Chapter 1325

Aside from the small disturbance, the wedding proceeded without any problems.

Well, there was that strange sight of three of the groom’s guests being all bruised and bloody.

”Do you, Han Tae-Sung, agree to take Yong Seol-Hwa as your wife?”

”Yes, I do!”

”Do you, Yong Seol-Hwa, agree to take Han Tae-Sung as your husband?”

The wedding proceeded.

”Sniff... Sniff...! My daughter... My precious daughter...”

The doting father, Yong Tae-Pung, cried a river after "losing"his beloved daughter to Tae-Sung.

“Can you stop crying? I’m going to kick you out if you keep that up.”

Yong Seol-Hwa’s mother, now Tae-Sung’s mother-in-law, had to go as far as threaten him to stop crying.

”My son... You have to live happily with her, okay?”

Tae-Sung’s mother started tearing up at the sight of her son getting married. The sight of him becoming a successful pro gamer and now marrying a beautiful woman filled her with emotions.

Yong Seol-Hwa grabbed her hands and said, ”Thank you for raising him into such a fine man. I promise you that we will be happy together, Mother.”

‘I think I really got lucky with her. She’s so smart and wise,’ Tae-Sung thought.

This was the happiest moment in his life. He was surrounded by friends and family, and he had his beautiful and wise wife beside him.

What else could give him more joy than this?

’I’ve achieved everything there’s to achieve, so it’s now time for me to protect this happiness.’

He swore to protect this happiness, one that he had in reality, for as long as he possibly could.

However, that did not mean he lost his passion for the game. In fact, his love for the game only grew deeper.

All of this, this happiness he gained, was all thanks to the game.

Would it be even possible for him to live a life like this if he had not started playing BNW?

’I’m a gamer. Gaming is a part of who I am.’

Setting that thought aside for now, Tae-Sung walked down the aisle holding Yong Seol-Hwa’s hand.

It was a cool autumn day with the perfect amount of sunlight.

***

Three years had passed since Tae-Sung got married.

Brave New World had surged in popularity since then, and it still remained as the top virtual reality game in the industry.

More and more new content was added to the Fantasy Server, which gave birth to a whole new group of famous gamers that started a new era.

On top of that, the Murim Server and Urban Server attracted droves of new users, which further solidified BNW’s spot at the top.

Tae-Sung was still revered by fans and gamers alike all over the world, and all of them were waiting for his return.

However, he did not return to the spotlight even after three years had passed.

Just as he always did, he stayed cooped up in the Proatine Empire and attended to its internal affairs or spent time with Brunhilde and Verdandi.

If anything had changed in his routine, then it was that he actively supported Yong Seol-Hwa, who was still active on the Fantasy Server, while running a charity organization.

His organization mostly focused on providing VR capsules to those who couldn’t afford them as well as providing relief goods to those affected by natural disasters.

He believed that it was a wealthy person’s duty to give back to society, and he truly lived up to his belief.

”I will be off now, my love.”

”Please accompany father-in-law in his final journey.”

Brunhilde had to leave the Proatine Empire to lead the funeral procession of Lohengrin.

An elven funeral lasted for nearly a year, and it was a very special event for the elves. Even though Siegfried was an honorary guest and the husband of their princess, he was barred from attending Lohengrin’s funeral, as he was not an elf.

After Brunhilde's departure...

”I will be going now, Father.”

”Okay, make sure you always take care of yourself. And don’t hesitate to call me if you’re in danger.”

”Yes, Father!”

Verdandi had grown enough to start her own journey into the world.

As a High Elf, she possessed both a mature mind and body, even though she was only ten years old. Now that she was all grown up, she expressed her desire to see the world and help others, just like how Siegfried had saved the world before.

With both Brunhilde and Verdandi gone, Siegfried was slowly feeling lonely and nostalgic.

”Hey, Hamchi.”

”Kyu?”

“Don’t you miss the good ol’ days?”

”What do you mean by that, owner punk?”

”I mean... We used to have so much fun in the past. You know, we would go around wreaking havoc, backstabbing others, and making a shitload of money. Those were the good days, no?”

