Overimmersion

"Phew."

Do you know the term 'overimmersion'?

I was currently in a state of 'overimmersion' in this game.

Looking at how my monthly salary, which is like my lifeblood, was being exchanged for server fees, which are used to criticize spending money on bad games, it was embarrassing, but considering the thought of "what can I do about it," I felt like I had no choice.

"Hmm..."

It seemed like I had reached a point where I couldn't find an answer.

<Ad Libertum>.

Honestly, this game was a failing game.

The last notice was posted six months ago, and in various communities, it was known as 'a game that makes content with bugs today too.araboza.'

I was spending money on this shitty game.

"What can I do, what can I do."

Someone will definitely call me a gaming addict.

But the reason why I'm clinging onto this game, winning mentally like this, is that.

"I must clear it this time."

It's because I received tremendous attention for the first time through this game.

It had been about four years.

If there were reasons why I couldn't escape from this damn mobile game, there would be three or so.

First, the cost of immersion was too high.

It would be too regretful to give up the game without even reaching the end content since I had spent too much money from the start.

"I should play it a bit before turning on the broadcast today."

The second reason derived from that.

I was an unrivaled named ranker in this game.

Others followed my broadcast and spread it on various community sites, resulting in fresh newbies coming into the game.

Of course, it was a reflex to experience the game's senseless 'bug infestation' and then quit for good, but the addictive nature of the game was undeniable enough for me to settle in and play for sixteen hours straight.

-Click-

[ Is there a broadcast today? ]

[ F***, you better clear it today you crazy bastard lol ]

Even people who didn't play the game came to my broadcast channel to show support to the point where their eyes were swollen.

In other words, as a ranker, I definitely wanted to see the end content.

I wanted to decide to quit later.

"Hmm... Should I quit? Hmm..."

And.

If there was a third reason, it would probably be the biggest reason why I couldn't quit.

"I've reached a point where I'm only spending money on battles because there are no more characters to enhance."

The children I raised.

The most malicious aspect of character games is that they make you become emotionally attached to the characters for no reason.

As a result of raising them with affection, without discrimination between male and female characters, and without any barriers.

[ Is this good for newbies? ]

[ No, there's something new that just got updated. ]

The guide I wrote was so detailed that even other rankers would take a look.

Actually, it was because.

"It would be impossible without affection."

That's why I suddenly thought it was an amazing game.

A feeling that the characters were alive and breathing, and moving together, apart from the illustrations that moved jerkily, something that made me feel like I was really with them.

"Yeah. This is..."

Overimmersion.

In the community, this is called overimmersion.

I was a severe overimmersion patient.

***

"Phew!"

300 dollars each time.

After looking at this payment window for the fifth time, the amount of Apeiron, the in-game currency for purchases, had increased by 1,500.

Half of my salary had disappeared.

[Master!]

[I'm ready, my master.]

The guide character, Nana, and the bravery knight, Emilia, who were currently forming the 'hero party,' were all waiting for me.

I cracked my knuckles and drank the cup of water I had put beside me.

"... Let's clear it this time."

[Fighting!]

Sometimes, Nana even responds to my words like this. It's amazing. Even though I didn't turn on the 'microphone' in my phone settings, it must be a coincidence.

-Ding

[Thank you for your purchase.]

If you purchase the maximum amount of 300 dollars at once, you get a 'favorability item.' The problem is that there is no place to use this favorability item, but Nana had no limits on favorability, so it was special for her.

-Ding!

[Thank you, my master!]

As usual, I gave Nana a favorability item.

I wonder if this is the intention of the developer to consider people with obsessive-compulsive disorder who keep their item inventory empty. In any case, seeing their delightful appearance in dot stripes, a smile naturally appeared on my face.

These children are so lovely.

"Let's go."

Even if another game-over screen appears... I don't know if it's because I feel like these children are alive and breathing while playing this game, but I couldn't stop playing this game.

#

Finally.

[ Game Over! ]

I played it several times.

The broadcast hasn't started yet, but I feel like I can turn it on soon since my hands are all loose.

"I have to show my best."

Even without using the "power" of the pay-to-win system, glimpses of a close-to-clear angle appeared from time to time.

But this is all just bait.

It always becomes a laughingstock because of variables... and shitty "bugs."

To properly clear it, I have to just click it over and over again.

"It's a pay-to-win game. It's a scam by an evil developer."

They just leave the game half-ignored and make it so you can't clear it without paying at the end. Honestly, isn't this a fraud?

With that thought in mind, I opened the game power window.

[ Max Health: 100 Apeiron ]

[ Attack Power Increase: 100 Apeiron ]

[ Defense Power Increase: 100 Apeiron ]

A kind of ability that allows you to set a state change value.

In other words.

This was the power and authority I could properly give to the kids in this semi-idle game.

And this ability is randomly determined every time.

"Let's apply an attack power increase. Come on, give me a good one. My money..."

[ Your bond with Emilia, the brave knight, gives her a 124% attack power buff! ]

"Heh."

[ Your bond with Milton, the guardian, gives him a 217% attack power buff! ]

"... Not bad."

[ Your bond with Psyche, the sharpshooter, gives her a 14% attack power buff! ]

"Psyche is being sarcastic!?"

