Chapter 2
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: A World of Sound
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Wonderland.
Born in 2031 from the hands of the genius developer Ha Jiseok, it was a virtual reality game that, within three years of its launch, boasted over a billion concurrent players, making it the greatest game in human history.
Magic, swords, crossbows, maces, even guns and magitech. In a world where every existing weapon and technology was implemented, users could achieve any life they desired.
One could become a grand mage who summoned thunder, a pirate who ruled the seas, or a farming king to rival the Earth Mother herself.
A map size comparable to the surface of the Earth, extreme freedom, and the heroic tales spun by the users within it.
Wars, banquets, and regional events unfolded daily, and users were in a constant state of excitement over the flood of content.
A new and thrilling world every single day!
In this mystical world, in one of Wonderlands beginner towns, Hemona Village, a slightly more special event than usual was being prepared.
Elder at this rate, we wont be able to conduct the ritual properly this year.
I think so, too. Even if we were to hold it, we wouldnt receive a proper blessing like in previous years.
Beneath the stained-glass windows of the cathedral, two men could be seen conversing with serious expressions.
They were the choirmaster, Charles, and the elder, Germano.
Charles, is there truly no other way?
Hmm
Normally, a beginner town, if uneventful, would be suffused with a peaceful and stable atmosphere.
This year, however, Hemona Village was shrouded in a desolate mood due to a very grave problem.
It was because of the ritual ceremony scheduled in three weeks.
The residents would perform ritual music to ask the goddess for her favor in the coming year, and in return, the goddess would bestow her blessing upon the village.
The blessing was a very important buff that had a beneficial impact on the entire village, including farming, livestock, and the health of the residents.
And the grade of the blessing was determined by the performance.
A good performance would result in a high-grade blessing, while a poor one would bring a low-grade blessing.
It was a well-known fact, even to the village children, that a high-grade blessing could even ward off natural disasters.
In other words, it was a crucial ceremony on which the well-being of the village depended.
Paolo for someone so healthy to pass away so easily
The elder spoke with sorrowful eyes.
Paolo had been the villages dedicated pianist, an artist of such remarkable skill that he had even been scouted by the royal palace.
After declining the position of royal musician and returning to his hometown, he had served as Hemona Villages exclusive pianist for over twenty years.
He was, in every sense, a giant.
And Paolo, a figure who was practically a spiritual pillar of the community, had passed away suddenly two months ago.
To leave the world before even turning forty it was something we could never have imagined.
Paolos death, a man who had never suffered so much as a minor illness, came as a great shock to the villagers.
As he had dedicated his entire life to the village, his funeral was held with great ceremony.
But then, a thought suddenly occurred to the residents.
Whos going to play at the festival this year?
Besides Paolo, nobody here knows how to play the piano, do they?
Separate from their mourning, anxiety about the upcoming ritual began to creep in.
To make matters worse, with the ceremony only a month away, everyone was in a panic.
It was an emergency, a full-blown crisis!
And so, Charles and the elder put their heads together and began searching for a musician to replace Paolo.
Elder, what if we try to find a musician from outside?
A fine idea. Lets contact everyone we can, from the big cities to the royal court musicians!
They tried inviting musicians active elsewhere, and even reached out to the royal court musician said to be Paolos mentor.
But the answer from every musician was invariably the same.
Five hundred gold. I will absolutely not go for anything less.
W-what? What do you mean, five hundred gold for a single performance!
The road to Hemona Village is too long. Do you have any idea how many concerts I would have to give up while traveling back and forth? Considering all that, five hundred gold is actually quite cheap.
Renowned musicians, including the one from the royal court, refused the offer for a variety of reasons, such as the long journey and their busy schedules.
If they proceeded without a pianist, this years ritual was certain to be a disaster.
After a long period of deliberation, Charles looked at the elder and cautiously spoke.
Elder, what about this method?
Have you thought of a good idea?
Charles spoke in a tone of resolve.
The Outlanders, I mean.
Outlanders? You mean those who call themselves users?
In the world of Wonderland, Outlanders referred to the users.
Havent the Outlanders always surprised us with their unimaginable abilities? I was thinking that among the thousands, tens of thousands of Outlanders who pour in each day, there might be someone who plays the piano well.
