The Ruined World Was Mistaken for a Game-Chapter 125: What is Happiness (3)

The Ruined World Was Mistaken for a Game-Chapter 125: What is Happiness (3)

Translator: Dreamscribe
The wind began to blow.
As the darkness lifted, the surroundings were dyed in a blue hue. The Grand Temple, which had clearly been indoors, was now soaring through the skies of Arsilan.
“Wow!”
“I-I'm flying! I'm flying!”
“Uwoah?!”
The newbie Heroes, experiencing this for the first time, couldn’t help but get excited. The Heroes who had participated during the introduction of Episode 3 looked at those newbies fondly.
“We used to be that surprised too..., Whoa?!”
“Ugh!”
Not only the newbies but all the Heroes inside the Grand Temple were flustered. In the past, only the surrounding scenery changed, but now, their feet had literally lifted off the ground. As if in zero gravity, everyone floated above Arsilan’s sky, flailing helplessly. Tables, food, and wine glasses also floated up before disassembling and disappearing.
Jinwoo was comfortably seated on a flying carpet.
“Becoming a Hero and defeating monsters, visiting a castle made of sweets, or entering into a comic world. At least once in childhood, you've all had such dreams. Strangely enough, those dreams don’t change even as generations do.”
Jinwoo’s voice was clearly heard by everyone.
The floating Heroes, who had been flailing in the air, gradually stabilized and turned their gaze downward. Alongside Jinwoo, they flew across Arsilan, passed through the Magic Barrier, and pierced a shimmering space as they headed somewhere unknown.
“Huh?”
“An island?”
A massive island came into view.
A gigantic island was floating in the sky. A river flowing from the island was cascading down, and countless other islands, appearing like fragments, surrounded the large one.
The large island grew closer and closer. Even the Heroes widened their eyes at the sheer variety of sights. There was a huge castle and large blocks moving in a set pattern. Several locations were shrouded in clouds.
“Huh?”
“My body...!”
The Heroes’ bodies became enveloped in light and their appearances began to change. As if time was reversing, they grew younger until they looked like elementary school children.
“Oh, you got younger.”
“That kindergarten hat suits you.”
“What the...”
“I really can't predict anything anymore.”
The Heroes, with startled expressions at this completely unexpected situation, looked at Jinwoo. But Jinwoo was simply sitting leisurely on the carpet, holding a wine glass. It looked as if he was enjoying the Heroes’ reactions as a form of entertainment.
It was a bit annoying.
Papapapap!
The now-young Heroes fell to the ground, but as they were surrounded by light, their descent slowed. By the time they reached the ground, they had come to a complete stop and landed safely.
“Your weapon changed.”
“Oh, it’s a toy?”
“It’s glowing though?”
The armor and weapons the Heroes were wearing changed to fit their childlike forms. The weapons were brightly colored and looked like toys, while the armor gave off a cute rather than cool impression. One of the Heroes swung a now-shortened staff, and with a sound effect, light streamed from it.
Jinwoo stepped down from the carpet and looked at the Heroes.
“This is the Island of Light, where prospective Heroes stay. It's the place one stays before ‘reincarnation’.”
Prospective Heroes.
A term referring to those who had not yet become adults. In fact, minor fans of Arsilan Saga used the term to refer to one another.
“The Island of Light is divided into three sections: the Island of Beginnings, the Island of Heart, and the Island of Birth.”
When Jinwoo reached out his hand, the clouds covering the island all dispersed, revealing its grand appearance. At the center of the Island of Light was a tall and massive castle that looked like it could pierce the sky, and from that castle, the island was divided into three parts. A large river cut across the island, marking the boundaries.
“The Island of Beginnings is a place for children aged 10 and above.”
A fairytale-like scene unfolded. Fairies flew through the sky, and SD-character-like dinosaurs and animal friends filled the area.
“There are various play zones, but let’s try just one.”
As Jinwoo began walking forward, the Heroes followed him.
Viewers watching the scene were going wild with excitement.
-What is thisㅋ
-So cuteㅋㅋ
-ㅋㅋNow this is healing!
The sight of children awkwardly waddling while dragging huge weapons was unbelievably adorable.
A massive door came into view just ahead.
A dinosaur friend holding a stubby sword appeared from the side and opened the door. Inside the door was a space resembling a labyrinth. It didn’t feel horrifying but more like a playground.
When Jinwoo gestured, the Heroes entered. Then the floor sank, and lava began to rise.
“This is a game where you’re out if you touch the floor.”
During childhood, there were probably times you jumped between pieces of furniture or stepped only on the white parts of crosswalks. Jinwoo also used to imagine the floor was filled with lava or cliffs and enjoyed that sense of thrill.
