“That person. Is he still the same these days?”
“Who are you referring to?”
“You know, the crazy guy who shouted he couldn’t log out in Moretti Village.”
GM Dane.
The team leader of the 2nd Management Team, put down his coffee cup and scanned the dozens of monitors before asking.
“Ah… I was just about to report on that. That guy, you see, his log records show he logged out recently.”
“What? Seriously?”
“Yes, take a look here. Not long after meeting with you, there’s a log-out record.”
At his subordinate’s response, Ko Jun-cheol quickly turned his gaze to the monitor.
“That bastard… causing all that fuss and then giving up when there was nothing to gain, huh?”
“Seems like it. With proof that he logged out, it’s undeniable now. Honestly, this is a case where we could even claim damages, but…”
The subordinate’s voice grew slightly agitated.
“Considering some of our user data was lost, it’s probably best to let it slide quietly.”
“Probably.”
Ko Jun-cheol clicked his tongue and let out a low sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Remember how I reported this guy to Director Han last time?”
“Yes. Since it involved data issues, it had to be flagged to the development team too.”
“The development team contacted me yesterday. Director Han said he’s going to assign someone to monitor this guy exclusively.”
“Exclusively? What, like 24/7 surveillance? But we have the logout record, so there shouldn’t be any more issues.”
“Who knows? It’s hard to say.”
“Is the person coming from our team? Whoever it is, they’re guaranteed overtime.”
“No idea. Director Han’s arranging the reassignment, so it might be internal or external. Just keep it to yourself for now—don’t spread any rumors.”
“Understood.”
Ko Jun-cheol patted his subordinate’s shoulder lightly before heading to his office.
“Director Han issued a direct order, huh…”
He took a sip of his coffee, pondering.
“He’s not someone who acts without reason… Could there really be a problem with the game?”
The autonomous AI, [Ethan].
The concept of a self-evolving AI sounded like infinite potential but was just as much a double-edged sword due to its inherent risks.
“Rumor had it that it was originally developed for space exploration or something like that…”
Project A-a.
An exploration into the unknown realm of space, theorizing the existence of multiple dimensions and attempting to prove it. It had been a notable topic but disappeared abruptly with the project’s sudden termination.
Only a very select few knew that [Ethan] had been developed for this project.
“Well, whether it’s true or not isn’t my concern.”
For Ko Jun-cheol, the creation of [Ethan] mattered far less than ensuring [Evil Tale] ran smoothly.
“As long as that lunatic stays quiet, there won’t be any issues.”
The man had claimed an uninhabited address was his home, insisted on using a fake social security number, and even demanded to meet non-existent family members.
“And made absurd requests to reunite with imaginary relatives…”
The memory of Woojin made Ko Jun-cheol’s head throb.
“Tch. At least we’ve got proof he logged out now. There shouldn’t be any more problems.”
With a shiver of exasperation, he opened the office door.
“How could this be…?”
Woojin stared blankly at Raul’s sword, lying on the ground.
“If this isn’t a dream, then it makes even less sense.”
If the otherworld he visited was real, then this was akin to bringing something from reality into a game.
“Should I call a GM?”
He almost pressed the administrator call button but then shook his head.
“No. Nothing good will come of that. They’ll just find an excuse to confiscate the item.”
He was already on thin ice with them, and he no longer intended to rely on them.
“How did I log out?”
How had he returned? The mysteries were endless.
“I need to figure it out myself.”
Until now, he’d believed he was just trapped in a game due to a programming issue. But now, the situation had reached a turning point.
“A world identical to the game.”
It was a secret even the administrators didn’t know.
Oddly, he felt calm. Perhaps because he’d faced death, he didn’t break down and cry as he once had.
“I’ve shed enough tears, begged enough already.”
If the otherworld truly existed, then this was no mere game issue anymore.
“This isn’t something the police or administrators can solve.”
Only he could handle it.
Smack—!
He slapped his own cheeks hard enough to jolt himself awake.
“No matter what… I’ll return.”
Gripping Raul’s sword tightly, he steeled himself.
What should he do now?
The answer might be simpler than expected. In the game, every player had one goal. It would be the same in the otherworld.
“Get stronger.”
He still didn’t know how to return to reality. But if the future he’d seen in the otherworld unfolded in the game, there was nothing a Level 10 warrior who couldn’t log out could do.
[Would you like to absorb Raul’s essence?]
The option was right before him.
“The notification is working properly.”
This meant the items obtained in the otherworld were functioning in the game.
“At least they can’t claim it’s illegal or some hack.”
Carefully, Woojin pressed the confirm button.
[You have absorbed Raul’s essence.]
A gust of wind blasted across his face.
▶ You have gained great insight.
▶ This is an advanced essence.
▶ Your current grade cannot fully absorb it.
▶ Complete quests to increase your grade. – Minimum requirement: Complete 3 B-grade quests (0/3).
▶ Certain traits are restricted.
Memories surged into his mind.
▶ You have awakened the trait [Adventurer].
▶ You have awakened the trait [Solitude].
▶ You have awakened the trait [Dragon Slayer].
▶ You have awakened the trait [Indomitable].
