Chapter 2

Chapter 2: [Knight Soul] Was This Game Always This Easy? (2)

“Now! We are about to begin the new content, the new game [Knight Soul]…… but before that, there is one thing I should make clear first. Ladies and gentlemen!”

Ju Seo-yoon spoke in a lively tone for the broadcast, then tossed out those words as though she had something to let them know.

“It is about the guest… in other words, about my real older brother. Actually, [Knight Soul] is the very first virtual reality game my brother has ever tried!”

The moment she said that, the chat window shot upward with a rush and began to burn. 

Every reaction was one of disbelief.

?

Stop lying; Miss Myangbangwool, sorry, but at your brother’s age, everyone has tried a virtual reality game at least once;;

Wow Is that so How fascinating? 

Did you think we would say that???? 

Please stop lying, pleeease..!!

“No, no. I am not lying, you know? If you really cannot believe me, I can even show you proof? Ladies and gentlemeeen-? Right, Oppa?”

“Well… it is not a lie. But is showing that… possible? I do not know.”

Ju Seo-jin tilted his head and asked back as though he truly found it questionable. 

It was a pure remark born from not knowing how such a thing could be possible.

“And… even if I could show something like my game history, I do not think it would mean anything… If someone came after making a new account, would anyone know?”

And because of the single sentence Ju Seo-jin uttered in pure doubt, the chat window burned once again.

-???

-Is he for real.. Is this real..? Is he saying that because he really does not know..? No way, is he actually pure clean water..? Not a character concept?

-No... Sir.. you can only make one member account per person on a capsule.. and you even have to do biometric authentication.. Is this a character concept??;

“Woooow…… Oppa, you really have never played a virtual reality game, have you? How… can you not know this much?”

“…….”

The streaming window. 

The broadcast screen was also being shared with Ju Seo-jin by Ju Seo-yoon.

Quickly realizing what had happened, Ju Seo-jin cleared his throat and awkwardly averted his gaze.

Because of biometric authentication, he had realized that one could not connect to a capsule even by creating a new account under someone else’s name.

Watching Ju Seo-jin turn his head in embarrassment due to his unintentional newbie remark(?), Ju Seo-yoon giggled and continued speaking.

“Now- Oppa, repeat after me. ‘Reveal game history.’ If you say that, your game history will switch to public. Got it?”

“I understand.”

“Ah! For reference, you know that you do not need to pay attention and pronounce it clearly, right? This is connected to your brain and nervous system and sends signals back and forth, so it is not voice recognition!”

“……….”

‘What is this… Is this not at the level of teaching a child who knows nothing…?’

It was absurd.

-Ah haha, it is not like he does not know that much haha. It is not like he thinks voice recognition is used inside a capsule haha.

-She is treating her brother like some kindergartener hahahahahaha Myangbangwool, is this not a bit too much?? 

Hahahahahaha

-???: Now, children of the Sunshine Class and Moonlight Class. Today, we are going to learn that inside a ‘capsule,’ interaction happens not through voice recognition, but through the connection between the brain and nervous system.

However, to the viewers, it only seemed entertaining, and every reaction was one of laughter.

Ju Seo-jin narrowed his forehead, let out a small sigh, and said quietly.

“Reveal game history.”

And then.

「Ju Seo-jin」

━Game History : {Public}

*[ :: Nothing :: ]

“……Ah. It worked. I revealed my game history. Well, I am not sure if you can see it properly.”

The moment Ju Seo-jin whirled the hologram window in his vision around and showed it to the broadcast screen, the chat window began moving at tremendous speed.

-?

-?????????????????????????????????????????

-What is this????????? He has... never played.. a virtual reality game.........??????? Is this real?????

A capsule.

A virtual reality device required one to create a new account and even complete biometric authentication before connecting to the Select Room.

In the current situation, revealing his game history and having a blank field appear meant, quite literally, that he truly had never played a virtual reality game before.

The viewers watching the stream also realized that fact and showed an enormous reaction.

It was because, in the current era, people who had never played a virtual reality game were very rare.

-Wow... Then [Knight Soul] really is the first virtual reality game he has ever played? hahahahahahahahaha This is insane, insane hahahahahaha

-How can hahaha [Knight Soul] hahahaha be hahaha the first hahaha virtual reality ga hahaha me hahahaha  ughahahaha

-wohoho!!!!!!!!!!! Let us properly cut down a newbie today hahahahahaha We are going to hear him wailing nonstop haha Pya hahahaha

‘Is this… really something worth getting this excited about…? Personal broadcasts are truly difficult to understand.’