He had brought such imagination to life.
“Here I go!”
A Hero at the front jumped toward the handle to pull the lever but fell straight into the lava.
“Uwah!”
Upon falling into the lava, the Hero turned into particles of light and returned to the starting point.
After struggling past the obstacles, a snowman that looked like a villain appeared. The Heroes frantically picked up the guns placed on the ground and started pulling the triggers without hesitation.
Dududududu!
With a burst of colorful lights, paintballs were fired and melted the snowman.
-Looks so fun!
-Is this only for kids?
-I wanna try it too.
Scenes that seemed straight out of a fairytale were brought to life in even more impressive ways. The Heroes also forgot their age and enjoyed it like children. When Jinwoo waved his hand, all the Heroes were teleported to another place.
“Ahem!”
“Th-This is fun.”
“Haha....”
The Heroes looked slightly embarrassed.
“What’s this place?”
“A school?”
“Seems like it.”
In front of the Heroes was a school that looked like it came out of a fantasy world.
“This is the School of Light. If prospective Heroes complete quests given by the School of Light, they can obtain skills or specialized equipment. The quests are a form of study that helps develop each person’s dreams and talents.”
While doing homework or reviewing school courses, the system would inform them of what they were good at. And to keep their interest up, rewards included currency usable on the Island of Light or, based on performance, good items and skills.
Those who taught the children were carefully vetted individuals. Heroes could also participate in part-time roles. Jinwoo explained that, just in case, filtering would be implemented, and a superintelligent AI would monitor everything at multiple levels.
Such schools existed in all three regions: the Island of Beginnings, the Island of Heart, and the Island of Birth.
“Wow..., if something like this existed when I was a kid....”
“I’d be at Harvard by now?”
“This is what you call learning through play.”
The Heroes toured the school.
Inside, the school was filled with adorable animal friends, and there was even a large dinosaur visible on the playground.
“You can ride this.”
“There's no resisting dinosaurs!”
You could even ride on the back of a dinosaur.
The library connected to the school had countless books lined up. It was as vast as if it had gathered every book in the world.
The Heroes were also able to try out a few quests at the school.
[Special Quest] Let’s solve a math problem!
Reward: Super Jump
When a few Heroes solved elementary school-level math problems, they gained new skills.
The Island of Beginnings had a login time limit, and when that time ended, users would naturally enter a deep sleep. Also, to log in, real-life appropriate activities were required, and of course, parental consent was necessary.
Naturally, parents could come to this place and meet their children. Since they had to appear in their real forms, there was no worry of not recognizing each other.
“This is a revolutionary!”
A parent Hero with two children shouted after hearing Jinwoo’s explanation, with a face overflowing with emotion.
The next island was the Island of Heart, which prospective Heroes aged 12 or older could access. The Heroes’ bodies grew slightly, becoming equivalent to upper-grade elementary school students.
On the Island of Heart, full-scale travel could be enjoyed.
Exclusive gates and dungeons could be experienced only on the Island of Heart, and fairly decent items could be obtained. Since nothing would reset after reincarnation, the joy of growth remained intact. Many more stories and quests would be continuously updated in the future.
‘It’s good since it means the staff can keep working.’
If the staff took breaks, they’d quickly become depressed, so a workspace like this was necessary.
-So we don’t get to do this?
-I want to be a kid too!
-You can fight by faction, do siege battles, everything’s possible.
-This is gonna make kids lose their mindsㅋㅋ
The Heroes had fun doing siege battles.
“The final zone is the Island of Birth, which only those aged 15 or older may enter.”
It wasn’t too different from the other islands, but there was something special about it.
“On the Island of Birth, you can access Arsilan for a limited time. You won’t be able to participate in the main story of Arsilan, but you can experience a refined version of Gates, dungeons, and side quests.”
The prospective Heroes would appear to the Heroes as translucent, soul-like forms.
“And when you become an adult, you will be recognized as a true Hero in the Castle of Rebirth and be able to head to Arsilan. On the day you become an adult, everyone on the Island of Light will come together to celebrate.”
How joyous that day would be.
When Jinwoo snapped his fingers, the Heroes were transported in front of the castle.
“Waaaah!”
“Congratulations!”
“Don’t forget us!”
Fairies, animal friends, and the people of Arsilan who lived on the Island of Light showered the entering Heroes with beautiful flower petals.
Upon entering the castle, Leon stood there holding the Holy Sword.
Leon smiled at the Heroes.
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a true Hero. The many trials you experienced on the Island of Light will become great strengths for you.”
Fwoooosh!
