Chapter 2

“VR, huh.”

It was a coincidence.

A video introducing a VR game that he happened to watch while browsing YouTube as usual.

There hadn’t been any particular interest in VR games.

If that post had been promoting a PC game, he would have played a PC game.

If it had been promoting a mobile game, he would have played a mobile game.

Just a coincidence that VR games caught the eye of a young man feeling bored with daily life and seeking new stimulation.

-In this dangerous world where anything can happen anywhere, anytime! This power stone imbued with special energy sold exclusively by our Pandemonium company for just 9,800 won…

“Skip the ad… Whoa, can’t even think about getting the latest model. Even a two-year-old used one costs this much?!”

Looking back, it was inevitable.

Among countless trading sites, among countless sales posts, wasn’t clicking that particular post inevitable?

“This looks pretty good?”

All there was was a single sleek goggle that caught the eye.

A full-body suit for tactile feedback enabling realistic experiences.

Motion detection sensors allowing detailed interactions.

Though it didn’t even have basic controllers, unlike other devices that started from at least hundred thousand won even used, its shocking price of ten thousand won was appealing.

While others seemed to judge it as a scam due to the suspiciously low price, unfamiliar design, and poor description lacking even manufacturer or product names, price was all that mattered to a young man just entering the world of VR.

-RoomDweller: While I don’t know much about VR, with only goggles, isn’t it just for watching videos rather than gaming?

-DeadGameThrower: It’s for gaming. The goggles have built-in motion sensors so you can play games.

-RoomDweller: Really? But why is it so cheap?

-DeadGameThrower: Have urgent circumstances, need to sell quickly. Are you interested? If you buy now, I’ll throw in all the games inside too.

-RoomDweller: Games too? How many are there?

-DeadGameThrower: Tons. Probably enough to last a lifetime.

“Come on, lifetime is a bit much.”

While “lifetime” was probably an exaggeration, it likely meant there were quite a few games to use such an expression.

If this was real, it couldn’t be passed up.

-RoomDweller: This is shipping, right?

-DeadGameThrower: Let’s meet in person. Your address?

-RoomDweller: What? In person? Where do you live?

-DeadGameThrower: I asked first, didn’t I?

-RoomDweller: …XX City, XX-dong.

-DeadGameThrower: Perfect. I live there too. I’ll come right now.

-RoomDweller: Ah, sorry. I made a mistake. I recently moved, so it’s not XX-dong but OO-dong.

-DeadGameThrower: Come to think of it, I forgot I moved there recently too. I think I can come right now, what’s the detailed address?

-RoomDweller: …You’ll come right now? Here?

-DeadGameThrower: Yes.

Something felt off.

However, it was an in-person deal, not shipping, and the other party was coming here directly.

No matter how you looked at it, the young man had nothing to lose, so he finally wrote down his address.

-DeadGameThrower: Coming right now.

“…What’s with this guy? Is he joking?”

Ding dong!

A sudden doorbell ring.

There were no packages due, and no deliveries had been ordered.

Just as the young man was about to turn back to the monitor thinking it was someone’s mistake, he froze at the voice that immediately followed.

“I know you’re home! Please open up!”

“Who is it?”

“Didn’t I just say I was coming? Did you forget already?”

“…Could it be DeadGameThrower?”

“Yes! You’re RoomDweller, right?”

“No way, how is this…”

It hadn’t even been a minute since he wrote the address.

It would take longer than this even if someone living next door came over.

‘What is this? Is it a hidden camera prank? A planned crime? But why me? I’m nobody. Should I call the police?’

All sorts of thoughts chained together in this incomprehensible situation.

However, the non-stop doorbell rings and knocking eventually made the young man slowly walk to the entrance.

Click!

“Hello!”

“…Haah.”

“Why the sigh?”

“No, you came so unexpectedly fast that I had some strange thoughts.”

“Strange thoughts?”

“Yeah. Like whether you might be a thief or stalker.”

“Me? As you can see, I’m just an ordinary person?”

