Episode 3: Tutorial Dungeon
The 8-pyeong (roughly 26 square meters) studio apartment was a mess.
A stunning silver-haired woman, utterly out of place in this setting, was munching on something as she spoke.
“Good heavens. The exquisite harmony of sweetness and bitterness. As expected of Lucifer-nim. Even in such a simple refreshment, I can sense your aesthetic.”
All I did was toss her some leftover instant coffee mix, and she’s waxing poetic.
She didn’t even dissolve it in water—just poured the powder straight into her mouth and crunched away.
I wanted to say something, but I held back, fearing she might strangle me again.
“It takes refinement to recognize the value of things. Truly, you are Her.”
I said, playing along.
“I still have much to learn. I’ve yet to fully grasp your intentions, Lucifer-nim.” she replied.
This Hertia.
She scanned my 8-pyeong studio with a look of confusion.
She couldn’t seem to fathom why the great Lucifer was living in such a state.
But I couldn’t exactly admit that my income was pathetic.
To her, Lucifer is some kind of divine being.
“Lucifer-nim, where exactly is this place? And this… beast’s den of a room…”
This ungrateful wretch!
Calling my luxurious 8-pyeong studio, scraped together with my measly salary (2,000,000 KRW deposit, 500,000 KRW monthly rent), a ‘beast’s den’!
Sure, compared to Lucifer’s grand palace in the game, ‘Pandemonium’, it’s a bit… compact. But it’s my cozy haven!
“…This is the new dimension I shall conquer.”
“As expected! Another world!”
“And this is my new residence.”
“…?”
Oh no, Hertia looked like she was experiencing cognitive dissonance.
She was at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing silently.
“What do you mean?! This place, worse than a doghouse, is your residence?!”
Her voice rose sharply.
I was worried about the mental state of my insulted home, but if I nitpicked, she might go for my throat again.
I needed to smooth things over.
“It’s for your safety.”
“What do you—… ah!”
Hertia started to protest but then gasped as if realizing something.
“…You already knew, didn’t you? That I—that we—have lost our strength.”
I just threw out a random excuse, but what is she imagining now?
“For our growth… you deliberately took on the guise of the weak.”
Alright, I’ll roll with that.
“Exactly.”
“…I’m sorry. My shortcomings have become a burden to you, Lucifer-nim. And to think I dared to lay hands on your sacred body…”
“No matter.”
“Oh, how magnanimous! I, Hertia, am once again in awe of your grace!”
Ugh, the more I talk to Hertia, the more I cringe.
Acting like the old Oh Hyun-woo is too much for the fragile sensibilities of 28-year-old Oh Hyun-woo.
But I have to endure.
《Caution! Apocalypse-grade summons may attack their summoner at any time.》
《However, if the summoner dies, the attacking summon will also be erased.》
Judging by the system’s belated advice, the moment I drop this greasy act, my frail neck might snap like a twig.
I glanced at the lunatic before me and recalled her profile.
‘The Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia.’
The Queen of the Shadow Elves and one of the worst villains in the story.
She’s the one who burned down the World Tree, which the elves cherished more than life itself.
There was a reason for it, tied to her race.
Elves, a race that values life and holds harmony as the highest virtue.
Yet, they harshly discriminated against their sister race, the Shadow Elves.
Shadow Elves were treated like slaves in elven society.
Hertia had always found this hypocrisy revolting.
Her breaking point came when her children were chosen as sacrifices for the World Tree.
The World Tree was the source of the elves’ power.
As it aged, the elves’ strength waned, so they began sacrificing young elves to extend its life.
And only Shadow Elves were chosen.
Hertia was devastated.
The elven king, the Shadow Elf leader, and even the World Tree treated these young lives as expendable.
Worse, they felt no shame, calling it an “honored return” and using honeyed words to deceive the children.
In her fury, Hertia resisted with all her might, but her children were ultimately sacrificed.
Unable to bear the grief and rage, she chose to become evil.
She killed the Shadow Elf king, usurped the throne, waged war, burned the World Tree, and slaughtered countless weakened elves, absorbing their power.
Thus was born Legend Seven’s most infamous villainess:
<The Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia.>
Her story might warrant some sympathy, but standing before a mass murderer responsible for millions of deaths—
‘Haha, sorry, Lucifer was just a cringey act from my immature days. I’m just an ordinary citizen.’
—I don’t have the guts to say that.
“Has your heart lightened?”
“…No, it’s grown heavier. I must serve you in this weakened state.”
Hertia set down the coffee stick she was holding and stood.
She bowed to me once more.
“Master, please lead us once more. I swear to recover my lost power and serve you faithfully.”
Lost her power, huh?
That makes sense.
When the game became reality, all summon data was supposedly reset.
The fact that she retains memories of Lucifer is the oddity, likely due to the ‘Special Reward’ effect.
Even so, despite her diminished strength, she’s a villain with immense potential.
Since I’ve got her, it’s more productive to focus on nurturing her well.
With my thoughts organized, I checked Hertia’s stats.
【Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia】
Attribute: Dark
Level: Passive
Rank: Apocalypse
Class: Mage
[Stats]
Attack: 8
Defense: 8
Health: 38
Speed: 20
Critical Chance: 15%
Critical Damage: 15
Effect Hit Rate: 0
Effect Resistance: 0
[Unique Skill]
Skill 1: <Hertia’s Law>
Description: When combat begins, the speed of all other summons is fixed at 20% lower than Hertia’s.
Her level reset to 1, and her stats were initialized.
But her core skill remains intact.
Only one of her unique skills is unlocked now, but with steady growth, unlocking all her skills would restore her as the ‘Witch of the Apocalypse.’
‘As expected of the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins.’
The Seven Deadly Sins.
