“[The game is shutting down.]”
The light that had filled Woojin’s vision disappeared along with the notification.
“……What?”
When Woojin opened his eyes, he couldn’t help but feel shocked.
“Isn’t this… Moretti Village?”
But he had logged out, hadn’t he?
The game had ended, hadn’t it?
Why then…
Why was he seeing this tiresome scenery again?
The fountain standing behind him, the paths spread across the village—nothing had changed.
No…
Everything had changed far too much.
Everything was destroyed.
The village was nothing more than ruins.
“How… did this happen?”
BOOOOOM―――!!!
Before he could even grasp the situation, a deafening explosion erupted behind him.
The fountain shattered into countless pieces, blowing apart.
“Ugh, aaah!!!”
Woojin threw himself to the ground, rolling away.
CRASH――!!!
The wreckage of the broken fountain collapsed, narrowly missing him.
“Hah… Hah…”
Covered in dust, he cautiously opened his eyes, still shielding his face with his arms.
‘I… I’m alive.’
But there was no time to relax.
Creak… Crackle… BOOM!!
The nearby burning buildings began to collapse one by one.
Instinctively, Woojin shielded his head with both hands and sprinted.
[SCREECH―――!!]
[KEEEEK――!!]
The ear-piercing screeches made Woojin frantically glance around.
“The village…”
Everything was engulfed in flames.
Thick black smoke spiraled into the sky, and fires raged across the village.
[SCREEEEE―――!!!!!]
The shrieking continued, and when the source appeared before him, Woojin could only stand frozen in shock.
“What in the world… happened here?”
It was then.
“Get down!!”
A rough voice shouted from behind him.
Woojin didn’t even have time to turn around; he ducked immediately.
THUNK―!!!
A dull sound rang out, and a warm, sticky substance splattered onto the back of his hand, which was shielding his head.
Thud―.
Something fell, brushing his shoulder as it hit the ground.
“Ugh!”
When Woojin looked up, he screamed.
A grotesque, bat-like creature’s head lay at his feet.
“Gargoyle scum! They’ve made it this far in. If Moretti’s in this state, then the central continent must be even worse.”
Woojin raised his gaze.
Before him stood an older man, clad in bloodstained armor and breathing heavily.
“Are you an adventurer? I don’t recognize your face. It’s impressive you made it this far.”
“What?”
“You look young, but if you’ve made it here, you must have some luck on your side. Are you headed to the Lion King’s Bastion too?”
The man’s words were directed at Woojin.
“The Lion King?”
…Who was that?
“But be careful. This is the domain of the Faceless Monsters. This place used to be a beginner’s hunting ground back in the day…”
The man swept his gaze around and spoke again.
“It’s one of the most dangerous places. If not for the cursed Myurenka family’s foolish meddling, Moretti wouldn’t have fallen so far.”
‘Faceless Monsters? Myurenka? What is he talking about?’
It was all unfamiliar to Woojin.
Unable to comprehend the situation, he stared at the man, his expression dazed.
“Treasure your life. If you survive, we may meet again…”
“Wait a second!”
“…?”
“What is this place? And what happened to the village? The tower… Where is the tower?”
This man seemed to know about this world. Woojin couldn’t just let him go.
The ruined village was alarming enough, but the strangest thing of all was the absence of the tower.
The one central to [Evil Tale], the giant structure that pierced the skies wherever you stood in the continent.
It was nowhere to be seen.
“The tower?”
But the man only tilted his head, as if Woojin’s words made no sense.
“The Maze Tower! The 100-floor structure… The one where monsters reside!”
If this world was [Evil Tale] as Woojin knew it, then the tower should exist.
“A 100-floor tower…? Are you talking about Vandalious Tower? That thing collapsed ages ago.”
“…What? Collapsed?”
Woojin was at a loss for words.
“The final assault team cleared the 99th floor ten years ago, didn’t they?”
The old man spoke as if it were common knowledge, but Woojin couldn’t understand what he was hearing.
