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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Forgotten Moon Ruins
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'Choices are visible...'
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.
Kang Seol had memorized the manual, which even included trivial details, like a civil service exam student cramming.
Naturally, he had memorized nearly every choice in the tutorial to get early weak characters through.
Even so, what he remembered was from the demo version, so there was a concern it might not match the full release he was in now.
But as he confirmed the choices floating before his eyes, that worry dissipated.
'I don't know the reason, but it's a relief. I was worried the choices might have changed...'
The visible choices were identical to the demo.
Creak.
Clank—
The left lever was pulled.
Creak.
Clank—
The right lever was pulled as well.
Rumble—
The adventure infamous for its vicious traps, the Forgotten Moon Ruins, revealed itself.
- How did he know? He disarmed the arrow trap first;
- Newbie my ass! Newbie my ass!
'Is this visible to everyone?'
Whether true or not, it was clearly going to be a huge help.
Among the many choices, picking the right one was what Kang Seol did best.
[The first gate is visible. 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 confident in his memory.
- Smells like a vet... reeks of vet...
- Other humans are getting wrecked here lol
'The first gate... you have to step on the stones in order, right?'
The first gate of the Forgotten Moon Ruins.
It involved stepping on the patterned stones in sequence to proceed.
Stepping on the wrong one triggered a trap.
A very simple structure.
'This was something you were supposed to learn by getting hit early on.'
The game piece's HP dropping and blood spraying from a real body were quite different in meaning.
'Casters are at a disadvantage for this reason.'
Characters without agility investment often had to tank traps with their bodies when they messed up.
Take an arrow? Dodge or eat it. Poison sprays? Breathe it in.
'One mistake and I could die.'
Of course, that was the absolute worst case.
And Kang Seol had no intention of reaching that worst case.
Over the past 17 years, he had played with most innate talents in the Eternal World.
In that process, he had discovered heaps of hidden mechanics.
'Now... the hidden choice was this one, right?'
…
9. Step on the ninth stepping stone.
10. [Required: Archaeology 1, Theology 1] Decipher the code written before the gate and proceed in that order.
11. [Required: Trap Disarm 1] Proceed while disarming the visible traps.
Two cheat-key choices, 10 and 11.
Of course, both required talents.
Trap Disarm actually needed the talent to use, so choice 11 was impossible, leaving Kang Seol with choice 10.
'The code written before the gate...'
As the choice description said, there was indeed text before the first stone. But he couldn't read it.
[An unknown script is written.]
'Probably because I lack Archaeology and Theology.'
Of course, not being able to read it didn't mean he didn't know the content.
Kang Seol soon recalled the text.
- The lion is ferocious and yields nothing, the sheep is meek and claims the last place. The benevolent moon embraces them, and the jealous wolf follows the lion.
A phrase like a wordplay riddle.
The sentence structure or particles might be off, but the core was right.
'Now I remember.'
The uncompromising lion first.
The jealous wolf second.
The benevolent moon third.
The meek sheep fourth.
Then repeat from the beginning.
'As long as I follow the order, I won't get hurt.'
Kang Seol eyed the path, tracing it with his gaze starting from the lion stone.
Finally, his eyes scanned all the way across.
"Alright, here goes."
He boldly stepped onto the stone with the lion.
Thud.
"...."
No reaction meant his decryption was correct.
From then on, Kang Seol advanced without hesitation.
Thud.
Thud.
Thump.
'ThisCan'tBeRight' has sponsored 100 Madness!
[There was a newbie smell... definitely there was... sniff sniff...]
- Ooooh... are you insane?!
- His steps are majestic...
- Free pass on the first gate; wait... the manual says that choice needs Archaeology and Theology?
- So Archaeology and Theology build? Maniac lol
- This isn't the flavor... he needs to roll more...
Kang Seol's memory was outstanding even in reality, to the point where those around him praised it.
He wasn't the type to forget key mechanics from adventures other characters had passed.
Thud.
Kang Seol lifted his foot from the final stone.
[You have cleared the first gate of the Forgotten Moon Ruins.]
[You can select a reward.]
[A copper chest is generated.]
[You cleared the gate without damage.]
[The reward is enhanced.]
[The copper chest is upgraded to an iron chest.]
[Selecting a reward will end the adventure.]
"Easy."
- Easy peasy lol
- It's just the tutorial lol Meanwhile, about 50 million of Earth's humans have died.
- Really? Lol;;
Now, one foot out of danger.
Selecting the reward here allowed proceeding to the next adventure. No need to brave more traps.
'But stopping here would mean a lesser reward...'
Snowman had never flinched before a great adventure.
"Gotta keep going."
- Oppa!!! That's it!!!@!!
- Let's gooooo!!!
- I'm with you! (Just cheering)
- You got this! (Fervent cheers)
Progressing through the moon ruins was like the new car dilemma.
'If I add just a bit more, I could get something better with that money.'
You keep going because you've come this far.
In Moonlit Dance, many players chose to press on.
'But it gets dangerous past the tipping point.'
The moon ruins taught players to know their place. Greed for higher rewards without knowing your limits could lead to a futile death.
'This is an adventure I know inside out. No room for mistakes.'
Swoosh.
Past the first gate, a ceiling appeared.
He worried about visibility without moonlight, but torches lit up along the passage.
Fwoosh.
Fwoosh.
Kang Seol spotted the second gate.
'So this is what it feels like seeing the game board in reality.'