As Leon raised the Holy Sword, light burst from the center of the castle and shot up into the sky.
“Advance toward the light, for Arsilan.”
Leon’s warm voice echoed.
As the Heroes stepped toward the pillar of light, their bodies soared into the sky and appeared above the Island of Light. Crossing the island and passing through space, they arrived at the fields of Evanth.
“There are various production sequences for heading to Arsilan. This is just one part of what we’ve shown. Please understand, this is a gift for prospective Heroes.”
Jinwoo smiled and waved his hand. Then, the scenery changed again, and they returned to the Grand Temple. The Heroes looked around with dazed expressions. The surroundings were exactly the same as when they had first arrived here.
Staff brought Soul Links onto the stage.
“This is the Soul Link T that allows access to the Island of Light.”
It was still in the form of goggles, but it looked much lighter, like a pair of glasses.
How much would it cost?
Since it was a device for children, it probably wouldn’t be as expensive as the standard Soul Link. Still, it was undoubtedly a burden.
An information window popped up, displaying images and the price for various countries. In Korean won, it was 320,000.
-It’s cheaper than I expected?
-You can study and play safely, and for that price, it’s basically free. Kids can use it until high school.
-At that price, they could even charge a monthly fee and no one would complain....
Since it was far cheaper than expected, the Heroes’ expressions brightened. But today was the 2nd anniversary.
This wasn’t enough!
“If any Hero with a child owns at least one Soul Link, we will provide it free of charge.”
The crowd of Heroes began to stir.
“When your child becomes an adult, we’ll replace it with the latest version of the Soul Link.”
“Huh?”
“No way, that much...?”
"Wooow..."
It was an extremely generous offer. Jinwoo looked at the Heroes and smiled deeply.
“After all, today is the 2nd anniversary.”
The Heroes burst into applause with admiration. Jinwoo spread both arms wide and gestured as if encouraging them to go even louder. The applause grew, and cheers erupted.
Jinwoo had pushed things a little to let the many Heroes who came to the Grand Temple experience the Island of Light. He could have introduced it through video, but since it was a place for children, he wanted them to experience it firsthand.
Jinwoo took a short breath, then continued.
“Now, let’s talk briefly about something outside the game.”
The floating information window on stage changed, and Arsilan Worlds appeared alongside various indicators. It had now risen to the point of catching up with YouTube. Not only the Heroes, but even general users who didn’t play Arsilan Saga were frequently logging in.
The various subscription services offered by Arsilan Worlds were incredibly enticing. In addition to videos from Arsilan Saga, the “Arsilan Play” section, where general videos were uploaded, had firmly established itself as a strong competitor to YouTube.
“As Arsilan Worlds has grown larger, many issues have arisen. While Arsilan Saga operates on an internal network, the Heroes accessing it use various telecommunications providers.”
There were a lot of problems.
Since FS Games was making an enormous amount of money, the telecom companies began making excessive demands, even resorting to unreasonable tactics. The Ohsung Group tried to step in, but Jinwoo stopped them, saying it wasn’t necessary.
Because there was a very clear solution.
“With the current internet speed, streaming hologram videos is far too slow. We wanted to provide streamers with the ability to broadcast in holograms as well, but for this reason, it hasn’t been possible.”
While hologram devices were becoming widespread, internet speed hadn’t caught up.
“On top of that, there was a recent, critical case of personal information leakage. Some of our FS Games employees were victims. I’m sure many of you Heroes have also experienced various inconveniences. So, we decided to create the world’s best telecom company.”
The sudden announcement caused a stir among the Heroes.
“Allow me to introduce it. This is Arsilan Telecom!”
An information window appeared showing the name ‘Arsilan Telecom’ along with various data.
“To date, there have been a total of 3,342 hacking attempts against FS Games. If we include physical intrusion attempts, the number is far greater. But not a single piece of information has ever been leaked.”
On the contrary, they had utterly destroyed the attackers.
Not only did all devices in the hackers’ buildings shut down, but everyone involved in the hacking attempts went on to live extremely unfortunate lives. It would feel as if all the light and nature of the world were cursing them.
“All information is strictly encrypted and stored here in Arsilan. With current technology, it is absolutely impossible to steal it.”
More detailed information appeared in the window.
It was over 50 times faster than existing internet speeds, and phone calls and data usage were unlimited.
That was merely the minimum speed.
They were planning to raise it even further in the future.
It was, without a doubt, technology on a whole different level.
“For now, we will begin trial service only for those who have purchased Soul Link in Korea.”
-A telecom company?
-What did he make...
-In a world with virtual reality, something like this doesn’t even seem strange.
-Who would’ve thought VR would exist just two years ago?
