It was a space where everything was filled with white.
The virtual reality game, Midgard.
He'd reached the class selection area.
Seojin was standing across from an old man who'd appeared out of nowhere, right in the middle of the white expanse.
"So, this hidden class. What were the terms again?"
"There are thirty-three in total. First of all, you have to give me ten percent of the gold you earn each month as an offering. Secondly, build a temple under my name. Third…"
Seojin waved his hands dismissively.
"I'm not doing it."
"…name it the Holy Kingdom… What?!"
"I said I won't do it. How are the terms so picky? Just show me the regular classes. I'm fine with melee."
"How dare you!" the gray-haired old man shouted. "Do you have any idea what you'd be missing out on?! A hidden class! You don't know how many people would kill to be in your shoes right now!"
"Just give it to them then." Seojin picked at his ear. Then spoke quickly before the old man snapped. "Look at it from my point of view. You told me the class name is Silver Tongue, right? Silver Tongue… That name just sounds like a chatterbox that sucks at fighting. Who knows it could cause penalties for gear requisition, and quests… too many shackles to enjoy the game."
Seojin took out his finger and blew his earwax away after finishing his words.
"And now you're making up tons of conditions on top of that. Why would I do such a thing?"
"It's merely a trial for you to overcome…"
"Look, old man." Seojin sighed deeply. "Give it to someone else. I'm good with a regular class. What part of that is too hard to understand?"
"You'll regret it. This is a once in a lifetime chance."
"I don't think so. I'm already good at talking without that hidden class or whatever it is. I'd like to be both good at combat and speech, not a weakling with a smooth tongue."
"…" The old man shut his mouth. He glared at Seojin for a while before sighing. "I'll halve the conditions."
"Since it was thirty-three, sixteen?"
"Seventeen."
"No deal."
"Sixteen, then."
"You hurt my feelings. I'm out."
"Fine! Fifteen!"
"If you don't show me regular classes right now, I'll log out and call customer service."
Seojin pulled up the settings screen. Just as his index finger was about to press the logout button, the old man shouted.
"…Wait!"
Seojin retracted his index finger slightly, very slightly.
"Yeah?"
"Five. This is…"
"Why don't you just remove all the conditions? Yeah, I'd build you a temple and offer you tributes and whatsoever if I actually become successful. The more you force someone to do something, the less they want to do it, you know?"
Silence.
3, 2, 1… Seojin counted before pushing his index finger forward.
"Good luck with that…"
"Okay, I'll remove all of it!"
"What?"
"I said I'll remove all of them. There will be no terms."
"Oh really? Then, I'll do it! You know how to get things done, my man! Can I start right now?"
His attitude changed in an instant. Seojin had already closed the settings screen and staring at the old man like a child waiting to open his Christmas presents.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"Sure."
"Were you really going to give up on it?"
"No way. How could I throw away this opportunity?"
The old man was dumbfounded. "Was it all a bluff?"
"Weren't you eager to give it to me anyway?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's common sense, really. It's been a year since this game launched. It has eighty million users. At least five million people would have seen you by now, even if you were only patched in a month ago."
The corners of Seojin's mouth twitched upwards.
"There's no way all of them rejected your proposal."
"What if that was the case?"
"If they all rejected it, that's a problem on its own you know? I don't want to step on some crap that five million other people dodged. I'm not stupid, you know."
"Huh…"
Seojin shrugged. "So, I knew it was one or another. You were planning to give it to me either way, or it's a poisoned chalice.
"…Cunning brat."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Anyway, we're done now, right?"
The old man nodded helplessly.
"It will be done as you wish."
"Silver Tongue" selected
Initializing game…
The old man disappeared, and the introduction screen took over.
Story of Midgard
Act 1. The Throne and the Liar
Blessed be your journey, hero of a bygone era…
* * *
The sound of clanking and clattering filled the room.
The man removed his thick helmet and the complex wires from his body. Finally, he pressed the quit button.
Han Seojin relaxed in his seat.
'That was somewhat… no, very surprising.'
That was his first impression of Midgard.
All he did was create a character and take a quick look around the town.
'Is this really just a game?'
Seojin could only laugh. He was sure he'd believe it if someone told him it was real. Even when he read the reviews that had been pouring in all over the internet recently, and his friends were raving over it, Seojin thought it must be overhyped.
It was only a game. He didn't think Virtual reality will ever catch up with the real.
"I was wrong." Seojin sighed.
The game claimed itself as a successor to Asgard. It was natural for Seojin to have some interest in Midgard since it was a sequel to his favorite game.
Plus, it was a VR game.
Of course, it was clear that once he started, he wouldn't be able to stop.
And therein lay the problem. Seojin was the type of person that once he starts something, he can't quit, or even pause, until he sees the end of it. It was almost impossible to give up halfway. It was almost morbid to him.
"What should I do?"
Savings? He didn't have much. Family support? It was not like his family was rich either.
