I led a busy life,
but not out of obligation or instruction from anyone.
My sole focus is to find my way back to where I truly belong.
You see, I am not originally from this world. Sohow, I was transported to a place vastly different from my own, a world polluted by technology and devoid of its natural beauty.
Back in my original world, I was just an average salary worker, struggling to make ends et, and soone who occasionally indulged in video gas without any extravagant hobbies.
Yet, I lived a simple, ordinary life as a mber of society.
There was nothing extraordinary about it—I was just one among countless individuals in this vast world. Nevertheless, I found contentnt in my reality and managed to lead a decent life.
And on a very ordinary, insignificant, quiet night like any other night…
My life was turned upside down on a day that was not different from usual.
A ray of light suddenly wraps around my body…
It soon obscured my vision and started to emit a dazzling flash of light, and when I opened my eyes, I was standing in an unknown grassland.
I found myself appearing as young as my high school days, clad in clothing made from animal skins and iron instead of the typical modern attire. The garnts felt uncomfortable and ill-fitting, adding to the overall dissonance of my experience.
I was bewildered and flustered, and for a few days I went through all sorts of hardships and wandered around, but I soon realized-.
That I was transported into the RPG ga that I usually enjoy.
Upon realizing this sight, a wave of imnse confusion washed over . Denial of reality and concerns about the world I knew began to creep in, leaving with a sense of helplessness and an overwhelming emptiness that led to feelings of depression. However, as I continued to spend ti in this place, a gradual familiarity settled in, and I started to adapt to my surroundings.
Even if ti did not solve all the problems, at least I was able to sort out the situation in my own way, due to the sense of stability that ca with each passing day.
To summarize, I was transferred into the ga I knew, like the developnt that is often encountered in novels, gas, and animations of the other world genre, and I have to return to my original world in a situation where all I have is this body.
The problem is that I don’t know how to return to my original world, but all I could possibly think is that I will probably be able to return if I clear the entire ga story.
Luckily, it was a ga I knew very well, so I knew the overall story and how to develop characters to the expert level, so I would be able to proceed more easily.
So what I have to do is to return to the world I was in before as soon as possible based on this assumption.
Socially, No matter how many people were available to take my place, I always had my own place to co back to.
I don’t have a romantic partner, but I have my parents who have always been there for , and my younger sister who is going off to college. While there’s a small part of that fantasizes about being transported to another world, my main priority is to be with my family, friends, and have a stable job.
So I mobilized everything I knew to nurture myself, and it’s been a month since I ca here…
“Rummmble… squeeeaaak!”
I heaved open the door of a little shabby and small temple.
The entrance greeted with pillars covered in vibrant vines, while the ceiling above, filled with nurous branches, indicated that the temple had been abandoned and nature was reclaiming its space.
Even though it was tightly shut, rays of sunlight managed to seep through the cracks, casting an enchanting glow. The air in this place always carried a mysterious energy, sending a shiver down my spine whenever I entered.
Stepping through the temple entrance and proceeding straight ahead, my gaze fell upon a grand altar that stretched before . Atop the altar sat a woman engrossed in reading a book.
“Huh…?!”
Without losing herself in the book, as if sensing my presence, she turned her gaze towards . It didn’t take long for her to spot , and a radiant smile spread across her face.
“Ah…! Harold…! Here you are… um… Ahem…! That’s right… yes! My loyal knight, Harold! I bid you a warm welco!”
*sigh*
… Goddess… it’s already too late to say it in a classy way…
The ga I played had a unique twist to it. It was based on a typical dieval RPG, but what made it stand out was the special system called “Seed of God” that garnered its popularity.
In this ga, there were several NPCs known as gods, and players had the opportunity to beco servants of these gods by swearing oaths. By defeating monsters and offering different tokens representing each god, players could gain favor and increase their bond rank.
As the bond rank elevated, the rewards beca more valuable. Players could receive a variety of things, including consumable items, rare equipnt, and exclusive magic that could only be obtained through these divine connections.
So did the woman who is standing in front of now.
Usually, if it is a god of this ga, it is a being who is worshiped by people in various places on the royal road, but the goddess standing in front of was different.
“Yes, Knight Harold, today too, you have endured hardships to support the token of this pledge.”
