-Welcome, Pax-nim. Would you like to enter the world of Last On?
“Okay, let’s go.”
-Impact has been detected on the device. Login is restricted.
“What? Impact?”
Impact? Was it installed incorrectly? Pyeonghwa, who had been full of anticipation, opened the capsule with a disappointed face.
From somewhere came a kong, kong, kong sound, hitting at regular intervals. Pyeonghwa stuck his head out of the capsule and looked down toward where the sound was coming from.
“Damn it, was it you?”
The egg he’d placed on the cushion had somehow rolled over and was tapping against the capsule. It wasn’t even that far away, yet it was being so annoying. Pyeonghwa grumbled as he picked up the egg.
The scan must be finished by now, and since the egg wasn’t metal, it shouldn’t matter if it went in with him. Real-world objects weren’t implemented in the game anyway. The only thing that could enter the virtual reality world was a person’s body.
Since he was out, Pyeonghwa picked up the tracksuit he’d carelessly thrown on the floor and put it on. The capsule supposedly had temperature control, but it was the dead of winter and the air was cold, so he felt like he needed to wear something. Pyeonghwa pulled the zipper up to his neck, then lay down in the capsule.
“Future, I’m logging in now.”
-Welcome, Pax-nim. Entering the world of Last On.
The white light that had been like a distant dot gradually drew closer, then painted the entire world pure white. Along with the sensation of his body floating, he felt slightly dizzy.
After blinking a couple of times, Pyeonghwa, who had been inside the capsule, was now standing in the middle of a plaza bustling with people.
“……Wow, it’s the Newbie Zone.”
An emotion-filled voice flowed from Pyeonghwa’s mouth. He bit his lower lip, feeling like tears might well up.
<Newbie Zone #192>
Newbie Zone. A village where newbie-grade players who had just created their IDs gathered.
Newbies performed dozens of missions here to adapt to the game, and based on their final clear score, they moved to villages of different grades.
Graduating from the Newbie Zone took an average of about a month, but Pyeonghwa had no intention of investing that much time. Broadcasting couldn’t be turned on in the Newbie Zone.
‘I need to get Diamond rank and leave within a week.’
<Last On>’s ranks were divided into nine tiers from lowest to highest: Newbie, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, Grand Master, and Challenger.
The highest rank attainable in the Newbie Zone was Diamond. Pyeonghwa set his target rank as Diamond.
Actually, this wasn’t Pyeonghwa’s first time in the Newbie Zone. During his time at game school, there was a time when he’d opened the capsule and entered, determined to show that non-awakened people could play too.
Pyeonghwa, who accessed <Last On> with a temporary ID for non-awakened users, had to taste bitter defeat. His vision cut out in chunks like a malfunctioning computer screen, and his movements were also limited.
In that state, he somehow managed to enter the training ground, but…… before long, his connection was forcibly cut. Pyeonghwa burst out of the capsule, ran to the bathroom, and threw up everything he’d eaten into the toilet.
‘So this is how it looks. To awakened people.’
Pyeonghwa looked around curiously as if finding it fascinating. People walking, running, talking, laughing—all their movements were natural. Not only that, he could smell scents carried on the wind and feel the warm sunlight. It was worlds apart from what he’d seen in videos.
And his own movements too…… Pyeonghwa casually clenched and unclenched his fist, then realized he was holding a rough, circular object in his hand.
“Whoa.”
Pyeonghwa froze for a moment as if flustered, then immediately went on guard and looked around. No one was watching, but it felt like this fact shouldn’t be discovered by anyone.
Pyeonghwa sidled into a narrow alley between buildings.
“Hey, how did you follow me!”
Pyeonghwa hid in a corner and shouted quietly at the egg. Naturally, the egg didn’t answer. Pyeonghwa groaned as if his head hurt from this unexpected situation.
“Is it a lag? I’ve never heard of a real-world object following into virtual reality……”
Pyeonghwa looked down at the clothes he was wearing. The ochre-colored short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts were the default clothes given to all players worldwide, which Korean users cursed at for looking like jjimjilbang clothes.
The clothes he’d been wearing outside stayed behind, and only the egg followed…… Pyeonghwa, who had been pondering, came up with several hypotheses.
First, it was due to the egg’s inherent characteristic of wanting to stick to its owner. And second…….
‘Nah, no way. It can’t be that. That’s too much, way too much.’
Pyeonghwa, who had been shaking his head to dismiss the absurd thought, soon shouted with eyes sparkling with greed.