“Ten… Ten years ago?”
Woojin’s surprise was evident.
“We’re only just clearing the 10th floor…”
“This is the 87th year of Akedoinar, isn’t it?”
“87th? What are you talking about? That was 50 years ago.”
“Fifty years…?”
“Hold on.”
Something about this man’s words felt off.
And it wasn’t just the dates.
Why was the tower gone after clearing the 99th floor?
Wasn’t the final floor supposed to remain?
[SCREEEEEE――!!!]
Woojin’s spiraling confusion was interrupted by the deafening cries of gargoyles.
The swarm, filling the sky, seemed ready to descend at any moment.
“We have to move. Night is falling.”
The man grabbed Woojin’s arm.
“If you want to live, follow me.”
“W-wait, what?!”
With a grip that felt unnaturally strong, the old man pulled Woojin effortlessly.
‘What strength…’
But before Woojin could process anything, the man was already dashing toward the forest, leaving the village behind.
“W-wait a second!”
Through the nightmarish ruins, the sound of their footsteps gradually faded.
“…What? You’re not from this world? And there’s a place where people revive after dying?”
Having escaped the village and taken refuge in a small cave within the forest, they finally had a chance to talk.
“What a world to live in. I’m almost jealous.”
Unlike Woojin, who spoke with gravity, the old man merely laughed it off.
‘Of course. He wouldn’t believe me.’
Even Woojin found his own story absurd.
If he added that this was a game world and his reality lay elsewhere, the man would surely think he was insane.
‘And looking like this…’
Woojin awkwardly glanced at his outfit.
Worn leather armor, a sword strapped to his waist, and a pocketful of potions clinking softly with his every move.
He wasn’t Kim Woojin of the real world anymore.
He was Khan, the level 10 warrior from [Evil Tale].
‘What in the world is going on? I saw the logout notification…’
This wasn’t reality.
It was another world.
And here, Woojin had become his game character.
‘That village was definitely Moretti.’
Despite being in ruins, he was certain it was the starting village for beginners.
A place surrounded by nothing more dangerous than slimes and gnolls.
But now…
‘There were gargoyles flying around.’
High-level monsters that could only be seen in the central continent.
This place resembled the game world he knew but was an entirely different one.
‘Just how many of those creatures are here?’
The thought alone made his body start trembling uncontrollably, like a leaf in the wind.
“Take it.”
At that moment, the old man handed something to Woojin.
A fragrant and savory aroma wafted up.
*Growl…*
Oddly, the hunger overtook the trembling.
“You need to fill your belly to have the strength to fight—whether against enemies or yourself.”
Woojin bowed his head slightly as he accepted the bowl.
“This was something we had before the Central Continent fell. It’s quite rare now.”
Inside the bowl was a thin, watery soup.
Its taste was bland, as though it had been diluted to increase the volume.
But…
*Gulp, gulp.*
Woojin began devouring the soup hungrily.
“Not bad, is it?”
The old man smiled faintly as if he understood.
“Ha…”
When he finally emptied the bowl, Woojin let out a breath.
The warmth that slid down his throat spread pleasantly through his entire body.
Strangely, this simple soup felt like the best meal he’d ever had.
“Only survivors get to experience such privileges,” the old man said, pouring his soup into Woojin’s empty bowl.
“I’m Raul.”
“Kim Woo… No, Khan,” Woojin corrected himself after glancing at his attire again.
There had to be a reason he arrived here in this form.
“And this place… where exactly is it?”
“Ah, that’s right. You said you came from another world, didn’t you?”
Raul teased with a grin.
“It’s true. There’s a place identical to this one. Though, even that isn’t my actual home… Anyway, over there, they’re still tackling the tenth floor of the tower.”
“The tenth floor? Hah… If that’s true, it sounds like a blissful world.”
“Excuse me?”
Raul gave him a self-deprecating smile.
“Fine. You still sound crazy, but I’ll play along. It’s been half a year since I’ve had a conversation.”
He looked at Woojin.
