The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 100

After escaping from the capsule, Ilwoo visited a game community he often frequented. He planned to post his experiences of playing games all day, partly to boast.

However, the atmosphere of the bulletin board was unsettling. Numerous posts by those who had logged out earlier were filled with absurd content.

He clicked on the post with the highest number of views:

“[Connect Day 1. Honest Account of Connecting]”

Finally connected to Connect that I’ve been eagerly waiting for. I have so much to say, but I’ll tell you in order. First, the capsule.

I’m telling you, it’s not Earth technology. It’s one thing to do a full dive, but can you imagine lying in a capsule and seeing things?

You get to eat and even go to the bathroom there, so there’s no problem diving for a long time.

And the more important thing is, I played for over ten hours and when I came out, there was zero fatigue, does that make any sense?

So I directly asked Connect, and they said, playing games in Connect is similar to dreaming? I’m more of an arts and literature guy, so I don’t really understand, can you science guys explain this?

There are many other functions, but I won’t explain them here, let’s skip to the game for now.

After hearing a brief explanation and customizing my appearance, I entered the game. But, wow, I don’t know what to call this.

Hey guys, stop watching movies or reading novels and play this.

This is not a game, it’s like moving to another dimension.

The realism, the liveliness is insane.

CG? 3D modeling? If this is graphic processing, then we are just like a bunch of polygons. I guarantee you, you won’t be able to tell the difference from real people.

And after logging in, I felt a strange sensation. You know, like something invisible wrapping around my body.

You get it? That’s mana.

That thing you need to use swords and magic.

You know that moment when you realize it, and a chill runs down your spine? Hey guys, I’m telling you again, stop watching movies and novels, come in and see for yourself. You’ll witness the moment when imagination becomes reality.

Up to this point, he seemed like a complete Connect enthusiast. However, the following content had a completely different tone.

Isn’t it like the ultimate masterpiece when you hear this much? Okay, now let’s talk about the game for real.

After logging in and experiencing that overwhelming tsunami of emotion, I looked around. The immediate thought that came to mind was, ‘Ah, is this what a quiet European countryside village looks like?’

Unpaved dirt roads, crumbling brick buildings that seemed like they would collapse at any moment, and the pungent smell of rotten excrement piercing my nose.

You get the feeling, right?

Up to that point, I could understand it as realism, but the problem is that this is not just a simple experience simulator, but a game.

After logging in, there was no explanation of what to do for almost 30 minutes, no guidance on where to go. Moreover, this rural city was vast, so it was daunting to even figure out where to go.

So, for over 30 minutes, everyone was aimlessly wandering nearby, when someone finally approached us.

A high priest and a steward came with a few soldiers, and they started writing something down after naming us. They then casually mentioned we were now registered as residents and could go about our activities freely before leaving just like that.

Wait, even if it’s the realism aspect, shouldn’t they provide some explanation on what to do?

Feeling too absurd, I approached and asked, only to be met with more questions.

“Why are you asking me about needing a job? You should find one for yourself. What a strange person.”

Can you believe that? I was about to get mad at the extreme realism, but the steward next to me suggested I visit a professional guild like the Mercenary Association.

Anyway, I went to the association, but it turned out there was nothing for a newbie like me to do there.

After wandering around for a while, I finally landed a part-time job at a general store.

I spent the remaining time running errands for some pocket money, but when I went to an inn for a meal and a room, I had almost nothing left.

Instead of that, I thought about going hunting… But you know what? Some people who had entered with me went straight out of town to hunt. They encountered a pack of wild dogs and ended up wiped out.

To sum it up, there’s no doubt about the performance of the capsule and the game’s realism and vitality that are sufficient to be called a top-tier game.

However, the in-game systems are too unfriendly, and the excessive realism and attention to detail may make it too complex and difficult to approach as a game.

Regardless, I can confidently assert that unless a similar level of full-dive virtual reality game emerges, the gaming industry will be dominated by Connect for some time.

I feel like my avatar has finished recovering from fatigue, so I’m going back to dive in. If you end up in the Free City of Riley in the Leslie Kingdom, let’s pretend we know each other.

– It was a true full dive experience? My goodness, when is the next lottery draw!

-A game video was uploaded, and it’s no joke. It’s literally just like the author described.

-Forget about the game, I want to try using magic.

-I’m ditching the dishwashing game and going to play “Lunaazia” instead.

-Are you kidding me? Are there still people playing this nostalgia-selling game?

-Just being able to play games during bedtime makes it a top-tier game. If anyone wants to trade capsules, contact me. 010-xxx-xxxx

-I want to give it a try, but I don’t plan to stress myself out while playing games. I should sign up when a strategy guide comes out later.

After reading the travelogue, Ilwoo realized how lucky he had been.

“Each free city offers a completely different experience, huh?”

