← Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer?

Chapter 1

I shouldn't have done that (1)

Published on Sep 5, 2026

Chapter 1: I shouldn't have done that (1)

I’m a roleplay-focused casual gamer.

That means I’m the kind of player who creates a character concept to match my class and enjoys the game by staying true to that concept.

Chatting? Of course I stayed in character.

Even now, when virtual reality games have replaced text chat with voice, I still do.

A roleplayer who gives in to embarrassment isn’t a real roleplayer.

“Keep talking. I’m starting to wonder just how much of my wrath you can withstand.”

So, as usual, I became a fully immersed player in this new game, faithfully acting out my concept—a knight with a demon sealed in his arm.

“Log out.”

「That command is unavailable.」

“...What? Log out.”

「That command is unavailable.」

“.........???”

And that was when I realized one very important fact.

I was screwed.

No—this was completely, utterly fucked.

***

Whether you're a casual gamer, a hardcore grinder, or even a light gamer...

Every gamer has that one game that defines their life.

The one that lingers in your memories the longest.

The one you can never quite let go of.

For me, that game was Legend of Heroes.

It was a Korean PC-exclusive MMORPG that came out during my teenage years.

To put it simply.

It was hugely popular at launch...

Then the original developers left the company in droves, and the game collapsed.

The main reasons were plenty: predatory cash-shop items introduced during the second anniversary update, an overpowered new class that shattered game balance, random lore additions that contradicted the existing worldbuilding, terrible management...

But none of that is particularly important.

Neither is the fact that a game everyone claimed would last twenty years shut down after only five...

Or that I stayed with it until the very end and entered my twenties alongside its death.

There is only one thing that matters about Legend of Heroes.

The original developers.

They had to watch the game they created fall apart after they'd already left.

“Dude... my heart is pounding.”

“Uh-huh. Good luck.”

“I seriously can't believe there's only thirty minutes left until launch.”

Their regret ran so deep that those original developers eventually founded a new game company called Deep Pearl.

After releasing hit after hit and establishing themselves in the industry...

They finally came back with an announcement.

A remake of Legend of Heroes.

No one had asked them to do it.

Yet they went out of their way to buy back the rights...

Just so they could remake it themselves.

“I'm not actually dreaming... am I?”

“Actually, yes. You're dreaming. You'll wake up soon.”

“Wait... am I really dreaming...?”

“...I'm kidding. Of course not.”

“But it's just... it's so unreal.”

And they didn't just remake it halfway.

They went all out.

Instead of an online MMORPG, it became a package title.

Instead of a side-scrolling action game, it became an open-world ARPG.

Even the platform changed with the times.

No longer PC.

Now it was played through a dedicated full-dive virtual reality capsule.

Naturally, the game itself had been completely rebuilt as a VR experience.

At this point...

Even calling it the delusion of a player who couldn't move on from a dead game would be putting it mildly.

“I'd honestly believe it more if someone told me this was all a dream...”

That was exactly why, even thirty minutes before launch, I still couldn't believe this was real.

Legend of Heroes was my very first game.

The reason I fell in love with gaming.

It even influenced my career, however slightly.

And now that game...

Not only was it coming back...

It was returning as an absolutely incredible masterpiece.

Honestly, I considered it a miracle that I hadn't passed out from sheer excitement.

I was overflowing with happiness.

“You're really still hung up over a game from fifteen years ago.”

“You only say that because you've never played games... If you had, you'd understand how I feel...”

Man...

I wasn't even this nervous on the day my college entrance exam results came out.

I didn't feel like this even when one of my works got picked up for overseas publication.

My heart felt like it was going to burst.

I stared anxiously at the countdown.

“What if the game doesn't live up to your expectations?”

“Don't say something that unlucky. I'll kill you.”

Of course I knew.

The higher your expectations, the more likely you are to be disappointed.

How many games had I played?

How many had let me down?

I knew better than anyone.

But still...

Still...

“If it's even half as good as the trailer, I'll be happy...!”

“Good grief.”

“Gaaah! Only two minutes have passed! How is twenty-eight minutes supposed to go by?!”

“How should I know, idiot?”

My friend, who had come over after hearing me screaming, frowned.

Typical of someone who'd never touched games in his life.

“You call yourself my friend...?”

“Of course I do. What else would I be?”

