"Irina!"
*The opening scene featured my little sister, who had run out thinking Father had returned.
The white dress I'd bought her for her birthday was dyed red. At its center was a black blade that didn't even reflect the light.*
"No!"
*Next came my older brother, the head knight. He charged out upon seeing the knife embedded in Irina's body but fell to the same blade without even swinging his sword once.
The moment his shouting voice cut off and his body toppled sideways remains vivid.*
"Arthur!"
*Mother's voice calling for my brother echoed in my ears.*
"You bastard!"
*Then my older sister, who had taken over as head knight, grabbed the mace leaning against the wall and rushed forward. As she passed my frozen self, tears seemed to well in her eyes.
But even that was swallowed by blood, fresh blood, the red proof of life itself.*
"Run, hurry!"
*Mother shouted something. Was it Father's sword in her hand? Or maybe a kitchen knife?*
"I'm a knight too!"
"No, at least you run!"
"What's going on!"
*Father... Father had come too, I think.*
"Hurry and run, ──!"
"At least save yourself!"
*The memories after that aren't clear. I gripped a sword, the world turned red, then white, then black again, before brightening under a faint moonlight.*
[A fine vessel.]
*The black blade piercing my right arm wriggled under my skin, slither, slither, slither...*
[You'll become a fine...]*
*Ah, I pray for this.
A soul that can overcome evil, a resilient being that won't crumble before it, someone who can triumph over the devil.
Please...
.
.
.
...Can you hear my voice?*
"Gasp!"
The moment the final voice reached me, my vision brightened, and air filled my lungs.
"Get off!"
Next came the chaotic clamor assaulting my ears like a bustling marketplace, followed by a booming shout right in front of me.
「Tatara: Trading Post」
Just then, a heavy *dong* of a bell rang in my ears, snapping me back to reality.
This was the very moment the curtain rose on *Hero Legend*.
"Ah..."
I unconsciously clenched and unclenched my fist. The opening's afterglow was just too overwhelming.
Could modern games make cutscenes feel like actual memories now, transcending mere viewing? It was so vivid it felt like those emotions had been injected straight into me.
I rubbed the back of my neck for no reason. I tried not to use crude language, but damn, it was fucking incredible.
"Hey, you."
Lost in the nostalgia and admiration for the tech, someone's voice approached.
Only then did I snap to attention. The opening video was over, the region name prompt had appeared, and the game had begun.
"You getting off or not?"
After playing every game under the sun, snarky attitudes felt like charm, especially from one-off characters.
So instead of offense, I quickly scanned the situation.
People unloading cargo from the wagon, me still sitting on it, and one guy glaring at me.
In that instant, nostalgia from back in the day welled up. It was the exact same scene as the original's Demon Knight tutorial, just upgraded from 2D to 3D.
Stimulating memories right from the tutorial? Could I even immerse in my concept like this? I was already getting emotional.
I forcibly shifted my thoughts. I might not over-immerse, but I wouldn't cry.
Not that tears were even implemented! But I still had to manage my expression, knowing that.
*Thud.*
So I got off the wagon carelessly. Not because I was mindful of the official prickly, sharp-tempered personality or my concept built on it.
It was more like, no prompt for a response, no need for one, just a mindless action.
"Fucking prick."
But the wagon owner—probably—clicked his tongue and muttered. For a second, I wondered if he was a real person.
Beta testers had raved about NPC interactions, and it wasn't empty hype.
"Gotta pay more for prices..."
"Then profits..."
"Rebels..."
"Demons..."
Right after dismounting, as I took in the trading post's scene, I realized something more important.
"...Did Deep Pearls finally eat some aliens?"
The devs had gone all out.
"The graphics are insane?"
Wheel ruts in the dirt, building textures, various light sources, shadows... not to mention the tickle of the breeze on my skin, floating dust, and the myriad smells assaulting my nose.
And that wasn't all? Inspecting the NPCs filling the place, no two faces or outfits were alike.
