NOVPUBMMORPG stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.
Simply put, it refers to a game where multiple users can connect simultaneously and play together on the same map.
When you first start an MMORPG, there’s a lot to do.
You have to choose a username, link your account for backup purposes, and depending on the game, you may also need to set up the character’s name, appearance, class, and stats.
Since you’ll be fighting alongside many other users in the same field, it’s important to make sure your character stands out.
Unlike the mobile RPG game Plamago, PlayerZ, an MMORPG, had a lot more to offer.
‘It must be a great game, there’s so much to do from the start.’
Plamago wasn’t an MMORPG; it was just a regular RPG with a focus on single-player mode.
There was a multiplayer element, but it only had a feature like "request help from other players," which was pretty useless.
Being a failed game, there were barely any other players, so even if you wanted to use that feature, it wasn’t possible.
‘Plamago didn’t require users to create their own characters since there were pre-made playable characters... but that’s typical for non-MMORPG games.’
In Plamago, you only had to level up the characters without creating your own.
In mobile games that aren’t MMORPGs, players usually spend currency to randomly summon pre-made characters to level up.
Of course, it wasn’t easy to summon the characters.
There were playable characters that automatically joined as the story progressed, but in order to encourage players to spend money, the more attractive characters were made harder to summon.
As a failed game, Plamago followed this typical system.
In the early days of Plamago, many players complained in the community about how the limited-time summon for the Dragon King wasn’t giving them the character.
Even users who didn’t like the gacha mechanics still rushed to summon the Dragon King, thinking it was a must-have character, but most of them failed.
‘...There was no pity system in this failed game.’
The “pity system” refers to a feature where, after a certain number of unsuccessful summons, you are guaranteed to get the desired character.
Games with random elements usually have a pity system, which helps players who are unlucky.
But of course, there was no pity system in a failed game like Plamago.
Without a pity system, players could keep spending money, but there was no guarantee they’d ever get the character they wanted.
Fortunately, I was lucky and managed to get all the playable characters, but many others were not so fortunate.
‘At least after the story character died, they stopped being summonable. I should’ve summoned them before they died.’
This was one of the reasons why users who started playing Plamago after Yeom Jun-yeol’s arrival were upset.
At the time Yeom Jun-yeol appeared, the Dragon King had already died, so anyone starting the game late would not be able to get both characters unless they bought someone else's account, with the risk of being permanently banned.
While you couldn’t deploy dead playable characters in story mode, you could do so in free quests, which led to dissatisfaction among users who wanted to include both the Dragon King and his heir in the same team.
However, no matter how many complaints were made, the game admins refused to make dead characters available for summons.
As the story continued, fewer and fewer characters survived, and the whole concept of summoning became less meaningful.
After all, the people complaining just quit, and the admins paid no attention to it.
It was a shame that Plamago was such a failed game, but now with a new game opening, I couldn’t help but think about it, all because of Jang Nam-uk.
[Jang Nam-uk] Sorry, guys. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but I still haven’t decided which class to pick. Honestly, I’m still not used to fighting enemies directly, and since Gwangrim and my skills are more support-oriented, I’ve been taking the support role in the raid. Given that, choosing the support role seems easier, but since I’m playing a game, I want to try something different. 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
[Yoo Sang-hoon] Then go for the dealer.
[Jang Nam-uk] I’m still not sure if I should go for the dealer, but if I do, picking a class seems difficult. I use spear skills, but I also want to try ranged attack skills. I think it might be easier to deal with enemies if I use a bow or a gun.
[Do Si-hoo] Nam-uk’s been debating over his class every day, and he still hasn’t decided. Haha.
Jang Nam-uk’s dilemma had dragged on.
Si-hoo and I decided to pick a party setup that would match Jang Nam-uk’s class, so we were delayed as well.
Yoo Sang-hoon, however, had already finished creating his character and opened the tutorial screen while waiting for us.
He had been the one most eager to play, so he could have pressured or gotten frustrated with us, but Yoo Sang-hoon didn’t show any signs of that.
In fact, he seemed to enjoy watching Jang Nam-uk struggle with his decision.
[Yoo Sang-hoon] Haha, take your time and pick what you want to do.
Yoo Sang-hoon seemed genuinely happy with the process.
Just by reading his long messages, I could tell how good of a mood he was in.
As a gamer, it was a great attitude.
If a Plamago player had come to me for advice about which character to level up first between Ju Su-hyeok and Anda-in, I probably would’ve had a similar reaction.
Unfortunately, no one ever asked me for that kind of advice.
[Jang Nam-uk] Sorry for making you wait. Looking at how much I’m hesitating, I feel like it doesn’t matter what I pick. I’ll just pick randomly.
[Do Si-hoo] Finally! You should’ve done that sooner!
[Jang Nam-uk] I’ll use a random choice app.
After a lot of hesitation, Jang Nam-uk decided to pick his class randomly.
The result came quickly.
Jang Nam-uk became a melee dealer, a “Spear Master.”
Now that he had decided, he seemed a bit disappointed, thinking he might redo the random selection, but he said he’d just stick with the Spear Master.
