Yuuji was a game streamer… Well, technically.

  These days, his views were circling the drain, and his chat was deader than a desert town in a western.

  He used to have a tiny but loyal following.

  Emphasis on ‘used to.’

  Because no matter how much fun people claimed to want in a stream, nobody really wanted to watch someone constantly lose. Not in this era of sweaty MOBAs, cracked FPS aimers, or insane speedrunners with frame-perfect skips. If you weren’t getting triple kills, pulling off headshots, or clutching victory battle royales, you were background noise.

  And unfortunately… Yuuji was the noise.

  “Maybe I really need to play another genre…”

  He sighed as he scrolled through the list of upcoming releases on SuperGames’ trending tab.

  A lot of single-player games lined the feed, pretty, polished, and probably story-heavy.

  But they never held him long. He’d get bored halfway through and drop them.

  He liked multiplayer games.

  He just sucked at them.

  Still, there was something thrilling about being in a world with other people.

  Even if he spent most of his time respawning. Again. And again. And again.

  Then something caught his eye.

  “Hmm? Dream Land Online?”

  The name alone sounded like some cutesy game… but the cover art was anything but. The image was packed with vibrant fantasy races, foxkin, elves, dwarves, winged people, demons, mermaids, like the whole damn fantasy genre had been stuffed into one JPEG.

  He clicked the page.

  “MMORPG… Co-op… Exploration… PvP, PvE, dungeons, town building, guild war…”

  He scrolled lower.

  “…crafting, fishing, forging, siege systems…?”

  He blinked his eyes.

  “Seriously?”

  His brows lifted.

  “This is either the next big thing… or a really well-formatted scam.”

  He glanced at the publisher.

  “Dreamy Games…? Never heard of ’em. Indie studio, maybe?”

  He hit play on the trailer.

  The screen exploded into action, players slashing through monsters, casting glowing spells, transforming into a giant fox, flying over cities, building entire towns from scratch, diving, forming undead armies, forging weapons. It was a buffet of every fantasy game mechanic he'd ever heard of.

  Too good to be true.

  But he watched the trailer until the end.

  “...No way an indie studio made this.”

  The visuals were gorgeous. Unrealistically gorgeous. Almost like pre-rendered footage pretending to be gameplay.

  He hovered over the close button, ready to close it.

  But hesitated.

  “If it is real…”

  That was the hook.

  If even half of it was real, he could ride the content wave for months. A single game, and he could stream exploration, PvP, town building, crafting memes, whatever he felt like.

  He exhaled.

  “Nothing to lose.”

  He clicked [Pre-Register].

  A registration form popped up.

  “Pick your race…?”

  That was weird. Usually, character creation happened after installation. But here, it was part of pre-registration.

  He skimmed the details.

  Beta slots: 1,500 total.

  Humans: 500 players

  Other nine races: 100 each

  Demon races: only 25 per race

  “So, less than a one-in-three shot if I went with human…”

  But trying for a rare race was a gamble with a lesser chance.

  If you got picked after choosing something unique, like a seraphim or atlanteans, you could become the popular guy for that race on stream.

  But if you didn’t get in?

  You’d just be watching everyone else pop off while you sat there crying into your keyboard.

  “…My luck’s trash anyway.”

  So he chose Human.

  And submitted.

  And went to make instant noodles.

  Then one hour later… his email pinged.

  [Congratulations! You’ve been selected for the closed beta of Dream Land Online!]

  He stared at it.

  “...I should’ve picked another race after all.”

  But creating a second email felt like too much work. And it’s not like this game was guaranteed to be good. If it flopped, no big deal. He’d quit.

  And if it didn’t?

  Well… he’d figure it out later.

  Three days later, Yuuji slipped into his gaming capsule, and launched the game.

  [Initializing Dream Sync…]

  [Entering Dream Land Online.]

  The screen faded to black.

  Then came the soft chime of a bell.

  A swirl of colors. A distant melody. The game’s logo shimmered into view like a dream rising from fog.

  ? Welcome to Dream Land Online. ?

  Yuuji stared.

  “Damn. Even the logo’s got flair.”

  Then it started, the opening cinematic.

  Not the usual low-budget CG nonsense. This was high-end, like a full-length fantasy film. He recognized some of the scenes from the trailer, peaceful kingdoms, beastkin villages, underwater cities.

  The cinematic felt like drifting through the memory of a world before it broke.

  Yuuji watched silently this time.

  He had to admit, even he was impressed.

  The atmosphere. The transitions. The emotion.

  And then came the prompt.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  ? Please enter your name. ?

  He paused.

  This game was about saving a world from collapse. Becoming a hero, or dying trying.

  He cracked a small grin and typed:

  “Hiro”

  Then he muttered as he hit Enter.

  “…Cheesy as hell, but maybe that’ll trick the system into giving me a cool sword or something.”