I'd thought the trailer was nuts, but the real thing was next level. This was true virtual *reality*!
"Objects everywhere and no lag or frame drops...? They're insane."
I'd wondered why the download was so huge, but it was the opposite. How did they optimize this graphics quality into that file size? Did they really grind up aliens?
"Insane, fucking insane..."
Deep Pearls were total bastards. Trying to drown people in emotion and kill them. This was premeditated murder, legal or not.
"Whew."
I clenched my fist against the tidal wave of awe. It was the best I could do. I'd die without regrets.
"Move it, you're blocking the way!"
Thankfully, a passing NPC saved me from flailing in感動.
Taking it as a cue, I started reining in my emotions.
I couldn't take back what I'd said or done, but my concept enthusiast pride wouldn't allow more. Time to get serious and enjoy the game.
And for that, I started my self-hypnosis first. A habit when immersing in a character.
Alright, from now on, I'm the Demon Knight whose family was slaughtered by a demon that now possesses his arm.
Always on edge, never knowing when the arm's demon will devour me, keeping people at bay to avoid bringing disaster on them. A prickly, sensitive type masking fragility—outer tough, inner soft, total asshole!
The settings I'd crafted from the trailer, leaks, and official lore overlaid me like a mask.
The concept play began.
*Shing.*
I schooled my expression—though the game character's face wouldn't change; it was just for immersion—and slung the sword on my back.
I'd wondered if it was too long, but my body moved on its own to sheath it.
So, what now? Usually, you find the quest giver with the marker, but nothing stood out scanning around.
No minimap, quest log empty when I pulled it up.
So the story NPC comes to me?
"Ah! Adventurer!"
Then someone scurried up to me. A small kid coming up to my chest.
"Um... Adventurer, 'Demon Knight' sir... right?"
The name the kid said was my class and my nickname.
I'd set it that way, adding flavor that I'd discarded my name after the incident. So yeah, calling me.
Separately, I waited briefly for a prompt. Usually, it'd offer choices or keywords for progression, even in free talk.
"Uh, not?"
But nothing.
Feeling a twinge of confusion, I decided to affirm anyway. Couldn't miss a quest.
"...No, that's me."
Considering the concept, I replied icily, and the kid flinched. Like gauging my mood.
It felt so real, I nearly soothed him not to be scared.
"Th-then follow me. I'll take you to the Adventurer's Guild."
Wow, they nailed this character. Admiring inwardly, I followed the tottering young NPC.
*Step step.*
My shoe heels clicked on the dry dirt.
Where's the guild, anyway? As I wondered, I sneakily checked myself. To see if customization applied right.
Deluxe edition outfit from character creation, preorder bonus Destruction True Two-Hander, leg pouch on waist and thigh for inventory.
My vision was so clear I doubted the eyepatch, but touching confirmed it. Hair color at vision's edge looked good too. Appearance nailed.
Perfect.
"Here it is!"
「Tatara: Adventurer's Guild」
How long did self-inspection take? We were already there.
The city didn't seem small from passing views; the trading post and guild were just adjacent.
"Would this suit us?"
"Heard the news? Panine's bro went to escort a caravan and vanished with it."
"Disappearances are rising lately..."
The guild interior was noisy and crowded. Especially around the bulletin board—probably the quest board.
"Clerk! Brought the adventurer!"
"Oh, you're here?"
Anyway, the kid led me to a counter. The person handling folks lit up seeing me.
"Thanks. Go run your errands now. And... pleased to meet you. I'm Izren, clerk for Tatara Adventurer's Guild."
The clerk nodded lightly, shooing the kid and her current customer away.
Her skill handing off the remaining line to another counter screamed experience.
"Demon Knight, right?"
"Yeah."
"Distinctive look made it easy. Still, for safety, could you prove with your adventurer plate? We've had impersonators, so verification's mandatory now."
Her words triggered a window blocking part of my view.
「Inventory│Reach into your bag to activate inventory.