Of course. 

From Ju Seo-jin’s perspective, since he did not know much about personal broadcasts or games, it merely felt bewildering. 

His head tilted on its own.

‘I have no choice but to just accept it.’

On the other hand. 

Unlike her real older brother, Ju Seo-jin, Ju Seo-yoon was a professional streamer. 

Everything was going according to plan.

The lively chat window. 

The increasing number of viewers. 

Looking at all of that, Ju Seo-yoon inwardly smiled.

‘Just as planned!’

Ju Seo-jin. 

A perfect newbie who possessed a rarity comparable to a natural monument, someone who had never played a virtual reality game. 

Her older brother was certainly worth bringing in as a special guest.

If a handsome man beyond even a celebrity appeared on a personal broadcast and said he had never played a virtual reality game, attention was bound to be drawn to him.

Since childhood, his body had suffered all sorts of rebounds due to the Eyes That Saw Fate. 

He had found it difficult to even take interest in games.

Ju Seo-jin himself was also not someone born with a personality that particularly liked games.

She had expected from the beginning that things would turn out this way.

‘As expected. Oppa was worth calling over as a special guest, even if I had to pay him a lot. The viewers are… responding even better than I thought.’

In modern society, virtual reality games had already established themselves as a very familiar major culture.

Cases like her brother, Ju Seo-jin, who had never played a virtual reality game even once, were uncommon. 

That was why she had called him as a guest for the game stream.

Of course… that was not all. 

Ju Seo-yoon wanted to show him a new world. 

A virtual world where freedom was guaranteed, unlike reality.

‘It will not be a bad thing. Oppa might also… become interested in virtual reality games through the game stream and be able to relieve some stress.’

Every moment. 

A body that unintentionally saw one person’s fortune or events that would happen in the future through the Power of Foresight. 

She also wanted to arrange an opportunity for her brother, Ju Seo-jin, to escape from painful reality.

Because they were family.

Ever since they were young, even while suffering from all sorts of illnesses, Ju Seo-jin had yielded anything and everything for his younger sister and practically raised her on his back.

When she was young, she had grown up thinking that was only natural because she was immature, but that was no longer the case.

‘If Oppa also becomes interested in virtual reality games… he might be able to regain a little vitality.’

Since he had even resigned with such good timing, they were now in a situation where they could spend time together for a while. 

Hoping she could return as much as she had received from Ju Seo-jin, Ju Seo-yoon continued speaking.

“Then… since the introduction of the guest’s special point is over… we should proceed with the content now, should we not? Please look forward to it!”

Lively.

“[Knight Soul]. The play begins now!”

-Kya!

-Finally! hahahahahahahahahaha

-Let us go, let us go! hahahahahahaha

[Knight Soul].

An enormous work, an AAA-class game released by ‘Soul Leaf.’

A mega-hit work evaluated as the highest level among dark fantasy virtual reality games.

「You have selected and launched [Knight Soul]. After the countdown, you will connect to the corresponding program.」

In other words- the commemorative moment when Ju Seo-jin’s first virtual reality game began had arrived.

***

[3]

[2]

[1]

…….

[START]

The next moment. 

The virtual body that had been implemented in the Select Room disappeared…… and the world was dyed in darkness. 

Then a hologram window appeared.

「[Knight Soul]」

━1. New Beginning [◀]

━2. Continue

━3. Settings

《 1P:{Myangbangwool} · 2P:{Ju Seo-jin} 》

A strange sensation. 

Feeling as if only his mind were floating through an empty void, Ju Seo-jin became flustered. 

……He had no idea what was what.

‘What am I supposed to do here?’

He probably had to press something like ‘New Beginning’ or ‘Continue’…… but how should he put it? 

He had no choice.

Even if he wanted to click it, he could not.

= Perhaps. Does voice chat or something not work here? 

I have no idea what is going on.

= Oppa… I told you, inside a capsule, there is no such thing as ‘voice recognition’…… If you simply want it, the chat function activates…… Do you get the feeling?

= Ah.

= Oh dear.

However, it did not last long. 

At Ju Seo-yoon’s voice ringing inside his brain, Ju Seo-jin immediately realized the ‘player chat’ function.

Inside a capsule device connected to the brain · nervous system and so on, one could verbalize one’s surface consciousness with thought alone and send a chat that would be recognized as speech.

When Ju Seo-jin, who had realized that far too late, fell silent, the chat window heated up once again.

