Chapter 609
Chapter 609
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 609
Chapter Title: SAO (1)
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[Complete the mission with a penalty – 0 points]
[Reward points vary based on the selected penalty.]
There are all sorts of ways to earn points.
Imposing a penalty on yourself is one of them.
I pondered how to pull off the NTR this time, then reverently scanned the penalty list. Before long, I came up with a brilliant combination. On the surface, the chosen penalties made NTR nearly impossible... but in this genre, that wasn't the case at all.
Even I had to admit it was a stroke of genius.
Game fantasy.
The genre where the setting is "virtual reality," not plain old reality.
And I had the point shop.
It felt a bit pricey, but considering the 2 million return, it was a steal. And when you thought about what a bug character could do in-game... 500k? Hell, 1 million would be worth it. It was that valuable.
The national game—no, the whole world's game, The Fantasy.
Using a bug all by myself here... just thinking about it got me pumped. Sure, the NTR was great, but this meant I could be that cheat character you only read about in novels. Raping NPCs, screwing with other players, rigging quests...
Ahh, why didn't I think of this sooner? It was so fun.
I gave myself a pat on the back for the first time in ages, then dove into the攻略 with glee.
"Link Start."
Jang Siwoo's girlfriend, Yoo Jin-hee. He was a pretty decent guy.
Handsome face, fit body, fun personality, great social skills. And he had that sweet side he only showed her. Jang Siwoo was a perfect boyfriend. Except... he had another girlfriend. A super alluring one called The Fantasy.
[Siwoo, whatcha up to?]
[(Curious bunny emoticon)]
[Knock knock, Siwoo?]
[...]
[Don't tell me you're gaming again?]
[(Crying bunny emoticon)]
Every evening, contact would cut off. No texts, no calls—Jang Siwoo was unreachable. The worst boyfriend. That's why Yoo Jin-hee had so many worries. When they were together, he always said he loved her, her precious guy... but when apart, he was a hardcore game addict.
[Babe♥: Lol yeah, was gaming]
[Babe♥: Home? Can we call?]
But she had no intention of breaking up.
Because when he wasn't gaming, Jang Siwoo was more charming than anyone. Always seeming carefree, but serious when it counted—making him even cooler. Kind to everyone, but dead serious with her—making him even more lovable. He was her first love.
So Yoo Jin-hee wanted to make it last with her boyfriend.
"Idiot, just dump him."
"No way!"
"Then tough it out."
"Whiiiine... Isn't there another way?"
"Well, there is one..."
"Really? What?"
"Just play it yourself, The Fantasy."
Her friend, knowing her feelings, recommended the game.
The next day, Yoo Jin-hee tried The Fantasy.
It was the turning point of her life.
I'd never been into games. Not that I hated them—I just had zero interest. I respected others' tastes, but that was it. Who'd have thought I'd end up playing one? Was this the power of love? Hmm, even I was amazed by the change.
-Ziiing
Still... yeah, not bad.
The scenery before me looked so peaceful. Like a quaint European town—it made my heart flutter a little. Brick two-story houses, a well by the roadside. Virtual reality for real—it felt just like reality! Cool breeze brushing my cheeks, fragrant flowers...
Ahh, so amazing.
Curiosity started edging out my initial worries.
Follow this path, right?
I walked where the arrow pointed and saw a blond guy waving at me. For a second, feeling nervous around a foreigner... but luckily, this was a Korean game.
"Pleased to meet you, have a strong good morning! If you ask me, I'm Jimmy."
"...Pardon?"
"What, you don't know? It's a super famous meme!"
"Ah, haha... is it?"
"Hmm... total newbie, huh."
Meme? What was that about?
I questioned the awkward translation...
Then a ding notification stopped my thoughts.
So, learn from this guy?
Jimmy looked like a stereotypical Brit with his red nose. I cleared my throat and greeted him. Not sure exactly, but he was about to be my teacher, so I wanted to make a good impression.
