Chapter 91: Player (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91: Player (3)
It had been five months since I had woken up in this world. Counting the days I had spent in the labyrinth, that time felt much longer. A lot had happened since then: killing a person and monsters for the first time, and doing many other savage things besides that to survive. However, the nature of modern man was unchanging.
Tap, tap, tap!
As soon as the password was entered, my pinky finger naturally pressed the "Enter" key. Then I noticed something and stiffened.
This is... my body?
This was not the rough, thick hand of a barbarian, much less the broad-shouldered body of a warrior covered in boulder-like muscles. It was the body of Hansu Lee, from his five-seven height to his average weight and soft skin. The moment I realized this, it felt like the ground beneath me disappeared and my body was sucked into another place.
"Oh, fuck!"
When I came to, my surroundings were dark. That wasn't that strange because I'd experienced the same thing many times in the labyrinth, but...
Click.
With the sound of a switch, the area around me was lit up by a bright light. Surprisingly, I was in my room, the room of Hansu Lee, where I had enjoyed playing games until I was brought into this world.
...So, what am I supposed to do?
First, I examined my surroundings: bookshelf, computer, and slightly yellowed bed. When I left the room and inspected the living room, kitchen, and even the bathroom, everything was just as I remembered.
Oh, then maybe this is also...?
I hurriedly opened the refrigerator. For some reason, the inside was filled with only chilled cans of cola. I wondered what kind of realism this was supposed to be, but I didn't think too hard about it. After all, how was I supposed to resist this?
Click, chiii!
Just listening to the sound made me feel refreshed. I could put up with everything else, but I had missed this so much. I quickly poured the soda into my mouth in case it disappeared right before my eyes.
Goddamn it.
I couldn't taste it. There was no aching sensation that made my throat feel like it was being split in two either—just a tasteless, odorless liquid running down my throat. I couldn't hide my disappointment.
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang. When I checked the intercom, there was a white woman with blonde hair standing there. I was sure this wasn't some religious missionary. I was about to say, "Who are you?" in my usual tone when I realized that would be a mistake and opened my mouth again, figuring that they might be able to infer that I was a barbarian by the way I talked. "Can I help you?"
But why does it feel so awkward?
I was just speaking normally, but it felt like a thorn was growing in my throat. Before long, an answer came back over the intercom.
"I am Soul Queen, and I serve as a guide for the Ghost Busters. Is it okay if I come in?"
Hmm, I didn't know it was this kind of system. I quickly opened the door before I ended up on their bad side. But what was this? "Um, why are you going through the wall?"
"Oh, was this the wall? It all just looks like white space to me."
Was she talking about the space I saw earlier? They did say this was a spiritual world. There must be some mysterious rules at play here.
"You're amazing," the woman exclaimed in admiration as I gave her rough directions to the living room. "Normally, no matter how faint it is, I should still be able to see the outline."
"Outline?"
"I mean of this place. Mister..."
"You can call me whatever you want."
"...If you say so." True to the contents of the letter, which guaranteed anonymity, the woman did not express any disappointment despite my firm refusal. "Anyway, this space is the embodiment of your imagination, the place your inner spirit first brings to mind. It is usually the place you feel most psychologically comfortable."
"So?"
"It is usually visible to others. Sometimes there are people with strong defense mechanisms, but I could still see outlines in those cases..." The woman looked at me in fascination.
I couldn't tell if it was curiosity or wariness, but I decided to start out by pointing out the contradiction. "Then how did you ring the doorbell earlier? I thought you couldn't see it?"
"It seems to have manifested that way to you. I didn't ring any bells. As soon as I got here, all I did was call for you. Does that make sense?"
To be honest, I got the gist of what she was saying, but at the same time, I understood nothing at all. I just smiled awkwardly and nodded. "Thanks for your kind explanation."
"That's a relief. In truth, this is a concept that is difficult for even wizards to understand, so I am at a loss as to how to explain it each time."
Anyway, since she had introduced herself as a guide, I felt comfortable asking the things I was curious about. "Oh, what happens if someone enters the password wrong?" I had been able to deduce it, but there must have been some people who couldn't.
"Oh, that? Nothing, really. It's just a trick of the eye. There are very few people who guess the password before I get there in the first place. Whether you enter the password or not, I have to come and confirm who you are anyway."
