Escape - Chapter 13.1
Chapter 13.1
Woo Yune tilted her head, looking up at Adeline.
‘This woman is so strange, she’s clearly an expert, but she pretends to be a newbie. I thought it was an act, but she’s way too serious. We’ve been together for hours, and it’s a pretty consistent act for a bit.’
“Of course. Please, please don’t say you’ve never seen it before. Every time you say that, people accuse me of faking my streams, and it’s so upsetting….”
Adeline, about to refuse, paused at Woo Yune’s melancholic tone. Woo Yune’s cheeks, plump like a well-fed little animal, made her disappointed expression resemble a dejected puppy. Adeline, uncharacteristically, had a soft spot for cuteness. If it weren’t for Damian, she’d have her own animal farm by now.
Sighing, she poured a small amount of liquid onto the bottle cap. “Here, you drink it first.”
“…?”
Luce stared at Adeline, betrayal etched on his face. Adeline gave him a playful smile and mouthed, “Drink.”
“If I start muttering to myself while staring into space, then kill me…”
Finally giving in, Luce squeezed his eyes shut as if swallowing poison and gulped down the red liquid, the same color as his hair.
One second, two seconds, three seconds… Silence.
“Hmm?”
Nothing happened. Luce opened his eyes a sliver, staring at the liquid as if waiting for a bomb to explode. Adeline watched with curiosity, while Woo Yune, arms crossed, glanced between the two.
“How is it?”
“Nothing happened.”
In fact, he felt a little energized. Hesitantly, Luce reached out and this time grabbed the entire bottle, full of the liquid. He boldly tipped it back and drank it all.
“Oh… Whoa… Wow… What is this?”
“What’s wrong? Hey, Luce Gradel. Are you okay?”
“What is this? I actually feel energized. How is this possible? I feel as refreshed as if I slept at 10 pm and woke up at 8 am. What is this, Woo Yune?”
Eyes wide, Luce bounced on his feet, his face flushed with a surge of energy. Adeline stared at the red liquid, her eyes widening.
‘A real stamina potion? Do things like that even exist in other Districts?’
Lost in thought, Adeline pushed the remaining bottle of red liquid into her army backpack. She was tired, of course, but she didn’t want to drink it now.
If it truly was a stamina potion, she needed to save it for later.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving it for later.”
“Huh? Just drink it now. If it’s a potion, I’ll buy you another.”
“This precious thing?”
At Adeline’s words, Woo Yune’s face fell, a mixture of concern and embarrassment.
“Sia… you can buy this at the shop for 3 gold…”
Gold. Adeline was about to ask about this unfamiliar currency when—
Ding! Ding!
A loud notification rang through the empty hallway, and message windows popped up in front of Woo Yune and Adeline.
Main Quest: Birth of the Serpent Master has begun!
The master of District 12 has awakened. The hungry master has begun hunting humans. Join forces to protect the Starting District!
*Participation Level: 90▲
*Difficulty: S
*Conditions: Hunt 100 Serpiente
*Reward: 200,000 Experience / 10,000 Gold / Title: Serpent Hunter
Woo Yune’s face, for the first time, paled as she read the message.
At the same time, the floor began to rumble.
***
Meanwhile, on the official Escape homepage.
The sudden appearance of the main quest had sent the world into a frenzy. That’s how popular the game was.
Released just three years ago, it had amassed a staggering one billion users. With a global population of nine billion in 2040, one billion was an enormous number, especially considering the age restriction of 18 to 60.
People were obsessed with Escape, from children to the elderly. Despite the age restriction due to its extreme violence and realism, Escape had become another world entirely.
Not only did it have a currency exchange system, but its official website, “Anonymous Echo Plaza,” was a global internet community where people shared information.
Its robust security system had even attracted real-world corporations to integrate their systems into Escape. During the pandemic, remote work had been conducted within the game, leading to discussions about incorporating Escape into public institutions.
Some argued that Escape was more than just a game. Its sensory perception and security servers were on a different level compared to typical virtual reality. It felt real. It was as if humanity, having conquered all continents, had discovered a new world.
Special articles analyzing Escape’s popularity were published daily. Those unfamiliar with the game attributed its success to its amazing virtual reality technology, but what truly captivated players was its unique world-building.
A vast and unpredictable world.
Upon starting the game, players awoke in a ruined world, from the perspective of humanity forced underground. The starting point was District 11, known as the Starting District.
District 11 was safe, a normal human city designed to give beginners time to adapt. However, experience gain was limited. So, after adjusting, players would find jobs and venture into the Labyrinth, an infinitely vast space. There were thousands of minor quests and hidden sub-areas alone.
