Breathing Life into Real Dolls

Han Miin was an Instagram influencer, although it wasn’t the direction she initially wanted to take.

Originally, Han Miin’s hobby was photography and video filming.

Animals, plants, buildings – if something caught her eye, she’d photograph it without discrimination. Then, since it was too good to keep to herself, she’d share it with her community.

She went to internet cafes and communities where amateur photographers gathered. Under the nickname “Miin,” she would post her photos and videos there.

[A collection of photos taken this week.]

[I focused on taking pictures of the surrounding landscapes. ^^]

As her consistent uploads began to solidify her reputation within the community, more and more comments started to be posted.

-You seem to film videos, too. Why don't you try uploading them to YouTube?

“……YouTube?”

She had no grand ambition, such as gathering 100,000 subscribers from the start.

She merely took up the casual suggestion and uploaded something nonchalantly.

Just like how she posted her work to the community.

Even as she uploaded several videos a week, one video’s view count suddenly started skyrocketing.

‘What’s this? What was the video about?’

As she read the comments, she found that people were not interested in Han Miin’s works.

They were interested in Han Miin herself.

-04:38 Is that you, Miin, reflected in the mirror? Were you a girl all along.....?

-The quality is blurred, and it only lasted 3 seconds, but I see something pretty ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Fascinating.

-Wow, Miin was a girl? I never thought about it, but even the nickname is beautiful ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Heh, surprising...

-From now on, please upload vlogs in selfie mode instead of these videos.

-Do you have an Instagram ID?

“What, what’s going on……?”

She was flustered.

She knew she was pretty, but was it enough to receive this much attention?

At that time, Han Miin was still attending an all-girls high school, so she had not yet fully felt the ‘power of attention drawn by one’s appearance’.

People asked her for videos featuring herself or her Instagram ID.

In a hurry, she gave out her Instagram ID, the one she had been using to upload the photos she had taken.

Then, a comment was posted.

-...A selfie, please?

Han Miin was furious.

“Selfies, selfies… Is no one interested in the photos I’ve taken……?”

Of course, she knew her skills were not that great.

She was probably at an amateurish level. She never had professional training; it was just a hobby.

But was it enough to be completely ignored like this?

She had consistently taken and uploaded several photos, some of which she thought were pretty good, but the comment she got was, ‘A selfie, please?’…?

While she felt such anger, she also became curious about the overwhelming interest from the public that she was experiencing for the first time.

Would people really like it if she posted a real selfie?

“Since they want it so much, why not just post one……?”

Snap-

So, she uploaded it. A selfie.

The reaction was explosive.

-Wow. You are really beautiful.

-Insane face shot ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Is this your first selfie?

-You've been uploading only landscape photos with this face until now?

-Miin, is this really you? Seriously, this is an insane twist...

“Gasp……!”

An overwhelming flood of attention was followed by an unprecedented number of followers that could be likened to being buried alive.

That day.

The pure high school girl Han Miin, who enjoyed snapping whatever caught her eye as a simple hobby, was dead.

What remained was SNS-addicted Han Miin, whose brain was soaked in dopamine from the attention she received.

She naturally became an Instagram influencer and took up fashion modeling as her job, even receiving offers for it.

Thus, 4 years passed, and the world turned into a zombie apocalypse.

After surviving various incidents and accidents, she was now a member of the extermination team at the D-Mart shelter.

Even after the world’s end, Han Miin couldn’t put down her smartphone.

Her brain, already addicted to SNS, couldn’t accept a moment without dopamine stimulation.

Even when she heard that Kim Doha was going to write a strategy post in the community, she responded immediately.

‘Wow, a strategy from the number 1 ranked? The reactions will be so entertaining. I have to wait and watch…!’

She refreshed repeatedly for hours in the middle of the night…

‘When is the leader going to post it……! Is this it? Ah, another impersonator.’

Finally, Kim Doha’s strategy post was up.