For reference, the process of confirming someone was a player was simple. Apparently, she could tell just by looking. I briefly wondered if she had a special ability, but then I realized what she meant when I noticed my current appearance. I was wearing a navy blue suit that fit snugly against my body—clothes my ex-girlfriend bought me to celebrate getting a job.
Is it obvious from the clothes...?
True, as soon as I saw this woman, I realized that she was a modern human too, so it must have been the same for her.
"Wow, you really are quick. The differences between players and NPCs are obvious from there."
"NPCs?"
"It's a slang term for locals. Anyway, the difference between the two is not just the clothes—you can also clearly tell when you enter this space. This is the first time I haven't seen anything, though."
"You mean you can tell by the room."
"That's right. Rockstar posters are not going to be hung in NPCs' rooms, you know?"
I understood. With this kind of verification process, it would be impossible for locals—I mean, NPCs—to conceal their identities to get in here.
"Then did I pass?"
"Of course."
I was worried since she couldn't see the room because of my defense mechanisms, but the woman nodded without hesitation. Seeing that made me realize something. Apart from clothes, tone of voice, expression, and this imaginary space, there must be another clear way to identify NPCs.
"You're amazing," the woman exclaimed in admiration as I gave her rough directions to the living room. "Normally, no matter how faint it is, I should still be able to see the outline."
"Outline?"
"I mean of this place. Mister..."
"You can call me whatever you want."
"...If you say so." True to the contents of the letter, which guaranteed anonymity, the woman did not express any disappointment despite my firm refusal. "Anyway, this space is the embodiment of your imagination, the place your inner spirit first brings to mind. It is usually the place you feel most psychologically comfortable."
"So?"
"It is usually visible to others. Sometimes there are people with strong defense mechanisms, but I could still see outlines in those cases..." The woman looked at me in fascination.
I couldn't tell if it was curiosity or wariness, but I decided to start out by pointing out the contradiction. "Then how did you ring the doorbell earlier? I thought you couldn't see it?"
"It seems to have manifested that way to you. I didn't ring any bells. As soon as I got here, all I did was call for you. Does that make sense?"
To be honest, I got the gist of what she was saying, but at the same time, I understood nothing at all. I just smiled awkwardly and nodded. "Thanks for your kind explanation."
"That's a relief. In truth, this is a concept that is difficult for even wizards to understand, so I am at a loss as to how to explain it each time."
Anyway, since she had introduced herself as a guide, I felt comfortable asking the things I was curious about. "Oh, what happens if someone enters the password wrong?" I had been able to deduce it, but there must have been some people who couldn't.
"Oh, that? Nothing, really. It's just a trick of the eye. There are very few people who guess the password before I get there in the first place. Whether you enter the password or not, I have to come and confirm who you are anyway."
For reference, the process of confirming someone was a player was simple. Apparently, she could tell just by looking. I briefly wondered if she had a special ability, but then I realized what she meant when I noticed my current appearance. I was wearing a navy blue suit that fit snugly against my body—clothes my ex-girlfriend bought me to celebrate getting a job.
Is it obvious from the clothes...?
True, as soon as I saw this woman, I realized that she was a modern human too, so it must have been the same for her.
"Wow, you really are quick. The differences between players and NPCs are obvious from there."
"NPCs?"
"It's a slang term for locals. Anyway, the difference between the two is not just the clothes—you can also clearly tell when you enter this space. This is the first time I haven't seen anything, though."
"You mean you can tell by the room."
"That's right. Rockstar posters are not going to be hung in NPCs' rooms, you know?"
I understood. With this kind of verification process, it would be impossible for locals—I mean, NPCs—to conceal their identities to get in here.
"Then did I pass?"
"Of course."
I was worried since she couldn't see the room because of my defense mechanisms, but the woman nodded without hesitation. Seeing that made me realize something. Apart from clothes, tone of voice, expression, and this imaginary space, there must be another clear way to identify NPCs.
They probably aren't telling me for security reasons.
"Now, then... You are now officially a member of the Ghost Busters."
"By the way, who came up with the name 'Ghost Busters?'"
"Oh. You'll see. I'm sure you're wondering what kind of lame name that is, right? I pleaded with them to choose a different name, but..."
Uh, I thought it was a very sensible name.
"Everyone always starts with that question," she sighed.
I nodded awkwardly. I couldn't agree that it was a lame name, but I could pretend to. Being able to read the room and act accordingly had always been my main specialty. "It's... definitely an unusual name."