[ Your bond with Linnea, the grand wizard, gives her a 311% attack power buff! ]

"I missed out. If only Psike was better, it would have been easier in the beginning."

[ The Cleric, Liberius, receives a 597% buff in attack power due to your relationship! ]

"Hmm."

Hmm?

Oh.

"There's potential this time! Liberius, you're amazing, my boy!"

To fully realize the potential of this pay-to-win system, one must consider and plan for various variables and possibilities.

It's a system driven by money, but in order to see the endgame content, this kind of luck must come.

"Great. Liberius may not be in the front lines, but there's still potential. If we get a good defense buff, we could even make him the tank."

With a party of five warriors, even in an auto-play game like this, there are still many things that I can do.

-Beep

[ Click when ready. ]

"Hey, Master? Isn't it a bit risky to put Liberius in the front lines?"

With advice from Nana, I consider the matter a bit more.

"Well, and I also need to turn on the stream."

Beep

.

.

[ GM Arum has entered. ]

[ The God of Formation has entered. ]

[ Yas Yas Ko Jiteul has entered. ]

[ GM Serum has entered. ]

[ Be Strong has entered. ]

.

.

"...?"

Suddenly, everything was shrouded in darkness.

[ Uh... ]

[ We turned out like this? ]

[ I guess it's because humans can't enter this place with their bodies. ]

Strange sounds could be heard.

"W-wait. Didn't the GM join the broadcast!?"

[ Sorry. Fighting~ ]

Is this some kind of near-death experience?

Has my desire to meet a GM become my last straw?

No matter how much I blinked, I couldn't see anything in front of me.

***

"Eup-."

I couldn't even speak. It felt like something was stuck in my mouth. I couldn't pronounce anything.

-Clink clink

It felt like I was riding on something. I tried to move, but it felt like my hands and feet were bound.

"Eup-! Eup!"

"Why the hell are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"Go and quiet her down... I'm so annoyed that I can't sleep."

"Maybe give her some of that medicine? A pill."

"Stop bothering me, you bastard."

I heard men's voices.

"Don't hit her. It's a special product."

"What are we supposed to do then?"

"Just scare her. Do we have to explain that to you?"

"That son of a bitch is so sharp..."

Tub-! Suddenly, I felt like my hair was being twisted.

"It hurts so much!"

Then, my whole body's energy was concentrated on my scalp, making it hard to breathe.

And then, suddenly, my vision became brighter. It was too bright to see anything clearly.

"Hey."

"Eup-?"

In front of me, there was a foreigner... a guy with a really tough face. He had scars on his face, and it looked like he had lived a tough life.

"Be quiet for a bit. Am I the only one who's having a hard time? I'm tired too."

"Eup-!?"

There was a knife at my throat.

I had to stay quiet.

'What's going on? Am I being kidnapped?'

What the hell is going on? I was just doing my broadcast at home.

"We have until tomorrow to get to Senegal Castle, so if you just stay quiet until then, we'll leave you alone."

I nodded my head. Senegal Castle?

"That's the name of the castle in the game tutorial I was playing."

Oh no.

This is that 'Game Binging' thing.

Is this real life...

Of all things, to get trapped in the game Ad Libitum. This game is seriously intense.

No way, right?

And now, it's time for me to make my appearance as Nana.

Wait a second.

If I'm trapped in here, can I...?

"Be quiet."

"..."

"You're being good. Do we need to cover your eyes too?"

"Whatever. Can that girl even get revenge on us?"

The person nodded at me. They seemed to be crumpled up and quiet, so they told me to greet Nana when she comes.

However, there was a problem.

'Nothing appears in the status window.'

There was just a transparent screen without any information.

Please, let this be a dream.

But thinking back, my head was already throbbing from the moment I was grabbed.

This can't be a dream.

Thud-

'It has started.'

The intro. Along with Nana, the villagers attacked and slaughtered everything in sight, the starting point of the game.

"What are you doing outside?"

"How the hell would I know! Go out and see for yourself!"

Nana had already seized control of the "slave caravan" and, with the help of the villagers, attacked and rescued the player, becoming friends with them.

Crackle!

Boom!

'But seriously... do explosions happen this often?'

It wouldn't be this dynamic.

And then...

-BOOOOM!

An explosion happened nearby.

"Aaah!" "Kyaaah!"

The screams from outside made my ears ring.

'Damn it...'

The sound of a person dying?

If this is a game, no, if I'm in a game world... are these real people?

If I'm seeing Nana in person, then are these people real too?

Are they dying?

Suddenly, I was scared.

Paahk!

Suddenly, the top of the carriage was torn off and flew away like a broken toy, not even shooting up into the sky.

"Uep!"

I saw the sky. Even the guys who had just given me a hard time were lying on the ground, sleeping like corpses.

"Uep."

"I found her."

"Uep...?"

And there she was.

Nana.

A healthy-looking girl with brown hair tied up in a ponytail and a smile on her face.

She giggled. I shivered at the sound.

"But seriously... why are you so cute, Master?"

"Uep?"

Cute? My expression couldn't keep up with my thoughts.

"I've been waiting for you... all this time."

"Huh?"

She smiled like that.

"I thought you would be this cute! I would have come sooner if I knew!"

She left an odd review about my appearance.