Chapter 5: 2nd & 3rd Closed Beta (1)
I was aware of it already, and now I blew everything away with a sigh.
And I shouted, "Close VR access."
<Your access to VR is now closed.>
I took off the crude 2nd generation VR adaptor from my head and stood up from my bed.
Of course, I could play other games because I also applied for lots of other closed beta games when I initially applied for 'Forgotten Legend.'
Three days ago, I received a message that I was chosen to participate in a new closed beta game.
However, I pulled out the wires of the 2nd generation VR adaptor, put them back in a box, and stuck it in the closet.
I clearly made the vow that I would concentrate on studying after frying myself to play the game for two weeks.
And I actually did, so I didn't think of gaming at all.
I soon sat down at the desk and recited the math formula that had gotten me nowhere since then.
I suddenly felt that I could understand the formula and seemed to memorize it better than before. Of course, I might be mistaken.
Anyway I got 'Forgotten Legend' out of my mind and focused on studying, losing track of time.
***
One evening three days before the vacation was over, I received my report card.
"Wow, son, your grades went up a lot!"
"I think so."
I was always daunted before my father because of my elder brother and sister who were smarter than me, but this time I replied with a smile, squaring my shoulders fully.
As confirmed in my father's surprised look after confirming my report card, my grades really went up.
"It seems that Juyoung studied very hard."
"Right. In fact, his problem was that he lacked the fundamentals of each subject. So, we developed a curriculum to help him master the fundamentals to get better grades, which was effective. Of course, we can't deny that he himself put in the effort."
That's what the famous private academy instructors in the Daechidong area south of the Han River told my father.
I received one-on-one private lessons from them until the last vacation period, but I didn't get good grades like before. Of course, it was probably not their fault.
If they were not top-tier instructors, they would not be here with my father.
After all, it was me who was responsible for my poor grades until now.
"Thanks for your great job. Well, the way Juyoung studies…"
My father had issues with my way of studying because I told him I would study by myself this vacation instead of receiving private tutoring.
Aside from the fact that their one-on-one tutoring for me was not effective, I couldn't put up with the despicable expression on their faces when they looked at me, unable to fathom how I did not understand even the basics as a high school student.
Then the instructors eagerly opened their mouths one after another.
"It seems that Juyoung is more effective in studying by himself than having somebody help him."
"You bet. Each student has his or her own learning environment. For example, some students get better grades with more scolding, while others study better with encouragement and praises. Of course, Juyoung doesn't belong to either of them, but given the grades this time I think it is much better to let him study alone instead of giving him private lessons or having him study with his competitor."
"I agree."
"Hmmm. Do you think so?" said my father, nodding at them.
And his nodding meant that he decided to let me study on my own from now on because he was a very rational man.
"Good. Then let's make sure he continues to study the way he used to during vacation."
"Sure, no problem."
"We'll make sure he gets admitted to a college in Seoul."
The instructors tried to curry favor with my father by paying lip service.
To be honest, I wanted to give them a piece of my mind.
I wanted to tell them that it was not because of you, but because of my concentration or memory that I cultivated. Before I knew it, my grades had gone up.
However, I remained quiet because I could not tell them about it.
Anyway, the instructors left after that, and I had a great dinner with my father in the evening.
The atmosphere was very amicable, and he cheered me up by giving me a handsome allowance.
That night I accessed the "Forgotten Legend" homepage on the computer after sitting at my desk.
"Hmmm...Maybe not. To put it bluntly, who could not accomplish anything if I really got good grades thanks to my vow?"
I had vowed that I would focus on studying for the remainder of the vacation after being absorbed into games for two weeks when the first closed beta was going on. And I kept that pledge.
I never thought that I could memorize English words or math formulas well even if I focused on studying like I pledged.
But this time I made it.
Although I could not do it in the past no matter how much I tried, I memorized them so well this time just like a sponge. Or like the game that rewarded me with EXP or items for my efforts.
Pat-pat-pat.
<Have you experienced something different after playing Forgotten Legend? For example, your concentration or memory…>
I stopped typing while writing a post on the Forgotten Legend forums.
"Hmmm...do I need to tell them about this?"
If the game did any harm to me, I should duly take issues with it, falling short of reporting it.
But I didn't suffer any losses at all.
Rather, I benefited from the game.
At that very moment, I erased everything I composed on the forum post.
For whatever reason, I didn't have to reveal it.
When I erased it, I was distracted by something else this time.
It was none other than the second closed beta.
But there was nothing about it when I surfed everywhere on the Forgotten Legend homepage, including the bulletin board.
"Well, the first closed beta only ended a month ago."
I might be thinking of another game to play by now, but after I experienced 'Forgotten Legend,' I no longer thought of other games, including one that I experienced for the first time in my life but could not access because I was not sure if I would ever get out of it.
Six months passed after that.
"Whew!" I let out a long sigh because the end of vacation meant the end of it all.
My concentration and memory were all gone as if they were an illusion or a dream.
But there was something that I didn't forget, which was what I studied at the time.
Except for that, I was back to where I was when vacation was over.
Like before, I often forgot English words or math formulas several days after I memorized them.
So, I had to rely on what I crammed in my head during vacation.
That was why I always wished for the second closed beta game.
"When do they begin the second closed beta?"
For any updates on it, I accessed the Forgotten Legend homepage every day after vacation was over six months ago.
But I didn't see any messages on it as if the homepage was no longer functioning.
"Vacation starts tomorrow. Back then, they proceeded with the first closed beta as soon as vacation began."
Of course, I knew it might be my wishful thinking, given that it would take a lot of money to proceed with a closed beta.
But I could not understand why they didn't announce anything about it.
"Whew…"
Letting out a sigh, I wrestled with a chemistry equation on that day too.
The next evening, I suddenly heard an alarm.
"Uh?"
It was an alarm that informed me of the sudden arrival of a message.
I got goosebumps at that because I had heard the same alarm back then.
I immediately turned my eyes toward the clock in one corner of the desk.
<8:30 PM>
"..."
The alarm went off exactly at this hour then.
I clicked the message on the display of my mobile phone very cautiously.
And I confirmed the message.
-- Gift
received