The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 106

“Should I start getting up too?”

It was now enough to indulge in the nostalgia at the square. His original purpose for coming to Mira was something else, so he thought it was time to go and attend to his duties little by little.

While slowly moving his feet, the atmosphere in the square suddenly changed.

“Hey! A huge announcement just came up. Quickly check it out!”

“The academy exam guidelines have been released!”

The bustling square suddenly fell silent, and the players’ gazes turned straight ahead, freezing in place. And what filled the square was an eerie fervor.

As players read the announcements and articles on their augmented reality screens, an uneasy energy flowed through the air.

“Ahhh.”

Sensing an unknown danger, Raul quickly left the square. And then,

“Wow!!”

“Wow, that gave me goosebumps!”

“Now’s not the time for that. We need to go hunting, hunting!”

“Disassembling the wolf pack. Anyone up for hunting thorn wolves!”

“Um, what should I do? What do we do?”

“Hey, hold on, let me submit my vacation request to the company first!”

The square was in chaos.

Everyone began to move hurriedly as if being chased by something, and dozens of players who had hastily logged in from where their lodgings were gathered were rushing to the square like prepaid wild boars.

Raul, who had stepped aside to the roadside, watched them with satisfaction while whistling a tune.

“The response seems good. Do your best, everyone.”

After the commotion settled down, Raul headed towards the street lined with shops. His destination was the massive forge belonging to the First Knight Order.

“Welcome. I heard from the master about your request. You want all types of basic armor that we craft in our workshop?”

The chief blacksmith said after scanning Bae Dohyun once over.”Can I take a look at your hand?”

“Yes, of course.”

When Bae Dohyun offered his hand, it revealed severe deformities from calluses and blisters that had repeatedly burst and healed.

The blacksmith, who inspected it carefully, nodded and said, “Doesn’t seem like it’s for decoration. Follow me. We need to adjust the grip and guard to fit your hand properly.”

As they entered the inner warehouse of the workshop, various weapons were neatly displayed on a large table, ranging from swords and spears to axes, maces, daggers, bows, and crossbows.

“These are the basic products of our workshop. What do you think?”

Raul examined the sword, running his fingers along the blade and flicking it with his hand before smiling slightly.

“It’s good. I like it. But did you receive the instructions properly from the master?”

Raul inquired.

The chief blacksmith approached Raul and whispered softly, “Of course. While the form and materials are the same as the basic products, these are top-grade items crafted by the best craftsmen in our workshop. They may look similar to other items at a glance. And as you mentioned, each product has the guild’s logo freshly engraved on them.”

The guild emblem, a golden hawk inlaid with the initials G. H (Golden Hawk), was elegantly embossed near the sword handle. The guild logo was also engraved on the axe blade, spearhead, mace handle, bow holder, and so on.

“It looks really cool, doesn’t it? Many people will soon come looking for weapons with this logo engraved on them.”

“Hmm, is that so? Once you’re done admiring, let’s properly measure them. It will take quite some time for precision adjustments on all of these.”

Leaving the forge behind, Raul headed towards the leather workshop, where he met with the workshop manager to take measurements and fit a set of armor made from ‘Red Fang Wolf’ leather.

Despite its simple design, the red leather armor with the gold logo emblazoned on the chest felt distinctly different.

With a satisfied expression, Raul left the workshop, thinking, “Since this event is broadcasted worldwide, I should promote it properly, right?”

As brand culture had not yet settled in Connect, having weapons and armor with a proper logo would undoubtedly capture the players’ attention.

“I need to do better to stay in the spotlight longer,” Raul thought to himself, as he prepared for the upcoming event.

As Raul made his own preparations, the spark he ignited was spreading uncontrollably, ready to engulf players worldwide in its flames.

* * *

[First Knight Order Academy, selecting 16 out of 600 participants for a special admission….]

[Fight! Seize! The unlimited tournament “Strife” for the Academy entrance ticket is on the line. Global live broadcast confirmed!]

[Connect Inc., deciding to provide round-trip portal tickets for all academy applicants.]

– Everyone, I’m sorry for you~~!!

– Yeah, this kind of event was necessary, indeed~.

– Kekeke. An admissions system made just for me.

– That’s right. They left 584 spots open just for you.

– The thrill of competition is essential!

– Hey, but if you think about it, isn’t this amazing? It’s a worldwide live broadcast! Winning could make you a superstar in no time.

– Kekeke, being a star in a game with only a thousand players? That’s hilarious… I’m laughing so hard I’m doubling over.

– It’s shocking to realize there are idiots who can’t recognize a god-tier game with millions of waiting players.

– Even though it’s broadcast globally, you can’t watch it on terrestrial TV. It got cut by the Broadcasting Communications Review Committee. And it’s rated for viewers over 19 on cable.

– Who watches TV these days? Just watch it on the internet.

– I’m sorry for badmouthing the organizers. Thanks to them, I also submitted my application. If I go to Mira this time and get eliminated, I’m not coming back.

