For the first time in his life, Jasper found himself in a position to fight instead of flee. His finger hovered over the attack option, trembling with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
This was it—his chance to finally be the hero instead of the victim, even if it was only in a world made of colored pixels.
The slime waited patiently for his decision, its simple form somehow radiating a challenge that spoke to something deep in his soul.
Round 1
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 600/600 | SP: 500/500
Slime – Lv. 1
HP: 130/130
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper slashes at the slime with his sword!
Damage dealt: 45
Slime HP: 130 → 85/130
(SP -10 → 490/500)
Jasper's breath quickened as adrenaline surged through his body. "Yes, that was a satisfying hit."
Slime's Turn:
The slime lunges at Jasper!
[Dodge] – Jasper spun gracefully to the side, boots scraping against the dirt as the slime sailed harmlessly past!
(SP -15 → 475/500)
"Nice dodge you little me."
Round 2
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 600/600 | SP: 475/500
Slime – Lv. 1
HP: 85/130
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper strikes again!
Damage dealt: 48
Slime HP: 85 → 37/130
(SP -10 → 465/500)
Slime's Turn:
The slime tries to engulf Jasper!
[Dodge] – Jasper leaps back, avoiding the sticky assault!
(SP -15 → 450/500)
"Not even close Mr. Slime,
Round 3
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 600/600 | SP: 450/500
Slime – Lv. 1
HP: 37/130
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper successfully delivers the final blow!
Crit Damage dealt: 80!
Slime HP: 37 → 0/130
(SP -10 → 440/500)
"Such a waste for a Critical hit."
The slime dissolves into goo!
Battle Result:
Jasper wins!
HP Remaining: 600/600SP Remaining: 440/500EXP Gained: 30Loot: Slimy Gel x1
Experiencing such a game, Jasper felt excited like never before. He stopped himself from giggling, or he would disturb the horses. The sweet taste of triumph was foreign on his tongue—when had he last felt this alive? With an ear-to-ear smile, he continued playing, going back to the mercenary guild to submit the registration quest.
After completing the registration, he entered the character's window. Nothing had changed but the title.
"Rookie mercenary" was written in the space that used to be empty.
"Now let's kill some other monsters." He whispered to the darkness, "No need to take a mission for that—I'll take my revenge on monsters in the game while I can't in reality."
A sudden chill made him glance toward the stable's entrance, where moonlight streamed through gaps in the wooden boards. The night had fallen like a velvet curtain without him being aware, stars twinkling through the holes in the roof above. He couldn't believe how deeply he had been concentrating on the game, his body stiff from hours of motionless focus."Power Off."
"Wow, this game rendered me numb to the passing time. I have to sleep, or I will be in a dilemma tomorrow. I need to find work so I can eat for this week."
He took out his contact lenses and closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to claim him. But some devilish whispers kept him up, trying to persuade him to continue playing. "Just one more battle! It won't take too much time." Shaking his head, he kept closing his eyes until he fell asleep.
The roosters' raucous crow pierced the pre-dawn silence like rusty nails, jolting Jasper from dreams filled with glorious combat. Even though he had no work scheduled, that didn't mean he could afford to be lazy—not when his stomach already gnawed at itself with familiar hunger.
Through the stable's grimy window, he spotted Mr. Joseph emerging from his modest house, breath visible in the crisp morning air. Jasper scrambled to his feet, hay clinging to his clothes as he hurried to catch up.
"Good morning, Mr. Joseph!" He called out, his voice rough from sleep.
The stable owner turned, his drowsy face creasing into a kind smile. "Oh, Jasper. Good morning, lad"
"Mr. Joseph, can I bother you by asking for a job for this week? The mercenary guild banned me from taking quests for an entire week, and I'm jobless for the moment. At least something that helps me eat for the day." Jasper's throat tightened with embarrassment,
Joseph's eyes softened with genuine sympathy. "Oh, I'm sorry for your situation. Well, you can help me clean the stables and feed the horses. In return, I'll give you two meals a day. You already paid for this week's lodge, so the food is the only thing you're lacking. How about that?"
Jasper's heart soared, and he nearly jumped from excitement. The morning dew on the cobblestones sparkled like diamonds as relief flooded through him. Joseph was a good man—nearly the only person who treated him with basic human decency in this cold city.
"I'd be more than happy to accept!"
