LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 107
“Wow…!”
“Here it is!”
After finishing their meal in the hall on the first floor, the members of the ‘Hong Baek’ guild all headed up to the capsule experience room on the second floor.
There, the latest version of Klaus Capsule Corporation’s capsules, which were not yet on the market, were set up, each equipped with a hologram screen displaying real-time gameplay status.
“We have virtual reality sports programs like bowling, golf, and baseball betting. The synchronization rate for each program is fixed at 60%… And for the reaction speed test program, which poses a risk of actual body impact, it’s only 40%. This program has a significant difference from those currently available on the market.”
Chris grinned and placed her hand on one of the capsules in the center.
“The speed and angle of projectiles increase based on level, with difficulty settings up to 10 levels. Right now, it’s mainly used for reaction speed level testing among athletes and virtual reality AOS pro gamers.”
“What else is different?”
“Hmm… This facility isn’t exclusively for our guild members, so it’s not exactly a big secret to share. Actually, this is a technology solely developed by Klaus Capsule Corporation that hasn’t been publicly disclosed yet.”
Chris winked with her index finger on her lips and continued her explanation.
“Using this latest capsule, most sensations can achieve nearly 100% efficiency regardless of the overall synchronization rate. This is a result from the virtual reality research team, including myself. Although it’s still hard to bring movement to the level of reality.”
“Ooooh!”
Gasps of astonishment erupted from the guild members.
I was surprised too. I had heard that Sister Chris was a researcher at Klaus Capsule Corporation, but I didn’t know she was studying the sensations related to reality and virtual reality.
Human sensations are organically connected, and I’ve heard it’s hard to separate them even with the cutting-edge technology of the future.
If you asked, “Why not just connect directly to the brain?” it doesn’t seem that difficult in itself.
However, feeling pain just like in real life suggests that all senses feel like reality too.
This is indeed the biggest problem. Because of this, you can’t raise the overall synchronization rate of the body.
If the brain feels strong pain, it could overload the real body.
The perfect example is me, standing right here.
“Well, we could do other stuff at home, but we should definitely try the reaction speed program.”
“Cough! Hopkins, want to have a go?”
Hopkins and Gandal, two hefty guys, stepped up boldly. They each grabbed a capsule and stepped inside.
The remaining guild members gathered in front of the capsules to watch their duel.
Whoosh, whoosh.
“Ooo, it feels similar to Astria Online.”
“Has the international standard avatar been linked?”
Dressed in their current outfits, they soon revealed themselves in a white cubic testing room.
Beeep-
[Testing Program Level 1, starting now.]
An alert sound echoed from the screen above the capsule everyone was watching, and balls began to bounce out from all sides of the testing room, flying toward Hopkins and Gandal.
Swish, swish!
“Whoa!”
“Whoaah!”
Their shocked exclamations were followed by some stumbles. But soon, they adapted well and began to dodge the spheres enthusiastically.
A few of the initial projectiles hit their bodies while they struggled to gather themselves, but it seems they didn’t hit the failing cutoff line.
[Evasion rate 91.0%. Passed. Would you like to proceed to Level 2?]
[Evasion rate 89.0%. Passed. Would you like to proceed to Level 2?]
– “Ugh, hey Gandal. I think I’m a bit higher!”
– “Nonsense! The winner is whoever reaches the highest level in the end!”
Their duel continued.
And finally, reaching Level 6 of the test.
Boom!
– “Ugh!”
– “What the?!”
Hopkins and Gandal tried hard to move their bodies but, with the rapid speed, they could not accurately dodge the balls coming from blind spots. They were bound to get hit by many projectiles in the Level 6 test.
[Evasion rate 66.8%. Failed. Would you like to retry Level 6?]
[Evasion rate 64.1%. Failed. Would you like to retry Level 6?]
– “Level 6 is really tough. But I think I won! Hahaha!”
– “Gah, let’s do it again!”
Kiiing.
Soon, the capsules opened, and the two emerged with refreshed expressions.
Clap, clap, clap.
“You dodged really well! Is getting to Level 6 good?”
“The best record is Level 8, so that’s quite high for regular folks.”
Next, Yeon Mina, Dal Borom, Red Hot Chicken, and Catcher Yi used the reaction speed test program. However, none could surpass the wall of Level 6.
Then it was time for Seob Seop Yi and Go Seung Woo, the two rangers, to face off.
Whoa!
“For the first time, it’s Level 7!”
Bam, swish, swish, swish!
[Evasion rate 71.4%. Failed. Would you like to retry Level 7?]
[Evasion rate 70.9%. Failed. Would you like to retry Level 7?]
– “Ugh…! Was that a hair’s breadth from passing?!”
– “Phew.”
Go Seung Woo, looking disappointed, and Seob Seop Yi, grinning with victory, stepped out of their capsules.
Clap, clap, clap!
