Chapter 4
"Wow... it's actually pretty scary now that I'm here..."
[But we're still in the outer layer??]
[The outer layer is basically a newbie hunting ground... don't tell me you're scared of wild boars?]
[What a total coward lololol]
"N-no, that's not it. It's just that the atmosphere is scary, you know. And there's still a high chance of dying..."
[She's got a point]
[The scenery is pretty but the vibe is kinda off;]
[Try coming here at night in VR and you'll literally piss yourself from fear..]
After announcing her content, Yoo Chae-rin headed straight for the forest. Viewers had started flooding in as soon as she announced the content.
Someone must have spread the info to the community.
As expected, the word "first" works anywhere.
If she dawdled in this situation, viewers would definitely leave. So Yoo Chae-rin decided to enter the Forbidden Forest ahead of schedule.
[User qztw12 has donated 1,000 won!]
-So what's your sync rate set to?
"Oh, that? I have it set to about 20 percent right now."
Demons Saga has a unique feature called 'Synchronization Rate.'
While it aims for realistic sensations as a VR game, there are obviously limits.
No one wants truly realistic death in a game.
Even if some did, whether it should be morally permitted was a delicate issue.
That's why Demons Saga implemented the 'Synchronization Rate' system to adjust pain levels. It can be set from minimum 15% to maximum 90%.
Most users keep their sync rate above 40%, but during activities with high death probability like map exploration or combat, they tend to lower it to minimum.
[20%? 20%?? lololololol]
[The ultimate coward fr fr]
[Just grow a dick already you lesbian]
[Don't worry unnie, I like you just the way you are...]
Of course, that doesn't stop the chat from mocking her.
Like any community, the lower the risk you take, the more likely you are to be called a coward.
And by their logic, 20% put her in the "super coward" category.
"I'm not a coward! This is map exploration! And I increased it 5% above minimum!"
But Yoo Chae-rin just felt wronged.
Setting sync rate to minimum for map exploration content that assumes death is the 'golden rule.'
Even at minimum, the pain of death is beyond imagination.
Research shows that dying with high sync rate could even cause PTSD-level trauma.
Even the developers recommend playing with lower sync rates.
So the chat's reaction was more like bullying...
Of course, being right didn't make the chat's mockery stop.
Whoosh-
While she was bickering with viewers, a wind blew through the forest. Suddenly feeling cold, she quickly pulled her clothes tighter.
"Ugh... maybe because it's winter. It's freezing."
Even with lowered sync rate, it seems they can't completely block the biting cold.
[Didn't you bring any magic items for cold protection?]
"They're expensive so I didn't want to risk losing them if I die. You know how pricey magic items are."
While resurrection is possible, it doesn't come without penalties.
There are various penalties for dying. Losing items in your inventory is one of them.
That's why she was currently only wearing basic clothes with one thick fur coat. Underneath was basically just underwear.
Anyway, she continued deeper while chatting with viewers.
The steadily growing viewer count had stabilized around 1,500.
Not a huge number, but for a small-time streamer like Yoo Chae-rin, even this was significant.
As she continued exploring, one viewer asked.
[Speaking of which, why not check out that ghost story while we're here?]
"Come on, there's no way that's real."
[You never know, there might actually be someone here lololol]
Ghost story.
It referred to a photo that briefly set the community abuzz a few months ago.
A photo capturing a man's silhouette in the forest.
While interest had faded by now, some still remembered it.
And among them were those hoping for something interesting.
[What would you do if there really was a guy?]
"What would I do? I'd have to educate him like 'What are you doing in such a dangerous place, uncle!'... hehe."
Yoo Chae-rin didn't elaborate further on this 'education.'
She just expressed it physically.
Wiggling her fingers with a lecherous expression.
While somewhat obscene, it was excellent showmanship befitting a streamer.
[lololololol]
[Says the coward who can't even hold a guy's hand lololol]
[She's really something else fr]
Of course, she could only act this way because she believed the ghost story was fake.
She wasn't naive enough to believe such things.
It must be either photoshopped, or something photographed incorrectly.
"Ah, monsters should be appearing soon. Time to activate Stealth."
With that, she melded into nature.
It was several hours later when she discovered a suspicious cave...
*
Two months had passed.
