Chapter 2 - Welcome to S.O.L.A. VR Online World

20th of February. I just finished registering my character an hour ago. In the registration, they asked my preferred starting city and I chose Covewood City. After I logged in, the familliar city was in sight.

I had played this game since it was on the beta version on its P.C. version. Surprisingly, it picked up a lot of players despite being a fantasy MMORPG game. And became the most popular game in the last decade. They released a virtual reality full dive version two years ago but I was too busy with my family to play in the VR version. Now that I'm finally playing this, the feeling of being in the virtual world and full diving sure is unbelievable.

However, I can be distracted by mere admiration later. I must do what I must do immediately for now.

I made my way inside the trading hall, a building where players could trade materials. As I wandered through the hall, a faint sense of unease prickled at the back of my mind. The air was thick with tension, as the faces of problematic adventurers seemed to loom from every corner.

Most of them looked like players under level 20, based on the worn, scratched armor they were wearing.

The trading hall was bustling with activity, reminding me of a wide banking hall where lines of bank tellers were attending to clients. Each trading representative was deeply engaged in conversation with a warrior, archer, or some other job class, their exchanges lively. The murmur of discussion, the shuffling of feet, and the occasional clinking of armor filled the space. In one corner, a group of adventurers wearing high-end armors—polished to a gleam—stood huddled together, their conversation hushed but intense. Whatever they were discussing, it felt important.

It was fortunate that I found an open slot nearby. A woman was already seated at the two-table chair. I sat across from her, briefly locking eyes before shifting my attention away. The poorly equipped players scattered throughout the room quickly faded from my thoughts. There was too much on my mind already to be concerned about them. Through the glass window, I could see the weather was calm, sunlight streaming in softly. I wished everything else in my life was as serene.

I couldn’t afford to waste time. Quickly, I accessed the virtual menu system. I needed to check the current prices of materials on the trading system. For a brief moment, everything else faded, and I was lost in my own world.

That moment was abruptly shattered.

"Excuse me, but don't we also have rights to access those dungeons?"

The voice, sharp and accusatory, pulled me out of my thoughts. I glanced around but didn’t immediately realize it was aimed near me. The woman across from me continued to scribble notes, seemingly undisturbed. Then, I saw them—at a meeting table close by.

A man clad in what looked like highly refined steel armor lounged with his legs propped up on the table, his massive, high-quality axe gleaming beside him. Seated next to him was a woman in pristine white robes, her hands folded neatly over a staff topped with a glowing crystal. Her gentle face bore the markings of a priest, but her voice was anything but calming. A trading hall assistant stood nearby, looking increasingly troubled.

"Hey... Are you still listening to me? Can't you see that you're hoarding that dungeon all to your guild?"

So, it was a dispute about dungeon access. Interesting. But aren’t dungeons free for all players? Still, two adventurer raid parties can’t enter a dungeon at the same time. They have to wait for the first group to finish clearing it before the next can enter.

The priestess’s voice had risen, passionate and fierce, drawing the attention of several nearby players.

"As I explained, that's a ridiculous demand, priestess," the boy in the crimson steel armor replied, his voice steady.

His expression was hard to read—he seemed fed up with the argument but remained unfazed. He sighed, a smirk flickering at the corner of his lips. "Just think about it. Why should I surrender a dungeon I’ve already paid to rent?"

"You’ve rented the dungeon for the next week. It’s clearly hoarding! Isn’t it only fair to offer slots for other guilds?"

"I’m struggling to understand your logic. I paid for the week. Rented dungeons are for those who rent them. I followed the game’s rules. Since I’ve complied with the payment, I determine who has access. You’re saying I should just give you access because you’re also a player? Ha! That’s ridiculous!"

Despite his young appearance, he carried an air of confidence far beyond his age. His dyed red hair, matching crimson armor, and similarly colored crimson axe made him stand out even more.