For some reason, Woojin felt as if he had asked a question he shouldn’t have.
“The tower appeared out of nowhere, and many adventurers challenged it. They gained incredible rewards and resources, which led to prosperity for the kingdoms.”
“Then… why is everything like this now?”
“They thought that prosperity would last forever but it didn’t.”
“Why? What happened on the 99th floor?”
Raul shook his head.
“The world’s downfall wasn’t because of the 99th floor. By the time we reached the 60th floor, the world had already changed.”
“…?”
“The monsters inside the tower began pouring out into the world.”
*Grit.*
He clenched his teeth.
“But we didn’t just sit back and take it. We fought desperately, pushing forward in the tower. We clung to the words inscribed on the monument found on the 60th floor, where the monsters started emerging.”
“What did it say?”
Woojin asked with a trembling voice.
‘Clear the 100th floor, and any wish, any miracle, can be granted.’
*Gulp.*
Woojin swallowed dryly at Raul’s words.
‘If that’s true…’
Would conquering the 100th floor allow him to return to reality, fulfilling his wish?
“But that was as far as it went. Clearing the 100th floor is impossible.”
As if reading Woojin’s thoughts, Raul spoke in a low voice.
“Why not?”
“There’s no way to reach the 100th floor.”
Raul gestured outside the cave.
“See that? The floating castle in the sky. That’s the 100th floor.”
“…What?”
It was unimaginable.
‘The tower’s final floor is in the sky?’
Woojin stared blankly, speechless, as he raised his head.
Raul poured water into his bowl to rinse out the remaining soup before wrapping himself in his cloak and sitting down.
“It’s time to give up. How could anyone reach that tower in the sky? All the kingdoms of the Central Continent have fallen… The only hope left is to flee to the refuge being built by the Lion King.”
With that, he turned his body, seemingly preparing to sleep.
“Since I fed you, I’m taking a nap first. Wake me when the hourglass runs out—it’ll be about two hours.”
Was he unconcerned? Or just confident in his abilities?
‘What? He’s already asleep?’
Raul began snoring the moment his eyes closed.
“Hah.”
With the chaotic moments past, Woojin was left alone in silence.
He began to reflect on his situation.
Trapped in a game world wasn’t bad enough; now, it was another world entirely.
“Aren’t you mistaken?”
The words of the administrator at the plaza came to mind.
– [R&C Technology] achieves 100 billion won in sales!!
– Named one of the world’s Top 20 Young CEOs!!
– Kim Woojin Group expands beyond Asia to global success!!
Once, he was the subject of countless headlines.
From the bottom to the pinnacle of success,
he had lived a life that seemed mythical.
But now…
‘Nothing feels certain anymore.’
Even his memories felt shaky, as if his very existence were fading.
He had only enjoyed games for brief moments of time,
but they had been his only relief in a suffocating, intense life.
Yet now…
His hand fell to the sword at his waist.
Unlike a game, it felt heavy and real.
A true sword.
Golf, squash, climbing, swimming—he had tried many things in reality,
including kendo.
He had even competed in significant tournaments, so he was confident with a sword.
That confidence had led him to choose the warrior class in *Evil Tale.*
But the moment his hand touched this sword, he realized—
Could he truly wield it?
Its weight and solid feel were incomparable to a wooden practice sword.
“…Login.”
Woojin glanced at Raul and muttered softly.
There was no response.
With a low sigh, he spoke louder.
“Login!”
Still nothing.
‘After trying so hard to leave the game world… I actually want to return now.’
It was absurd, but Woojin forced himself to stay composed.
“Status window!”
He called out with some hope, but still, nothing happened.
Raul stirred and sat up.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just… a prayer before bed…”
*Shh.*
Raul raised a finger to his lips.
“It seems we won’t get to rest tonight.”
*Clink.*
Raul silently drew his sword and turned toward the cave entrance, his voice dropping to a murmur.
“Monsters.”
Woojin’s embarrassed gaze sharpened, his heart pounding.
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