Game On!
[Congratulations, Player, you have completed the tutorial of the game! Now, let the real journey begin!]
[Merlin is very pleased that you refrained from intervening on Artoria's behalf during the knight's duel and allowed her to take charge of proving herself.]
[You have earned +10 Trust from Merlin.]
[You have chosen the Path of Knight and Loyalty.]
As the crowd began to disperse, Merlin approached me, his shit-eating grin plastered all over his smug face.
Without hesitation, he clapped me on the shoulder as if we were lifelong drinking buddies, a gesture that made me want to roll my eyes.
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you, Kay," he said, his voice carrying that infuriating mix of mockery and sincerity. "Your father would be proud of how much you've grown."
I bit back a scoff.
Yeah, sure. Like you ever gave a damn about my father.
The backstory of Kay was clear in my mind, his resentment over Artoria taking on the burden of Camelot and carrying the weight of an ideal thrust upon her by Merlin and the legends she was supposed to embody.
Any normal reaction from Kay would have been to rebel—to challenge Artoria's role, sabotage her efforts, and take on the responsibilities himself to spare her the pain.
That's what Merlin likely expected. Hell, that's what everyone expected.
But Kay, as I understood him, didn't act like a typical noble with selfish ambitions. He had accepted Artoria's role with a calm dignity, choosing instead to silently support her from the shadows.
That was the real Kay—a knight whose loyalty ran deeper than anyone gave him credit for.
Still, I couldn't help but wonder—what about the players who would step into Kay's shoes in the future? Would they make the same choices?
Would they embody the loyalty and restraint that defined Kay, or would they choose a path of rebellion and self-interest?
The thought sent a thrill through me.
The possibilities were endless, and that was what made this game so damn compelling.
"What do you want, Merlin?" I asked, keeping my tone sharp and impatient, crossing my arms to mimic the curt demeanor Kay was known for.
Merlin chuckled, clearly amused by my act.
"Oh, don't be so cold, Kay. We're on the same side here." He sighed theatrically, his tone shifting to something more serious. "As much as the people cheer for Artoria on the surface, I know better than anyone that many are not truly on her side. Doubts linger, and loyalties are fragile. We need to stabilize the court, and for that, I need your help."
"And what exactly do you want me to do?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Merlin's expression turned calculating. "I need you to gather knights and supporters for Artoria's cause. Camelot is still fragile, and she cannot do this alone."
[Do you want to accept the quest, Player?]
I let out a soft sigh, feigning reluctance before nodding.
"Fine. Let me take care of the recruitment," I said, my voice steady with determination.
Merlin smiled in satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with approval.
"Good. I'll leave it to you, Kay."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me to my thoughts.
[Quest: Knightly Path]
[Details: Recruit 30 knights for Camelot's court (0/30)]
[Reward: +10,000 EXP, Knight Commander's Cloak (1), Illusion Crystal (5)]
I pulled up my character sheet to assess my stats:
Name: Sir Kay
Level: 1
EXP: 0/100
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 15
Intelligence: 5
Charisma: 20
Endurance: 10
WIL: 15
Stat Points: 5
Despite being only Level 1, Sir Kay's stats were leagues above the average person.
Most common folk had stats capped at 5, making Kay's 10, 15, and 20 values downright godly by comparison.
Against bandits, rogues, or ordinary knights, Kay was a walking powerhouse.
But against legendary figures like Merlin or Artoria?
He was just a glorified beginner.
Still, every legend had to start somewhere, and Kay's journey was only beginning.
[Developer! I have to remind you that your primary task is to find players across the Multiverse! You've been so damn addicted to playing the game that you've completely forgotten your actual job!]
"Yeah, yeah, you're goddamn right," I muttered, barely acknowledging my AI's nagging voice.
Reluctantly, I logged out of the game, leaving behind the virtual game I'd been immersed in for what felt like an eternity.
The moment I stepped back into my domain—the very place where it had all begun—it felt oddly surreal.
Everything here was shaped by my will. My mental picture shifted, and within seconds, an image of a bar materialized around me.
The shelves were lined with fine wines, the air carried a faint scent of oak and aged spirits, and the dim lighting cast an intimate, almost nostalgic glow over the space.
I strolled to the wine rack, selecting a bottle at random, and poured the crimson liquid into a crystal glass.
As I sat on the stool and took a slow sip, the rich, bitter flavor spread across my tongue, leaving a faint burn as it slid down my throat.
It was a brief moment of indulgence as I silently communicated with Lily, my ever-persistent AI companion.
"How many guests can I invite, Lily? And how exactly does this game system work? Like, how do I get more games? Not just Fate, but also Akame ga Kill, Mobuseka, Tower of God—hell, anything interesting, really."
"Oh, and one more thing... I feel like I've got some serious power in this place. Does that carry over to the outside world too?"
[You're correct, Developer. Within your own domain, you've been granted Absolute Power—Nigh Omnipotence and Nigh Omniscience. Nigh, not true omnipotence or omniscience. Outside your domain, though? You're powerless.]
[However, you can gain power from the players who are willing to spend their money on your games. As for acquiring more games, it's essentially the same. The more players invest their wealth in your game, the more resources you'll have to expand it.]
I almost choked on my wine. "Wait, what? You're telling me, even with all this supposed godlike power, we still need their cash? You're basically running a cosmic pay-to-win scheme. How greedy can you get, you profiteering AI?"
[Thank you for the feedback, Developer! But remember, the most successful developers always find ways to squeeze money out of their players.]
That smug reply cracked me up, and I couldn't help but laugh aloud.
"Alright, you got me there," I admitted between chuckles. It was true—no denying it.
When the laughter finally subsided, I cleared my throat and got back on track. "What about the players who don't have any money? Are we just leaving them out to dry?"
[If they don't have money, they'll need to find a way to earn it. The game provides significant benefits—strengthening their power and granting items that can be transferred into reality. It's a fair trade-off, don't you think?]
I shrugged, leaning back on the stool. "Yeah, sure, not the worst deal, I guess. Even though I'm not a fan of this whole system, I won't overthink it. It is what it is."
"So, Lily, who can we invite as players right now?"
[For the moment, the selection will be random. We'll start by inviting three guests—one to play the game and two to observe.]
"Alright then, go ahead and bring them in. I'm waiting."
[Understood, Developer! Initiating the invitation process now!]
With that, I leaned back on the stool, the anticipation slowly building as I waited for the first players to arrive.
-END OF CHAPTER-
Note: I wanted to invent something new for the community. We already have many premises in this place, like the Chat Group, Multiverse Bar, and Multiverse Café.
But what about a Multiverse Gaming Hub?
Its function isn't much different from the Chat Group, Multiverse Bar, or Multiverse Café, but the main difference is that here, we play virtual reality games with 100% realism and complete freedom!
We bring characters from different worlds together in one place to play games and have fun. They can also enjoy drinks, swim in the pool, or taste some delicious food.
Basically, this place is for anyone who wants to have a blast and relax!
I'm not entirely sure how this premise will work, and I hope it doesn't fail spectacularly.
Do you have any suggestions for the next character to feature in the game?
For now, we have Kay and Guinevere as playable characters, but we could include Merlin, Morgan, King Uther, King Lot, Vortigern, Artoria, or any other character from the Round Table.
It depends on whether you want to unlock new characters or move the pace of story forward without lingering too long in the Arthurian Era.
I also plan to create a multiplayer mode for the game later, along with an online version. Yes, I'll even add a streaming function to make things more exciting!
This way, players can stream their experiences to their respective worlds and let their audiences comment on their epic moments.
That's it for now. I'll write more soon. See ya!