Hoh, I see! Charles, thats an excellent idea.
The elder thought for a moment, then spoke to Charles with a grim expression.
Charles, how much disposable funding do we have right now for the ritual preparations?
Well fifty gold is all we have.
Hmm, fifty gold.
The elders eyes narrowed.
In truth, the root of all their problems was money. The main reason the external musicians had refused their offer was the low pay.
For now, well offer the entire fifty gold as a prize. Talk to the residents and have them discount the prices of goods in the village during the recruitment period. And what else can we offer
Would even an Outlander be satisfied with fifty gold?
They needed something else, something that would draw significant interest.
Just as the elder was deep in thought.
Elder. What if we offer this?
This is?
Charles took an object from his coat and showed it to him.
It was a luxurious-looking silver insignia.
Ive heard that the Outlanders would die for this insignia. Wouldnt this be enough to attract the interest of even the skilled ones?
No, that insignia is!
However, as it is a precious item that cannot be given to just anyone, I need your permission, Elder. What are your thoughts?
The elders eyes narrowed.
Hes right. Its no secret how much effort and humiliation the Outlanders endure to obtain that thing. This will surely attract their attention.
After some thought, the elder spoke with a determined expression.
So be it. We will award the winner fifty gold as prize money and that insignia as an additional reward!
Excellent, Elder! I will see to it at once.
That day, a notice was posted on the bulletin board of Hemona Village.
Recruitment for Ritual Ceremony Musician
Charles gazed at the announcement with narrowed eyes and murmured to himself.
I pray that many people will come
At that same time, all across Wonderland.
Hey, did you see this? Its fifty gold! Fifty gold!
Wait, you get fifty gold just for playing the piano well?
Contrary to Charless worries, the recruitment notice was becoming a massive topic of conversation among the users.
Typically, fifty gold was an amount one could barely scrape together after reaching level 30.
Since it took about three months to reach level 30, an event had essentially opened up that allowed one to earn three months worth of money in a single go.
It was more than enough to capture the interest of new players.
Hey, it says you get an Honorary Followers Insignia if you win.
And its even Silver-grade? This is pretty much end-game tier. You dont have to bother grinding that annoying insignia quest this is pretty good.
At the same time, there was a prize that piqued the interest of veteran players who werent particularly concerned about the prize money.
It was the Honorary Followers Insignia.
Depending on its grade, the Honorary Followers Insignia granted various benefits within the cathedral.
Purchasing large quantities of holy water to apply to equipment at a discount, or receiving a blessing from a priest were some of the representative benefits, among many others.
As one progressed to higher-level content, encounters with undead-type monsters became more frequent, making the existence of holy water and blessings crucial. In those times, the Honorary Followers Insignia was practically an essential item.
It was a well-known fact that veteran players spent a great deal of time and effort repeating the notoriously grindy insignia quest.
And that very Honorary Followers Insignia was being offered as a prize.
A Silver-grade insignia, no less!
lol why are they holding an event like this in a beginner town
this is insane for real lol
However, despite the widespread interest, not many applicants came to Hemona Village.
To be precise, many users wanted to go, but the main reason was that not everyone could.
Only beginners were allowed to enter a beginner town.
Should I make an alt for this? Having an Honorary Followers Insignia would be really convenient. Im not too fond of my current class anyway.
Doesnt sound bad. Fifty gold and an insignia is a ridiculously good start, for real.
Nevertheless, applicants determined to get to Hemona Village one way or another continued to appear.
Some users created alts for the occasion, and the beginner users who happened to be in Hemona were the main targets.
And so, a large crowd headed for Hemona, and a week passed.
Plink!
Rejected.
Charles spoke to the performer with a sharp gaze.
It had been over a week since the auditions began, but so far, no performer had met his standards.
Charles, it is time to make a decision.
Then we will conclude this weekend, Elder.
Ultimately, if they couldnt find a pianist by the weekend, the consensus was to rearrange the music to exclude the piano and proceed with the ceremony.
However, that was merely a secondary option.
The piano played such a significant role in the piece that even with rearrangement, the music would likely become bland.
Hiring a less-skilled pianist was even more out of the question, as it would undoubtedly lower the quality of the ensemble.
