“Boom boom?”
“Yes, this is the game.”
“Why is the game ‘boom boom’?”
“Didn’t you know? Back in the day, all arcade game sounds were just ‘boom boom boom,’ so people used to call them that.”
“I’m not that old. No, rather, how do you even know about that?”
The kid casually ignored my question and continued explaining.
“Anyway, this game, it’s supposedly an incredibly popular healing game.”
“Healing game?”
“A game where the protagonist moves to a quiet place, lives in nature, and interacts with various neighbors through conversations.”
Noah spoke fluently and proudly.
This game is a healing game, set in magnificent mountains and seas, offering a restorative experience.
Moreover, there’s a customization feature allowing players to personally decorate with cute animals and nature.
In short,
“It’s a real ‘God Game.'”
However, upon seeing the game title, I found it hard to readily agree with his statement.
Because I already knew the true nature of this game. It was one I had played several times before.
Though there was a slight misrepresentation in calling it a “healing game,” I decided not to mention it prematurely.
There was no need to bring on Noah’s frustration early.
To be more honest,
“It’s more fun to ruin someone’s innocence when they know nothing.”
Yeah, it’s simply more entertaining that way.
“So, shall we give it a try?”
“Yes! Uncle, if you operate it, I’ll help you out from the side.”
Noah smiled innocently.
Anyway, that Lee Tae-hwa kid can be quite mischievous.
It’s amusing to joke around with Noah, but trying to mentally attack him like this was unexpected.
I took out the game pack and installed it into the console.
As the game streamed onto the TV screen, the title appeared.
[Everyone Gather!: Beast Island]
When the game started, Noah exclaimed in awe.
He seemed to be expecting a lot from it.
That goes for me too, but I’m mostly anticipating Noah’s reaction.
“Then, let’s try it after a long time…”
When I pressed the button, the screen transitioned.
The protagonist was receiving a phone call in the dark.
[…Are you really coming to this island, kitty?]
The protagonist didn’t respond.
A voice came from the other end of the phone.
[…Seems like you’re serious. Give it your best shot. By the way…the repayment amount…is 5000 bells.]
Repayment.
In other words, debt.
Seeing that, Noah’s eyes widened.
“Why is there debt?”
“Because the protagonist borrowed money.”
“This is a healing game…”
“Nothing in life is free.”
At those words, Noah shut his mouth.
Maybe he understood that fact well enough.
Anyway, the screen went temporarily dark, then the sound of an airplane was heard, and soon a cute SD protagonist appeared on the screen.
“Cute!”
That was Noah’s impression.
“They said it was a healing game, and it does look pretty.”
“That’s right. Living in such a place would be nice.”
Noah muttered while looking at the game screen.
What a shame. He’ll soon regret saying that.
Even though he looked a little down upon seeing the debt on the house, he quickly brightened up and kept watching the game.
He must be captivated by the beautiful nature.
Here, I spent time fishing and collecting insects.
While exploring the island with lively steps, whenever I spotted something useful, I ran over to collect it.
If I happened upon a wandering puppy, I’d spend a long time squeezing its soft cheeks.
The kid laughed happily while watching all of this.
Watching him, I felt a sense of healing as well, but the main part of the game still awaited.
Maybe this is the core of it.
“Ah, Uncle. It’s nighttime.”
“…”
“Uncle?”
“Now it’s really starting.”
“Huh? …Eh? Uncle, where are you going? You should sleep at night.”
I shook my head at Noah.
“Unfortunately, adults have their own kind of healing.”
“Adults’ healing…?”
Where I headed was a bar on the outskirts of the village.
“Eh? Wasn’t this a café in the morning?”
Noah’s reaction wasn’t unreasonable.
This was the place we visited earlier for drinks.
The place where I caught rare deep-sea fish, boosting my stats.
Now, that same spot had transformed into a neon-lit bar.
“Oh, it opened here too…?”
“That’s right, this is where we’re going.”
I boldly entered the place in front of the confused Noah. It was closed during the day but open now.
[Please make a careful decision.]
[…Careful…]
Passing by the big tiger figures, deeper inside, even further inside.
Then the loading screen appeared.
[Those who come here, abandon all hope.]
A new screen unfolded.
“…A gambling den…?”
It was a gambling den.
Cards flew around beautifully, and gamblers’ emotions swirled in chaos.
My destination was a corner where a white rabbit dressed as a bunny girl stood.
“What is she wearing like that…!”
“Noah, why don’t you take another look at the game cover?”
“The game cover? Hmm… Ah!?”
Noah finally realized.
“This is a 15+ rated game, right!?”
“Yeah.”
“No, why is this a 15+ game…?”
“At least it’s fortunate; if there were octopuses, it would’ve been an adult-rated game.”
Looking at Noah’s bewildered expression, I approached an NPC.
“Welcome! Customer! This is where we enjoy snail racing. Would you like to hear the rules?”
The NPC grinned cheerfully and winked.
Ignoring the NPC lightly, I headed straight to the main game.
The rules are simple.
Simply put, if my snail wins, I receive money according to the odds.
“Isn’t this supposed to be a healing game…?”
“This one looks good.”
“What!? Uncle, are you serious? That snail is extremely slow! It’s a snail on the verge of retirement that has never won once! There are snails several times faster than this one!”
“Underdog bet.”
“What?! Uncle! This is the money we worked hard to earn this morning—”
“Underdog bet.”
“…Sigh. Do as you please. It’s just a game anyway…”
I chose the snail that looked the slowest.
Because I already knew the special conditions.