Spikes studded the walls on both sides, and narrow holes dotted the ceiling.
The stepping stones were all different colors: red, blue, black.
'Really hate this...'
The second gate was the essence of the Forgotten Moon Ruins, impossible to cheese. Pure trap hell.
'Was it this long?'
The passage stretched endlessly.
It would tax him physically and mentally.
Others would want to turn back at this horrific sight.
But Kang Seol instead fanned the flames of excitement in his heart.
His reflection gleamed in the sparkling stone walls.
Kang Seol looked pathetic.
Wearing a ragged sackcloth, clutching a crumbling staff.
But what made him look more pathetic was something else.
The black line etched on his neck.
The black line wrapped his neck so neatly it could be mistaken for a choker.
He knew why it appeared.
'That lightning noose...'
The lightning power that bound him in his dream.
It left an indelible mark.
Like someone who miraculously survived the gallows.
The black trace constantly recalled that pain and nightmare.
Perhaps he really had survived the gallows. His current plight felt just like it.
Kang Seol touched his neck with cold eyes and vowed.
'I'll definitely... see you again.'
To others, his vow looked like fear of the trials ahead.
- W-Wanna call it a draw?
- This place is total dogshit lol Gotta think hard;
Finishing his thoughts, Kang Seol stepped on a red stone without hesitation.
Clank.
"...."
Just a scary sound, no other reaction.
"Phew..."
Thud.
He moved to a black stone next.
Groooan—
Suddenly, the walls on both sides inched closer.
Keep stepping wrong, and they'd crush him like a rat.
The second gate's choices generally progressed like this. The same choices had been visible to him for a while.
[Stepping stones are visible.]
1. Step on the red stone.
2. Step on the blue stone.
3. Step on the black stone.
...
There were additional choices based on skills, but unlike the first gate, no easy cheats.
'With Mechanical Engineering or Trap Disarm, it'd be smoother...'
Kang Seol recalled the second gate's method.
'You have to remember the color sequence.'
Step colors in fixed order to reach the end. Mistakes trigger threats.
'Now... red was right.'
Thud.
Clank.
Red again, like the start. No reaction.
'...Red again.'
Clank.
Correct.
Second in sequence was also red.
'This time...'
Kang Seol stepped on a blue stone.
But this time, it didn't pass safely.
Pop!
Splat!
"Gahhh!"
A ball smaller than a fist shot from the left wall, smashing his forearm.
"Guhhh..."
- Whoa; he missed?
- Lmao where you think you're going!
- Gotta get hit if you don't know!
- Not blue~ Black black~
It hurt like hell.
Luckily, he twisted reflexively to deflect some impact, or his bone might've broken.
"Haha... this is pretty fun."
- Shock! 3:12 PM declares it fun!
- That line lmao
- Full chuuni mode lol
- This player! Takes an iron ball to the face and laughs!
Kang Seol groaned, but his gamer instincts didn't forget what to do.
"Red... red... what's next..."
Thud.
Clank.
Thud.
Clank.
Two reds in a row, then black.
Pop!
Splat!
"Gahhhh! Fuck!"
Another ball hit his right thigh.
"Three reds in a row... too much."
- Lmaoooo retract that?
- Nah~ no way finals 3-peat lol
- Nope~ go back~
The pain was intense.
Kang Seol thought one more big hit might knock him out.
"Who'll win?"
Thud.
Clank.
Thud.
Clank.
Thud.
Clank.
After three steps, time to choose again.
'...No way?'
On a hunch, red again.
Thud.
Clank.
'...Bastards.'
- Oh lol
- Won't fall for it this time? Lmao
Fourth was red too.
At this point, maybe just stick to red?
'No, my memory's right.'
Must follow sequence.
Excluding red for the last (since sequence repeats), not blue so black.
Veteran method only.
Exposed rules make traps meaningless.
Kang Seol broke into a run.
Tadadak.
- Dammit! Caught!
- You bastard! How'd you know?! ㅠㅠ
- Wanna play a bit more?
Thus, Kang Seol reached the passage's end.
[You have cleared the second gate of the Forgotten Moon Ruins.]
[You can select a reward.]
[A silver chest is generated.]
[The number of trap activations did not exceed 10.]
[The reward is enhanced.]
[The silver chest is upgraded to a gold chest.]
[Selecting a reward will end the adventure.]
"Haa... haa..."
Kang Seol, now before the final gate.
His body trembled from the heavy ball's impact. Feverish too.
'Can't stop.'
Approaching the gold chest, he thought this: next time this moment came, he'd choose the same.
He passed the gold chest.
- Crazy bastard lmao
- Going further? That spot's bruised bloody?
- Total psycho lol
- Excuse me, sir, do you enjoy pain?
- There's... an interesting newbie here.
A sturdy stone door awaited.
Don't be arrogant, know your place, be humble.
Such words were inscribed.
Kang Seol eyed the choices before the stone door.
1. Ignore the warning and enter to prove yourself.
2. Know your place and retreat.
No hidden mechanics here—just those choices.
What would Snowman choose?
'I never picked 2 once.'
As Kang Seol touched the door, it began opening.
Rumble—
Inside, the ceiling gaped open to moonlight.
The spacious area eased his prior claustrophobia.
And.
"You are arrogant. To dare set foot here."
A knight in moonlit armor stood in the center.
Kang Seol grinned, baring his teeth.
As if reuniting with an old friend.