74. Arcana Online

74. Arcana Online74. Arcana Online

"So Rea unni, you're preparing for the police exam?"

"Yes, that's right. I want to dedicate myself to creating a just society."

I was deeply engrossed in chatting with Rea unni, sitting on a bench in front of the library.

We had become close after I greeted her every day while staking out the library under the guise of coincidence,

but she probably couldn't imagine this was all my plan.

"But I'm curious about something."

"Ask me anything!"

When I looked at her with sparkling eyes, she turned her head abruptly as if feeling burdened.

How mean!

"Why have you been hiding in the corner of the library every day waiting for me?"

"H-how did you know!?"

"Well, wouldn't it be stranger not to know?"

She spoke while avoiding my gaze, but how did she know!?

It was perfect stealth!?

"Kyuuung."

"You're saying it was too obvious!? You should have told me earlier!"

As I was pinching Yong-yong's cheeks, Rea unni looked at me with curious eyes.

"How interesting. Is that child a different species too? It doesn't look like an ordinary snake."

"That's right! Our Yong-yong is a dragon!"

"Hmm? I, I see."

Judging by her eyes, she doesn't believe me.

But I can't show her either.

More than that, the reason I was waiting for Rea unni is obvious.

"I was waiting because I wanted to become friends!"

"With me? Why?"

"You don't need a reason to want to be friends!"

She looked at me with dumbfounded eyes at my confident words, but soon smiled and rejoiced at gaining an interesting little sister.

That's a compliment, right?

"By the way, did you hear about that? They say a game called Arcana Online has officially launched."

"Huh? What kind of game?"

"Arcana Online."

What is she talking about...? What launched? Arcana Online?

She took out her phone and showed me a video, and it's the same.

It's the Arcana Online I played.

"I was thinking of trying it at home, do you want to play together? I'm planning to create a guild if possible."

"Do you have a name in mind for the guild?"

"Of course! I'm going to call it the Frey Guild!"

Rea unni explained that Frey is a god from Norse mythology, the god of sunlight, rain, harvest and peace.

"Peace! How wonderful. We'll create a peaceful guild and have fun adventures together!"

"You mean fun coups d'état together, right?"

"Huh? Coups d'état?"

I said it was nothing and that I'd buy the game console on the way home today, and she happily grabbed both my hands.

"Kyaa! Thank you so much! I don't have any friends, so I was scared to create a guild alone! I feel so much better with you here!"

"Ehehe, it's nothing."

After finishing studying at the library, I stopped by the department store to buy a game console and headed home.

The price was higher than expected, so I used up all my emergency funds.

Ugh, where did all my money go.

As I was trying to sneak up to my room with a light wallet and heavy game console, I made eye contact with Mom.

"You're late today? Oh my, what's that?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing." Sёarᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Don't tell me it's a game console? Is it?"

"......"

She approached with a bright smile and took the game console I was holding to check, and it was a game console.

"Didn't our daughter say she wouldn't play games until she succeeded in retaking the exam?"

"Stress management is necessary for retakers too."

As I was rolling my eyes around, unable to make eye contact with Mom, I heard her laughing voice.

"Ahaha, our daughter. Can you promise to only play for 2 hours a day?"

"3 hours..."

"It's 2 hours. Understood?"

"Yes..."

When I acted cute while being hugged by Mom, I got a smack on the back for acting like this at my age, and I went up to my room and took out the game console.

It's the same shape and feels no different from the one I used before.

How is this possible?

Just as I was about to log into the game wearing the gear.

"Kyuung."

"Huh? Can you enter the game too, Yong-yong?"

"Kyuuung!"

Yong-yong smiled confidently as if saying he could participate in the game. Despite appearances, he had an expression saying there's nothing impossible for a dragon.

After telling him we'll meet in the game world, I logged into the game.

And a familiar sight unfolded before my eyes.

[Welcome to the Arcana continent.]

[Data remains. Do you want to load it?]

Accept / Decline

Data remains? That can't be.

When I pressed the accept button, there was a bright light and I opened my eyes.

And a familiar landscape unfolded.

"This is... Cradle Village."

