Chapter 2: Quest (2)
Chapter 2: Quest (2)
“I’m sorry, I don’t have much to serve you right now.”
“Hey, I’m the one getting a free meal, so I’ve got no complaints. Besides, I love the ramen you make, Noona.”
When I teased her, the apologetic crinkle around Noona’s eyes smoothed out into a smile. Her soft chuckling was one of my favorite things.
“Honestly, you and your love for everything that’s bad for you. Really.”
Noona found my playfulness endearing.
For me, it was a huge relief.
I mean, I was grateful she even made me ramen. If it had been my Second Noona, she wouldn’t have lifted a finger; she would’ve told me to fix it myself and then probably plundered the bowl I’d made for myself.
In that sense, Eldest Noona was already taking more than enough care of me, yet she still watched my reaction with a lingering hint of guilt.
And I could say with certainty that this was one of Eldest Noona’s few flaws.
Even though she already gave so much and took such good care of us, she felt sorry and guilty that she couldn’t do even more. She strove to be perfect for me and everyone else, yet she carried an unshakeable sense of debt.
It was a pity, but that was just the kind of person she was.
I wasn’t a psychology expert, so I didn’t know how to fix her personality.
In the first place, I wasn’t even sure if it needed fixing.
I just had to support and help her as her family. With that thought, I swallowed my food and asked, “So, Noona, how have you been lately?”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Noona blinked at me with a blank expression.
Playing dumb again, I see.
I let out a small smirk.
“Oh, uh, you mean the business. Well, it’s…”
“I’m curious about that too, but before that.”
As Noona faltered with an awkward expression, I locked eyes with her.
“Are you seeing anyone lately, Noona?”
Despite having the kind of looks and style that made people turn their heads when we walked together, not to mention her gentle personality, Noona had never once been in a relationship.
Even before our father passed away, she had tried her best to fill the role of the mother in our household. After our father—who was always traveling abroad—passed, she had to become the sole guardian of the family.
The fact that she hadn’t been able to date was expected, yet it was a bitter pill for me to swallow every time I thought about it.
It was a shame that such a wonderful woman had never experienced romance.
That was why I asked her and encouraged her time and time again. Now that our lives were finally stabilizing, I told her it was time for her to find her own happiness.
And every time, Noona would give the same answer.
“Mmm, well, I just haven’t met anyone I click with.”
She laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with an awkward smile. Realizing that anything I said further would be pointless, I just took a sip of my water.
It was a regrettable situation.
And even more regrettably, it only served to fuel Noona’s counterattack.
“What about you, Jin-i?”
I felt a sudden glint in her eyes. I stiffened and turned my head slowly, like a wooden puppet.
“Me?”
“Yeah. What are your plans for the future?”
“Me? Well, you see…”
I intentionally dodged the question, but there was no way Noona would miss my intent.
“I know you just got out of the military, so dating might be a stretch, but what are you going to do from now on?”
I basically had three options. Specifically, the three directions Noona wanted for me.
Work a part-time job, return to university, or go on a trip.
My actual choice was closer to 'just resting a bit more,' but how could someone as incredibly diligent as Noona understand the heart of an ordinary person like me?
“I should probably take a break and think about it. It hasn’t been that long since I was discharged…”
She looked like she was going to keep pressing me. I had no choice but to change the subject.
“More importantly, what was that about the business earlier?”
I regretted it the moment the words left my mouth. Noona’s eyes, which were usually crinkled in a smile, drooped, and the corners of her mouth followed suit.
They say the higher you fly, the harder you fall. That was exactly how it felt.
My heart sank.
“Well, things haven't been going so well lately.”
With a deep sigh, Noona began to pour out a story that sounded all too common.
Noona ran an online shopping mall.
After Father passed, she started it using her inheritance and the money she had saved up. To be honest, it had been quite successful.
She saved money on models by wearing the clothes herself, and if she felt she wasn't the right fit for a certain look, she’d recruit me, Second Noona, or Yu-ri.
But apparently, even that wasn't working out lately. I wasn't sure if it was because of the recession or something else.
Seeing Noona, who usually kept her worries to herself, opening up like this meant things had to be incredibly difficult.
I wasn't so insensitive that I’d just pivot back to talking about my own future after changing the subject to this, and Noona wasn't the type to miss the fact that I was walking on eggshells.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you such a depressing story. It’s just a temporary slump. It’ll be fine.”
She forced a smile, but the smile she consciously put on was distinctly different from her usual one.
It was a heartbreaking smile. I wanted to pull her into a hug and pat her shoulder to comfort her, but I knew that wasn't what she needed right now.
