Capsule in the Room
Cheonma's room was so vast it made Jeonghun wonder, "Isn't this way too big for a space meant for just one person to sleep in?"
A bed even larger than a king-size dominated one wall, while an antique-looking bookshelf groaned under the weight of countless volumes.
And that wasn't all—gym equipment you'd expect to find in a fitness center was scattered around the room.
At this point, calling it a "personal room" felt like a joke.
"Whoa, you're back to your normal look, hyung?"
"Surprised? In this room, I revert to my original body instead of Patron Spirit mode."
"That's wild."
"It's not that different from Patron Spirit mode."
His ghostly, semi-transparent form had solidified, and he no longer floated around—that was about it.
If anything, his real body felt more cumbersome than the Patron Spirit state.
"Anyway, that's not the point right now. It's that thing."
Cheonma pointed to a massive machine tucked in one corner of the room.
It was something Carpe—no, any Last Savior player would recognize instantly.
"That's a capsule. Isn't it?"
And not just any capsule—it was the exact same model Carpe owned: Artemis.
"It just... appeared out of nowhere?"
"Yeah. A bit after the Room function unlocked, it just whoosh! rose up from the floor. I was so stunned I nearly screamed."
No need to mention that last part.
"That's why you wanted to talk alone, huh? Yeah, it'd be weird bringing up capsules in front of those two."
You couldn't exactly say, "Actually, the world you're living in is a fake one made by clever developers for fun, and you're all just strings of 0s and 1s—data. That big machine over there? It's your gateway to that fake world."
"Less 'weird' and more 'too much hassle to explain.' Telling NPCs the truth doesn't cause any real issues anyway."
"Really?"
Some of RaSe's special NPCs had AI so advanced it defied imagination.
Calling them "real people" wouldn't be an exaggeration—which was why jokes floated around that the devs were aliens.
What would happen if you told such flawless AI, "You're actually a fictional creation"?
Lots of players had tested it out of curiosity or malice.
The results? Utterly anticlimactic.
"NPCs just go, 'Hoho, you undying foreigners and your amusing jokes,' and laugh it off. That's how they're programmed."
"Lame. I thought we'd get some epic saga of self-aware AI awakening and leaving."
"And then winning a war against humans for freedom? Total sci-fi cliché."
"Blade Runner fan, huh? Space masterpiece."
"Anyway, enough chit-chat."
Carpe glanced pointedly at the capsule.
"You can log in with that thing, right?"
This was a huge deal.
The line between "Patron Spirit Cheonma" and "Player Cheonma" hung in the balance.
"What do you think?"
"Obviously not? Come on, it's not some nested-frame novel. Logging into RaSe inside RaSe? That's nuts."
But he couldn't say for sure, because the guy in front of him was a walking bundle of absurdities: "regressor, died and got NPC-ified."
"Lucky or unlucky, it doesn't work. For now."
"For now?"
"As the Room levels up and gets more functions, I figure login might unlock eventually."
"Hmm. Yeah, that tracks with the setup."
Carpe nodded and pulled up his status window.
Room - Stage 1
- You can install various facilities in the Room space. Acquire items and buff effects from installed facilities.
- Higher Room stages unlock more facility types and stronger effects.
- Upgrading requires specific materials. Player level must be a multiple of 10 (Next upgrade level: 20).
[Current Facilities]
- Workshop + 4 other facilities active.
[Manager]
- Activates when retainers reach certain levels.
[Room Upgrade]
- Player Level (17/20)
- Sturdy Shell Infused with Mana (0/15)
- Ancient Bark from the Sea (0/1)
No mention of the capsule—either because the Room stage was too low or it just wasn't listed.
"So it's useless for now?"
"Not really. Internet works."
"For real?"
"Yeah, but only RaSe-related stuff."
Platforms like RaSe IpVen or Channel RaSe—anything tied to the game.
"Now for the main point: You said you wanna stream, right?"
"Yeah."
Carpe nodded readily.
He hadn't planned on it at first, but the last couple days had solidified his resolve.
He'd realized just how insanely lucky his situation was.
"Our major doesn't exactly lead to great jobs, and I'm just a gaming addict with no standout talents... Can't pass up a shot like this."
23 years old.
Young, but future planning was best done early.
"Perfect thinking. You uploaded that video yesterday, right?"
"Yep. Edited out all the identifying stuff."
"Smart. Check the views now. Probably blowing up."
Carpe pulled up the interface and opened a browser.
Channel RaSe loaded, and sure enough—explosion city.
The Hell Beast one-kill video, up for about 10 hours, sat at 600k views. The guerrilla quest clip had already cracked 1 million.
"Tons of comments asking for your email."
