30화 1차 대규모 업데이트
While every eye in the conference room was fixed on me, I opened my mouth.
“The Hero game will soon implement a complete virtual reality experience. Once that happens, only people who love games will choose to become Heroes.”
“Everyone who isn’t interested in games will play Hero game? That sounds illogical.”
“That’s right. In Hero, people won’t just play games—they’ll be working too.”
I explained the Hero game I had seen in the past.
Hero would become one single world.
A metaverse world.
A blend of universe (the real world) and meta (the virtual), it meant a three-dimensional virtual space.
In the future, people would no longer commute to companies.
They would log into Hero game machines right in their living rooms and head to work.
Employees would meet, hold meetings, and work in the virtual space.
It wasn’t just a simple job.
When meeting friends, simply by logging into a Hero game machine, you could always connect—no matter how far apart you were in reality.
In a world where virtual reality was so real it was almost indistinguishable from actual life.
One Hero game machine was all you needed to meet anyone on the opposite side of the Earth anytime.
In the future, a large portion of society would spend their work hours and leisure time inside Hero.
When machines took over more roles in reality, humans would step inside machines.
More precisely, inside virtual reality.
Money would concentrate wherever people gathered.
And that place was Hero game.
I spoke calmly about the future I knew of Hero.
“Tsk… You have a rich imagination. Still young, maybe? I’ll leave early to prepare for my class.”
The teacher who had been arguing with me left the conference room.
The other teachers followed one by one, standing up from their seats.
“It’s interesting that you want to start a club, Doun. I’ll positively review the club application. Everyone worked hard.”
“Thank you, teachers.”
“Thank you.”
Once all the teachers had left the conference room, the tension in the air finally eased.
“Huu…”
Seated on the chair, I stretched out like a jellyfish, my body going completely limp.
“Doun, that was amazing. I think the game club will actually be approved.”
Eunhye said it with a happy voice, as if she hadn’t expected it.
However, Na-eun sitting beside me looked at me with a serious expression.
“Doun… Will that future really come?”
“It will. I’m certain…”
Na-eun narrowed her eyes and grabbed both my arms with her hands.
“Doun! The future of Hero game is so bright, why won’t you let me join the club?! Aren’t we friends?!”
“Friends… yeah.”
“I thought you were trying to stop me from joining the game club because you were worried about me.”
Tears welled up in Na-eun’s eyes.
“But… even though you think it’s so great, why are you blocking my membership?!”
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
It was the disappointment of someone who had believed in me until the very end.
Na-eun wanted to clear up her misunderstanding.
Thinking Hero is good is correct, but being worried about you is also correct.
“I’m sorry…”
But I only managed to say sorry because I was flustered.
This was the first time a girl had cried because of me.
At the beginning, I didn’t even have close female friends.
“Na-eun. It’s true that I think of you as a precious friend. So don’t cry.”
“Can I join the game club?”
“That’s…”
I hesitated for a moment.
Her future from the past life I had seen, and the future I had seen for her after starting Hero game.
Which one would be better?
If I worked hard, Na-eun’s future in Hero game would also be bright.
After all, Hero was clearly going to grow.
As relationships grew, the burden on the heart gradually accumulated.
Yeah…
She could join.
If I worked hard…
If I worked hard, everyone could do well.
“Okay… Let’s play Hero together.”
“Sob… sob…”
Even though I gave her the answer she wanted, she cried even louder.
Eunhye hugged Na-eun.
Eunhye’s heartfelt sorrow turned into tears and poured out until everything was released outside.
**
Since I had already made my decision, there was no reason to hesitate.
We each picked up our laptops and gathered on an outdoor bench.
“Na-eun, first we need to move closer to where we are.”
“Yes!”
Using one million won, I bought game currency for Na-eun’s character.
“Doun…”
“It’s fine. In this game, the more you invest, the more you get later.”
“Yes… Thank you.”
Investing one million won felt completely worth it.
Because she was a precious partner who would help us get out of the sealed sixth basement level.
I hired mercenaries with the purchased currency.
To safely escort us to the Shurié Castle where Na-eun and I were.
“Now it’s ready?”
“Just stay still. The mercenaries will bring you on their own.”
“Yes!”
Elena, Na-eun’s character, was the employer.
There was no need to control Elena.
Just leave her inside the carriage, and she would naturally arrive at Shurié Castle.
“Eunhye, let’s go hunting.”
“Yes!”
Na-eun left her laptop and sat beside me.
“We’re going hunting?”
“Yeah, we’re going to the dungeon.”
With Seolhwa, Fersin, and Sarah, we defeated the skeleton.
“Seolhwa must be Eunhye… who are the other two?”
“NPCs.”
“NPC? Wow… Amazing. They move exactly like people controlling them.”
“That’s right… The AI in Hero is really something.”
Even I, who had regressed, was surprised at the Hero AI’s level.
I never thought they would be this advanced even before virtual reality was fully implemented.
“Doun, if we arrive at Shurié Castle, can I walk around with you too?”
“Yes.”
Na-eun’s body kept getting closer.
Eventually, our shoulders touched.
Because of the conflict about the club, our relationship had improved even more than before.
That must be why.
The distance between us also grew… closer.
March.
By now, the weather had warmed, and the scent of grass everywhere mixed with Na-eun’s shampoo fragrance.
“Doun! Be careful beside me!”
Eunhye said urgently.
“Ah… sorry. I’ll focus.”
I snapped back to attention and moved the mouse.
