One Who Surpasses Adversity

Mu-hyuk, now with a clear view, dismissed the floating hologram and scanned his surroundings first.

He had to check if anyone had discovered the ancient dungeon and was laying siege to it—that could make things tricky.

Fortunately, no users were in sight.

"Whoa, Nagel Hunting Ground."

"Yeah."

Sung Min-woo had made a huge fuss here while doing an exploration quest, claiming he'd found a dungeon. Back then, no one had imagined it was an ancient dungeon.

Anyway, they'd ended up clearing that ancient dungeon.

"Uwaaaah, it's really over! And... jackpot!"

"Yeah, it's insane..."

Mu-hyuk turned to the two of them.

Was it that good?

The crisp air, the blue trees.

It was nice, sure.

All that stuffiness was finally gone.

"Feels good to me too."

"Wh-what kind of reaction is that?"

"Huh? What?"

"You checked the hologram, right?"

"Nah?"

"Dude. Check it now!"

Mu-hyuk nodded and summoned the hologram.

It was an insane reward.

All stats boosted by the title.

"3... 3percent..."

A whopping 3 percent.

If your stats totaled 100, that meant +3. An enormous option.

And its effect would grow over time. At 200 stats, it'd be +6.

At 300, +9.

Not that anyone hit 300 stats anytime soon.

Still, it put him in a great mood.

And on top of that...

His level shot up by a whole 2.

"Haha..."

"See that?"

"Yeah."

"Title and exp are nuts. You publicizing?"

"Oh, the clear rankings?"

"Yeah."

"No point hiding it."

"Right? Says you get rewards too."

"Oppa, me too?"

"Yeah."

All three chose Yes.

A box materialized in front of him alongside the hologram.

"Let's see what's inside?"

"Wait, hold up!"

Sung Min-woo pulled another box from his inventory. He split up round pill-like things, one to each.

"Hm?"

But they weren't pills when he touched them.

"No scent either. Doesn't feel like pills?"

"Yeah, weird."

"Eggs? What is it?"

What were these round things, and what options did they hold?

Unable to hide his excitement, he checked right away.

The name was a question mark, and the description was laughably vague.

"What the...?"

"Question marks."

Sung Min-woo and Ye-rin looked disappointed, but not Mu-hyuk.

In Illusion, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠question mark items held surprisingly high value. Later on, they were called gamble items and sold for top prices.

Gacha, basically.

But from an ancient dungeon? No way it was a bust.

He stowed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the round thing in his inventory and opened the 1st place reward box.

"A map?"

That was Mu-hyuk's voice.

"Map for me too."

"Same here."

All three got maps.

Maps, huh.

Looking closer, each map marked a single location.

"Treasure maps or something?"

"That'd be huge."

"Doubt it."

He doubted they'd mark something like that so obviously.

Mu-hyuk tilted his head, folded his map in half, and pocketed it.

"We'll see when we check later."

Not immediately useful, but surely something was there. That alone satisfied the three.

Anticipation was like that.

Of course, the bonus stage stats and potions from the peddler were why they could relax like this.

"Man, but I'm beat."

Maybe finishing the item checks?

The post-battle high ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faded, fatigue crashing in.

"Let's log out for today."

"Great idea, buddy."

"Oppa, I'm heading out first then."

"Yeah, rest up."

"Okay!"

As Ye-rin logged out and Sung Min-woo moved to follow, Mu-hyuk called him back.

"Hey, wait."

"What?"

"We gotta sell the ancient dungeon info."

"Huh?"

"Just leave it?"

"Nah."

"You found it. Sell on the homepage, it'll fetch a nice chunk."

"Hm."

Sung Min-woo looked guilty. After a moment's thought, he firmed up.

"Sell together. Split 50-50."

"Nah, why would I."

"You've helped me tons."

Mu-hyuk shook his head.

"I sold all the dungeons I found before on my own. Didn't split with you."

"Dude. Splitting that too would make me trash."

"Oh, right. Heh."

"Anyway, you know this stuff best. Sell high. But 5-5 split."

"No, seriously, why..."

"Done deal!"

"Hey, wait...!"

He called, but Sung Min-woo waved and vanished.

"Hah, that guy."

Ridiculous, but a smile crept up anyway.

"Sheesh, me."

He shook his head, then remembered something.

Oh, level +2?

Rankings then?

Curious, he checked the rankings quick.

7th. Mu-hyuk (Necromancer 153Lv)

8th. Iron Fist (Spirit Fighter 153Lv)

9th. Ye-rin (Enhanced Tamer 153Lv)

Single digits at last.

"They left without seeing."

He'd text them later. Then he logged out.

Next day.

After morning workout, back home, he booted the laptop. About to hit the Illusion homepage, he checked mail first.

Hadn't in a while.

Logged in—mail piled sky-high.

"Ugh."

Delete all? But maybe something important, so no.

Skipped obvious ads by title, clicked suspicious ones.

For Illusion?

KTB's top-rated Illusion show. He'd watched sometimes.

He read slowly.

Know about the tournament win and ranking rise. Want him on the program...

Contact info included.

"Hm."

Table for now. Checked others.

"Oh?"

Unexpected one.

Mu-hyuk frowned.

"Illusion TV."

Like old AfreecaTV, for personal streams.

Exclusive to Illusion, though.

Issue: It wasn't supposed to launch until 5 years after Illusion's release. Didn't expect it so soon.

Money-maker, sure...

No, too much money was the problem.

Even non-rankers streamed on Illusion TV for side cash.

"Hm."

More money never hurt.

But one reason to hesitate: personality.

Had to be fun, lively, intense for viewers. Mu-hyuk hated forcing it, pandering.

And hassle.

He made plenty already.

Pass for now.

Then his phone rang.

"Hey, sis."

Mu-hyuk hung up and checked mail again.

Nothing much.

Broadcast or Illusion TV? Needed deep thought, no quick reply.

Delete rest.

Then skimmed Illusion homepage.

Ancient dungeon—sell via board again? Then an idea hit.

Oh, maybe.

Act on it now.

Contact first.

Called Sung Min-woo and Ye-rin in turn.

Mu-hyuk chuckled.

"Walking takes days. You know."

Hung up, Mu-hyuk logged into Illusion.

Short wait, Ye-rin logged in.

"Here?"

"Yeah. Min-woo oppa?"

"Not yet."

"Hehe."

Ye-rin smiled, approached, and suddenly kissed him.

"Morning kiss."

Soft touch dazed him.

"C'mere."

Not enough—he pulled her close, kissed again. Right then Sung Min-woo appeared. They faked normalcy, too late.

"Uh, I saw nothing."

"Good."

"Yeah, so next time, manners in public."

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

"Ugh, embarrassing..."

Mu-hyuk stroked blushing Ye-rin's hair.

"Let's go?"

"Quick. I need a nap on arrival."

"Do that. Skeleton Warhorse summon."

The three mounted warhorses and headed for Hemil Empire.