NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1
The ambitious project of the game company, Roadmoon.
The game that had been under development for three whole years.
I put so much effort into it that there wasn’t a single aspect I didn’t touch.
I lived off coffee to concentrate and worked overtime. I thought I could finally see the results.
But instead…
“Ah… I’m inside the game.”
I realized that I had been transmigrated into it.
I knew it right away. The objects and natural elements I had assembled.
And the many buildings of Artena Academy towering high into the sky.
Most of them were my work, so there was no way I couldn’t recognize them.
“Whoever made this did a good job.”
In a quiet forest.
On the path leading to Artena Academy.
I stood there blankly, gazing at the sky.
Meeting the result of my creation gave me a lingering feeling, but to be honest, I felt overwhelmed.
The last memory I had.
[Difficulty: ‘Nightmare,’ Good luck ^^]
“They definitely said the difficulty was Nightmare, right?”
I had participated in the company test.
The game’s difficulty increased exponentially with each level. For example, if Beginner was 1x difficulty, Nightmare was 8x harder.
I played Nightmare only once. I got eliminated in the middle and never touched it again.
The actual test results were also disastrous. After hundreds of repetitions by company staff and AI simulations, no one managed to see the ending.
In other words, it was a mode created with the intention of being unbeatable, a feature added for fun to capture the attention of veteran players.
‘So, they want me to take on that mode…’
The only thing I could deduce was that I messed around with the sniper abilities.
‘Isn’t this payback too much for that?’
“Can’t I just live quietly?”
That was my wish.
Forget about the tale of a hero saving the world—I was not cut out for that.
Because I was a hardcore man.
If I could just survive, I would be satisfied.
But as the developer, I knew that was not possible.
“Right from the beginning, it’s a total mess…”
The memories vividly brought back my sense of crisis.
The reason I never played the Nightmare difficulty again.
Act 1, Scene 1 of
The entrance exam was the problem.
While the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced difficulties had a normal entrance exam where passing meant acceptance, Nightmare was different.
You had to fight off the invading beasts.
At every crucial juncture, beasts and demons would appear one after another.
Because of this, leveling up was fast, and the game’s difficulty also became extreme.
There was no need to look at the later stages.
Even our company’s staff dropped out in the early part.
As it turned out, I had the highest progress, having made it to the middle of Nightmare difficulty.
“Well, I have to try something.”
I sighed and sat on a tree stump. Nearby, water trickled down a stream.
It appeared the game hadn’t started yet. If I had missed the timing, I would have been stuck with a bad ending.
The fact that things were still this peaceful was proof of that.
“So, what’s the plan going forward…”
I drew a blueprint in my mind.
After thinking for a moment, I hung my head low.
Not much of a plan…
I needed to participate in Act 1, Scene 1, ‘Artena Academy Entrance Exam.’
I had to break through and pass the Nightmare difficulty.
If this didn’t work, the entire premise would crumble.
If I couldn’t enter the academy, I’d be cast out to the outskirts of the original story.
I wouldn’t be able to intervene in any events set on ‘Nightmare’ difficulty.
That was the first bad ending.
“There’s no reason to feel gloomy already. Let’s think positively.”
Even so, if I could just get into Artena Academy, I could plan for the future.
The future knowledge I possessed gave me an informational advantage.
As long as I had a character with decent specs.
“…”
First, I needed to find out who I’d been transmigrated into.
I rummaged through a leather bag lying nearby. Inside were some shillings, just enough for the academy exam fee, and some simple food.
And finally, there was a large wooden case, like a guitar case.
Taking it out was already a problem.
“Wow! This is bad.”
When starting with other professions, at least you would get a reasonable amount of money, food, clothes, enhancement stones, mana stones, and various miscellaneous items.
Some professions even came with enough money that you didn’t have to worry about finances.
‘But this is all I get…?’
‘This is absurd.’
‘Who on earth is this character to be so destitute?’
“Who the hell is this guy?”
I approached the stream, and my reflection became clear on the water’s surface.
A young boy with bright silver hair. His blue eyes squinted as he looked back at me.
