The Path Maker
Mu-hyuk chose the box depicting weapons and armor.
He was a bit interested in the materials, but what he really needed was just skulls anyway. Since he could buy skulls with gold, there was no need to feel urgent about it anymore.
Instead, he judged it more rational to pick the weapons box and secure an item with percentage-based options.
He clearly remembered that weapons had appeared in the first Treasure Dungeon, and users who obtained items with high percentages had drawn a lot of attention.
It has to be right.
He opened the lid of the box.
Click.
‘Weapons Box’ has been opened.
That was the only line.
Eh, is that it?
He stared blankly for a moment when Sung Min-woo, who had been hanging back, suddenly stepped forward.
“Can’t I open one too?”
Saying that, he unhesitatingly opened the lid of the materials box.
‘Materials Box’ has been opened.
Mu-hyuk’s head whipped around.
Not just one, but two had been applied.
Two?
A message appeared belatedly.
You are the first to open the ‘Treasure Dungeon’.
Two boxes will be applied as a reward.
This content appeared only to Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk.
‘Treasure Dungeon’ content has been opened.
‘Kaon’s Treasure Dungeon’ has opened in the valley of Tonum Plains.
This was a message received simultaneously by players worldwide.
*
The two, forcibly teleported outside, were silent for a while.
“This is huge, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How huge?”
“Top-tier.”
“Kwaaaaaah!”
He figured such a roar was only natural.
150 Achievement Points, no less.
And a title on top of that.
Plus, being the first to open the content meant they could enter the dungeon first. What benefits would that bring?
The gains from claiming it early?
Just thinking about it brought a smile to his face.
“Let’s check the title first.”
He hurriedly confirmed the title.
*
A wind suddenly blew in front of them, forming what looked like a cave. This was the new content they had personally opened: the Treasure Dungeon.
“Done freaking out?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Then let’s go in.”
“O-okay!”
They stepped into the Treasure Dungeon.
You are the first to enter the ‘Treasure Dungeon’.
The number of ‘treasures’ discovered for 24 hours will be applied as ‘2x’.
Acquired ‘experience’ will increase by ‘50%’ for 48 hours.
The messages were surprising, but the dungeon’s scale shocked him even more.
“Why’s it so huge?”
It felt like they’d dropped into a massive stadium.
“That’s what makes it fun.”
As they prepared to start exploring in earnest.
“Ah, wait a sec.”
“What?”
Sung Min-woo grinned.
“Let’s eat first.”
“……”
After some grumbling, they decided to take a short break.
“Fine, we already got the entry bonus anyway.”
“Okay, see you in an hour.”
“Yeah.”
He logged out immediately.
Hiss.
Mu-hyuk emerged from the capsule, opened his laptop, and accessed the Illusion homepage. He posted a monster strategy guide on the paid board, then boiled some ramen.
Eating ramen at his desk, he fiddled with the laptop on the floor. As he checked the free board, posts with similar titles caught his eye. He clicked one and skimmed it.
The post itself wasn’t much.
The comments were the chaotic ones.
Hitting F5 showed hundreds of new comments.
“Whoa.”
With a sigh of admiration, he clicked back to the main page.
New posts were flooding in.
Most were about the Treasure Dungeon.
Nothing worth seeing.
Almost all posts were about the dungeon. What could Mu-hyuk, who had personally opened the Treasure Dungeon, possibly wonder about it?
He closed the laptop and focused on his ramen. Meanwhile, the homepage erupted like a volcano.
It was a new content launch that players couldn’t ignore.
And at a very tantalizing level.
*
The chat room flooded with people.
Conversations stuttered to a halt.
Aliha left, and someone new entered.
They posted immediately.
A brief silence followed.
Illusion’s World didn’t reply.
Then one person left.
Illusion’s World logged off without a word. No point sticking around. If anyone knew info, they’d email it.
Of course, it wasn’t just the chat. He posted on all Illusion communities, the homepage’s free and TIP boards, and comments everywhere.
He asked acquaintances to head to Tonum Plains and record the situation. The value of this new content was limitless.
Even the Red Tower had brought huge profits through exclusive broadcasting.
But this was Treasure Dungeon—even more provocative. It could shake hearts more than the tower.
Phew, this should do.
He glanced at the laptop, then turned away. Yura had arrived to record this week’s episode.
“You’re here.”
“Yeah. What’s Uncle doing?”
“Broadcast station stuff.”
“Oh, sorry. PD-nim, what’re you up to?”
“Eh, just prep. Go get ready.”
“Yes!”
He watched Yura’s retreating figure, then checked his email. A few came in, but all were obvious fakes.
Sighing, he stood and headed to the smoking area in front of the station.
He pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
Click.
He inhaled deeply, then exhaled a big cloud. It eased his stuffiness a bit, but his shoulders still felt heavy.
Treasure Dungeon, huh.
If he could exclusive it, what ratings would it pull?
Just imagining made his mouth water.
Maybe that’s why he kept checking email on his phone.
Zero results, of course.
Kim Min-ho PD, having finished his smoke, reentered the station.
“Alright, let’s record.”
“Yes!”
Recording came first.
He pushed distracting thoughts aside.
A bit later.
After the short recording, Kim Min-ho PD and Yura ate dinner together.
“Uncle, why keep checking your phone?”
“Oh, waiting on an email.”
“Email?”
“Yeah.”
“About what?”
“You know the Treasure Dungeon opened, right?”
“Duh. I wanna rush home for it!”
“Gotta eat first.”
“Tch, I know.”
“Anyway, posted about it. Asked for tips via email. Know it won’t come, but keep checking.”
Kim Min-ho PD’s eyes lit up mid-sentence.
Someone crossed his mind.
“Hey, you still see that guy sometimes?”
“Who? Mu-hyuk-ssi?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s been busy lately, so not much, but we grab meals occasionally.”
“So you do see him sometimes.”
“Yeah. Why?”
Kim Min-ho PD leaned in.
“Any special talk lately?”
“Sp-special? We’re not like that.”
Yura’s face fell.
“Weirdly, I feel more comfortable with him as time goes….”
“Uh, huh?”
“To him, I’m just a friend, right?”
The conversation veered off.
“Not that….”
“Huh? Th-then?”
“Like finding a dungeon or something….”
“……”
Yura’s eyes widened.
“Uncle!”
“Haha, sorry. Didn’t know you thought that way.”
“Tch, whatever!”
Yura turned away. Kim Min-ho awkwardly soothed her, and they resumed eating.
Nothing special, then.
He sighed inwardly again.
Still….
He couldn’t shake the name easily.
Mu-hyuk.
The more he learned, the more impressive he became.
Most shocking was his start time. He only logged in half a year after Illusion’s release.
Yet he grew at insane speed and signed with Illusion’s World.
Heard he clashed with a big guild recently. Worried at first, but two months later, rumors said he destroyed it. Eyes widened; he even checked personally.
Conclusion: Jackpot.
No exaggeration in the stories.
If anything, understated.
Once tried inviting him on air, but refused. No major info since. Probably focusing on leveling.
That’s how he hit top ranker.
Might be connected to many rankers.
Really, maybe.
If so, he might know something about the Treasure Dungeon.
The thought grew stronger over time.
Yeah, ask him.
He finally started typing a text.
He pressed send.