– Oh my gosh~

– Is this a tease? Just send them if they’re going to be eliminated. ㅜㅜ

– In any case, it’s fortunate that everyone is given an opportunity, right? It’s sad that we have to wage an admissions war here too…

– But I wonder if the ratings will be good. Honestly, no matter how much the Game League flies and crawls, the ratings haven’t been that high, right?

– In my opinion, we shouldn’t think of this as just a game. Honestly, look at the visuals, it’s not graphics but real-life.

– It’s like pseudo-sports. Those who keep insisting that games are sports should wipe their feet and go to sleep.

– I smell it, I smell it. The scent of a Toto addict~

– I think this time will be different. Honestly, if you consider the annual game market revenue, it has already grown to a point where it threatens traditional sports. And it’s not just clicking a mouse, but physically moving your body to play. Should we keep ignoring this as a game?

– The Republic of Korea Mom Brigade dislikes this comment.

The community was buzzing with various controversies like this.

And there was someone watching these community responses with a cold gaze. Bang!

“It’s still weak! This level of impact is not enough!” Choi Ilhwan, the head of the operations department, said as he slammed the whiteboard with his hand.

“Mobilize all the employees to ignite the community bulletin board! The content doesn’t matter. You can frame it or cause chaos. Make people fight each other! Even if you have to leave critical comments about the game, it’s okay. What we need right now is ‘attention,’ solely ‘attention.’

Mobilize the reporters, release the part-timers, and make sure the bulletin board is on fire!”

“Got it!”

Dozens of computers were lined up in what had now turned into an emergency situation room, and some employees from each department were on standby 24/7, monitoring the community’s reactions.

There were only 5 days left until the Academy entrance exam.

Choi Ilhwan, the head of the department, stayed in the situation room like someone who had forgotten to go home, controlling every aspect of the situation.

“Even though the plan was completely shut down, I can’t be pulled around by NPCs. I’m not the CEO, and it’s a matter that someone higher up is interested in.”

After pushing the staff a few days ago, choi Ilhwan, the head of the department, had the opportunity to talk to the CEO separately.

What he heard during that conversation was that this plan came down not through himself but through the chairman, and that he was interested in a person named Bae Dohyun.

“The fact that the chairman, who had been shrouded in mystery, has appeared is strange.”

And the person mentioned by the chairman, ‘Bae Dohyun,’ seemed like someone to pay close attention to.

“If this guy turns out to be nothing special…”

The report in Choi Ilhwan’s hand crumpled slightly. However, for now, it was time to prove his abilities by successfully executing the plan.

“Community management team! How is the preparation for the unified bulletin board going?”

“We’ve completed the preparation thoroughly. We’ve also expanded the server to prepare for any emergencies.”

“Good. Planning team, promotion team! Are you prepared for ‘that’ matter?”

“We’ve finished collecting and organizing the data.”

“The promotion team is also ready.”

Clap, clap.

Choi Ilhwan clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention.

“Now, we’re entering phase two of the operation. Let’s grab people’s attention for sure this time! Launch the bulletin board and post the announcement!”

“Got it!”

The team leaders raised their smartphones and gave orders, while the technicians followed the prepared sequence. Along with the second promotional video that shook the community, an announcement was posted.

[(Connect Inc. Releases Second Official Promotion Video for ‘Strife’)

An empty training ground. A knight with a pair of swords divided in both hands stood with his eyes closed above it. The golden emblem was carved on his blue cloak.

He was none other than Dalton de Templeton, a top-level knight of the First Knights Order.

As he opened his eyes, various individuals armed with weapons and armor appeared on the once-empty training ground. With cries and shouts, people wielded their weapons towards each other, and those surrounding Dalton simultaneously attacked him.

Dalton elegantly moved his dual swords like dancing, fending off the surrounding enemies. Meanwhile, in another training ground.

This time, it was Jake, the deputy commander of the First Knights Order, wielding a massive broadsword clumsily. Similarly, enemies appeared around him, and Jake bravely swung his broadsword, taking down the foes.

Shortly after, Dalton and Jake, standing face-to-face with bloodied weapons, began an impressive duel on the training ground.

The duel scene gradually shifted away to a hilltop, revealing hundreds of knights dressed in white armor and blue cloaks. Mounted on white horses, they placed one hand on their chests and saluted the man in front of the formation.

Slowly turning with his horse, it was none other than Raul de Ashton, the guild master of the First Knight Order. The camera zoomed in, illuminating Raul’s sculpted face.

“Do you want to become the hero?”

Expressionless, Raul asked calmly.

Swoosh.

As Raul unsheathed his sword, the knights also drew their weapons.

“Fight. And conquer!”

Finally, with the knights forming a phalanx behind Raul charging forward, the orc legion’s formation below the hill collapsed effortlessly against their breakthrough.

The knights’ blue cloaks fluttered, and the golden emblem was imprinted on the screen.

– ‘Strife’

– You too can become the hero.

And thus, the second promotional video came to an end.

(To be continued)