Partway through, I glanced around, but both Eunhye and Na-eun were completely focused on their screens.
Eunhye was looking at her own laptop,
while Na-eun sat beside me and watched the same screen as me.
We enjoyed the warm sunlight together in the same space, and the fun moment only ended when it was evening.
“Now let’s go eat dinner.”
“Yes!”
“Doun, when can I see you?”
“Tomorrow at the latest. Anyway, the mercenaries will guide you. Rest well.”
“Yes. I understand.”
The next day.
I heard great news.
The game club had been approved.
We were assigned a new club room and received the necessary supplies from the school.
The only necessary items were a desk, chair, and computer.
The staff member who guided us into the club room opened her mouth.
“Please work hard on the game club activities here. We’re also looking for a club advisor, so please wait a few days.”
“A club advisor?”
“Yes, every club has one. Since the game club is newly established, we’ll be bringing in an external advisor soon.”
“Ah… yes, thank you.”
Because Forest High School placed high emphasis on club activities, every club had a club advisor.
However…
I wondered if a club advisor was even necessary for the game club.
“Wow… these are the latest computers.”
“This must be expensive…”
While I talked with the staff, Eunhye and Na-eun toured the inside of the club room.
“Hehe. You all seem to like it. Then, as club president, please take this key. If you have any questions, feel free to come to the staff room anytime.”
“Thank you.”
I received the key and put it in my pocket.
Before I knew it, all three computers were booted up.
“Doun, let’s go~ let’s go!!”
“Okay. We have to hunt hard today too.”
Eunhye was overflowing with passion.
Because today was the day we would meet our new member Na-eun in the game.
The three of us sat at our computers and logged into the game.
We waited at the entrance to Shurié Castle with Seolhwa, Fersin, and Sarah.
With Na-eun’s character, Elena.
[Sister, a new companion is coming today?]
[Yes. Are you looking forward to it, Sarah?]
[Yes…]
Even Sarah, who had been sparing her words when I was around, suddenly started talking a lot.
“Na-eun, how far have you come?”
“I can see the castle ahead. We’ll arrive soon.”
“Okay.”
After a few minutes, we saw a carriage pulled by mercenaries in our field of view.
Hee-eng!
The carriage stopped in front of Shurié Castle gate, and Elena got off.
[I’m sorry for the long wait. Elena.]
[Yes. I’m really glad. And… these are Fersin and Sarah, right?]
[Sarah, say hello. She’s your sister’s friend.]
[Yes… I’m Sarah.]
[Oh my. She’s so cute.]
Whether it was true or not, Na-eun cautiously approached and hugged Sarah.
[Sarah, from now on call me sister too.]
[Sarah. You’re a good sister.]
Seolhwa and Elena spoke without pause from both sides of Sarah.
In the end, I had to step in and stop them.
[First, let’s equip Elena with items.]
[Yes!]
I gifted Elena the advanced Shurié equipment.
[Wow… the clothes are pretty.]
Elena, wearing the priestess robe, happily changed her pose several times.
[Doun, are we going hunting together?]
[Yeah… but first…]
I sent a family application to Elena.
[It says “Doun family application.” What do I do?]
[Accept it. I sent it. And in the game, call me Cain.]
[Yes! Understood.]
[Family Setting (4/4)]
Can be set as family.
- Seolhwa (Lv. 63)
- Elena (Lv. 10)
- Fersin (Lv. 62)
- Sarah (Lv. 61)
[Wow… everyone has high levels.]
There was a fifty-level gap between Cain and Elena.
With that much difference, both sides would receive huge experience penalty.
But we didn’t worry.
Because the “Head of the Household” job’s effect canceled the experience penalty.
[It’s fine. You’ll level up quickly.]
[Yes…]
While protecting Elena, we quickly descended to the sixth basement level.
The sixth basement level had normal skeletons.
They only did melee attacks, and once we set up a safe spot, Elena wouldn’t be in danger.
[Elena. Don’t do anything.]
[Don’t do anything…?]
[Just stay behind.]
[Yes…]
This was the ultimate zzal.
In the game, zzal meant helping beginners when high-level players gave them experience or levels.
It was hard in Hero game.
Because experience gain decreased based on party member level differences.
But with us…
“Doun, experience is rising insanely fast!”
Na-eun yelled in joy while staring at the monitor screen.
The effect of the “Head of the Household” trait was incredibly satisfying.
But there was one regret: once you became family, you couldn’t leave.
The only way to leave was death.
That was why we couldn’t use the zzal method to earn money.
Because we had to register only the essential people as family.
“Doun, aren’t you and Eunhye tired?”
Na-eun said while glancing between my face and Eunhye’s.
She must have been surprised.
Because the skeletons respawning every two hours had been caught nonstop.
We had already been in the dungeon for over five hours.
“Na-eun, can we have you make us lunch?”
Recently I learned the school cafeteria offered lunch services.
Even though it wasn’t made for us gamers…
“Okay.”
Na-eun left the club room.
She was allowed to leave the seat.
Because there was nothing to do until we reached a certain level.
“Wow… Elena’s level has already passed 20.”
“She’s fast…”
I remembered the memories of us grinding deer and foxes hard to go from 10 to 20 levels.
Seolhwa and I had put in days of effort, and Elena caught up in just a few hours.
Ten minutes later, Na-eun returned with three lunch boxes.
“Wow… I leveled up again just by going to the school cafeteria.”
On this day, we brought Elena’s level to 27 and returned to the dormitory.