‘This snail triggers an event during its retirement race.’
A race where winning nets almost 20 times the money.
As the rabbit nodded, the race began.
“Wow! They’re running! Everyone is giving it their all! Who will claim the glory of victory?”
As the race started, Noah closed his mouth.
His gaze was fixed on the currently slowest snail.
“Umm…Uncle.”
“…”
“Uh, it seems like it’s going to lose. It’s dead last.”
“…No. Watch carefully, Noah.”
“I’ll show you why this is called a healing game.”
Perhaps what happens next could also be called healing.
At least, it will be a story of hope for those crushed by reality.
As I finished speaking, the commentator’s voice of astonishment rang out.
Our snail, which had been deemed last place, suddenly started running like crazy.
“Here comes the ultimate move! Full power! Running even faster! The last-place 1! 1 is catching up!
…The snail starts running.
The weakest, smallest, worst.
All derogatory terms applied to it, yet it begins its final race.
It was slow. Extremely slow.
To others, it might have seemed like crawling or even stopping.
But still, it ran.
Toward victory, toward the goal.
Slowly, but with strength in every step, steadily.
Being slow is fine.
But giving up is unforgivable.
If this is the last race, if this is the last track where one can burn everything they have…
The snail ran with all its might.
Running, running, and running again.
Its lungs burned, its heart ached, but it kept running.
Because that was what it had always done, everything it could do.
So please.
Let me tell them, let me inform them before everything ends.
That there was someone like me.
Even though I was weak and slow,
I never knelt!
And the snail saw the side. The fastest one here, known as the Speedster.
Side?
No, it wasn’t there.
Looking ahead, it wasn’t there either.
Only when it turned back did it see.
The top contender for this race.
The one called Speedster, the Strongest.
He was now behind.
Heavy. My heart feels like it’s about to burst.
But I keep running.
Oh Lord, please, if I die after finishing this race, please lighten this heavy burden just a little.
Is the finish line near—
He’s still behind.
The finish line is still far.
The finish line is still far.
The finish line is still far.
Yet he’s still behind.
The finish line is still far.
He’s still behind.
Speedster is following behind.
The finish line is still far. Still far.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because he’s still behind.
The finish line is still far.
The finish line is still far.
Finally.
The finish line is now.
And he’s still behind.
Even past the finish line, he’s still behind.
Did I win?
The familiar face of the commentator showed bewilderment.
Perhaps, something is wrong.
After all, there shouldn’t be any sweet stories where losers beat winners.
The mouth of the commentator opens, and emotions burst forth.
“Number 1! Surprisingly, Number 1 has claimed the victory! Wait… What? A new record!? It’s a miracle! On the brink of retirement, he set a new record!”
New record.
A record even the Speedster couldn’t achieve.
Right now, I am the Speedster.
Only then did he roar.
Today, I am the winner.
The face of the commentator, whom we often see, showed confusion.
Could it be? Is something wrong?
Surely, there cannot be a sweet story where losers defeat winners.
The mouth of the commentator opens, and intense emotion bursts forth.
“Number 1! Surprisingly, Number 1 has claimed the victory! Wait… What? A new record!? It’s a miracle! On the brink of retirement, he set a new record!”
New record.
A record even the Speedster couldn’t achieve.
Right now, I am the Speedster.
Only then did he roar.
Today, I am the winner.
The face of the commentator, whom we often see, showed confusion.
Could it be? Is something wrong?
Surely, there cannot be a sweet story where losers defeat winners.
The mouth of the commentator opens, and intense emotion bursts forth.
“Number 1! Surprisingly, Number 1 has claimed the victory! Wait… What? A new record!? It’s a miracle! On the brink of retirement, he set a new record!”
[WIN! New Record Achieved!]
“I told you.”
“Does this even make sense…?”
“The underdog winning the championship. Isn’t that a touching story in its own way?”
“That’s… true.”
Noah stared blankly at the screen.
Still unable to believe it.
What made Noah’s mouth gape even wider was what happened next.
“Congratulations! You hit the jackpot! Customer! Please claim your prize! Wow! As a commemoration of the new record, we’ll give you additional prize money! Congratulations again!”
Jingle jingle jingle!!
Money rained down, increasing our funds.
[70,000 Bells]
We invested 3,000 bells, multiplied by 20 to get 60,000 bells.
With the new record bonus of 10,000 bells, the calculation checks out.
“You cleared the entire repayment in one go…!? No… This is practically money duplication…!”
Huff.
“This is healing.”
“Wait a moment… Making money through gambling is healing…? It’s not the touching story of the underdog becoming the champion…!?”
“It’s about money duplication. It’s the same impossible story that can’t happen in reality.”
“Nature? The happy healing life achieved through things obtained in nature?”
“Noah.”
“…Yes?”
“Healing requires money.”
“…Looks like I’ll have to manage your money later…”
“Why would you manage my money? Are you going to be my wife?”
Whoa.
Noah blushed and lightly hit my shoulder.
“Ugh… Anyway, this isn’t healing…!!”
“…”
“Please earn money honestly!! Or at least play the game as intended!”
“…No, we’ll keep going this way.”
“My healing…”
Afterward, I continued touring the gambling dens, eventually earning enough money to buy the island’s land rights.
“Why… Why do we have to make money even in games…?”
That’s exactly the point.
The bittersweet taste of capitalism experienced in the game. I patted Noah’s head as he mourned over it.
But from now on,
“Noah, watch closely.”
“Why?”
“Because the real healing is about to begin.”
