Damn it! I already knew this world was like something out of a game or novel, but I never considered this possibility!
If it's true that I've entered a game, then everything falls into place.
First, the message windows I saw when I reincarnated—the ones saying I'd be thrown into a dungeon!
Stuff like that appearing in front of your eyes in the real world?
You'd have to check yourself into a mental hospital immediately!
Second, Hangul!
This world has Hangul even though King Sejong never descended upon it!
That means someone must have "taught" it to the people of this world.
But who?
If this world is a game?
A game made by Helbando, no less?
Then it makes perfect sense that everyone here uses Hangul.
Third, this dungeon itself!
Ever since I entered this place, I haven't felt hunger, thirst, the need to sleep, or even the urge to relieve myself. That's the clincher.
Would a dungeon boss in a game wait in the boss room while constantly wandering off to satisfy base needs like that?
And finally, those guys who keep showing up!
[ Heroes = Players ]
That's a basic formula in any RPG game!
Plus, if they're players—users enjoying the game—it explains why they vanish in blue light when they die, and why they keep coming back no matter how many times I kill them.
Even I'd keep banging my head against a ridiculously tough boss!
Beyond that, there are countless other reasons, all tangled together under the name of truth, stretching on endlessly.
This... this is...!!!
"Eurekaaaa!!!"
Truth was right under my nose after all!!
I, Warrior Balak, was moved...
Who knew discovering the truth on your own could feel this awesome...
Now, the old man's dream and my dream can be achieved even more spectacularly!
To be honest, I'd been pretty disappointed fighting those players I thought were just imaginary enemies.
They're too weak...
I even started thinking I might rot away in this dungeon forever without ever achieving my dreams.
But this world is a game!
A fantasy RPG where players keep leveling up!
So just how strong can those players get?
As the game story progresses, players' levels skyrocket.
Eventually, even if they gang up, they reach the point of battling this world's evil gods!
Sure, right now they're noobs weaker than the world's slugs.
But later, thanks to unavoidable power creep, they'll be on my level.
So!!
'Hoh... Heroes, you've grown a lot...'
'We evolve beyond who we were a minute ago. Balak! We no longer fear you! Here we go!!'
'Come on then! Heroes who protect the world!!'
Though their beginnings are humble, their end will be mighty.
Ahh... this is romance.
The perfect finale for a warrior...
That means no more players reaching the boss room for a while. Time to train in earnest.
A boss that felt strong early on gets one-shotted by overleveled players and burst damage later?
Ugh, has there ever been a more infuriating setup?
"Heh heh heh... I'll walk this path with you until the game ends, heroes."
And since players respawn endlessly anyway, I can make this dungeon even more hellish...
Huh?
What's that in the first room—
***********************
The moment Balak realized the truth(?) of this world.
The heroes were suffering in the madhouse Balak had created.
"""......"""
The hero party that died in that madhouse respawned, only to be ejected from the dungeon without accomplishing a thing.
Their faces were gaunt, struck by harsh reality and self-loathing.
Then, the experiences of Blazing Hero Remis and his comrades—who entered the dungeon first—spread to those who hadn't yet entered the madhouse, quickly forming a strategy.
"Whoa... it actually works."
"Yeah, who knew cramming everyone in would render all those traps meaningless..."
"Ugh, don't push!"
They called it the human wave tactic!
By packing the room tight, they could block all the traps and pass safely.
Arrows flying from all sides?
Tank heroes with giant shields back-to-back could block them.
Compressed air traps?
Mages could spot the obvious casting signs and pop shields in time.
Golems dropping from above?
No room to land, and they just headbutted anyway—not a threat with this many people.
Spikes rising from the floor.
Spears thrusting out.
What good were they?
Pushing through with sheer numbers made the traps ineffective.
Pang!!
"Arghhh!!"
Of course, being human, some slipped up and fell midway, but they pressed forward steadily.
Traps were consumables, after all.
"No more arrows from the front!"
"Same in the back!"
"Oh? All the traps exhausted?"
"My god... how many did he even set up? They're only running out now?"
Just as they relaxed, thinking they could stroll to the exit.
Thud thud thud thud!!
""""Huh...?""""
Something huge was charging toward them fast from ahead.
Moments later—
"Shouldeeer Tackle!!!"
Kwaaaang!!!
"Kyaaack!!"
"Gaaahk!!"
"Arghhh!!"
Balak's sudden charge from the opposite side sent the heroes and their allies flying out of the narrow path like bowling pins hit by a ball.
Pew pew!
Pew pew pew pew pew!!
So many falling that the usually dark madhouse turned into a frenzied nightclub crisscrossed by hundreds of laser beams.
***************
Players through and through!
Their exploits are no joke!
"You think you can cheese me?! Not on my watch!"
But with me, Warrior Balak, eyes wide open, cheap tricks like that won't work!
If they try it again, I'll add massive iron balls rolling through here.
Alright, I've dealt with all you super cowards who skipped, chewed, tasted, and enjoyed this room bravely? Time to check something at the dungeon entrance.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Blocked as expected, huh?"
Given the players' current strength, the game must be freshly launched, or this dungeon's in the newbie zone.
Fits the cliché of a hidden ultra-hard dungeon near the starting point.
Letting a late-game boss rampage in newbie land would be a massacre, so this barrier makes sense.
But this barrier...
My gut tells me if I raise my realm higher, I can ignore it and leave.
And I'm checking this for one reason.
To set up a boss vs. boss event that'll set gamers' hearts ablaze later.
In RPG stories like this, players usually lose a raid to the evil boss or get a bittersweet ending.
But what if I show up then?!
Ahh... pure romance.
I'd flood every internet community as the GOAT.
Great Balak is born.
But what happens to the story if I take out that evil boss?
From the players' exploits earlier, the game seems to have insane freedom.
That skeleton merchant was practically human, and the players' movements lacked that floaty game character feel.
Controls so responsive it feels like moving your real body!
Means the outside world's tech has advanced way beyond my old era.
Players probably dive in via novel-style capsules.
Why mention this? A world built with such overwhelming tech...
Won't differ much from the real outside world.
A game shaped by the players!
Damn, I was born too early!
Anyway, even if I beat the evil boss, the god-like AIs running this world will adjust accordingly.
So not dying as mere "Warrior" Balak!
I'll march toward death as "Great Warrior" Balak, revered by all!
*****************
Back in the boss room, I checked my current realm.
"Tch, no progress at all since I got here..."
Noobs who can't even clear the first room kept coming nonstop, leaving no time for training or workouts.
But now they can't even reach me, so I can train all I want.
And the first room farms Deep Coins on its own—two birds with one stone!
That's the charm of a tycoon game.
True foresight.
Next, the dungeon merchant.
"You want... custom order this?"
"Of course!"
My truth from my past life: good gym equipment means faster muscle gains.
The training setup here crushes what I had on that mountaintop!
Time to train!
My current realm, in wuxia terms, is roughly Fire Realm.
Divided into Mook, Peak, Transcendent, Fire, Mystic, Life-Death, etc.
Basically, can you coat your main weapon? That's the line.
Thick coating on the opponent's weapon? Means they're insanely strong!
So now, make thicker stars descend on my fists, or colorful ones.
And faint coatings on weapons for combos 1-2—long way to go!
"Beep, beep?"
"Grrrrraaahhh!!!"
"Beep... BEEEEEP?!?!"
Rumble rumble rumblle!!!
With great workout gear and sandbags from the dungeon merchant secured.
Training!! Training forever!