Debuff Master

The embarrassing moment passed, and the installation somehow went without a hitch.

“Would you please sign here?” Lee Jae-Sung asked while extending a piece of paper over to Tae-Sung.

“Ah, sure,” Tae-Sung replied as he roughly scribbled his name on the paper before giving it back to Lee Jae-Sung, “Here.”

“Thank you, customer-nim. The installation is complete, so I wish you a good time playing… haha… hahaha…” Lee Jae-Sung said while awkwardly laughing. He was looking at Tae-Sung with eyes that seemed like they were wondering, ‘who the hell is this kid? what the hell is he…?’

‘Yes… I’m the king of capsule poors…’ Tae-Sung thought.

He understood what Lee Jae-Sung meant through his eyes. To be honest, he also found it funny that he was living in a studio unit as the owner of a hyper capsule like the Ogre.

“Well… yeah… then… Thank you for your hard work today. Goodbye.” Tae-Sung awkwardly bid the mechanics goodbye.

When the door closed, Tae-Sung could finally relax.

‘Phew…’ 

“I really thought I was going to die from embarrassment… Why did I not think of that?” Tae-Sung muttered.

His gaze then turned to the room with yellowed walls, mold growing all over it, and dust covering the floor. In fact, most people would probably consider his room one of the messiest rooms in the world.

However, the world’s most expensive VR capsule was installed right in the middle of this room. The VR capsule took most of the space in his room and only left just enough space for him to lie down on the floor.

“Debt…” Tae-Sung muttered. He was silent for a while before continuing, “I should move out of here as soon as I pay my debts off. This capsule is starting to look cheap because of the room…”

It was an insult to house a hyper capsule like the Ogre in a room like this.

“Let’s make a lot of money…” Tae-Sung muttered and steeled his resolve to become rich and move somewhere better.

After his new VR capsule was installed, he had a lot of things to do. He had to take the VR USIM that held his user information and insert it into his new VR capsule, and connect it to his laptop to download the BNW client. On top of that, he had to send his hologram recognition, retinal scan, fingerprint, and other information to Hive Games Entertainment to register his identity once again.

The virtual reality game’s security features were complicated and high-level.

***

It took an hour for Tae-Sung to complete the verification process and install the BNW client on his new VR capsule. Now, it was time for him to hop into the Ogre.

Seuk…

Tae-Sung placed his right hand on the reinforced glass cover of the Ogre.

[User Verification Complete!]

The Ogre’s glass cover opened after it verified Tae-Sung’s handprint.

“Oh right, they said that I will need the smart key to start it up…” Tae-Sung muttered while lying on the seat made out of premium quality Alcantara Leather.

He took out the purple crystal key and carefully inserted it into the key slot on the lower right portion of the VR capsule.

Wooooong…!

The Ogre’s engine, which ran on electricity, let out a smooth humming sound as it booted up before eventually letting out a low growl.

“This feels different from a normal VR capsule,” Tae-Sung muttered while listening to the sound of the Ogre’s engine.

The Ogre’s engine sounded very different from Tae-Sung’s old VR capsule.

“I wonder what the graphics will look like…”

He was looking forward to how realistic and clear the graphics the Hyper Capsule Ogre would depict, but he did not expect too much from it since it would be impossible to perfectly replicate what reality looked like with a virtual reality program.

Virtual reality game players would realize at one point that the game was truly virtual because of the minuscule difference in graphics between the real world and the game world. However, the Ogre was the best among the current generation of VR capsules, and Tae-Sung boasted a 96.5% compatibility with this monster of a capsule.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

A seemingly much more realistic world than reality itself should soon appear before him.

“Let’s go,” Tae-Sung said in anticipation as he put on the Ogre’s headgear made out of carbon fiber.

[Do you wish to connect to the Brave New World?]

[Yes!]

[You are now connecting to the Brave New World.]

[Loading…]

[Loading... 17%]

[Loading… 59%]

[Loading… 99%]

[100%]

[Loading Complete.]

[You are now connected to the game!]

Tae-Sung closed his eyes after reading the last message.

***

Flash!

A bright light flashed, then Tae-Sung found himself standing as Siegfried in the middle of the town square.

Despite his sudden appearance, it seemed that no one was looking at him.

