Chapter 1 A reclusive genius


    Aputer room in a quiet countryside.


    It was filled withputers that were so worn out that even vendors would wave their hands at them even if they were to buy them second-hand.


    In the PC room, only the owner who was dozing at the counter and a child wearing a uniform from a nearby high school were the only ones.


    “Jaeyoung! It''s 10 o''clock in 10 minutes from now. I have to go home.”


    The owner, who suddenly woke up, nced at the clock and said, but Jaeyoung didn''t even hear that, focusing only on the monitor and moving the mouse and keyboard at breakneck speed, immersed in the game.


    Dudu-dou-


    Kwak Kwa-Kwa-


    AOS game that drove tremendous issues as the most popr game in the world.


    league of legends.


    ying the game in an unknown PC room in the countryside, he was dominating the battlefield with a control that surprised users around the world.


    -First Kill!


    -Double Kill!


    -Triple Kill!


    Jaeyoung eliminates 3 enemy heroes alone without the help of other allies. Comments filled with astonishment from countless people who were watching his y were constantly pouring in.


    -Crazy... You just caught all 3 by yourself?


    -Is that possible? I avoided all enemy skills while my HP was low.


    -Are you human? Reaction speed is not human?


    -As expected, Gad is... Gad.


    - KTS pride of being number 1 in the world rankings is not good today.


    People went wild watching Jaeyoung lead the game to victory.


    A truly staggering disparity.


    Since his opponent was KTS, a team famous for being ranked No. 1 in Korea or the world, people were enthusiastic with an even more explosive reaction.


    -But why didn''t Dex make his professional debut?


    -I see... If you have that level of physicality, it would be natural for you to rise to the top of the 100 million annual sry.


    - Dex hyung, please reveal your face. I''ll give you a donation.


    -Tell me at least a strategy through broadcasting. I''ll be sure to hit subscribe.


    3 years ago. Dex, who appeared like aet and boasted an absurd record of 98% win rate, reigned as the strongest yer in the league of legends. Every single one of his ys created the meta of the game and boasted a huge influence, but no one actually knew his identity.


    Despite obsessive notes from numerous teams to recruit him as a pro gamer, Dex remained mystic and devoted himself to the game without replying anywhere.


    “shit! won''t you do it right? If this loses, it''s really the dog''s side!”


    Seong-jin, the leader of the KTS team, spurred the team members by shouting in an annoyed voice and swearing harshly.


    “These are normal users randomly selected except for one dex! We''re all fucking shit, but what will people think of us if we lose because of one Dex? Are you out of your mind?”


    His angry cry made the team members'' shoulders shrink, but there was no way to change the atmosphere of the already losing game.


    “Sung Sung Jin! This gap has already widened too much.... Even if we continue to engage here, we''ll probably just hold out...” ”


    Damn it! Won''t you shut up? Are you talking nonsense when you haven''t finished anywhere?”


    Did the team member''s words touch Seong-jin''s heart? He mmed the keyboard violently and red at the teammate who had said that with a look that would prey on him.


    “If I grabbed you guys by the cor and dragged them up to the top, wouldn’t they get better at least a little? How did you create a situation like this because you couldn’t even serve one person properly?”


    “what? hey! Seongjin Lee! Did you say everything?”


    As if his pride was hurt by Sungjin’s words, another team member threw off his headset and shouted.


    “Even if you hadn''t challenged Dex to decide who was the best in the world in the first ce, this situation wouldn''t havee. What are you ming your teammates for when you y and lose?”


    “This bastard...!”


    “Hey kids, why are you suddenly like this again? The game isn''t over yet.”


    The KTS team has be a mess with Seong-jin savagely grabbing his teammates and the people who stop him. And Jaeyoung, unaware of the situation, silently tapped the keyboard and led the game to aplete victory.


    [Nexus destroyed.]


    [Blue team wins!]


    -Wow... did you really beat this?


    - Crazy.


    - The other four must have really enjoyed the ride.


    -Bus driver level ???


    The KTS team''s Nexus was destroyed and the users who watched them lose live were shocked. And soon it started to show conflicting reactions.


    -As expected Dex! i thought i would win


    - The reverse has exploded. It''s analysis, it''s nabal, and if you bet only on Dex, you win unconditionally.


    -I love you, Dex hyung.


    With admirers of Dex taking over the game almost single-handedly and winning.


