NOVEL NEXT chapter 1
1 – Entrance Exam (1)
I received a special gift.
And it came from my favorite game developer.
[☆ Special Gift from the Developer ★]
A colorful, rainbow-shimmering message window.
As I looked at it, I let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh….”
Even though I received a gift from the developer of the game I adore, I can’t find joy in it.
“Oh, seriously…, this is driving me crazy.”
The reason I can’t find joy.
Right now, I am.
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Main Quest Chapter 1
【Enroll】
Please enroll at the Arena Academy.
– Reward: 3,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), unlock the point shop, and receive 1 Random Cheat Usage Permit.
– Failure: Death.
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I am inside the game.
Why on earth did I enter the game?
I recalled how I ended up here, clutching my throbbing forehead.
&
【Arena Academy】
A game notorious for its difficulty.
As the name suggests, it is a game that revolves around “duels.”
However, it is not solely limited to duels.
With RPG elements incorporated, players can explore areas outside of the academy, engage in hunting or farming, complete quests to obtain equipment, and grow stronger.
And crucially, there is also a favorability system, which allows for romance with heroines.
When the favorability level reaches 100%, CGs are unlocked, and genuine 19 scenes can be witnessed.
Due to the well-crafted illustrations of the heroines, it was once hailed as a top-tier game, leading to an influx of players… but now, it has become a game that only a few people play.
The reason is nothing special.
It’s difficult.
Extremely difficult.
Really, really difficult!
If I were to list the reasons one by one:
Firstly, characters are randomly generated.
Stats, talents, skills, and so on. Everything varies based on luck.
On the other hand, the non-playable characters (NPCs) who act as major supporting characters in competition possess deceptive skills and talents without exception.
However, since character growth can be achieved through farming, hunting, and quests, this factor is not a major concern.
So why is the game difficult?
It is all because of the invasion of extraterrestrial races.
While “Arena Academy” revolves around “duels,” it also incorporates the element of extraterrestrial invasion.
The player’s world, the mortal realm (人界).
These extraterrestrial races relentlessly target the mortal realm, and if they are not stopped every time they appear, the world gradually falls into ruin and eventually perishes.
The clear condition of the game is to achieve the rank of 1st in the academy, but if the extraterrestrial races that appear at regular intervals are not stopped, it will result in a game over.
This game can hardly be described as anything but hectic.
But still, when I was known as a top hardcore player in the community after playing for an estimated 30,000 hours.
[Challenge Completion Rate: 99%]
I was able to complete almost all of the game’s challenges.
When there was only 1% left until the next clear.
I received an email.
[To the player who cherishes my game.]
At first, I thought it was a prank email.
[Sender: megod1005]
Upon seeing the sender’s ID, I realized it wasn’t a prank.
The developer’s ID for ‘Arena Academy’ was ‘megod1005’.
So, I checked the email right away.
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[To the player who cherishes my game.]
Sender: megod1005
I was deeply impressed by the passionate play of the player who enjoys my created world. As a reward, I am sending a special gift. I would be grateful if you could contribute to the completion of the remaining 1% challenge.
■Attachment: Developer’s special gift
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This is no joke.
I immediately downloaded the file attached to the email.
&
And now.
“Ah, this is why you shouldn’t casually download email attachments….”
Sitting on the old mattress, I sighed and looked at the translucent message window that appeared on my retina.
[☆Developer’s Special Gift★]
“Open it, say it.”
As if urging me to quickly open it, the message window flashed rainbow colors, making me hesitate.
However, that hesitation didn’t last long.
“Okay, let’s open it. But before that.”
There’s something important.
A phrase I must utter after being immersed in the game.
It was right there.
“Status window.”
It was the status window.
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[Name: Lee Yujin]
■ Physical Abilities: 15
– Stamina: 5
– Strength: 5
– Agility: 5
■ Mental Abilities: 10
– Mana: 5
– Mind: 5
– Charm: 0
■ Talents
– None
■ Skills
– Teleportation (F)
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What is this?
These dismal numbers.
“…I’m screwed.”
The status window had turned into a despair window.
Normally, even supporting characters have a total ability score of at least 50.
Protagonists can have scores exceeding 100.
But a total of 25?
Even the worst characters aren’t this bad.
Still…
“…At least there’s one skill.”
The teleportation skill.
『Transmission (F)』
Transmits possessed objects to desired locations.
– Transmits possessed objects to a location within a 1m radius.
– Not possible to transmit into the interior of a living organism.