The na of the goddess standing in front of was Eleanor, a hidden NPC that you can et through a hidden path in the early forest map.
“Oh…! As I expected, you truly are my one and only knight! I shall bestow upon you a reward today!”
She, a goddess, had concealed herself within this secluded forest. Unfortunately, due to the many circumstances, she had always been overshadowed by other gods, constantly subjected to defeat and perceived as foolish and incompetent. She had been completely forgotten, she even could not get a place to stay in the royal capital.
Perhaps due to being constantly overlooked, the goddess, despite her na, had developed low self-esteem. She stood out for her adorable nature, but her actions often seed foolish and contained noticeable gaps.
However, in an ironic twist, the rewards obtained by offering tributes to her were disproportionately powerful.
Looking back, the magic and equipnt acquired in the early stages of the ga remained useful until the very end, including for PvE boss raids and subsequent PvP content. It seed there were only a few counterfeit items that consistently ranked at the top of evaluation criteria, providing a significant advantage.
In fact, the ga community had a similar perception:
“Haha, wasn’t Eleanor actually hiding her true powers all along? hahaha”
“When Eleanor appears in the royal capital, everyone rushes to make offerings, fearing they won’t receive any rewards. It’s like the gods themselves had imprisoned her! Hahaha!”
The community seed to share a common understanding and humorous view regarding Eleanor’s situation.
After the revelation of this hidden NPC, there was a period when players were eager to pay tribute to Eleanor in the spirit of “jangchang.” However, being a ga, it was sowhat disappointing that there were no specific features where she would move to the royal road or gain an increasing number of followers according to the ga setting.
[“Jangchang” is a Korean term that refers to a traditional communal work system where mbers of a community co together to help one another with various tasks, such as farming or construction. It is a cooperative effort aid at accomplishing a common goal for the benefit of the community.]
“Co now…! I present to you a spell book that can infuse your weapon with the power of the sun! Through this, our bond grows even stronger! Take good care of it as we journey together in the future…!”
She smiled brightly and handed an old book.
And one thing I realized upon entering this otherworldly realm was that the actions and dialogues of the NPCs faithfully mirrored their in-ga counterparts. It was uncanny how their behaviors perfectly aligned with their virtual appearances, creating a surreal sense of consistency between the ga and this new reality.
Now, these lines are the sa as they were in the original ga, and in addition, the people who give the quests in the village, the contents, and the developnt thod match perfectly, so it was possible to proceed with ease.
“It is an honor to receive the favor of the Goddess.”
After accepting the book and bowing my head deeply, she smiles brightly like a child again and puffing her chest.proudly.
“I’m glad you said that! I wish you all the best in the future! My knight!”
Hearing those words, he got up from his seat and looked at the book he had just received.
Sun Sword
By using this book to learn the magic, you’ll have the power to effortlessly vanquish the demons lurking in the shadows, known as “newbie re-initials,” and overco the initial challenges posed by early bosses with formidable ease.
While the exact steps of the pledge I made remains unclear, judging from the rewards, it appears that I have ascended to level 3.
The step or perhaps level, starts from 1 to 10, and I have to break the pledge at step 6.
The rewards bestowed by goddess Eleanor are indeed valuable items that remain useful up to level 10. However, upon reaching the story’s ending, it becos apparent that for the sake of efficiency, it is more advantageous to sever the oath at step 6 and transition to another god.
If you were to break your oath with other gods, they would likely express their displeasure and let you go with a few words.
However, due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Eleanor, she remains largely forgotten by the people in the ga’s setting.
As a result, you, as the player, beco her sole and final follower, the last knight standing by her side. If you attempt to break the oath, she would desperately plead with tears in her eyes, urging you to stay and not abandon her.
Well… it will eventually be cut off systematically, but…
“Then, Knight Harold, let’s go out into the world again for the glory of the Goddess.”
Now that the business is concluded, I decide to venture out and explore the temple.
“W-wait a minute my knight!”
However, before I could take a step, Eleanor urgently calls out to , causing to halt. A rush of worries floods my mind, making my heart race.
This event feels unfamiliar and out of place, as it deviates from the ga’s scripted interactions.
“Did you call…?”
I respond, confused by the unexpected turn of events. Eleanor, crouching down with an anxious expression, stamrs her words.