Yoo Sang-hoon, eager as ever, immediately suggested how to distribute the stats for the Spear Master, and Jang Nam-uk quietly followed his advice.
[Yoo Sang-hoon] Did you settle on your Gwangrim?
[Jang Nam-uk] I’m planning to go with an offensive Gwangrim. You said it was random, right? I’ll keep resetting it until a decent Gwangrim shows up.
[Yoo Sang-hoon] Alright, go ahead. Jo Eui-shin, what class are you going for?
Finally, it was my turn.
I was ready to pick a class as soon as Jang Nam-uk was done.
Just past midnight, at the annex of the Hwang Myeong-ho mansion.
Instead of heading to the dormitory, Eunho visited Unsa and checked on his health while having a conversation.
Most of the conversation was related to the messages Unsa had sent, but Eunho occasionally asked questions with hidden intentions.
Through Unsa, Eunho wanted to find out how much information about the aristocracy had leaked.
‘I’m not sure if they know that I woke up from my deep sleep or that I’m using the name Cheon Eun-ha.’
It seemed that Pungbaek and Woosa had shared a lot of information with Unsa.
Because of this connection with the aristocracy, Eunho was able to sift through the information more easily.
‘I’ll need to be cautious about the information I give to Unsa. Especially anything related to Yeonggwang High or Eui-shin. It’s best not to mention those topics.’
Unsa didn’t even know if Eunho was currently attending school.
The process of disguising himself as Cheon Eun-ha had been complicated, and returning to his original form was difficult, but he had endured the trouble to keep it hidden from Unsa.
Although Eunho had kept this hidden, Unsa did know that Hwang Ho was disguised as a student.
However, Unsa had never asked Hwang Ho, who appeared in school uniform, any questions.
‘Seeing Hwang Ho in a school uniform, you would expect Unsa to ask questions, but he didn’t ask anything. He seems to avoid asking questions other than about our well-being and health.’
Every time Unsa met his friends, he would listen attentively with a relaxed expression, answering any questions they asked.
It seemed that just seeing his friends and knowing they were healthy made Unsa genuinely happy.
At this thought, Eunho’s mind grew cold.
Pungbaek and Woosa had used Unsa’s nature to their advantage.
Just a few words while approaching him in the furnace, talking about the aristocracy, and trying to sway him would make Unsa consider them his friends.
Eunho hid his true thoughts, smiling gently as he spoke.
“I’m sorry to take your time so late. I’d like to talk more, if that’s alright with you?”
“Of course. If Eunho is fine with it, I’d love to talk more here.”
Unsa said, hiding his weariness with effort.
Though it was clear from his appearance that his health wasn’t good, Unsa pretended to be fine because he wanted to stay longer with Eunho.
Currently, due to the long conversation, Unsa was physically and mentally drained.
As soon as Unsa seemed unable to hide his exhaustion, Eunho seized the opportunity to bring up an important topic.
“Unsa, that person tried to lure Hwang Ho using Cheongho’s dojo belt on Christmas Eve.”
“What? Hwang Ho?”
Unsa’s eyes widened.
Eunho quickly analyzed Unsa’s brief words.
Unsa seemed more surprised by Hwang Ho’s name than the dojo belt belonging to Cheongho.
It was clear Unsa knew that the person had Cheongho’s belt.
“Yes, luckily, one of Cheongho’s students went instead and retrieved it. There were doubts about whether it was real, but it was definitely Cheongho’s.”
“I see...”
Unsa sighed in relief.
It seemed he was relieved that Hwang Ho hadn’t been hurt because of Cheongho’s dojo belt.
But Eunho felt uncomfortable with that response.
Shouldn’t it be more normal for Unsa to worry about Cheongho, who couldn’t be seen, instead of Hwang Ho, whom he had directly seen?
Eunho instinctively knew he needed to ask more about Cheongho.
Unsa hesitated, as if about to say something.
“Unsa, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’m sure you have many things you’re curious about regarding your friend.”
“Thank you. Well, I do have something I want to ask...”
Eunho patiently waited with a gentle expression for Unsa to speak.
Unsa cautiously opened his mouth, as if handling a broken piece of glass.
“Was Cheongho not there?”
“Cheongho wasn’t there. Only the dojo belt was found.”
Eunho answered without hesitation to Unsa’s question.
Eunho carefully scrutinized the hidden meaning in Unsa’s words.
Cheongho was currently in Yeonggwang High, disguised as Han Yi.
Did Unsa not know this?
Or did he know, but didn’t tell Unsa to prevent information from leaking?
There was no answer.
“I see. It would’ve been nice if we could have saved Cheongho too...”
“...Cheongho?”
“Yes, actually, when we sent the distress signal, we mentioned Cheongho. It seems it wasn’t relayed.”
Eunho still hadn’t deciphered all of Unsa’s messages.
It seemed that part of the message had been left out.
Jo Eui-shin mentioned he’d help with the interpretation, so Eunho remained vigilant.
As Unsa continued speaking, Eunho had to focus on maintaining his smile.
“Pungbaek and Woosa said that Cheongho’s body is in their hands. I hope he’s not in the same situation as me.”