"One might call me a newbie since I only joined a few months ago. But if I can afford the kipo coins needed to rent a dungeon, I’ll obviously rent it to secure my rights. Are you suggesting I was unfair during the bidding process? Was it my fault I outbid you at the dungeon auction?"

The priestess, clearly agitated, snapped back. "You’re just another scumbag whale, aren’t you?!"

"A whale? Yes, I’m a whale. It’s obvious I am, considering I’m a level fifteen player managing a guild. I’ve been converting real money to kipo coins. But what’s wrong with that? Even the top alliances are doing it."

"Ugh! You’re just like the rest of them! This is why the game is not progressing at all!"

"Excuse me, ma'am..." the trade hall assistant interjected, her voice wavering. "I’m sorry, but we really can’t help with this... I can assist you in browsing for other open dungeons to bid on—"

It was clear the assistant didn’t want to escalate the situation further, but the priestess looked anything but appeased.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Hmph! Enjoy farming that astralyte-rich dungeon. I hope all your refines fail. Enjoy wasting the astralyte you’ll get on failed refines."

Despite the curses hurled his way, the boy remained calm, his smile never faltering. He pulled up his virtual menu and resumed browsing as if nothing had happened. The priestess gritted her teeth, clutching her staff as though she wanted to smash it over his head.

Dungeon renting... This is the first time I’ve heard of it. This feature wasn’t in the PC version of SOLA Online.

I glanced at the woman in front of me. She was still busy, her hand racing across her notepad, jotting down prices.

"Excuse me," the priestess stammered, looking like she was on the verge of tears. She bowed to the assistant, her voice quieter now. "I’m sorry for the trouble..."

The tension began to ease. I had learned something valuable from this little distraction. Even so, I couldn't help but feel that the arrogant boy had left a bitter taste in the air for everyone else.

"Hmmm? I think the priestess has a point."

Just when I thought it was over, another voice chimed in. A young woman in novice mage robes had stepped forward, a supportive smile on her face.

"Oho? My luck with women today seems to be in the red," the boy muttered, glancing up at her.

"I’ve seen this miss trying to bid for dungeon rentals for days now. Couldn’t you offer at least a day? Or even half a day? It wouldn’t hurt to help others progress too, right?"

The boy tilted his neck, a faint cracking sound echoing.

"Helping others? Well, that’s an interesting perspective. It’s true that if I gave her access for a day, she might farm a good haul of astralytes, maybe even get lucky with refining her equipment to +20. But here’s the thing—I have no interest in helping others. I only care about my progress. My guild’s progress. And besides, if you’re so intent on helping her, why don’t *you* give her access to *your* dungeon?"

The boy's tone remained egoistic, his smirk never leaving his face. The priestess sighed, her expression bitter. Despite that, the young mage didn’t waver.

"Miss, could you help us browse for available dungeons to rent?" the mage asked the assistant. "Miss priestess, don’t worry. I’ll help you secure a dungeon."

How could someone be so selfless toward a complete stranger? Kindness like that was a rare thing, especially in the world of games.

Just then, another man arrived and whispered something to the red-haired boy. They both wore matching guild emblems—lions with fiery red manes. After a brief exchange, they left, leaving their spot at the table open. The young mage and the priestess quickly moved in.

At last, things were settling down. I returned to my virtual menu, wanting to confirm a few things.

Kipo coins, short for Kill Points coins, were still the same currency earned from defeating monsters. Just like in the PC version, monsters roamed the open world, but dungeons offered a much higher kipo coin drop multiplier. However, this dungeon rental system was new to the VR version. It made sense now, given the massive influx of players. I heard there are at least 30 million players now.

There are obviously two types of players here. Those who can secure bidding for dungeon rents and are wearing high-quality equipment, and those who are stuck killing only open-world monsters, clad in worn-out, poor-quality gear. The contrast was hard to miss, even amidst the hustle of the trading hall.

By the way, I’m a beginner, so I’m wearing a leather set of armor. The sensation of the rough, worn leather against my skin was a reminder of how new I was. I also have a novice hammer as my weapon, standard for the merchant class that I took. It's the same set as the woman sitting across from me, her figure rigid with focus.