“Uh…?”
The appearance was familiar.
I was sure this guy was a villain.
Then, a memory suddenly flashed through my mind.
— Hmm… Let’s roughly set him as a fallen noble…
I vaguely remembered setting up the character.
If my memory serves me right, this guy was a fallen noble, the second son of a count, who appeared in the early stages.
A third-rate villain who caused trouble during the entrance exam and got subdued by the player.
If I merged that story with my memory…
Did I become this random fallen noble? And have I been transmigrated into him?
If that’s the case, what about the abilities I set?
With a trembling heart, I stared into the air. In the game, one could see the status window if you desired.
I had to place my hopes on this.
In my current state, I wouldn’t even be able to clear Act 1, Scene 1.
[ Kyle ]
Lv: 1
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Title: The Most Notorious Scoundrel
Mana: 100/100
Karma: 0
Unique Trait: Sniping Master
Traits: Perfect Accuracy, Crisis Detection, Rapid Fire, Touch of Death, Iron Man, Indomitable Spirit
[Stats Details]
Invested Stats Points: 0
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Endurance: 1
Intelligence: 1
Perception: 1
Mana Perception: 1
Spirit Perception: 1
[Talent Details]
Element: Multiple
Affinity: Multiple
Growth Efficiency: A+
[Active Skills Details]
None
[Passive Skills Details]
Shooting Mastery: F
Mana Efficiency: F
Firepower: F
Firepower Control: F
“Ah! The stats are…”
As soon as I looked at the status window, I let out a sigh.
I desperately needed to improve my specs since the stats were in terrible shape.
“How is everything at 1…?”
Knights were guaranteed to have strength and endurance up to 8, while mages received intelligence and perception up to 8. Even archers paved the path ahead with skills and the Unique stats of elves.
But for a sniper, all stats were 1. It was an unheard-of number.
I should have raised them all while customizing. That was my mistake for skipping it.
The only comfort was, “At least everything I set is here.”
My overpowered unique abilities and traits had been fully reflected.
The element and class were unrestricted under the ‘multi’ system, and the unique growth efficiency was rated A+, rivaling the talents of the elites.
Though it hurt that I didn’t have any usable active skills, maybe I could make do with my unique abilities and traits.
I started reading through the unique abilities.
[Sniping Master]
Grade: Unique
You have reached the pinnacle of snipers. Your barrel can place its sights anywhere in the world. As for your target… How unfortunate. Their time is about to run out.
[Insight]
Permanent 100% armor penetration.
You can perceive the target’s elemental properties. If you use an opposing element, you receive a level-based bonus and inflict damage proportional to your level. The higher the enemy’s level, the greater the damage multiplier applied.
[Clairvoyance]
When infusing mana into your eyes, you can visually confirm distant locations. Precise aiming is possible even at extremely far distances. You can also view the target’s information.
[Concealment]
When activated, you perfectly blend into the surrounding environment. You can change into any color or form, and if you turn colorless, light refraction and shadows do not apply.
“This isn’t bad at all.”
It was an overpowered unique ability just as I had set it up. I especially liked ‘Concealment.’ If things looked bad, I could escape immediately.
As a cautious person, I felt uneasy if I didn’t have at least one way out.
“Now that I think about it, this is actually pretty good.”
As a sniper, there was no reason for me to be on the frontlines. The point of a sniper is to provide ultra-long-range support.
This job really suited me. I could run away if things got tough.
I quickly skimmed through the rest of the traits.
[Crisis Detection]
Grade: Legendary
Get ready to run! A sniper is always the enemy’s top priority!
[Rapid Fire]
Grade: Rare
Not one shot, but two. Not two, but three.
You can fire consecutive shots.
[Touch of Death]
Grade: Unique
It comes suddenly. When the fourth one whispers, fate crawls in like a shadow.
[Perfect Accuracy]
Grade: Unique
You never miss a target.
[Iron Man]
Grade: Rare
A body as tough as steel!
[Indomitable Spirit]
Grade: Rare
Grants immunity to mental attacks.
“If I give it a try, it might actually be doable….”