Grasp the item you want to retrieve.」
Basic system tutorial.
I followed, hand into bag. UI popped up, occupying a corner of vision.
Tetris-style inventory, items taking grid slots. Weight shown above meant volume *and* weight system.
*Swipe.*
Slot-based would've been nicer, but this game was so polished. I found and pulled the adventurer plate.
"Verified."
She took the plate, turned it over, confirmed, and handed it back.
"Welcome to Tatara, adventurer."
It really drove home that I was playing *Hero Legend*.
"I know it's a long trip, but may I guide you to the request right away? The client's in a huge rush."
I'd figured board explanation or guild tutorial first, but apparently later. Original and systems seemed similar enough; I'd manage.
"Lead on."
Probably a tutorial, so I agreed. The clerk stood and guided me.
Not far.
Mabel Trading Company. I followed her into the building under that sign. Fitting for a merchants' guild, traders bustled inside.
Noisy like the guild, but graphics so good it faded to background. Barely curbing wandering eyes, I trailed her.
"Master, the adventurer you requested is here."
"Come in!"
The room we entered screamed luxury from the entrance. Given "Master," probably the trading company head's office.
"One-eyed?"
Why start with an insult?
"Mind your tongue."
I snapped at the room's NPCs while checking them. Not expecting reaction, just concept-fitting banter.
No game reacts to every player line—too many cases, exponential data.
So I didn't expect response, hence my shock when...
The insulter's face twisted horribly. Like reacting to my line.
"Hmph! Even more of an asshole than I heard."
"Calm down, Master."
"Adventurer, please settle down too."
Not just face—words too. Unaffected NPCs acted human too.
This is nuts. Deep Pearls, did you really grind aliens into this game?
"You the Demon Knight?"
"Then who do you think I am?"
Testing, I avoided affirmatives like "yeah" or "yes."
No keywords given earlier, and that reaction... Wondering if it handled any player input.
"True, no two ominous mugs like yours. Clerk wouldn't fetch the wrong guy."
Incredibly, convo continued. It parsed my asshole line perfectly!
"Master..."
"Sir, please..."
Holy shit!
Suppressing bursting excitement, I glared coldly at them. Gruff old man—Master, probably—a middle-aged calmer, and the clerk.
Few, but irrelevant. Three NPCs linking reactions perfectly? God game.
"Adventurer, tone it down a bit..."
Why should I? Hell no. This reactive? No immersion would be pointless. Not true concept play.
"Wrong target for persuasion. Why should I?"
"Adventurer..."
"You arrogant...!"
Damn, they're insane. All this scripted? Nah, AI-generated lines probably. But why give townies this AI?
Like voicing every villager in old games. Too good.
"Hmph, better not suck... or the recommender gets it..."
"Sir, he hears you."
"Good! He's saying it outright!"
Man... Should've bought Deep Pearls stock. Already peaked, but this quality? Could climb more. Regret.
"Ahem! Anyway! Let's start the request! That's why we called you here!"
Clerk hurried to defuse. Wanted more asshole per concept, but shocked enough; I'd comply.
I eyed the old NPC.
"You know the request details, right?"
Clerk Izren asked. Pointless; I'd just learned I was here for it.
"No clue."
"What? Damn..."
I denied coldly. Old man swallowed a curse. Middle-ager hadn't covered his mouth, it'd flow.
"Eh? Guild didn't tell you? Wait, you volunteered without knowing?"
Izren startled, but nothing to say.
Who'd want that? Deep Pearls dumped the job on login.
*No complaints, God Pearls. Grateful for this game. Loyalty.*
"So? Pathetic worms can endanger me?"
Good concepters turn this into opportunity.
Playing haughty asshole, I stared down the old man.
"Uh, um..."
He grumbled. Half cursing me, half the recommender—some Baron, apparently.
Wanna meet the programmer. Ask if God first.
No god could humanize an NPC this much. Deep Pearls were gods!