“For the first time at Level 7…! You rangers are awesome. Didn’t you say the passing line is 80%? With practice, you could reach Level 8!”
“Indeed, the rangers of the Hong Baek guild. With records like this, you’re on par with many athletes in reaction speed.”
Chris smiled proudly.
Bae Merong and Cherni also could not surpass the wall of Level 6. So far, only the ranger duo had reached Level 7.
Now, it was my turn along with Deathly Death.
Whirr.
I moved my wheelchair in front of the capsule, and using just my arm strength, I tried to lie down in the capsule.
“Heave…! Ah.”
Whoosh.
Chris’s hand reached under my armpit, lifting me up.
I felt my face heat up slightly.
With everyone watching…
“I’m fine.”
“Hehe.”
Chris chuckled softly as she laid me down in the capsule.
On the side, Deathly Death entered his capsule.
“Heh, I’ve been practicing regularly with this test program. I know rangers adapt quickly to virtual reality, but it’s bound to feel different from Astria Online.”
“Hehe. Is that so?”
I smiled at Deathly Death. Soon, the lid of the capsule closed.
Whoosh.
Before my eyes unfolded a pure white testing room.
“Hmm.”
I slowly moved my body.
It felt like moving underwater.
As expected, a synchronization rate of 40%.
My rate of 100% is limited to ‘Astria Online’.
I had already tested this with Chris’s capsule.
In other metaverses, my avatar’s synchronization rate is determined by the predefined rate of the program.
But in ‘Astria Online’, regardless of the capsule used, it gets fixed at 100%. I have no clue how that works.
In this reaction speed test program, I’m kept under the same conditions as everyone else.
But…
Beeep-
[Testing Program Level 1, starting now.]
I looked at the slowly opening walls and grinned.
This advanced technology capsule, they say seeing and hearing is very close to reality.
Since it’s not a program for handling weapons, being weak isn’t an issue.
The only thing that’s slightly slow is my body’s movements.
If my body reacts slowly, then I should just move ahead of time.
Listening to the sound of the air piercing and watching the launching positions of the spheres.
Accelerating thought processes during that split-second.
These are all advantages I can utilize.
Even without mana, I can just move my legs.
Swish, swish!
I gracefully weaved between the projectiles flying towards me.
[Evasion rate 100%. Passed. Would you like to proceed to Level 8?]
[Evasion rate 100%. Passed. Would you like to proceed to Level 9?]
[Evasion rate 100%. Passed. Would you like to proceed to Level 10?]
[Evasion rate 100%. Congrats! You’ve passed the final test!]
Kiing.
“……?”
Everything around me went silent.
Everyone stared blankly at the screen above my capsule showing the final test passed.
Chris was also looking at me with a rare blank expression.
“I scored 78% at Level 8, breaking the best record…!”
Deathly Death looked furious, his fists clenched tightly.
Chris chuckled and gently patted my head as I emerged from the capsule.
“The reaction speed test program needs its theoretical maximum stages adjusted.”
Today’s gathering was slowly transitioning into late hours. But it seemed no one planned to head home early. They mentioned we could use rooms at Klaus Hotel, so if we got drunk, we could just sleep over.
Everyone gathered in the hall was enjoying light desserts and wine.
It was indeed an adult game gathering, with plenty of alcohol on hand.
Beer, wine, soju, and all sorts of drinks from high-end to casual varieties.
“Umm….”
I gazed silently at the glass of red wine in front of me.
Of course, according to the residency status in this world, I am an adult.
In the dim memories of my past life, I seem to recall having tried drinking before.
But, if I remember correctly from earlier this year, I had a single sip of beer and spat it out.
“This body can’t handle alcohol, you see.”
Of course, I had never tried drinking in the land of Astria. At that time, my body was clearly underage.
But now, what’s the problem?
Sure, I’m just an adult on paper, but even if my body isn’t fully that of a mature adult, it should be okay to drink with grown-ups around.
And all around me are indeed grown-ups.
I brought the wine glass to my lips and tilted it slightly.
Gulp.
Then I frowned.
“Ugh….”
Not tasty.
I doubt there’s such a thing as sweet wine, but my body rejected the bitterness of the wine.
Disheartened, I wheeled my chair around, looking for something else to drink.
Then I spotted a bottle with a fruity label.
“Oh.”
Is it juice?
I poured it into my glass.
And then took a sip.
“Yay!”
I couldn’t help but exclaim in delight.
Sweet.
Gulp, gulp.
It’s one of the few drinks I could enjoy in this hall.
Captivated by that sweetness, I continuously sipped the juice.
Dal Borom passed by my side, looking oddly at the table.
“…Huh? I just brought some fruit soju. Why is the bottle empty?”
“Huh…?”
Dal Borom’s face began to sway a bit.
At the same time, I felt a sense of weightlessness.
I felt somehow good.
I beamed at her.
“Heh.”