“Logout!”
Pyeonghwa, who rushed back to his room in a hurry, put the egg in the ‘Egg Pouch’ and slung it crossbody. Then he equipped the bracelet-type weapon, ‘Quiz Quiz Multitool,’ on his wrist.
“……Login.”
After logging back into the game, Pyeonghwa confirmed that all the items from outside were perfectly implemented in the game and his jaw dropped wide open. Even the ‘Quiz Quiz Multitool’ was metal, but there was no warning at all!
“Holy, holy shit……”
The beginner dagger sold in <Last On>’s item trading post cost 1 million won, and a basic mask cost a whopping 500,000 won. They didn’t even have particularly good options. It was a burdensome price for students receiving allowance from their parents to buy a full set.
So he’d been putting them in his shopping cart and agonizing over them, but to think he could bring items bought from the General Store! It meant he could use expensive game items from now on without spending a single won.
‘Agreon… what the hell kind of guy is he?’
Pyeonghwa changed his thoughts about Agreon, whom he’d treated as a nobody. Actually, the General Store had been a scam from the start.
Normally, hunters poured time and money into running Gates, placing orders with specialized awakened craftsmen, and participating in auctions to obtain good equipment, but at the General Store, you could get quality items with just a click of a button. Though it required special points instead of money.
The General Store was such an incredible system, but Pyeonghwa, who had no interest in being a hunter, had been casually thinking he’d just sell items bought from the General Store when he ran out of money.
But to think General Store items were compatible with the game! Now Pyeonghwa’s eyes sparkled with interest. Sell what? Such good stuff should be used alone. Only I get to be OP. Hehehe…….
“Status window!”
<Name: Noh Pyeonghwa
Age: 20
Constellation: Agreon
Title: None
AP: 158
Overall Stats (Restricted): Strength 10 Agility 20 Wisdom 20 Stamina 23 Mental Power 20 Luck 152 …View Details
Skills (Restricted): 「Fox Transformation Lv.2」, 「Why So Angry? Lv.3」 …View Details
Quest: 「Main Quest: World Peace! (In Progress)」 …View Details>
Pyeonghwa opened his status window to check his Aggro Points. 158 points had accumulated.
“Should I cover my face first?”
Pyeonghwa, who was about to logout to use the General Store, paused when he saw the word ‘Restricted’ in the status window.
In-game, all awakened people’s abilities were equalized. So it was natural for stats and skills to be restricted. But why weren’t there any restrictions on AP, Aggro Points?
If he could spend points in-game, the only place to use them was the General Store. Pyeonghwa moved to an even more secluded spot and smacked his lips.
“Open General Store.”
As expected. The General Store unfolded before his eyes. Pyeonghwa’s cheeks flushed red with excitement.
“Show me items that cover the face! Like masks or face coverings. Within what I can afford!”
The General Store filtered and showed three or four items. Ordinary masks could be bought at cheap prices, but Pyeonghwa was hooked on the most expensive item.
It was a black gas mask that covered the entire face.
<Cyber Punk Gas Mask
Grade: Epic
A gas mask that filters out 99.9% of harmful substances.
When worn, fire resistance increases by 20% and field of vision narrows by 30%.
Made of lightweight materials, weight is barely felt.
Wearer’s emotions are displayed through the goggles’ neon signs.
Price: 150AP>
“Can’t resist cyber punk!”
Pyeonghwa pressed the purchase button as if entranced. He grabbed the gas mask that suddenly popped out of thin air and examined it from all angles. He’d thought it would be bulky because of the filter on the lower part, but it was less cumbersome than expected.
He immediately put it on. The fit was good, and breathing was easy. It seemed like movement would be limited because the field of vision narrowed, but except for that, it wasn’t any different from seeing the world with bare eyes.
Pyeonghwa went out to the plaza and looked around for a mirror. He wanted to see himself wearing the cool gas mask.
His appearance wearing a luxurious gas mask with newbie jjimjilbang clothes seemed unique, so people glanced at Pyeonghwa and whispered. Wow, that’s an expensive item. How much is it? Must be super rich…….
As expected, receiving attention was pleasant. His shoulders naturally lifted. Pyeonghwa discovered a full-length mirror in front of a clothing store and strode over.
“Wow, insane. So fucking cool!”
It was a purchase without regrets. I should save up more points and get some slick clothes too. Hehehe…… As he grinned while looking in the mirror, a smiling eye emoticon appeared in neon on the goggles.