Rage Mode had triggered twice more, and I nearly committed suicide once.
But somehow I managed to endure with superhuman willpower, and the world started looking somewhat livable.
Having gathered enough food, I won't have to struggle with food shortages this winter.
In other words, I've become well-off.
Now I don't need to go outside often in this cold weather.
All that's left is killing the countless hours given to me.
"Sigh..."
As you know, this is the medieval era.
Meaning no phones, computers, or TVs. Moreover, being a total loner, I can't even have conversations.
So naturally occurring boredom and loneliness were problems I had to deal with myself.
Loneliness is especially bad.
Like deep swampland, you can gradually sink until you're suddenly submerged in depression.
At times like this, there's only one solution.
Struggling not to sink by doing something, anything.
That's why I tend to have various hobbies.
Cooking, tanning, sewing, blade sharpening, etc...
While most are survival-related, they're perfect for killing time. They actually help my life too.
And today I chose blade sharpening.
I've already eaten, and hunting frequently lately for winter preparations has really dulled the blades.
Time for some maintenance.
I casually sat on a nearby rock and set up the whetstone.
Then I laid out all my weapons in order.
Starting with my most-used spear, then butchering dagger, throwing daggers, and axe.
Some weapons hadn't been maintained in a while, with dried blood caked on thickly.
Removing that's gonna be a pain in the ass.
"Should've maintained them regularly..."
Making this belated regret, I started working.
Swish-swish-
The sound of sharpening blades echoes through the dark, gloomy cave.
The sound of steel being ground down was chilling in itself.
...This must look pretty intense from a third person perspective.
Though it's questionable if anyone else could even find this place.
Lost in various thoughts while sharpening, I'd finished maintaining the axe before I knew it.
Since I only used it for logging, the blade itself wasn't too dirty.
After finishing the axe, I immediately picked up the butchering dagger.
Perhaps because it was my most-used tool, the dagger's condition was severe.
Not only was the blade dull, but blood and grease were caked on everywhere.
I tried hard to sharpen it, but my fur clothes kept catching on the whetstone, making it annoying.
"Ah shit..."
A complaint naturally slips out.
The clothes are cumbersome, but it's winter so I can't take them off...
The cold pierces my skin despite the nearby campfire. Even after living here for 12 years, this weather is still hard to get used to.
Clack, thud...
"...?"
While thinking this, I heard stones rolling somewhere nearby. Though not a loud sound, it carried clearly in this quiet cave.
Sensing a presence, I looked up.
What is it?
Did an animal get in? Or a monster?
But contrary to such thoughts, there was nothing visible.
'...Did I mishear?'
I tilted my head and focused back on my work.
No, more accurately, I pretended to focus.
Mishear? No way.
The stones definitely rolled.
Now I just need to determine if it was a natural occurrence or someone's mistake.
If you want to survive in this forest, it's best to always be careful.
Among the animals and monsters here, there are many that are craftier than you'd imagine.
Some might even suppress their presence for easier hunting.
Swish-swish-
For a while, meaningless blade sharpening sounds echo.
Suppressing the rising aggression inside, I acted out an ordinary routine.
Just once, just one more sound is all I need.
Then I can slit their throat before they can mine.
If they've entered someone's home uninvited, they should pay the price.
"......"
Though I expected a tedious wait, the sound came surprisingly quickly.
Rustle- The sound of something brushing the cave wall came clearly but softly.
Seems my opponent isn't such a skilled hunter.
Knowing their rough position, I acted without hesitation.
Throwing the throwing dagger, then charging with the spear.
The dagger is for distraction, the spear is the main weapon.
When their attention is drawn to the dagger, my spear should already be through their neck.
However, there was one thing I hadn't expected...
I had assumed with 100% certainty that my opponent was a beast or monster...
"Kyaaah?!"
"...Huh?"
So I couldn't help but be startled by the high-pitched female scream that rang out.
That's what threw off the trajectory of my otherwise perfectly aimed spear.
Thunk-! Thunk-!
The dagger and spear tip embed into the cave wall in succession.
Between those weapons, a doll-like figure slowly revealed herself.
A woman with silver bobbed hair and purple eyes, giving off a gentle impression.
Seeing her, I frowned and asked.
"What the fuck are you?"
A strange woman suddenly appeared in my home.