-Legend, legend hahahahahahahaha

-Ah haha, that can happen. That can happen hahaha. Everyone got flustered once in elementary school, right? 

hahahahahahahaha

-No hahahahahahaha what is with this real, genuine newbie reaction hahahahahahahaha Absolute legend hahahahahahaha Ah haha

……He lost his words. 

Ju Seo-jin fell silent, feeling as if he wanted to hide in a mouse hole. 

Ju Seo-yoon kindly spoke as if teaching a child.

= Ah. Oppa, do not be flustered…? Here, the game control authority is with me, so it is normal that you cannot do anything! Once the game starts soon, your body will be implemented too, so do not worry.

-Her brother hahaha is dying of embarrassment hahahahahahahahahaha ughahahahahaha

-It is already seriously hilarious from the start?? This has the angle of legendary content, for real haha

-I am laughing so hard I cannot breathe hahahahahahaha This is so damn funny haha

……He felt like covering his face with both hands. As Ju Seo-jin continued his silence in shame, Ju Seo-yoon operated the start screen and sent him a chat as if gently soothing a young child(?).

= Well… do not mind it too much. The game will start soon, so you can watch the intro video… and move on to the next stage. It will not be difficult! I mean, I will help you? Do not worry! Okay!

= …….

-Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-(A little later): Now... Oppa? Could you move your left leg and right leg once each and step forward? Yes, that is called 「walking」. Do you understand..?

-Myangbangwool’s declaration of ‘I will help you, so do not worry!’ hahahahahahaha There is someone who receives ‘help’ from Mangbangwool, the byword for hopeless physical skill?? Legend hahahaha

While Ju Seo-jin tried hard to suppress his shame, the stream began in earnest.

The moment Ju Seo-yoon selected ‘New Beginning,’ not only the streaming window but even the player chat was cut off.

‘Ah. It finally… seems to be starting. Does the intro video come first? This.’

[Knight Soul]. Soul Leaf’s AAA-class game, an enormous work. That game had begun.

Ooooooh.

━The ‘Knight’s Soul’─── what a great and terrible holy relic it is. Light and darkness are two sides of one body, so how could one revere it without fearing it?

In a darkness where nothing could be seen…… a voice began to be heard. 

A dignified male voice somewhere between middle age and old age rang out.

━One who chases starlight. Descendant of knights, who seeks to step onto a new path. I warn you, this will never be only hopeful, nor only noble.

Snap.

The sound of a thread breaking. 

At the same time, the scene reflected in his vision changed…… and ancient murals drawn in a dark cave began to appear.

━……In the past. In the Age of Gods, the Sun God bestowed the Golden Fire upon humanity. The king tore that Golden Fire into seven branches and shared it among the seven most virtuous knights.

The Golden Fire. 

A golden flame contained within a radiant white holy grail. 

A painting showed a god whose head was the sun floating in the sky granting it to a crowned human kneeling upon the earth.

And then…… next, a painting of the king scattering and sharing the Golden Fire one by one over the heads of the Seven Knights was continuously shown.

The dignified narration continued.

━Their names were ‘Humility,’ ‘Charity,’ ‘Kindness,’ ‘Patience,’ ‘Chastity,’ ‘Temperance,’ and ‘Diligence,’ and the Seven Knights became lamps that lit the world under the king’s command……

Fade to black.

His vision was dyed black.

━The golden embers they shared came to be called the ‘Knight’s Soul.’

However. 

That was only for a moment.

New scenes began to appear one after another, and the narration began to continue.

━The world sang of brilliance under the protection of god, king, and the Seven Knights, and all people lived in happiness.

He saw people living in the sunlight, all of them smiling, and the endlessly flowing scenery of nature. 

Everything was peaceful.

━However… instead of being pleased, god was wrathful. The Golden Fire was a power that must not be shared equally, and to do so was irreverence and a great sin.

It did not last long. 

The sunlight was covered by dark clouds, and the focus of his vision was forcibly adjusted as though he were looking up at the sky. 

The narration took on an increasingly darker voice.

━Thus, god bestowed upon the king an indelible pain, and upon the Seven Knights a curse of heavenly punishment.

SHAAAA-

Rain poured down.

━Their names were ‘Pride,’ ‘Avarice,’ ‘Envy,’ ‘Wrath,’ ‘Lust,’ ‘Greed,’ and ‘Sloth,’ and before that curse, the Seven Knights each lost the golden embers within the ‘Knight’s Soul’ they possessed.

Christianity. 

