I Became a Lord in the Game

Chapter : 1

Myeonghun liked games.

Simulation games where he could rule a territory, a nation.

Thus, it was perhaps inevitable that Myeonghun would come to love the game called [Pangea Universalise].

A fictional world called the Pangea Continent.

A vast world with over 80 nations and more than 5,000 families.

Moreover, each family had its own events and stories, so he could always enjoy it in a new way.

Thanks to this, Myeonghun’s life after work was in front of the computer.

To enjoy the countless possibilities that arose in the history of this magnificent game.

But that, too, ends today.

-Click

[Would you like to delete?]

[Yes]. [No]

The message on the screen blinked as if urging a decision.

Looking at it, Myeonghun hesitated without realizing it.

Is deleting it the right thing to do?

It would probably be hard to find a game this good.

He thought that even if he deleted it, he would just end up reinstalling it later.

But the hesitation was brief.

Myeonghun soon put strength into his finger.

[Yes]

-Click

The game file on the monitor screen began to be deleted in real time.

[5%, 10%, 35%, 75%….]

As the deletion progressed, the lingering attachment in a corner of his heart kept shaking Myeonghun. Out of disappointment, Myeonghun unconsciously smacked his lips.

“It was really fun….”

It wasn't an empty phrase; it was genuinely fun.

That’s why he had invested a long time of 6,000 hours into playing the game. But Myeonghun knew well.

That it was time to let it go.

He had postponed deleting it for a very long time. In fact, in a way, he should have deleted it earlier.

A whopping 6,000 hours.

He had enjoyed it to an obsessive degree.

He had even run out of game content to consume, so for his last playthrough, hadn't he created and played with a custom family that didn't even have any special events?

“Yeah, I’ve enjoyed it to my heart’s content.”

Besides, his work was about to get busier, so he wouldn't have enough time to play games.

The life of a game addict is over now. It was time to live in the real world.

“Well, if they had released a new DLC, I would’ve played more….”

Smacking his lips in disappointment, Myeonghun flopped face down onto his bed.

Before he knew it, the sun had set and it grew dark.

It was about time to sleep if he wanted to go to work tomorrow.

“Haaam-.”

With a yawn, Myeonghun slowly closed his eyes. His consciousness gradually drifted into darkness.

[Deletion complete.]

[A special gift is provided to you for playing 6,000 hours. Reality DLC Edition! Feel and experience it for yourself.]

[Warning! You can actually die in this game. Prepare for death.]

Without even having a chance to check the unknown phrases that appeared on the monitor screen.

* * *

It hurts.

My head hurts like it's going to shatter.

The severe headache was so bad it made my stomach churn, and I felt a wave of nausea as if I were about to vomit right away.

“Gak, keok.”

On top of that, why was it so hard to breathe? It felt like something heavy was resting on my chest.

‘He, help….’

My head hurt, and it was hard to breathe.

But because of the something pressing on my chest, my voice wouldn't come out.

“Ugh, ughhhhhh.”

I choked and gasped, trying desperately to exhale. My body was gradually reaching its limit.

But despite my efforts.

My consciousness began to fade into the darkness beyond.

“Keo…k.”

And just as I was about to let out my last breath.

“My goodness, My Lord-!”

Along with a strange man’s shout.

With a clattering sound, the thing that had been pressing on my chest disappeared.

“Keoheuuuuuuuk. Keoheuk.”

I rolled on the ground, greedily gasping for air. Drool was dribbling out, a disgraceful sight, but I was glad.

Because thanks to that, I could breathe.

“That was a close call, My Lord.”

‘Heok, heok. M… My Lord? Don’t tell me he’s talking about me?’

After catching my breath for a while, I clutched my dizzy head and turned toward the voice.

A dense thicket lush with trees came into view. At the same time, I also saw a man looking at me with a worried face.

A typical Westerner with distinct features, blue eyes, and blond hair.

‘This is driving me crazy. What the hell is this situation?’

A Westerner suddenly looking at me and calling me ‘My Lord’?