The influx of memories was accompanied by a flood of notifications.
“Raul…”
The memories didn’t feel like mere data; they seemed to seep into him.
Trait: Adventurer
▶ Gain 15% bonus experience for a day when hunting in new areas.
▶ After a day, gain 5% bonus experience.
▶ Deal 10% extra damage in first encounters with monsters.
▶ Deal 5% extra damage against previously encountered monsters.
Trait: Solitude
▶ Gain a 5% increase to all stats in solo play.
▶ Gain 10% bonus experience in solo play.
Trait: Dragon Slayer
▶ Gain 5% bonus experience when hunting dragon-type monsters.
▶ Increase attack power by 10% against dragon-type monsters.
Trait: Indomitable
▶ When HP drops below 5%, all stats dramatically increase.
“…This is insane.”
In [Evil Tale], traits were rarer than skills.
“While they could be obtained through specific conditions or quests, most known traits were related to cooking or crafting.”
But what he had gained,
They were all related to hunting
And every single one was so extraordinary that it left him speechless.
“Ha… haha.”
Without realizing it, Woojin let out a hollow laugh.
‘…Could it be?’
A sudden thought flashed through his mind.
‘The equipment I brought back from the otherworld applied in the game. Then…’
“Status window.”
A translucent hologram appeared.
Name: Khan
Class: Warrior
Level: 10
Strength: 25(+25)
Agility: 15(+35)
Endurance: 20(+40)
Conviction: 10
Dexterity: 20(+20)
Strategy: 20
Total Points: 230
Remaining Points: 0
Traits: Adventurer, Solitude, Dragon Slayer, Indomitable
Upon seeing his status window, Woojin clenched his fists tightly without realizing it.
In Evil Tale, all starting characters had fixed stats of
‘A character receives an additional 5 points upon creation, and gains 5 points per level.’
A Level 10 player’s total points should be 110. But for him?
His total was a whopping 230.
Twice the amount of other players at the same level.
In terms of points, he was on par with players in their 30s.
The reason was clear.
The increase in total points came from the numbers in the brackets next to each stat.
‘The runs I consumed in the otherworld.
Those were applied in the game as well.
It’s natural for stat growth to become more difficult as levels rise.
‘The gap will only grow larger over time, and that gap will translate to even greater strength.’
“It wasn’t for nothing.”
Woojin smiled bitterly as he looked at his stats.
The nights spent hunting gray wolves, sleepless and desperate, had led to this result.
‘Raul…’
He thought of Raul’s final moments.
‘Could this really be the end?’
Schwing—
He silently drew the sword from its sheath.
‘I don’t know if I deserve to inherit your swordsmanship…’
What must Raul have felt when he handed over his beloved sword in the face of death?
He couldn’t have wanted to enter his life’s ultimate technique to a mere Level 10 warrior.
“The least I can do for you…”
Woojin murmured softly, as if speaking directly to Raul.
“…is to become someone worthy of your swordsmanship.”
▶ Inherited Skill: Yongcheon (Dragon Sky) unlocked.
▶ Raul’s incomplete ultimate technique, realized after slaying three dragons.
Whoosh―――!
A powerful current of air flowed from the sword, enveloping Woojin’s entire body.
“…Urgh?”
Suddenly, an intense pain, as if his muscles were tearing, surged through him.
“Arghhhhh…!!!”
Though Evil Tale emphasized realism, it was still a game.
Nobody wants to experience excruciating pain while playing a game, which is why the system allowed up to 98% pain reduction.
Even Woojin had enabled that setting.
Yet, this pain… what on earth was it?
‘Even with pain reduction, it’s this bad…’
He couldn’t even imagine how it would feel in reality.
▶ Inherited Skill: Yongcheon unlocked.
With the notification, the pain vanished as quickly as it had come.
[1st Gate of Yongcheon opened.]
[Skill comprehension is low.]
[Level is insufficient.]
[Raise your level and comprehension to unlock the next stage.]
“Huff… huff…”
The moment the pain disappeared, a refreshing sensation coursed through his entire body as if blood was flowing smoothly again.
[1st Gate opened successfully.]
▶ 1st Gate – Skill: Severance learned.
Crackle… crackle…!
Sparks faintly flickered along the blade he held.
“…!!”
Startled, Woojin quickly sheathed the sword.
“Geez… that scared me.”
He glanced around. Fortunately, no one seemed to notice him.
“Ha… haha…”
The faint tingling sensation from the sword lingered in his hand. Woojin clenched and unclenched his fist, as if trying to preserve the memory of that moment.
The 100th floor of the labyrinth tower in the otherworld.
‘They said miracles could be achieved if you conquer it.’
If the otherworld was real…
Then what Raul had said must also be true.
‘I need to go back there.’
If he conquered the 100th floor, he might find a way to return to reality.
He could use the skills he had mastered in the game.
‘That means the abilities gained in the game can also be used in the otherworld.’
Just as the runes from the otherworld were applied in the game.
‘Even if I could go back now, I’m far too weak to conquer the 100th floor.’
Before returning, he had to become stronger in the game.
“There’s so much to do.”
Clench—
Woojin’s determined eyes gleamed with resolve.
