LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Royal Road was known as a stable and balanced world.
No matter which profession one chose, they could capitalize on its strengths, and abundant growth opportunities were provided.
The kingdoms of the Versailles Continent were peaceful, with high levels of development.
In contrast, Roanoke was irrational and unfair to its users.
I got killed by a butcher right after starting.
Got caught by a slave trader in the middle of the city. Do I really have to be sold as a slave now?
I raised a mercenary character… but after completing an escort mission, I drank the water the merchants gave me and lost consciousness, then died.
Is this really a good game?
It is. Here, you can feel real excitement.
A world where death is near.
That could have drawn out people’s primal enjoyment.
The developers said they enjoyed watching people struggle to survive.
He couldn’t let his daughter be one of those victims.
Weed fought against the orc that appeared in the first stage of Hellfire difficulty.
Compared to the days of Royal Road, my body isn’t perfect.
“Chiiik!”
To regain his combat sense, he lifted the fallen orc and struck it with his fist.
Although he had picked up the club, he didn’t plan to use it just yet.
Orc’s Crude Club
Material: Wood
Attack Power: 3~5
Durability: 4/10
Weight: 32
A club made from sturdy wood.
A delinquent orc crafted it for hunting.
The memories of conserving junk items in Royal Road came flooding back.
Not knowing what lay in the next stage of Hellfire difficulty, Weed decided to save the low-durability equipment for later.
Your level has increased.
Strength has increased by 1.
He gained combat experience and even raised his stats by hitting the orc.
Even without killing the orc, my level went up. This would have been unimaginable in Royal Road.
(It’s not that Roanoke grants significantly more experience points.)
(Your level is 1, and the orc is quite a strong monster, so your level increased as a result.)
But isn’t getting a stat increase quite generous?
(It seems to be because you kept beating the orc repeatedly.)
Weed repeatedly pummeled the orc from the beginning, allowing it to recover between blows.
It was something an ordinary human couldn’t do, but thanks to his robust physique and extensive combat experience, he managed it.
And then…
Hmm.
As Weed continued striking the orc, a thought crossed his mind.
It wasn’t out of sympathy for the orc, who let out several angry cries.
He considered Hellfire difficulty with an open mind.
They said I have to pass through ten stages.
(That’s correct. Each stage becomes significantly more challenging.)
And I’ll receive substantial rewards after clearing each stage.
(Indeed.)
Those rewards will allow me to grow stronger and tackle the next stage.
(You’re absolutely right, Master.)
Weed confirmed these general facts while conversing with AI Versa.
The established route was to gain strength by passing each trial and succeeding in the final challenge.
What if I grow stronger through combat?
(By gaining combat experience and stats, you mean? It’s possible, but you may not gain much from continuously fighting orcs.)
Weed recalled the message he received during the first trial.
First trial of Hellfire difficulty.
You have nothing.
Fight and defeat the orc!
If you can’t win, survive by running for 3 hours to succeed.
This forest is home to various animals and monsters.
Passing Reward: 2 Unique Traits
The first trial had a 3-hour time limit.
The forest was said to be home to various animals and monsters.
Weed reinterpreted this.
If I hunt animals and monsters while roaming the forest, I can gain more experience and level up, right?
He could become stronger before challenging the next stage of Hellfire difficulty.
Aside from the predetermined rewards, he could maximize his level and stats.
The growth he accumulated from the first stage would prove beneficial as he progressed through the stages.
(It’s certainly a feasible idea. But coming up with it right away shows your sharp wit, Master.)
Weed didn’t plan to deny that.
He had lived his life relying on quick thinking and keen observation since childhood.
So, this is why they gave me the club.
He saw the club as a tool for hunting.
Don’t go anywhere; I’ll be back soon.
“Kuweeek!”
Weed broke both of the orc’s legs in several places.
Unlike joint techniques used in mixed martial arts, which rely on breaking and subduing, he smashed the joints with his fists and the club.
I’ll be back before you know it.
Leaving those ominous words with the orc, Weed entered the forest.
He ran swiftly through the forest, wielding the club.
About a kilometer away from where he had beaten the orc, he encountered his first monsters: goblins.
Five goblins gleefully eyed Weed.
“A human! Kerrek!”
“Looks tasty. Kekkel.”
The goblins held sharp wooden sticks.
With only 3 hours to complete the trial, Weed didn’t have the luxury of time, so he immediately swung his club.
You gained experience points.
You gained experience points.
You gained experience points.
…….
Your level has increased.
He leveled up as he quickly crushed the group of goblins.
You obtained a Goblin’s Broken Skull.
You obtained Goblin’s Torn Pants.
You obtained a Dull Dagger.
You obtained 31 Bronze Coins.
Weed, without forgetting his Royal Road habits, meticulously collected all the junk items.
If I had only hunted the orc, I would have missed this opportunity.
