Chapter 3

Chapter 2 Prologue

Thud!

A throbbing headache and a hangover came rushing in.

"Ow..."

Jinhyuk pressed his temples and got up from the bed.

With a burning thirst, he gulped down a liter of ice water from the fridge.

As the cold water, which chilled his throat, went down, he gradually regained his senses.

Phew.

Now I can survive.

He really craved a hangover noodle, but there was something he needed to do first.

'First, I need to edit and upload the video of the first clear I achieved yesterday before someone else takes it.'

It probably wouldn't happen since he hadn't seen any other players around the 20th floor, but you never know.

Whirr!

Jinhyuk quickly turned on his computer.

He was about to find some music suitable for working on VTube.

However,

"Huh?"

A VTube he often watched was live streaming.

With the title, 'The Tower of Trials has really appeared. It’s real.'

While clickbait titles were common in this industry, it was exceptional when the number of viewers watching the live stream exceeded 300,000.

Something was up.

Jinhyuk moved his mouse cursor.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart beat uncontrollably fast.

He didn't know why.

It just felt like everything would change the moment he clicked on it.

Click!

He entered the broadcast.

- Wow! Guys, look at that! Can you see it? Everyone can see it, right?

On the screen, the VTube was exclaiming in amazement, and...

A massive tower was visible.

It was true.

A giant tower had appeared in the heart of Seoul.

So familiar.

- I found out about this thanks to a tip from MelonFlavoredWater. This is from a game called [Tower of Trials] that was released 11 years ago. Can you believe it? Wait a moment.

The VTube suddenly looked up, as if sensing something.

Right then,

The screen began to turn red.

It wasn't the sunset.

The sun doesn't set at 10 in the morning.

'This can't be...'

Jinhyuk swallowed hard.

He knew what this was.

The omen that appeared when he first played [Tower of Trials].

['Tower of Trials' Reboot Version 1st Update Complete.]

The boundary between reality and virtuality blurred.

A blue status bar flickered in front of the VTube's eyes in the video.

And in front of Jinhyuk's eyes in reality.

It had begun.

[All players must conquer the next floor of the tower within 90 days.]

The world everyone knew was collapsing...

[Failure will result in the extinction of humanity.]

And just like that,

The game had become reality.

***

His mind was in chaos, like a computer that hadn't finished loading, but Jinhyuk soon composed himself.

"Huff. Huff. Huff."

He steadied his breathing.

He needed to clear his head.

If [Tower of Trials] had really become reality, he couldn't afford to hesitate.

'Hurry up.'

Jinhyuk got up from his chair.

The chair wobbled and fell over.

But he didn't have the time to pick it up.

He had to go.

Outside.

More specifically, to the place where he could obtain 'that item.'

Jinhyuk burst out of the front door and sprinted down the road.

His breath was short from crossing the road and climbing the stairs.

But for some reason,

He didn't feel tired at all, driven by excitement and anticipation.

Rather...

His life, which he had merely endured day by day, felt like a hamster wheel.

His heart burned with the prospect of breaking free from it.

After a few minutes of running,

Central City was already teeming with people.

"Wh-What's the earliest bus to Busan?"

"Damn it. Whether it's Busan or anywhere else in Korea, we can't stay here. We need to go abroad. Yeah, abroad is the only way to survive."

"But the tower has appeared everywhere in the world. What kind of abroad?"

"Then where should we go?"

"Anywhere but Seoul. Haven't you seen movies? If you stay here, you'll die!"

Most people were trying to leave Seoul.

'They must be scared.'

It was a natural instinct for all living beings to fear the unknown.

But, there's always an opportunity in crisis.

Now is the time to move forward, not run away.

'This place was selected as one of the [Outside the Tower] areas in the Korean server.'

There were about thirty such areas nationwide.

He chose this one because it was the closest.

Jinhyuk, who had been looking down at the underground, soon took the escalator down.

[Entering Event Area.]

The underground mall was quiet.

