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In a world where "Treasure World Online" (TWO) is the most popular game, players can find artifacts, treasures, and rare items that can be sold for real money. The game was created by a mysterious genius developer, and millions of people play it to get rich.

Our protagonist is completely broke. He dreams of playing TWO to escape poverty but can't afford the game. One day, he accidentally wins the lottery—but before he can enjoy his new wealth, he gets scammed, leaving him with only a little money. In frustration, he spends his last savings to buy the game.

But something weird happens. Instead of the normal version, he gets a secret Beta Version of TWO, which has:

Exclusive content that no other player has access to.

Unreleased hidden quests, NPCs, and secret locations.

A mysterious system that gives him strange "luck-based" abilities.

treasure World Online

Since I couldn't leave the village yet, I decided to do the next best thing: grind levels.

I marched back to the training field, cracked my knuckles, and got ready to farm slimes like every newbie before me.

I was out of breath, sweaty, and still Level 1.

I stared at the Training Slime, which had finally—finally—dissolved into EXP particles after way too many hits.

I opened my status window, expecting to see some progress.

I rubbed my eyes. "Wait, hold on. Fifty EXP just to hit Level 2?**"

At this rate, I'd need to kill twenty-five more slimes just to level up once.

And my stamina was already dropping.

I frowned. Normally, full-dive games had stamina bars, but they didn't include actual exhaustion effects.

But here? My stamina was already down to 35 out of 100.

I scrolled through my status and spotted something new.

> [Fatigue: Mild] - Stamina drains faster. Physical movement slows slightly.

"Since when does a game give you actual fatigue penalties?"

"Yeah, this has gotta be the beta version doing something weird."

I sheathed my weapon and stretched my aching arms.

As I walked back into town, I realized something weird.

My legs hurt. My arms felt sore. Even my breathing was heavier than before.

It wasn't overwhelming pain, but it was definitely real.

"…Am I actually feeling fatigue?"

I clenched and unclenched my fist. It was subtle, but noticeable.

I'd played full-dive VR before, but this level of immersion was insane.

I sighed. "Yeah, this has gotta be the beta version doing something weird."

Either way, resting at an inn was probably my best option.

I walked through the town, glancing at the buildings.

Most were basic wooden structures—simple houses, a market stall or two, and a small tavern that looked more like a shack.

The sign was a little crooked, but hey, as long as the beds weren't made of rocks, I wasn't gonna complain.

I stepped inside and immediately noticed something odd.

It wasn't just the warm lighting or the cozy interior.

It was the NPC standing at the counter.

"NPCs Shouldn't Feel This… Real?"

The innkeeper was a tall guy with messy blond hair and sharp blue eyes.

When he saw me, he smiled and waved.

"Ah, a new face! Welcome, traveler. Need a room?"

Something about him felt different.

NPCs in full-dive VR games usually had scripted lines—they responded in robotic, predictable ways.

His expression changed naturally. His voice had emotion. His eyes followed me in a way that felt… human.

Even the way he stood—relaxed, but alert—felt real.

I hesitated. "Uh… yeah. How much per night?"

"5 CP," Alex said with a grin. "But if you're short on cash, I wouldn't mind a favor in exchange."

That was not a normal NPC response.

"…Is this because of the beta version?"

The Struggle Is Real