“Anyway... why don't you do that thing you're good at?”

“Huh?”

“You know... your... what was it... roleplaying?”

“Oh, I already finished that.”

“What the hell? Already?”

What, did he think I'd just been sitting around doing nothing?

A proper character concept isn't something you throw together in a day.

Sure, some people improvise.

I wasn't one of them.

Maybe it was because I'd majored in theater and film.

Character research was incredibly important to me.

“So what did you come up with?”

“Well... first, the appearance.”

Good thing I'd already drawn the design while working on the concept.

I picked up the old electronic notebook lying on the sofa.

Seven years old now.

It slowly lit up.

“Holy shit... what the hell is this...?”

The image that appeared looked like this.

Split hair.

Silver on the left.

Black on the right.

Skin so pale it looked almost corpse-like.

A grayish white.

His eyes were heterochromatic.

Gray in the left eye.

Dark crimson in the right.

Both stripped of all highlights, making them look lifeless like a dead fish.

Heavy dark circles completed the look.

“You've seriously lost your mind over character creation.”

In my opinion...

The very first step of roleplaying begins with appearance.

So I happily accepted my friend's reaction.

Sure, someone might say I was thirty years old and too old for this.

But I was spending my own money.

Why shouldn't I enjoy myself?

Besides, my roleplaying wasn't hurting anyone.

“What's with the hair?”

“It's because he's been tainted by demonic power.”

“Are you insane? What demonic power?”

“Oh... that's because the class is called Demon Knight.”

Honestly...

The official class description explained it better.

So I pulled it up.

「Demon Knight | Ever since the demon that slaughtered his family took residence in his right arm, the former apprentice knight abandoned the path of knighthood and began wandering the world. Though he despises the demon in his arm more than anything, it also grants him superhuman strength. His goal is to kill every demon. Just like his sharp and irritable temperament, he fights with swift and devastating techniques.」

“I actually thought about starting as a Priest instead....But Demon Knight was the class I picked the very first time I played.”

If I was reliving my memories...

I wanted to do it exactly the same way.

Besides...

I was going to play multiple runs anyway.

“And honestly?”

“It just looks cooler for roleplaying.”

“Haha... you're insane.”

Still laughing, my friend zoomed back out after examining the face.

The character's full body appeared again.

“You can actually recreate this?”

“Probably.”

Games these days usually had this much customization as a standard feature.

Besides, the original Legend of Heroes had been famous for its incredibly flexible character customization.

Unless the developers had completely lost their minds...

There was no way they'd leave it out.

“And I picked the outfit from the Deluxe Edition bonuses.”

“You actually spent even more money?”

Come on.

For just a little extra, I got the soundtrack...

The artbook...

And in-game costumes.

With separate outfits for every class, no less.

And I could wear them immediately from the start.

There were tons of options too.

I smiled proudly at the character on the screen.

An eyepatch covering the right eye.

A long black coat with a crimson cross embroidered across the back and a three-slit tail.

A gauntlet worn only on the right arm.

Matte black leather pants.

Knee-high military boots.

And though it was hard to see...

Bandages wrapped beneath the upper clothing.

Sure, I'd drawn it using the official reference images.

But still.

It was a perfect concept.

It couldn't possibly get any cooler.

“Can people see this online?”

“There is online play. Just not the MMORPG kind.”

As far as I knew...

You could connect online and match with up to four players.

Mostly for co-op boss fights or PvP.

It was obvious the developers had been traumatized by running online games.

“So other players won't even see it? And you still bought it?”

“My friend. Roleplaying has absolutely nothing to do with other people's opinions.”

You don't roleplay to impress others.

You do it because saying ridiculous lines you'd never say in real life...

While hiding behind anonymity...

Is fun.

I gave him a thumbs-up and smiled brightly.

My friend doubled over laughing.

Honestly, I had no idea why.

I'd done this countless times.

Maybe that was simply the difference between a roleplayer...

And a normal person.

“You're seriously insane.”

“I'm just spending my own money. What's your problem?”

“Well... that's true, but...”

He switched back to the official Demon Knight description.

Then stared carefully at the final sentence.

“But the developers already defined the character's personality. Is there really any point in roleplaying?”

For a moment...

I said nothing.

The developers had already defined the character?

So what was the point?

