"Wait—today's the launch day, right?" Dave blinked. "I don't have the gear."
Panic tried to bubble up, but he shoved it down. "Or... do I?" he muttered, frowning. He couldn't remember.
Did he already buy the helmet? Maybe? Maybe not?
He shrugged. "Well, whatever. Not like I can go back home and check."
He leaned back in his seat and exhaled. "Let's just find out where to buy the damn thing."
If he ended up with two, so be it. It wouldn't be the first time he'd double-dipped out of fandom loyalty. He'd supported the same web novel on two platforms before. Bought the same figure in two different outfits—or hell, even the same outfit. No big deal.
He opened his phone again and typed into the search bar:
"Where to buy New World Online VR helmet."
The official site popped up right away. Clean layout. Minimalist. Bold black text greeted him at the center of the screen.
[ Go to any electronic shop. Scan your ID and buy it. Only one per person. Remember that. ]
And that was it.
No product list. No flashy banners. No pre-order queues or inventory numbers.
"Only one, huh?" Dave muttered, raising an eyebrow.
He frowned slightly. "What if I already bought one? Would it block me from buying another?"
No answers. Just a wall of silence from the site.
He groaned. "Great. Guess I'll find out the hard way."
He slipped his phone back into its holder, fastened his seatbelt, and turned the key. The engine hummed to life.
His hand hovered over the dashboard for a second, tempted to flick on the FM.
But then he paused.
'Let's enjoy a quiet drive for once.'
With that, he turned the wheel and eased onto the road, heading toward the nearby mall.
If there was any place to find an electronics shop with a cutting-edge VR headset in stock, it'd be there.
----
It didn't take long for Dave to reach the mall. He found a spot in the parking lot, locked the car, and headed inside.
As expected, the place was buzzing. Crowds moved like lazy rivers between stores—fashion boutiques, toy shops, camera outlets, phone kiosks—everywhere he looked, color and noise.
He zeroed in on a large electronics store, one of those chains that sold everything from laptops to microwaves.
The moment he stepped in, a clean-cut clerk behind the counter greeted him with a bright, professional smile.
"Hello, sir. How can I help you today?"
Dave gave a polite nod. "I'm looking for the VR helmet for New World Online. You got any left?"
The clerk nodded immediately. "Of course, sir. We still have some in stock. Since today's the final purchase day, the crowd has died down quite a bit."
"Nice," Dave said. "I'll take one."
"Great. May I see your ID, please?"
Dave internally groaned. 'Right... the ID thing.'
Still, he pulled out his wallet and handed over his card. "Here."
The clerk took it and walked over to a nearby terminal. Dave watched as he typed in the Citizen Number from the ID, silently praying.
'Please don't let past-me have already bought one. Please, universe, be cool just this once.'
After a few moments, the clerk smiled again and gave a nod. "You're clear, sir. You're eligible to purchase."
Dave exhaled, relief washing over him. "Thank god. Thanks."
The clerk ducked into the back, then returned carrying a sleek, black box with bold chrome lettering across the front:
New World Online: Neural Link VR Gear
It looked premium—stylized logo, subtle circuitry patterns embossed on the sides. No gimmicks. Just tech.
"This is for you, sir," the clerk said, placing the box on the counter.
Dave pulled out his phone. "Can I pay online?"
"Of course. Please scan the QR code here."
The clerk pointed to a placard on the counter. Dave scanned the store's code, then the code on the helmet box. The price appeared instantly:
$1200
Ouch.
That was steep. But he had savings—and really, what else was he going to spend it on now? Novels were gone. Life had reset. This was his new world.
He hit confirm.
Payment sent.
Transaction complete.
Dave picked up the sealed box and gave the clerk a small nod. "Thanks."
"You're welcome, sir. Enjoy the dive."
Dave turned and walked out of the store, helmet in hand.
He didn't bother checking it. The box was sealed tight, and if there was a problem, it was a manufacturer issue. Retail stores didn't handle that kind of thing—just sales.
He'd deal with the rest later.
Right now, he had what he needed.
And if this game was even half as real as that trailer looked…
Then maybe—just maybe—he was about to step into something extraordinary.
As Dave walked toward his car, the boxed VR gear in hand, his mind buzzed with excitement. He was already running through mental plans for what to do once he got back.
That was when two girls suddenly stepped into his path.
"Hello, sir!" one of them said brightly.
Dave blinked, caught off guard. They were attractive—tall, well-dressed, friendly smiles—but honestly, he wasn't in the mood. Not with a brand-new gaming system in his hands and an entire digital world waiting for him.
Still, he gave a polite nod. "Yeah? What's up?"
The first girl stepped forward. "Would you be interested in joining our guild?"
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Guild?"
The second girl chimed in. "Yes, sir! It's Star Legion—the official guild of Star Company. We're actively recruiting new players for New World Online. Members receive a starting salary, and—"
Dave held up a hand. "Wait, you mean Star Company as in the one that makes Star Laptops?"
Both girls nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly!"
Dave gave a short chuckle, then shook his head. "Appreciate the offer, but I'm just planning to play for fun. No guilds, no commitments. Just… relaxation."
The girls looked a bit disappointed, but he gave them a warm smile. "Thanks for asking, though. Good luck recruiting. Take care."
He turned away before they could respond. They called out behind him, but he didn't stop. His thoughts had already shifted.
'So companies are actually forming guilds now? And paying salaries?'
That was new. Well… not new new. It happened all the time in the web novels he used to binge—big corps turning games into business ventures. But in real life? That was a first.
A company-backed guild, handing out paychecks for playing a game...
'This world really was turning into a gamer's dream.'
Dave chuckled to himself, a grin spreading on his face as he unlocked his car and slid inside.
No looking back.
The future was ahead—and it was digital.