NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 137
Have you ever seen a dog tied up in front of a house when you were young?
Usually, it’s a huge, big dog tied up, and when you’re little, you have no fear, so you try to touch it.
Now, it’s unimaginable, but back then, climbing onto apartment railings was a game. There were so many unimaginable things.
The story took a slight turn, but when you touch that big dog, there are usually two outcomes.
It either growls at you, or it obediently follows your commands.
When you meet a big dog that falls into the latter category, it feels really good.
A dog as big as you, looking like it would never listen, actually obeying your commands feels like you’ve gained some superpower.
So.
Why did I suddenly bring this up?
Because I felt exactly that way.
A few days ago. At Pape’s suggestion, I played [League of Legends] after a long time and felt a strange emotion.
Our jungler wasn’t one to listen well. But he looked like he would.
The one who stirred strange emotions in me was our top laner.
He picked Irelia and just mindlessly charged in, so I thought he was a monster, but when he obediently teleported for the final backdoor order, I even felt a thrill.
To the point where our top laner started to look cute.
And then I had an epiphany.
It’s incredibly thrilling to secure victory by your own commands.
And if the ones you command usually don’t listen, the thrill is doubled.
If even these guys look cute, then the ones who are naturally cute must be even more amazing.
That’s the kind of realization I had.
Indeed, it was a game that once shook the world.
Just one playthrough and the epiphanies come in sets.
With a clear goal in mind, the next steps were straightforward.
After finalizing the genre, theme, and various systems, I reached out using a business card I received before.
“Hello, this is Han Yoorim. I think we can proceed with what you requested last time.”
[Does this mean the game production is now possible?]
“Yes. So, could I get an early look at the device you’re about to release? I want to test a few things.”
[Of course.]
*
Bunny Run lay on her bed, muttering.
“Will unnie be okay?”
Han Yoorim acted as if it was nothing, but a slump is no ordinary thing.
Bunny Run had also experienced a slump. That’s why she knew exactly how hard it was for Han Yoorim right now.
Falling into a slump is like becoming a lost child.
When you’re in a slump, you forget what the right answer is. You forget how you used to do things.
You start to think you can never return to your shining days, and that leads to doubt.
And then you go back to the beginning. You fall into an infinite loop.
How did I get out of it back then?
Bunny Run reminisced about a memory from years ago.
Yes, that’s right.
I had a heated 1:1 argument with a viewer and then regained my energy.
“Do I always have to fight to regain my senses…”
Bunny Run let out a hollow laugh and turned her thoughts back to Han Yoorim.
Using her own method on Han Yoorim was out of the question.
If she used her own method, she’d have to make Han Yoorim argue, but it didn’t seem like Han Yoorim would regain energy that way, and she couldn’t even imagine Han Yoorim arguing.
So what was needed now was—
“Bunny Run-nim. Are you busy?”
“Huh? No, not really.”
“That’s good. Ah, can I use your computer for a bit?”
“Sure.”
So. What unnie needs now is—
“Why are you even here, unnie?”
“Of course, I came to see Bunny Run-nim.”
“That’s not what I meant, how did you get into my house?”
Bunny Run’s house is an apartment. It has a regular digital door lock, and without the password, you can’t get in.
At Bunny Run’s words, Han Yoorim answered as if puzzled.
“You told me, didn’t you?”
“Me? I never did that.”
I swear to heaven, I never did.
“Did you peek at me entering the password or something?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“On the day Bunny Run-nim was completely drunk. How do you think I got you home?”
“Ah.”
Bunny Run retracted her oath.
Thinking about it, that did happen.
It was such a shocking episode that I erased it from my memory.
“But knowing the password and coming in without saying anything are two different things.”
“That’s a very common-sense statement. If it weren’t for Bunny Run-nim’s passive skill of suddenly showing up at my house.”
“My passive skill is pretty good.”
Getting up, Bunny Run went to the fridge and took out a beverage.
Along with some snacks on a tray, Bunny Run returned to the room.
Han Yoorim, who had just turned on the computer, moved the mouse. Bunny Run set the tray down and asked.
“So why did you come, unnie?”
“To see Bunny Run-nim.”
“Did you miss me? Meeting someone you miss is good for getting over a slump.”
“My slump is already over. It’s something else.”
Something else?
“More importantly, your slump is over?”
“Bunny Run-nim was right. Playing games was the answer.”
“I did say unnie should play games.”
It’s a relief that the slump is over.
Bunny Run’s voice, now in a better mood, chattered away.
“What’s the other thing? Want me to test a game?”
“That’s Bunny Run-nim for you. Right on the mark.”
“If unnie comes to see me, it’s gotta be that.”
If this game compass shows interest in others, it’s only about games.
With the slump over and bringing some strange shopping bag?
It had to be a game.
It was such an easy question, even if you got it right, you only got one point.