"All management agencies. They sniff out promising newbies like bloodhounds."
"Management?"
"Yeah. They handle basics like editing, optimize content for max views. Big streamers are all signed."
"Makes sense."
Carpe had stayed up late editing yesterday's short clip alone. Longer videos? Days of work.
"Guess I need an agency. Which one's the best?"
"Nah, no need. I'll do it."
"You?"
Carpe shot him a look like he'd suggested eating ghost peppers for breakfast.
But Cheonma was dead serious.
"What's the problem? Internet works. That's all we need. You log off, I've got nothing else to do."
"It... sounds logical, but..."
It made sense on paper, but felt off.
"Won't it be a hassle? Why go through all that?"
"Hyung here's the type who'd do anything if it means you make it big."
100% pure truth, no cap.
Cheonma was dead certain he'd burn the world down for that.
As long as it keeps this wild-card rugby ball glued to RaSe!
Even had a nightmare about it last night.
In the dream, Carpe suddenly goes, "Eh, lost interest in RaSe. Dropping it."
Logs off for good. Leaving Cheonma as an eternal ghost in the game... then he woke up.
This guy's the type who'd actually do it.
Back to square one: regress again.
No way. Not this time!
Make Carpe need RaSe to live.
Pro gamer or streamer? Perfect hooks.
"Trust me. I'll make you the best."
It's how we both survive.
Cheonma burned with resolve.
Back in town, Carpe parked Mukhyang and Tina in the Room.
Mukhyang was fine, but Tina's looks drew too much attention. Way beyond customization fixes.
"Can retainers equip custom items? Might grab her a hat or something."
-Why bother? Just leave 'em in the Room and summon when needed.
"...She'd get bored alone."
-I don't get you worrying about NPC feelings.
"Cold-blooded much? Ah, here we are."
Carpe's stop: Ruana's massive auction house.
"Item trading... over here."
No counter needed for buying/selling—just the unmanned system, unlike account setup.
He placed his hand on the orb, and a window popped up.
Black-grade account confirmed. All transaction fees waived.
Select items to list.
"Lemme see."
Carpe opened his inventory and listed two items at auction.
Carpenter Keddlek's Gloves—Hell Beast time-attack #1 reward.
And Fanatic's Scythe from the priest in the dungeon.
"Done."
Starting bids were rough estimates.
No point fussing over prices when better loot was coming nonstop.
-Smart move. Better spend that time killing mobs.
He swung by the forge next to repair his bisected Green Skin Slayer.
Watching an NPC fix a snapped blade in one hammer strike was surreal.
Before hunting, he stocked potions and acorns at the general store.
"All set. Time to grind quests again... Huh?"
Problem.
Cannot proceed with Quest: Magic King's Relic (3).
Player level insufficient (Quest start level: 25).
"Damn. Design oversight? Level wall?"
Common in online RPGs.
Bad quest design or player shenanigans breaking progression.
Only fix: Grind to the required level.
-"Design flaw"? You're the glitch here.
Dungeon's armored skeletons were beasts.
Even skilled players needed 30+ for solo clears.
Boss Mainades skip? 35 minimum.
-Devs probably thought "maybe a 25 with cosmic luck."
But nope—level 17 clear via freak disaster.
Devs would rage-quit IRL.
"Anyway, time to pivot."
Level 17. Eight levels to Magic King quest.
Fill the gap somehow.
-Ruana's got spots nearby. Eight levels won't take long.
"Cheat-key hyung strikes again. Best one?"
-First, your take. What's your biggest gap right now? Route around that.
"Hm. Gaps..."
Carpe recalled the dungeon fights—especially Mainades.
Dumped most saved stats just to make it work.
Without Holy Sacrifice? Dead meat.
"Need attack skills."
Mainades fight sucked because only Elemental Arrow for damage.
"One attack skill meant predictable patterns."
Unlock, Repeat, Magic Engineering, Elemental Mastery, Striking.
Great skills, zero direct attacks.
New 9-star Dretsch-style Doll Art? Not offensive.
"Gave away Calling Thunder too. Gotta replace it."
-Same thought. Direction's set.
Skill-acquisition content.
Luckily, port city Ruana had it.
-Ruana's claim to fame.
RaSe saying: "Hit Ruana? Do the sea cave quest, no question."
Why? Rewards rocked.
Beginner skill pack (untradeable).
"Whoa, seriously?"
-Yeah. Mercy for early-game noobs scraping by skill-less.
"This game—friendly or savage? Hard to tell."
-Mandatory either way. But tricky condition attached.
"Tricky how?"
-Well...
Cheonma's answer left Carpe's face perfectly ambiguous.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw