Adventure's Beginning
He pushed open the creaky door of the butcher shop, and the owner greeted him warmly.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm here on request from the training hall instructor."
"Oh ho, so you're the one who's gonna help me out. Things are urgent, so I'll cut to the chase—bring me ten chunks of mad dog meat within thirty minutes."
Stranger's Adventure 2
📍 Objective: Gather 10 chunks of mad dog meat within the time limit
🎁 Success: Experience, gold, linked quest
❌ Failure: None
Accept the quest?
"I'll be waiting."
Mu-hyuk left the butcher shop.
Five seconds later, he walked right back in.
Hansen's face lit up.
"Hm? Back already?"
"Yes, here's the mad dog meat."
"Ooh, ten chunks exactly! Thanks a ton!"
"Anything else I can help with?"
"You bet. Head to the herbalist's shop across the way—owner's Ralph, a buddy of mine. Help him out, and it'll be great."
The quest updated again.
Mu-hyuk nodded and headed to the herbalist's.
Ralph welcomed him with open arms.
"Sent by Hansen?"
"Yes."
"Perfect timing—I need deer antlers. Medicinal materials, and they gotta be here by tonight. Ten of 'em. Can you manage?"
"Of course."
He accepted the quest and stepped out.
Five seconds later, back in.
"Why're you back?"
"Got the deer antlers."
"Already?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, let me check."
Mu-hyuk handed over the ten antlers.
Ralph beamed.
"Truly grateful!"
The pattern continued: rabbit pelts from the tailor, goose eggs from the poultry farm.
Of course, he'd prepared everything in advance, clearing them instantly.
Without that knowledge, these wouldn't be easy quests at all.
The difficulty wasn't high, but the time limits made failure likely without info.
That's why it took three more months for the title's existence to leak out.
Even then, not everyone could get it.
Level limit was 10.
Mu-hyuk had smashed them already.
All within a day of logging in.
Now for the rewards.
He headed back to the training hall instructor.
"Hm? You again."
"Yes, finished your errands."
"Ah, heard about it. My friends were singing your praises."
"Thank you. Wasn't too hard..."
"Haha, not easy either. Thanks anyway. I'll call on you for tough stuff again."
"Sure. But..."
"What?"
"Has anyone else done quests like mine?"
"Oh, sure."
"How many?"
"You make three."
Two others besides me...
Not many.
Across the continent? Maybe a hundred, two hundred?
Of those, how many cleared the second training hall?
Probably needed to finish the first, and exactly level 50.
Harsh conditions—maybe a dozen or so, Mu-hyuk figured.
Hmm, then...
His thoughts cut short.
You have cleared the 'Training Hall Linked Quest'.
Experience gained.
'Fame' has increased.
Reward: 'Title' acquired.
Title acquired!
His fist clenched tight.
"Good work."
"Thanks."
Mu-hyuk bowed and left quickly, checking the title somewhere secluded.
He nearly cheered aloud.
"Hngh..."
He'd known it was coming, but holding it still sent thrills through him.
Deep breaths to calm down, then another look.
It boosted every stat by one—basics and specials alike.
Useful from early game straight through mid and late.
*
He was grinding for level 10 when a warning blared, a massive message blotting his view.
You have been logged in for 11 hours. Please take a break for stability. Forced logout in 1 hour.
Level 9 now.
A few more wolves, and it'd be 10.
First job change, then finally—skeleton summons.
But the alarm meant delaying that joy.
Fine, short break.
"Logout."
Back in reality, his body felt stiff.
"Ugh..."
He scrambled out of the capsule.
Stretching cracked his joints all over.
Twisting his waist, a twinge in his lower gut.
He stopped, headed to the bathroom.
Relieved, hunger hit hard—stomach practically glued to his spine.
To the kitchen, unfolded the low table.
Pulled side dishes from the fridge, piled them on, grabbed a heaping bowl of rice and chopsticks.
Shoveled a mouthful, tore kimchi and stuffed it in.
Chomp, chomp.
Hunger really was the best sauce.
Bowl empty in seconds. Another round, savoring every bite.
"Haa."
World looked right again.
Feeling alive.
Illusion already calling him back.
But no login yet, so he flicked on the TV to kill time.
[Three months plus since Illusion's launch, top ranker hits level 52. Level 50 unlocks second job change...]
Illusion news.
Switched channels.
[EXP gains too slow! Any breakthroughs?]
Same.
Another?
[Cash trades on Illusion sites: over a thousand in the last ten minutes. Rate: 10,000 won per gold...]
Every channel Illusion.
But rates caught his eye.
100 bronze = 1 silver, 100 silver = 1 gold.
His 10 gold? 100,000 won.
Rates'd hold steady awhile.
Another channel.
[Special programming on Illusion sprouting like weeds...]
All stuff he knew.
Interest waned; brain screamed to log back in.
How many minutes?
Exactly thirty.
Done.
Wait over.
He stood, lay in the capsule.
Time to dive in.
World went dark.
Light burst.
Welcome to Illusion.
Mechanical voice tingled his eardrums.
Body sank—or world rose?
Anyway, feet hit ground near the wolf woods where he'd logged out.
Grrr...
Perfect—four wolves closing in.
Quick inventory grab: sword and shield.
No panic as they narrowed the gap.
Strength 14, vitality and agility 7 each.
Strength-focused, but those weren't low.
A normal level 9 dumping all 8 bonus points into agility/vitality might barely hit that.
Pure level-up points, no quests or titles? Needed level 20.
Mu-hyuk did it at 9.
Iron sword and shield helped, but no reason to fear level 10 wolves.
Grrr...!
Problem: four of them.
Normal party? Run like hell.
Wolves pack up, but four was rare—usually two or three max.
Mu-hyuk didn't care.
Three or four? Same difference.
Thought stopped.
Focus: battle.
Quick backstep to a tree trunk.
They circled.
Now just worry front, sides, flanks—back covered.
Four formed a semicircle, closing.
Then two leaped.