  The screen blinked.

  ? Initializing spawn… ?

  ? Loading terrain… ?

  ? Welcome to Stellar. ?

  And then… he opened his eyes.

  Yuuji, now Hiro, stood in the middle of a city bathed in morning light.

  He blinked once. Then again.

  “Whoa.”

  His voice was quiet, like he was afraid to disturb the illusion.

  But it wasn’t an illusion.

  This wasn’t like any game he’d played before. The stone beneath his feet wasn’t texture, he felt its hardness. The breeze brushing his face felt real. The scent of dust and fresh lumber filled the air. He could hear birds, hammering, voices in the distance, NPCs rebuilding shattered homes.

  He turned slowly, taking it all in.

  Cobbled streets stretched out beneath his boots. Townhouses with carved wooden eaves leaned toward narrow alleys. Magic lanterns flickered faintly above doorways. Town guards stood watch near damaged plazas. Mercenaries lounged on crates or carried buckets of rubble.

  The place was alive.

  And people were everywhere.

  Other players had already spawned into town, some sprinting off like it was a race, others just standing still, staring at their hands like they’d never seen fingers before.

  One guy crouched beside an NPC, sniffing the poor man’s boots with unsettling intensity.

  Another was licking a wall. Actually licking it.

  A third got into an argument with a mercenary NPC, only to immediately clap his hands over his ears and yell.

  “Okay, okay! Why are the voices so realistic?!”

  Yuuji could only blink his eyes.

  “…Yeah. Definitely not a normal game.”

  He moved his fingers.

  The avatar responded instantly.

  He turned.

  No delay. No drag.

  Then he jumped.

  Clean arc. Solid landing. Not even the awkward floaty crap most MMOs had.

  He took a few steps.

  Then a sprint.

  “Whoa. No lag?”

  Hiro, stopped mid-step, grinned in disbelief... then slumped a little.

  His smile faded as the reality hit him.

  “...I really should’ve picked another race.”

  It's too late now.

  The beta registration had already closed.

  He cracked his knuckles, glanced around at the mix of player chatter and rebuilding NPCs, then added with a little smirk…

  “Let’s just stay in the town first.”

  Because the visuals alone were content-worthy…

  Hiro grinned as he opened the streamer menu and tapped the Go Live button.

  A soft chime sounded in his ear, and a small “LIVE” icon blinked into the corner of his HUD.

  He stayed still until the viewer count reached ten. They were his tiny loyal viewers.

  “Yo! Hiro here. Welcome to the Dream Land Online beta stream.”

  He said as he swept his camera view around the bustling town square.

  “And no, you’re not watching a cutscene. This is real gameplay.”

  The view showed cobbled streets under golden morning light, with players and NPCs mingling as if part of the same world. Wisps of magic shimmered from reconstruction spells as NPC masons rebuilt a collapsed tavern. Flower petals drifted from unseen trees. Armor clinked. Children laughed.

  His chat began to flicker alive.

  [hotdogking66]: bro this looks INSANE

  [mimimi]: is this a trailer or is that YOU walking??

  [cheesebeard]: 100% CGI. Has to be.

  [shrimpgun]: pet the smol NPC. do it.

  Hiro snorted.

  “I’m not petting a loli. That’s how you get marked in every country.”

  He paused and glanced around.

  “Also, I’m walking. This isn’t pre-rendered.”

  He jumped twice, spun around, crouched, and waved at an NPC guard. The guard nodded back.

  “Yup. Confirmed. The AI is better than most of my teammates in ranked games.”

  [fire_grandma]: looks smoother than my own life tbh

  [nocturnyx]: WHERE’S THE COMBAT? GO FIND A MONSTER BRO

  “Relax, guys. We’re soaking in the vibe first.”

  Hiro was strolling toward the center of Stellar.

  Then he waved his hand to test the UI, his palm passed right through a floating map projection.

  “Hmm… where is the tutorial?”

  As soon as he said that, coincidentally, a quest message popped out into his view.

  ? Exclusive Quest Unlocked! ?

  ? The Grand Parade of Unity ?

  ? Rank: Event ?

  ? Rewards: Stellar Special Footage ?

  ? The town of Stellar is welcoming new heroes. Join the gathering crowd to witness the parade. ?

  ? Location marked on map. Estimated start: 10 minutes. ?

  “Oh? Not a tutorial but an exclusive quest for this town?”

  Hiro muttered as a smile pulled at his lips.

  “Looks like we’re getting front row seats for something.”

  [mimimi]: OMG A PARADE???

  [snackzooka]: FINALLY CONTENT

  [nocturnyx]: DUDE GET CLOSER

  [cheesebeard]: female knights or we riot

  He began weaving through the crowd, camera bobbing with every step, jostling past NPCs and players alike.

  “Alright, guys.”

  Hiro scanned his surroundings.

  “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. I want a view that says ‘streamer privilege.’”