The Heroes’ eyes sparkled.
Many had been frustrated with constant disconnections when accessing Arsilan Worlds. On top of that, there had been several instances where their lines were intentionally throttled.
“Unfortunately, the price will be a bit expensive.”
The Heroes nodded in understanding.
If what he said was true, it was justified.
“It will be provided for 9,900 won per month. You can also pay using Platinum Coins in Arsilan.”
9,900 won?
The Heroes were momentarily dazed when they heard that. Jinwoo, showing no mercy for their stunned state, continued speaking.
“The Ohsung Electronics U-Series smartphones can be used immediately without any replacement, and Soul Link will automatically sync. For PCs, you can purchase a terminal from the Soul Shop or request delivery service through Arsilan Worlds.”
From the Heroes’ perspective, the price was so low it felt like it was being practically given away.
Truthfully, he could have made it free.
It didn’t require much manpower, and he could have provided it to the entire Earth right now if he wanted. They were just pretending to install telecommunication devices to avoid suspicion.
Combining the Soul Gate, the Magic Tower, magic, and science and technology, this was truly invincible!
Huh?
Wow..., wow!
The dazed Heroes missed the timing to cheer as they began to stir.
“And we’ve prepared a little something else. Ah! It’s just a special event, so don’t get your hopes up too much. It’s not part of a main quest or vertical content.”
Jinwoo reassured the Heroes.
Still, the Heroes grew uneasy. Their eyes were full of distrust, and Jinwoo couldn’t help but laugh.
“I mean it. This time, let’s watch a video.”
Instead of an experience, Jinwoo showed them a video this time.
The sound of Korean traditional music began to play. Then, traditional music from various countries followed in sequence. The black screen showed Arsilan’s blue sky and then the sea of Hanu before plummeting toward the ocean.
As they passed through the depths of the sea, an underwater city revealed itself.
At first, the appearance of the underwater city was filled with traditional Korean hanok houses. A beautiful palace had been built, and the people of Arsilan were dressed in hanbok. Heina and the other knights wore outfits that were faithful to historical accuracy.
“Oh, oooh.”
“Wow....”
“Korea?”
Elves wearing gat walked by, and merchants could also be seen. Garsha was at a tavern, proudly smiling as she served gukbap.
[Oh, oh! Is this the legendary goblin club? Enhancement stones are popping out!]
Thomson, dressed as a goblin, swung a goblin club, and a beastkin who resembled a tiger flashed its eyes deep within the mountains.
The video shifted to the palace.
Leon, wearing a royal robe (gonryongpo), was strolling through the palace, then looked at the screen and smiled.
[It’s truly a wonderful day, isn’t it?]
[What’s so great about it? We’re underwater.]
Next to Leon, Helby was dressed as a queen and frowned in displeasure, seemingly not liking the situation. She jabbed Leon in the side.
Tiris, expressionless in a court lady outfit, looked at the screen and made a V sign with her fingers, while Tia, not at all suited for the role of a court lady, ran around restlessly.
The screen changed again, showing scenes from other countries in succession. Starting with Asian nations and extending to Europe, the variety was vast. All the buildings were crafted with care, and the costumes were equally well-done. The cultural details were preserved faithfully, with slight variations allowed within acceptable limits.
“Waaaah!”
“Our country’s in it too!”
“Leon-nim is wearing our traditional clothes...!”
Arsilan Saga was a game that brought together Heroes from many different countries.
Watching the scenes in the video, all the Heroes were filled with what could only be called national pride. Jinwoo had made sure that no country felt left out, putting care into every single one.
Quite a few Heroes were moved to the point of tearing up.
-A glorious feast of national pride...
-I’m feeling it too.
-You can tell this was made with love. Must’ve taken over a year of research.
-Long live Creator God! Long live Creator God!
Even after the video ended, the cheers and applause did not stop for a long time.
Jinwoo beamed as he watched the Heroes so happy and full of joy. He could feel their happiness with his whole being.
“It will be truly fun if you enjoy it all together.”
Hero to Hero, and Hero to Arsilan citizen.
To mark the second anniversary, Jinwoo wanted everyone to get to know each other better. It would greatly help Arsilan move toward the future.
“All the content I’ve introduced so far will be available starting....”
“Now!”
“Now!”
“We can enjoy it right now, right?”
-Of course it’s now.
-If not today, when?
-ㅋㅋ I’m already ready
The Heroes cut Jinwoo off before he could finish. Jinwoo let out a soft laugh and nodded.
“That’s right. As you know, today is the second anniversary.”
Of course, right now!
Everything was ready to be enjoyed!

Chapter 125: What is Happiness (3)