“That’s true.”

The young man couldn’t help but laugh at how disappointingly ordinary the man looked compared to his worried expectations.

If anything stood out, it would be his fashion.

Black martial arts uniform like from a kung fu movie and various accessories with a fantasy feel.

A decorative longsword studded with gems like from a game.

No matter how you looked at it, there was absolutely nothing special about him, not even a speck worth being wary of, just the very embodiment of ordinary.

‘Hmm, still looks ordinary on second glance.’

So ordinary that he’d probably forget him immediately after closing the door and turning around.

“I’m in a hurry, so can we make the deal right now?”

The goggles that covered perfectly from eyebrows to bridge of nose, feeling more like a fashion item than VR device.

While examining the goggles the man handed over, the young man soon noticed something strange.

“There are no ports on this? How do you charge it or connect to the internet?”

“Ah, that, well… it’s a model that only supports wireless.”

“Really? Come to think of it, there’s no model name or manufacturer logo either, so what about repairs if it breaks?”

“That thing is so sturdy it’ll never break.”

“Still, even if you say that…”

Unlike the ordinary-looking man, this VR device was suspicious in every way.

However, all doubts lost their power in face of the single condition: price.

“It was ten thousand won, right?”

“Ah, before we deal, there’s one thing I’d like to confirm. What’s your name?”

“Han Yuseong.”

“Good. Mr. Han Yuseong, do you confirm that you wish to own this so-called ‘terminal for accessing and experiencing various events and problems as a member of another world’ purely of your own will, without any threats, unavoidable circumstances, or external pressure?”

“…Pardon?”

After pondering for a moment, Yuseong finally realized that the ‘terminal for accessing and experiencing various events and problems as a member of another world’ was just a roundabout way of saying VR device and chuckled.

“Why say it so grandly when you could just call it a VR device? I thought this was a web novel introduction. Is this actually not a VR device but a machine for crossing to another world?”

“Ha, hahaha…”

“…Why are you breaking into a cold sweat?”

“I, I was just surprised to hear something unexpected. So, could you answer my earlier question?”

Something about his strange reaction bothered Yuseong, but seeing the man looking at him with desperate eyes, he unconsciously nodded.

“Well, I suppose so.”

For a moment, Yuseong felt like the goggles emitted a faint light.

But before he could mention this, the man quickly snatched the bill in his other hand and stepped back.

“Sorry, but I have something to do so I need to go now! And please try to use that as soon as possible!”

“Ah, wait. I’m curious about how you got here so quickly…”

“Have fun gaming!”

Bang!

Looking back and forth between the firmly closed door and the goggles in his hand, Yuseong scratched his head and walked back into his room.

While there were quite a few concerning points like the impossibly quick arrival and the strange discomfort felt during their conversation, the man was already gone and the item was in his hands.

“Hmm. Come to think of it, this not only lacks ports but buttons too. How do you turn it on?”

Not just buttons, but there weren’t even any seams or gaps between parts that a machine should have.

While examining the goggles that boasted smooth curves as if made as one piece from the start, Yuseong decided to try wearing them first.

“…Don’t tell me I really got scammed?”

Through the colorless transparent lenses, all he could see was his messy, poorly maintained room. Just as he was about to console himself thinking ‘Wouldn’t it be a gain if I think of it as buying a nice fashion item?’, elegant text began appearing before his eyes.

[Confirmed previous user’s relinquishment of ownership and proper transfer of ownership]

[Registering new user information]

[Please keep wearing this device while registration proceeds]

“Ooh!”

Seems like it wasn’t a scam after all.

‘Come to think of it, if it’s registering information, what’s it registering? Is it saving iris data or something?’

Beeeeeep!

Though startled by the sudden high-pitched sound, he soon relaxed realizing it came from his smartphone.

Emergency disaster text messages sent by the government during national disasters, natural calamities, or other urgent situations.

It would undoubtedly contain information about that epidemic that’s been sweeping the world for several years now, so there was no need to check.

‘But hadn’t the alerts been turned off?’