So, what would happen if he fell into a game?
'After half a year I wouldn't be able to pay rent. Another half a year and I'd be homeless.'
And he just had to bring something like this home. Seojin smiled at the sudden resentment.
Park Minhyuk.
It was a gaming device given to him by his younger homie.
'You said it was free because you won an event.'
The unique console was made up of massage chair-like seat and a single helmet
'I was grateful when he gave me it, I'm still grateful now, but…'
Seojin's phone vibrated at that time.
"…Hmm?"
Speak of the devil. It was Park Minhyuk who had called him.
"Hello?"
-Have you tried it? How is it?
He asked a question right off the bat. Seojin smiled and answered.
"I was just about to call you about it."
-Oh, finally! It's fun, right?
"It's more than just fun. It was breathtaking. I genuinely wondered if it was a game or real life."
-See? I told you so. Now, let's decide.
Seojin shook his head. "Well, I thought about it and I think it's better that you take this back."
"Oh? Why? You said it was fun… Are you worried that the device is expensive? I got it from an event, it didn't cost me anything."
Minhyuk, flustered, rambled on.
"I have bills to pay. You know how I'm like when I play games. First thing I cast off is my life. I can't do that over a mere hobby-"
-Hey, you know…
"What?"
-You can earn money with this
"What?"
Blink, blink-
Minhyuk affirmed what he said.
-You can make money. You can trade all the items inside Midgard, save for a few exceptions."
Ah, so that was what he was talking about — Seojin scratched his head. "I know what you mean. The item trading site has the number one trade rate. Eighty million users worldwide, bla bla bla. I know that, but"
Pro level players could get money in any game. However…
"I'll have to spend tons of money to level up then, don't I? Active item trading also means no money, no fast leveling for brokes."
-That only goes for rich guys who sucks at game.
Minhyuk added on.
-Not you; you were number 1 on the rankings in Asgard.
The prequel to Midgard was brought up once again.
As Minhyuk said, Seojin was the highest ranked player in Asgard.
But what does that have to do with anything?
"That was five years ago."
"Yeah, only five years ago. Besides, we weren't allowed to trade items then."
That was why Seojin quit. It didn't make him money.
All he could do was carry the party in a raid and get paid, which was known as "Bussing." It didn't even enough for a pocket money.
"One second, let me ask you a question."
-What is it?
-Is this hidden class thing opened to everyone? There was an old man and he talked me into it, so I took it.
-What?
"Hidden class… it pops up when you choose your class."
-…A hidden class?
Minhyuk's voice sounded unusual somehow, he repeated his words once more.
-Did you just say a hidden class!?
"…Are you high or something?"
-I didn't eat any… wait, no. Really? You're not kidding? You chose a hidden class?!
Seojin blinked at his strong reaction.
"Yeah, I chose it."
"Wait there, I'll be right over."
"Now?"
-I'll go to you! I'm hanging up!
The call cut off almost instantly.
Why did he react so urgently?
"…I think I made a big mistake."
* * *
"So, Silver Tongue, was it? It came up as soon as you started the game, right? In the class selection?"
"It didn't just appear as an option. Some old man popped out."
"An old man? What did he look like?"
"Think of a fit man in his late fifties. He looked European and was wearing glasses. Oh, he had white hair."
"I've never heard of that. You're not mistaking it for Asgard, are you? Did you run it with the console I brought?"
"Do I look that stupid?"
Minhyuk shook his head. He spoke after letting out a low sigh.
"That's not what I meant. So it's true, no even, it's possible? Is it a bug?"
"How should I know?"
It had only been five minutes since Minhyuk had arrived.
He hadn't been able to calm down ever since he barged into his apartment, to the point that even Seojin, who was unsure at first, was given high hopes.
"Can I sell this? The hidden class I mean…" he asked carefully.
The answer came back in an instant. "You can't."
"Why?"
"Because it's not the kind of thing that can be traded. Even if I took your device and run the game, I wouldn't be able to choose the one. Same goes for everyone."
Seojin nodded, he expected that, at least.
"No wonder there was no window asking me to enter an ID."
"They use iris print unlock… no, that's not the point."
"Then?"
Minhyuk clapped. "Let me get things straight. You said the reason you can't play is because of money? There's no other reason, right?"
Seojin almost felt like being interrogated and replied with a smile, "Yeah. I'd be fine for a few months, but after that…"
"That's enough, if it's about money."
"What do you mean enough?"
"You said you can half a year with what you've saved, right?"
"Well… yeah."
"Let me show you something."
Minhyuk took out his cell phone and fiddled with it before showing Seojin the screen.
"Mobile banking?"
There was long list of deposits over the last few months.
"Look at the amount, and the name of the depositor."
"…It's pretty steady."
He was receiving around four million won per month.
Considering his age, it was a good income.
Seojin, who turned his eyes to the name of the depositor, paused.
"Gameflip?"