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nTutorial game?

nSo everything had been only a tutorial?

nThrough the various floating hologram panels, a figure walked out.

n“Whew, there we go…. OH?”

nThe figure looked at Jaehwan.

n“WOW! We finally meet!”

nThe figure was a man in a suit with the head of a lion. He even had a gentleman’s hat on him. The lionhead spoke.

n“I’m surprised! You came all the way here alone! This has never happened before!”

n“…What is the meaning of this nonsense?”

n“Whew – what a fearsome man! Still eager to fight, eh? You sure are the Walker who received the attention of all the lords of the !”

n“Who the hell are you?”

n“Right! Gotta mind my manners.”

nThe lionhead then took off his hat and bowed gracefully.

n“I’m the Demon, Beastlain. I’m the master of the , which you just completed and I’m the master of World 294’s tutorial game.”

nGame. Tutorial game. He had not been mistaken. All of it, which wiped out mankind, had only been a tutorial. Jaehwan couldn’t say anything. He was fighting a cacophony of emotions. Part of him told him to accept reality while part of him wanted to go mad.

nAfter a while, he came back to his senses. No, he came back armed with a colder look in his eyes.

nBeastlain seemed impressed.

n“Oh? You recovered pretty quickly.”

nJaehwan expressionlessly looked at Beastlain. If he couldn’t withstand the shock, he wouldn’t have made it this far alone.

n“If this is a tutorial, does that mean there’s a main game waiting for me?”

n“OH HO! You sure are quick to understand! Most Walkers who manage to finish either tried slashing their sword at me or went mad.”

n“What’s the main game?”

n“It’s as you expect.”

nBeastlain then let out a horrible, eerie laugh and snapped his fingers. Then the hologram panels immediately showed various screens.

n<1st Floor>

nJaehwan was standing within a group of many.

n“What is this? This is just like a game.”

nIt was the first time Jaehwan was summoned.

n<7th Floor.>

nThree people were forming a party. Someone started speaking.

n“I’m Yoonhwan. She is Seoyul.”

nIt was the first time he met Yoonhwan and Seoyul.

n<32nd Floor>

nJaehwan had just managed to survive through the ‘Shadow Cavern Trials’ for a month.

nIt was the first time when his Stab had become powerful.

n<54th Floor>

nJaehwan was standing there and there were people around him.

n“I’m Jaehwan. I’m from Seoul and my class is a Swordsman.”

nThen he joined .

n<66th Floor>

nWhile he was fighting the boss monster Succubus, he looked at the woman next to him.

nIt was first time he fell in love.

n<76th Floor>

nAmong the bones of undead, Jaehwan wailed as he held on the woman.

nHe felt heartbreaking pain. It was when he lost Seoyul to the Death Knight’s attack.

n<77th Floor>

nPeople disappeared with the lights. Enraged.

nIt was when the Returning Stone was found and had disbanded.

n<85th Floor>

nShout of people who just cleared it.

nDay of beginning of

n<98th Floor>

nMonster Giltikas

nWhen he became alone after losing Yoonhwan.

n<99th Floor>

nWhen he just killed Frost Dragon while ago.

n“This…”

nJaehwan could not speak. Everything he had done all this time had been recorded.

n“It was an epic drama that went on for 30 years! I was glad to have you! You know, if you stay here while doing the same thing over and over again, it’s refreshing to see a story of a man like you! I’m almost certain that the lords of the would have been delighted while they looked at your story.”

nBeastlain explained eagerly.

n‘Who are those lords and the ?’

nJaehwan had lot to ask but he held on to it.

n“What’s your point?”

n“It’s simple. You can now, start the game all over again.” Beastlain continued, “With all the memory of course. It’s the privilege only given to the man who cleared the tutorial game! Isn’t it wonderful? It’s something only exists in a novel in your world! The one who starts anew with all the memory! Isn’t it great? Isn’t it tempting? How do you like it?”

nJaehwan became dumbfounded. He said it was a reward. But wasn’t the reward of clearing the tower salvation of mankind? Or what exactly was the reward for reaching the top? Did the tower speak of it?

nIt did not.

nThe tower never said a word about a ‘Final Reward’.

nIt only had been mankind’s wish. They automatically thought, just like in other usual games, if they cleared the tower, they would be granted salvation.

nThe purpose just appeared on top of their heads and only thing mankind was able to do was to try to get to the purpose.

nAnd there it was. The final reward, awaiting in front of Jaehwan. Only given to Jaehwan.

n“So you want me to do everything I did all over again?”

n“Well, you can say that. But with slight differences, of course.”

nJaehwan couldn’t understand what was going to happen. He had been fighting only to save this world. To save the world whereas everyone had abandoned it. The purpose that kept him sane as a human being. But after he was successful in clearing it, the only thing remaining was him wanting to give up on the world.

n“So… you want to send me back to the past.” Jaehwan’s voice grew cold, “If you’ve been watching me, then you should know. I’m not going to the past.”

nBeastlain became confused.

n“Past? Are you talking about the past?”

n“Yes.”

nThen came the maniacal laughter.

n“What’s so funny?”

n“HAHAHA! RIGHT! You are absolutely right. You are the type that will never go to the past! Otherwise, you would not have made it this far. HAHAHAHA!”

nBeastlain laughed maniacally for while longer. He then suddenly stopped abruptly.

n“I will tell you a truth. One that is very brutal, but very accurate.”

nHe began explaining in a cold, eery voice.

n“No item within or outside this tower, not even the one at the , can send you back in time.”

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