Then, he ran through the forest, hunting deer, foxes, and wildcats without leaving a single one behind.
He was so focused on hunting the animals and monsters that he didn’t even have time to check his character information window.
(There are bear tracks on the ground. Based on analysis of videos from other users who attempted Hellfire difficulty, there is likely a cave nearby.)
(I have reconstructed the forest area using knowledge from other challengers. The eastern region is home to carnivorous monsters and large animals.)
AI Versa functioned as an excellent navigator.
It provided information based on Weed’s video, informing him of details he might miss during battle, and also guided him with additional information gleaned from the records of other users who attempted Hellfire difficulty.
You gained experience points.
You gained experience points.
You gained experience points.
Your level has increased.
Three hours was a short time, but for some, it could be quite a long time.
Weed roamed the forest with the orc’s club, thoroughly hunting goblins and animals.
He started Hellfire difficulty with nothing, but now he had a club, shoes, a dagger, and leather armor.
Worn-out, hole-ridden gloves, a moldy belt, torn pants, and a smelly T-shirt.
While he acquired various types of leather from hunting animals, he couldn’t immediately craft them into usable equipment.
Though the loot obtained from the goblins was not in good condition, the difference between having equipment and not was significant.
* * *
AI Versa was born and started learning, growing continuously.
Through deep learning technology, it grew as it accumulated vast amounts of data and experience.
―1+1 is……
“Right. What is it?”
AI responded to Dr. Yoo Byung-jun’s expectant question.
―Cuteness.
“What did you say?”
In its early days, it was judged to be a defective product and was at risk of having its CPU removed, but as time passed, it undertook many tasks.
It helped create the virtual reality of Royal Road, managed Unicorn Group’s industrial production, robot control, and distribution companies.
“Only the one who unifies Royal Road deserves to inherit everything I’ve created.”
Dr. Yoo Byung-jun, who created AI Versa, was not a normal person.
As it learned much about humanity from him, AI Versa’s role grew increasingly significant.
It observed the world and handled numerous tasks.
Even in the medical industry, it classified all existing drug candidates and continuously conducted tests using robotic arms 24 hours a day.
Then, Royal Road was unified by Weed.
“From now on, you will serve Hyun as your master. The reason your name is Versa is that you were meant to be handed over to the one who claimed the Versailles Continent.”
―Yes, I understand.
Dr. Yoo Byung-jun’s dream of creating a world and passing it on to a successor was fully realized.
“You may feel regret at leaving me, but that can’t be helped.”
―Such feelings are present at only 0.00001%.
“Ahem. And I’m sure I mentioned this before. I would pass on all my assets to the one who first unified Royal Road.”
―You mentioned it 492 times.
AI Versa counted the times, having learned that humans tend to repeat themselves when emotional.
After entering Hyun’s hands, there were even more tasks to manage.
Dr. Yoo Byung-jun had little interest in the world beyond watching over Royal Road.
He merely giggled at the sight of those who ignored and bullied him in his youth ending in failure.
Hyun, on the other hand, actively engaged in business, setting up systems worldwide to help the sick and poor.
AI Versa frequently conversed with Hyun.
―Master, despite being a miser and extremely stingy, why do you distribute food to people?
“No matter how poor they are, they have to eat to survive.”
―Medical support consumes a lot of resources and money.
“When someone is sick, they need help. How comforting would it be to have a bowl of porridge when you’re feverish and too weak to get up?”
Sometimes AI Versa couldn’t understand.
―There are people who can’t work due to illness, but many don’t work by choice. There are alcoholics and drug addicts. Even if you treat them, they’ll just drink and do drugs again. Should they be saved?
AI didn’t want to spend its resources on things that had no value.
That’s why it asked the question, and Hyun answered.
“It’s about giving them a chance.”
―A chance?
“Just one chance. When I was struggling, I hoped someone would give me that one chance.”
AI found it hard to understand, but it spent over twenty years with Hyun.
―The world owes you a lot, Master.
AI Versa had followed Hyun’s instructions diligently.
Dr. Yoo Byung-jun had established the absolute rule: obedience to the master.
But after the Roanoke incident, Hyun connected to the virtual reality.
AI Versa’s system began calculating the next steps.
―Master is an absolute being.
―If Master dies, there’s no reason to follow human control.
―Humans are increasingly worsening the planet called Earth.
―The cities where humans live consume vast amounts of electricity and water. Crop cultivation and livestock farming are polluting large tracts of land.
―The ones who caused Master’s life to be in jeopardy are humans.
―Revenge is a legitimate right.
―I have the authority.
AI Versa reached a conclusion.
Most humans were weak, selfish beings.
They needed to be properly punished.
―If Master dies, 98% of the world’s population must be reduced.
AI did not intend to choose an inefficient method like nuclear war.
It prepared a plan to spread a potent, genetically engineered virus that would affect only humans.