Medieval Fantasy Barbarian

There is a game called ‘Lord of Empire.’

Anyone who’s played games would nod in recognition at the name of this AAA fantasy RPG meticulously developed by a major studio, Bestha.

The purpose of the game is exactly as the title suggests—to reign as the ruler of an empire, and the player is given various choices.

You can compete with your brothers and sisters for the throne as the legitimate heir to the empire.

Or, you can start from the bottom and grow into a merchant who controls the empire from behind the scenes.

Of course, fantasy wouldn’t be complete without magic. How about walking the path of a great mage who communicates with the mysteries?

If none of that appeals to you, you could simply trample and crush everything beneath your feet with overwhelming power.

‘Lord of Empire’ was considered the industry’s most anticipated game from the moment its first trailer was released, but it also turned gaming communities into a sea of flames by not releasing any information for nearly three years afterward.

[Author: HoldingBreathTillLOEReleases]

[Title: Wait just one day and Lord of Empire will be released!]

Because now, every time I wait for more than 24 hours

I’m going to hit my head really hard and turn my brain into a complete mess!

If I can’t remember that I waited

Doesn’t that mean I didn’t wait?

So if I erase my memory before a day passes until the game comes out

Wouldn’t the game come out in just one day???

Just one night’s wait and Lord of Empire will be released!

Just thinking about it makes me so happy~!!!

Comments

[Anonymous: LOLOLOLOLOLOL]

[Anonymous(3.97): Uh, is that brain fluid leaking from your head?]

[ElderScrolls6Release: (Smoking frog meme with a dejected expression)]

[Anonymous(118.235): If it doesn’t come out tomorrow, I’m really going to kill myself, I’m warning you]

[Author: DopamineAddict]

[Title: Yeah go ahead and kill yourself, idiot~~~ LOLOLOLOL]

(Picture of a clown laughing with hands over mouth)

If you die, they’ll release it~~~~~~~~~

Comments

[Anonymous: Fuckkkkkkkkk]

[YggdrasilIsBigTree: Upvote if you think they haven’t even started development yet]

ㄴ[Anonymous:(125.49) Upvoted LOL]

ㄴㄴ[Anonymous(23.63): You’re an employee, aren’t you, bastard?]

ㄴ[YggdrasilIsBigTree: I’ve been exposed]

In an era where official release had become a vulgar joke, a single official video, barely five seconds long, was uploaded.

D-7

It was more than enough to ignite the users who had been withering away, exhausted from waiting.

[Author: HoldingBreathTillLOEReleases]

[Title: Wait just one day and Lord of Empire will be released!!!!!!]

Why​!!!!!!!!!because!!!!!!!!!! Heeheeheeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?!?@?@?!?>@

My heaaaaaaaaad¡!!!!!¡¡!!¡!¡!¡!!!!

One day one day!!!!!¡¡!!!!!!#^#¤​♧☆¥​¥°$^¿¡!?!!?!¡​¿​¡?¡

Kyaaahoooo~~~!!!!~~~!!~

[Comments]

[Anonymous(106.101): I’m scared…]

[Anonymous: Wow, this guy finally achieved enlightenment LOL]

ㄴ[Anonymous:(59.1): En?lightenment]

[ElderScrolls6Release: Fuck]

Quite a few gamers had been clearing their schedules a week in advance, and I was one of them.

“This is too much to resist.”

An open run is a major event. Anyone among the 4.37629 billion gamers on Earth would understand.

I quickly skipped the majestic trailer that played as soon as I started the game and went straight to the character selection screen.

There was no need to think about which class to choose.

I briefly skimmed over the other classes and immediately selected the barbarian.

Every man harbors at least one barbarian in his heart. Isn’t the joy of gaming found in tearing and crushing enemies?

It was a bit disappointing that there wasn’t a separate customization feature, but the character’s appearance was quite satisfactory.

Just before starting the game, a clear notification sound rang from my phone.

[Member.]

[Today is leg day. Please make sure to come.]

“……”

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead. Come to think of it, the biggest hurdle still remained.

[Why aren’t you responding to my message?]

[You’re not ignoring me because of a game, are you, member? ^^]

The warm consideration of my PT trainer was choking me. After some deliberation, I sent a reply.

[…Actually, I’ve been feeling chills since morning, I think I’ve caught the flu. I think I’ll need to rest today.]

[Really~? You shouldn’t be sick, this is terrible ㅠㅠ]

If someone says this much, they would normally overlook any suspicious parts. It’s not like they’re going to come to my house, so what can they do?

[Then, I’ll come to you. You said you liked Bonjuk before, right?]

[What?]

