episode_0056

I had been in a traffic accident in the past world. It wasn’t severe enough to be life-threatening.

It was an avoidable accident, but it was my stubbornness that led to the unfortunate outcome.

As a result, I became a post-traumatic leg cripple and was forced to confine myself to a corner with a large sum of insurance and settlement money.

Losing my part-time job due to my crippled leg, but the hefty sum of money in my hands made it not much of a problem for me.

Thanks to that, aside from the goshiwon room, I was able to rent a decent one-room apartment.

It was a staycation in a much better environment than before.

Even if I tried to go out for a moment, it was quite inconvenient to have to walk around with a wheelchair or crutches.

Originally, resting at home suited my nature.

Rolling around in bed was comfortable, but I was a fickle person who wanted to lie down once I sat down, so as comfort set in, the desire for enjoyment sneakily crept in.

In the midst of seeking entertainment, I stumbled upon a game called ‘Savior’.

It was the first computer game I properly delved into, as opposed to occasionally playing puzzle games or doodling on my phone.

At that time, it felt like I had become a wild man encountering a new civilization. It was incredibly fun. So, I got deeply immersed in it.

I didn’t search for any walkthroughs online. Following someone else’s already solved information seemed like it would take away the fun I was having.

It was probably the most carefree and happy moment in my life.

“It seems like the boss is appearing nearby. This must be the central area.”

Baek Arin, leading the group, spoke. It had been quite some time since they had cleared the temporary base and set off.

They had encountered a few survivors while moving. As their forces were superior, they could easily eliminate them all.

Looking back, I hadn’t encountered any main characters even though I was being chased.

If I had been chased by a main character on the first or second day, I probably would have been eliminated. Looking back, I realized I had been quite lucky.

“It looks like everything is gathered in the center.”

“It would be easier to manage if everything is concentrated in one place.”

The center of the first floor. Even so, the central land value was high, with bosses being summoned nearby and hidden pieces existing in this area.

Excitement surged as the thought of being able to obtain hidden pieces crossed my mind, but it was quickly suppressed, and following Elia’s guidance, the group had come to this place.

They had returned to the spot where they had defeated the boss and hastily fled.

Of course, they didn’t just come back. I explained my reasons in my own way, not just recklessly causing a commotion.

There was something special in the place Elia had discovered. If they helped me, I would share the rewards appropriately.

A question came back in response to the answer.

How did you know that?

“Is it the headmaster’s educational method?”

Baek Arin suddenly muttered.

Searching for the Black Dragon and obtaining the pearl, it means taking great risks for great rewards.

“Focusing attention on a special reward location with the same score as the boss… If you can endure it, it can be a trial and a reward.”

In other words, the higher the bet, the greater the payment when successful, a natural statement.

“Why provoke aggro like that and endure it?”

Hong Yeonhwa, who was standing guard behind and wary of ambushes, retorted to Baek Arin’s muttering with a puzzled expression.

Walking behind Elia, I inwardly shook my head. Even though I was lucky, I almost ended it on the second day.

It wasn’t difficult to persuade the group. I had an invincible excuse.

An unprecedented special admission student. A survivor chosen by the headmaster.

My status became a great excuse. Because I am the only special admission student. And there is no other notice coming to me through the professors.

Did the president actually tell me the location of the Origin Egg? No. I didn’t even know the president’s face to begin with.

Even in recorded history, it’s the same. Through the heroic deeds of the president, one can know of his existence, but for some reason, the president’s external appearance cannot be found in past records.

That part actually helped. The protagonist in the original work never revealed their appearance in any situation.

I don’t know how it will be this time… but judging by the fact that they are still leaving the special admission student I brought alone, it seems that they are taking a similar attitude to the original work.

There is no one here who can see through my lies. The only ones who can be asked about the truth are me and the president, but the president is silent.

The only difficulty in persuasion was that I had to write on the ground to communicate, as my mouth was in this shape.

It had been too long since I used magic, so in many ways, it felt awkward.

“Here it is.”

Eliya, who was scanning the surroundings, said. The group moved on, pushing through the forest.

Soon, I felt a strange place in my senses. The bushes that tickled my thighs were pushed aside. A clear space opened up, and suddenly the wind blew.

“It’s definitely different from the structure I saw.”

Baek Arin, who was looking around, said. As we pushed through the bushes, a spacious courtyard appeared.

In the center of it stood a stone altar imbued with a strange magic, surrounded by eight pillars.

In the current state of spatial perception, the exact appearance could not be determined. My knowledge is limited to what I saw in the original work.

But I could feel it.

Three black pillars surrounded the stone altar in a triangle.

I felt black. The inherent gloomy and threatening magic made it feel that way.

Five white pillars surrounded the stone altar in a pentagon.