“What game is it? Did you go to an amusement park, so something like RollerCoaster Tycoon?”
“That could have been, but unfortunately, Universal Studios didn’t impress me much.”
“Didn’t your eyes sparkle when you rode the [Harry Potter] ride?”
“That was really fun.”
“And [Mario Kart] too.”
“That was also really fun.”
Bunny Run placed her hands on her hips and continued.
“Sis. Pretending you didn’t enjoy something after having fun, is that because amusement parks are only for the cool kids?”
“Having fun and being moved are two different things.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s how it is.”
Anyway.
Bunny Run stared intently at the monitor.
She was curious what she was doing, moving the mouse so diligently.
Title: Past Bunny Run vs Present Bunny Run
Shorts Content: (A video cross-editing Bunny Run filming a keyboard battle MAD movie in the past and Bunny Run now, who has become a sis-con)
“What on earth are you doing, sis?”
Bunny Run couldn’t hide her bewilderment at Han Yoorim, who was fully engrossed in exploring shorts.
Han Yoorim said,
“I’m exploring shorts.”
“I can see that. Weren’t you doing some important work?”
“How can I do that kind of work on Bunny Run’s computer? There’s no related program or data.”
“Then why did you ask for the computer?”
“To explore shorts.”
Caught in an endless loop of conversation, Bunny Run quickly pressed the escape button.
“Weren’t you going to test the new game?”
“That’s right.”
“Don’t you need a computer for that?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why did you ask for the computer?”
“To explore shorts.”
“I can see that—”
Hot. Bunny Run was startled and cut off her words, shaking her head.
She almost fell into the loop again.
Bunny Run calmly opened her mouth.
“If you’re done watching, let’s do the test. I want to try sis’s game.”
“Alright.”
At Bunny Run’s words, Han Yoorim rummaged through her shopping bag and pulled something out.
It was a box.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
Upon opening it, a pair of glasses came out.
They looked like a VR device.
“Is this the new VR device?”
“It’s new, but it’s not a VR device.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s an AR device.”
“Ah. Is this that thing?”
AR device.
That was the technology VR devices had aimed for from the start.
Originally, VR devices released in the early 2020s often included AR technology.
The reason VR devices ended up with only VR functions was entirely due to Messiah, the creator of the current VR device ‘Prometheus.’
Focusing on creating an innovative VR device, they removed all AR technology, but now Messiah has returned with an AR device. It was already predictable how the market would change.
Bunny Run put on the AR device. Then.
Zing—. Along with the activation sound, a display appeared in mid-air.
It felt like a display floating in reality, which was quite fascinating.
“How is it?”
“Not bad.”
Actually, I’m not sure yet.
It feels really convenient and nice, but I’m not sure about the advantages of the AR device?
Is this really good?
“It’s really good.”
“Really?”
“Yes. For example, smartphones will become obsolete.”
“Really?”
“AR devices are superior in every aspect. It’s not for nothing that companies that used to make VR devices are now trying to make AR devices.”
There’s a lot of talk about VR being the future, but that’s a more distant future. In the nearer future, AR dominated the world. It was a technology with many applications.
“This is amazing.”
“Now let’s play the game. I’ve already downloaded it, can you see it?”
“Yeah. I see it.”
Bunny Run tapped on an app sitting in a translucent window.
Dung dung. Yoorim Company!
The unique signature sound played as the logo passed by. It felt different, overlaying reality.
“Ah. Of course, since it’s a test version, I’ve omitted some things. Please keep that in mind.”
“Got it.”
“First, let’s see the reaction.”
See the reaction?
Bunny Run tilted her head, not understanding what she meant.
Then, with a ‘Poof!’ sound effect, something appeared.
It was the Water Spirit.
“Huh?”
Laughing cheerfully, the Water Spirit roamed around the house.
Seeing that familiar figure, Bunny Run blankly followed the Water Spirit with her eyes.
Seeing the Water Spirit hiding under the blanket with only its head peeking out, Bunny Run asked.
“Is this the Water Spirit from Fantasy Life?”
“I linked it. It should recognize Bunny Run.”
“Really?”
As Bunny Run’s eyes widened, the Water Spirit let out a happy laugh and jumped out from under the blanket.
The Water Spirit circled around Bunny Run.
Bunny Run, as if entranced, reached out to the Water Spirit.
“The Affinity System is working well. Let’s do the next test.”
Then, Han Yoorim manipulated something.
Poof!
And then, the Water Spirit exploded.
“……?”
With the Water Spirit shattered into pieces on the floor, Bunny Run’s thoughts came to a halt.
Han Yoorim said.
“Everything is working as I designed. Good job. As a thank you, I’ll buy you a meal. What do you want to eat?”
“…Sniff.”
“Sniff? What food starts with ‘sniff’?”
“Sniff.”
“Oh, you’re crying.”