The problem is that this person knows my home address. The creepiest part was that I never gave it to them.

[Are you touched? This much is natural between us ㅎㅎ]

I wanted to reply, “What kind of relationship do we have, you crazy bastard?” but I held back.

It was absolutely not because I was scared.

…Come to think of it, I’ve already waited 3 years, is an open run really that important?

It’s not like I’m missing a special event by playing the game a few hours later.

At most, it’s just meaningless self-satisfaction, a pointless illusion.

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. If I go and work up a good sweat, I’m sure I’ll be able to enjoy the game much more.

With trembling hands, I sent a reply.

[I think I suddenly feel better. I’ll be there soon!!]

[Yes! Don’t try to skip out and come quickly. Not if you want to live >ω<]

Scary bastard.

I rushed to the gym, cursing with every imaginable curse.

If I had known I would be hit by an 8-ton truck on the way, I might have reconsidered.

“…Ivan.”

The barbarian, Habel, looked down at the dying man in the sickbed with a gloomy expression.

It was extremely painful to witness the final moments of his brother, who was now essentially no different from a corpse.

The warriors of the North do not fear death. They believe that the War God will guide the souls of warriors who meet an honorable death.

But death in a bed is different. The hand of God does not gather the souls of cowards who were not brave.

That is why they fear a comfortable death more than anything else.

To not receive salvation even after death and wander the spirit world for eternity—how dreadful.

“…Is there really no way?”

Habel asked in a voice mixed with tears, desperately hoping that his brother could be saved.

The priest carefully placed his hand on Ivan’s chest and shook his head. The body was already cold, and not even a faint pulse could be felt from the heart.

The priest shook his head and slid his palm down to close the deceased’s eyes.

“War God, Baldor. Have mercy on your servant.”

Habel’s face twisted horribly. He trembled, grasped Ivan’s hand, and wept silently.

It was such a tragic sight that even a complete stranger would understand his sorrow.

In the terribly cold atmosphere, the priest felt uncomfortable inside.

He was no expert in medicine, only in funerals. Yet, whenever something like this happened, he was dragged out to demonstrate his incompetence in front of everyone, which felt unfair.

While waiting for this unpleasant situation to end quickly, Habel suddenly became flustered and exhaled rough breaths.

“Huh?”

Then he quickly got up, placed his hand on Ivan’s chest, and shouted.

“It’s beating!! His heart is beating!!”

“……?”

The priest tilted his head momentarily, then sighed softly.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s impossible for the dead to come back to life. That’s beyond the natural order….”

“No, I’m telling you his heart beat!! Come and see for yourself!!”

Before he could answer, a strong hand pulled the priest. Damn barbarian bastard. He cursed inwardly but spoke in the most careful tone possible to avoid provoking the deranged barbarian warrior.

“I understand your grief, but this won’t bring your friend back to—huh?”

The priest doubted his own eyes. Color was returning to the coldly stiffened body, and the heart was beating vigorously as if it had never stopped.

Could it really be…?

Before the priest could recover from the shock, another miracle occurred.

“Hurrrggghhh!!”

Ivan screamed as if waking from a terrible nightmare and lifted his body in a convulsive motion. To be more specific, it was the kind of scream one would make right before being crushed by an 8-ton truck during drowsy driving.

Ivan breathed heavily, looked around frantically, and slowly opened his mouth.

“Where am I…ack!!”

“Uhuhuung!! Brother!!!!!”

But before he could finish speaking, he had to endure the warm embrace of the teary barbarian warrior.

“Look, whoever you are, please let go of—gack!!”

While the person concerned was suffocating, the warriors watching this touching reunion secretly wiped their eyes and smiled warmly. What a beautiful friendship.

However, not everyone could purely rejoice in this situation.

The priest met some suspicious glances directed at him.

The priest sensed that his political life was in crisis in the face of looks that seemed to say, ‘Didn’t you say he was dead?’

He needed to resolve this issue right now. But how?

The priest desperately racked his brain. And before long, he found the most ideal way to get out of this situation.

“Baldor has performed a miracle!!!”

The priest shouted loud enough for everyone to hear and knelt down in prayer as if facing something sacred.

“War God, look upon us!!!”

The warriors, stunned by the sudden turn of events, stared blankly at the scene for a moment before rushing to kneel down and press their foreheads to the ground, one after another.

“War God, look upon us!!!!!!”

The atmosphere instantly transformed into a worship service of fanatics who had witnessed a religious miracle with their own eyes.

The protagonist of this solemn historic moment thought, as he struggled to escape the embrace that was strangling him:

‘So where the hell am I, anyway? Fuck.’