And what is this unfamiliar place?

Are they filming a hidden camera show or something?

‘No. Wait a minute. What is this?!’

Then I was startled by a sudden realization.

The words the man was speaking to me. It wasn't English or any other familiar foreign language.

“What is the matter?”

A language I had never heard before.

And yet, I understood his words now. So naturally.

When the thought reached that point, fear surged. I staggered back and tried to get up, pushing myself off the ground.

“Keuheuk.”

But an unbearable pain washed over me. In both my head and chest.

That wasn't all.

[System recognition.]

[Initiating synchronization.]

[Synchronization rate 10%…. 15%….]

An unfamiliar, androgynous voice came from somewhere, and strange text began to appear before my eyes.

“Ack-!”

I unknowingly plopped down on the spot.

“Oh? My Lord?”

The man cried out as if screaming.

But I couldn't answer him.

[Synchronization rate 20%…. 30%….]

As the numbers before my eyes climbed, something was continuously being injected into my mind.

Unfamiliar memories I've never seen before.

Unfamiliar recollections I've never experienced before.

Where this place was and who I was. It felt like my brain was turning to mush.

“Get a grip, My Lord.”

‘Ughhhhh…. Shut up-! Why me?! Why am I ‘My Lord’!’

My head feels like it’s going to explode, yet he keeps spouting nonsense, calling me ‘My Lord’.

I felt like I was going insane.

I wanted to shake off the man clinging to me and scream at the top of my lungs.

But in that moment.

[Synchronization rate 100%.]

[Synchronization complete.]

A memory vividly surfaced in my mind.

‘The Lord of Bellua.’

‘Johan, the sole heir to the Margraviate in the Elang Kingdom.’

The identity of Johan, the great medieval lord, not Myeonghun, the modern office worker.

It was the moment two egos merged into one.

At the same time, once again.

-Tiriring.

Along with an unfamiliar alarm, numerous notification windows cluttered my vision.

[System activation complete.]

[A special gift for you, who played Pangea Universalise for 6,000 hours. Feel and experience it for yourself through the Reality DLC Edition!]

[Notification: You have become Margrave Johan de Bellua of the Elang Kingdom.]

[Notification: The powerful figures of the kingdom covet your domain.]

[Notification: Your domain is divided.]

[Notification: Survive and bring prosperity to your family.]

* * *

‘Ha, haha….’

Do they say your mind goes completely blank when you experience something unbelievable?

‘What…?’

My current situation was exactly like that. It was so hard to believe that all I could do was stare blankly and blink.

‘Pangea Universalise? Don’t tell me it’s that game?’

My brow furrowed on its own.

If it’s [Pangea Universalise], isn’t that the game I used to enjoy playing?

But why is it showing up?

And like this, of all times.

‘This is crazy.’

I scratched my head vigorously, but nothing changed. The status window was still in front of my eyes, and I was left alone in an unfamiliar thicket with a man I’d never seen before.

Moreover, this sensation on my skin.

It was too vivid to be a dream or a hallucination. Also, the memories of Johan and the identity as Johan that surfaced in my mind were being accepted without any sense of incongruity.

As if it had always been that way.

‘Does that mean… this is real?’

Cognitive dissonance is setting in.

Transmigration into a game.

Wasn’t this a common trope that frequently appeared in the novels I read to kill time on my way to work?

But for something like this to happen to me.

‘Can I even get back home from this?’

Just then.

A loud notification rang out again.

-Tiriring.

[Pangea Universalise Reality DLC Mode!]

[You who crazily enjoyed the game-! Depart into the game world! Now you must become a real person and revive your family.]

[Notification: Make your family the greatest family in the world.]

[Notification: Perhaps if you succeed, you might… be able to return home?]

[Notification: So please be sure to survive-!]

“What, survive? Be suuuure?”

‘Damn it-!’

Seeing that, I cursed inwardly.

Reality DLC Edition? I never wanted something like this.

But what is all this?

Is some son of a bitch god toying with me?

