TFCG 7

Chapter 7

In this world, there was only one “protagonist,” the “hero chosen by the goddess.”

There couldn’t possibly be duplicates, so I boldly dropped the “Strongest Shooter” part and kept only “Elaine.”

The origin(?) of the name Elaine surprisingly went all the way back to my preschool days.

Since both my parents worked and had no one to look after me until they returned home from work, they left me at an English academy that stayed open late into the evening. I guess they thought they might as well try some early English education for me while they were at it.

At that academy, each child was given an English name and told to call one another by it. The director herself gave me the name Elaine.

Unfortunately, my parents’ hopes didn’t pan out. The early English education had little effect since all the kids decided to teach the native-speaking teacher Korean instead of using English.

Still, something remained: the name “Elaine.” I ended up using it often as a nickname online since it felt like the perfect fit.

I’d used it for so long that I’d grown attached to it.

On top of that, everyone in the game already called me “Miss Elaine,” so it was familiar, and it fit naturally into this world as well.

“Hm. Of course, changing your name isn’t impossible. In that case, you’ll just need to fill out this name-change application form…”

Belinda rummaged around her desk and handed me a sheet of paper.

Oh wow, so I can change my name that easily? This was an unexpected development.

But my joy was short-lived.

“As long as you pay the fee, the name change can be processed right away.”

“…Fee?”

“Yes. Thirty Rainbow Stones.”

Thirty Rainbow Stones…?

Of course. Even in the actual game, changing your character’s name cost exactly thirty Rainbow Stones in the cash shop. Consistent logic, I’ll give them that.

Right now, I only had ten Rainbow Stones—the ones I’d just gotten from the crew member earlier.

I still needed twenty more. That would be about 20,000 won in real money.

If I could recharge, I’d do it in a heartbeat…

Sure, I was technically unemployed, a “job seeker,” but it’s not like I couldn’t scrape together 20,000 won. I probably still had that much in the account where I’d been saving my New Year’s gift money since I was a kid.

‘Status window! Withdraw twenty thousand won from my account and just give me twenty Rainbow Stones right now…!’

I shouted at the status window in my head, demanding a cash recharge.

Naturally, nothing happened.

Honestly, it would’ve been weirder if it had worked.

‘Imagine the headline: “Dead girl’s bank account mysteriously drained—20,000 won spent on game microtransactions.” Now that’s a fresh kind of ghost story.’

There could be no greater disgrace. Spending money on gacha even after death?

“Um, don’t you think thirty Rainbow Stones is a bit much just to change a name? Couldn’t you… maybe lower the price a little…?”

I tried to haggle with a pitiful expression.

“…Impossible.”

Of course. No dice.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a member’s certificate? It’s not just an ID card—it doubles as an access pass to key facilities on Mid-Isle, a permit for resource gathering across the island…”

Belinda launched into a lecture on how multifunctional the certificate was and how high the production costs ran.

“In any case, if you want a new member’s certificate, you’ll need thirty Rainbow Stones. Not a single one less.”

With a stern look, she ended her speech.

“…Got it.”

I sighed heavily, utterly deflated.

“Don’t look so down. Thirty Rainbow Stones is nothing—you’ll get them in no time, Strong-est. Shoot-er. E-laine.”

Belinda patted my shoulder as she said it.

Was she putting extra emphasis on each syllable just to rub it in?

I hadn’t realized Belinda was the snarky type.

Resigned, I waited for her to continue.

“There are still a few procedures left, but… for today, you should just head to the dorms and rest. Take a hot bath, change your clothes…”

Her words made me glance down at myself. Wait—was I really filthy enough for her to tell me outright to wash?

In the game, the NPCs told the protagonist to rest at the dorm because they’d had a rough day—not because they reeked.

But looking at my clothes, I realized what she meant.

Oh. Right. I’d been caught in that explosion.

My outfit was smudged with soot, and after the crash into the sea, it was also soaked with salt water. I stank like the ocean itself.

So I’d met the NPCs of the Hero Corps looking like this?