Speaking of this woman, I’m somewhat amazed that she wasn’t even slightly distracted by what just happened. In her virtual screen, a collection of herbs and variously colored potions were on display, almost overwhelming in their number. Her fingers moved rapidly, scribbling non-stop in her notepad. The sound of the pen scratching paper was strangely rhythmic, almost comforting.

Though I unintentionally kept glancing her way, our eyes met for just a brief instant. Even without speaking a word, I could clearly guess what she wanted to say: **Get back to work.**

I exhaled slowly, trying not to get distracted again.

“E-Excuse me. I heard your arguments earlier.” Another player, this one better equipped in sturdy armor, approached the priestess's group nearby. His boots made a solid thud against the stone floor as he neared them. “I’ve discovered a hidden dungeon, but it’s fifteen kilometers away from this city. If you’re alright with it, I’ll sell the first month discovery rights to you at a low price.”

“Ohhh?! Really?! Oh my gosh, thank you! I’m totally free now for a discussion!” the priestess exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

The young mage beside her smiled, offering a handshake to the newly arrived player. The trading hall assistant across the room started preparing a virtual window, one that resembled an official contract form. I could almost hear the faint hum of data being processed.

It was definitely worth the trip coming here first. My original plan had been to check the economy and see if I could make some extra money, but I stumbled across another unfamiliar term. Thankfully, it was self-explanatory: **first month discovery rights** for newly discovered hidden dungeons. Not bad. This might work to my advantage later.

I spent another two hours in the hall, my eyes scanning for any additional useful info, but it seemed like the new terms I learned were all there was for now. Ishigawa had mentioned that SOLA VR Online is essentially the same as SOLA Online, just now as a virtual reality platform.

Not that much change, huh? Well, I suppose that’s a relief.

When the woman sitting across from me began packing up her notepad, the faint sound of pages shuffling broke the silence. I took it as my cue and began to ready myself to leave. After she left, I followed, only a few seconds behind.

Stepping outside the massive trading hall, the familiar sight of the city outskirts greeted me. Beyond the towering buildings, the vast expanse of nature stretched into the horizon. A gentle breeze brushed my face, its coolness making me pause. The sensation of the fresh air felt... too real. It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet—this world, with all its detailed sensations, was too realistic.

In the year 2031, the SOLA Company had successfully developed the full-dive virtual reality version of the once most famous game in the world, Saga of the Lost Ages, or SOLA Online. It’s now 2032, two years since the release, and from what I’ve read in the forums, only half of the game has been cleared at this point.

This world would be mine to gamble with for the next ten months.

All of this... for our daughter.

“Hey!”

A familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts. The woman from earlier was standing a short distance away, her tone sharp.

“Have you thought of a good plan?” she asked, her voice tinged with impatience. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

She narrowed her eyes as I walked toward her, the weight of her gaze heavy.

“So, how was it? Did you check everything I asked for?” I said.

“I’ve finished checking. There were no additional materials. The ores and herbs are the same as in the PC version. What’s next?” I could hear the tiredness of her voice.

“I see.” I folded my arms, a contemplative expression crossing my face. “I didn’t find anything unusual with the skill cards and the monsters either, but I did notice something new about the dungeons.” I began recounting the priestess’s earlier ruckus.

“Will it affect your plans too much?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I guess so. But knowing how hidden the core dungeon we need is, we’ll need to confirm it first before adjusting anything. If it is our luck, we can get the first discovery access rights. But I wouldn't put my faith in it since it has been two years since the game was released.”

“Got it. If there’s any trouble, don’t forget we can consult Ishigawa, okay?”

“Okay,” I muttered in response, feeling a slight tension rise in the air.

Was it just me, or was she a little annoyed after I mentioned the priestess’s dilemma? I sighed again, the weight of the day settling on me as I walked away from the trading hall, the cityscape now bathed in the glow of the rising peak sun. It was soon noon.