Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 4
>Chapter Title: The Long-Awaited Game
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>“What do you want to do most after getting discharged?”
It was the question soldiers on the verge of discharge heard the most.
And the answers were usually pretty one-dimensional.
I want to sleep all day at home.
I want a drink of soju with some pork belly.
I want to lie in bed, tear into some fried chicken, and binge Netflix.
Those who’d taken their freedom for granted had felt its suppression, come to appreciate the value of everyday life, and now yearned to reclaim it.
Do-hyun was much the same in that regard.
“Play a game.”
“……What?”
“I want to play a game.”
“…….”
His life as a gaming addict had consisted of a moderately spacious room cornered by a computer and VR gear—that was it.
He desperately wanted to reclaim that routine.
His fellow soldiers had stared at him with looks of shock at first, but they soon understood.
“Games? You mean God of Savior?”
“Oh, that first full-dive VR game? Damn, I get it. I’m dying to play it myself. Of all the timing, it launches right when we get our leave papers…….”
“What kind of game is it? You should’ve said God of Savior.”
“You guys all hitting up capsule rooms after discharge? Let’s form a party sometime.”
To people, God of Savior was no longer just a game for shut-ins.
It was a culture. A world unto itself.
It was harder to find someone who hadn’t played it.
Even among the elderly, not knowing it meant you were out of touch with the world.
Unfortunately, stuck in the army while God of Savior took the world by storm, not one of them lacked the desire to play.
“……Is God of Savior really that great?”
“I’ve heard it’s like another world…….”
“What? You guys haven’t tried God of Savior? Holy shit, I’ve never seen such noobs…… You’ll need three diapers each.”
Even the juniors listening while sharing smokes showed interest.
That would fire up the guys who’d experienced it outside, launching into heroic tales like bards unrolling their scrolls.
Those who hadn’t played listened with wide-eyed, childlike wonder.
Before long, talk of God of Savior and girls dominated over 90% of conversations in the barracks.
Every time, Do-hyun had to endure a test of patience.
‘A real virtual reality game……!’
He’d dismissed it as nonsense, ignoring Delrock’s sequel.
Who could’ve guessed it was truly VR?
It was heartbreaking—why did it launch exactly when he was shipped off to the army?
He’d never been religious, but now faith surged within him.
At this point, it felt like some god was personally screwing him over.
And so, enduring eons of one year and six months, feeding on scraps of God of Savior news, the moment discharge arrived.
Bang!
“……Capsule! Where’s the capsule?”
“What, oppa’s home? Your hair’s gotten so long.”
“Your brother comes home and looks for the capsule first thing. As a baby, it was ‘mommy, mommy,’ only wanting you. Guess that’s why they say kids grow up and you don’t need ’em.”
“Mommy, you’ve got your daughter~.”
“Stop with that. You two are all or nothing, aren’t you?”
Rushing home, Do-hyun searched for the capsule like a junkie hunting a fix.
His sister Hyeon-ah, watching TV, and his mother Chae Mi-sook chided him.
Normally he’d snap back, but now it didn’t register.
He just wanted to commune with the capsule as soon as possible.
“We put the capsule in your room. Two uncles hauled it in—whew, why’s that thing so heavy? Kids these days game in those?”
“Mom, you don’t know God of Savior? Not knowing it makes you a total loser these days.”
“Oh, you—TV’s always on about it, of course I know. But Mommy’s scared of that stuff. Don’t those people fear catching those monsters?”
“Mom, Mom’s son’s the best at it. He’s a total slaughterer.”
Half-listening to their chatter, Do-hyun entered his room and froze.
His eyes welled with emotion.
“Ahh…….”
Its sleek form.
The smoothly oval shape and elegant curves were beyond beautiful.
Drawing near, he caressed the capsule, a smile blooming across his face.
‘This is the capsule…….’
Seeing it on broadcasts was one thing; feeling it was another.
Was it extra special because he’d scrimped from his now-decent soldier’s pay to order it?
A used supply-model capsule for about 400,000 won, but it filled him with the pride of buying his first car.
“Son, no dinner?”
“I ate. I’ll eat in the evening.”
Brushing off Chae Mi-sook’s call, Do-hyun dove into the capsule.
The plush cushioning was pretty good.
It had been pricey at first, but now, nearing two years since launch, capsules were cheap and plentiful.
Quality had improved, sync rates too, compared to launch.
‘Alright, let’s log in.’
Do-hyun operated the capsule with practiced ease.
He’d memorized the manual from countless videos.
Same for God of Savior.
He hadn’t studied everything, but he’d checked the basics on the way home.
‘Lots in common with Delrock.’
As a sequel, it shared many elements.
Made sense.
God of Savior’s lore was set generations after Delrock.
World, cities, various elements.
Much had changed, but the core systems aligned with the same roots, so no trouble expected.
He’d only skimmed for now—guides could wait.
One year six months was plenty to pull info from the site with a few clicks.
Especially for a game with a billion players.
Click.
Switching on in sequence, finishing setup, donning the helmet-like gear—his vision went dark.
Then the messages appeared.
[Recognizing irises.]
[Confirming ID card.]
[ID card confirmed.]
[Synchronization complete.]
[Would you like to log into God of Savior?]
“Yeah.”
Instant reply, mind blurring as the world turned white.