Just as Yuseong recalled blocking them for his mental health due to dozens of daily alerts since the epidemic spread, new messages began appearing on the goggles.

[Registration and authentication complete]

[Granting user privileges to ‘Han Yuseong’]

[Han Yuseong’s current rank is ‘Beginner’ and most functions are unavailable]

[You must complete quests to activate functions]

[Accessing multi-dimensional exploration system]

[Successfully observed quest]

“Wait, what did you say?”

-Once Heir to the Asta Family

-Me, the Most Promising Talent of the Namgung Family, Branded a Traitor to the Martial World?

-Encountered Unidentified Life Form at Neptune Resource Base

-414 Members of the Suicide Squad Who Want to Escape from the Demon Realm

-I Want to Leave the Hero Party

-The Gate Opened but I’m the Only One Without Powers

…

……

………

Countless titles reminiscent of web novels.

The moment his gaze reflexively fixed on the topmost text, the screen changed and a new window appeared.

[Once Heir to the Asta Family]

-Civilization Classification: F-215

-Civilization Grade: 0.42

-Difficulty: D

-Asta Carlson, heir to the Asta family of the Capron Kingdom, is imprisoned in an underground dungeon after being framed for colluding with an enemy nation due to his younger sibling’s scheme for succession rights. Please help clear his false charges, restore his honor, and exact appropriate revenge.

-Clear Conditions:

1. Escape from territory: First part of Asta Secret Sword Technique

-Additional Conditions:

1. Death of traitors: Latter part of Asta Secret Sword Technique
2. Honor restoration: Pure Mithril Magic Sword
3. Obtain succession rights: Asta Secret Mental Technique

“Is this… a game?”

Though confused by strange terms like quest and multi-dimensional exploration system, the long message explaining the situation on the lens and words like grade, reward, and clear conditions were clearly gaming terms.

While it was slightly concerning that none of the titles in the list were familiar, considering the explosive release of VR games in recent years, it wasn’t that strange.

‘Must be indie games I haven’t heard of.’

Yuseong quietly returned to the previous page while browsing what appeared to be in-game images.

The character’s appearance completely ruined as if tortured, and the dungeon scene filled with torture devices covered in blood and flesh.

Even though this was his first VR game, he wanted to enjoy something with a more peaceful atmosphere if possible.

However, no matter how many pages he turned, the kind of game Yuseong had in mind was nowhere to be found.

“Sure, having lots of games is good, but why are they all like this?”

The settings were diverse – fantasy, martial arts, fusion, ancient, modern, SF – but the problem was the stories.

An heir running from false charges, an army surviving decades in another world, a space station invaded by unidentified life forms, someone eating humble pie as the only powerless person among capable companions – stories with unnecessarily heavy and gloomy atmospheres that seemed maliciously crafted.

[Please, Anyone, Help Me!]

-Civilization Classification: M-5

-Civilization Grade: 0.82

-Difficulty: E

-A girl who woke from sleep realized she was alone in an unfamiliar room. Though she doesn’t know where she is or how she got there, she knows one thing: an unknown entity is knocking at the door. Please help the girl survive.

-Clear Condition:

1. Survive the unknown entity: Karma 20,000

“A horror escape game?”

Horror isn’t his thing.

However, among games with merciless difficulty like fleeing multiple pursuers with an injured body or leading a small army against overwhelming numbers of enemies, this was the only one that seemed somewhat doable.

‘It’s definitely not because the playable character is a cute girl. But how do you start this? They said motion sensors are built in, so do you just move your hands?’

At that moment, the screen changed and new messages appeared.

[Starting ‘Please, Anyone, Help Me!’]

[Initiating Deus Ex Machina Program]

[Dimension coordinates specified and Ariadne’s Thread connection complete]

[Initiating spirit particle transfer]

The vast expanse of space.

And before it, a brilliant tunnel of light.

Feeling as if every part of his being was being broken down and sucked into that light tunnel, Yuseong instinctively closed his eyes.