Vol 1 Chapter 1

[ Mu-heon nim. You have received 1 voice message. ]

"Play it."

[ I will play it. 'Mu-heon, it's Mom and Dad. How are you doing these days? If there's anything you need, please let us know...' ]

"Stop."

[ ...Playback stopped. ]

'I've told them so many times that I don't need these sudden calls.'

Clicking his tongue, he limped out of the bathroom and sat at the dining table. Breakfast, already prepared by the computer, was laid out on the table.

The computer's cooking wasn't particularly delicious, but it wasn't that bad either. At least it was more edible than his own cooking, so he often used the computer's cooking function.

It was said that even though the year 2200 was passing, not much had changed from the last century, except that computers had become most closely related to daily life. The era when the Fifth Wave, from ON-Line to VT-Line (VT stands for Virtual Technology), was brought about by cutting-edge science, but even that couldn't bring humans to longevity without disease or to the world of space.

"Today's schedule... Nothing."

Being the weekend, his schedule was completely empty. It wasn't even a day to go to the hospital, which meant he had no reason to go out today either. Not that he liked going out in the first place. Maybe he'd turn on the TV.

"Turn on the TV."

[ TV, on. Channel 37. ]

Since eating alone in silence was boring, he turned on the TV, which he rarely watched usually. Soon, a smooth hologram TV began playing in front of the living room.

'Next news. Ms. Kim Ji-hyun?'

'Yes, this is Kim Ji-hyun from VTJ. Viewers, if you enjoy VT games, you must have been eagerly waiting for this much-rumored game that has finally revealed itself a little to the media. The first press conference of Saturn Co., Ltd., which had been silent for years! Of course, our VT Real Life couldn't miss it. Let's watch it together now.'

"What's that?"

Although VT was part of daily life, for someone like him who neither liked nor could enjoy games, such stories were as distant as another world.

Virtual reality games had been one of the cutting-edge businesses that had gone through numerous successes and failures since VT was first commercialized, but they were also criticized for not feeling truly realistic and merely being larger versions of old-fashioned online games where one remotely controlled their character in a hologram world while wearing goggles.

As for him, he had played a few times when he was young, but after the accident and becoming disabled, he had quit everything. Now, having come to strongly dislike interacting with people, he didn't even have any interest in VT games which required building relationships with others.

Although VT games were common in this world, only those interested played them.

Just as he was thinking about changing the channel, with the reporter's gesture, the screen quickly changed to a press conference room crowded with people. The attention of the cloud-like crowd was all focused on the empty chair at the front.

A moment later, amid explosive murmurs, a man walked out from the back.

He, who was about to tell the computer to change the channel, became a bit curious when he realized that the close-up face of the man, who looked to be in his early 30s, was as handsome as a celebrity.

A company promotional model? It didn't seem like that though.

'Ah- Here he comes. This is Mr. Yoon Seok-ho, the head of the Korean branch of the global VT company, Saturn Co., Ltd.'

The reporter excitedly provided information about the man on the screen. The gathered people were frantically flashing cameras and almost shouting.

'What is the name of Saturn Co., Ltd.'s new game?'

'Rumors say it's different from existing ones, not using hologram remote control method, how did you develop this game?'

'When do you plan to open it!'

'Even if it's just a closed beta...!'

Even amidst the bursting camera flashes and broadcast microphones, the man didn't lose his composure at all. As he was drinking water, slightly impressed that such a young man was in charge of an entire country like Korea, the man raised his hand smoothly and opened his mouth towards the slightly quieter audience.

''THE MIST'. This is the name of the VT game that Saturn Co., Ltd. has spent 20 years creating, which will become the world's best.'

Yoon Seok-ho's burning eyes were fixed straight at the camera. At the moment when those eyes met directly through the hologram, he felt a sense of nostalgia. Not everyone has such eyes burning with fighting spirit. It's the kind of look that mainly martial artists have, but also those who are passionate about what they want to do.

He too used to learn many things with people who had such eyes in the past.

'The Mist...!'

As the hall was in an uproar, one person quickly asked again.

'What kind of game is it that you can so easily say it will be the best?'

'Of course. From now on, you will enjoy a real virtual reality that's more real than reality.'

When Yoon Seok-ho said this with a confident smile, the hall almost went into chaos. He was also momentarily surprised. This man... Isn't he boasting too much?

'What do you mean by that? Could you elaborate a bit more...!'

'There is no beta game for The Mist. At midnight on April 10th, Korean time, everyone around the world will encounter the perfect world of Mist.'

'April 10th...!'

'No beta?!'

To the excited people in the video, Yoon Seok-ho smiled one last time.

'Please check the THE MIST website for more information. I can't say more than this for now, but we plan to gradually release more notices on the website.'

After Yoon Seok-ho continued, saying 'In this game...', the murmuring screen returned to 'VT Real Life'.

'Wow, that's amazing! That confidence from Saturn, I can't even imagine what kind of game it will be.'

When one host said that, the reporter who had introduced herself as Kim Ji-hyun nodded.

'Yes. Right after that press conference, Saturn's website and the website of the new game in question, The Mist, were flooded with millions of visitors, showing great interest in this new game. From what we know so far, The Mist will be a game that draws a big line in virtual reality and is based on a fantasy world.'

'I see.'

'Oh, and the last words that Branch Manager Yoon Seok-ho left in passing are also causing a big ripple.'

The cut-off words he was saying at the end?

'What is it?'

'It's briefly mentioned in the introduction notice on The Mist website, but it says, 'In The Mist, anyone can start with a healthy body.' Isn't that quite meaningful?'

"What... did you say?"

He felt his body stiffen for a moment.

'Oh. That sounds like it's saying even people with physical disabilities can run with healthy bodies, at least within the game.'

'That's right. Until now, even in VT where anonymity and a new appearance are big advantages if desired, this issue has stood out as the physical characteristics of the body were still reflected in virtual reality games. It's speculated that this is what it means.'

'Could it be...'

He couldn't hear anything beyond that.

From the moment he heard those words, his mind was filled with confusion.

'They say I can move... with a healthy body?'

Maybe it's not true. But emotions he thought he had cut off started to boil inside him instantly. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the illusion that his right leg, wrapped in cursed chains, was suddenly becoming lighter, even though he knew he shouldn't harbor false hope.

In truth, that's what he wanted more than anything else.

If he could escape this body. If he could break free from the shackles of his leg that had prevented him from meeting or talking to anyone...!

He opened his eyes again.

"It doesn't matter if it's not true. I can check for myself. ...Computer, move to the webpage."

As he watched the screen that had been continuously chattering turn off and move to the webpage, he tried to calm his suddenly pounding heart.

[ Access complete. ]

"Search for THE MIST."

A few seconds later, tens of thousands of web pages instantly popped up. He entered the official website of 'THE MIST' which was linked at the very top.

At that moment, the entire screen darkened with a swoosh.

[ THE MIST ~ The Continent of Mist ~ ]