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“Hmm, a grade F skill….”
S, A, B, C, D, E, F— the lowest grade even among them.
Still, the ‘Transmission’ skill isn’t too shabby for its grade.
“I can transmit the objects I have to the desired ‘place.'”
Literally, the ‘place’ I desire.
Whether it’s the sky, underground, or inside a building.
Of course, it’s limited to a radius of 1m, but as the skill grade goes up, so does the skill’s ability.
In my opinion, the ‘Transmission’ skill could easily become a cheat skill.
So, there’s no need to be disappointed just because it’s the lowest grade.
…It’s a bit regrettable that I can’t transmit into the interior of living organisms.
If that were possible, it wouldn’t be a grade F.
“Now that the status window check is done.”
It’s time to unwrap the developer’s gift.
Closing the status window, I pressed the ‘Developer’s Special Gift,’ which had been intermittently flashing light.
Then, [☆Developer’s Special Gift★] burst out like fireworks.
And what appeared was…
[☆Arena Academy☆]
[v 1.0 plus 8 Trainer]
“…?”
It was a screen I had seen somewhere before.
“No, this…”
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[☆Arena Academy☆]
[v 1.0 plus 8 Trainer]
– Invincibility
– Infinite Stamina
– Infinite Energy
– Infinite Mana
– Infinite Items
– Speed Limit Removed
– Super Accuracy
– Enemy Slow Motion
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Developer, are you in your right mind?
“This is an illegal cheat tool!”
No, how can a gift from the developer be an illegal cheat tool?
… But still, since it’s from the developer, it should be okay, right?
Yeah, it should be fine.
In the email sent by the developer, it said, ‘We would appreciate it if you could help us achieve the remaining 1% challenge.’
Thinking that way, the anxiety that had lingered in a corner of my mind disappeared.
And… the remaining 1% challenge.
Although it was written as ‘???,’ I have a rough idea of what it might be.
Probably…, the survival of all main characters and the extermination of extraterrestrial beings.
As soon as I thought about it,
A new message window appeared on the retina.
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Ending Quest
【Clear Conditions】
– Survival of all main characters
– Extermination of extraterrestrial beings
– ???
– Reward: ???
– Failure: World Destruction (also applies to the failure of character corruption)
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“As expected….”
It was as expected.
However…, what is the third ‘???’?
I have no clue at all.
The first and second were as expected, but I had no idea about the third.
“Ugh, darn…”
This headache is getting worse.
“I’ll figure this out later.”
For now, I should leave this shabby room, the starting point.
But before that.
“Should I try using invincibility?”
I can’t even recreate my character, and to navigate through this harsh world with these mediocre stats, I might need to use an invincibility cheat.
But contrary to my thoughts.
Thunk.
[You do not have 10 rights to use the selected cheat.]
“…?”
With a brief sound of drums, a message appeared indicating the cheat was unavailable.
“Ah.”
Developer, what’s the deal with this?
If you give me a cheat tool, you should just let me apply it.
“Ah…, Developer!”
This is so frustrating!
&
&
&
“No wonder…, as a main quest reward, there’s a ‘random cheat usage right.'”
Random cheat usage right.
If I use this, a cheat will be randomly selected from the cheat tool.
But to use ‘invincibility,’ it said I needed 10 ‘selected’ usage rights…
Does it work with random usage rights?
“…I’ll find out later.”
First things first.
“Please line up properly!”
“Everyone except those registering for the exam, please step aside from the line!”
“Hey, don’t fight over there!”
It was the entrance exam registration at Arena Academy.
“…It’s so chaotic here.”
In games, even with a large crowd, if there’s a flickering screen event, registration happens instantly. But in the present reality, one has to stand in these long, never-ending lines.
A deep sigh arose from within the endless queue, but what could one do? To register, one must stand in line.
Standing there in the queue, thoughts turned to the upcoming exam.
There are three tests for the entrance exam:
First, the Test of Wisdom.
Second, the Test of Courage.
Third, the Test of Strength.
These three are the components.
The Test of Wisdom involves navigating through a maze.
The Test of Courage requires breaking through illusions.
The Test of Strength involves either defeating monsters or dueling other examiners.
“I should apply for the test and then gather the necessary items.”
Using cheats would normally just shove in the items or whatever is required, but since that’s not an option, obtaining the necessary items for the exam takes precedence.
By gathering only the items needed for the exam, even with a feeble set of abilities, one could pass adequately.
As someone who has played for over 30,000 hours, something like an entrance exam is a piece of cake.