The best option was to find a skilled performer suited for the ceremony.
I have to do everything I can.
Despite sending away thousands of applicants and listening to thousands of inadequate performances, Charles never gave up.
Clinging to a sliver of hope, he continued to recruit applicants until the very last moment.
Plink! Plonk!
Rejected.
And so, he once again listened to a performance that did not meet his standards.
At the same time, in a capsule room.
Pshhh
The entrance to the capsule Yuhyeon had entered slowly closed, and his vision gradually darkened.
Log in.
The darkened view soon brightened.
Welcome, adventurer, to Wonderland.
Scanning iris information
Before long, a space of pure blue unfolded before Yuhyeons eyes.
Colorful lights shot down, and a vast space of unknowable size spread out before him.
It felt like seeing the cyberspace from childhood movies in real life.
Its beautiful
Yuhyeon was genuinely impressed.
While he had been struggling to survive in his cramped, one-room apartment, the world had advanced so rapidly it was hard to keep up.
He felt he could now vaguely understand why Sangcheol was so enthusiastic about Wonderland.
A blue holographic window appeared before Yuhyeons eyes.
No existing account has been found. Would you like to create an account?
If you wish to create one, please say Create.
Create.
Please configure your characters appearance.
His perspective instantly shifted to an angle where he could see his own face.
Its my face?
Yuhyeons reflection in the game was remarkably clean-cut.
The gauntness and dark circles under his eyes were gone, and his skin was as white as milk.
He had heard that some people spent hours on customization, but he didn't feel the need to go that far.
Maybe Ill just change my hair color.
When else would I get to try hair like this? Might as well do it in a game.
Yuhyeon smiled with satisfaction as he looked at his new silver-haired self.
Just silver hair, the rest as is, please.
Please set your characters nickname.
Yuhyeon.
Character setup complete.
We look forward to the heroic tales you will show us, adventurer.
Connecting
Ugh.
Yuhyeon shut his eyes for a long moment against the flood of light.
Warm sunlight was shining down on his forehead.
As he slowly opened his eyes, a completely different world unfolded before him.
He saw dry, earthy ground like a school field, patches of weeds here and there, and scarecrows lined up in neat rows.
Swoop.
He took a deep breath, and fresh air filled his lungs.
He moved his body around a bit.
No matter how he moved, there was no resistance; his movements were perfectly natural.
This is amazing.
It was a world more real than reality itself.
No, to be precise, it might have been a world better than reality.
The neighborhood where Yuhyeon lived was so polluted that it was hard to breathe air this fresh.
The air is so fresh and sweet.
Chirp chirp
Just then, a sound from somewhere reached his ears.
Huh?
Yuhyeon blinked, a completely unfamiliar sensation washing over him.
For a moment, it felt as if he had heard something he shouldn't have.
It must be my imagination.
As soon as he had that thought, the sound came again.
Chirp chirp
!
Yuhyeons eyes widened in astonishment.
I definitely heard it.
He had definitely heard it. It was a sound.
He quickly glanced around and saw a small creature before him.
Chirp chirp chirp
A single sparrow was perched atop a scarecrows head, pecking away with its beak.
Uh, uhh?
With a trembling hand, Yuhyeon touched his own ear.
Was this a dream? No. He was in a game, so it definitely wasnt a dream.
In an instant, a thousand different thoughts raced through his mind.
And then, as if to prove it was real, a continuous stream of various sounds reached his ears.
The sound of grass rustling in the wind, the sound of the sparrow spreading its wings, the sound of his feet scraping against the earth as he took a step back
Yuhyeon blinked his eyes.
I-I can hear! Huh? My, my voice. I can hear my voice too!
Even his own voice, which he once disliked for its high pitch, came through with vivid clarity.
Just as Yuhyeon was standing there with a dazed expression.
A large, unfamiliar man walked up to him and spoke.
A new Outlander has arrived. Pick up the wooden sword in front of you!
Ding!
Quest: Strike the scarecrow 10 times with the wooden sword.
Grade: Tutorial
Requirement: Tutorial Participant
Reward: Basic Swordsmanship
Failure: Cannot proceed to the follow-up quest Basic Swordsmanship (1).