The revealed world was a blank void. A female AI voice echoed within.
[Welcome to the Paradise of Adventure.]
[Please create your character.]
[Gender cannot be changed. Appearance allows editing of hair, eyes, and minor body adjustments that don’t significantly alter the physique.]
Do-hyun eyed the full-body mirror before him.
It reflected his current look, barely censored at key spots, starkly exposed.
His hair had grown out some, but still screamed soldier, body more toned than before.
‘Too much military vibe.’
Not like he’d rushed straight from discharge advertising it.
Tweaking casually, the changes amazed him.
Swipe, and it shifted—like wielding magic. Though really, he’d barely altered anything.
Just lengthened the hair.
Nothing else differed from reality.
‘No point fussing when there’s little to tweak anyway.’
Definitely different from Delrock.
In non-VR Delrock, you could swap gender and looks freely.
So-called custom masters pulled wonders from limitations, but Do-hyun lacked the skill. Nor the interest in the hassle.
Customization done, he now looked civilian enough.
Satisfied with the mirror, the voice returned.
[Please set your nickname.]
‘Nickname…….’
Any God of Savior player had to think carefully.
Most games banned duplicates, but God of Savior allowed them.
With a billion players, inevitable.
But Do-hyun decided without hesitation.
“Kaiser.”
The name from launch day to server shutdown.
To him, Kaiser was as familiar and meaningful as his real name.
He’d never considered another.
[Is ‘Kaiser’ correct?]
“Yeah.”
[Welcome, ‘Kaiser.’]
[Your hashtag is Kaiser#312543.]
[Character created.]
[Moving to Tutorial Zone.]
Vision blackened with the messages.
* * *
“Wow…….”
Do-hyun let out honest awe at the vista.
He stood atop a castle.
The classic medieval fantasy sort from movies.
Not the broadcast-beauty otherworld, but torches piercing the dark, towering walls gave a battlefield thrill.
Cool night breeze brushing skin, scent of burning.
Soles sensing stone floor.
Fingers twitching, minute skin feedback.
Sensations across his body matched reality.
He half-thought he’d possessed a fantasy hero, not started a game. Leagues beyond Delrock in immersion.
‘This is virtual reality…….’
Gazing blankly at the otherworld beyond the walls.
[This is the tragic battlefield of old Arlen Castle.]
[Choose your weapon.]
The creation voice snapped him back.
Turning instinctively, countless weapons floated mid-air. Systemic in realism felt odd.
[Crude Sword]
-A worn, dull sword.
-Should cut people without issue.
[Crude Spear]
-A worn, dull spear.
-Should pierce people without issue.
…….
[Crude Bow]
-A worn, frayed bow.
-Should fire about fifty more times.
Swords, spears, bows, daggers, maces, crossbows, staves……
Myriad options, but Do-hyun grabbed one without thought.
[Selected Crude Sword.]
[Can use sword basic skill ‘Heavy Strike.’]
[Tutorial begins.]
Sword. Do-hyun’s go-to in Delrock.
No special reason.
Just seemed most versatile, and it suited him once tried.
“Hey!”
Grabbing the weapon, a soldier rushed from afar, as if waiting.
Urgent face, bloodied armor signaling crisis.
Do-hyun staring blankly, the man yanked his wrist impatiently.
“What are you doing here? Time’s critical! Other mercs are already in—join them!”
[Party formed with Knight Commander ‘Charlie.’]
Party Members
-Charlie
-Kaiser
Thus hastily partied, Do-hyun was all but dragged inside.
Standard event tutorial in other games too.
Following Charlie, outside calm shattered into inferno. Soldiers and monsters pierced by blades and arrows, blood-soaked corpses.
Leisurely musings vanished; tension spiked instantly.
Worsening deeper in.
Kraaak!
Kaaaa!
Fallen soldiers, hideous beasts atop them clashing fiercely with more troops.
Mercs down here and there.
“Already this many…… Damn it.”
Charlie winced, eyes squeezed shut in grief, then hurried on.
He truly mourned his comrades.
No mere data could replicate that eye-twitch, hand-shake.
“They’ve allied with the beasts…… If rumors hold, contracted with that ‘monster.’ Hurry and stop it, or it descends.”
That’s why he rushed, unable to even close comrades’ eyes.
Descent meant game over.
Do-hyun knew the monster. Seen videos plenty.
Not a tutorial kill.
“Hurry. Through here, it’s close.”
Descending stairs, crossing hall, Charlie shouted.
Then—
Shuu—pfoosh—!
Air-whistling; Do-hyun halted as arrows whizzed past, embedding ahead.
As if arrows dodged him deliberately.
“……!”
Charlie, batting arrows with sword, froze in surprise.
Regaining wits, he muttered.
“Dodged on purpose? No…… Luck, I guess. You’re fortunate.”
Not batting, just stopping to evade? Absurd.
Luck made sense.
Kikikik—.
Kirik—.
Arrow-firers: beasts.
Troll-like overall.
Small head-horns the difference.
Five total.
“They’ve pushed this far…… We break through.”
Charlie posed; beasts giggled, gripping weapons.
Two archers, three clubbers.
Tricky combo. Awkward for Charlie—feet stuck in urgency.
“First, I’ll……!?”
Do-hyun charged then.