  He spotted a merchant’s canopy nearby, its frame sturdy enough, and dashed toward it. One jump, a scramble up some crates, and he pulled himself onto the canvas roof, earning a surprised look from the vendor NPC below.

  [cheesebeard]: HE’S ACTUALLY PARKOURING LMAO

  [mimimi]: ninja streamer arc begins

  [shrimpgun]: crouch and sniff the roof for immersion

  [koalacursed]: this is exactly what I’d do irl tbh

  “Hey, if the game lets me, I’m doin’ it.”

  Hiro grinned.

  “Now let’s find that skyline shot—”

  He climbed up one more level, finding a narrow ledge on a second-story rooftop.

  From here, the view opened wide, over the rooftops of Stellar, where flags fluttered in the wind and trumpet echoes rolled through the air like a coming storm.

  Perched like a cameraman cat on the rooftop, Hiro adjusted his angle just as the horns sounded again, this time louder and closer.

  A gust of wind swept through the street below, and with it came a ripple of silver and white.

  And then he saw it.

  Three women in flowing white robes led the procession, their staves aglow with soft enchantment light, casting glimmering sigils in the air with every synchronized step. Their faces were serene, their movements like a ritual dance across marble.

  Behind them came the knights.

  Columns of female knights emerged, each clad in tailored silver combat dresses, armored at the core but shaped with finesse. Each skirt swayed with every step, polished boots striking stone in perfect rhythm. White cloaks fluttered behind them like wings.

  Their expressions were solemn. Banners of silver and blue fluttered in the air, each emblazoned with a crest. The ground seemed to hum beneath their boots. Their formation was flawless. They looked so regal, proud, and beautiful.

  And leading them all…

  A girl who was younger than the rest.

  Like everyone else, she bore no helm, letting her silver hair shine in the sunlight like poured moonlight. Her blue eyes scanned the crowd not with pride, but with a gentle smile. A sword was sheathed at her side, its hilt matching the crest embroidered proudly on her chest.

  Hiro could only stare.

  So could his chat.

  [shrimpgun]: BRO

  [light_bullet]: WHO IS SHE

  [cheesebeard]: WTF REALLY FEMALE KNIGHTS!!!

  [mimimi]: WIFE. ALL OF THEM.

  [romancelover]: IS THIS A HAREM GAME WHAT’S HAPPENING

  [cuteglitch]: is that the protag?? is she single??

  [coffeecow]: OMG MY WAIFU IS HERE

  Viewer count: 237… 582… 864…

  It spiked like a rocket.

  Hiro almost choked.

  “W-Wait, this is going viral, isn’t it?”

  His camera panned across the street like a seasoned director now, catching the subtle magic glittering off their shoulders, the shift of blades, the grace in every line.

  He leaned in toward his mic, whispering theatrically.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…”

  “The Stelluna Parade.”

  The crowd roared below.

  NPCs bowed.

  Other players scrambled for front-row views.

  And Hiro just sat on the rooftop, basking in the chaos of his chat.

  [bluedust]: THIS IS A GACHA GAME LAUNCH IN DISGUISE

  [voidhoney]: DON’T FALL OFF THE ROOF YOU’RE OUR EYES

  [streamsniper420]: recording this. gonna loop it. forever.

  And then…

  She looked up.

  The young knight at the head of the formation turned her gaze skyward, straight toward him.

  Hiro was stunned.

  Her blue eyes locked with his for a single, surreal heartbeat.

  Then she smiled.

  A soft, elegant smile, calm as winter light.

  And she raised her hand.

  Not in salute.

  Not in formality.

  But in a casual, almost playful wave.

  Right at him.

  Up on the roof.

  Hiro.exe has stopped responding.

  He nearly slipped off the ledge.

  And the chat detonated.

  [maid_slasher]: SHE LOOKED UP. SHE LOOKED RIGHT AT US. I SAW IT.

  [nekodraws]: SHE SAW US!!!

  [sofasmasher]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

  [404heart]: WAVE RECEIVED. HEART SHATTERED.

  [koalacursed]: I’M IN LOVE

  [lastgooddecision]: SHE JUST WINKED. I SWEAR.

  [cutething]: KYAAAAAAAAAAA >,<

  [shrimpgun]: SCREENSHOT SCREENSHOT SCREENSHOT

  [nocturnyx]: I don’t need ugly monster. I NEED HER

  [ladykiller]: ZOOM IN ZOOM IN ZOOM IN

  [mod_bob]: ok we are STANNING this queen

  [viewer683]: MARRY ME PRINCESS

  His viewer count surged past 1,000… 2,000… 3,000…

  Hiro let out a wheezing laugh.

  “Okay. Okay. Change of plans. New title for the stream…”

  He quickly typed it in, hands shaking.

  LIVE: She Looked At Me — The Dream Land Beta Begins