The name I gave to the seven villains I collected.
‘Honestly… I’m excited. I want to test her out right now.’
Some might think I’m overhyping a single passive skill.
But anyone who’s played Legend Seven would know.
That skill is downright broken.
‘Alright, strike while the iron’s hot. Let’s get started.’
I gathered my thoughts, looked straight at Hertia, and spoke.
“Her, let’s test your abilities first.”
“It is my honor. Whose head do you desire?”
Not exactly after heads, but there’s a process every newly awakened adventurer must go through.
《Would you like to proceed with the Tutorial Dungeon?》
《YES or No》
“Follow me. I’ll prepare a stage worthy of you.”
“Wherever you go, I shall follow.”
I pressed the entry button on the message window, and our figures vanished from the studio apartment.
***
《You have entered the Tutorial Dungeon – Forgotten Ruins.》
《In the Tutorial Dungeon, adventurers cannot die.》
《Defend the ruins from goblins attempting to destroy them for 10 minutes!》
《If the ruins are completely destroyed, you fail.》
《Defeating the Goblin Chieftain will immediately clear the dungeon.》
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
Upon entering the Tutorial Dungeon, I faced a half-collapsed ruin.
It was about the size of a school sports field.
《Before proceeding with combat, form your summon team!》
In Legend Seven, a team requires five members: four main combatants and one reserve.
Ideally, you’d fill every slot, but unfortunately, I only have one summon right now.
《Assigning Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia, to Team 1.》
No worries, though.
This dungeon? Hertia can handle it alone.
“Her.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Prepare yourself.”
“If that is your will.”
Hertia moved gracefully, loosening her muscles.
“Haa…”
In Legend Seven’s dungeons, rewards vary based on clear time and strategy.
The first time I played this game, my clear time exceeded 10 minutes.
But this time will be different.
《Would you like to proceed with the dungeon?》
Because I have Hertia.
《YES》
《Proceeding with the Tutorial Dungeon.》
《Dungeon Timer: 00:01》
Hertia slowly surveyed her surroundings as she walked forward, her eyes fixed on the Goblin Chieftain in the center of the ruins.
There was no hesitation in her steps.
The goblins bared their teeth in caution, but none dared to approach.
Click. Click.
The sound of her high heels striking the ground echoed.
Yet, the surrounding goblins and their chieftain showed no signs of moving.
No, they couldn’t move.
Her skill, ‘Hertia’s Law’, wouldn’t allow it.
‘As expected, Hertia’s skill works in reality too!’
<Hertia’s Law>
A seemingly subtle effect that fixes the speed of all other summons at 20% lower than hers.
But its implication?
‘Absolute first strike.’
Back when Legend Seven was a game, players trembled at her overwhelming power as the first boss.
In a turn-based game, the advantage of acting first was absolute.
Her boss fight was a scripted loss event—players barely survived, fleeing while feeling the villains’ terrifying strength.
But now, in reality, her power wasn’t just formidable; it was a catastrophe.
Oh Hyun-woo’s heart raced.
Real-world combat has countless variables compared to the game.
Yet, with Hertia’s skill, it was possible to control those variables.
No enemy could act before she did.
This was the true essence of the Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia.
“Heh.”
Standing before the chieftain, Hertia raised one corner of her mouth in a chilling smile.
The Goblin Chieftain froze, his body paralyzed.
Fear seeped into his very bones.
“My, you’re scared.”
She gently caressed the chieftain’s face.
Her cold fingertips brushed across his skin.
The chieftain’s mouth fell open involuntarily, unable to close it despite his efforts.
“Shh… the pain won’t last long.”
Her mocking smile carried a sneer.
A small magical orb formed at her fingertips.
She let it flow into the chieftain’s mouth.
As she slowly closed his mouth—
Boom!
With a powerful explosion, the Goblin Chieftain turned into a mist of blood and vanished.
《Critical Hit!》
《You struck an unprepared enemy’s vital point, dealing massive additional damage!》
The sound of flesh splattering echoed.
The surrounding goblins froze, their will to fight completely gone.
Hertia glanced down at her blood-splattered shoes, frowning.
“Tch… blood on my attire. I must’ve grown dull.”
Snap!
With a flick of her fingers, a purple flame flared up, cleanly burning away the stains.
Having tidied herself, she turned back to Lucifer with leisurely steps, as if nothing had happened.
“My apologies, noble one. I showed an inelegant side.”
With Hertia’s radiant smile, a message window flickered before Oh Hyun-woo.
《You have cleared the Tutorial Dungeon!》
《Unbelievable record!》
《Clear Time: 0 minutes, 34 seconds》
《You have set a new record for Clear Time Ranking 1st place.》
《Clear Grade: ‘SSS’》
《You have set a new record for Clear Grade.》
‘!!’
Two records broken in the tutorial alone.
This was like giving wings to a tiger.
《Clear Grade Reward granted.》
《You have received a Hero Summon Ticket.》
‘A Hero Summon Ticket!’
A Hero Summon Ticket could yield summons from Rare to Legendary rank.
A pretty high-grade ticket—who would’ve thought I’d get this from a tutorial reward?
And there was still the ranking reward to come.
《Clear Time Ranking Record Reward granted.》
《You have received a Hero Summon Selection Ticket.》
‘Insane, a Hero Selection Ticket too!’
This was a reward on a whole different level from a regular summon ticket.
A priceless item that lets you choose a specific Hero-rank summon.
Oh Hyun-woo used superhuman willpower to suppress the grin threatening to break out, barely maintaining Lucifer’s dignified demeanor.
‘This changes everything. I need to rethink my growth plan.’
Other novels were deleted?
ReplyDeleteYeah, got DMCA takedown notice from Novelpia.
Delete