Episode 115: Board Game (2)
“Pffft….”
“Hehehe.”
As soon as my job was revealed, laughter burst out from all around the room.
I scanned each of their smiling faces one by one.
“You guys aren’t getting any blueberries.”
I declared firmly.
At that moment, Sion suddenly shouted.
“Huh?!”
Her eyes widened into perfect circles. Everyone turned their heads toward her.
Before we realized it, our outfits had changed to match the jobs we had chosen.
Sion was wearing an elegant, voluminous dress.
Everyone was now dressed in beautiful clothes that suited their respective roles.
And I was…
A beige top with a straw rope belt, worn-out rubber boots, and a shovel stuck into my waist.
A textbook medieval farmer outfit, no doubt.
“Don’t forget your seeds.”
Cheon Yeoul casually threw in a comment.
“What, should I bury you with the seeds in the ground?”
I growled at her, pointing my shovel.
“Shall we begin?”
Everyone took their seats.
It was time to roll the dice.
On the holographic board, a path with a few dozen spaces appeared.
The board differed by region, and each person had a unique path to follow.
Ha Sion was in the city, Kang Arin was at the royal palace, Yoon Chaeha was at the magic tower, and Yu Hana at the temple.
Only Cheon Yeoul and I were stuck in some remote countryside village.
“Why are we the only ones here?”
“No idea.”
Cheon Yeoul muttered.
From the very beginning, the gap in wealth was painfully clear.
In the end, even if it was a simulation, all the progression would happen on the board.
You roll the dice, move spaces, encounter events, and build your own life.
Once someone reaches the end, the game ends immediately.
“Am I first?”
Sion asked.
Since she was the first to pick her job, she went first.
“Here we go.”
Rattle rattle…
The youngest daughter of a prestigious duke family reached out and rolled the holographic dice at the center of the table.
The dice slowly came to a stop, showing the number 6.
“Six spaces!”
“Not that great.”
Sion looked pleased, but Kang Arin replied coolly.
The dice was a perfect dodecahedron—12 sides. So, 6 was right in the middle.
As if responding to the dice, Sion’s character token quickly moved along the board.
She stopped on a blue space.
It was an event space.
[This is your debut at a social party. The higher the dice roll, the more successful the debut.]
The goddess explained.
“Ooh…”
With a strangely tense expression, Sion picked up the dice again.
She closed her eyes slightly and rolled it carefully.
The result… [9].
A message immediately appeared.
[Successful debut. You become the flower of high society!]
In that instant, the entire room was bathed in shimmering golden light.
The space transformed into a grand ballroom in the blink of an eye, and a central staircase appeared beneath Sion’s feet.
As she descended the steps one by one, the virtual crowd held their breath.
From imperial high officials to the eldest sons of grand duke families, everyone averted their eyes and bowed deeply.
[From that day on, your name will be known throughout all of high society.]
As Sion’s event hologram gradually faded, the room fell into silence.
“Wow…”
Everyone was stunned.
It was beyond imagination—both the quality and the immersion. It felt more like reality than a game.
Only the background was simulated—the actual movements were all our own.
It felt like we were acting out roles, going with the flow.
It was an environment where total immersion was inevitable.
The next players quickly began rolling their dice.
[Kang Arin – Royal Knight]
[You have rescued the princess in a crisis! Your favor with the emperor increases.]
A knight in a black cloak dashed toward a screaming princess hanging precariously.
Kang Arin appeared dramatically, her black cloak fluttering behind her.
She rolled on the ground with the princess in her arms, away from the flames.
The crowd was silent. The princess took her hand and bowed respectfully.
[Your influence within the royal family continues to grow.]
“….”
Kang Arin tried to act indifferent, but the corners of her lips were noticeably raised.
[Yoon Chaeha – Dark Mage]
[You successfully stole a forbidden tome from the Magic Tower!]
“What… why steal something…?”
Yoon Chaeha bypassed the library and headed straight to the heart of the tower.
She lowered her body to avoid the gaze of a guard golem.
In her hands was a heavy, ancient book.
[You are now one step closer to the source of all evil—Cthulhu.]
“Cthulhu…?”
She grumbled under her breath, but she never let go of the book.
[Cheon Yeoul – Low-Rank Priestess]
[You exposed a priest who was embezzling the church’s secret funds!]
“Huh?”
Wearing a worn-out nun’s robe, Cheon Yeoul passed by the confessional booth.
At that moment, she opened a hidden safe behind the altar and discovered the missing gold coins.
[The righteous god watches you with admiration.]
