I Woke Up as the Villain

Individuals were gathered outside of Dungeon Square, observing the ongoing dungeon raid through the live TV broadcasts. All of them shared relatively similar thoughts.

"The speed right now is incredibly fast, isn't it?"

"What is the shortest time to conquer a Rank 7 raid dungeon?"

"It's a little less than 8 hours, I think."

"What is the average rank of the members of an attack team?"

"S-rank. They have fewer members though. There’s only seven of them in total."

After pooling the knowledge of numerous individuals, a singular conclusion dawned on each person—it was an incredible assertion. Thinking about it objectively, comparing the performance of an average B-rank attack team to that of an average S-rank team seemed quite laughable. However, given the situation, it was impossible for everyone here not to have expectations.

The internet chat and comments were not much different.

- Wow, the speed is insane, isn't it?

- Choi Yu-Seong is skilled in combat, but how could he also excel in strategy and deployment? Is there anything he can't do?

- He’s Ronaldo…no, Messi of the raid world… Choi Yu-Seong is the god of raids.

- By the way, how much time has passed now?

- It has only been 2 hours and 30 minutes.

- Oh, it’s frustrating not knowing how long the dungeon is.

- What happens if he breaks the record?

- Then, of course, the stock prices of the Comet Group will skyrocket.

- The Comet and Cheon-Ji Group's stocks are already rising, aren't they?

- I'm going to buy Comet crypto coins. Don't look for me.

- NSFW[1]) Sorry for aggroing you, but have you seen Kim Do-Jin and Choi Yu-Seong's raid level? It's insane! Their skills are on par with the best in the world. Can you believe Choi Yu-Seong used to be a loser? Seriously…

Despite the mostly excited reactions, naturally, there were also many negative thoughts.

- It's still in the early stages.

- Is a raid dungeon that easy? And let’s be real, the boss monster attack is the most difficult part.

- Uh, trap zones haven't even appeared yet.

- Don't get too excited and start buying stocks. Or y’all will end up going to the Han River[2].

└ Uh, I already bought them.

└ Congrats, you have bought tickets to Han River.

└ Yeah, you’ve won the lottery.

L LOL!

As the live broadcast gained momentum, people from not only Korea but also abroad were becoming more intrigued by the event.

- It’s the trap zone!

- Oh my god. How do you deal with that?

- See, all the stock maniacs are gonna get their tickets to the Han River.

Finally, the attack team faced their first crisis.

***

The Swamp Emperor was a Rank 7 raid dungeon, home to a variety of intelligent creatures that resembled lizards or crocodiles. The creatures had the ability to walk on two legs and use tools just like humans. This unique feature made the dungeon exceptionally challenging.

‘It's not like raid dungeons are easy in the first place, but...’ 

Thanks to everyone in the attack team working together and nobody falling behind, they had successfully progressed through the early parts of the dungeon much faster than Yu-Seong had expected.

‘I was a bit concerned that Kim Do-Jin might express some dissatisfaction…’

Perhaps Do-Jin had already accepted his defeat, or perhaps he simply wanted to firmly support the team once he had been entrusted with the task.

We are bit.ly/3iBfjkV, find us on google.

‘As expected, he is the kind of person who does his best when he has to.’

What had tripped up Yu-Seong and his team was the trap zone, which was bound to exist in any raid dungeon.

While traps could also be found in regular dungeons, the scale of the traps in raid dungeons was different. As if to prove this point, the team found themselves panting and laughing in disbelief at the sight before them. They saw a vast swamp resembling a wide river with shiny-eyed lizardmen lurking within.

Up until now, they had been able to confuse and defeat the lizardmen by taking both forest paths and swamps, or temporarily traversing the swamp and moving on. That was how they had been progressing through the raid dungeon.

However, fighting against swarming lizardmen in a vast swamp that stretched out like a river with no solid ground to step on seemed impossible. Even if, at first, they managed to maintain some balance, they would eventually end up stuck in the swamp after achieving only a small amount of progress. If that were to happen, death would be the only outcome.

Meghan, the only S-rank member of the attack team, quickly tied back her messy hair and voiced her concern. She said, "Isn't this a bit too much?"

"Is there a way?" questioned Bernard as he scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"Hey, Yoo Jin-Hyuk, don't you have any demonic beasts that could be useful in this situation? Like a giant frog or something?" asked Ye-Ryeong.

“If I had one, don't you think I would have used it? Sorry, hyung, I guess I'm not much help,” replied Jin-Hyuk, letting out a sigh and dropping his head.

"It's okay. Everyone must be tired, so let’s take a break. We'll figure something out," said Yu-Seong calmly as he patted Jin-Hyuk’s head.

He scanned the area around them. After defeating all the lizardmen they had encountered so far, Yu-Seong didn't see any problem with exploring the area on his own.

"I'll come with you," Do-Jin said, quickly following Yu-Seong.

"I can manage on my own…" Yu-Seong replied.

"I'll still come with you," Do-Jin insisted.

"Whatever," Yu-Seong said with a shrug.

Then, he left the team and headed down the path they had taken before. He wandered around, touching the grass and even searching through the corpses of the lizardmen they had killed.

Do-Jin observed Yu-Seong’s actions from afar with indifference. He said coldly, "There's no need to act. Don't you already know the way?"

Yu-Seong flinched before turning toward Do-Jin. He asked, "Did you notice?"

"I've fought against you several times before. I can easily catch what's on your twisted mind," Do-Jin replied.

“Haha…” Yu-Seong chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.

In fact, Do-Jin was right. Yu-Seong already knew the strategy to defeat the Swamp Emperor.