In addition to the reviews that made it to the best posts, there were quite a few complaints from players who started in other cities.

While people complained about the hardships endured by players who first grasped the luck, it was clear that they also wanted to experience the game themselves.

After browsing through a few more posts, Ilwoo soon began to write down his own experiences.

Titled “Connect Free City of Mira tour,” Ilwoo’s post initially received little response but quickly skyrocketed to the top of the forum with explosive views.

-“The mayor showed up in person? Seriously?”

-A video was uploaded on the Connect-exclusive board.

-Haha, he looked like the principal of our school.

-Did you see him getting poked in the side by his secretary during his speech? So cute. Haha

-Other cities usually have subordinates handle things, but the class is different here.

-Shouldn’t the scale and facilities be somewhat similar for starting cities? Comparing Riley to Mira in the previous post, the difference seems like comparing a rural town to Seoul, right?

-There’s no rule that they have to be similar. Some people prefer the countryside over complex cities.

-Just saw articles debating, impromptu battles, and videos showcasing mages, and it’s amazing.

-Wow, seeing the swordsmanship up close was impressive, wasn’t it? And they moved so fast that you couldn’t tell what was what.

-Mages are so cool! If only I could cast a Fireball once, I’d have no regrets.

-But is it okay for the gap between starting cities to be this wide? It’s like hitting the jackpot, isn’t it?

Some places have to wash dishes while others get free meals and education. Later on, the level difference will be huge.

– When I asked the game company about it, they said they can’t intervene in the internal aspects of the game. Also, they mentioned that free city selection will be available from the next update.

-Shut up and let’s go to Mira.

– A new post was uploaded on the forum, saying that besides Mira, the starting cities in the Ruben Kingdom also have decent treatment. There doesn’t seem to be a need to insist on Mira.

– Even if you didn’t know at first, it might not be a bad idea to go to a minor place if users start to gather later, as it can be tough to get quests with a crowded place.

– The owner who first posted on the forum went out for a drink after logging out. Lol

– I might quit the game too because I’m getting frustrated. Some people work part-time, and some people get treated well.

– I feel self-loathing for playing like this.

– There was talk from the game company about being able to move to a different free city when they accept the next intake?

– It would be funny if everyone ends up flocking to Mira.

Ilwoo amusedly glanced at the replies to the forum post before heading back to the capsule.

He had already taken a 3-day vacation in preparation for the New Year.

“I need to make a difference before the others come over.”

In the game world, avatars ate and slept just like real people.

Ilwoo planned to focus on leveling up with full dedication when his avatar wasn’t sleeping.

And most players who logged into Mira seemed to have a similar mindset.

The free city of Mira was experiencing a surge in players.

* * *

The day had changed.

Raul enjoyed a small New Year’s party with guild members at the Lord’s Manor in Calix Castle.

He generously rewarded his subordinates who had worked hard and spent time communicating with the newcomers.

Ideally, he would have liked to welcome the New Year with the Ashen Viscount’s family in their nature, but now that he had many people to take care of himself, he anticipated the next moment.

After the party ended and morning passed.

Raul sat in his office with Rabel, waiting for the update time.

The update was based on Earth time, not Connect time, so there was a time difference.

And shortly after.

The awaited announcement popped up.

[Update Completion Notice]

The open beta service update of the Connect System has been successfully completed.

*New players are entering the world of Connect.

-Sixteen free cities are designated as player protection zones.

-No resurrection penalty is imposed in the free city areas.

-During the protection period, new players cannot leave the free city areas.

*The community system has been greatly enhanced.

-Now, you can host private broadcasts using a dedicated platform.

-The video upload function has been updated. Uploaded videos will generate revenue based on views.

-The dedicated browser has been updated. Enjoy browsing the internet freely within Connect.

*The Connect Bank system has been added.

-You can conduct global banking and financial transactions through a Connect exclusive account.

-An item trading site has been established. You can freely trade items and currency with a nominal fee.

-An auction house system has been established. You can easily register items for auction anywhere on the Connect continent.

*The main quest [First Gate Outbreak] has been completed.

-The clear rate is very low. The difficulty has been adjusted. Now, gates will convert to dungeons after a certain time instead of continuing to outbreak.

-Dungeons and gates will not outbreak until the next scenario.

*A new scenario, [Dawn of Chaos], is starting.

-This scenario is a historical scenario that progresses regardless of players.

-A player-exclusive main quest, [Arrival of the Savior], will progress.

-An open commemorative event, [Defeat the Instructor], is ongoing. If you win against the designated instructor in the battle, you can receive special rewards.

Raul stretched after reading the lengthy notice.

The update contents had not changed much since he first logged in.

‘Now, it’s the real start.’

With an excited heart, Raul began preparing to welcome the players.

(To be continued)

TL’s Corner:
After 100 chapters, players are starting to log in!!!