episode_0001

Like many others, I played various games since I was young.

From block-stacking games to AOS games where five people work together as one team to defeat the opposing team, and games where you procure weapons on the battlefield, survive, and get chicken dinners for being first place, I dabbled in a variety of games.

Among them, my favorite game was ‘Sword, Warrior, and Academy,’ often shortened by many to ‘Seongyonga.’

Selecting one character and forming a party with academy colleagues to progress through the main scenario and reach the ending was the goal of this game.

While some may question if it’s just an ordinary nurturing game, the true value of this game lay in the diverse characters, parties, nurturing states, and the fact that every small choice accumulates to allow players to see numerous endings, whether happy or sad.

Each character had their own backstory and unique abilities, allowing for various ways to enjoy the game, which greatly captivated me.

As playtime accumulated, I overcame numerous failures, saw many endings, and almost did everything possible through ordinary play, prompting me to start playing the game with self-imposed constraints.

What I attempted in this game was simple: choosing all available playable characters and leveling them up with identical stats to save all academy characters and achieve a happy ending.

Despite achieving goals one by one over countless hours, there was one combination that even after over 8,000 hours, I couldn’t bring to a happy ending.

“Darn it.”

The screen only displayed a bold “Game Over.”

This exceeded 400 attempts. As my expertise grew with each game session, except for the first character, I had never exceeded 20 attempts, but this one seemed impossible.

“Why does it only fail when I choose this one as the main… Their individual performance is excellent.”

Frustrated, I lit a bottle of alcohol, which I usually didn’t touch.

Perhaps due to intoxication, the Seongyonga developer’s customer service was famous for responding with macros to any inquiry, but sitting down, I began to write a sincere inquiry… not curse words, but an inquiry post.

Soon enough, a complaint disguised as an inquiry was written, and without hesitation, I pressed send.

“Phew… Let’s get some sleep.”

Since a proper response wouldn’t come anyway, I might as well get a good night’s rest to gather strength for tomorrow.

Just as I was about to turn off the computer…

-Ding!

“Even if it’s a macro reply, it hasn’t even been 3 minutes.”

With a light sigh, the moment I checked my email, my belief that it would be a macro reply was completely shattered.

[Re: Hey, you salary Lupins who can’t balance anything. Did you make this so we save everyone with this character?]

Sender: tjddyddk1

Recipient: Yoo Dojin

Hello, this is Sword, Warrior, and Academy.

First of all, we would like to express our gratitude for your continuous interest and love for our game.

After forwarding and confirming the adventurer’s inquiry with the relevant department, it was determined that there were no issues.

However, upon reviewing the adventurer’s nurturing process, we found that by leveling up characters with identical stats, you were unable to showcase the characters’ individuality.

If you play normally, you should be able to clear the game without having to grind like Bill Gates. LOL

Who made this!

If you have any additional inquiries or confusing parts, please press the button below.

We will continue to support your hard work in the future.

☞☞[Click]

“… Is this person insane?”

Momentarily stunned, from head to toe, I was filled with anger, unable to control myself.

“I’ll go all the way.”

Without hesitation, the moment I pressed the button to protest, my vision blurred and I lost consciousness.

“Get up already!”

In response to the ringing shout in my head, I involuntarily sprang to my feet.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a very angry-looking man with a scruffy beard.

“…Who are you?”

“Who am I? I may have allowed you to work out of pity, but has this guy finally lost it?”

Thud!

Although it was just a scratch on my thigh, the pain felt like my leg had been shattered, and tears welled up involuntarily.

“If you don’t fetch water before morning business, consider breakfast nonexistent.”

Leaving a stern warning behind, the man descended the stairs.

“What in the world…”

As the pain in my numb legs subsided, I finally had the chance to look around.

After the man disappeared, what came into view was an old attic filled with dust and even cobwebs.

There were no furnishings… not even a bed or a small table, just a pile of blankets that seemed to have served as a bed and a few books.

The only solace was perhaps the small window letting in some light.

It was definitely a new place, yet strangely familiar.

That eerie feeling was confirmed when I examined the only well-kept book next to the blanket.

“Swordsmanship Primer”

With the rundown attic, the oppressive innkeeper, and now the Swordsmanship Primer, these keywords left no doubt that I, a hardcore gamer named Sungyong, could not be mistaken.

This was the starting point of the tutorial for “Yukal,” the playable character I had chosen after failing 400 tries with a certain combination.

“Status screen.”

[Yukal – Lv.3]

Strength: 7 (-6) Agility: 9 (-8)

Stamina: 10 (-9) Magic: 0

Trait: Adaptability

Skill: Swordsmanship Lv.1

Unique Ability: Balance

Thanks to Yukal’s basic trait of adaptability, I seemed relatively calm even in confusing situations.

Fortunately, there was nothing different from what I knew… Wait, why is his status like this?

Clearly, Yukal’s unique ability is “Sword Mastery,” providing innate bonuses to all sword-related actions.

Following the normal growth path, Sword Mastery Yukal would surpass even heroes purely in swordsmanship.

Throughout over 8,000 hours of play, the character’s abilities never changed, and there was no mention of such a situation in the community.

But now, why has his unique ability changed, and his stats reduced?

“Let’s read it first…”

[Unique Ability: Balance – When stats are balanced, all stats double. If balance is not achieved, all attributes decrease by 99%.]

“This can’t be real…”

Even with a 99% reduction, should I be grateful that some stats remain at 1?

For someone like me who would have allocated stats similarly even without such a unique ability, in the long run, this might actually be better than the original Yukal.

The problem lies in looking at it ‘long-term,’ whereas if things continue as they are now, my chances of getting into the academy are slim, and I seem destined to be beaten to death by the innkeeper.

If I manage to get into the academy, overcoming such penalties before the first exam to achieve balance is possible, given that I know what classes to take and hidden aspects like Hidden Pieces.

The issue is the high risk and uncertain returns at present. Even the possibility of receiving returns is uncertain.

Previously, based on my physical prowess, I could easily go to the outskirts to defeat goblins, level up, and improve my swordsmanship to qualify for the academy.

Having completed 400 trials, I could handle goblins effortlessly and reach a level where I could enter the academy.

However, if I do that now, I might end up miserably killed by goblins and finish as a short-term failure.

It’s a heartbreaking thing, but in terms of strength, agility, and stamina, it must be at a level that even the kids in the neighborhood can beat.

‘Jegiral….’

Frustrated, curses burst out.

For now, there’s nothing you can do right away…

“Yukal, can’t you go fetch water right away!”

You have to bring water… because you have to eat.

“I’ll go get it right now.”

If it were the past, fetching water would have been done in an instant, or rather, without even needing to listen to the innkeeper’s words, he would have just run to catch goblins. But with a weak body, such a thing is not possible.

He grumbled as he fetched water, but he couldn’t finish before the innkeeper’s morning business, and the innkeeper… didn’t provide all three meals a day, not just breakfast.

If it weren’t for the bread given by the adventurer who pitied him, he would have really starved.

“I will somehow repay this misfortune.”

Overcoming the penalty until academy admission might be difficult, but Yukal vowed to somehow give the innkeeper a hard time within a few days.