An Unprecedented Dungeon
It was a type of dungeon Mu-hyuk had never heard of before.
Normal, special, unique, ancient.
Those were the only four kinds he knew.
Pascal's Dungeon?
He blanked out for a moment, then shuddered as if struck by lightning.
------!
One fact suddenly came to mind.
How can our levels be different?
Dungeons had level restrictions. Only users matching the exact level could enter.
But Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo had different levels. Yet they'd both entered this place—Pascal's Dungeon.
Did that even make sense?
A chill raced up his spine.
He shook his head.
What the hell? Seriously...!
Only then did he realize he'd overlooked the last line of the message.
He hurriedly reopened the message window.
Quest effect has temporarily lifted the level restriction.
A gasp escaped him involuntarily.
"Ah..."
It was the first time he'd learned something like this was possible.
"Holy shit..."
"What's up?"
"You see the message?"
"Huh? No."
"Check it out, quick."
Sung Min-woo nodded and stared into space.
Moments later, his eyes widened impossibly further.
"Whoa! What the—?!"
It shattered everything they knew about Illusion.
Wait a sec.
Suddenly, a memory from the past surfaced.
Was that this?
When Mu-hyuk had been paralyzed, there was one user famous for info drops.
He'd occasionally share intel, and users would verify it, posting results that built his rep.
It became a guilty pleasure to follow. Sure, some tips flopped, but most hit the mark—that's what made him popular.
Yeah, that's it. Definitely...
Among the flood of info, something similar rang a bell.
What was it again?
A bizarre dungeon unlike the usual ones?
He racked his brain, but that was all he could recall.
Should've paid more attention.
Regret hit, but it was water under the bridge.
"Dungeons normally block entry if levels don't match, right?"
"Yep."
"Dude, mind blown."
Mu-hyuk felt the same.
Unfamiliar. Baffling.
Yet intriguing.
Both wore silly grins despite the shock.
What kind of dungeon is this place?
He was dying to find out.
"Shall we?"
"Hell yeah."
Just as he took a step—
Oh, the quest.
He'd forgotten to check the details.
"Hold up."
"Why?"
"Quest first."
"Oh... right!"
Cause of the Pain
📍 Description: Pascal, who wails in torment, was once a knight of the kingdom. On the eve of his marriage to his beloved, he met a gruesome end during a reconnaissance mission. Find the item he dropped at the dungeon's final chamber and lay his grudge to rest.
🎁 Rewards: Massive EXP. Random Item Box (x1). Quest.
⚠️ Failure: Pascal's Curse
Not a bad quest—solid rewards.
The penalty was the issue.
"A curse, huh."
Curses like this could haunt you forever.
Temples could lift them, but the cost and rare materials meant it might take ages—or be impossible.
No failing this.
Just clear it.
Mu-hyuk grinned, gripping his bow tighter.
"Yo, what's the curse on failure?"
"Dunno. Doesn't matter—we'll clear it."
"True, but..."
"No overthinking. This is huge. I'm clearing it no matter what."
"Damn, you're fired up."
"Obviously."
Quest-linked dungeon access? Massive intel value.
And the rewards felt incomplete somehow.
There's more to this.
His heart raced for the first time in ages.
"Let's go."
"Roger!"
They quickened their pace.
Thud.
In the silent dungeon depths, only their footsteps echoed—until.
Swish.
An alien sound intruded.
Both froze, exchanging glances and nods. They held still.
The quiet amplified the noise, growing louder.
After a tense wait, its source revealed itself.
The next day.
Having hunted late, Mu-hyuk woke past noon, washed up, and scarfed down some side dishes to fill his growling stomach.
Almost done eating, his phone rang—Kim Min-ho PD.
"Long time no talk, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Broadcast's wrapped. Wanted to treat you to a meal today or tomorrow."
Treatment? More like a chat on tips or next contract.
Obvious as day, so he hesitated.
He had good info—like the dungeon entry. That alone would blow up, flipping the "dungeons have fixed levels" myth.
But he'd have to explain the quest link.
Merc guilds would hunt hidden chains harder, complicating his life.
No shortsighted gains. Can't gut the golden goose.
"Tough to make time."
"Oh, really? Yura wanted to tag along too. Bummer."
Mu-hyuk frowned.
Why her?
No contact since that day.
Awkward. Complicated.
But the thought of seeing her muddled his head.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Yeah. Hit me up when you can."
"Got it."
Call ended.
"Haa."