[You are now promoted to mid-rank priestess and must manage the church.]
“I’m not good at this kind of stuff…”
She looked flustered, but soon began tending to the believers with surprising dedication.
It suited her more than expected.
***
[Yu Hana – Hero]
[Your first battle! You defeat a Balrog. Your heroic deeds will be remembered forever.]
Amid the blazing battlefield, Yu Hana faced off against a massive beast of flames, her greatsword in hand.
[Your sword pierces the beast’s heart.]
[Children across the kingdom sing songs about you.]
“…This is fun.”
She muttered.
She wasn’t the only one.
Everyone felt the same way.
Even though I was only watching, it felt like I was being drawn into their lives.
It was clearly a game, but strangely, my heart was pounding.
“Guess it’s my turn.”
While everyone else was finding success, the only one left was the farmer—me.
But honestly, I wasn’t expecting much.
Your background determines your fate. What kind of greatness could a farmer even achieve?
Born in a remote rural village.
It felt completely disconnected from the main story.
I rolled the dice with a disinterested expression.
The result: [12].
“Oh?!”
“Huh?”
“12?!”
The highest number rolled today.
The room’s atmosphere instantly shifted.
Everyone’s eyes were on me.
‘Even if it’s a farmer… a 12?’
Before I knew it, my heart started racing with anticipation.
Yu Hana had slain a Balrog with an 11—so with a 12, I…
[Unbelievable! You’ve discovered the finest blueberry variety in history!]
[The flavor that bursts in your mouth is heavenly! This transcendent crop resists pests, drought, and floods.]
“……”
I was stunned.
Suddenly, a massive tree shot up around me.
Lush, purple berries bloomed on its branches.
[The blueberry’s benefits become the talk of the nobility.]
[Rumors spread that it enhances vitality and beautifies the skin. Even the most distinguished nobles line up at your farm to get it.]
“Wow, that’s seriously nice.”
At this point, I couldn’t help but laugh.
I turned my head to look at the girls.
They averted their gazes, trying to hold back their laughter.
Go ahead—just try making eye contact.
The game continued for a few more turns.
There were differences in outcomes, but most of us were on a path to success.
I, too, became a grand farmer from a remote village.
That’s… good, right?
I want to believe it’s a good thing.
Before we knew it, we were completely immersed in our roles.
Even I was starting to find blueberries beautiful.
I had clearly lost it.
After three turns passed, the goddess reappeared.
[Your lives have ripened. You may now begin your major life events.]
“Life events?”
As soon as the goddess’s voice ended, glittering icons floated above the holographic board.
Hearts, stacks of money, applause.
Each symbolized romance, wealth, and fame.
The first heart icon gently floated toward Sion.
But just before reaching him, it changed into the applause icon.
[※Caution※]
[Romantic life events only occur between players in the same region.]
“Huh?”
If it’s by region…
That only leaves me and Cheon Yeoul.
Everyone else was assigned to different jobs, and thus different regions.
Proving the rule, the heart icon wavered slightly, then landed right where I stood.
[To volunteer and donate, you head to the village church with your blueberries. There, you fall in love at first sight with the nun you meet.]
“Oh dear…”
I carried a box of blueberries in both arms and pushed open the old wooden door.
As it creaked open, sunlight streamed in, casting blue light through stained glass.
In the center of that glow, Cheon Yeoul—dressed in a white habit—quietly lifted her head.
Her clear eyes met mine.
“Oh my, thank you so much.”
She smiled shyly and took the box of blueberries.
But then…
‘What… is this?’
Why does she look so pretty?
I was so stunned by her face that I completely lost my words.
She hesitated for a moment, then picked up a blueberry, carefully wiped it with her sleeve.
One went into my mouth.
Another into hers.
“It’s really delicious… Please, do come again.”
“Ah, yes… If I harvest more next week…”
I didn’t even know why I said that.
That was the only explanation that made sense.
Then, another message appeared.
[She has developed true feelings for you.]
[Cheon Yeoul declines her promotion to High Priestess, choosing instead to stay in the rural village and run the church with you.]
[The two of you get married without any trouble.]
[Congratulations! You have entered the Married Couple Route!]
“……”
The room fell silent.
Everyone seemed at a loss for words.
My gaze naturally drifted to the side.
There, Cheon Yeoul was gently holding my hand.
She looked at me.
The corners of her mouth curled up, and her earlobes turned a soft red.
She smiled slowly.
Then she opened her mouth.
“…Honey.”
A violently heart-throbbing blow.
This was no longer just a game.