"Nice to meet you, Jimmy. I'm Yoo Jin-hee."
"Ooh, polite one! Nice to meet you. Like I said, I'm Jimmy, the instructor."
"It says to learn basic controls from you... how do I do that?"
"Aah, leave it to me! I'll teach you the controls."
"Yes? Uh... sure, please do!"
"First off... yeah, mind telling me your name?"
"...Huh? I did—Yoo Jin-hee."
"No no, not that. Your name for The Fantasy."
-Ding
Ah, like a nickname?
Virtual reality, so a new name sounded fun... but nah. I didn't really want to change it. So, Yoo Jin-hee in The Fantasy too. I told him my name.
"Sorry, name's taken."
"...So?"
"Game rules—no duplicate names."
"Whaaat? Where's that say?!"
"Right here."
But reality was harsh.
"Fine, initials then. JH."
"Taken."
"Jinhee Yoo?"
"Taken."
"Jay?"
"Sorry."
"...Kanadabamasabasa?"
"What? Obviously taken!"
Nothing worked.
Then I accidentally hit on 'Yujay'. Weird combo of my surname and initial J. Or... not that weird? Anyway, from now on, I was Yujay.
"Yujay, right?"
"Yes, go with that."
"Great, Yujay! Now shout 'status window'?"
"...Status window?"
"Good! A translucent window should appear in front of you."
"Yep. Name: Yujay, HP? HP's 20, MP? Lots of unfamiliar terms."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you everything step by step."
Games were totally new to me—everything was unknown—but Jimmy patiently answered my questions. HP was health, MP mana, stats were ability values like strength or endurance, shown numerically. I was starting to get it.
First time's the hardest; once you know, it's super intuitive.
"And now for experience points... whoa!"
-Pfoof!
-Kyuu?
"Eek?!"
"That's a low-level monster called a slime. Wanna try catching it?"
"Catch it? Uh... with my hands?"
"No, I mean hunt it."
"...Whaaa?!"
-Kyuuu...
-Pfoof!
"Haa, haaa... you little nothing acting all tough!"
-Kyuu, kyuuuu!
-Kyuuu!
"Wh-what... when did you guys get here?!"
-Kyuuu!
"Avenging your friend? Waaah, forgive me!"
Three hours into the tutorial, I'd fully adapted to The Fantasy.
Heard it was a game adventuring in a fantasy world... but nope. Adventure meant hunting. Hunt for EXP, EXP makes you stronger, strength lets you hunt tougher monsters. Repeat—that's gaming.
At first, I wondered what the fun was...
-Kyuu, kyuu!
-Kyuuuu?!
"Hng, you can't climb rocks, can you?"
-Kyuuu! Kyuu!
"Not cowardly—smart!"
Definitely fun leveling up.
Unlike real life, where progress feels vague, games were straightforward. Feel yourself getting stronger in real-time—super rewarding. That's how I got hooked.
Just one more to level...
Why does mana regen so slow?
Should've picked warrior like Jimmy said for newbies...
Regretted choosing mage.
Feeling betrayed that Jimmy was AI, not human—that was my mistake.
-Kyuuu! Kyuuu!
"Nope, not coming down."
My first quest from the starting city, Initium: Slay 10 slimes. Not easy. I fled to a rock, panting as I meditated. Focus on one. One more for level up—I could take three in a row.
"Want me to buff you?"
"...Huh?"
"You look like a mage—mana shortage?"
While gathering mana with my plan...
Suddenly, someone appeared and spoke to me.
Trading possible, so not an 'NPC'... wait, buff? Buffs boost stats or abilities, right? Jimmy warned not to underestimate them. Remembering that, I looked at the guy.
Pretty fancy outfit.
Looked like a 'pro'.
"Yeah, running low!"
Surely he'd help a newbie?
I sighed in relief, nodding with a smile.
Then the guy approached... and stole my lips without permission.
"Mmph?!"
Not a pro—a total creep.
A scumbag.