”Hey, owner punk... Are you starting to get restless? Kyu?” Hamchi asked, side-eyeing him.

”Hm?”

”Well, I knew you were bound to start getting restless after living such a boring life. I’m honestly surprised you made it this far. Kyuu!”

”Rather than that, it’s just...” Siegfried trailed his words. He recalled the past when he journeyed around the continent. ‘Those were the good days.’

He couldn’t help but miss those days when he would work hard to gain a level.

Sure, he was happy and satisfied with his current life, but he had this feeling of loneliness after Brunhilde and Verdandi left the empire.

The loneliness slowly caused nostalgia to creep up on him, and it made him feel restless.

Unfortunately, there was little he could do in the outside world, as he would break the Fantasy Server’s balance if he got involved in its affairs.

As the Level 997.9 Arch Grandmaster, nobody could come close to him, even though he had been inactive for the past three years.

In fact, most people would agree that no one would come close to him even if he stayed inactive for the next ten years.

Siegfried was a balance-breaking entity in the Fantasy Server. Even though the law of causality did not bind him and he could do whatever he wanted, he knew that people would only find him a nuisance if he went out into the world now.

’Is this why Master said that it’s going to be lonely at the top?’

Only after he reached this realm did he understand why Deus did not venture out into the world and spent most of his time fishing.

’I should pay Master a visit,’ Siegfried thought.

He went to the lake.

”You’re here.”

”Yes, Master.”

”You’re just in time.”

”Huh?”

”The time has come.”

”By that you mean...?”

”Carell has reincarnated in another world and is all grown up.”

Carell had sacrificed himself in order to help Siegfried against Maugris, eventually playing a crucial role in saving the world.

Deus highly valued Carell’s spirit of self-sacrifice and sent his precious soul to another world. He also made it possible for Siegfried to find Carell in that world and bring him back to this world.

Finally, the time had come. It was now time for Siegfried to journey into another world and find Carell!

***

“It’s time for you to go find him,” Deus said.

“R-Really?”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

”N-No, not at all, Master!”

”Be prepared for a long journey ahead of you. It’s going to be far more treacherous than you can imagine. Hoho...”

”Huh? What is there for me to prepare? I just have to go there, wreak havoc, and drag him back here, no?”

”I hope you’re not thinking that you’ll go there as you are right now.”

”What do you mean by that, Master...?”

”Do you think crossing dimensions is easy? If anything, it will be far more difficult for someone like you to cross the boundaries of dimensions.”

”Why though...?”

“Is an Arch Grandmaster some sort of pushover? It is the same in any world. An Arch Grandmaster is capable of endangering the gods of those worlds, too.”

”I am aware of that, Master.”

”Then do you think the law of the universe will just let someone like that freely cross dimensions and wreak havoc?”

”Ah?”

”You will have to start from the beginning if you cross to another dimension.”

”...!”

”If anything, it will be far more arduous for you. The universe will surely apply some sort of penalty on you. You’re going to get caught up in all sorts of dangerous events, and luck won’t smile upon you at all. Suffering will be your only companion in your journey ahead.”

”Ah...”

”Do you still wish to go?” Deus asked.

”Yes, I do, Master!” Siegfried replied without a hint of hesitation.

He actually welcomed the challenge.

The three years he had spent inactive were too quiet for him, and he was starting to grow restless after Brunhilde and Verdandi's departure.

All of a sudden, he will have to cross to another world and start all over again from Level 1? As if that was not enough, he will have to suffer all sorts of penalties, too?

Badump! Badump! Badump!

His heart raced at the thought of starting again in another world, and the thought of leveling up again from Level 1 awakened the slumbering gamer’s spirit in him.

Just thinking about him excited him.

’A sub-character! I will finally play my sub-character!’

It was highly likely that this journey was an inevitability for him. After all, what else was there for him to achieve in the Fantasy Server after reaching the very pinnacle of it?

’It’s finally time for my comeback stage.’

Siegfried wanted to prove his skills to everyone.

After defeating the boss of the Fantasy Server and reaching the very pinnacle, he wanted to stand at the pinnacle of the other worlds as well.