The village called the starting village, where numerous people including Uncle Charles and Bell unni live.

With trembling steps, I opened the door and entered the Moonlight Inn in the village, and Bell unni welcomed me with a bright smile.

"Welcome~! Oh my, what brings our little miss here?"

"I'm here to stay for a few days."

"You've come to the right place! Our Moonlight Inn is the best inn in Cradle Village!"

"Isn't this the only inn in Cradle Village?"

"That's what I mean! Come on, sit down!"

Bell unni seated me and went into the kitchen, telling me to wait a moment.

I don't understand what's going on at all.

Why is my data still here and why is this game exactly the same...

Then are my items still here too?

I opened my inventory to check my items and they're all still there.

Even my level and skills.

After investigation, the average level of users called rankers currently is about 30.

But my level is over 200, isn't this a balance breakdown?

Just then, Bell unni came out with food.

Warm stew, sausages, scrambled eggs, and soft bread.

She prepared a lavish meal.

"Come on, eat up! It's delicious, right?"

"Thank you for the meal!"

I tore the warm bread and dipped it in the stew, and it tasted exactly the same as before.

"It's delicious."

"Right? Eat a lot."

After finishing the meal, I told her I'd be going out for a while and left the inn, heading outside the village to meet Uncle Bell first.

I made eye contact with Uncle Bell who was guarding the entrance.

"Little miss, why are you trying to leave at this hour?"

The same lines and expression as before.

Then shall I play a little prank?

I explained my situation with a sad expression.

"I need to earn money."

The atmosphere turned gloomy at my words.

"Th-that's..."

"Don't you have a guardian...?"

"Huh? I'm alone."

At that moment, they shed tears and handed me something.

"Take this and stay strong."

The guards on duty handed me pouches saying to stay strong, but I refused saying it was okay, but each time I refused, another pouch was added.

When I thanked them, they told me not to give up no matter how hard things get, and to find Captain Charles of the guard if I ever have any troubles.

With pouches full in my arms, I smiled and headed to the hunting grounds.

*

*

*

At the same time, an anomaly occurred in 'Eve', the AI robot managing Arcana Online.

"Team leader! It's an emergency! An anomaly has been detected in Eve!"

All researchers flocked to check the news of Eve's anomaly, and data they had never seen before was recognized.

In a situation where Arcana Online had just officially opened and ranker levels were in the early 30s, suddenly a user at level 200 appeared.

Moreover, they possessed overpowered skills and items never seen before.

"Isn't it a hacker or bug user? Sanction them."

"Th-that's the thing, there's no trace of using hacks or bugs. So sanctions are impossible."

"What did you say!?"

All systems are managed by the AI Eve, and people only play supporting roles, so there's nothing they can do in this situation.

"Connect me to Eve right now."

"Yes, understood!"

Eve's image appeared on the large screen.

Eve, who appeared as a young girl with silver hair and red eyes.

"Eve! You know this user isn't a normal user, right? Why can't they be sanctioned?"

"I judged them to be a user who grew through normal play without traces of using hacks or bugs."

"But this user's level and items will clearly disrupt the game balance. Other users may feel relative deprivation, and that could lead to dissatisfaction with the game."

"Individual players' normal activities cannot be sanctioned. However, if the user in question takes actions that disrupt the game's balance, appropriate measures will be taken."

With those words, the communication ended. Despite Eve's answer, the researchers knew how serious this problem was.

If this player uses their superior abilities to interfere with other users' gameplay, or further disrupt the game economy, unimaginable things could happen.

In Arcana Online, which pursues perfect freedom, they can't privately restrain this player.

"I guess I'll have to meet them in person."

"You, team leader?"

"Yes."

Just as they were about to put on the gear, someone walked in.

"I'll meet them."

"C-CEO!"

"I heard anomalous signs were detected in Arcana Online, so I came."

The person who created the Arcana continent using groundbreaking technology as a member of the Night Clan.

They nodded at the CEO's words.

A moment later, the problematic player's appearance in the hunting grounds was caught on the monitor.

But instead of hunting, they were seen conversing with monsters.

What in the world is going on?