Jasper didn't know how hard it was to take care of horses—especially with his scary face. He needed to keep it hidden from the horses, or they would get agitated. One particular horse gave him quite a tiring time. Whenever Jasper turned his back, the horse would bite his hood and pull it off, playing pranks. Fortunately, Jasper wasn't facing the horse, or that prankster would have regretted its actions. Anyone who saw Jasper for the first time would nearly pee themselves in terror
The work was backbreaking—hauling water buckets that left his shoulders screaming, mucking out stalls until his boots were caked with filth, and wrestling with bales of hay that seemed to weigh as much as boulders. The pungent aroma of manure and fresh straw created a cocktail of scents that clung to his clothes.
Once night fell like a heavy blanket, Jasper collapsed onto his bed of hay, every muscle in his body throbbing with exhaustion. His hands were raw and blistered, fingernails black with grime despite his best efforts to clean them. He desperately wanted to continue the game—it had become his sole source of joy in this harsh, unforgiving world. However, his eyelids felt heavier than lead shields, and consciousness slipped away before he could even whisper "Power On."
He awakened to the roosters' call with a pitiful grimace, sunlight streaming through the stable's cracks like golden arrows. "Nooo," he groaned, his voice thick with disappointment. "I wanted to continue playing. I don't know how I fell asleep last night."A heartbeat after those words left his lips, the armband pulsed with warm light, and a melodious voice emerged:
Dear user! While this game has its fun side, its main purpose is to help the user in his real life. So, don't turn a blind eye to your situation, and strive to be stronger and more capable.
Jasper's eyes widened in shock, his heart skipping a beat. "Huh? Did this armband just try to motivate me to strive for more in life? Hey, hello?" He tapped the device repeatedly, but it remained silent as a stone.
Sigh.
"Forget it."
Throughout the day's labor—shoveling manure until his back screamed, hauling grain sacks that left purple bruises on his shoulders—the armbrace's words circled in his mind like a guilty refrain. His movements turned mechanical, distracted, as he chewed over the device's strange advice.
"What's going on, Jasper? You seem out of shape today. Is the work exhausting by any chance? You can take a rest if you want."
"Ah, no, not at all, Mr. Joseph." Jasper straightened, forcing alertness into his voice. "I'm just… I'm just thinking about going back to my hometown in the near future."
Joseph's expression grew thoughtful as he studied Jasper's hidden face. "Hmm… I may not know how much your hometown means to you, but you'll always be welcome here," he said with a warm smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
Jasper's throat constricted with unexpected emotion. "I'm grateful for your kindness, Mr. Joseph. I'll never forget how well you treated me here."
That evening, after savoring Joseph's wife's hearty stew—chunks of tender beef and vegetables in rich, brown gravy that warmed him to his bones—Jasper settled onto his straw bed. The familiar scents of horses and leather surrounded him like an odd comfort.
"Power On." He whispered.
Jasper—the character—was staying at the same place where he had been left the night before last. "Let's try to fight some monsters and check what I can get from this game. If it really has the possibility to help me in my life, something is bound to happen while I'm playing."
Entering the nearest forest to the royal city, known as the Black Forest, he encountered a wandering level-one wolf. After a fierce battle, he took some damage, but he killed it in the end. Not caring about his HP, Jasper continued fighting until he finally lost against a slime. A big "Defeat" appeared in front of him.
"This is so embarrassing—I got killed by a slime. Pathetic," Jasper said, smacking his thigh. He seethed as if he could normally crush slimes in his daily life.
Dear user! Once your HP falls to zero, your character will die…
Simultaneously, Jasper said, "I'm not that clueless. I know that. It's just that I don't know how to restore it."
By drinking a health potion or going to a doctor—or anyone who can heal you—your HP will be restored. You can also use a medical kit by bandaging your wounds and waiting for your HP to slowly restore. Sleep can make the restoration proceed faster.
"Well, she was going to tell me anyway. At least I got what I was searching for."
Out of generosity, I'll warn you, dear user: While you are in the novice phase, it doesn't matter how many times you die—you go back to the previous save point. But once the novice phase ends, you will be banned from playing for a period of time, depending on how many times you die.
"Hmm… So that's how it is."
Jasper went to the apothecary to buy some health potions before going back to fight monsters. This time, he went to the nearby plains to hunt monsters, encountering a Horned Rabbit.