For a moment, anger flared and my blood pressure rose. But at the same time, my boiling heart cooled down. It was because I realized that getting angry wouldn't change anything.

“My Lord, are you alright now?”

A worried voice came from beside me.

The man who had been next to me ever since I opened my eyes.

And at the same time, this man's name came to mind.

“Ah…! Sir Biden.”

He was one of the few trustworthy vassals in my memories.

“What on earth happened?”

I asked, rubbing my throbbing temples.

At that, Biden cautiously opened his mouth.

“During the hunt, your horse suddenly collapsed. You fell headfirst, but thankfully you woke up right away. It is truly fortunate. Thank you, God!”

Biden made the sign of the cross and praised God. But my expression crumpled terribly.

‘Huh? The horse suddenly collapsed?’

Why would a perfectly fine horse suddenly collapse?

Something smells fishy.

Besides, the place I had been transmigrated into was the world of [Pangea Universalise].

In the game, falling from a horse was a widely used method to assassinate the heir to a domain.

“Ugh. Help me up. I’m going to check on the horse’s condition.”

“Yes.”

As my body was still unwell, I walked with Biden's support.

And soon.

Not far away, I could see a horse with its neck broken, its body trembling.

‘Wow, is this for real?’

The moment I checked the horse’s condition, a hollow laugh escaped me.

It would have been great if it had accidentally tripped on a tree root or a clod of dirt while running. But no matter how I looked at it, this was a planned accident. The horse’s mouth was frothing with a whitish-blue foam.

Just as I thought.

[Traces of assassination have been discovered.]

[If you record and investigate the symptoms, you can identify the poisonous herb.]

[Notification: Information updated.]

[Threat of Assassination – An assassination attempt has occurred against the heir to the domain. You need to cherish your life.]

[Notification: Be careful.]

The notification windows popped up noisily.

‘I’m going to lose my mind. This is just one thing after another.’

My head started throbbing again. As if transmigration wasn't enough, there's an assassination threat from the very beginning?

“Is there a problem, My Lord?”

Seeing my hardened expression, Biden asked cautiously.

I stared at Biden for a moment before shaking my head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

My mind was in turmoil, so it was still difficult to grasp the situation accurately.

Besides, my whole body ached, perhaps as an aftereffect of the fall. I needed to rest somewhere comfortable and organize my thoughts.

“Let’s return to the castle. I think I need some treatment.”

Thinking that, I gave the order to Biden.

At that, Biden's face lit up.

“I will prepare at once, My Lord.”

He immediately called the soldiers and brought a litter from somewhere. It was the kind you could lie down on at an angle, like a lectica from the ancient Roman era.

It seemed impossible to bring a carriage because the space was too narrow.

‘By the way, of all the worlds to be transmigrated into, it had to be this one, phew….’

An age of barbarism and desire.

Violence is prioritized over words, God over reason, and honor over rationality. That’s why life in [Pangea Universalise] often ended with a bad ending.

In other words, I was now in a very perilous situation.

‘Oh, my head.’

When my thoughts reached that point, a groan escaped my lips on its own.

I wanted to give up the position of lord right now and live like a playboy, but there was no guarantee that those blinded by power would leave me alone.

‘Tsk.’

To have to worry about survival and engage in a terrifying power struggle as soon as I came to my senses in a strange land.

‘In the end, it seems I’ll have to see some bloodshed.’

And as I was thinking that.

“Whoa, whoa. Stop, stop, My Lord. We’ve arrived.”

Biden rode up next to me on his horse and said.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the city.

The castle gates were opening as if they had received a messenger pigeon in advance announcing the lord's return, and dozens of mounted horses were galloping this way.

‘My new home… no, a battlefield?’

I murmured, gazing at the distant castle walls dyed red by the setting sun.

It felt as if I could smell the metallic scent of blood from somewhere.

Perhaps it was a premonition of my own arduous future?

I flinched for a moment. But I soon shut my mouth firmly and steeled my resolve.

‘Let’s see if I can survive this.’

Come what may, it was now time to fight for a new life.