Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Gates of the Forgotten Moon Ruins
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"Choices appearing...?"
It was an unusual occurrence.
For some reason, choices were visible to Kang Seol.
As if providing hints on exactly how to resolve situations like this.
He had memorized the rulebook, which even included trivial details, like a civil service exam student cramming every line.
Naturally, he'd memorized nearly every choice in the tutorial to get weak early characters through.
Even so, what he remembered was from the demo version, so there was a risk it wouldn't match the full release he was in now.
But as he checked the choices floating before his eyes, those worries vanished.
'I don't know why, but thank goodness. I was worried they might have changed...'
The visible choices were identical to the demo.
Kirrik.
Clank—
The left lever was pulled.
Kirrik.
Clank—
The right lever followed.
Rumble—
The adventure infamous for its deadly traps, the Forgotten Moon Ruins, revealed itself.
Newbie, right? Newbie!
'Is this visible to everyone?'
Whether true or not, it was undoubtedly a huge help.
Among the many choices, picking the right one was something Kang Seol excelled at.
The first gate appears. What will you do?
1. Step on the first stepping stone.
2. Step on the second stepping stone.
3. Step on the third stepping stone.
4. …
…
9. Step on the ninth stepping stone.
Still, the hints weren't absolute. When there were too many choices, it was hard to be certain of his memory.
Other players are getting wrecked here lol
'The first gate... stepping on the stones in order, right?'
The first gate of the Forgotten Moon Ruins.
It involved stepping on pattern-etched stones in sequence to advance.
Stepping on the wrong one triggered a trap. A simple mechanism.
'This was meant to be learned by trial and error early on.'
The game piece's HP dropping versus blood spraying from his real body—they meant very different things.
'This is why casters are at a disadvantage.'
Characters without agility investments often had to tank traps when mistakes happened.
Dodge arrows? No, take them. Poison gas? Breathe it in.
'One mistake could kill me.'
Of course, that was the worst case.
And Kang Seol had zero intention of reaching that worst case.
Over 17 years, he'd played with most innate talents in the Eternal World.
In that process, he'd uncovered hordes of hidden mechanics, of course.
'Now... the hidden choice was this one, right?'
…
9. Step on the ninth stepping stone.
10. [Req: Archaeology 1, Theology 1] Decipher the code on the gate and proceed in that order.
11. [Req: Trap Disarm 1] Disarm visible traps as you go.
Cheat-key choices 10 and 11.
Naturally, they required talents.
Trap Disarm actually needed the talent to use, so 11 was out. Only 10 remained for Kang Seol.
'The code on the gate...'
As the choice described, there was indeed text before the first stone. But he couldn't read it.
[Unreadable text is inscribed here.]
'Probably because I lack Archaeology and Theology.'
Couldn't read it, but that didn't mean he didn't know the content.
Kang Seol soon recalled it.
— The lion is ferocious and yields to none, the sheep is meek and claims the last place. The benevolent moon embraces them, and the jealous wolf follows the lion.
A riddle-like phrase.
The structure or particles might be off, but the core was right.
'Got it now.'
Unyielding lion first.
Jealous wolf second.
Benevolent moon third.
Meek sheep fourth.
Then repeat from the start.
'Just follow the order, and no harm done.'
Kang Seol eyed the lion stone and traced the path with his gaze.
Finally, his eyes swept across to the other side.
"Alright. Here goes."
He boldly stepped on the lion stone.
Thud.
"……."
No reaction—interpretation correct.
From then, he advanced without hesitation.
Thud.
Thud.
Thump.
[That newbie smell was there... definitely... sniff sniff...]
He's crazy!
Those footsteps are majestic...
Free pass on the first gate? Settings say that choice needs Archaeology and Theology?
Archaeology and Theology build? Maniac lol
This isn't the taste... needs more suffering...
Kang Seol's memory was exceptional even in reality—those around him always praised it.
He wouldn't forget key mechanics from adventures past characters cleared.
Thud.
Kang Seol lifted his foot from the final stone.
You cleared the first gate of the Forgotten Moon Ruins.
You may select a reward.
A copper chest is generated.
You cleared the gate without damage.
Reward enhanced.
Copper chest upgraded to iron chest.
Select reward to end the adventure.
"Easy."
Tutorial, duh lol. Meanwhile, about 50 million humans on Earth just died.
Oh really? Lol;;
One foot out of danger.
Claim the reward here, and he could move to the next adventure. No need to brave more traps.
'But stopping now means a lesser reward...'
Snowman never flinched before great adventures.
"Gotta keep going."
Gazua!!!
I'll join! (Just cheering)
Fight! (Fervent cheers)
Progressing through the Moon Ruins was like the new car dilemma.
'Might as well add a bit more and get something better.'
Pity to stop after coming this far, so push on.
In Moonlit Dance, many players chose to advance.
'Dangerous once you hit the tipping point, though.'
The Moon Ruins taught players to know their place. Greed for bigger rewards without self-awareness led to vain death.
