Code: 2345.
Player detection… ID: 67809348.
Generating…
Welcome to Ternal World!
…
"Ugh… My head… It hurts like hell."
*Wait—"
"Where the hell am I?!"
I blinked a few times, my vision still adjusting. For some reason, I was sitting beneath a massive tree.
"That's weird."
"In the game, new players always started in town. That was the standard. But.. This is different… Did they change the starting point? Some kind of new things?"
I pushed myself up, stretching my stiff limbs, and scanned the area. Trees. Rocks. Open fields. A dirt path leading into the distance.
Then I saw it.
A massive, rusted sword impaled in the ground—a sword so large it dwarfed the surrounding landscape.
The Sword of the Fallen Giant God.
My stomach dropped. That could only mean one thing.
I was outside the Kingdom of Velina.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA… Just my luck!"
I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my hair.
"Of all places, I end up here?!"
The area outside Velina wasn't just dangerous—it was a death zone for new players. This was exactly why you needed to be at least level 5 to even get permission to leave the kingdom. The system never let beginners just stroll out… unless, of course, you were me—the unluckiest bastard alive.
I squinted at the distant gates of Velina, barely visible from here.
"One kilometer… Maybe more."
That wasn't too bad—if nothing tried to kill me on the way.
I exhaled sharply.
"Alright. No time to waste."
The longer I stood here, the higher the chance of something finding me. And if my survival depended on luck?
Yeah, I was completely screwed.
As I walked along the dirt path, memories flooded my mind. I knew this place all too well.
I also knew how many times I died here in the game.
If this area was already brutal in the game, then in reality… how much worse could it be?
That thought alone sent a shiver down my spine, but I didn't have time to hesitate. I needed to reach the gate before something happened.
As I continued forward, I found myself getting closer to the Sword of the Giant King.
And in real life…
It was absolutely massive.
In the game, it had always been big, but standing before it now? It was unreal.
I tilted my head back, staring at the enormous, ancient blade embedded deep into the land. It was like a monument of death.
I remembered its lore—the Sword of the Fallen Giant God.
A weapon belonging to a deity betrayed by its own race.
The twisted, jagged formations of land surrounding it? Some believed they were the marks left by the sword's impact. Others claimed this place was once a battlefield, scarred by an ancient war.
I continued walking, the towering walls of Velina growing closer with every step.
"Almost there."
Despite the danger, I couldn't help but admire the scenery. This place was as breathtaking as ever. No wonder it was one of the hottest spots for in-game couples.
While i was walking...
"Oi! Stop right there! Don't move!!"
A voice echoed behind me. I couldn't help but think—who the fuck calls a random person a "beggar"?
"Hey you! He—hey! Look at us, beggar!"
I spun around, anger and disbelief bubbling up.
(What the hell is this fucker?! Why would he call me a beggar?!)
As I scanned the area, I saw them—a group of guards, their armor glinting in the sunlight. It was clear they weren't just patrolling; they were here for a reason.
I braced myself, the weight of the day's ordeals crashing down as I prepared to confront these fuckers.
"Hey, you! Beggar! Where did you come from?"
...Beggar? Beggar?! Out of all the things he could've called me—traveler, wanderer, even "suspicious guy"—he picked beggar?!
I sighed internally. One wrong answer and I might get arrested, or worse, kicked out before I even step inside. Gotta play this smart.
I put on my best I-totally-belong-here face.
"Ah, I'm from a nearby village… Zentra. Yeah, Zentra Village."
The soldier squinted at me like I just told him I was the lost prince of Velina.
"Oh, Zentra, huh? That small village? Well, I guess that makes sense… with all the weird stuff happening there lately."
(Hmmm, weird stuff... Is this some event or another new update? I'm really curious, but if I start asking questions, it'll be super weird since I literally just told them I'm from that village.)
I forced a casual laugh.
"Yeah, that's why I came to the kingdom—to find an opportunity... Maybe a job? Hahahaha..."
(Please buy that. Please.)
The soldiers exchanged glances and nodded.
"Well! This is your lucky day. The queen herself has announced a trial. If you're interested, you can go—it's happening tomorrow."
(Oh... Yeah, the Velina Kingdom always holds a trial every year. They love recruiting strong people, which is why they're always at the top.)
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Well... If I feel confident, maybe I'll try. But I'm not sure if I'm good enough for the trial..."
One of the soldiers chuckled.
"Hahaha! If you say so... But a real man should always be confident. Anyway, since you're heading into town, you might have a problem. The guards at the gate might not let you in."
"Wait—what?"
My eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, not because you're a beggar—"
(Oh, wow. Thanks.)
"—but because there's been a strange group of travelers entering the town lately."
"Strange group? What do you mean by that... if you don't mind... Hahaha."
"No problem, I understand. Well, recently, there have been people called 'Otherworlders.' They are neutral, which is good, but with the number of adventurers rising drastically because of them—and a new guild emerging—there have been some incidents of hostility among them. This has caused problems. Recently, a family was killed..."
"Oh… That's tragic. May they rest in peace."
With this new information, I confirmed something crucial—these "otherworlders" were none other than players transported into this world. But something nagged at me.
How do they even know who's an otherworlder?
I couldn't ignore the question.
"How can someone tell if an adventurer is an otherworlder? Just in case…"
The soldier scratched the back of his helmet before glancing at his comrades.
(Broskie is weird. Scratching his metal helmet is the stupidest thing I've ever seen.)
"Hmmm… Let's talk while we walk. We should enter the kingdom before anything happens out here."
