Translator: Dreamscribe
All NPCs were equipped with an artifact of language comprehension.
It allowed them to speak Korean naturally, but filtered out specific words to make them inaudible.
This was a measure to protect the people of Arsilan.
“As expected of a hero, seeking a mission right away. Try going to the Adventurer’s Guild. Ahem! Come to think of it, the Village Chief is looking for some workers....”
“Ooh! Thank you!”
-Wow, her RPG experience shows.
-Got a quest hint right away!
The guard let Haebyul pass. Then people started crowding toward the guard and lining up.
Faced with the large crowd, the guard’s expression froze.
[Hang in there.]
"Gr-Great...."
[Quiet.]
"Mmph!"
Jinwoo patted the guard on the shoulder as he clamped his mouth shut and followed behind Haebyul.
“Wow! It’s so pretty!”
-Feels just like a beginner village.
-It makes my heart feel at peace.
-This is true healing.
-No need to travel abroad anymore. Just go to Arsilan from your room!
FS Games’ art team was quite skilled.
They had simply recreated it, yet even with the village’s large size, its serene atmosphere was well preserved.
Haebyul caught a falling petal from a flowering tree with her hand.
The texture and fragrance of the petal wrapped around her.
“It feels more real than real life! It’s like... like I’ve recovered a sense I’d lost?”
Jinwoo watched her for a moment and gently waved his hand.
Paaaah!
The sky over Evanth became covered in flower petals.
As if blessing the day, a shower of petals began.
“Ah....”
Not only Haebyul and the viewers, but all nearby players stood still for a while, gazing blankly at the sky.
He hoped the players wouldn’t forget this sight.
He hoped they would protect this beauty.
Jinwoo imbued that wish into the fluttering petals.
“This is amazing!”
Haebyul looked around curiously, taking in the village.
NPCs nearby chuckled as they watched her.
They knew she was a hero, but her innocent demeanor made them smile. After all, she was someone who had come to save Arsilan, how could they think ill of her?
“I should go to the Adventurer’s Guild first. Where is it? There’s no map, so I have no idea.”
-This is so realistic.
-Of course it’s realistic. It’s the world’s first virtual reality game.
-Arsilan Saga! The game more real than reality.
-When’s the second sales round? I wanna play too me too me too me too
-Isn’t it that big building over there?
Haebyul spotted the Adventurer’s Guild building and went inside.
It was spacious.
It had been designed large, keeping a large number of players in mind.
The atmosphere of the Adventurer’s Guild was lively. Loud talk bounced around here and there, but it was all scripted.
“I’m telling you! Huh! I took down a wyvern in my youth! If it weren’t for that arrow to the knee, I’d be...”
“Hahaha! You probably took down a worm, not a wyvern!”
Mm, great acting!
Jinwoo was satisfied!
Haebyul widened her eyes and looked around.
Such a fantastical sight!
This was exactly the kind of Adventurer’s Guild that comes to mind when one thinks of another world!
Haebyul carefully walked toward the reception desk.
“Um, excuse me....”
“You must be a hero! You've finally arrived!”
Haebyul's gaze went blank.
It was because Tia, playing the role of the receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild, had appeared.
The finest beauty sculpted by nature.
Haebyul couldn’t help but be entranced by the High Elf’s stunning appearance.
-B-beautiful -noona!
-Kyaaa!
-S-something’s happening to me...
When Tia smiled slightly, Haebyul snapped back to her senses.
“Welcome to the Evanth Branch of the Adventurer’s Guild. By joining the Adventurer’s Guild, you can take on various Quests. We also provide support for beginners, so don’t hesitate and sign up right away.”
“Yes! I-I’ll sign up. Um, can I call you unnie?”
“Oh my.”
Tia was also an excellent actress.
While Haebyul was registering, Jinwoo turned his head to look at the notice board. It was filled with various Quests. Some were created by FS Games, and others were real.
Rainsword was short on labor, so they planned to use the Quest format to hire heroes. After all, things like food, firewood, and herbs were essential for the domain’s people.
Mission rewards came in the form of money or items.
‘The currency is....’
Fittingly for a fantasy world, the unit was gold.
Arsilan Gold.
Marked as AG.
Originally, currency had no value in Arsilan.
Because the world was on the verge of collapse. Jinwoo had the coins produced by mobilizing the domain's people. He designed the economic system to make them usable in Evanth.
Wow! Free labor!
Heroes were incredibly strong, free labor.
Jinwoo looked toward Haebyul and Tia.
“You are now an Iron Rank Adventurer! Complete Quests to achieve higher ranks. Here are your starter supplies.”
“Starter supplies?”
“An Item Appraisal Certificate, a Subspace Tattoo, and startup funds.”
The Subspace Tattoo engraved on the soul functioned as an inventory.
It couldn’t store a large amount, but it was created to give the game-like feel. Of course, it was crafted by magic developers.
“A basic weapon is be provided, so please take one.”
“Yes! Unnie!”
Tia smiled and gently patted Haebyul’s head.
Haebyul’s face turned red.
-Noona! Me too!!
-Me too me too!
-Wooooooah!
-mngmngmng
The chat window went wild.
Jinwoo made eye contact with Tia. Seeing through Jinwoo’s Invisibility, Tia winked.
Tia immediately sent a magical message.
[What an adorable hero. Makes me want to torment her. I want to see her weep and collapse in despair soon.]
[Hmm....]
[Are all summoned heroes this cute?]
[...Probably not.]
Could players really be cute?
During his time as Game Director, players were..., ugh! Suddenly, a headache...
Thud!
Just as Haebyul exited, men in only their underwear walked in.
"I have arrived."
“Weapons are mere accessories.”
"How boring this world is. So boring I want to die."
“Innkeeper girl! Bring me wheat noodles and bamboo leaf liquor!”
Tia’s eyes, once filled with madness, turned blank.
Madness always crumbles before greater madness.
In front of Earth's heroes whose limits had been released, Tia was just an ordinary being.
[Um, Jinwoo-nim? A-Are those really heroes too? Jinwoo-nim?]
Are these things seriously heroes?
Question marks flooded Tia’s mind.
[It’s all for Arsilan. Hang in there.]
Swoosh!
Jinwoo disappeared using Teleportation.
And then...
“Kyaaak! You can’t eat the Quest scrolls! Spit it out right now! Yuck! Gross!”
“Aah! You can’t roll down the stairs! There are no secret passages or anything! Your head is bleeding!”
“You can’t mix poisonous herbs in your beer! What? You like the tangy flavor? Aah! That’s a sign of addiction! Quick, get some herbs...!”
“You threw a jar because you thought there might be money in it? Hero? Is something wrong with your head? Ugh! Pay the fine!”
“I’m not your noona! I’m not your mom either!”
As the Heroes caused mischief like little children, Tia sighed and held her head in her hands.
She slowly began to fall into darkness!
*Title: Prankster
A title given to a mischievous Hero who pesters Tia.
It has no special function.
“Wow! A title!”
“Can’t resist a title!”
“Looking for someone to go prank Tia noona with.”
Grrrk!
Just you wait.
A burning desire to make the heroes cry began to swell in Tia’s heart.
Despair... a thicker, more dreadful kind of despair...!
“Hu, huhuhuhu....”
Tia’s laughter turned sinister.
Well, in any case, it was a good development.