A sigh slipped out.
Yura.
She popped up when he least expected.
Pointless thoughts.
He shook it off, checked the time.
Log into Illusion first...
Phone rang again—not PD, but Father.
"Yes, Dad."
"You home?"
Weekday, 2 PM. "At work?" would've been normal.
"Asked if you're home."
His tone was off.
Shit.
Instinct screamed: busted.
Lying would make it worse.
"Yeah, home."
"Get here now."
"Yes, sir..."
He stood, texted Sung Min-woo, and rushed home.
Moments later.
Mu-hyuk parked the BMW out front.
Stepping out, he looked up.
"Hoo."
Just open the gate—but daunting. Facing Dad worried him.
Creeeak.
The gate swung open suddenly.
"......"
Eye contact with Kang Seon-woo.
Silence hung.
Swish.
Kang Seon-woo eyed the car behind him.
"What's that?"
"Bought it recently."
Quit the job—how? He'd mentioned Illusion, but earning enough for this? Unlikely.
Questions etched his face, but he held back.
"Come in."
"Yes."
Inside, Mother and Sister fidgeted anxiously.
"You're here!"
"Son..."
Mu-hyuk smiled reassuringly.
"Ahem. Follow me."
"Yes."
To the study. They sat facing each other on the sofa by the desk.
"So, you quit the company?"
"Yes."
Kang Seon-woo's brow furrowed.
"You lost your mind?"
"Sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"Hoo. Fine. Explain."
"Didn't want to get left behind anymore."
"Left behind?"
"Yes."
"Working's leaving you behind?"
"No."
"Then what?!"
"Not being able to play Illusion."
"You're talking about a game right now?!"
"Yes."
Kang Seon-woo bellowed.
"You little—!"
"Dad."
"Do you even grasp the nonsense you're spouting?!"
"Dad."
"Quitting over a damn game!"
Face flushed with rage.
Mu-hyuk stayed silent, lips tight.
"Why no answer?!"
Not yet.
"Answer me!"
"You don't seem interested in hearing me out."
"What?"
"Aren't you curious why I chose this? Why quit for Illusion? What I'm doing there? Results? If I'm thriving? None of that?"
Mu-hyuk met his father's eyes.
Voice steady. Gaze unwavering.
"You..."
Kang Seon-woo calmed, snapped awake by that conviction.
"Fine. Speak."
"You know how huge Illusion is."
"Of course. But does that mean quitting and devoting everything? Play after work on salary—plenty."
"Dad, I want to succeed."
"Who said otherwise?"
"Can't achieve it slaving at a desk."
"Illusion guarantees success?"
"Better odds than corporate grind."
"Hah..."
"1.2 billion players."
Daily users.
"Daily volume over $10 billion."
Money flowing in and out.
"Grateful to be alive—healthier now. Exercise daily, eat right. Sturdier and less stressed than at the job."
"......"
"Above all, it's fun."
That word—fun—made Kang Seon-woo close his eyes.
Long silence.
He opened them, atmosphere shifted.
"That good, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Fun?"
"Tons."
"That car from Illusion too?"
"Yes."
Firm.
"Hoo."
Kang Seon-woo nodded slowly.
Mu-hyuk inwardly cheered.
A nod meant approval.
*
Out of the study.
Creeeak.
Mother and Sister waited tensely.
"Ahem. Eat before you go."
"Yes."
They gaped.
"D-Dear?"
Mother to Father.
Sister to Mu-hyuk.
"Dude, what happened?"
"What?"
"He actually approved?!"
"Yeah."
"No way?"
"Swear."
"Dad!"
"Hm?"
"You really okayed it?"
"Ahem. Yes."
"Whoa, huge! Breaking news!"
It was shocking.
Mu-hyuk hadn't expected easy approval.
On the drive, he'd braced for radio silence.
"Quiet down."
Noise died.
Mother to kitchen.
Sister dragged him to the sofa.
"But seriously."
"Yeah?"
"That car parked outside—yours?"
"Yep."
"How? BMW from Illusion?"
"Level's decent."
"Heard stories, but damn, it's real."
"Luck helped."
Chatting when Mother called.
"Son!"
"Yeah?"
"Grab some tofu?"
Miso stew, probably. Tofu essential.
He rose.
"Any kind?"
"No. Convenience store nearby has 'Artisan's Touch' tofu. Get that."
"Bit far..."
"Please?"
"Fine."
Slipped on his jacket and headed out.