They were the Seven Deadly Sins contrasted against the Seven Heavenly Virtues. 

At the same time, they were malicious derogatory names that opposed the original meanings held by the Seven Knights’ ‘Knight’s Souls.’

SHAAAA……

Vision. 

The focus of his vision, which had been forcibly adjusted upward as if he were looking at the sky, lowered once again…… and unlike before, he saw a civilization that had fallen to ruin.

All living people crept into corners like rats or insects, while corpses that had turned hideous became wraiths and roamed the land.

It was not pleasant to look at.

━The Age of Chaos. As the price for losing the Golden Fire bestowed by god, the world strayed from god’s providence.

━People no longer found rest even when they died, and merely wandered the earth as wraiths, having lost the dignity of life.

━The king was preserved in indelible pain, and the Seven Knights, unable to find rest even after death, fell into monsters covered in the filth of the world. And……

RUMBLE───!

Lightning. 

Thunder roared loudly within the dark clouds, and his vision was once more dyed black. 

It was the moment the intro video of [Knight Soul] came to an end.

━To reclaim the Golden Fire, to end the Age of Chaos─── there were those who willingly stepped forward.

At the same time, Ju Seo-jin felt his consciousness being sucked somewhere.

***

「Origin」

━Knight’s Descendant / 2P:{Ju Seo-jin}

*{Strength +1} · {Vitality +2} · {Technique +2}

**Since the initial setting value of ‘Play Mode’ is ‘Nightmare,’ the origin of the player character will be applied at random. 

This cannot be changed.

***

A chapel.

Ju Seo-jin, who had opened his eyes on a cold, hard altar, blinked- and blinked- his eyes, then made an ‘Ah-’ sound.

From the moment he opened his eyes, Ju Seo-jin realized that the origin of his player character was ‘Knight’s Descendant.’

As expected of a virtual reality game, it was connected to the brain · nervous system, so information input was carried out quickly.

Slide.

“Are you awake?”

“……Yeah.”

At that moment. 

Ju Seo-yoon, dressed in a shabby robe, poked her head out and looked down at Ju Seo-jin, who was lying on the altar. ……The streaming window was visible again too.

-Is her brother unable to talk because he was shocked after watching the intro video??; I was like that when I was in elementary school too;

-???: Oppa, I told you that even though virtual reality games do not use ‘voice recognition,’ you still have to have the awareness that you are ‘going to speak’ for the player chat function to turn on..? Got it...?

-Hey, you malicious bastards hahahahaha Stop teasing her brother hahahahahahahahahahahaha This is seriously too much hahahaha

Mm. 

He neatly ignored it. 

Ju Seo-jin calmly got up from the bed, then fell silent…… and Ju Seo-yoon spoke softly.

“Oppa. You know the game has started, right? The tutorial will begin soon. We do not have much time, so let us exchange information quickly. I am from the ‘Wandering Mage’ origin…… what did you get?”

“……I think it said ‘Knight’s Descendant.’”

“Wow. You got a good one…? Nice! Ah. Right. Do you feel any sense of discomfort or inconvenience in your body? If you do, adjust the settings before we go-”

“Wait.”

“?”

“Hold on.”

Ju Seo-jin pressed his fingers firmly against his forehead, raised his upper body, and frowned. 

All of his senses were far too vivid.

Not only the ceiling and floor, but even the walls felt as vivid as if he were stroking them with his palms…… and not even a single speck of dust escaped the range of his perception.

He knew all too well what that meant.

‘It is the Power of Foresight.’

In other words───.

The Eyes That Saw Fate. 

As that transcendent perceptive ability activated, the senses of his body had also been strengthened to an excessive degree under its influence. 

It was a common occurrence.

‘This is strange.’

Occasionally, on days when the Power of Foresight activated to its maximum, his five senses sharpened to an extreme and finally even his sixth sense opened…… and on days like that, he had to suffer from body aches all day as the price.

The current moment was not particularly different either.

‘Why?’

Improvement of physical ability. 

Expansion of the range of perception. 

In a state where the Eyes That Saw Fate were active, he had to pay a price for using the ability even if he was merely standing still. 

That was common sense and reason.

‘Why… even though the Power of Foresight is activating to its maximum… do I feel perfectly fine?’

No.

To be precise, that was what he had thought.

Until today. 

Until this very moment. ……Now, that was no longer the case.

“Oppa?”

“…….”

‘Could it be… that inside a virtual reality game… even if I activate my ability to the maximum, I do not have to pay a price?’

It was the moment he gained a new realization.