Adventurers (Players) appearing from the warp gate installed in the middle of the town square was a common everyday occurrence for the Nürburgians (NPC), and they had long gotten used to it.

“What the heck…?” Siegfried muttered after coming online.

He checked his body out and made a few simple movements while seemingly doubting his own senses.

“Why is it so… realistic…?” he muttered.

A world unlike what he had seen so far appeared in front of him, and all his senses were seemingly one with the world.

He could hear the chatter of the passersby, the wind caressing his cheek, the warm sunlight shining down on his skin, the rugged stone pavement under his feet, and he could even smell the stench coming out from the sewer.

It was different.

It was definitely different.

The world his old VR capsule showed could not be compared to this, and he was certain that even the premium VR capsule he had when things were still going well for him did not offer even a quarter of what he was seeing right now.

“So this… this is what a hyper capsule can do…!” Siegfried muttered while in awe of the Ogre’s capabilities.

He could finally understand why that rich scoundrel, Jung Chi-Ho, was so obsessed with the Ogre.

“It’s different… It’s definitely different! I feel like this is reality… no, this is reality…!” Siegfried muttered in awe.

He had never imagined that virtual reality could look as realistic as reality, and he realized that the hype Oh Jun-Hwan had sold him wasn’t just hype.

He also realized that this could only mean one thing…

‘This sensation… I might be able to fight better with this…’ Siegfried thought as he noticed that his senses and the responsiveness of his movements had become much sharper than before.

“Let’s go,” he told himself as he immediately started moving.

He wanted to test things out as soon as possible, and he wanted to know how it felt to fight in his new hyper capsule.

***

He left the town square and headed toward the Mercenary Guild.

The Mercenary Guild seemed quite empty today for some reason. This was a common occurrence since like what the guild receptionist Jericho had said, the Biermann Territory was a small place. There were only a few Adventurers visiting this place, and the number of Nürburgian Mercenaries who came to visit wasn’t that many as well. The only so-called ‘mercenaries’ who often visited were the local hunters, and that was why it was just natural that the place was quite empty.

“Oh! You are back!” Jericho said after seeing Siegfried.

“I want to do some work,” Siegfried said.

“I see that you are quite motivated,” Jericho responded.

“I want to become stronger after all,” Siegfried replied.

Every single part of his body was itching to fight, and that was why he wanted to get a quest as soon as possible and run to the hunting grounds.

“Alright, I’ll give you something to do, then,” Jericho said before taking out a stack of requests from the citizens of Biermann Territory and going over them.

“Hmm… I do have something for you but…” Jericho hesitated for a second.

“…?”

“I don’t think you can do it, though.” Jericho shook his head.

“What is that request about?” Siegfried asked.

“It’s… it’s to hunt a pack of Mutated Wolves,” Jericho said with an awkward smile.

“Mutated Wolves?” Siegfried muttered.

“I’m not looking down on you but… I think that it’s a bit early for you to challenge Mutated Wolves,” Jericho said.

“I will do it,” Siegfried confidently responded.

“Are you sure? Will you be fine?” Jericho asked, seemingly surprised by his response.

“Hey, look here, Siegfried. I want you to reconsider it. Mutated Wolves are strong since they’re mutated predators. They aren’t the same as other mutated animals. Let me find you another request—”

“No, I will do it.” Siegfried interrupted Jericho’s words.

“Haha… I shouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place…” Jericho regretted even bringing the request up in the first place.

“Let’s give it a shot. I’m an immortal anyway, so you don’t have anything to worry about,” Siegfried reasoned.

“Well… that is true…” Jericho muttered.

“Can you give me the details of the quest? I want to get going right now.” Siegfried urged.

“Hmm… Alright, I have no choice if you are so eager to do it. Go south and talk to Grandpa Bukati at the ranch. He will tell you the details of the quest,” Jericho replied.

“Alright, I will get going now,” Siegfried said.

“Hoho, it’s good to see that you look so eager.” Jericho chuckled.

“It’s nothing impressive,” Siegfried said before leaving the Mercenary Guild.

[Alert: You have accepted the Quest – ‘Protect the Ranch!’]

A message popped up in front of Siegfried.

[Protect the Ranch!]

