Chapter 1: Prologue

[You could be a hero remembered in history, a knight commanding hundreds of soldiers, the world’s richest tycoon, a notorious thief, or perhaps even a king.

A world where you can do and become anything awaits you.]

About a year ago, a game by Bulsejul swept through the global gaming market.

[A miraculous game that lets you fully experience a fantasy world—with all the realism you’d only ever seen in novels or movies!]

That was the promotional slogan for ‘New World.’

Everyone starts from the same point, but depending on their choices and efforts, they could gain money, fame, power, and more.

Every slogan boldly claimed the same thing.

That even someone like you—who’s merely an extra in real life—could become the main character.

Tempted by this, people rushed into New World.

Each carrying their own reasons and goals.

But Jaeho’s reason for starting New World was a bit different.

“If it’s here… maybe I could run a flower shop!”

He didn’t boast like everyone else. He simply wanted to open a flower shop.

Too strong for just growing flowers.

“What? A flower shop?”

Wansik, who was running on the treadmill alongside Jaeho, asked with a completely baffled expression.

“Hey, hey, lower your voice.”

Jaeho looked around while speaking quietly.

The gym was filled with the weight of time.

Some middle-aged men were working out, but no one paid any attention to the two.

But Jaeho wasn’t concerned about them.

“Did you see the manager leave earlier? Don’t fall down.”

“Oh, yeah?”

The person Jaeho was watching was none other than the gym’s owner, his father.

Hwang Wooram.

A man who practically radiated testosterone from every pore.

The kind of guy who would have a heart attack if you even mentioned a flower shop in front of him.

In contrast, Jaeho was a man who loved flowers.

“Your face fits that perfectly.”

Wansik’s blunt comment made Jaeho smile wryly.

In this harsh, appearance-obsessed world, no one believed Jaeho’s love for flowers.

Standing 192 cm tall, muscles armored like steel plates.

Just his overwhelming physique was enough to intimidate most people, and his face was almost perfect (?), too.

His endlessly serious and heavy jawline exuded the absolute dignity of a top predator.

For example, when Wooram first opened this gym, some local gangsters came to size up the place.

Jaeho was covering the counter in his father’s brief absence…

Slide—

Jaeho’s gaze shifted to a man in his early thirties skipping rope vigorously in a corner of the gym.

That sturdy figure was the very same gangster who came that day.

And the person with him was another senior from that time… while on the opposite side was the senior’s senior.

After a thorough ‘lesson’ that day, they became regulars at the gym and have been coming ever since.

That was the kind of presence high schooler Hwang Jaeho had.

What about now? At 24, having served in the military, he was a full-fledged adult.

Though Wooram wanted to make Jaeho a martial arts fighter, luckily, his only weak spot—his mother—prevented that from happening.

But whether he could use his mother to open a flower shop was another question.

“No, I’ll definitely fail.”

His enrollment in a prestigious four-year university was his mother’s wish.

“You’re just making excuses. Why can’t you be honest? Every plant withers the moment you touch it.”

It was true.

Because he was such a clumsy person that he could even make onions, which are supposed to survive if you soak them in water, wither and die.

“Besides, you have allergies. You and flowers are complete opposites.”

For all these complicated reasons, Jaeho’s fantasy was impossible.

But what if the latest technology was involved?

“Come on. New World might be able to do anything, but no one’s going to start playing just to run a flower shop.”

“Why not? I can do whatever I want. I even saw someone who just went fishing.”

“Yeah, technically that’s true. But how would you do it? The manager would freak out if he found out.”

“That’s…”

When capsules were first introduced alongside New World, Wooram said,

‘You lie down inside those capsule things for hours? Do you know how much muscle you’d lose?!’

“Hmph, not right away, but if I lived independently…”

“I’ll save up the capsule deposit and rent. I even took out a loan for school registration.”

“…Well, it’s not like I won’t be able to play the game at all, right? Capsules exist, after all.”

Stopping the treadmill, Jaeho looked at Wansik and said,

“I was just about to ask you to check out a capsule room with me. You said you recently started New World, right?”

“Yeah. It’s basically the default for kids to talk about New World nowadays.”

“That’s ridiculous. You just started because you wanted to fit in with the others.”

“Hu… No, that’s not it.”

“Besides, you’ve got more muscles than me. Remember how annoying it was when you were a returning student your first year?”

“Damn it! But my face’s like a pretty flower guy! Better than you…”

Their hard-to-relate-to banter continued all the way to the shower room.

***

Following Wansik, Jaeho entered a capsule room for the first time in his life.

Looking around curiously with an amazed expression, Wansik nudged Jaeho’s side.

“Hey… can you tone down the sightseeing? It’s embarrassing.”

“No, no… why can’t I check it out a little?”

“You should consider your position. Looking around with that face and body, you look like some gangster here for a fight.”

“Well, that’s partly your fault, isn’t it?”

“You’re a total softie next to me.”

Wansik grabbed two postpaid cards and led Jaeho inside.

“At first, just do what you’re told. And set your starting region to ‘Krumah.’ I started there, so I can give you some tips.”

“I looked it up too, but I heard Krumah is a dead zone? How can I start a flower shop in a dead zone?”

Jaeho had researched a bit and confirmed Krumah was the most popular area.

But it was also classified as a place you should never go.

“That’s the place with the highest newbie selection rate. The facilities are good, and early quests are easy. You have to level up a bit first if you want to run a flower shop or anything else…!”

Wansik was listing off facts he already knew when he suddenly grabbed Jaeho’s shoulder.

“Hey… if you’re thinking of going to Luxi Forest, just don’t play the game.”

“?!!!”

“That reaction tells me that’s exactly where you wanted to go.”