“I…I’m going to ask again, Harold. Will you remain my eternal knight?…”
she asks, her voice trembling. This situation catches off guard, as it was not part of the ga’s programd sequence. I start feeling awkward, as I had never encountered a situation like this before.
As I hesitate to answer, Eleanor’s face becos even more anxious, on the verge of tears. She grabs onto my collar, preventing from leaving, and my legs weaken as I sink to the ground. What should I do? This event was not supposed to happen, so I am at a loss for words.
Finally, I gather my thoughts and respond,
“Isn’t it obvious? I will always be by your side, your knight.”
Despite the improvised nature of my response, I say it with confidence. Eleanor’s face lights up with relief.
“Oh…that’s right… You’re my only knight… That settles it! I apologize for asking such a question,”
she says, releasing her grip on my clothes and speak to once again with her usual gentle smile.
“Goodbye, my one and only knight Harold! I look forward to your future accomplishnts.”
As the familiar lines flow from her lips, I let out a sigh of relief and exit the temple.
“Or did I forget…? I don’t rember those lines,”
I mutter to myself, completely leaving the temple behind and heading towards the village. Such thoughts temporarily clear away any lingering regrets and help organize my complicated thoughts.
After all, NPCs are just programd characters. It’s best not to dwell on this event too much and focus on quickly reaching level 6 of the bond rank to form a new vow with another goddess.
◆◆◆
I realized-
That I had misunderstood the situation.
And that turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life…
I should have realized then…
When I saw the characters in the ga, I misunderstood that I was in the ga and that everyone here was also an NPC…
After all, where I am is reality…
So I had mistakenly assud that everyone in this world was an NPC.
“Eleanor-sama…”
“Ha… Did you co to talk about useless things today?”
Her bitter eyes began to stare at .
As her piercing gaze ets mine, a chill runs through my entire being, from my skin to my very bones, as if the cool wind has perated every inch of my body.
“How many tis must I repeat myself for you to understand?… You cannot break your oath with … ever,”
Contrary to the warm atmosphere of the sunlight seeping through the thick trees, it felt like a blizzard was falling to .
“I will no longer pay tribute to Eleanor-sama…”
“Didn’t I tell you? I don’t need any tribute anymore…”
“……”
I was at a loss for words.
Think… You have to think… You have to think of a plausible excuse quickly…
“Why are you rejecting ? Can’t you see that I am giving you everything?”
Then, a book of magic fell in front of .
The title of the book was written as-
The Sword Of The End.
I haven’t made any tributes since step 6… But even so, Eleanor continued to reward .
It’s been a long ti since I received the 10th level reward… Now, what kind of reward is this… Items that don’t even exist in the ga have been given to over and over again…
It’s scary… I’m afraid I want to run away… But I couldn’t…
What is my relationship rank now…? Is there any aning in displaying such a number in the first place…?
I have goosebumps all over my body and I want to get down on my knees right now with a feeling of unknown fear.
“Eleanor-sama…”
“Even this… isn’t enough…?”
Whoops…!!
Countless rare items literally fell from the sky…
Each item was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the ga, and these valuable items were piled up like a hill.
“Are you satisfied with this?”
I’m scared…..
“Or not enough?”
Fear cos like a wave…
“Now… Tell … No matter how greedy you are, I’ll fill you up…”
Even her innocent and refreshing eyes are gone…
“But… you’ll have to be careful…”
I tried to run away, but I couldn’t get out of her grip.
“If you… on the day you’re about to break the oath or leave …”
She sent a sentence with a aningful smile.
“You will never be able to leave this temple.”
bang!
Then, the heavy plosive sound of the temple door slamming shut from the back makes my ears numb.
“And… you dare say you have no tribute for ? How could you think there is none?”
shudder! shudder!
“Ugh?!”
Then, weights was put on my ankles and wrists, and when I faced reality with an unexpected sensation, I was completely restrained and could not even struggle.
Again… Again… Again…
One step… Two step… Slowly, as if imprinting fear, she ca close to , blushed her cheeks, and smiled a bewitching smile.
“Isn’t this perfect and eternal offering before now?”
She strokes my chest with her fingertips and tickles my ears.
“Keep in mind, on the day you think you have no real offerings…”
A more aningful smile blooms and instills fear in .
“You will be personally offered as a tribute to .”
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