It did not matter whether it was the Murim Server, the Urban Server, or some other server yet to be released. He wanted to crush all of it and stand at the very top of every server.

Three days later, Siegfried and Hamchi stood on top of the magic circle drawn by Daode Tianzun and Decimato.

This magic circle was not an ordinary teleportation magic circle, as it was a magic circle that would allow Siegfried to create another body—basically a character—in the world where Carell had reincarnated.

Obviously, his character, Siegfried von Proa, would not disappear.

He would emerge in the other world as a Level 1 newbie, and that was it.

In other words, he was going to play a sub-character.

Deus had mentioned that Siegfried could return to the Fantasy Server at any time he wanted, which meant that he could still come back if anything happened.

In addition, he mentioned that Siegfried had to use this magic circle in order to be able to preserve his skill tree and use it in the other world. By using the magic circle to create his sub-character, he was establishing a link between this world and that world.

”I will be going now, Master,” Siegfried greeted with a bow.

“Be on your way now,” Deus replied with a nod.

Flash!

A bright light surrounded the magic circle.

“Are you ready, Hamchi?”

”Kyuuu! Hamchi was born ready!”

”Then let’s go!”

Flaaash!

A blinding flash of light engulfed both Siegfried and Hamchi.

In front of Deus and the officials of the Proatine Empire, Siegfried embarked on a journey in search of Carell.

The legendary pro gamer, Han Tae-Sung, had started the second chapter of his gaming career.

[Epilogue]

[Alert: Loading...]

When the magic circle activated, a notification popped up in front of Han Tae-Sung’s eyes after a short while.

[Alert: You have connected to the Murim Server!]

[Alert: Please create your character!]

[Alert: In this world, you will be a Heavenly Being descended from another world!]

[Alert: Please enter your character’s name!]

[Alert: INPUT]

Tae-Sung could tell that the magic circle had led him to the Murim Server, which meant that Carell had reincarnated in a murim world.

‘So this is where you are. Just wait for me.’

If the Fantasy Server’s concept was that the gamers were Adventurers descended from another world, then the Murim Server’s was that the gamers were Heavenly Beings descended from above.

‘Hmm... What should I name my character?’ Tae-Sung pondered.

He pondered for a long while, but eventually decided to randomize it, as he couldn’t really be bothered to think of a name right now.

Any gamer would agree that naming their character was the most difficult part of a game, and the process of coming up with a name often took double or triple the time it took to go through the tutorial.

[Alert: The system will come up with a random name for your character!]

[Alert: Randomizing...]

[Alert: Complete!]

[Alert: The system has decided your character’s name!]

[Alert: Your name is Yeonorang!]

[Alert: You will begin your journey in the Murim Server as Yeonorang from now on!]

Tae-Sung was satisfied with the name assigned to him by the system.

’It’s not bad at all.’

He did not expect a name of SSS quality like this to still exist.

While he was occupied with that, the scenery around him slowly started to change.

[Alert: You have connected to the Murim Server!]

[Alert: Loading...]

[Alert: Loading Complete!]

[Alert: Welcome to the Murim Server!]

As soon as Tae-Sung connected to the Murim Server as Yeonorang—

“E-Emergency! We have an emergency!”

The control center watching over the Murim Server of BNW was thrown into uproar, and the sound of sirens filled the room.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

“W-What’s going on?”

”Is there a fire?”

”Should we evacuate?”

The staffers in the control center were surprised by the sudden uproar.

”What’s going on?”

At that moment, Oppenheimer appeared and asked the operator who had first sounded the alarm.

”007... He...”

”...!”

”He has created a new character in the Murim Server.”

”H-Han Tae-Sung did what?!”

”He has... connected to the Murim Server.”

”Oh my god...”

Oppenheimer was shocked.

Tae-Sung had been inactive for the past three years, so Oppenheimer hadn't expected him to create a character in another server.

In this case...

’I have to report this matter to the chairman!’

Oppenheimer hurriedly went to report the matter to Cheon Jong-Ho.

