My name is Jiang Man.
I'm a hopeless romantic. Just kidding, hehe.
●
I was chosen by some mysterious being to enter an infinite horror game and experience it firsthand.
The kind you can't refuse.
But I'm no good at anything. I have a few extra wits, maybe... though not that many.
Even though the player starter pack gave me a golden finger, "spoilers," I still don't have much confidence I'll survive.
What's even more ridiculous is that the pack came with a restriction.
"The game's administrators and other players must never discover it! Otherwise, the spoiler perk will be disabled immediately."
I looked at the other players around me, all gifted and talented, seemingly better than me at everything...
No. I absolutely refuse to let being cannon fodder become my fate!
So! To stay alive, I can only... pretend to be a hopeless romantic.
I'll do my best to make every illogical thing I learn from spoilers seem logical!
●
First, keep an eye on someone who looks like they have a good chance of winning.
Then, get to know him or them and plan accordingly.
Show just the right amount of: Huh? I actually fell for someone in this horror game!
And: Because I like you, I'll listen to everything you say.
And also: Because I like you, I don't want to let you hand me the golden opportunity to survive. I just want to vanish alongside you in danger.
It's all just to stay alive!
He'll give me a chance to live because I'm obedient, so he can use me later. I get it.
You look at me like I'm a total idiot and want me to test out the death route first. I get that too!
●
I use the universally despised hopeless-romantic act as a shield.
No one questions my sudden leaps in logic, and Miss Jiang Man always gets the final say.
But, fellow players, can anyone relate?
Every single one of these paragons of humanity is actually a real hopeless romantic.
Didn't they say the game used random matchmaking?
So how come all these real hopeless romantics keep showing up to find me again and again??
"Manman, you can always trust me. I understand how you feel."
Jiang: What the hell do you understand, bro? Is this dungeon even suited to your type? Are you both here to die?
"I wronged you in the past. From now on, stay behind me. I'll protect you."
Jiang: Protect me from what? Make sure I die after you, is that it? You're scarier than the NPCs in this dungeon.
"You say I'm like that person? Was he ever as good to you as I am?"
Jiang: I almost held up pictures of the first two guys and smacked him in the face.
Look at yourself! Which one are you supposed to be? Hopeless romantic!
As she was about to leave the survival game, a newcomer asked her for advice.
Jiang Man spoke with the confidence of someone who'd been there.
"I got through this survival game by being a hopeless romantic. I came and went as I pleased."
●
"They spent all those points in the real world just to come here."
A+, glaring with jealousy: "Do you want me or him?"
Jiang, snapping: "I want you to leave!"
B stands outside the metal door, deigning to speak to her: "If you miss me, you can come find me anytime."
Jiang: "Maybe later!" She shuts the door.
C+, eyes red like a rabbit's: "It was all a lie? Then why did you cuddle me to sleep?"
Jiang: "How awkward. I would've died if I hadn't cuddled something warm right then."
No fixed CP
Entire story told in third person
The dungeons aren't necessarily scary. Manman gets up to romance while wrapped in a horror-game facade.
Dungeon elements include, but aren't limited to: horror movies, rule-based mysteries, eerie legends, and survival games.
Probably starts after Charming Supporting Actress is finished.
Blurb notes: 2023.5.1
Theme: Love is precious, but life is worth more