"Right? Oh, where was I..." Soon, the woman returned to the topic at hand and continued. "Ah, we can no longer use the method of forcibly killing NPCs who sneak in by separating them from their souls. Instead, we can ban you from being called here again, so if you have time, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules."
Afterward, the woman started to explain the basics of using the Ghost Busters community. "Is there a computer here? If there is, walk toward it. If there isn't, you'll have to imagine one up."
"There is."
"That saves time. Go ahead and turn it on."
When I turned on the computer as instructed, a window popped up instead of the familiar OS screen.
"Oh, one second. Your code is..."
When I entered the code the woman told me, the screen changed to a page where I could assign myself a nickname.
"The nickname you choose here is final. Once you make it, you can never change it, so make sure you choose carefully."
Hmm, what should I choose?
As I was wondering this, the woman offered a word of advice. "You used Stone Iven, right? Most people use their nicknames from that board. That's how I chose my nickname of Soul Queen."
Fittingly for a community forum for a failed game, fewer than thirty messages were posted on Stone Iven's main discussion board in a day. Still, anyone who'd played this game had used it at least once, including me.
It's not my real name anyway, so I can probably use my username from that, right?
I typed in the nickname and clicked to enter.
[This nickname cannot be used.]
"Oh, I see someone is already using that nickname."
What? Someone is using it?
I didn't get it, but I just changed the spelling a bit. When she saw what I chose, the woman gave me a strange smile. "Haha, I guess you're a fan?"
Fan? What does that mean?
Before I could ask, she continued explaining how to use the community going forward. "Okay then, I've told you pretty much everything you need to know. I'll leave you to explore. If you have any problems, please contact us directly!"
Soon after, the woman with the nickname Soul Queen left, and I was once again left alone in the room. After completing the onboarding process, I surfed through the community board without problems.
[For men in their 20s and 30s]
[American Union]
[Beastpeople Welcome]
[Wizardry]
[Hangout]
There were several chat rooms that were currently active. If I clicked and entered any of these, would I be able to chat with the people inside? This was a futuristic yet fantastical system.
Some rooms have level restrictions or passwords.
In order to get used to this place, I chose a random room and decided to enter as a test.
[Freshmen Room]
This was a special room that only those who had joined the community within the past year could enter. I chose it because I figured there would be many people like me in it.
Click-click.
The moment I double-clicked, a bright light emanated from the monitor. Like the day I woke up in the body of a barbarian mid-game, I was in an empty lot when I came to.
Crackle!
A bonfire raged in the center of the lot like a campfire. Fifteen people were standing near it—all men. True, I wondered how many girls would play this hardcore game.
"Oh, you're new!"
Their eyes converged on me as I entered. White, Asian, Black—our races were more diverse than I'd expected, but having lived in a different world for several months, I felt a sense of kinship at the fact that we all came from the same place. The same probably went for them.
"Which country are you from?"
"Ah, Korea."
"I see! Welcome!"
I took a quick look around and studied my surroundings. There were no racist gazes at all, and the atmosphere was one that was purely welcoming to newcomers.
Are those their nicknames above their head?
Translucent letters floated above everyone's heads. Just then, a black man dressed in a neat suit came up to me and started talking to me. "A little empty, right? We don't even get points to decorate. I'm Darkman, the room leader. Could you make your nickname public and briefly introduce yourself?"
"My nickname?"
"It looks like this is your first time in this room. All you have to do is think about it. In this community, there's power in clear cognition and thoughts."
Clear cognition and thoughts... maybe I just had to think of it like an active skill?
Disclose nickname.
As I inwardly muttered that, people's eyes shifted to my head. It appeared they could see my nickname now. "Hello. I'm Elfnunna."
The moment I revealed my nickname, thinking it was an anonymous space anyway, dead silence fell in the lot.
"Elfnuna?!"
"Holy—the guy who made the stat summary?"
"Uh... wasn't that someone from the game company?"
"So you were Korean! I knew it!"
"Excuse me! Is it true? Are you really him?"
After a moment, for some reason, a commotion broke out. However, before even trying to grasp the situation, I quietly exhaled a long breath.
Sigh.
What was this?
They probably aren't telling me for security reasons.
"Now, then... You are now officially a member of the Ghost Busters."
"By the way, who came up with the name 'Ghost Busters?'"
"Oh. You'll see. I'm sure you're wondering what kind of lame name that is, right? I pleaded with them to choose a different name, but..."