‘Is this the real one? ……It is!’

As Han Miin slowly read the content and scrolled down, she frowned at the photo of the crack taken by Kim Doha.

‘Ew. What is this picture? It looks like an 8-year-old kid took it. I want to take it myself…….’

Kim Doha had no sense in taking pictures. He merely made sure the subject was in the center.

‘Well, that’s not what’s important.’

She quickly refreshed the page repeatedly, enjoying the comment reactions.

‘Heh. Being suspected as a fake.’

‘Wow, the ranking window nickname has really changed?’

‘…Within the top 10 rankings? Is this person real?’

In the midst of this, Kim Doha left a comment himself.

└I hope you all prepare thoroughly and succeed in cracking the rift. If I discover a new rift, I will try to make a strategy video and upload it. Good luck.

Han Miin read the comment and thought for a while.

‘A strategy video, too. It might be hard to watch if the video is shot like that rift picture. Maybe I should take it myself……?’

On her Instagram, it was hard to find the landscape photos she once enjoyed as a hobby.

Most of the posts were selfies or pictures of herself taken by others.

But now, a poorly taken photo by Kim Doha was once again igniting her desire to shoot.

‘Even if I, who hadn’t shot in a while, kicked the camera, it would turn out better…’

There was even the aspect of sensationalism.

For Han Miin, whose brain was already soaked in dopamine, sensationalism was an important criterion.

Because consistently uploading photos that no one was interested in was something only possible back in the times when she didn’t receive attention.

In that regard, Kim Doha was more than enough; he was overflowing as someone who drew attention.

‘Our leader… Ranking 1, even the mask is cool. He even carries a white sword around lately, which adds a strange charm…’

She thought further.

‘Wouldn’t it be fun if I shot and uploaded this?’

Whether it was when she first started uploading her hobby photography to the community or when she uploaded to YouTube.

Han Miin was fundamentally of the mindset to try it first.

“You’ll shoot the rift strategy video?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll follow me inside?”

“Yes.”

I cocked my head.

“…Why, exactly?”

Han Miin raised the corners of her mouth with a sly smile.

“Because I can shoot it much better!”

…It was a reason that was hard for me to accept.

“You may know, but going inside can be life-threatening. There’s no need for you to shoot. I can capture the strategy video just fine.”

As she began her explanation, Han Miin’s smile disappeared, and she began speaking in a serious tone.

“Leader, do you know? Even though there’s still enough food stocked in South Korea, many people are committing suicide. You can see it on SNS.”

“…I didn’t know that.”

“Right? You’re very busy dealing with D-Mart matters. But isn’t it strange? People could survive much longer just staying inside, but it’s not just one or two committing suicide. Why do you think that is?”

I blurted out the answer that came to mind.

“They probably think there’s no point in living on.”

Han Miin nodded her head in agreement.

“That’s right! It’s the absence of expectations and hope for the future. But think about it. Suddenly, a person claiming to be the No.1 ranked ability user appeared in the community. And by uploading all kinds of information and strategy posts, he’s creating a hopeful atmosphere. Encouraging everyone to work hard at fighting the zombies.”

I slowly began to understand what she wanted to say.

“So, you mean to create expectations for the future? So… I should become a hope for these people?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t mean you should become their real hope. You can’t save everyone, and it would be difficult if they expect too much. Instead, let’s create an atmosphere where the future can be bright. That much is fine, right? Um…”

Han Miin touched her forehead in thought for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed,

“Ah! National pride!”

“…?”

“People in our country love national pride! It’s something similar! A mutant zombie that’s scary, Asimone that’s terrifying, the No.1 ranked ability user Kim Doha. The rift strategy he imparts! Well, something like this. Providing a refuge for people to momentarily forget reality.”

“……”

I was lost in thought.

Han Miin spoke with sparkling eyes.

“I’ll shoot it for you in the coolest way ever! So that you look like a superhero protecting the Earth. People need a hero right now…!”