1
Ep 1
Murim.
More precisely, it was a game that strongly carried that kind of atmosphere.
I felt that dopamine was essential when playing games in many ways.
For example, in grinding games, the dopamine of growth that comes later.
In gacha games, the dopamine from hitting the jackpot or increasing a character’s damage.
Unlike stagnant salaries or lottery tickets that never get drawn, these were dopamine sources that could be obtained
very easily.
That’s why I couldn’t quit the game “Falling into Murim.”
I had already collected all martial arts,
And was doing all sorts of absurd things like beating top-tier masters with third-rate sword techniques.
Eventually, I reached the final stage and began thinking about how to build my character.
Right then, I received an invitation to the update test server, a privilege only given to those in the top PvP rankings,
and I was excited to finally enjoy the game again.
The new final boss, the Sword Empress.
Unlike the Heavenly Demon, whose patterns and personality were utterly ridiculous,
She was beautiful.
Even just from the leaked illustration, her graceful figure and striking presence filled the screen, enough to make me
smile just by looking at it.
I did enjoy overcoming difficult challenges,
But if there was such a stunning woman involved, that was a different story.
I would sweep through the early enemies effortlessly, appear like an overpowered protagonist, defeat the Sword Empress
and…
A quiet chuckle escaped me.
If I started again in the next life after defeating her…
I’d make sure she couldn’t live without me.
Just imagining the face of the Sword Empress, Cheon Hyerin, and her elegant figure barely concealed even beneath her
uniform made anticipation build up.
At that moment, the game update finally finished.
I had handled 47 emails today at a demanding small company job.
I even took a half-day on Thursday, a full leave on Friday, and Monday was a holiday.
A smile naturally spread across my face.
When I was younger, I didn’t realize it, but now I found myself making tight weekend plans every Friday.
Anyway, why was the update size close to 300 terabytes?
It was such a ridiculous size that it wouldn’t be strange even if it led to being reincarnated into another world.
Still, I was even more excited about this update.
“300 terabytes? What is this, space imagery?”
Let’s see… one basic martial art… and the other…
Hm? Free selection?
Then of course, Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Even if the Heavenly Demon was annoying, that was only because of his ridiculous patterns.
In pure strength, he truly deserved the title of the strongest under heaven.
I copied the build I had prepared for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art onto my character and opened the window to choose
another martial art.
At that moment, something caught my eye.
A martial art I had never seen before.
Heavenly Demon Sword Sovereign – Ultimate Sword.
A peerless sword technique that no one except the Sword Empress, Cheon Hyerin, could learn.
It could only be properly executed after reaching enlightenment at the peak of mastery.
A warning appeared.
Since you have selected Heavenly Demon Divine Art, using it together may result in a fatal disadvantage.
I hesitated.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Heavenly Demon Sword Sovereign.
Two Heavenly Demons.
But with both, was there really anything to worry about?
If I died, I could just remake the character.
Soon, the save file check finished, and I clicked.
Normally, I would choose a female character.
But this time, my goal was to win over the Sword Empress.
Survival wasn’t even the objective of this game.
A male character allowed more investment into strength and stamina anyway.
And even if it was game over…
If I died, I’d just start over.
That was my thinking.
And then,
My vision went dark.
A fatal disadvantage has been confirmed.
You are falling into Murim.
It truly was,
A fatal disadvantage.
Damn it.
////
A night of torrential rain.
I had become a member of the Demonic Cult, not even knowing my own name yet.
Thunder roared as if tearing the sky apart.
Rain poured down like raging waves, blurring my vision.
Raindrops stung my eyes, and the weight of the rain pressed down on my shoulders like an endless wall.
There was one problem.
The moment I opened my eyes, I was already being chased.
“…You.”
The woman on my back called out to me.
“Yujin… stop…”
“…”
“Leave me… behind.”
Only then did I realize I was carrying a woman on my back.
She hung limply, her wet hair clinging to my neck.
But I had no time to care.
Each faint breath brushing against my ear only made me run faster.
The pursuers were right behind me.
Their shouts cut through the rain.
“Stop right there, you bastard!”
“Think you can get away? Hand her over!”
Honestly, I wanted to throw away this unknown woman and run.
But I couldn’t.
My arms refused to obey me, holding her tightly as if she were someone precious.
I gritted my teeth and kept running.
Mud dragged at my ankles, and I stumbled through puddles, but I didn’t fall.
“…Ugh.”
My body desperately maintained balance.
Her life depended on it.
Even if I didn’t want it to.
Thunder roared again, lightning splitting the darkness.
In that brief moment, I glanced back.
The pursuers were visible in flashes of light.
They were chasing not me, but the woman on my back.
“How did it come to this?”
Their footsteps were drowned out by the rain.
It felt like they were right behind me.
Occasional lightning illuminated them, and each time, I ran faster.
Rain, thunder, and the approaching footsteps fueled my fear.
Warm blood seeped onto my back.
“Am I… that important… to you?”
Her fading voice brushed my neck.
The Sword Empress was still alive.
Her long eyelashes trembled.
Her eyes shook faintly.
“You… Yujin… why risk… your life…”
“…”
I quickly scanned my surroundings and spotted a dark alley.
I rushed into it.
Finally, I jumped over a wall and hid behind a small building.
“…You’re heavy… perhaps you could move now.”
“…”
Maybe I had been pressing down too much.
How often had I ever held a beautiful woman this carefully?
But suddenly, strength left my arms.
As if it was finally okay to leave her here.
I carefully set her down.
“…Excuse me for a moment.”
“Wait… where are you going…”
“…”
What else?
I was running.
I had just been thrown into another world.
Was my life going to end in five minutes?
I wasn’t someone who would throw away his life for a stranger.
I wasn’t even good at fighting.
I drew my sword.
“Don’t… go… you must escape alone…”
“…”
I remained silent.
I was planning to leave her behind.
I opened my mouth.
“It’s something I have to do.”
“….”
She stared, unable to understand.
“You mustn’t go… it’s dangerous…”
Even then, I didn’t change my mind.
The living should live.
Just as I took a step forward,
The pursuers blocked my path.
I sighed.
…This is bad.
My body instinctively prepared for battle.
My grip tightened on the sword.
My throat burned.
Her gaze was on me.
Before I knew it, my body had already taken a fighting stance.
///
Her vision spun.
What she saw was the broad back of a man.
A familiar voice.
A familiar scent.
That face.
…it was him.
The man she could never forget.
“…Excuse me for a moment.”
Her breath caught.
His expression was different from what she knew.
As if there was no other choice left.
No.
Not him.
She couldn’t lose him.
But no words came out.
She could only raise her trembling hand.
At the alley’s end, he hid her,
And walked alone toward the enemies.
Her lips trembled.
Instinct told her.
This would be the last time she saw him.
For a brief moment, he seemed to glance back.
Covered in blood.
Filled with anger.
She didn’t know who that anger was for.
Ah.
She swallowed the sound.
She had devoted her life to the sword.
Yet this feeling…
refused to disappear.
They had known each other for barely half a year.
At first, she hadn’t even paid him any attention.
And yet now,
He was someone she saw as a man.
The person she had finally recognized.
And now she was losing him.
Right before her eyes.
Her heart pounded painfully.
Just imagining his death felt like a hole tearing open in her chest.
She couldn’t breathe.
Her nose stung.
It hurt.
“…Why… am I…”
Her voice trembled.
“…using myself as bait… to draw the strongest enemy…”
Normally, it would be impossible.
But in this moment,
She could only accept it.
“What… are we… to each other…”
“…Nothing at all…”
Her voice carried no certainty.
She could only hope,
That he would return.