Description: Follow the instructors directions and swing the wooden sword.
An unfamiliar notification sound and a quest window appeared before Yuhyeons eyes.
Hey, cant you hear me? Pick up the wooden sword in front of you.
Yuhyeon, his eyes shining brightly, spoke to the instructor.
What did you just say? P-please, just one more time. Please say it one more time!
I said to strike the scarecrow with the wooden sword here.
Ding!
Would you like to refuse the quest?
Refusing will prevent you from proceeding to the follow-up quest.
Your favorability with Training Instructor Olsen will decrease slightly.
Notification windows popped up repeatedly, as if something terrible would happen if he refused.
But to Yuhyeon, whose mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, none of the alarms registered.
Damn it, this will take all day. If youre not going to do it, then forget it.
The instructor waved his hand dismissively with a bored expression.
Yuhyeon spoke in a voice choked with emotion.
I can hear. I can actually hear.
Every night, he had gone to sleep dreaming of a miracle.
Hoping that when he woke up the next day, he would be able to hear.
That miracle came true today.
After ten long years, right here in Wonderland.
Just then.
Ding!
A whisper has arrived.
Jijon Sangcheol: You busy beating up the scarecrow?
It was a message from Sangcheol.
Jijon Sangcheol: If you haven't, hurry up and whack the scarecrow and get the quest. For now, aim for level 10.
Hyung, hyung!
Yuhyeon wanted to share his current joy with Sangcheol.
Jijon Sangcheol: Im gonna go hunt for a bit. Whisper me if you have any questions.
Hyung, this is amazing!
But his shouts did not reach Sangcheol.
After all, yelling at the top of his lungs wouldn't convert his words into a chat message.
Cant I reply with my voice?
After muttering to himself for a while, Yuhyeon strode purposefully toward the instructor.
He said to hit the scarecrow first, right?
What did it matter, one way or another?
He could just meet him later and tell him then.
Right now, he wanted to savor this feeling, this sound.
Instructor! Ill do that thing from before.
Hmm, finally decided to do it? Grab any of the wooden swords here and strike the scarecrow ten times.
Yes!
Yuhyeon picked up a wooden sword from the weapon rack.
Whoosh
He swung it lightly, and the sound of the wooden sword cutting through the air reached his ears.
Its so crisp, the sound is so crisp!
Whoosh
Whoosh whoosh
Even the sound of swinging the wooden sword was so pleasant to hear that he swung it a few more times, until the watching instructor couldn't take it anymore and spoke up.
Hit the scarecrow, not the empty air!
Ah, I understand! Just hit the scarecrow?
Swing it, thrust it, just hit the scarecrow with the wooden sword! Ugh, this is frustrating!
Despite the instructors flushed face, Yuhyeon simply nodded with a bright smile and took his stance.
And as he brought the wooden sword down on the scarecrow.
Thwack!
A dull thud echoed, and a heavy vibration traveled up his hands.
Thwack! Thwack!
This is fun, so much fun!
He had already struck it six times. As Yuhyeon raised the wooden sword above his head to deliver the remaining four blows.
A familiar sound came from somewhere.
A sound he had heard for half his life, a sound he could never forget.
It was the sound of a piano.
Yuhyeons head whipped around, seemingly of its own accord.
The piano sound was coming from the plaza.
Y-you have musical instruments here too?
A foolish question. Is there any place in the world without music?
Ah! This is no time to be swinging a wooden sword!
Thud. As he dropped the wooden sword to the ground, the watching instructor spoke.
What are you doing? Why did you stop and put the sword down?
Yuhyeon immediately started running towards the plaza.
Wh-where are you going? You only need to swing it four more times!
Instructor, Ill do it later. Theres something more important!
Soon, the instructors voice calling from behind him could be heard.
What in the world are you doing! What could be more important than this for an Outlander who just arrived!
The instructors voice grew more distant. Still, Yuhyeon ran forward without hesitation, saying.
Because this is far more important to me!
It was the first time in ten years he had heard the sound of an instrument with his own ears.
At this moment, nothing was more important than going to hear that sound.
Ill come back later!
Yuhyeons determined steps carried him toward the plaza.