Who Are You?

Virtual reality game Prolazia. A vast open world with 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 every gamer out there.

"The Prolazia we're unveiling this time is different from all the previous games. No, it's not just a different level—calling them 'trash' wouldn't be out of line at all."

People couldn't help but pay attention to the confident words of Director Lee Chang-soo, the world-famous creator who'd released hit games multiple times before. 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 Prolazia even before launch. If it failed, they'd make him pay for running his mouth; if it succeeded, they'd just enjoy the game.

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

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 real life. While past VR games had only toyed with sight and sound at best, Prolazia affected every sense—smell, touch, the works.

"Is this really a game...?"

In the starting village of Rivent, countless people milled about on soil that looked ripped straight from a fantasy medieval tale. Simple-looking farmers, kids running around with bright smiles, merchants hollering to attract customers, guards ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in silver armor, and users dressed in the same brown adventurer gear as her.

Amid the bustling crowd, Haring—whose nickname had just booted up the game—sparkled with excitement.

"Jackpot... It's exactly like those gallery screenshots."

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

If it weren't for that guy, I'd have been screwed... At least her older brother, a pro Prolazia streamer, had hooked her up somehow. Otherwise, it would've taken even longer. He always teased her, but right now, she was grateful as she scanned the gallery linked to her system window.

The Prolazia gallery—affectionately called ProGal—where fans shared info and chit-chat.

"Peaceful as ever today." There was plenty of trolling, but she'd been a regular right up until launch day. It was the main spot for Prolazia content, and she always read every post in prep for playing someday. Plus, they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were just fun.

"King's city, huh..." Haring closed the translucent gallery hovering in mid-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 cash-shopped their way to the top.

The latter's my bro, 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 just one option.

"Time to climb."

To find an undiscovered hidden piece.

"Hoo..."

Day 30. A full month since starting Prolazia. Factoring in tutorial and basic gear, it was 32 days. For over a month, she'd done nothing but climb mountains nonstop.

While others adventured in dreamlike worlds, she'd just climbed, climbed, and climbed some more. Sure, someone might ask why, but she had an inexplicable conviction.

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

A tall mountain untouched by humans, and deep within it, something precious or an incredible being—that worn-out cliché had to hold true. Scouring the Red Mountain near the starting village was a no-brainer.

"Should be about time..."

For a starting-village spot, the altitude was high and the scenery pretty, but no strong monsters. Just goblins and wildlife at worst. That's why others ignored it, but not Haring.

It's coming.

Places that seemed empty often hid the biggest jackpots.

Rustle.

"Oh?"

After scouring deeper into the forest, Haring spotted something on a hill-like mound: massive red ore. It radiated an otherworldly aura—clearly valuable, even if she didn't know specifics.

"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" was moving. Wait, it wasn't ore—it was...

"A dragon?"

A dragon. An absurdly huge one covered in red scales.

"Whoa..."

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

"Ooooh!!!"

A title! Hidden piece jackpot! Haring's shock turned to joy as she hopped around the nest.

Finally! Her month's suffering paid off. The gallery had mocked her persistence as pointless, but look!

"I did it!!!"

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

Snoooore...

Still asleep.

"Can't resist this."

She crept to its nose, snapped a few system camera pics.

Click. Click.

Uploaded straight to the gallery.

"Heh. Fun times."

This was gaming. She'd climbed and climbed for this day. Now, time to slip out quietly before the dragon woke. She was still a noob, but gallery intel said high-level NPCs were more likely hostile.

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

"Who are you?"

A voice. Girlish yet imposingly eerie from behind.

Haring turned stiffly.

"Human?"

The dragon.

Had opened.

Its eyes.