Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo
……I must look like a madman. But there was no helping it. After much deliberation, I opened my mouth and addressed my reflection in the mirror.
“……Who am I? What is my name?”
Right—my name is Lee Hoyeol. Hoyeol, with the ho from lake and yeol from joy. The name my grandfather gave me in his great delight when I was born the youngest son in a family of three daughters.
But words utterly foreign to my mind spilled from my lips.
“……Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo.”
A name so bizarrely long it could belong to some foreign noble I’d never heard of……!
What, did I suddenly awaken memories of a past life or something?
“If only that were the case……”
No, I knew it wasn’t some fantastical development like that. My reflection in the mirror told me as much.
The subtly sharper eyes. The noticeably more toned physique. And finally, the text floating before my eyes.
Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo
This was awakening. I had become a player.
Yeah, I could wrap my head around that much. The problem was the form I’d taken as a player—and this ridiculous name.
“No matter how I look at it, this is from over ten years ago……”
Precisely twelve years ago. Back when I was fifteen. In the throes of my middle school chuunibyou phase. It was undoubtedly the character I’d created.
I muttered without thinking.
“……It seems I am in dire straits indeed.”
In a refined tone, as if I were some noble.
Drip—
I’m screwed.
Despite that sentiment, my movements brimmed with leisure. I took an unused teacup from the cupboard. I brewed green tea, which I never touched otherwise. Then I sat at the table, savoring it.
“The aroma is not displeasing.”
……What is this, some historical drama?
Even saying it myself, the speech felt awkward as hell. In any case, I could sense it instinctively. My actions and speech had changed due to the awakening.
Player awakening. I’d thought it had nothing to do with me. After all, I’d forgotten all about it.
“……Well, that was over ten years ago.”
The Arcana Continent Prelude. Thirteen years ago. A virtual reality game that never left the top charts after launch. No—a game called another life itself.
That Arcana had become reality.
Monsters from Arcana appeared in that reality.
Players who awakened Arcana character abilities emerged to hunt the monsters in reality.
Years had passed since that cataclysm. Now Arcana Continent Prelude had fully merged with reality.
I’d first heard the news in the army and shuddered.
Damn. Shouldn’t have quit if I’d known.
I’d even fantasized about it while pulling night guard duty back then. Because players were heroes, plain and simple.
But that was it.
Even if I awakened, I wouldn’t amount to much anyway.
I’d quit Arcana Continent Prelude before even a year in. Reality got in the way.
The access device alone cost ten million won. Monthly fees were pushing hundreds of thousands.
“……Kids, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Dad. You don’t owe us an apology.”
“Sob sob. Mommy has no face left to show you either.”
“Ah, seriously, Mom too?”
“We’re all grown up now, including Hoyeol. No need to worry.”
After the foreclosure notice hit our house around high school entry. I’d cut off all interest in Arcana—and games entirely.
Same story through high school. Like it or not, I buried myself in studies. That led to my current life.
A decent job. A decent studio apartment. Weekends visiting the folks. Not lavish, but no big ambitions—life was okay.
“……So what in the world is this?”
My head throbbed. I tilted the teacup deliberately. Fine, ignore the damn historical drama speech for now.
The key point: I’d awakened as a player.
Twelve years ago, the character I’d raised in Arcana Continent Prelude—[Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo]—had overlaid onto me, Lee Hoyeol.
I’d seen interviews like that.
—The biggest change after awakening? It feels like I’ve fused with my character. Like the real me and the game character merged into one. Possession, I guess?
—Well, possession by a character I played myself isn’t a huge shift.
—Still, it means I won’t flinch at real monsters.
The difference? My playtime was twelve years ago. And back then, I’d been deeply immersed in Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo.
“Delicious.”
Even my tastes had changed.
……I’m losing it.
Was this Arcana’s character info overlaying too? Memories of long-forgotten [Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo] settings resurfaced. A vast backstory crafted by my chuunibyou middle school self, naturally.
『Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo. His exact age is unknown. Heir to a great house, destroyed by demons. As the family’s sole survivor, Grandfell took the path of the demon hunter to avenge them. Long silver hair and refined features are his hallmarks; his speech always conveys noble dignity.』
So useless, yet remembered in such detail……! Damn you, past me!
It was cringe-inducing just recalling it. Of course, none of it reflected in-game. Just scribbles in a notebook or memo pad.