Uh, I thought it was a very sensible name.
"Everyone always starts with that question," she sighed.
I nodded awkwardly. I couldn't agree that it was a lame name, but I could pretend to. Being able to read the room and act accordingly had always been my main specialty. "It's... definitely an unusual name."
"Right? Oh, where was I..." Soon, the woman returned to the topic at hand and continued. "Ah, we can no longer use the method of forcibly killing NPCs who sneak in by separating them from their souls. Instead, we can ban you from being called here again, so if you have time, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules."
Afterward, the woman started to explain the basics of using the Ghost Busters community. "Is there a computer here? If there is, walk toward it. If there isn't, you'll have to imagine one up."
"There is."
"That saves time. Go ahead and turn it on."
When I turned on the computer as instructed, a window popped up instead of the familiar OS screen.
"Oh, one second. Your code is..."
When I entered the code the woman told me, the screen changed to a page where I could assign myself a nickname.
"The nickname you choose here is final. Once you make it, you can never change it, so make sure you choose carefully."
Hmm, what should I choose?
As I was wondering this, the woman offered a word of advice. "You used Stone Iven, right? Most people use their nicknames from that board. That's how I chose my nickname of Soul Queen."
Fittingly for a community forum for a failed game, fewer than thirty messages were posted on Stone Iven's main discussion board in a day. Still, anyone who'd played this game had used it at least once, including me.
It's not my real name anyway, so I can probably use my username from that, right?
I typed in the nickname and clicked to enter.
[This nickname cannot be used.]
"Oh, I see someone is already using that nickname."
What? Someone is using it?
I didn't get it, but I just changed the spelling a bit. When she saw what I chose, the woman gave me a strange smile. "Haha, I guess you're a fan?"
Fan? What does that mean?
Before I could ask, she continued explaining how to use the community going forward. "Okay then, I've told you pretty much everything you need to know. I'll leave you to explore. If you have any problems, please contact us directly!"
Soon after, the woman with the nickname Soul Queen left, and I was once again left alone in the room. After completing the onboarding process, I surfed through the community board without problems.
[For men in their 20s and 30s]
[American Union]
[Beastpeople Welcome]
[Wizardry]
[Hangout]
There were several chat rooms that were currently active. If I clicked and entered any of these, would I be able to chat with the people inside? This was a futuristic yet fantastical system.
Some rooms have level restrictions or passwords.
In order to get used to this place, I chose a random room and decided to enter as a test.
[Freshmen Room]
This was a special room that only those who had joined the community within the past year could enter. I chose it because I figured there would be many people like me in it.
Click-click.
The moment I double-clicked, a bright light emanated from the monitor. Like the day I woke up in the body of a barbarian mid-game, I was in an empty lot when I came to.
Crackle!
A bonfire raged in the center of the lot like a campfire. Fifteen people were standing near it—all men. True, I wondered how many girls would play this hardcore game.
"Oh, you're new!"
Their eyes converged on me as I entered. White, Asian, Black—our races were more diverse than I'd expected, but having lived in a different world for several months, I felt a sense of kinship at the fact that we all came from the same place. The same probably went for them.
"Which country are you from?"
"Ah, Korea."
"I see! Welcome!"
I took a quick look around and studied my surroundings. There were no racist gazes at all, and the atmosphere was one that was purely welcoming to newcomers.
Are those their nicknames above their head?
Translucent letters floated above everyone's heads. Just then, a black man dressed in a neat suit came up to me and started talking to me. "A little empty, right? We don't even get points to decorate. I'm Darkman, the room leader. Could you make your nickname public and briefly introduce yourself?"
"My nickname?"
"It looks like this is your first time in this room. All you have to do is think about it. In this community, there's power in clear cognition and thoughts."
Clear cognition and thoughts... maybe I just had to think of it like an active skill?
Disclose nickname.
As I inwardly muttered that, people's eyes shifted to my head. It appeared they could see my nickname now. "Hello. I'm Elfnunna."
The moment I revealed my nickname, thinking it was an anonymous space anyway, dead silence fell in the lot.
"Elfnuna?!"
"Holy—the guy who made the stat summary?"
"Uh... wasn't that someone from the game company?"
"So you were Korean! I knew it!"
"Excuse me! Is it true? Are you really him?"
After a moment, for some reason, a commotion broke out. However, before even trying to grasp the situation, I quietly exhaled a long breath.
Sigh.
What was this?