(Oh…? Guess this isn't something they want to discuss in the open.)
"Yeah, I think so too,"
I replied, falling in step with them as we approached the gate. Only a few meters now.
As we walked, the soldier I'd been speaking with cleared his throat.
"Alright, about your question… It's actually kinda a information. But since you're from a village ruled and supported by the kingdom, I suppose it's fine to tell you."
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully.
"Let's just say they have a… mark. A mark on their wrist. Some have different symbols, but the most common one is a cross."
(A mark? Wait… If they have a mark, then—)
Instinctively, I glanced down at both of my wrists. My heart pounded for a second, but—nothing. No strange things, no marks.
(Weird… Why don't I have one?)
Before I could dwell on it, one of the soldiers narrowed his eyes.
"What are you looking at your wrist for?"
(Crap. That probably looked suspicious. I needed to think fast)
"Oh—uh, it's nothing. My wrist has been hurting a bit lately. Must've strained it or something."
I forced a chuckle, shaking my hand as if trying to ease the pain.
The soldier didn't look entirely convinced but just grunted and kept walking.
(That was close…)
But now I had even more questions.
Why don't I have a mark when other players do?
As we approached the gate, two guards standing at their post straightened up immediately.
"Welcome back, Sir Michael!"
They saluted in unison.
(Wait—Sir Michael?)
I glanced at the soldier I had been talking to.
(So he's a high-ranking soldier? I never would've guessed. Maybe this was good luck… or bad luck.)
As I was still processing that, one of the gate guards turned his gaze to me. His expression immediately soured, like he had just smelled something rotten.
"Sir! Did you pick up a beggar on your way here?"
(Wow. Rude.)
I could tell from the way he looked at me—disgusted, like I wasn't even worth standing near him.
(This guy really thinks he's all that just because he's guarding a door? I know I'm not exactly rocking a prestigious or dripped-out outfit, but come on—at least have some respect. Also, why am I even wearing this in the first place?)
Michael glanced at me, then leaned in and whispered,
"Sorry about that. This guy is always cocky, even when he's talking to someone who isn't from the slums."
Then he turned to the guard and spoke firmly.
"This man is not a beggar. Let me make that clear. We found him as a prisoner near a bandit camp and rescued him. We're just bringing him back to where he belongs—his family is here."
Michael spoke so naturally, so convincingly, that it was hard not to believe him—even though it was complete nonsense. But that other guard? His eyes were still locked onto me, filled with something between suspicion and contempt.
(Does this guy just hate beggars, or is he just an idiot? Either way, I don't care.)
What really bothered me was something else entirely.
Come to think of it..
(Why is Michael helping some random guy like me—especially when I look like this? Is he just naturally blunt but kind? Or is there something else to it?)
I was lost in thought when another guard approached me, his tone much friendlier.
"Hey there, friend. I heard what happened to you, and I'm sorry. I know what it's like to be a prisoner—I've been one myself. If there's anything I can do to help, maybe find your family, just let me know. I could even ask someone to post a notice on the kingdom board."
His offer was sincere, but it only added to the growing list of things I had to think about.
(I need to think fast before they get suspicious… Aha! I almost forgot—I'm a self-proclaimed roleplay master. Maybe my acting skills are still sharp enough to pull this off.)
(But if I choose the wrong family name—like a prestigious one from the game or some random one from Velina—I'm screwed… Ah, whatever. I don't care anymore.)
I took a deep breath.
"My family… is… Viel."
Silence. The air around us suddenly grew heavy.
The soldiers and guards exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from shock.
"Ah… Are you part of the Viel family?"
All eyes were on me now. I nodded, keeping my expression steady. I knew this was a gamble—one that could go terribly wrong. But at the same time, I had a decent chance of pulling it off.
After all, I knew this family from playing the game.
One of the guards who had been talking to me spoke.
"May I ask your name?"
(This is it… This moment could decide my fate.)
"Julian de'ila Viel."
They glanced at each other—except for Michael. He knew exactly what I was trying to do, yet he made no move to stop me.
"Wait, if you're part of that family, why is your hair black instead of white? Are you trying to trick us?"
That cocky guard spoke up, his voice laced with suspicion. I expected this question, so I had already prepared an answer. Just as I was about to lay—
"His hair is black because his mother's genetics are stronger than his father's."
Michael interrupted smoothly, his tone firm yet casual.
"I've heard that rumor before… so it's true after all. His mother came from a prestigious clan known for their sword arts and producing talented warriors, while his father belonged to a wealthy family, famous for their strategic business acumen—but not so much for their battlefield prowess."
He paused, glancing at me with an unreadable expression.
"And now, to see their son standing before me… A rumor that faded away nearly two years ago, yet here he is. It's almost a miracle."
Then his gaze darkened slightly.
"Though, if the other rumor is true… that he was born with a blocked mana path… well, that's another story."
(What's up with him? Is he really trying to save my ass again?)
Well, either way, what he said was true.
Julian de'ila Viel.
A name that carried both prestige and disgrace. He was known as the Cursed One of the Viel family. Their reputation took a nosedive when rumors spread that he hadn't inherited the great talent from his mother's side. To make matters worse, he had a blocked mana path—an unforgivable flaw in a world where power dictated everything.
Sure, he was a genius in academics, but in the harsh reality of Ternal, intellect alone meant nothing. Here, strength reigned supreme, and death was just another part of life.
That was the biggest load of bullshit lore I'd ever read. I still remember rolling my eyes when it played out in a cutscene back in the game.
But to think that this boring, useless piece of knowledge would actually save my skin right now?
Not bad.