[Type: Normal Quest]

[Details: Kill the Mutated Wolves attacking Grandpa Bukati’s ranch.]

[Progress: 0%]

[Reward: 20 Gold]

The quest was pretty straightforward and simple.

***

The atmosphere surrounding Grandpa Bukati’s ranch was heavy. The ranch workers were standing guard while holding their farming tools, and the eyes of the sheep and cows were filled with nervousness as well. On top of that, there were traces of blood all over the green pasture that seemed to prove the viciousness of the Mutant Wolves’ harassment.

“I’ve come to meet Grandpa Bukati,” Siegfried said to a ranch worker passing by.

“Hmm… I guess you are an Adventurer… You don’t look that strong, though?” the ranch worker said while inspecting Siegfried from head to toe before continuing, “But I guess that’s a given since there are no strong Adventurers willing to come to a small territory like ours.”

Siegfried’s temper almost exploded when the ranch worker treated him like a weakling, but he decided to calm down and let it pass… for now.

‘I guess it’s also important to look strong,’ he thought.

After all, he knew very well how important first impressions were.

“You will be able to find Grandpa Bukati over that hill. It won’t be that difficult for you to find him since he is a dark-skinned old man,” the ranch worker said.

Siegfried did not reply to the ranch worker as he immediately turned around and made his way to the hills.

“Excuse me, are you Grandpa Bukati?” Siegfried asked a dark-skinned old man.

The dark-skinned old man was standing watch over the ranch with five other hunters. But…

‘What the heck…? He looks exactly like Morgan Freeman…?’ Siegfried thought.

Surprisingly, Grandpa Bukati looked exactly like the famous Hollywood Actor Morgan Freeman.

“Ah, you must be an Adventurer. Yes, I am Bukati,” said the old man.

“I came to help you hunt the Mutated Wolves,” Siegfried said.

“Really? Hmm… I’m grateful for your offer but… can you really do it? The Mutated Wolves are vicious and aggressive. Ah, I’m not looking down on you, and I apologize if you feel offended. You just don’t look experienced in this field, that’s all.”

“Please do not worry about me; I am capable of protecting myself at the very least,” Siegfried replied.

“Well, every hand counts so I have to thank you, then,” Grandpa Bukati said.

Grandpa Bukati seemed skeptical of Siegfried, but he did not grumble about it any further.

However, the hunters’ response to Siegfried’s participation was different from Grandpa Bukati’s.

“What? That greenhorn is going to try and hunt the Mutated Wolves?”

“Tsk… Are there really no other mercenaries around this place that the guild has no choice but to send us a greenhorn like him?”

“They say that being ignorant can make you brave, too…”

“I’m sure he can afford to be ignorant once in a while since he’s immortal.”

“I just hope he doesn’t get in our way…”

The hunters openly expressed their displeasure at Siegfried’s participation.

However, Siegfried did not pay any attention to the grumblings of the hunters. He didn’t have to be offended by their act of looking down on him because he would become stronger anyway. In fact, he was confident that he would reach heights these hunters could only dream of.

That was his goal.

“Where is the pack of Mutated Wolves?” Siegfried asked Morgan Freeman; no, Grandpa Bukati.

“We have no idea where they are hiding since they’re quite stealthy…” Grandpa Bukati said.

The old man could not finish his words because the sheep suddenly started crying.

“Meeeh! Meeeeh! Meeeh!”

“I-It’s the wolves!”

“The wolves are here!”

“They’re coming!”

The hunters shouted.

‘They are attacking in broad daylight even when so many people are standing watch?’ Siegfried was slightly taken aback by the wolves’ brazenness.

Predators like wolves usually struck at night beneath the cover of the darkness, but it seemed that these wolves were different.

“T-There! Over there!” Grandpa Bukati shouted while pointing at something in the distance.

Grrr… Grrr… Grrr…!

The old man was pointing at ten Mutated Wolves running around.

“Well, I’m grateful that they saved me the trouble of looking for them.” Siegfried grinned.

Grip…!

He tightly gripped the steel rod in his hand.

Step… Step… Step… Step… 

Siegfried ran toward the pack of Mutated Wolves running in his direction.

“H-Hey! Young man!” Grandpa Bukati shouted and tried to stop Siegfried from charging to his demise.