‘The basic strategy depends on the team's skills, but…’

Trap zone and raid boss hunting were always better with strategy and experience. Besides, the Swamp Emperor was a dungeon that Do-Jin had personally conquered in the original novel.

‘In the original novel, he struggled a bit because he didn't know the strategy, but…’

In the end, just like a typical party of the protagonist, they could find the solution with little difficulty. They ended up passing through the trap zone and the Swamp River.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Do-Jin.

"It's simpler than you think. Do you know why lizardmen can walk on top of the swamp?"

Come to think of it, lizardmen could sink into the swamp when they wanted to, and they could also walk on top of the swamp as if it were flat ground.

"Well, because they are monsters... Is there any other reason?" said Do-Jin.

"It's not an entirely incorrect assumption. They can spray liquid through tiny holes in their scales when necessary. The liquid comes out from..." explained Yu-Seong, pulling out a white organ from the corpse of a defeated lizardman.

"It's the lungs," said Do-Jin.

Although the blue blood distinct to monsters was sticky and messy, it wasn't difficult to figure out where the organ was located.

"That's right. They exhale a liquid called Tellintra from their lungs and send it flowing into their bloodstream. It allows them to jump over the swamp at any time," said Yu-Seong.

"I see..." Do-Jin responded with glittering eyes.

As if to demonstrate, Yu-Seong pierced the lung with his spear and sprayed the transparent liquid over his lower body. Turning toward the nearby swamp, he said, "Just to be sure, we should check.”

He stepped onto the swamp without feeling the usual sticky sensation that would cause him to lose his balance. He felt no resistance, which was possibly due to the coat of Tellintra liquid.

‘As expected, this method didn’t change.’

He proceeded to jump from one end of the swamp to the other, wielding his spear with ease as if he were walking on solid ground. Then, he turned to face Do-Jin.

"This would make things much easier," said Do-Jin.

"What do you think? Don't you think this is enough to make me the leader of the attack team?” asked Yu-Seong.

“As I said, this is a one-time thing," said Do-Jin. He smirked and turned toward Yu-Seong with a mischievous smile. "You’re the Prince of Reversals.”

"What?"

While pondering over that nickname, Yu-Seong suddenly remembered that someone outside the dungeon had said that to him before he had entered. His face flushed red with embarrassment.

In fact, he had been embarrassed by the nickname, but he had failed to express it during the earlier chaotic situation.

‘What do you mean, prince…?’

Moreover, it was the Prince of Reversal.

Yu-Seong had an idea of what the nickname meant, but hearing it from his colleague's mouth made him feel different about it.

"Prince of Reversals," Do-Jin repeated.

"Stop it," Yu-Seong said.

"It’s pretty immature and embarrassing," Do-Jin teased.

"Kim Do-Jin."

"Prince of Reversals."

"I'll kill you!" shouted Yu-Seong.

Do-Jin grinned and turned around to start collecting the lizardmen's corpses’ lungs. He then said, "I can't let the prince do such a menial task.”

"You really..." Yu-Seong let out a deep sigh and dropped his head.

‘I need to change my nickname as soon as we're out of this dungeon, even if it means manipulating the media.’

Right now, it was just Do-Jin. However, someday, Bernard could also make fun of him. Perhaps, Bernard might have already wanted to make fun of him, but he had been holding back because of the ongoing dungeon progress.

And once the teasing started, Yu-Seong was certain that he would continue to receive it.

‘I'll definitely change my nickname.’ 

Yu-Seong gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

***

Yu-Seong and Do-Jin explained the Tellintra liquid to the rest of the team. No one felt uncomfortable with the idea of coating themselves in liquid from the monsters’ lungs. In the first place, it was unreasonable to expect a comfortable and clean environment for a dungeon conquest.

Instead, once they learned that the Tellintra liquid allowed them to use the swamp as if it were flat ground, the team felt a significant sense of joy. By solving the difficult swamp situation in the Swamp Emperor raid, they gained much more freedom of movement.

"The effect of the Tellintra liquid lasts about 30 minutes after applying it, so we have to cross the Swamp River in that window of time," Yu-Seong explained.

"How on earth did you figure that out, Boss?" Ye-Ryeong asked.

With an awkward smile, Yu-Seong said, "As I said, I have a bit of future foresight..."

“He said he read a novel and was sucked into it,” Do-Jin said coldly before Yu-Seong could finish his sentence.

All of the team members turned to Do-Jin with a surprised expression.

"I didn't want to believe it at first, but these days it doesn't seem impossible," he continued.

“Haha… No way.”

"If that's true..."

For a moment, the group exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. However, Yu-Seong didn't hesitate to answer.

"Kim Do-Jin is right," said Yu-Seong calmly.

After hearing Yu-Seong speak up, the faces of his teammates lit up.

"When you two joke around, it really does seem real," said Bernard.

"I almost fell for it,” said Meghan.

The group started to laugh and make jokes, with Bernard and Megan having started the relaxed conversation. The only person who didn't join in the laughter was Do-Jin, who remained serious.

‘Is he finally starting to suspect me?' 

However, it didn't matter to Yu-Seong. Regardless of when or where, Yu-Seong had always been prepared to reveal the truth to people. He just wanted to do it when people would actually believe him.

‘Trying to hide it badly will…’

It would only make it a bigger problem in the end. To offer the truth from the start would make it less shocking for everyone later on.

‘Let's be honest.’

Yu-Seong couldn't bring himself to lie, not to the people he now considered his family and friends.

"Okay, enough rest. Let's move on," Yu-Seong said.

After the short incident passed, the group started to apply the Tellintra liquid on themselves before continuing their journey through the dungeon.

1. Not safe for work ☜

2. Han River is a representative location for suicide in Seoul, which symbolizes the idea of potentially committing suicide. ☜