With the sudden appearance of the tower, the sky turning red, and talk of human extinction, no one was calmly doing business.

There were no customers eating hamburgers either.

Of course.

"..."

"..."

Not everyone was like that.

Indeed...

Jinhyuk narrowed his eyes.

Dozens of people were scattered around the fountain.

He didn't need to ask.

These people had played the early stages of [Tower of Trials].

In the silence, they were sizing each other up.

It was inevitable.

The item that would soon appear here was limited in quantity.

Maybe five at most.

But there were over twenty people.

Supply was low, but demand was high.

Someone wouldn't get the item.

Then,

"Hey... You're Jang Jinhyuk, right?"

A young man's voice came from behind Jinhyuk.

'I've heard this voice before...'

Jinhyuk turned his head to see a tall, muscular man with yellow-dyed hair.

Lee Jongsu.

To see this guy here.

"Haha, that's right. Jang Jinhyuk! Wow, you're here too. Well, considering you were glued to your computer all day, I guess it makes sense."

Lee Jongsu approached with a grin.

A partner BJ on PaprikaTV.

He had 500,000 subscribers on VTube and a significant number of followers on Instagram.

A so-called 'successful' celebrity.

'And, he was also the CEO of the company I belonged to.'

"Shouldn't you be broadcasting right now?"

Jinhyuk spoke up.

"Pfft. In a situation like this, who cares about broadcasting?"

Lee Jongsu shrugged.

"What situation?"

"Don't play dumb. I know you were pretty into this game. Come on, tell me. How many floors did you get to? Let's share some tips as colleagues."

Colleague?

Colleague...?

Jinhyuk felt a shock as if he had been hit by a hammer.

He still remembered what this scumbag had done.

'This guy used unfair contracts to deceive BJs in the company he founded.'

He promised to provide editors' salaries and various content costs, but it was all a lie.

Moreover, he took 60% of the total revenue, leading to a bizarre phenomenon where the harder you worked, the more you lost.

Protests were futile.

He had the backing of the most famous law firm in Korea.

If you felt wronged, take legal action.

The contract was signed with mutual consent.

In the end, the BJs, who worked like slaves, had to cry and quit.

His close colleagues.

Friends he had started from the bottom with.

One by one, they left the industry.

"You're good at the game. I know you do delicious food broadcasts. I'll make the contract conditions a bit better for you. Okay?"

Lee Jongsu put his hand on Jinhyuk's shoulder.

It was disgusting. Every word this guy spoke.

"Lee Jongsu."

"Hey, hey. Even in private, call me CEO. Tsk."

Ah, right. CEO...

Throughout his life, Jinhyuk had realized two things.

Bad guys continue to do well and live well.

And,

To avoid being victimized by them, you have to be more ruthless and cruel.

"Act like a CEO. Then I'll call you one."

"What?"

Lee Jongsu's expression changed.

Regardless,

Jinhyuk continued.

"Don't you remember? You were hitting on a female BJ, handing her your business card, and when she rejected you, you threw a tantrum?"

It's a shame no one else saw it.

I should have recorded it.

"Is that all? You found out her address and stalked her, saying you wouldn't give up. You got reported and even went to the police station. Man, what a guy. If it were me, I would have bitten my tongue and died. Died."

"You, you! Are you crazy? I can make sure you never broadcast again!"

Lee Jongsu grabbed Jinhyuk's collar.

"Sorry, but I quit broadcasting yesterday."

And,

"Don't talk to me like that, punk. I'm older than you."

Bang!

Jinhyuk's head slammed into Lee Jongsu's face.

"Ugh!"

Lee Jongsu's head snapped back.

Broken teeth and blood splattered on the floor.

'I feel so relieved.'

It felt like a long-standing toothache had finally been pulled.

"Ugh..."

Jinhyuk looked at Lee Jongsu, who was clutching his face in pain.

But only for a moment.

'It's about time.'

Right at that moment,

Squish!

The fountain started to ripple.

The calm surface began to shake.

Whoosh!

A 4-meter tall tree sprouted.