Ha.

I hadn't wanted to go this far.

My lips twitched like an obsessed fan being asked about their favorite series.

Calm down.

If I got too excited...

I'd scare away the newbie.

So take it easy...

Take it easy...

...Actually, what does "taking it easy" even mean?

How do you do that?

“You've just declared war on fan interpretations. Sit down. I'm educating you today.”

“Nope. My mistake.”

“The official setting only says he's sharp-tempered and that his goal is to kill every demon, right? But everyone's definition of 'sharp-tempered' is different. And remember? A demon murdered his family and now lives inside his arm. So think about it. Was he born with a terrible personality? Or did living with that demon change him? That's where interpretation begins!”

“Okay, okay! I was wrong!”

“What if he's always on edge because he never knows when the demon might lose control? What if he pushes people away because he doesn't want anyone getting hurt by him... Or more specifically… By the demon inside him? Then wouldn't he actually be an incredibly kind person underneath?!”

“I said I was wrong!”

“And that's exactly the interpretation my whole concept is built on! Tough on the outside! Soft on the inside!A guy pretending to be strong while secretly fragile. Traumatized. Always pushing people away even though he's desperately lonely. The kind of character who's practically screaming, 'I've suffered! I've been hurt!' ”

“Please... spare me...”

“Spare you? I'm not even finished yet! I still haven't explained why he's wrapped up like this! The split-colored hair isn't the only reason!”

“Nooooo...”

“Oh! Want to hear the dialogue I prepared too?!”

“No! I'm good! Seriously!”

Why did he ask if he wasn't going to listen?

Come on.

Hear the rest.

I'd even gone back to old gameplay footage...

Analyzed the class trailer frame by frame...

Spent countless hours refining this character.

At least appreciate the effort!

I dragged my fleeing friend back onto the sofa and continued explaining.

The reason he only wore a gauntlet on his right arm was because he hated that arm so much he couldn't even bear to look at it.

The eyepatch was there because he couldn't stand seeing his demon-altered eye, so he covered the normal one instead.

Little details that would never actually appear in-game.

“You've completely lost your mind, you damn otaku...”

After I talked for a full twenty minutes...

My friend covered his ears and shook his head in exhaustion.

“Hey. I'm not that much of an otaku.”

“From a normal person's perspective, spending hundreds of thousands on games already makes you one.”

“...Can't argue with that.”

Yeah.

He had me there.

“Anyway. I've had enough. I'm heading home.”

“Already?”

“The game you've been obsessing over starts in five minutes, you lunatic.”

“Oh.”

Right.

I'd been rambling for over twenty minutes.

Of course only five minutes were left.

“Anyway, when am I supposed to hear from you again?”

“I bought the three-day full-dive package this time.”

“You told me four days last time. Then disappeared for ten.”

Full Dive let you keep playing continuously for over twenty-four hours without eating or sleeping.

The specialized nutrient solution and supplements required for it were incredibly expensive...

Which was why people didn't use them casually.

Not to mention disappearing from real life for days at a time.

Still...

If all you wanted was to immerse yourself completely in a game...

Nothing else came close.

Of course...

Being trapped inside the capsule that long left you completely drained afterward.

You usually spent an entire day recovering.

Last time, I'd played for four days...

Rested one...

Played another four...

Rested another...

And vanished for ten straight days.

“Whatever. You contact me first. I'm not doing it.”

“Okaaay.”

“And don't overdo the gaming. You'll ruin your health.”

“Yes, sir.”

I'd already been thoroughly scolded by both my family and my friends after the last incident.

This time, it wouldn't happen again.

As for ruining my health...

Well, the expensive nutrient solution existed specifically to prevent that.

But I didn't bother arguing.

It was nice knowing people cared about me.

Especially friends who would make time to visit, knowing they wouldn't see me for days afterward.

Click.

I quietly stared at the closed front door.

Then turned around.

No matter how fun the game was...

This time I'd stop after exactly three days.

That little promise to myself was the first sign I was finally growing up.

「Time until play begins: 00:00:03」

「Time until play begins: 00:00:02」

「Time until play begins: 00:00:01」

「Time until play begins: 00:00:00」

「Installing additional items...」

Ding!

「Starting the game.」

If only I'd known that promise would be shattered by forces completely beyond my control...