Episode 2
Episode 2
Pantheon was a game where achieving results through talent alone was no easy feat.
If one had overwhelming talent, perhaps, but mediocre talent stood no chance.
In that sense, Jinu's talent was nothing extraordinary.
So why had he been able to produce results?
It was simple.
It was none other than his tenacity.
If there was a cause for something, he would stay up all night to figure it out.
He didn’t even sleep when designing content.
As if he’d had time to date.
Anyway.
Based on such tenacity, his analytical skills couldn’t help but be considerable.
Tenacity and analytical ability.
Thanks to those two, Jinu had been able to reach the upper-middle ranks despite starting a whole year late.
Of course, it had only been possible because he possessed some talent to support it.
Had he lacked even one of them, the Jinu of that time could never have existed.
That very Jinu had returned to before the game’s release.
And not just any time—a month before release.
More than enough time to prepare; it was practically overflowing.
‘The most valuable thing to obtain in a starting village is a First Title.’
First Titles obtainable right from the start.
Just off the top of his head, there were more than ten.
Even ordinary titles were quite helpful.
But what about First Titles granted only to the very first?
They were on a completely different level from ordinary titles.
They were praised as being more useful than high-rank skills.
That said it all.
From the start, this system called First Title had sparked much debate among users.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
After all, there were First Titles more useful than high-rank skills.
Above all, the fact that only one person could obtain them seemed unfair at a glance.
But Pantheon’s message was always the same.
‘Find them yourselves.’
Venture forth into a new world with a spirit of adventure.
That was the slogan with which the game had begun.
In a way, it was the game’s characteristic and charm.
Obvious, but it worked.
Didn’t everyone learn the joy of searching for something through treasure hunts as children?
That was simply the nature of RPGs.
Of course, it had been irritating that the first-batch users had swept up quite a few First Titles, but that didn’t mean those who started late couldn’t obtain any either.
It was a difference in quantity, not a complete impossibility.
Of course, even apart from First Titles, the differences in skills and hidden pieces couldn’t be ignored.
But wasn’t it the same in other games?
So he had to plan efficiently.
He had to think about skills and titles with good synergy.
The more meticulous the plan, the better.
And so Jinu planned with such tenacity.
With meticulous preparation, the month passed in a flash.
* * *
Games destined to succeed were always brimming with anticipation before release.
Pantheon was no different.
Rumors had spread about praises from beta testers to compliments about achieving the most perfect virtual reality.
With all sorts of rumors swirling around, how could one not be excited?
Naturally, those serious about gaming waited with bated breath as well.
Of course, there was probably no one among them looking forward to it as much as Jinu.
‘Ten minutes left!’
A historic moment.
In the past, hadn’t he been busy with a part-time job during Pantheon’s launch?
Foolish.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
Before Pantheon, only a very small number of people made money through gaming.
Anyone who believed they were among that small minority was either foolish or truly overflowing with talent—one of the two.
Unfortunately, Jinu had been neither.
But this time was different.
Hadn’t he already seen the results?
And that after starting very late at that.
‘And I’d started half-heartedly, too.’
He hadn’t taken Pantheon seriously from the beginning.
He had started thinking he’d just enjoy it casually, and by luck had ended up with a class.
He had truly been lucky.
And that held true even now.
Who could have known he would regress?
He didn’t know how or why he had regressed.
He didn’t particularly want to know.
He simply wanted to seize this opportunity and enjoy it!
Repeating the plans he had organized countless times over the month, he connected to virtual reality.
He moved to a virtual room with the sensation of his consciousness being transferred.
It was like the desktop screen on an old PC.
Jinu clicked on Pantheon, which he had pre-downloaded there.
[<0 minutes : 44 seconds> remaining until open.]
It was starting now!
He would become number one at this fresh start!
With that mindset, Jinu watched the time count down.
When the time finally ran out, a message appeared.
[Connecting to Pantheon.]
[The Temple of All Gods gazes upon you.]
Seeing the message he had seen countless times before his regression, he felt a floating sensation for a moment.
Yes, this was it.
He was finally connecting to Pantheon.
He had waited a full month, nearly dying of impatience.
Of course, he had prepared perfectly.
But waiting was still waiting.
As soon as he connected, a massive stone slab flew toward him.
Jinu, who was already a hardened veteran, already knew what it was.
“Set nickname as Jinu.”
Kwajang!
It shattered before even reaching Jinu, and a message appeared.
[Setting nickname to ‘Ji—...]
Just like before.
He answered before the message even fully appeared.
“Yes.”
There was absolutely no reason to waste time in a place like this!
First Titles were waiting!
From then on, it was smooth sailing.
Next, a mirror flew in, but Jinu answered unfailingly before it even arrived.
“Keep my current appearance.”
Again, answering before the message even appeared.
“Yeah.”
He was really too fast.
Most gamers would hit a wall here.
How could anyone rush through nicknames and customization!
Truthfully, Jinu felt a bit of regret too, but he knew those things were utterly useless.
First Titles took priority over customization and nicknames!
Yep, of course.
This was exactly what he couldn’t afford to pass up.
Quickly finishing the other minor settings, a single map finally appeared.
Others would spend quite a bit of time here.
Because no gamer would casually set their starting region.
Reading the characteristics of each kingdom or the village descriptions was the natural course of action for most!
But Jinu had no need for such things.
Because it was all already in his head.
Hmph.
Was this what you’d call the overwhelming difference in information?