“It’s just… yeah. If I had just a little more money, I could try starting something new. I’m just a bit disappointed, that’s all.”
At that moment, I thought of the bizarre game I had experienced earlier.
The game that had left a clear trace in my phone banking app even now: Family-Friendly Game.
I had considered consulting Noona about it, but I’d given up because it was just too strange.
In reality, it wasn't something I could ask anyone about and expect a proper answer. If I asked, they’d probably just ask if I’d been dreaming.
So, I agonized over it alone and came to my own conclusion.
The sight of Noona’s back as she stood up to clear the table, and the phone banking screen I stole a glance at, egged me on.
[Babylonian Games]
[Deposit: 200,000 Won]
Maybe.
Maybe this was an opportunity.
I felt as if a devil was whispering in my ear.
In the end, I decided to continue this suspicious game.
There were two main reasons, but the bigger one was my desire to help Noona.
Noona needed help. At the very least, if I could provide the capital for her new business, she wouldn't have to worry.
In that sense, this game was the most moderate and high-paying 'job' I could take on.
From a realistic standpoint, there was no other choice. The phenomenon I had experienced wasn't something that could be dismissed as a mere innovation.
It was practically a miracle.
A game that works without an internet connection, has a tiny file size, yet provides a virtual reality experience with transcendent graphics?
I wasn't a scientist or an expert, but even I could tell this was extraordinary.
It might just be a simple form of hypnosis, but based on my experience, it had more than enough commercial potential.
And that led to the second reason.
That single play session I’d experienced.
That alone was enough to captivate me.
I remembered the battlefield that had earned me 200,000 won.
Holding an old-fashioned firearm, I had pulled the trigger amidst a faint sense of fear and tension.
I couldn't say I hit every shot, but thanks to being recently discharged, I was able to hit my targets reasonably well.
Every time I did, enemies collapsed, and the sound of artillery fire erupted from all directions.
It truly felt like I had been dropped onto a battlefield of the past. The adrenaline coursing through my body, the sheer excitement…
I didn't know what kind of games awaited me in the future, but I found myself wanting to play more.
If I could enjoy myself and earn money at the same time, what could be better?
For those reasons, I immersed myself in the game without a moment's hesitation.
I learned a lot in the process.
First.
The rewards for the in-game quests tended to be higher the more difficult and tricky the quest was.
A prime example was the headshot quest I’d already experienced.
Headshots are difficult even in typical FPS games. In reality, it was a feat that couldn't be guaranteed even at close range.
This held true even for a sergeant who had just finished his full term of service.
Part of it was because the guns were different from the ones I’d used in the military.
It was quite tough for me as well.
It took me a long time to get ten, and when it felt like I’d never get the remaining ten, I just grabbed a mounted machine gun and sprayed wildly to finish it.
Even so, a 200,000 won reward was incredible.
It was more than enough to be considered a viable source of income.
No matter how easy the quest was, the reward was generous compared to the time and effort required.
And through that, I learned the second rule.
In this game, even if you die, you 'respawn.'
This was even in the settings.
I still remembered the 'Near-Death Experience' section clearly marked in the translucent system window.
There were two options, 'Realistic' and 'Simple,' and it didn't take a genius to figure out which one I chose.
There were many other options as well, making the game very accessible.
In other words, despite its unfriendly and strange name, Family-Friendly Game had all the makings of a 'God-tier game' based on its low barrier to entry and superior technology.
Even the NPCs I met had a level of interaction that made it hard to believe they were AIs.
So, I thought to myself:
As long as I’m playing this game, I should milk it for everything it’s worth.
I no longer thought of it as a scam or something dangerous.
I mean, isn't it obvious just by looking at the technology?
There was no way someone with this kind of tech would use it just to swindle an ordinary citizen.
In fact, considering their technology and the money they could potentially earn, the money they were giving me was practically pocket change.
I realized what this company wanted from me, and by extension, what I had to do.
In a sense, I had become part of their QA team—the 'Quality Assurance' team.
Of course, a job like this wouldn't last forever.
I even made plans for the future.
Once this game was released, it was bound to become a massive hit and take the world by storm.
When that happened, what if I, with my vast experience as a QA tester, started streaming it myself?
If it were me—someone who had already tasted various contents and could produce high-quality material, who was good at quests, and who had perfectly adapted to the game?
I could easily become the first Family-Friendly Game streamer.
My calculation was that I could at least hold out until I’d raised enough capital for Noona’s new business.
[Survive for 50 days in-game time. 41/50]
[Reward: 450,000 Won]
That was the reason I had poured an entire month into this game.
[General Bank Account]
[5,879,401 Won]