Hence “fallen noble.” Starting at level 1 with nothing—pure beginner.
Yeah, the one truth in that lengthy fluff: He walked the path of the demon hunter.
Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo
Class: Demon Hunter
Back then, I’d role-played Grandfell’s life in Arcana, immersed in the settings. Crazy in hindsight, but I was a second-year middle schooler.
Now just a laughable memory.
“……A memory. How nostalgic.”
Yet that forgotten memory had become reality. Damn, the migraine worsened. Worried someone might see my cringy state.
……Wait. I have work tomorrow!
Let’s think rationally. Could I function at work like this? Social life isn’t easy. Bowing heads, swallowing pride daily.
But with Grandfell’s settings influencing me—even my tastes changed—could I survive a day in the cutthroat office?
『Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo is noble. He bows to no one, no matter who. His pride is immense, unshakeable. Even if it drowns him.』
……Lucky if I don’t splash coffee in the boss’s face. Might cost more in settlement than my salary.
After my refined tea time, I reached a conclusion.
“One cannot bow forever.”
Another slip—anyway. Quitting my job. I’d live as a player from now on.
Sudden? No, rational. In this state, I’d be a nuisance anywhere. Bank balance would dwindle. Damn noble tastes adding tea expenses.
Needed living expenses badly. Only way: player life.
No big ambitions. Age taught me my place. No more chuunibyou delusions of grandeur.
Just enough to get by. Safe from life-threatening rifts, maybe?
Time to search. I knew little of the player world. Never idolized them—too busy surviving.
Though their earnings? Enviable.
“……Hmm.”
Tens, hundreds, thousands of billions. Players raking it in nonstop.
But articles left me indifferent.
『To Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, wealth is fleeting. Born heir to greatness, tasting ultimate abundance, he has no need for riches.』
More cursed settings. Silver lining: no greed-driven risks.
But a graver issue.
“……I am frail.”
……Could I even take one mob? Join a party? Worrying already. Real monsters were no joke. Beyond my current level.
Comments under a video. Party average level 200. I checked my status.
Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo
Class: Demon Hunter
Level: 55
Just 55. High back then—not ranker, but decent. Time is cruel.
“Why did I waste such time……”
Another heavy mutter. Then I searched “demon hunter.”
“Wait, I forgot.”
Demon hunter training method……! Memory hazy from years ago.
Demon hunters leveled via quests only—not hunting like others. Limited growth.
《Skills》
Natural Enemy
Silver Mastery
Archery Mastery
Simultaneous Shot
Exorcism Ritual
Most quests: Exterminate demons. Class limitations.
Natural Enemy Relationship
Combat power surges dramatically against demons.
Overpowered vs demons—but useless otherwise. Couldn’t compete in normal hunting grounds.
That was demon hunter reality. Hunt demons then? No—Arcana had no demon monsters back then. Only via quests.
Hence, unpopular class.
“But that was the past.”
Twelve years later. Plenty of time for new methods.
Arcana now reality—methods might not apply directly, but referenceable.
Good. My pounding head cleared.
……The tea? Whatever.
Bless the information age. Fingers find anything.
Searched “demon hunter.” Results……?
“……What is the meaning of this?”
Totally unexpected.
“Akkshan Base Annihilated? All Dead?”
What happened to Arcana in ten years?
……
Akkshan Base. Demon hunters’ HQ. Where you job-changed via quests, trained into demon hunters.
But it was destroyed—NPCs wiped out. No more demon hunter job changes.
“And long ago?”
……Wait, then me? Where’s the new training method!
Scouring communities, realization dawned.
“No way.”
The more I searched, the clearer: No current demon hunter players.
Or rather…… just me.
“Impossible.”
Damn my past tastes. Even chuunibyou should’ve considered performance a bit.
“My head aches.”
Info overload. Needed rest. As I set down my phone—a post caught my eye.
“?”
What story behind that? Clicked out of curiosity. Froze.
“New update added demons officially, spiking rift difficulty. Without demons, no player deaths in reality……”
Demons added? And rampaging in reality too?
This might……
A possibility flickered. But I didn’t voice it. High hopes lead to crashes. Even high-level players struggled with demons.
Yet against better judgment, I muttered.
『Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo’s pride shines brightest before demons.』
“Count it an honor.”
『No demon temptation, deceit, or trial can mar his lofty pride.』
“I shall cast you into hell.”