Skeleton Master - Chapter 002

A week had already passed since that day.

At first, I thought I had fallen into the afterlife, but that wasn't the case.

That is, the prime of youth in one's 20s.

To be precise, I had returned to a day when I was 29 years old.

At first, I was incredibly shocked.

Then, upon meeting my family, I burst into tears.

Knowing their hardships, I wept uncontrollably.

I hoped that if this was a dream, I would never wake up.

After coming to my senses belatedly, I thought a lot. I even secretly received psychiatric counseling, and through that process, I could reach one conclusion.

That this was certainly not a dream.

It was undeniably reality.

Then, could what I remembered be a dream?

Could I have just woken up from a long dream?

That wasn't the case either.

The memories were far too vivid.

When I compared them to Illusion based on those memories, it became even more certain.

The continents and kingdoms, the appearing rankers, and even the system.

Everything matched up.

It was evidence that what I remembered wasn't fiction.

That's when it happened.

"Kang!"

"Ah, yes!"

Manager Kim called for Kang Moo-hyeok.

"Is there anything you want to eat for lunch today?"

"Ah, well..."

Everyone's attention focused on him.

"Just say anything."

They always pass the buck on this part.

If I say anything?

Inevitably, they'll furrow their brows and shake their heads.

"There's a budaejjigae place nearby..."

"Budaejjigae? Hmm, that's too ordinary."

"Then how about noodles..."

"Tired of those."

It was exactly as expected.

At that moment, one of the female employees raised her hand.

"How about a set meal, Manager Kim?"

"Oh, a set meal?"

"Yes!"

"Good. As expected, your thinking is different!"

"Thank you!"

"Wrap up your work. We'll leave in 10 minutes."

Kang Moo-hyeok chuckled as he watched them.

Strange...

This would have definitely been an irritating situation in the past.

But now, rather than irritation, Kang Moo-hyeok felt a peculiar enjoyment along with a sense of having expected this.

Yes, because he had returned.

He could move again, laugh with his family, and speak.

On top of that, the fact that he could now enjoy 'Illusion', the virtual reality game that opened 5 months ago, at any time was enough to make him happy.

He decided not to worry about unnecessary things.

What did it matter if it was a dream or if he had returned?

The fact that he had been given another chance.

That's what was important.

"Well, shall we go eat?"

"Yes!"

After having lunch together and returning to the company, Kang Moo-hyeok immediately sat down at his desk and opened a Hangul file.

He began to organize the information about Illusion that he had only been thinking about in his head.

Of course, he listed only the unique terms he knew. So that even if others saw it, they could never understand.

Five months ago, worldwide simultaneous launch.

The level of the #1 ranker is 51.

The level of the 100,000th ranker is 48.

Could I become the best?

No, it's fine even if I'm not the best.

I just want to enjoy it.

Properly.

But to enjoy it properly, I need power.

While living with total paralysis, I came across many Illusion videos and posts, and thanks to that, I was able to realize one thing.

That it's a world governed solely by power.

If reality is a world ruled by money and authority, that place is a space where only one thing matters: strength.

All the money, power, and connections from reality are poured in and transformed into the power of Illusion.

What can you do with that transformed power?

Everything that's not possible in reality becomes possible.

Looting, murder, blackmail, fraud, and so on.

Most crimes, except for some extremely heinous ones, are legalized within the fence of "content".

Even if a murderer enters and kills NPCs or users, they don't face any punishment.

Many users enjoy killing in the game because the sensation of killing is very similar.

Yet, it can't be punished by law.

There's a content called bounty hunters in the game, but if you have the power to defeat them, there's no reason to fear.

In other words, no matter what you do, as long as you're strong, there's no problem.

A world where even if you become a madman, if you're strong, no one can say anything!

Rather, it's a place where you can create a guild with like-minded individuals and rule the world from the shadows.

That's what 'Illusion' is.

Therefore, without power, you can't do anything.