Ugh! Talk about mortifying.

I’d decided to live as a hero in this world, and I’d wanted to make a good first impression on my companions…

Instead, my face burned with shame as I buried it in my hands.

“The dorm is just behind this building… Ah, perfect timing—Darren!”

Belinda ignored my embarrassment and called over Clemence’s grandson, Darren Cherwick, who had been sitting idly in the back.

“What is it?”

“Could you guide the new recruit to the dorms? You don’t seem to have anything else to do.”

“…Ugh, what a pain.”

Darren scratched the back of his short-cropped head.

“Maybe I should mention to the captain that you’ve been uncooperative lately?”

“Fine, fine! I’ll take her, okay? Just don’t tell Grandma.”

The moment Belinda mentioned his grandmother, Darren backed down and agreed.

Though, judging by his pout, he wasn’t thrilled about it.

“Let’s go. Dorms are this way.”

I followed Darren out of headquarters, his long legs carrying him swiftly ahead of me.

After walking in awkward silence for a while, Darren suddenly slowed, glanced at me, and spoke.

“…Sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to be rude—I just got a little carried away.”

A pair of olive-green eyes, identical to Clemence’s, looked my way.

He might have been a bit brash and thickheaded, but he wasn’t a bad guy. Hard to hate someone like that.

“It’s fine.”

I shrugged. Honestly, being called “hey, you” was a hundred times better than “Strongest Shooter.” Nothing to forgive, really.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Darren Cherwick. Sure, I’m the captain’s grandson, but I didn’t get in through connections—I passed all the official entrance exams fair and square.”

His voice brimmed with pride at being a member of the Hero Corps. Considering how prestigious it was, it was only natural to be proud of becoming a full-fledged member at such a young age.

“We’ll be working together a lot from now on, so feel free to drop the honorifics. We’re only a year apart anyway.”

“Alright, will do.”

I accepted right away. After all, in the game, I’d always casually called him “Darren” whenever he got into trouble. Being formal now would feel strange.

“Hey, you’re pretty straightforward, huh? I like that. I’ve got a thick skull, so I can’t remember long names. Mind if I just call you Elaine?”

What? Someone already calling me Elaine before I even officially changed my name?

“Sure, that works.”

I agreed happily. Why would I turn down something so perfect?

We walked a little farther, admiring the beautiful island scenery, until the dormitory building came into view.

With its white walls and blue roof, it looked like a charming little seaside hotel in Europe.

I recognized it from the game, but sadly, I didn’t know which room was mine. In the game, you just clicked on the stairs, and the protagonist automatically went to their room. There were no floor or room numbers to memorize.

While I was thinking this, Darren and I stepped into the dorm lobby.

“Darren!”

A youthful voice called out to him.

I turned toward it and saw a pair of blond twins standing in the lobby.

They were Lena and Leo, fraternal twins. If the protagonist was female, Lena became her roommate; if male, Leo did.

“Oh, Lena, Leo. What are you doing here? These two are the Clarus twins—you know the Clarus family, right? A famous magical bloodline. Both of them passed the Hero Corps entrance exam at the youngest age ever. Geniuses, the both of them.”

I nodded. I didn’t know the Clarus family in detail, but I had heard they’d produced many famous mages.

Lena, the sister, eyed me with clear displeasure. She had a sharp bob cut, ruby-red eyes, and feline features—beautiful but cold.

Her twin brother Leo looked much the same, aside from being taller with shorter hair.

Right now, Leo seemed to be doing his best to defuse his sister’s hostility.

“L-Lena! It’s rude to glare at people like that.”

“Hmph.”

Lena turned her head away with a loud snort, as if even being in the same room with me was unbearable.

“This is the new recruit I mentioned. Lena, she’s going to be your roommate. Take care of her, alright?”

Having done his part, Darren waved lazily and walked out, leaving me alone with the twins.

Feeling awkward, I tried to introduce myself.

“Um, hello, I’m…”

“Nice to meet you! I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Leo Clarus, and this is my twin sister, Lena.”