All of these traits suited a sniper perfectly. Iron Man and Indomitable Spirit were useful traits that would help in any situation, not just for snipers.
I had traits typically given to knights and mages.
“Let’s trust in my traits and unique abilities.”
No matter how low my base stats were, this was a fight I could win. Stats could always be improved later.
I could also acquire more skills. Even though there didn’t seem to be many right now.
I’d find a way.
I decided my strategy was to stay hidden and leech off the action from behind, handing the spotlight over to the main characters.
With that goal in mind, I slung my leather backpack over my shoulder.
I drank some water and stood up from my spot.
At that moment, something came to mind.
“What’s this wooden box?”
It was the wooden box I hadn’t opened yet. It was so large that I hadn’t really thought about it.
“I have a feeling I know what it is.”
In most games, you get a starting weapon.
A knight gets a wooden sword, a mage gets a wooden wand, an archer gets the bow of the world tree, a priest gets a holy book, and a thief gets an old dagger.
These are basic items you use in the beginning and then discard.
The sniper probably wouldn’t be any different.
“Let’s open it.”
I opened the wooden box. As expected, inside was a firearm with a long barrel that fit perfectly at the tip.
It was a sniper rifle with a sleek, modern design. It was painted in a glossy black.
‘Forget historical accuracy. I’m using this.’
I took out the sniper rifle. It didn’t have any bullets. It appeared to use mana instead.
[Beginner’s Long Rifle]
Grade: Unique
A weapon that grows depending on the user’s effort. It can contain all elements, fires using mana, and is bound exclusively to the user.
Each shot can consume up to 1,000 mana.
Right now, it was in a pitiful state.
Next evolution: Requires a certain amount of mana, 10 low-grade mana stones, and 10 Karma.
“Unique, huh?”
Normally, starting weapons were of common grade, but this one was unique.
I could already guess why.
“Who would make a sniper rifle?”
Unlike weapons such as swords, wands, or bows, a sniper rifle clearly required rare materials and advanced technology.
It would be almost impossible to find it in regular shops, and it would break immersion if it just dropped randomly, so they gave it to me early on like this.
Smart move. I’d give them credit.
“Unlike other weapons, this one needs to evolve.”
Looking at the conditions, the quest didn’t seem too difficult.
If I keep infusing mana, collect mana stones, and gather Karma—points accumulated by doing good deeds—it should be possible.
“Time to head out.”
I brushed off the dust stuck all over my clothes and stood up.
If I was late for the entrance exam at Artena Academy, I’d be immediately disqualified. There was no time to waste.
Just as I took my first step,
Screeeech!
A scream pierced my ears.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of a polearm followed. It was clear something was happening. I turned my focus to the origin of the noise under the clear sky.
As my vision expanded, I saw a small path. Though I couldn’t hear any voices, I saw two screaming horses, a trembling girl, and a demon standing before them.
That was enough to tell me what was going on.
“Lumina?”
Spirit summoner Lumina. Though she wasn’t a playable character, she was someone who could become a female protagonist.
A girl with long, light pink hair. She wore a crescent moon hairpin.
In the illustration, her large eyes were as clear and blue as nature itself, her skin had a pale ivory tint, and she gave off a friendly vibe to both spirits and people.
But now, she appeared horrified with her pupils filled with fear. It appeared she was attacked while on her way to take the entrance exam for Artena Academy.
I turned my gaze to the demon.
[Zarnox]
Lv: 50
Race: Demon
State of Mind: [Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.]
“Yikes.”
Zarnox.
A demon species that appeared in the mid-game. But since the difficulty was set to ‘Nightmare,’ it appeared to have just shown up early.
There was no way Lumina could handle it at her current level. Even the top scorer for the academy entrance exam couldn’t take it down at this point.
But I couldn’t just abandon her either. Lumina played a critical role in the game’s story.
I didn’t want to mess up the main plot this early.
Besides, wouldn’t helping Lumina give me some Karma points?
“Well, I guess I don’t have a choice.”
I quickly surveyed the area. After confirming no one was around, I pulled out my sniper rifle.
“Just stay still.”