Chapter 2: 1st Closed Beta (2)
In fact, I had used the 3rd generation VR adaptor before. I've never even touched the old-style 2nd generation one, let alone the unpopular VR adaptor.
While glancing over the manual provided by the seller, I connected the device to the computer.
"Hum. I need to download it directly?"
After connecting the device, I switched to the computer and accessed the homepage of 'Forgotten Legend.'
As soon as I accessed it, I clicked on the first closed beta execution banner, then entered the meaningless twelve-digit alpha-numeric number that was in my phone message.
When I was done, I selected the 2nd generation popular VR adaptor at the lower end of the computer screen when asked which VR type I was using, and started downloading the game immediately.
"Wow, this is indeed a piece of junk!"
I could not help but complain because it would take more than seven hours to completely download the game. The 3rd generation VR adaptor that I had would take only ten minutes, and I wouldn't need to hook it up to the computer like this.
Since the closed beta of the game 'Forgotten Legend' would open at 10:00 AM tomorrow, I didn't care too much about its long download time.
So, after I confirmed the lengthy downloading time with my eyes, I surfed the homepage of 'Forgotten Legend' and clicked through various pages.
What about the studying that I was busy with until a moment ago?
Well, I had already forgotten about it because I was so thrilled with the new game that my heart was pounding.
9:50 AM the next day.
"Set alarm at 12:20 PM."
<You have set the alarm at 12:20 PM.>
My lunchtime is always 12:30 PM.
So, I set the alarm ten minutes before because I should not let anybody catch me playing games.
Then I lay on the bed at 10:00 AM exact and put the 2nd VR adaptor on my head.
I vowed one thing to myself, though.
"It's vacation time anyway. This closed beta of Forgotten Legend only lasts two weeks. For these two weeks, I'll completely devote myself to playing the game so that I won't think about it again during the remainder of the vacation."
Fortunately, I was in a good situation because it was confirmed that getting privately tutored or going to a private academy did not produce good results for me. Of course, I might have to receive private tutoring if my grades were not good because I had no private tutoring. In that case, I should be ready to fill my free time with tutoring like before where I only had time to eat and sleep.
Anyway, I opened my mouth quietly while laying in bed.
"Execute."
<The VR adaptor is now in execution mode.>
In no time I heard the mechanical voice in my ears.
At the same time, a new screen appeared, which was a white background with no end.
"It's set to default, but nothing's here. Change the background."
<Background has been changed.>
Since I didn't like the white background, I chose a different background.
There were currently ten available backgrounds, so I chose an island background.
Although it was blocked by water on all sides, it was lush with green grass and trees inside.
"Hum. This one is better than the others anyway."
When I made the selection, the white background quickly turned into an island which I liked.
But I quickly turned my eyes elsewhere because I had already thoroughly enjoyed the landscape through the 3rd VR adaptor, whose resolution was much clearer and more varied than this one.
<Confirming your download details.>
<These are the current downloads that you own.>
[Forgotten Legend (Execution available)]
It was the only download available as a result of the default setting.
"Execute Forgotten Legend!"
I immediately shouted "Execute!" because I would not have enough time to play the game for the next two weeks if I excluded my eating and sleeping time.
<Forgotten Legend is now in execution mode.>
The island background quickly disappeared and a huge battlefield appeared, along with dozens of burning castles and numerous people who looked like ants.
But I immediately shouted, "Skip!"
I didn't have to know about the background of Forgotten Legend, nor was I curious about it.
Even one second mattered to me.
Then the giant battlefield disappeared and a blue sky and a giant wheat field emerged.
A message appeared before my eyes.
<Thanks for participating in the first closed beta of Forgotten Legend. The first closed beta of Forgotten Legend will be open for two weeks, and you will have access to part of the Valten Empire, the Forest of Peace, and part of the cursed land. You will be restricted to only a few skills and items that are currently released, and the maximum level is level 100.
If you send us any ideas for improvement in the closed beta at the end of the two weeks, we'll take them into account for our future direction. Thank you.>
There was a message about the upcoming opening of the second closed beta.
Then the game started immediately.
<User Juyoung Hong, recognition of your body, iris, and thought has been completed.>
<You can set up your character.>
"Basic."
Anyway, this game will reset after two weeks, so I didn't change my appearance as created by body recognition.
<Please select the ID of the character.>
"..."
I used to use my real name Juyoung Hong when I previously engaged in role-playing games because the character in the game was my alter ego that reflected me in the real world.
I felt so proud of the character with my name in the game as it kept growing, but it sometimes fettered me...
In the game world where players enjoyed indefinite freedom called anonymity, I sometimes could not act as I pleased because I alone was bound by reality.
That was why I created the type of ID that could not be separated from me, Juyoung Hong, in the real world. Just like Dr. Jekyll and Hyde.
But my new ID had an opposite character because I wanted to shine very brightly in the game, which was the opposite of me in the real world.
"Lumen."
<The ID of your character has been named 'Lumen.' Do you wish to continue?>
"Ugh?"
The Latin word Lumen meant light, sparkle, shine, and brightness.
The reason I chose this ID was that I felt I could not be a brilliant man in the real world. So, I wished I could shine in virtual reality.
<The starting point is the Kotum Region of the Valten Empire. Have a pleasant trip for the next two weeks.>
Then I felt as if I sunk into the ground, but I didn't care because I had felt the same thing in various other games. I was rather excited about what kind of world I would find myself in.
***
Tok, tok.
I lifted my feet and strongly trampled on the ground, then curled and uncurled my fingers repeatedly.
"Hummm. I was worried because it was a 2nd generation interface adaptor, but it's not that bad."
I didn't feel awkward whenever I trampled on the ground and curled and uncurled my fingers.
Of course, even the 3rd generation interface adaptor felt a bit different when compared with a more high-end adaptor.
"Good. Let me start surfing."
When I was downloading the game yesterday, I roughly confirmed some of the information on the 'Forgotten Legend' homepage. And I decided on the occupation that I would take on in the first closed beta.
Well, there is only one occupation that I always choose in almost all role-playing games, let alone 'Forgotten Legend.'
It was none other than a character that can carry out a distant battle and was heavily armed with various skills because I felt that a strong offense is crucial to winning a battle.
Besides, such a character can beat down the opponent first before they could counterattack.
So, I usually played as elemental wizards. Accordingly, their physical build was not strong. But I didn't care because I was not the type of gamer that got a kick out of challenging strong monsters or opponents.
"Check status window."
I opened the status window first.
-- Gift
received