'Finally, it's here.'

"Wow!"

"It's a mangrove!"

"Sure enough, my memory was right!"

The people waiting also exclaimed.

['Greed's Mangrove Tree' is growing.]

[Each person can consume one fruit.]

One of the rare opportunities to obtain before entering the Tower of Trials.

Jinhyuk looked at the colorful fruits hanging from the mangrove tree.

These ripe fruits each had the effect of increasing strength, agility, stamina, and magic stats.

It was a good item.

That was an undeniable fact.

The problem was,

The quantity.

'There are only four in total...'

With 24 people waiting, the competition ratio was 5:1.

Jinhyuk licked his lower lip.

'It's going to be intense.'

The advantage of increasing stats in the early stages was something he couldn't give up.

"Mine, mine!"

"Don't be ridiculous. I was first!"

"Ah!"

Everyone lunged for the fruits.

Somehow.

By any means.

They had to get it before anyone else.

Soon, the underground mall of Central City turned into a chaotic scene with people climbing the tree and pushing each other.

***

"Damn it! It's too late. The fruits are gone!"

Lee Jongsu panted heavily.

As he said, it was too late to go to the fountain now.

Splat!

"Fine, fine!"

Someone had already picked the first fruit and put it in their mouth.

Soon, the remaining fruits would be in someone else's mouth.

"Rather, if we had teamed up and split the fruits, it would have been a win-win!"

Lee Jongsu kept shouting, but Jinhyuk didn't respond.

There was no need to.

He wasn't after those four types of fruits in the first place.

'Not yet. The time isn't right yet.'

Ordinary people wouldn't even know the fruits existed.

Those who had played a few times would focus solely on eating the fruits.

And the veterans...

They enjoyed a more perverse and sadistic process.

The reason was simple.

There was a greater reward waiting.

Finally, all the fruits on the tree disappeared.

Right then,

Squeal!

The tree cried out.

With all its fruits stolen, the enraged trunk began to lash out.

"Right, right. Once the fruits are all eaten, it becomes extremely dangerous."

"Damn it. I forgot because it's been so long since I played."

"Ah! Run! I died here 50 times!"

People who realized the severity of the situation hesitated and backed away.

They had to run.

A level 1 player with no weapons had no chance of defeating this tree.

"Ugh..."

Lee Jongsu also staggered to his feet.

"Are you giving up?"

Jinhyuk spoke.

"Of course! I don't want to die a dog's death in a place like this."

"Too bad. The real reward of this event is obtained after all the fruits are eaten."

Lee Jongsu, who was about to turn towards the escalator, stopped.

"Is that true?"

"Would I be here if it were a lie?"

"..."

Lee Jongsu's mind raced.

Why didn't he show any interest in the fruits?

It made sense if there was a bigger reward.

'This guy, who only played the game, wouldn't lie.'

While he couldn't be sure, it definitely smelled sweet.

"Assuming what you say is true. What do you want to do?"

"We need to dive in."

Jinhyuk pointed to the inside of the tree with his finger.

"If we move one by one, we'll be targeted easily. We need to approach from both sides."

"Confuse the target, right?"

"Exactly."

Everyone had gone up.

Only Jinhyuk and Lee Jongsu were left in the basement.

"Remember, if either of us hesitates, the worst will happen."

Jinhyuk crouched and slowly moved to the right.

"Don't worry. I've been playing this game for a while."

Lee Jongsu moved to the left.

They took their positions.

At that moment,

"Now!"

Jinhyuk pushed off.

The tree branches immediately stretched towards Jinhyuk.

But,

Lee Jongsu didn't move.

He stood still, baring his white teeth.

"Idiot. Who listens to you? Go be the bait. I'll go for the treasure."

Thud!

He started running towards the center of the tree.

In the crossing gaze,

Jinhyuk thought.

...Lucky. His personality hasn't changed.

'If he had reformed, I would have felt bad.'

With a loud noise.

Bang!

Suddenly, the tree branches hidden under the fountain shot up.