,

Bright green chili peppers,

Lush, fresh leafy greens spreading wide.

The faint scent of soil lingered in the air,

And Avery silently admired the sight.

A short while later—

Two steaming cups of tea.

Theodore's wife approached, carrying them.

She brought out the warm tea.

A gentle fragrance spread through the air.

Avery stood up from his seat,

And as a gesture of gratitude, he gave a slight bow before receiving the cup.

"Thank you very much."

Avery said as he took the tea.

"Oh, it's nothing."

Theodore's wife left behind a warm smile before heading back inside the house.

For a while, the two of them quietly sipped their tea.

A peaceful silence.

Then—

Theodore spoke softly.

"So… what's the real reason you came into my territory?"

Avery blinked.

…Territory?

Was he referring to this small fishing village?

He was sure he had already explained his reason for visiting earlier,

So why was he asking again?

A strange sense of unease flickered through him.

"As I said before, I just…"

Just as he was about to continue speaking—

"Stop."

Theodore softly cut him off.

His smile remained.

But this time…

Something about it was unnerving.

Within that smile,

Avery felt a sudden chill.

"I have no interest in hearing such flimsy excuses."

In that moment, Avery instinctively knew.

This man was no ordinary person.

His outward appearance was gentle,

But beneath it lay—

A predator's instincts.

"The moment I saw your physique, I was sure of it."

Theodore's voice remained calm as ever.

"At first, I doubted my own eyes… but yes. No one else moves the way you do."

His gaze sharpened.

"I know who you are, Enigma."

…What?

At the sudden mention of that name, Avery's heart pounded.

"Don't even think about causing trouble here."

Theodore's smile remained as serene as ever,

But his next words were a clear warning.

"This village belongs to me.

Nothing happens here without my permission."

"Enigma?"

Avery unconsciously repeated the name.

His confusion deepened.

But Theodore's smile didn't waver.

No—more precisely…

He was merely wearing a smile.

There was no warmth in it.

"Sure, you could pretend not to know."

He spoke slowly.

"Anonymity is essential for people like us. Deny it all you want.

But just remember one thing."

"Don't even think about causing trouble in my territory."

A heavy silence followed.

Avery was confused.

But his instincts as an assassin warned him.

This man is dangerous.

Theodore's tone remained gentle,

But within it was a clear warning—and a subtle yet undeniable killing intent.

It felt like a beast watching an intruder trespass into its domain.

The two men stared at each other.

Cold gazes.

Avery's mind raced.

What the hell is happening right now?

But then—

In an instant, Theodore changed the atmosphere.

"Honey, our guest is leaving now."

His voice was perfectly calm, as if their entire conversation had never happened.

A moment later, Theodore's wife reappeared.

She was still smiling warmly.

With a natural motion, she took Theodore's arm,

And in a bright voice, she saw Avery off.

"You don't have to be shy~! Our village has plenty to see, so come visit anytime! Bring your friends too! Right, dear?"

"Of course."

Theodore answered casually.

Avery forced a smile and nodded.

But—

The feeling of eyes on his back.

The lingering presence of something dangerous.

Avery slowly started walking.

One step. Then another.

It felt as if he were carrying a heavy burden.

And just as he was about to step through the gate—

"Oh, right."

Theodore spoke again.

"One more thing."

Avery stopped in his tracks.

The voice behind him was still soft and relaxed.

But what came next—

Sent a chill down his spine.

"The gallery has been awfully quiet lately."

"It's always fun to admire your masterpieces from time to time."

…Gallery?

For a split second, Avery's fingertips froze.