Imagine being at least 10% stronger throughout the game, the tremendous effects it would bring. Because of that, Lee Hyun in the morning and daytime learned martial arts, and in the evening studied about virtual reality games. Which game had the most users, and how the game system worked was thoroughly analyzed.
For every profession, city and skill Lee Hyun made analysis tables and pinned them onto the walls of his room. The paper records bombarded Lee Hyun’s room.
1 year. Lee Hyun learned martial arts and studied virtual reality games. The time of 1 year wasn’t just a preparation period, it was also used to closely observe the development of Royal Road.
The virtual reality game at the end was as expected, Royal Road and like its name walked the path of the emperor with serenity. Possessing more than 75% of the world’s game market share, more than 90% of Korean gamers played this game. It could practically be called a scheduled sequence.
Especially during wars of kings, it came to a point where overwhelmed the viewership of all other networks. The only game in the world where anybody could obtain fame, power and money. Royal Road was the result of an ingenious system interlocking with virtual reality.
“Great. All according to plan.”
Lee Hyun’s cold eyes stared at the monitor.
That day he purchased a capsule used to connect to Royal Road for 10,000,000 won. It was expensive enough that tears seeped out, but he constantly reminded himself it was a necessary investment. All preparations finished. It was the beginning of the game. He felt like a soldier heading into the battlefield.
When the message came, Lee Hyun shouted without any hesitation.
“Yes!”
Chapter 2
Wild Beast Appears
The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you want to create a new account?
When Lee Hyun was connected to Royal Road, the first sound that reached his ears was a feminine voice.
He looked around to see who had spoken to him, but there was no one else; a space within the universe. Then he realized that he was in the middle of the activation process of a new account.
“Yes!”
— Select the name of your avat—
“Weed.” Weed, the lowliest of the low in the plant kingdom. To Lee Hyun, it sounded most suitable for him.
— Select your gender from male, female or neutr—
“Male!”
— Royal Road has forty-nine races. You may select your race from the primary twenty-nine—
“Human!”
- You may alter your appearan—
“The way I am.”
— Your account has been activated. Your stats and class shall be determined while you are playing Royal Road—
“Pass!”
— Select a city and kingdom you want to start.
“The Citadel of Serabourg, Rosenheim Kingdom!”
— Welcome to Royal—
“Pass!”
Afraid to waste even a second, Lee Hyun skipped the tutorial stage and made quick decisions according to his prearranged plan. Three hundred thousand won monthly bill for the game was a great expense to him.
In Royal Road, there are over a hundred major cities and thousands of towns. A new player begins his adventure in a capital or a major city of comparable size.
Similar to where Weed is starting out.
*Flash*
With a flash of light, he appeared in the Citadel of Serabourg, Rosenheim.
“This is…”
Weed was swayed by the sight of countless avatars, users and NPCs—Non-Player Characters—alike, that he thought he was lost in the middle of Seoul.
“Where am I? Unbelievable!”
Astonished, Weed couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked around. The racket of those haggling and chattering rang in his ears. The view unfolding before his eyes was exactly the same as the real world, with people busy coming and going.
He lowered his eyes to his legs standing on the ground. His senses told him that it felt absolutely solid. Strangers passed him by as he stood still in a daze.
“Look at him. I’m sure he’s a newbie.”
“It looks like he’s never played a virtual reality game before.”
While passing by, some users threw fleeting remarks over their shoulders. They stung him enough to pull himself together.
They’re right. It’s Royal Road here. The world of virtual reality, and my new workplace.
No matter how thoroughly Weed had prepared, his knowledge of virtual reality and his research into the game system came second to the strange experience he was having now.
He had been bewildered, but it was temporary, and he soon calmed down, differences also began to catch his eye.
His senses were consistent with reality, yet people around him were clad in armor or wearing leather vests.
Close to the spot where he had shown up was a bulletin board exhibiting maps and descriptions of Rosenheim Kingdom, and directions for using the basic interface.
It’s time that I start.
Weed clenched his fist, and then he started to exercise. He sat down and stood up, and then proceeded with standing high jumps, tumbling, kicking and punching.
He twisted his waist around and carefully tested one joint after another. He wiggled fingers and toes, and jerked his head back and forth.
Even though a tsunami of humiliating comments gushed forth from other users nearby, Weed was determined to overcome it.
“What the heck is he doing now?”
“It looks like he’s moving his body. I guess he’s still uncomfortable with the virtual reality game.”
“Oh, I see. But what’s the point of making a show in the middle of a crowded street?”
The sense of humiliation which Weed had been fighting so hard to keep back prevailed over his determination. What a scene he’d been making in front of strangers.
“Dammit!” Weed left in a hurry and headed elsewhere.
A newcomer in Royal Road is confined to the city of origin for a week in real world and four weeks in the game, thanks to the parallax between one place and the other.
A great majority of newcomers were getting down to basics, simple quests, or learn craft skills, such as tailoring, blacksmith and cooking, which are relatively easy to acquire.
The game boast of its unrestricted flexibility, almost to the extent of disorder, and while all the highest ranking positions arc still occupied by NPCs instead of users, this reinforces the need for personal contacts.
On the other hand, a considerable number of users work in libraries or stores to make money.
The Central Square brims with merchant wannabes who set up kiosks to buy and sell with fellow users and many new parties in pursuit of adventure are formed on the spot every minute.
After watching them casually, Weed didn’t hesitate to head for the Training Hall.
The Training Hall is open to any user as long as he pleases, and most users visit the hall to experiment with newly acquired skills.
It is nearly impossible to find someone who, like Weed, would go straight to the Training Hall as soon as he created a new avatar.
It’s not only that newcomers are more interested in finding out what the kingdom and city where they were born look like, but it’s also largely because training in the Training Hall is deemed rather ineffective.
The moment the instructor saw Weed walk in the entrance, his eyes glared fiercely.
“Young adventurer, I presume you have arrived at the Versailles continent very recently,” the instructor said.