Tae-Sung’s return to BNW was not a small matter. The fact that a legendary pro gamer like him was creating a sub-character—also known as a smurf—was definitely a big deal.

After all, this could be the start of another legend.

Naturally, Hive Games Entertainment was on high alert, and they kept an eye on Tae-Sung.

***

A string of notifications greeted Tae-Sung after he logged into the game.

[Alert: Welcome to the Murim Server!]

[Alert: The law of the universe is keeping an eye on you!]

[Alert: Your Luck has decreased by 300%!]

[Alert: Your Bad Luck has increased by 300%!]

[Alert: The law of the universe has caused your character, Yeonorang, to be extremely weak and pathetic!]

[Alert: May fortune be with you!]

When the string of ominous notifications disappeared, another one showing his spawn location popped up in front of his eyes.

[Light Empire Imperial Palace Inner Court: A Secret Room Deep Inside the Eunuch School]

This time, an explanation popped up. It was an explanation for users who were not familiar with the concept of murim.

[Did You Know?]

[The Eunuch School is where eunuchs are educated and trained!]

”H-Huh? Eunuch School? A place where eunuchs are educated and trained...?”

As soon as Tae-Sung muttered those words...

“How dare you speak during this important process? Is castration a joke to you?!”

”Eh? W-What do you mean by that...?”

”Oh? Are you so scared that you wet yourself?”

”H-Hiiik?!”

”Be nice and still. I’ll cut it off in one fell swoop.”

”H-Hold on! S-Sir!”

Tae-Sung hurriedly tried to get up, but it was to no avail. The other eunuchs were holding him down, making it impossible for him to get up.

[Alert: Prepare yourself!]

[Alert: You will be castrated shortly!]

[Alert: You will no longer be able to enjoy adult content after getting castrated!]

[Alert: However, you will be immune to all charm-type status ailments caused by sexual seduction!]

Tae-Sung finally understood the gravity of the situation he was in after reading the notifications.

”Y-You crazy bastards! What the hell are you doing to me right from the start, you beehive!”

This was truly a spectacular start to his new journey.

Who would have thought that they would lose their precious family jewels right from the very beginning?

”L-Let go of me! Let me go! Hey, let me go! You fucking crazy sick bastards! Let me goooo!”

”Silence!”

”Let me go, you ball-less bastards!”

“It will be over soon! Just close your eyes and take a deep—“

Ptooey!

Tae-Sung spat right at the eyes of the eunuch holding his arms down.

”Ack!”

The eunuch ended up letting go of Tae-Sung’s arms.

Whoosh! Bam!

Tae-Sung punched the eunuch right in the face and used that opening to knock down the other eunuchs holding him down.

He was Level 1, but his reflexes as a pro gamer were still kicking and alive. An ordinary NPC stood no chance against him.

’I have to get the hell out of here!’

Tae-Sung kicked the door open and ran for his life.

Smurf character? Level 1? Writing a new legend?

To hell with all of those!

He had to make sure that he wouldn't lose his family jewels before even thinking about anything else!

”Get him!”

”Stop right there!”

The eunuchs and the guards chased after him, and soon enough, the soldiers patrolling the grounds joined the pursuit too.

”AAAAAAACK!”

Tae-Sung screamed at the top of his lungs and ran for his life.

’I have to run! I will lose my balls if they catch me!’

And that was how the legendary pro gamer, Han Tae-Sung, started his comeback after a long three-year hiatus.

He had to run for his life—or rather, balls.

However, this was only the beginning.

The law of the universe, which was basically the system, was intent on afflicting various harsh penalties on him, so his journey ahead was bound to be anything but smooth.

Of course, that was okay. The legendary pro gamer, Han Tae-Sung, was bound to overcome all tribulations and write a brand-new legend! Thank you, and I love you. I bow my head in gratitude.

With this, my fifth work, Debuff Master, has come to an end.

I cannot say it feels good.

I spent nearly four years working on this novel, so I feel quite strange about it ending.

Perhaps I can’t help but feel a bit of regret?

I feel really bad and apologetic that I couldn’t live up to your expectations at the end of the novel. I feel embarrassed that my shortcomings as an author was exposed.

