It was one of those chilly, misty mornings that seep into your bones and make you feel as though time has stopped. For the past three days, I had been cooped up in my house playing the VR game Blast. In addition to finishing it, I also accomplished something that no one else has done: I finished all of the game's achievements. the first to act in this manner. That might just be another trophy on a player's gaming profile for most people, but for me, it was more.

  I've always used games as an escape and a means of finding meaning amid life's craziness. Gaming became my only solace after my family's tragedy five years ago. That day began so exquisitely in the spring of 2030. I was going on a day trip with my mother, father, younger brother, and myself—just a typical family outing. But I lost them all that day. A tragedy that broke everything, a car accident that still haunts me. Since then, the only thing that makes sense to me and that I have control over is gaming.

  Memories of that day started to come back to me as I sat in my darkened room. I lost myself in the past, tracing the edge of my VR headgear with my fingertips absently. Buried beneath layers of distractions, the ache persisted but never disappeared. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the memories when the doorbell rang, bringing me back to the present.

  I didn't think anyone would show up. I got up reluctantly and walked to the door. There was a delivery man with a sleek package in his hands. Without giving it much thought, I signed for it, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw the label. The bundle came from Bannerlord VR's creators. My ticket to Nostalgia had arrived just a few days after I had signed up for the early access beta.

  As I held the package in my hands, I suddenly felt a lump in my throat. Bannerlord... When I was small, my father and I would play the original game together. The late nights spent sitting next to each other, leading armies and capturing kingdoms, were still fresh in my mind. I had very few recollections of us being genuinely joyful, and that was one of them. The reality struck me hard, and I started crying for the first time in a long time. It was more than a game. It served as a link to the life I had lost.

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

  I shook my head, attempting to suppress my feelings. I told myself not now. Despite the fact that I was truly starving, I felt compelled to play this game. With a mixture of excitement and apprehension, I carefully opened the package and put the game on my console. When it first booted up, the recognizable logo came up along with a spooky symphonic soundtrack that made me shudder.

  A dramatic prologue detailing the rise and fall of the once-powerful Calradian Empire kicked off the game. Over time, the empire's lustre faded as a result of greed and corruption, and it eventually fell apart into warring factions. After the narration concluded, I was taken to the character creation screen, where I could select a faction to support and customize my image.

  I sorted over the various factions, looking at their distinct debuffs and buffs, and assessing my alternatives. However, something didn't feel right. Strange blue lines flickered across the screen, and my vision started to distort. I initially believed it to be a small bug, as one might anticipate in a beta version, but the issue continued. It was odd, almost premature to run into such a problem.

  Then, suddenly, everything was different.

  I tried to clear my vision by blinking, but all of a sudden I was standing in a busy marketplace. I clasped my hands automatically, but there was no controller. No virtual reality goggles. No screen. It was only me, standing in the centre of a crowded market with people moving about as though I were just another person, animals barking, and vendors selling their things.

  My initial response was one of annoyance. Without completing the setup, I was taken from the character creation screen into an in-game setting, leading me to believe that the game had glitched out. "Really?" I grumbled to myself as the disillusionment began to set in. Although I had great expectations for Bannerlord VR, this kind of problem was absurd.

  I made the decision to log off, eat breakfast, and return later when I wasn't as annoyed. However, nothing appeared when I raised my hands to access the menu. No UI, no log-off button, and no settings. As I searched for something—anything—that could explain what was occurring, panic began to set in.

  My headset was missing as I reached for it. My heart pounded. The merchants' voices blended into an indistinct haze as they carried on with their business as though I hadn't even been present. I came to the realization gradually.

  I was no longer in my room. My console wasn't in front of me. I was in the game

  I request any new reader to read till at least chapter 22.

  I’m looking forward to spending many more months writing this novel, and it would mean a lot if you could leave a review, rating, or even drop a comment.

  After writing 70 chapters, I noticed a few flaws, so I wanted to inform any new readers about them. If you expect the MC to use modern-day tech or knowledge, sorry, but this will not happen. Since I made it an isekai, this genre should have been properly utilized, but instead, I failed there. I have not seen any review highlighting this point yet. I am planning to edit a few things to improve this part.

  This novel emphasizes world-building, party management, and kingdom development. You will read about detailed adventures and have a chance to dive into Calaradian diplomacy.