Chapter 2: Circuit
Circuit.
There wouldnt be many people who understand the meaning of this word. But I assure you, as of now, there wont be one person who never heard it.
Im not talking about the English trantion of the word. As you would guess, I''m talking about the title of a game.
Its been nearly three months since the initial release of the game. The exact date may be near a hundred days.
In reality, there is no reason to count each individual date. You wouldnt be able to remember a thing Ive said once youre in the game.
Ah, except for the word Circuit.
Was it nearly a month since its initial release? The time when the number of active yers reached fifty-four million.
During that time, the whole world was busy talking about Circuit.
If you think My gosh, what kind of game could pull this many yers in? There is a simple exnation.
Virtual Reality
Up to this moment, if you had fun ughtering monsters controlling the main character in a video game, <Circuit> made you be the main character itself using virtual reality.
You could experience a fantasy world filled with adventure with your own two feet! Who wouldnt be intrigued by this!
I was the same. In a single room the size of a rats tail, who would think I would be able to smell the refreshing smell of the sea in front of Linduroak.
Ah, Linduroak is a harbor vige in <Circuit>.
There was another reason this game gained this much poprity, and that was in the
real-life transactions.
Yes, Im talking about the realism between fantasy and reality, that even the most profound fantasy novels couldnt imitate.
The currency in <Circuit>, ormonly referred to as gold, gained nearly the same value as real-life currency. The reason for that is due to the rare items, which would normally be impossible in reality, bringing in astronomical amounts of money.
I remember hearing from somewhere that the auction in Circuit was dealing with nearly three trillion dors in real-life currency.
This appealed to many as a way to gain wealth, instead of enjoying the game.
I was no exception.
Instead of the bleak reality, a new opportunity had arrived.
Following suit, in order to pay off the student debt of two semesters, I ventured off to Circuit with an optimistic mindset.
To this day, users have found three types of rarity for items.
Normal, Magic, Rare
As the users were well experienced in this type of game, the vocabry didn''t deter them.
But the concept was very different.
Normal items, as the word suggests, were normal items without any special effects to them. You could view them as the original versions of a magic item.
Magic items are where it gets a bit weird. From this point on, the items affect your stats or give frightening buffs to the item.
Last but not least, the rare items. To be fair, no one knows of the effects of rare items, as no one hase across them yet.
Therefore, in this game, the magic items are what matter the most.
The problem lies in their cost, you wouldnt believe it.
Lets say the magic item is an essory.
Yeah, its a ring that fits on my pinky. If this ring increases my stat Strength by three points
Then it has the power equivalent to three levels of grinding.
Now you might think that three points in Strength may not seem like much.
But, imagine if you could wear the ring, and be able to have a strength equivalent to heavyweight boxers.
Now, you might be able to tell the significance of the three points.
If a ring with said stats ever dropsat the current exchange ratea student would have no worries about finishing their education.
An employee could earn up to a year of work at once.
Right after the release of the game, a magic item involving stats did go up for sale.
The final offer was 590 million dors, through fiercepetition.
Of course, after more magic items have dropped, the price has fallen off. However, their value is still high.
If you could obtain one of these items, you are set for life.
Billions of yers set off to this world with that in mind.
I thought if I yed the game enough, I would be able to obtain at least one of these items.
If possible, a ne that had the stats regeneration, which are popr these days.
If you are a gamer, you would understand the meaning of health regeneration. Commonly referred to as regen, a magic item with a stat buff in regen could cost up to hundreds of millions of dors.
With such an item, in just a few seconds, you could sustain any damage and be fine the next second. Yes, just like Wolverine.
As an example, a famous streamer who was level 5 at the time, purchased a regeneration ring for 300 million dors and fought a bear with his bare hands as content.
The effects were evident, as even if he was getting wed by the bear if he had at least 1 health, he healed fully within seconds.
On a side note, if you had a magic item that increased speed, you could even aim for having the world record for a 100m dash. Well, there would be morepetition within the game.
What if someone had multiple of these magic items?
You would be able to tell why many gamers despise Overgeared yers, firsthand.
Anyways, the reason for my rant is that Ive been trying to get one of these items for the past 2 months. But to no avail.
Worst of all, Ive spent those two months hunting slimes. As currently, slimes are the onlymon monster that even a beginner could defeat.
There were countless days where I starved in order to hunt slimes. I was better off working part-time.
In desperation, I looked for the items I could sell. But, the only items Ive evere by, were the dull steel sword and raggy leather cloth that you get from tutorials.
To be honest, most people who looked for magic items like me, were in the same predicament. The magic items, as extraordinary they are, were extremely hard toe by.
To add fuel to the fire, when I was enthusiastic about clearing quests, some high schooler killed a slime in Lundebarun and got a regeneration ring.
As you can tell, most slimes in Lundebarun after that incident were nowhere to be seen.
Not long after that, Ivee across multiple people obtaining a magic grade item near me; Which increased my motivation.
But, it was only the chosen few who got to obtain said magic item.
<Circuit> was known for its drop rates being abnormally low.
With that in mind, a concurrent user of 8,8 million and a total of 400 million users; Not even 1% imed the magic item.
And to no surprise, I wasnt part of the 1%.
I thought I could be special at least in the game. But that hope has shattered.
Of course, not everyone is born lucky.
Azuredys inn, the cheapest inn Ive stayed at for a couple of months in Linduroak.
As I leaned on the inn, I reflected on my past self.
I thought, if I y enough for a couple of months, Ill be able to obtain a magic item.
And, by selling that, I thought I could pay off the student debt and continue my education. Instead, this game screwed me over by giving me a 2-year break from school.