You have to be angry at the tyranny of guilds, and even if you participate in wars later, you'll just be swept away helplessly.

You get looted and PK'd for no reason.

When the strong wave their hands and laugh in front, the weak can only look at their backs from behind.

I don't like that.

If I'm going to do this, I don't want to be in the position of the weak.

Even if not the best, I want to be strong! I want to be a powerful player.

Considering this as a new life to live, I don't want to be buried under the word 'defeat' this time.

I'm confident.

Because I'm starting with all the information that others don't know.

Heart pounding.

So, I need to think.

What would be the best?

What would be the most effective?

A job where everything is possible alone.

A job where one can stand out on their own.

Is there a job that makes this possible?

One thing comes to mind.

Gangster Necromancer.

Yes, if it's that...

But it's too difficult. It requires an enormous amount of grinding, and the efficiency compared to investment is low.

It only truly shines after reaching the mid-game.

Until then, I'd have to endure in silence.

But...

If I have the patience for that.

If I have the perseverance and effort...

At that moment, Kang Moo-hyeok's eyes sank coldly.

Clench.

His hands involuntarily tightened.

*

I calculated the money I've saved up.

A deposit of 12 million won maturing next week.

A savings account of 3 million won maturing on the same day.

In total, 15 million won.

The price of the capsule is 3 million won.

The usage fee is 300,000 won per month.

If we set aside a minimum of 1 million won for living expenses, I can focus on Illusion for about a year.

Of course, I should be able to make money before then, but I need to consider the worst-case scenario.

Even if that's not the case, I might need some initial capital in the beginning.

That's why I was planning to keep some money in reserve.

Illusion stocks?

They're good, of course, but not right now.

Currently, one share of Illusion stock costs a whopping 2.3 million won.

In the future, it will exceed 10 million won, but that's in the distant future, 8 years from now.

Until then, Illusion stocks will rise very slowly, so it wasn't an urgent matter.

Right now, the most important thing was to grow quickly based on the information I knew.

If I sell the information I know according to the situation later, I can make enough money.

It's not too late to buy stocks then.

I shook my head.

Money is important, but......

More than that, I was looking forward to the world of Illusion.

Because I've always dreamed of it.

The feeling of living in Illusion.

I wonder what it will be like?

I've spent over 7 years imagining it.

So, let's not be afraid of the challenge.

I regretted a lot when I was completely paralyzed.

My timid appearance.

The weakness of not being able to do anything.

The self that conformed.

So this time will be different.

I'll make it so.

Swish.

Kang Moo-hyeok, he stood up.

Exhaling a long breath, he approached the manager.

"Manager."

"Hmm? What's the matter?"

He took out a resignation letter from his chest and handed it over.

"A resignation letter?"

"Thank you for everything until now."

Honestly, company life wasn't that difficult.

Even though I couldn't properly grasp the situation after returning to the past, I was able to adapt easily.

Thanks to that, I've been working hard and saving money until now.

"Why so suddenly?"

"I want to try something new."

"Hmm... Are you serious?"

"Yes."

His voice was calm.

Only then did the manager, realizing how firm Kang Moo-hyeok's resolve was, pick up the resignation letter.

"Alright. I'll process this in a few days, so if you change your mind, let me know right away."

Instead of answering, Kang Moo-hyeok bowed his head.

It was a gesture of gratitude.

I don't know about other companies, but this place was really good.

Look even now. Even though I submitted my resignation, they're giving me a few days' grace.

Just from that, I could tell what kind of person the manager in front of me was.

"Thank you."

"Enough with the formalities. I don't know what new thing you're going to do, but since you're doing it, do it properly."

"Yes."

After answering with a smile, I turned my back.

I packed my things and left the office.

There was no hesitation in my actions.

Not a single regret.

Because from now on, I'll be living a new life.

The place where I'm living, paying 450,000 won in monthly rent.