'An adventure I know inside out. No room for mistakes.'
Swoosh.
Beyond the first gate, a ceiling appeared.
He worried about visibility without moonlight, but torches lit along the passage.
Fwoosh.
Fwoosh.
Kang Seol spotted the second gate.
'So this is what it feels like in person.'
Spikes studded both walls—eerie. Narrow holes dotted the ceiling.
Stepping stones were red, blue, black.
'Hate this one...'
The second gate: the essence of the Forgotten Moon Ruins, no shortcuts—just brute force through traps.
The ultimate trap gauntlet.
'Longer than I thought.'
The passage stretched endlessly.
Physically and mentally draining.
Others would turn back at this horror.
But Kang Seol fanned the flames of excitement in his heart.
His reflection gleamed in the sparkling stone walls—pathetic.
Worn sackcloth draped over him, crumbling staff in hand.
But what made him truly wretched was the black line etched on his neck.
Straight as a choker, encircling his throat.
He knew its origin.
'That lightning noose...'
The dream's binding lightning power.
It left an indelible mark.
Like surviving the gallows by miracle.
The black trace constantly recalled the pain, the nightmare.
Maybe he really had returned from the gallows—his current plight felt that way.
Kang Seol touched his neck with cold eyes, vowing.
'Definitely... we'll meet again.'
To onlookers, his resolve looked like fear of trials ahead.
This place is a total bitch lol Gotta think hard;
Thoughts settled, Kang Seol stepped on a red stone without hesitation.
Clank.
"……."
A scary sound, but nothing else.
"Phew...".
Thud.
Next to black.
Groooan—
Suddenly, walls inched closer.
Keep wrong-stepping, and they'd crush him like a rat.
Second gate choices worked this way. Same ones visible to him.
Stepping stones appear.
1. Step on red.
2. Step on blue.
3. Step on black.
……
Talents unlocked extras, but no easy cheats like the first gate.
'Mechanical Engineering or Trap Disarm would've helped...'
Kang Seol recalled the second gate method.
'Remember the color sequence.'
Follow fixed order to the end. Wrong step triggers threats.
'Red was right first...'
Thud.
Clank.
Red again—no reaction.
'Red once more.'
Clank.
Correct. Second was red.
'Now...'
Blue stone. But not safe.
Pong!
Smack!
"Gahhh!"
A fist-sized ball shot from the left wall, slamming his forearm.
"Urghhh...".
This guy's lolol Trying to breeze through!
Don't know? Take the hit!
Blue's wrong~ Black black~
It hurt like hell.
Lucky he twisted reflexively, dispersing impact—or bone might've snapped.
"Haha... this is kinda fun."
That line lolol
Full chuunibyou lolol
This player! Hit by iron ball and laughing!
Groaning, but his gamer instincts didn't forget the task.
"Red... red... what's next...".
Thud.
Clank.
Thud.
Clank.
Two reds, then black.
Pong!
Smack!
"Gaaaaah! Fuck!"
Another ball—right thigh this time.
"Three reds in a row... too much."
No way finals has 3 reds in a row lol
Nope~ Go back~
Pain intense.
Kang Seol thought another big hit might knock him out.
"Who's gonna win this?"
Thud.
Clank.
Thud.
Clank.
Thud.
Clank.
Three steps later, next choice.
'No way...?'
Trying red again.
Thud.
Clank.
'Bastards...'
Not fooled this time? Lololol
Four reds straight.
At this point, maybe just spam red?
'No, my memory's right.'
Strict sequence required.
Excluding red for the end, not blue—so black.
High-level strat only.
Exposed rules lose meaning.
Kang Seol broke into a run.
Tatada.
This guy! How did he figure it out "crying"
Play a bit longer?
Thus, Kang Seol reached the passage's end.
You cleared the second gate of the Forgotten Moon Ruins.
You may select a reward.
A silver chest is generated.
Trap activations did not exceed 10.
Reward enhanced.
Silver chest upgraded to gold chest.
Select reward to end the adventure.
"Haa... haa...".
Kang Seol, gold chest in sight before the final gate.
Body trembling from the heavy ball hits. Feverish too.
'Can't stop.'
Approaching the gold chest, he thought: every future time like this, same choice.
He passed it.
Going further? Bruising where he got hit?
Total psycho lolol
Pardon, but do you enjoy pain, sir?
An... interesting newbie here.
A sturdy stone door awaited.
"Do not be arrogant. Know your place. Be humble."
Such words inscribed.
Kang Seol eyed the choices before it.
1. Ignore the warning and enter to prove yourself.
2. Know your place and retreat.
No hidden tricks here—just these choices.
What would Snowman pick?
'Never chose 2 once.'
Caressing the door, it began opening.
Rumble—
Inside: open ceiling letting in moonlight.
Spacious, easing prior claustrophobia.
And.
"Arrogant fool. To set foot here."
A knight in moonlit armor stood center.
Kang Seol grinned, baring teeth.
Like reuniting with an old friend.