Ch.1The Worst First Meeting (1)

A cold floor, equally frigid walls. Pitch darkness that made it difficult to see even an inch ahead, and a space with an excessively vast area. All these elements constituted the scene where I existed.

The greenish hue of common weeds and the sounds of insects that alleviate loneliness cannot be found here. I had to accept it long ago—that hope for someone’s rescue is like a futile, rotten rope.

“Uuuaah…”

A hollow groan resonates within the cold, damp cavern. Yes, it was my groan. Following it, a spasmodic scream mercilessly pounded against the enclosed walls.

“UUUAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

While screaming, I strike the massive door that shows no sign of opening. Anyone who saw me would think I had gone completely insane.

Unfortunately, I know painfully well that there is no one to see me. If someone were to point fingers and hurl insults at me, I would rather grab them and sob uncontrollably.

Because this place where I’m trapped… or more precisely, where I was summoned, is the Great Cavern, untouched by anyone’s eyes.

“Please let me out!!!”

I screamed repeatedly and rioted with all my might. Each time a part of my body struck something, an astonishingly loud noise echoed. It was the result of formidable strength.

However, the Great Cavern was even more solid, without even a crack forming anywhere.

“UUUAAAAAAHHH!”

This was the ritual riot I always performed when my mind was clear. It was an attempt to release as much energy as possible to prevent my mind from wearing down in this enclosed space. Whether it actually worked or not, at least I hadn’t gone insane yet. That’s my self-diagnosis.

“Why do I have to suffer like this? How many years have passed? One year? Two years? I don’t know, I really don’t. My sense of time has completely disappeared. Will I eventually forget how to speak?”

Until now, I’ve been constantly muttering to myself. If I didn’t, I felt like I would lose more than half of my usable vocabulary. No joke—sometimes I couldn’t recall certain words to describe disgusting situations.

“Please, someone find me. I’ll do anything, just find this Easter egg… Are there really no players? Is this reality? How did I even…”

I sat down and wept bitterly, recalling the past. Though I had cried so much that tears barely came out anymore.

I ended up like this because of one damn game. The sequel to the Eldchain series, a game I enjoyed, led me here.

The new installment of the Eldchain series, notorious for its difficulty, was like a blessing to me, a hardcore fan. Eldchain, an action-packed game set in a fantasy world, has a substantial fanbase. Of course, I was part of that fanbase.

Perhaps due to my experience with previous installments? I cleared the game in a time incomparable to others.

My friends were amazed at my truly remarkable completion speed.

After quickly clearing the new Eldchain, I began searching for hidden elements. The series was known for concealing many hidden contents in each installment, so many gamers spent time looking for them.

On the third day of searching, I finally discovered a hidden map. It was the result of an unbelievable coincidence. Even I, the first to explore it, didn’t know what conditions I had fulfilled to enter.

When I entered the map with an excited heart, a notification appeared on the screen.

[First Discoverer Bonus! We offer you the opportunity to become part of Eldchain. (Accept/Decline)]

I didn’t know then. That this short sentence would be the turning point that would overturn my life. If I could go back, I should have broken my fingers to prevent it.

“Wow, this is really amazing.”

Foolishly, that was my exclamation.

At that time, I thought it just meant leaving my username as the first discoverer or something commemorative. Anyone would have thought the same.

Click!

As an enthusiastic gamer, I accepted without hesitation. That was the problem. The moment I pressed the accept button, my vision flashed white, and my consciousness sank below the surface.

When consciousness returned later, I couldn’t believe my eyes. What spread before me was exactly the same place I had discovered in Eldchain.

A dark, wide, cold emptiness.

It was the Great Cavern where I’m trapped now.

“It’s surprising enough that I’m stuck in a place like this, but who would clear some meaningless conditions to come here!”

The Great Cavern where I’m trapped was a kind of Easter egg. A place there’s no reason to see in normal gameplay. It was hidden content that only opens when specific conditions are met and specific actions are performed nearby.

And the content of this empty Great Cavern is… me. More precisely, this body I’m possessing, “Founding Noble Netionpis.”

I didn’t know the exact setting for Netionpis. If it weren’t for the diary I had on me, I would have lost my mind, unable to comprehend the current situation.

This body—Netionpis—was apparently the greatest contributor to the founding of the Eld Empire, the spatial background of the Eldchain series. In return, he gained the most powerful authority in the history of the Eld Empire, but he too was human. Before death, founding nobles and slaves were equal.

He conducted all kinds of research to hide his body from the grim reaper’s scythe. However, experiments that defied natural principles rarely yielded results contrary to his wishes. Enraged by this, the method the man chose was truly the worst. He eventually didn’t hesitate to conduct experiments that trampled on the dignity of life.

There are no detailed records after that, but he eventually achieved immortality.

However, was it divine wrath? Along with immortality, he also gained Malice and the side effect of uncontrollable madness.

Netionpis was subjugated and sealed in the Great Cavern on the grounds of inhumane experiments and madness, and those who accomplished this were the first protagonist and heroine of the Eldchain series.

Given that even I didn’t know this setting, I guess it was probably meant to be revealed later… but now it doesn’t matter.

“I want to get out. I want to get out. I want to get out. I want to get out. I want… to get out…”

Please, I beg you.

Founding Noble or whatever, if someone just lets me out, I’m willing to lick even muddy feet. What’s the big deal about licking from head to toe? I’ll gladly crawl like a dog and run like a horse.

“Haha, I guess it’s impossible after all. So much time has passed. No matter how optimistic I am, this is…”

That’s when it happened.

Woong-

A sound that seemed familiar. Very familiar, or perhaps a sound I had been waiting for.

“Is this?”

Woong- Woong-

No doubt about it.

No matter how much time had passed, I had always remembered this sound. It was identical to the sound effect I heard when entering Netionpis’s Great Cavern in the game.

“That’s definitely the sound of the seal breaking… Now? At this timing? No, what does that matter!”

Kugugugugugu…

The heavy, massive door makes a dull sound as it drags across the ground. At the same time, dust begins to swirl inside the Great Cavern.

Kugugung!

Eventually, the massive door made of dark iron visibly moved. To me, it looked like a giant slowly spreading its arms. A merciful angel of a giant coming to save me.

“Sniff, sniff.”

As I confirmed the light gradually entering, tears welled up involuntarily. Perhaps my eyes had weakened from enduring the suffocating darkness for so long.

“Sob, hiccup… Finally, I’m getting out. I’m getting out! I’m so glad I stayed alive!”

Eventually, the massive door opened wide enough for four or five people to pass through. I ran straight ahead without hesitation. If it closed again, I would rather commit suicide; I couldn’t endure any longer.

Because the pain of someone who has once had hope falling into the abyss is greater than falling from the bottom to the bottom.

Just as I reached the door, with light directly entering my retinas for the first time—

A strange woman’s clear voice was heard.

“What evil energy is this! If the Founding Noble is alive, immediately accept my sword…?”

Her words couldn’t continue.

“I am truly grateful to my benefactor!”

Swoosh!

The moment I heard the woman’s voice, I automatically knelt down and bowed respectfully, showing the top of my head.

It was a perfect deep bow.

Due to the momentum of my running, I slid all the way to the woman’s feet while maintaining the bowing posture.

“Ohhh! Outside. It’s the outside, the outside… How can I ever repay this kindness, sob.”

“… Evil… evil…? energy? Is it…?”

Looking at me weeping at her feet, she was simply confused.