I felt white. The inherent strong and solid magic made it feel that way.

“Hayul, is this the place?”

Baek Arin, who had checked the surroundings with magic before entering the courtyard, turned and asked. I nodded after feeling the magic of the pillars for a moment.

“Then let’s go in.”

Following those words, the group moved forward. I also swallowed my saliva and followed along.

‘How will it be.’

Confidently persuading myself to come here, but in reality, I was not sure.

The first time the Origin Egg was discovered was on the third attempt.

The first attempt where I tasted the bitterness of hitting rock bottom and the second attempt where I was too busy growing up with the natives and playing around to have the leisure.

The third attempt finally had the leisure to explore the map inside the Tower of Growth, and ultimately was able to discover the Origin Egg located in the center of the map for the first time.

It’s a story of a game.

Now that the world of the game has become reality, I know that it’s not just false information. But still, isn’t it a game?

Would it be the same in reality? Would rewards come automatically? There was a suspicion in the corner of my mind.

If there was no reaction even if I approached? I would have to sell out the president’s name again.

– Woong!

The worry ended abruptly.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, the five white pillars vibrated. The trembling of the ground was clearly transmitted through my legs.

The group stopped in their tracks. A gaze that seemed to ask if I would continue to enter was fixed on me.

I nodded and took another step. Stepping on the flat earth, I headed towards the altar.

Even in the midst of this, the vibration of the pillars continued. It wasn’t the kind of feeling that signaled danger. It was a strange metaphor, but it felt welcoming.

I finally reached the altar. I listened for a moment. The white pillars vibrating. There was no such effect in the original work. What could be the difference?

In truth, it was a matter that didn’t require much deep thought. After all, this place is a Tower of Growth, so even if it’s dangerous, getting eliminated and spat out outside is all there is to it.

Taking a deep breath, I reached out towards the altar.

The palm of my hand felt a cool sensation. It also carried the roughness of the neglected structure’s surface.

“……”

Nothing happened. Was it a false room? I thought to myself. Just then, a refreshing magic emanated from the altar my hand touched.

Magic, like smoke, seeped out through the cracks of the stone altar. It was pure and potent magic, unlike my own.

The flowing magic gradually dyed the surroundings. The changing range of magic enveloped the three black pillars and the five white pillars.

– Clang, clunk

A mechanical sound, as if ungreased and creaking, echoed in my ears. The source was from inside the altar.

The altar shuddered. And the vibrations intensified.

I took a step back, fearing the trembling altar.

Before I could retreat further, the trembling of the altar ceased.

After a brief moment, the altar collapsed from one side to the other.

With a dull thud, a cloud of dust billowed out. I covered my nose and mouth with my hand.

But my senses were drawn to something else. Inside the collapsed altar, there was an object emitting a strange magic.

I hadn’t noticed it until the altar collapsed. Even though I had prior knowledge from the original, I still didn’t notice it.

It had an elongated, round egg-like shape, larger than a human head. It was difficult to describe the nature of the mysterious magic.

“The Origin Egg.”

It was real. The hidden piece that was only in the game was also present in reality.

A glint of excitement flashed in my eyes.

Stepping on the rubble, I approached and picked up the Origin Egg.

Due to its size, it felt heavy. In reality, it would be quite heavy, but with my current physical abilities, it felt infinitely light.

I gently touched the surface of the egg, feeling its smooth and faint warmth through my palm.

“Oh.”

As I examined the Origin Egg, Baek Arin, who was a little further away, suddenly approached and tapped the egg with her finger.

Startled by the sudden cold, I shivered and showed the egg to the curious group.

“Is this the reward egg?”

– Nodding

Similarly, Hong Yeonhwa, who approached quickly, asked. I nodded, and she expressed her curiosity.

“I can’t tell just by looking at it. What exactly is this egg used for?”

“Could it be an ingredient for making potions?”

“I heard that monster eggs are quite useful…”

While they speculated on its purpose, I picked up a wooden stick lying around and wrote on the ground.

“Huh?”

I sensed Hong Yeonhwa’s eyes widening. Baek Arin and Elia had similar expressions.

Elia read the characters on the ground, asking if what she read was correct.

“A lottery?”

In response to the question, I circled the word ‘lottery’ with the stick and affirmed it.

The Origin Egg.

When used, it reads the user’s wishes and grants random items of a certain grade.

From miscellaneous potion sets to top-tier artifacts that are hard to obtain even in the late game.

In other words, it’s a high-grade random gacha.

“Hmm…”

After hearing the explanation, everyone seemed to have a peculiar expression.

After a moment of contemplation, Hong Yeonhwa suddenly said, “Should we try taking a bite?”

“…!”

I panicked and hid the Origin Egg behind me.