Making a rather smug expression, Jinu spoke before the map even fully generated.
He had already decided on the kingdom and village.
“Nen Village of the Deron Kingdom.”
The reason he chose this place among over twenty kingdoms and far more starting regions?
What else could it be?
It was a place abundant with hidden pieces and easy to secure First Titles.
Mob respawn was good too, and it was the best region for early growth.
It became quite popular later on.
He had to seize everything before it swarmed with people to set his mind at ease.
Above all, there was even a hidden dungeon.
How could he pass this up?
Thinking about the guys who had discovered this first back then used to make his stomach churn.
Now, there was no need for that.
He would devour it all properly.
[Nen Village of the Deron King—...]
Just the same, he answered before the message fully appeared.
“I designate it.”
He was so fast one might wonder if he really needed to go this quickly.
Faster than anyone! Different from the rest!
Once everything was designated, a new message appeared.
[Would you like to proceed with the tutorial?]
A message one might actually not skip for once.
Nope, not a chance.
“I skip it.”
[Are you sure you wish to skip the tutorial?]
[*Warning* Explanations about the game will never again be...]
He didn’t care whether warnings appeared or not.
Because he already knew.
He knew it all. Hadn’t he even done it himself?
Usually in VR games, there were hidden pieces or something in the tutorial.
Or titles, at the very least.
But in Pantheon?
‘There’s nothing to gain from the tutorial.’
Ah, well, there was.
But to obtain it...
[You are the first to skip the tutorial.]
[Acquiring the First Title ‘Faster Than Anyone Else’.]
A First Title obtainable only by skipping the tutorial faster than any other user.
Any other title obtainable from the tutorial?
It was a First Clear title, but there wasn’t much difference from skipping.
Rather, this was better.
『Faster Than Anyone Else』
→First Title
→A title granted to the user who first skipped the tutorial
→+20% EXP until level 10
Although it came with the condition of only until level 10, it was bonus EXP gain.
Where else could you get this?
The title obtained by quickly clearing the tutorial had been a +5 to all stats until level 10.
It was essentially gaining bonus stats.
But those stats disappeared after level 10.
Compared to that, EXP increase was far better.
Though it had been part of the plan he’d devised even before starting.
[All procedures have been completed.]
[Transporting to Nen Village of the Deron Kingdom, your designated starting location.]
[May the gods’ blessings be with you.]
Having skipped even the tutorial, the message finally appeared.
The time taken to get here wasn’t even a minute.
For a moment, along with a floating sensation as his body lifted, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly.
Where there had been a white space just moments ago was now a place exuding the atmosphere of a small European village, no matter where he looked.
‘I started here even before my regression.’
It felt somehow new and emotional.
The sight of only NPCs without any other users felt a bit awkward.
Nen Village had always been popular.
Anyway, he had to hurry now.
There was no one now, but that wouldn’t last forever.
It was about the time others were just finishing customization, but the faster ones might already be looking at the map.
Perhaps they had already started the tutorial?
Of course, Jinu wasn’t someone who would be caught up to.
He would seize everything just like this!
But before that, he had to receive the reward.
The result of finishing faster than anyone.
Then it was only right to receive a reward.
And sure enough.
A message appeared.
[You are the first to set foot on the continent of Pantheon.]
[Acquiring the First Title ‘First Adventurer’.]
『First Adventurer』
→First Title
→A title granted to the user who first set foot on the continent
→+20% EXP until level 10
Keheh, this was it.
This was pure gold!
Just by skipping and starting quickly, he was entering with +40% EXP.
Both were a bit underwhelming for First Titles, but nothing could be better in the early game.
Because reaching level 10 wasn’t easy either.
At this rate, the First Level 10 Title was as good as his.
Unlike those two ambiguous titles, that one wasn’t vague.
It was also a title he absolutely had to obtain.
Well, with this setup, he would definitely get it.
But letting his guard down was forbidden.
What could be more foolish than missing it after setting up all these plans?
But it was fine.
Because he had a strategy guide inside his head.
Huhuhu, knowledge was power!
Having reached this place faster than anyone, the first thing to do was set.
Quickly looking around, he could tell this was the central plaza.
A fountain spraying water majestically and NPCs sitting around it.
After looking around at them, Jinu smirked and looked at the old man leaning on a cane and sitting on the fountain’s edge.
He approached the old man and asked amiably.
“Sir, greetings.”
“Eh? You... I haven’t seen your face before?”
“Haha. Yes, that’s right. Actually, I am an adventurer who has come to this continent to adventure by the gods’ call.”
“Ooh! So you’re that adventurer! I heard an oracle had descended, but to think you’d come to our village already. Haha, this is delightful!”
Seeing him so welcoming, Jinu naturally felt pleased.
Hm?
What was so good about an NPC’s words?
Wasn’t it obvious?
What reason was there to talk to an NPC in a game if not for this?
Naturally, you talked to them to squeeze something out of them!
This old man wasn’t just any old geezer.
“Hehehe, look at my mind. I can’t just send away someone who found our village first like this. I am the Village Chief, after all.”
The Village Chief, no less.
Talking to the Village Chief in an RPG was practically a golden rule.
And a hidden piece given only to the first to talk to him!
“Here, take this.”
The books and one box handed over by the Village Chief.
A polite refusal?
Not a chance.
Tch, as if he’d refuse something given by an elder.
Nope, that just wasn’t done.
“Haha! Thank you!”
It was a smooth start.