Wansik shouted in horror.

“Why are you trying to take the hardcore difficulty by yourself? That place is famous for newbies getting destroyed!”

Jaeho had seen it too.

—Can’t even touch the controls properly, started in Luxi.

– Recommended: die and respawn.

The last bit about ‘die and respawn’ wasn’t referring to resetting a character.

New World fundamentally blocks sub-character development and doesn’t allow reset.

Then what did ‘die and respawn’ mean…?

“Either you get stuck there forever, or you lose hundreds of in-game currency and end up carried by a ranker! You want to pick the route of buying a capsule room independently? Don’t do it…”

“Uh-uh—”

“No way! He’s not even listening! You insane elves there…”

Until the capsule’s lid closed, Wansik’s nagging continued as Jaeho began his first connection to New World.

***

Immediately upon connecting, the first task was customization!

“Ugh.”

Jaeho fell silent looking at the other self in front of him.

Seen from a pure third-person perspective—not a mirrored one—his appearance looked much more severe.

“But it’s a game, so I can tweak it.”

After about 30 minutes, Jaeho came to one realization.

“Damn.”

The customization was not as versatile as he expected.

He couldn’t change gender or completely erase his original look.

“It’s still better than nothing, I guess.”

That at least was some mental victory.

Next was the nickname.

“Hmm…”

That, at least, was already decided in his mind.

***

Fwah—!

The dazzling light vanished, revealing a breathtaking view.

“Wow…”

Jaeho couldn’t help but exclaim.

A beautiful scenery impossible to see in reality.

Colorful flowers and trees swaying gently in the cool breeze of a peaceful forest.

So unreal yet so vivid, it was hard to believe it was virtual.

—Hey, I logged in.

Jaeho immediately messaged Wansik using the code he received in advance.

—Did you really make it as ‘Alicia’? You honestly think that ID fits your quadruple chin?

—Don’t want to hear that from a ‘Muscle Pangpang’ guy.

—Anyway, why did it take you so long?

—Ah, customizing.

—Your face won’t look much different even after customizing.

—…Thanks.

But if we met in person, you’d be surprised.

I made it somewhat tame.

—So where are you? I’m at Krumah Starting Hall but can’t see you.

Jaeho ignored the question.

—Are you seriously in Luxi? You really went with Luxi?

—Ah, there seems to be lag… server status…

—Hey! What lag in New World?! Agh! You never know when you’ll get out there!!!

Wansik’s nagging made Jaeho realize a feature quicker than expected.

[ <Muscle Pangpang >has been blocked.]

“Phew—then…”

Jaeho quietly looked around the Starting Hall.

It was indeed an unpopular area; no one else was around.

Well, almost no one.

“Ah… another victim has arrived. Are you planning to join our Jerluck Association…?”

A grim-looking well-dressed beggar appeared and spoke to Jaeho.

But the moment he saw Jaeho’s face, he stepped back and stumbled away.

“Oh, I heard all starting halls have Tutorial for NPC.”

Jaeho assumed the beggar was NPC and approached…

“Sorry…”

“Hiiiiiieek—!!!”

The beggar fled without looking back.

The reason was obvious enough…

Even in reality, someone that huge failing so miserably was unheard of.

“Well… whatever. I’m free to do whatever I want here anyway.”

After all, Jaeho had only one reason for starting New World.

“Cruc… flower shop.”

Just imagining it made him break into laughter.

Pwaaa—

At that moment, light streamed from the Starting Hall and a new victim—no, player—appeared.

But Jaeho, still intoxicated by the scenery, had no idea.

—That’s Luxi Forest. The NPC there look too scary, so I can’t talk to them. Laughing alone is a little crazy, right? ㅜㅜ I came to buy an elf there, but was I tricked?

—What? NPC in Luxi should all be elves. You’ll meet them soon if you follow the path.

—But what does that mean? I got wrecked right at the start in Luxi.

—You picked Luxi yourself? No way~

About five minutes later, that was posted in the New World community.

***

The moment he stepped out of the Starting Hall, a field of scattered flowers stretched before him.

Jaeho drooled.

“Is this heaven…?”

Why hadn’t he started New World sooner?

His prejudice was that games were all about blood, infinite leveling, and item grinding.

If only he had abandoned those narrow-minded ideas earlier, he could have felt this happiness sooner!

“Th-the flowers are so fresh!!!”

Someone watching might think he was crazy, but Jaeho was genuinely moved.

Even when he touched them, the flowers didn’t droop!

“H-Humidity… no allergies either.”

The fragrance was so rich it felt like flowers were being sucked into his throat!

Rolling in flowers like a madman, a notification popped up before his eyes.

[You have acquired the skill <Plant Observation>.]

[ Lv.1 <Plant Observation>]

[You can identify the names of observed plants.]

Wooluck—!

Jaeho covered his mouth.

“Y-you’re too perfect?!”

Most people would ask, ‘What use is this?’ but not Jaeho.

It was a skill seemingly made for him!

Excited, he eagerly checked everything, and soon earned a new reward.

[<Plant Observation> skill level increased.]

[ Lv.5 < Plant Observation>]

[You can now identify the collection level of observed plants.]

[You have earned the title < Innocent Observer> .]

[Movement speed increases when flowers are nearby.]

[You have earned the title <Do you like flowers?> ]

[Floral Affinity has increased.]

[You have earned the title of < Beginner Botanist> .]

[ < Alicia’s Plant Encyclopedia> has been unlocked.]

[All observed plant information will be recorded in the encyclopedia.]

Shaking uncontrollably,

Jaeho trembled.

“This is it… this is exactly what I wanted!”

What was impossible in reality was made possible in New World.

The life Jaeho dreamed of was right here in New World!