Who Are You?

Virtual reality game Prologia. With its vast open world and infinite freedom, monsters and NPCs shrouded in mystery! Over the past few years, many VR games had launched, but this one gathered the expectations of all gamers.

"The Prologia we're unveiling this time is different from all the previous games. No, it's not just a different level—it's in a league of its own."

People couldn't help but pay attention to the confident words of Director Lee Chang-soo, famous worldwide for releasing hit games multiple times. What the hell did they make to be so cocky? What if it flops? His attitude bordered on arrogance, and that had everyone eagerly awaiting Prologia even before launch. If it failed, he'd pay the price for running his mouth; if it succeeded, they'd just enjoy the game.

Prologia's game packs sold out through the 1st, 2nd, and all the way to the 8th rounds. Crowds swarmed in front of New Dream, Lee Chang-soo's company, begging for just one more copy.

And so, amid everyone's hype and skepticism, the game opened...

"Whoa. Jackpot."

It was a total smash hit. The realism was nearly indistinguishable from reality. While past VR games had only toyed with sight and sound at best, Prologia affected every sense—smell, touch, everything.

"Is this really a game...?"

In the starting village of Revent, countless people milled about on soil that looked straight out of everyone's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fantasy medieval dreams. Innocent-looking farmers, kids running around with bright smiles, merchants shouting to attract customers, silver-armored guards, and users dressed in the same brown adventurer gear as her.

Amid the bustling crowd, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Haring—who had just started the game—sparkled with excitement.

"Jackpot... It's exactly like what I saw in the gallery!"

Haring was a "13th purchase" user for Prologia, logging in three months after launch. After the game's massive success, demand skyrocketed, and three months was the best she could do even trying her hardest to buy one.

If not for that guy, I'd have been screwed... Thankfully, her streamer brother—who specialized in Prologia—had pulled some strings to get her one. Otherwise, it would've taken even longer. He teased her endlessly, but right now, she was grateful as she checked the gallery linked to her system window.

The gallery for Prologia info and chit-chat, aka Progall.

"Peaceful as ever today." There was plenty of trolling, but she'd been a steady user right up until starting the game. It was the main spot for Prologia content, and she'd always read through it in prep for playing someday. Plus, the posts were just fun.

"The capital, huh..." Haring closed the transparent gallery window floating in the air. Three months since launch, but player progress was still slow. According to Director Lee Chang-soo, over 80% of users hadn't left the starting village, and most hadn't even started the main quest.

But.

This game wasn't fair. Some snagged rare hidden pieces solo. Others pay-to-winned their way to the top.

The latter's that jerk, though.

Anyway, find a hidden piece, and you could become a ranker! Even starting three months late, she could climb higher than anyone. So Haring had one thing to do.

"Time to climb."

To find an undiscovered hidden piece.

"Hoo..."

Day 30. A full month since starting Prologia. Factoring in tutorial and basic gear, it was 32 days. She'd spent it all climbing mountains nonstop. While others adventured in dreams, she'd just climbed and climbed.

Why? She had an inexplicable conviction.

Hidden pieces on high plateaus are just 'common sense,' right?

A tall mountain untouched by humans. Deep inside, something precious or an amazing being—that worn-out cliche. Scouring the Red Mountain near the starting village was obvious.

"Should be about time..."

High altitude for a starter area, pretty scenery, but no strong mobs. Just goblins and wildlife. That's why others ignored it, but not Haring.

It's coming. Places that seem empty often hide the biggest jackpots.

Rustle.

"Oh?"

After scouring more forest, she spotted it: red ore bigger than a hill. Emanating an extraordinary aura—definitely worth a fortune, whatever it was.

"Damn, no pickaxe."

She'd gotten one post-tutorial but ditched it for inventory weight.

Of all things...

She poked it.

"Weird. Looks like scales."

Tedious, but she'd have to go back down and—

Thud. Rumble!!

"Wh-what?!"

The "ore" moved. Wait, not ore—it was...

"A dragon?"

A dragon. Massive, covered in red scales.

"Whoa..."

It was coiled in its nest, sleeping. It had just shifted, but thankfully didn't wake. One kick from something that size would delete her.

"Ooooh!!!"

A title! Hidden piece jackpot! Haring hopped around the nest in glee, shock forgotten. Finally! Her month's suffering paid off. The gallery mocked her persistence as pointless, but look!

"I succeeded!!!"

Forgetting caution, she giggled, clapped, and skipped right up to the dragon's face.

Snore...

Still asleep.

"Can't resist this."

She crept to its nose, snapped photos with the in-game camera.

Click. Click.

Uploaded straight to the gallery.

"Heh. Fun."

This was gaming. For this day, she'd climbed and climbed. Now, the payoff. Slip out carefully before the dragon wakes. She was still a noob, but gallery info said high-level NPCs were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more likely hostile.

"Eyes open? What're you talking about? It's sleeping..."

"Who are you?"

A voice. From behind. Girlish yet imposingly eerie.

Haring turned stiffly.

"Human?"

The dragon.

Had opened.

Its eyes.