    -KTS must be really embarrassing. Only then can they say that they are the world''s number one team.


    -Sungjin challenged Dex in every broadcast interview, and he was punished in the end, right?


    - Hahahahahaha I''m going to keep my mouth shut now. Doesn''t it cause a fight just by ying Dex''s deck?


    As people who mock the KTS team that failed to beat a single Dex and lost mercilessly.


    However, Jaeyoung left a chat in the game waiting room with an expression as if he was not impressed.


    [You seem to have had a lot of fun with thest game. Everyone had fun during that time.]


    -???


    st game? You mean today is the end?


    People who saw Jaeyoung''s chatting stopped thinking for a moment. However, before anyone could ask, Jaeyoung said what he had to say and ended the connection.


    [As of today, the League of Legends will be closed. Have fun everyone. I''m going to go now.]


    -Wait, are you really folding?


    -Suddenly, all of a sudden, what does that mean?


    -Dex hyung What are you talking about... Are you kidding?


    Seeing thements from the viewers pouring like mad, Jaeyoung calmly stood up.


    “I’m going, mister. Thank you so much.”


    The owner of the PC room nced at Jaeyoung and nodded slightly.


    “OK. Is today thest?”


    “yes. I decided to go to Seoul tomorrow.”


    At Jaeyoung''s words, the owner of the PC room muttered in an unexpected voice.


    “The guy I meet who goes straight to this ce after school ends up going to college and escaping from this corner of the country. Congrattions boy.”


    “Still, I’lle over to y once in a while during vacation.”


    Still, as if they had grown fond of seeing each other''s faces for three years, the owner of the PC room looked at Jaeyoung with a slightly regretful expression and gave him sincere advice.


    “Since I went to university, I y games in moderation now. Study hard and seed.”


    “sure.”


    The moment I open the door and Jaeyoung is about to leave. Suddenly, as if curious, he shouted behind Jaeyoung.


    “Ah, but what is your department?”


    At that question, Jaeyoung stopped his steps and turned his head to smile at him.


    “That’s Computer Science.”


    At Jaeyoung''sst words, the owner of the PC room looked nkly at the doorway he had left for a long time, then let out a deep sigh and muttered:


    “Won... It’s like that terrible game addiction. After all,puters never let go.”


    The owner of the PC room, who was very worried about Jaeyoung''s future, looked around the empty PC room and licked his lips.


    “Shit... I’m not in a position to worry about anyone else. My business seems to be ruined right away.”


    Then he turned his gaze back to the TV on one side of the counter. On TV, there was an advertisement for the first virtual reality game that has been heating up the world for a while now.


    [Are you tired of the existing routine?]


    Beautiful natural scenery that seemed like reality passed by quickly on the TV. And a dreamy tone of voice was whispering to him.


    [Do you want to get another chance in the world of infinite possibilities?]


    An advertisement that you have already seen dozens of times. However, every time he saw this advertisement, he shuddered with the unknown excitement and curiosity that welled up in his heart.


    [Invite you to Arcadia, the world of fantasy.]


    Arcadia, the world''s first virtual reality.


    This virtual reality game, which was developed by the world''s leadingpany Ajin Electronics Corporation Argos and Silico in a top-secret coboration, was receiving tremendous attention and attention from around the world.


    “Come to think of it, the release date is just around the corner.”


    Although the service has already started in the US, theunch in Korea was dyed due to theck of supply of ‘Dreamer'', a device that allows ess to virtual reality.


    Amid tremendous urging and protests from people, theunch of the service in Korea is finally imminent. However, the Inte was full of y reviews full of rave reviews from American users.


    - Holy Shit. this is not a game It''s a new reality!


    - Thank God I can live in these times.


    -It''s fucking fun. I can no longer imagine a world without this.


    Users who read their y reviews have been waiting for the official serviceunch in Korea until now in anticipation ofmentation.


    “Would you rather close the PC room and set up a virtual reality room?”


    Just by looking at people''s reactions on the Inte, it was predictable that Arcadia wouldpletely dominate the game industry even as a person who runs a PC room in a small vige.


    It was foretold that a great revolution would take ce not only in PC rooms but also in the entire game world. He, too, was now at a crossroads of choice to keep pace with the changing times.


    “Eh. It''s done. How much does it cost to bring in new equipment?”


