Full Dive Games Are Great

Full dive games are great. While I was watching experiential metube videos, an ad caught my eye: 'Rebion Arc', 'Rebion Arc, Pinnacle of Fantasy Worlds', 'Travel Through a Vibrant Fantasy Realm!'

'That name again.' It was a video with a thumbnail of some uncle looking shocked. I didn't click just from the thumbnail, though.

And why would I? It's all so predictable. Punching, kicking, fighting. I'm done with that stuff now. After seventeen years, it's time for a break.

I quickly skipped past it and hunted for other experiential videos. My ears perked up—twitch twitch. Don't ask why; they just do when my energy's up.

"Rollercoaster? Meh, next... Fantastic world! Rebion Arc... '...Octopus mukbang. Bad memories with octopus, pass.' Fantastic world! Hmm. Beach walking video. That looks decent. Rebion Arc! ... 'Forest walking looks good too!' -Replays in 15 seconds. Rebion!!! Arc!!!"

"Fuck, enough!!" This is gonna drive me nuts!! Fine, I'll just watch it! I'll watch!

I irritably clicked the purchase site.

'Let's see, 130,000 won...?' That's insanely expensive. I scratched the back of my neck, grimacing.

Sure, 3 billion had landed in my account, but I wasn't planning to blow it everywhere. Every penny counts. Easy come, easy go, and suddenly your life's over. Ask me how I know... well, except for that chicken binge. That was an act of God.

Deep-fried temptation shaking its breasts right in my face—who could resist? She started it. I'm innocent.

Anyway, no wasting money. Back to metube.

...But I added it to my wishlist first. It was nagging at me, honestly. Medieval fantasy. Not sure if it's exactly medieval, but definitely not modern, so close enough.

I was an otaku in my previous life. Devoured everything from anime to webtoons. As a fan, how could I ignore it?

But not buying now. Just bookmark and move on. I went back to the game purchase page and scrolled fast.

Games flashed by, but my sharp eyes caught one.

Blue Horizon, literally. Looked like a beach stroll game. Out of all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠these, I picked it because the scenery was stunning. Overwhelmingly positive reviews for a walking sim? Intriguing.

12,000 won. Pricey for beach walks, but cheap as travel expenses. Rationalizing like that, I hit purchase.

"Whoa..."

The game world was breathtaking. Cool sea breeze caressed my cheeks. My gaze followed the wind, sparkling sands filling my vision.

Crunch—soft texture wrapped my outstretched steps, like I was entranced. One step, two. Senses fully immersed, walking alongside the ocean.

Crunch crunch—

No one on this beach. Just gentle waves and seagull cries filling the silence. It soothed my heart.

"Haa..." Incoming waves licked my feet and receded.

...I had that curiosity as a kid. What if I jumped in fully clothed? Sticky? Refreshing? Lost in thought, my body was already heading for the sea.

Splash!

Bubble bubble...

......

"Pffft...! Ha! So refreshing!"

Awesome, right? So I went again—splash!

Bubble bubble...

"Pyah!!"

Probably played like that three more times before getting out.

"Phew..." Calming my high spirits, I sat on the beach. Clothes? They dried fluffy the moment I emerged. VR convenience at its finest.

"Ha..." This is it. Healing, travel.

"So peaceful..."

Once went to the sea with my master. Black and blood-red horrors everywhere—a sight alright. Didn't even realize it was the ocean at first. Corpses, bugs, you name it...

'Ugh...'

Master said it used to be a beautiful travel spot. Hoped to see it restored someday.

I'd never been to the sea in my previous life—or at least, no memory. Parents said we went when I was tiny. So I nodded at master's words but couldn't relate.

But if this is what he meant...

"No wonder he missed it."

"...What now, though."

Great house, great bed, great capsule. Nothing missing, yet something felt off. Probably too used to wandering.

21 years. In that world, I was always a traveler. Yeah, right—a homeless bum. Dirt bed, cold wind blanket. Rags for clothes. Scavenged or begged for food.

After master picked me up, it improved a bit, but still busy days. Now with everything, no need.

'So just lounge around forever...?'

Nah, doesn't feel right. Then what? What to chase? What would master chase?

...Come to think, he'd rant about travel whenever drunk.

'Waaah!! I wanna travel!!'

'This is travel, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠idiot—what more?'

'Not like this!!!'Crash!

'Ow!! Fuck! Why'd the bottle break!?' 'Listen! Hic...! Travel needs... fun and relaxation! Hic... Urp...' 'No, you're just drunk—sleep in the sleeping bag!!' 'U... waaaaah' 'Kyaah!!'

...Anyway.

"Travel... huh."

...Should I try it...?

What way to travel? Actual overseas trips? Nah. Too expensive. Once or twice fine, but daily? Broke fast.

Why so sure? 'I've never been on one.' No sea memories, no overseas. No clue on costs. Hundreds of millions maybe? It's 2062 now. Chicken prices prove inflation's wild. Could exceed my guess.

'Might be disastrous.' My life's luxuries? Extra sauce on hotdog (500 won). Pass.

Experiential metube? Decent, but feels guided. Tied to the tuber. I want free travel.

So, obviously...

"Games it is..."

Yeah. The beach was great. Simulators like that must exist. Back to purchase site.

Search tags: simulator, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠single-player. Sort by sales.

"Ooh!"

Over 10,000! Enough for a lifetime. Let's see...

'Cat to cart... What the hell is toilet paper?' Peeked in—toilet paper doing circus acts.

'Oh, that kind.' Over mountains and seas, to the toilet bowl. Ew... pass. Dizzying.

...Kinda curious, cart it too. 5,000 won. Fine.

- Tai!

'Rebion Arc is single-player?'

Click.

'Pinnacle of Fantasy Worlds: Rebion Arc'

'Travel Through a Vibrant Fantasy Realm!'

"Travel... fantasy world..."

I quickly opened the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠browser and searched Rebion Arc.

'Oh, Green Wiki's still up!'

Skipped to essentials.

'Gathering while wandering? Nice. I'm good at that.'

No need for movement aids. Next.

'!! This is it!'

Ears perked—twitch twitch—back to Rebion Arc page.

Apocalypse fantasy binger buying travel sims. Algorithms pushed it after metube. But I liked that non-combat scenery video.

Can't resist trying.

'130,000 won'

"Urgh..."

Still hesitant. Ex-peasant, ex-beggar till hours ago. Sudden riches don't fix money sense.

Still...

Let's go...! Another world!

"...So, first time in VR."

"Yes..."

"And you thought we were all NPCs?"

"..."

How'd this happen...?