Ive heard some guy bought 3 or 4 magic items, and now is the VIP to many guilds? Sigh
I kept sighing.
In the first ce, many users werent focusing on the adventure or hunting aspect of the game.
As the currency within the game is nearly the same as in real life, working to earn money in the game was the same as working in real life.
Being an official in the empire was the same as working for a AAApany.
cksmiths, Enchanters, Alchemists. There were users that specialized in crafts.
There were even yers who signed contracts with NPCs or worked part-time. You could say there were more stable ways of earning money in the game rather than hitting the jackpot.
Some even opened up their own stores and blew up.
There were even television programs benefiting from the sess stories of these CEOs.
In other cases, real-lifepanies signed contracts with <Circuit> developerpany to have stores in-game.
I too should have worked diligently like them. Ive wasted two months, and theres nothing but 5 gold in my inventory.
Converted to real-life currency, it was nearly 500 dors. But, this much was nearly nowhere enoughpared to the work I put in for two months.
To be honest, Ivepletely lost the joy in ying the game.
At first, I was in awe of the emerald-tint sea in Linduroak, and what surrounded me was thoughts filled with expectations and amusement.
But now, Ivee to despise this pungent sea. Whenever I went out hunting, I would onlye back with injuries. I used to persevere through the pain, but nowadays I just get annoyed.
This is driving me crazy!
I scratched my hair in anger. I thought it would ease my ferocity, but the sight of my messy hair only angered me more.
Okay, lets quit.
This is the conclusion Ivee to. Im going to quit the game and work hard in real life.
But, I couldnt get rid of this tightness in my heart.
If only I started ying the game wholeheartedly, would I have been better off?
Well, it doesn''t matter now!
Shall I leave? Inventory!
I essed my inventory, which no others could see.
5 gold left. I thought spending this gold would leave me with earnest happiness.
When it came to my attention, I was in the middle of Linduroak park.
The temptations of alcohol I couldn''t afford, the tasty smell of meat and fish skewers. Holding these delicacies in both of my hands, I walked across the park.
Ive even donated 50 silver to a concert by a user.
At that moment, I heard cheers all around me. Even the interface informed me that my fame has risen.
I was absolutely exhrated. I thought I could finally enjoy <Circuit> as it''s intended to be.
With my remaining two gold, I heard a crowd at a corner of the park.
***
***
Shit! Another loss!
Hahaha!!
How many is that!
Youre so bad at gambling!
Filled with peoplesughter, in the middle of the crowd, I saw an old man operating a gambling shop. On either side of the shop, there were heavy-armored mercenaries protecting the ce.
Comee, Its the most precious artifact from deep within the ruins!
As the old man captivated the crowd,
Dream big, and earn big! An antique for 30 silver, and the identification scroll for 1 gold!
Hey, arent we getting scammed?
What! Theres no way this is a scam!
Cut the bullshit! Ive already spent 8 gold, it''s only been trash!
As the man stomped towards the old man in anger, the two guards stopped him.
You could tell at a nce they were skilled. NPC or user, they were fully equipped.
I just want these antiques to find their owners! Now~ Now~ if you use this identification scroll on these antiques, you would be able to see their true value! You never know, they might be a rare item!
In other words, a gamble.
Unidentified item, with a deteriorated exterior. By using the identification scroll, it could restore the item to its true form.
From the looks of things, the business was booming.
A normal identification never exceeds 50 silver. The old man probably explored these ruins and grabbed many antiques to sell at an expensive price.
Despite that, the reason people were thrilled at this gamble was probably the hope of being part of the 1%, as many wished to be, when they joined <Circuit>
Choose, Choose!
Okay, lets end it with that. I didnt have any regrets left. Its funny to think thest thing Ill ever do in this game, was to gamble.
In the first ce, I was fully drunk. ying this game whilst being drunk, made me realize this really is the best game in the world.
Old man, Ill give this one a go.
As I stepped forward to choose my artifact, the crowd around me cheered me on.
Oh! Another brave hero stepped forward! Here, the total is 1 gold 30 silver!
After the artifact left the old mans hands, I left the scene. Behind me, I could hear disappointed grumbles.
What? Wasnt he gonna open it now?
Scared?
He probably doesn''t wanna get embarrassed. That''s why he ran.
As I left the crowd, I walked towards the Azuredys inn. The ce that Ive stayed at for the past 2 months. The ce that I wont evere back to after tomorrow.
I quickly went inside my room at the inn. Strangely, the buzz of alcohol disappeared quickly.
Well, thats a given. Im probably healthier in this game than in real life.
It was a fun ride, <Circuit>!
As I talked to myself, I held the small artifact with my identification scroll worth 100 dors.
Analyze.
In response to my chant, the artifact started disassembling around my room.
As the artifact dematerialized into ck smoke,
H-Huh?
From within the center,
W-What?!
A ray of purple light came brighter and warmer than the sun.
ThisThis
Filled with excitement that I never knew I had,
Wait Thats
I watched as the smoke materialized into a ne.
< Youve gained an item >
[Poloruns star]
Type: Ne
Grade: Rare
Weight: 0.08kg
Effects:
Strength + 7
Health + 4
Speed + 4
Intelligence + 3<ul><li aria-level="1">Special effect</li></ul>
[Poloruns star] Health regeneration per second +101
[Poloruns star] Health regeneration in party + 43 (Form: Aura, Max range 250M)
History: My beloved, my other half. Before I leave, I give you my blessing. I pray this ne could serve as a beam of hope during the darkest hours.<ul><li aria-level="1">From Arulin, wife of Chief Commander Polorun of the Langerus Cavalcade</li></ul>