    It is a small rural town with less than 1,000 students. He shook his head and murmured, thinking that it would be hard to find even if he poured out loans and changed new devices in such a ce.


    That''s how the owner of the PC room dazedly immersed himself in the TV again. Only the sound of the TV echoed in the PC room where no one came.


    * * *


    After arriving in Seoul, Jaeyoung immediately went to the rented house he had looked for in advance around the school. Then he started talking to the curly-looking old woman.


    “Let’s see... Is your name Yoon Jae-young?”


    “yes. that''s right.”


    “A tall, handsome friend. Are you attending a university near him?”


    “yes. I entered Seomin University this year.”


    At those words, thendlord''s grandmother looked at him nkly and said,


    “I guess you didn’t study as much as you thought? Do you know it''s a bad school there...”


    This may have been a bit unpleasant, but Jaeyoung nodded casually and said.


    “I wasn’t very interested in studying, so I did it in moderation.”


    At that, the grandmother nodded as if she was not interested.


    “Yeah.... These days, I''m told that it''s not a world where people live by just studying. Anyway, the monthly rent here is 30, and the facilities are... honestly, not that good.”


    “does not matter. I''ll do it here.”


    Significantly cheaper pricepared to studios in the vicinity of the university. However, looking at the facilities in the room, which seemed to have gone well for decades, none of them were in perfect condition, the prices were on the expensive side. Maybe that''s why the grandmother, who couldn''t find a tenant for a long time, said with a bright smile when Jaeyoung nodded.


    “It’s good that the young man is cool. Then I''ll be gone, so if you have any questions, feel free to call me.”


    After the grandmother closed the door, Jaeyoung sat down in the small room for a while and looked around. And as if waiting for something, he continued to fiddle with his phone. And not long after, someone started knocking on the front door.


    “I am from Arcadia. Jaeyoung Yoon Do you have a customer?”


    Jaeyoung opened the door as if he had been waiting for those words. He whimpered and faced the two men carrying a huge box.


    “yes. I am Jaeyoung Yoon.”


    “I’m here to install the equipment you ordered. Where can I install it?”


    In response to the sweaty and frowning knight''s question if he could not bear the weight, Jaeyoung led them inside and pointed to one side of the empty room.


    “Please install it over here.”


    “yes. All right. Then could you fill out these papers while we do the instation work?”


    While the staff who put down the box with a heavy sound were busy working on something, Jaeyoung started filling out the documents they handed over.


    [Virtual reality ess device high-end capsule dreamer installment contract.]


    Unlike entry-level devices, high-end devices boast a tremendous price of 30 million won. However, despite the terrifying price, Jae-young did the job without hesitation.


    While filling out the documents for a long time, as if the instation work was almost finished, an employee approached Jaeyoung and briefly checked the documents.


    “You purchase the device with 36-month installments, and the midterm contract can be terminated up to 3 months in advance. Refunds are not possible due to simple change of mind. The maximum warranty period is two years.”


    “How much do you have to pay each month?”


    “Hmm... In the case of you, I think you will incur a monthly fee of 920,000 won.”


    At the employee''s words, Jaeyoung thought about something for a moment, then muttered to himself in a small voice.


    “Hmm... then I canst up to six months.”


    “Your customer?”


    “it''s nothing. Is the instationplete?”


    “ah! yes Now you should be able to use it without any problems.”


    “thank you.”


    After Jaeyoung handed over thepleted documents to the staff, he couldn''t take his eyes off the luxurious looking capsule installed in the room.


    “For customers who purchase high-end devices, we are providing a 3-month free service of Virtual Reality Arcadia. Please refer to this point and hope to use it a lot in the future. Have a nice day.”


    Looking at Jaeyoung nkly looking at the capsule, the staff left with a slightly proud expression. And Jaeyoung, with an expression possessed by something, entered the capsule and operated the device.


    Wei Ying.


    Hearing the high-pitched sound in his ears and feeling like falling asleep in an instant, Jaeyoung heard the dreamy tone of his voice.


    [Wee to the fantasy world of Arcadia.]


    A monstrous situational judgment and physical genius.


    One person invincible.


    The hermit in the veil.


    League of Legends Unofficial World Ranking #1 Dex.


    Jaeyoung, who swept theputer game world amidst the admiration and curiosity of countless people, entered a new world.


    Arcadia, the world''s first virtual reality game.