Chapter 0. Prologue.

2017, December.

Kang Ji-hyuk was discharged from the army on a day when the first snow fell heavily. He put an end to his military life, where success meant just coming out healthy, and he finally became a civilian. He was 24 years old at the time.

Still, it wasn’t like he did nothing in the army. He read books diligently, prepared for 복학 [bokhak, returning to school], and worked out. Everything was so ideal. …Well, until then.

Ji-hyuk didn’t want to live diligently from the moment he became a civilian. There were still a couple of months left before 복학 [bokhak, returning to school]. So, he resolved to have fun for a month.

Yeah, even that wasn’t a big problem. …However, who knew that a word from his childhood friend, whom he met at a drinking session after a long time, would completely change Kang Ji-hyuk’s life?

“Hey, have you played Hero Raising?”

“…Hero Raising?”

“It’s a game that was released recently. This is a real masterpiece, a masterpiece. The community is going crazy over it right now.”

Kang Ji-hyuk burst into laughter at the naming sense.

“Hero Raising, my ass.”

“A lot of guys laughed like that. Once you play it, you’ll feel more affectionate towards the name.”

“Okay, okay. I got it. I’ll try it out when I have time.”

Three days after that conversation.

Kang Ji-hyuk was looking around for a game to play when he came across the name Hero Raising again. It seemed like a fandom called Yongkidan had formed shortly after its release.

Is it that fun?

The price was quite high, so he looked into it. It definitely looked fun. And Kang Ji-hyuk quite enjoyed these kinds of raising simulation games.

Should I buy it or not?

The price was 68,000 won without any discounts. It was enough money to go to a motel with a girl twice and still have some left over.

But the ratings were so good that his mind gradually leaned towards buying it.

After agonizing for about 10 minutes, he finally pressed the purchase button. With a few clicks, 68,000 won vanished in an instant.

I should have made a game too, he thought idly, before starting the installation. It took quite a while. The capacity was so large that he had to delete games he didn’t play.

After taking a long nap, the game installation was complete. It was already dark outside.

Shall I try it now?

Kang Ji-hyuk twisted his stiff body from side to side and then clicked the play button.

At that moment, all the light in the world went out.

…And he fell into that goddamn world.

1st Playthrough.

Died on the third day of the tutorial, head chewed off by a monster.

2nd Playthrough.

Died on the last day of the tutorial, head smashed by an orc’s blunt weapon.

3rd Playthrough.

Passed the tutorial after all sorts of hardships, but died of illness while wandering around like a beggar. Wasted 2 years here.

4th Playthrough.

Scammed people to avoid starving to death, but died after being stabbed by the other party. Wasted 2 years here.

5th Playthrough.

Somehow managed to survive as a porter for a mercenary group, but died after being caught by a band of thieves. Wasted 4 years here.

6th Playthrough.

Somehow became a mercenary and wandered around the continent, but died after having his head chewed off by a monster in the infamous Demon Realm. Wasted 6 years here.

7th Playthrough.

Still, he became a veteran mercenary thanks to his previous experience, but unfortunately got hit in the back of the head by a stray arrow and died. Wasted 5 years here.

8th Playthrough.

He wanted to make a name for himself, so he entered a no-name Hero Academy and barely became a D-class hero while doing all sorts of chores. But he died after his body was torn apart by a monster on his first expedition. Wasted 8 years here.

9th Playthrough.

After all sorts of hardships and adversities, he finally became a B-class hero. He was really looking forward to finally seeing the light, but he was stabbed to death by a female assassin sent by an enemy after passionate sex. Wasted 12 years here.

At this point, his strong mentality started to crack a little.

What the fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!

10th Playthrough.

Now, with his skills and eloquence as seasoned as they could be, he quickly rose through the ranks. He became an A-class hero in just 5 years after becoming a hero, but he died after being seduced by a succubus’s pussy in a cursed tower. 8 years wasted here.

11th Playthrough.

Fuck it, let’s just do whatever, he thought, and gave the dog the hero and went into the underworld, committing all sorts of evil deeds. He killed the men among the heroes who came to eliminate him and made the women his sex slaves. Then, he was eventually beheaded by an S-class hero who came to kill him. 10 years wasted here.

12th Playthrough.

He lived without greed, as if he had attained enlightenment. He didn’t even think about Earth anymore. He became suspicious that maybe his self here wasn’t his real self. But that wasn’t it. Eventually, he committed suicide. 5 years wasted here.

13th Playthrough.

He started living hard again, aiming to become an S-class hero. After twists and turns, he finally became an S-class hero in 10 years. He felt like he had the whole world at this point. But here, he learned that there was a league of their own. And he fought the Demon King for the first time. He almost won, but he was careless at the end and unfortunately died. 12 years wasted here.

…And, the long-awaited 14th Playthrough.

Kang Ji-hyuk was promoted at lightning speed with all the skills and experience he had accumulated so far. He set an unprecedented record of becoming an S-class hero in just 6 years after becoming a D-class hero. He also gained formidable colleagues. He subjugated several Demon Kings. He also made the Succubus Queen his sex slave.

Finally, he had a final battle with the Great Demon King Carmine. And, he suffered a crushing defeat there.

Ah…, fuck, I’m not strong enough….

Kang Ji-hyuk realized there.

He can’t defeat the Great Demon King with his own strength.

At that moment, the game’s name flashed through his mind.

– Hero Raising

Ah.

He has to raise heroes.

17 years wasted here.

…And, Kang Ji-hyuk entered the 15th Playthrough.