In that place where a single bed and a TV on the wall were everything, a capsule of considerable size was brought in.

When I placed the capsule in the corner, the once empty space became crowded.

"Whew, the installation is finished."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"If there's any problem, please contact us."

I received the business card the technician handed over.

After roughly putting it in my pocket, I put on my shoes and saw him off.

Afterwards, I locked the door and activated the capsule.

With a whirring sound, the lid opened.

Thump thump.

Feeling my heart pounding, I lay down in the capsule.

A dream becomes reality.

How much I've wanted to connect.

It's a game I've only been able to look at for 7 years.

Today, finally......

The capsule door closed.

- Loading.
- Connecting to Illusion.

A mirror appeared.

A being with the same appearance as myself was visible.

Kang Moo-hyeok made his hair a bit longer and moved on to the next step.

- Select a region......

I didn't even listen to the end.

The continent was already decided to be Forma.

Because that's the Asian continent.

The place to choose was an empire or kingdom.

"Arsen Kingdom."

- Character name......

"Moo-hyeok."

- Are you sure about the character name 'Moo-hyeok'?

"Yes."

- Have a good journey.

As the mechanical voice faded, darkness came.

Flash!

Along with a bright light, a pure white sky appeared.

The clouds positioned right in front of my view as well.

Just before I could marvel, a change occurred.

My body started falling at an incredible speed.

I could see the huge continents positioned below, and the empires and kingdoms scattered throughout those continents came into view.

Eventually, Kang Moo-hyeok's body stopped above the fountain in the center of the Arsen Kingdom he had chosen.

As if the fall had been a lie, Moo-hyeok landed naturally on the ground.

"Whew......"

I quietly placed my hand on my heart.

It feels good.

After grinning, I moved my body.

Such naturalness!

It was truly an amazing level.

For someone who had only seen and heard through videos, experiencing it directly now felt like a dream.

A game I had only been able to look at for over 7 years.

A place where, though virtual, more people than in reality came to shout their dreams.

I had finally connected to Illusion.

"Ugh...!"

Exhilaration, and a thrill.

Many memories following after.

A flood of emotions.

No, no.

I shook my head hurriedly.

This wasn't the time to be lost in such sentiments.

No matter how much information I know, the path of a gangster necromancer is never easy.

I need to put in much more effort than others.

That's why I needed to catch up to those who had already gone ahead.

I looked around.

There it is.

I headed to the training hall first.

"Oh, welcome. Are you a stranger?"

A middle-aged instructor greeted Moo-hyeok.

"Yes, I'm not sure what to do in this unfamiliar place. I'd like to undergo training here first. Is that possible?"

"Of course it's possible for a user who's here for the first time."

There's a condition for using the training hall.

You must be level 1.

Moo-hyeok had just connected, so he naturally met that condition.

"Here, take this."

The instructor held out a wooden sword.

Just before Moo-hyeok took the wooden sword.

"Break those 3 scarecrows standing over there. However, you must only use diagonal slashes. Can you do it?"

Quest information appeared before my eyes.

[First Test of the Training Hall]

[Break the scarecrows using only diagonal slashes (0/3)]

[Time limit: 10 minutes]

[If successful: Experience points. Leads to the second test]

[If failed: Retry. No continuation]

[Do you accept the quest?]

After confirming the content, Moo-hyeok took the wooden sword.

"I can do it."

"You're full of confidence. You have 10 minutes. I look forward to it."

The quest was automatically accepted.

I immediately approached the scarecrows set up throughout the training hall.

After stopping in front of one, I scanned the surroundings.

I couldn't see anyone else performing the quest like Moo-hyeok.

Either no one had completed the training hall quest yet, or if someone had, they hadn't released the information.

I must clear it.

I raised the wooden sword above my left head.

Can I really break three scarecrows within 10 minutes?

The quest itself isn't difficult.

It's just tricky.

Alright, focus.

"Whew......"

After steadying my breath, I swung the sword down.