Due to the length of this novel, I stubbornly insisted on releasing seven days a week. This caused me to overly focus on the main story, which resulted in such shortcomings.

I deeply regret it and wholeheartedly apologize to you.

Still, the water had been spilled already. It is impossible to edit the chapters that had already been released by the system, so it is difficult to recover once I lost my pace and rhythm.

Having to continue writing even after facing such difficulties was... But I am still grateful that I managed to complete this novel.

2.

I focused on my writing around the end of the novel and really enjoyed working.

The ending flowed as I planned and I managed to tell the story I wanted to tell.

I do not regret the ending.

3.

A lot happened in the past four years.

Especially this past year. I struggled to barely stay alive day by day.

I had a lot of personal problems here and there, and things that were not related to the novel were giving me troubles too.

I spent most of my time and energy resolving things at home.

The business partner I trusted told me all sorts of lies and forced me into an unfair contract as well as made me lend them money in the hundreds of millions of won.

I couldn’t take it anymore and ended up suing them.

On top of that, I suffered hepatitis, and my mother was hospitalized. Things had been very hectic ever since then.

But the fact that I managed to complete the novel without any delays was a huge relief for me.

The reason I managed to overcome the various problems in my life and complete this novel was all thanks to you, the readers.

Without readers, there is no author.

I was able to make a living and come this far all thanks to your love and support.

I am extremely thankful to all of you who read my novel with love.

Even though some of you criticized me, I am grateful that you loved this novel enough that you continued to read it.

4.

There will be no side stories.

However, I do have a story in mind, but that isn’t a story that can be told with a few chapters of side stories.

It will be around two hundred to two hundred fifty chapters.

On top of that, the setting will not be the fantasy themed server of this novel, but rather, based on eastern murim server.

Han Tae-Sung achieved everything he could achieve in the Fantasy Server, and likewise, I don’t have anything more to add to the Fantasy Server.

Thus, I decided the additional story doesn’t belong in this main story, and that was the reason I didn’t write the murim arc and left it as an open ending.

If I do end up writing Debuff Master 2, it will be a completely different standalone novel.

It will probably be about the murim journey of Han Tae-Sung.

I have always wanted to write a comedy murim game genre... but I’m not sure if circumstances will allow me to.

5.

I would love feedback for the second story.

What do you think of a murim comedy story with Han Tae-Sung as the main character?

It won’t be 1,325 chapters like the first story. It will be around two hundred to two hundred fifty chapters, as shorter novels are the trend these days.

If I will share some of my ideas...

The second story will revolve around Tae-Sung, who reached the pinnacle of the Fantasy Server, going to the Murim Server in search of Carell’s soul.

Tae-Sung will restart at Level 1 and go through various struggles, and the story will have a flair of dimensional travel or returner type.

Rather than a serious story, it will be more light.

Needless to say, it will be a different story from the first story of Debuff Master.

The difference between Han Tae-Sung, who played for survival, becoming the Debuff Master and achieving all of his dreams and the Han Tae-Sung, who reached the pinnacle of the server, would be big.

If you, the readers, are interested in this story, then I will prepare it while working on another novel.

6.

Even if I write the second story, it will not happen right away.

I plan to focus on myself and recharge first before starting my next novel.

I spent four years writing about Han Tae-Sung, so I would like to delay the second story for a bit even if I end up writing it.

7.

Lastly, I would like to thank you once again.

This is all thanks to you, the readers.

Your benevolence has sustained me and my family.

I was able to feed my family with the precious subscription fees you spent on reading my novel.

Also, you have given me the gift of job satisfaction and happiness.

I am truly grateful.

Thank you.

I love you a lot.

Actually, I was contemplating whether I should stop being an author after I completed this novel.

However, I was able to find the courage to continue writing thanks to the love all of you have given me.

I hope to show you how I grow as an author in the future.

With that, I, Damhwagong, will take my leave.

Thank you very much for everything.

I will return with a new novel at the earliest I can.

I hope to see you again...

Sincerely,

Damhwagong