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 600/600 | SP: 500/500
[Attack]
[Guard]
[Items]
[Flee]
VS
Horned Rabbit – Lv. 1
HP: 210/210
Round 1
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 600/600 | SP: 500/500
Horned Rabbit – Lv. 1
HP: 210/210
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper swings his sword at the Horned Rabbit!
Damage dealt: 42
Horned Rabbit HP: 210 → 168/210
(SP -10 → 490/500)
Horned Rabbit's Turn:
The rabbit's powerful hind legs propelled it forward like a furry missile, horn aimed directly at Jasper's chest!
[Dodge Attempt] – Jasper tries to evade, but the rabbit's speed grazes him!
Slight Damage taken: 28
Jasper HP: 600 → 572/600
(SP -15 → 475/500)
"Wow, the slime was really friendly with me—it missed all its attacks! But this rabbit didn't even let me dodge completely."
Round 2
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 572/600 | SP: 475/500
Horned Rabbit – Lv. 1
HP: 168/210
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper strikes fiercely!
Damage dealt: 50
Horned Rabbit HP: 168 → 118/210
(SP -10 → 465/500)
Horned Rabbit's Turn:
The Horned Rabbit leaps for another attack!
Damage taken: 45
Jasper HP: 572 → 527/600
Round 3
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 527/600 | SP: 465/500
Horned Rabbit – Lv. 1
HP: 118/210
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper slashes again!
Damage dealt: 38
Horned Rabbit HP: 118 → 80/210
(SP -10 → 455/500)
Horned Rabbit's Turn:
The rabbit's eyes blazed with primal fury as it lowered its head and charged with everything it had!
[Critical Hit!] – The horn found a gap in Jasper's armor, piercing deep!
CRITICAL DAMAGE: 200
Jasper HP: 527 → 327/600 (Ouch!)
"Hiss… Piece of sh! 200 HP at once! Say goodbye to your entire race," Jasper said as he was hit IRL.
Round 4
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 327/600 | SP: 455/500
Horned Rabbit – Lv. 1
HP: 80/210
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper grits his teeth and strikes back!
Damage dealt: 47
Horned Rabbit HP: 80 → 33/210
(SP -10 → 445/500)
Horned Rabbit's Turn:
The Horned Rabbit attacks again!
[Dodge Attempt] – Jasper barely avoids the full force but still gets nicked!
Slight Damage taken: 22
Jasper HP: 327 → 305/600
(SP -15 → 430/500)
Round 5
Jasper – Lv. 1
HP: 305/600 | SP: 430/500
Horned Rabbit – Lv. 1
HP: 33/210
Jasper's Turn:
[Attack] – Jasper delivers the finishing blow!
Damage dealt: 52
Horned Rabbit HP: 33 → 0/210
(SP -10 → 420/500)
The Horned Rabbit collapses!
Battle Result:
Jasper wins!
HP Remaining: 305/600SP Remaining: 420/500EXP Gained: 50Loot: Rabbit Horn x1, Meat x2, Skin x1
Fueled by indignation over that devastating critical hit, Jasper embarked on a systematic rabbit-killing spree. His coin purse rapidly emptied as he bought potion after potion, yet his bloodlust demanded satisfaction.
Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!
After N times killing Horned Rabbits:
Battle Result:
Jasper wins!
HP Remaining: 132/600SP Remaining: 40/500EXP Gained: 50Loot: Rabbit Horn x1, Meat x1, Skin x1.Special Loot: You obtained: [Horned Rabbit Hunting Strategy (Parchment)]
Jasper—the character—stood in the plain as a notification appeared, telling him to check his inventory. "What is this? Horned Rabbit Hunting Strategy?" A mixture of excitement and curiosity colored his voice as he stared at the mysterious parchment icon.
The item gleamed with special properties in his inventory, clearly different from ordinary loot. With trembling fingers, he pressed on it, revealing two options:
[Read]
[Use]
Choosing 'Read' first, his excitement deflated like a punctured balloon. The text simply stated: 'A sure-kill strategy for Horned Rabbits (usable by all ranks).'
"Yeah, and then what?" he muttered in frustration. "I don't see any actual strategy here."
With a resigned sigh, he closed the parchment window and selected 'Use.'
The moment he made that choice, Jasper's eyes widened in absolute astonishment, his real body trembling as he realized the profound implications of what had just occurred.