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He took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed like what he had imagined was correct, but accepting it wasn’t an easy task.

Golden hair shimmering in the sunlight, crimson eyes like melted rubies, and sun-kissed skin radiating a healthy glow. Golden piercings dangled from his ears, his facial features sharp and defined. The image of the Golden Sun reflected in the mirror.

Was this even possible?

He was clearly in the middle of playing a game called Tactical Combat.

After achieving the world’s first 100% completion rate, he had created a custom character for fun in the newly unlocked Custom Mode.

But out of nowhere, as soon as he created the character, he became that character?

His head was spinning.

Tactical Combat was known to be a bit of a mess, but that very messiness had sparked a frenzy among gamers, making it wildly popular.

And while calling a “messy game” well-made was funny, Tactical Combat was genuinely well-crafted.

The overflowing realism, lively NPCs, and solid storyline made it a masterpiece. It was just that the balance patches were so bad it became a broken game, and he even called it a “bug-ridden disaster.”

But the difficulty was so absurdly high that even he, a former fighter pilot, had cursed the game, wondering if it was even meant to be beaten.

Like most games of this genre, there were more gamers defending it as “content” than complaining about the developers, and he was one of them.

Considering the time he had poured into achieving 100% completion, it was clear how much he loved Tactical Combat.

But getting hit like this? It was infuriating.

Was this even possible?

He took another deep breath, but nothing changed.

It was time to worry about what came next.

Tactical Combat was a game centered around piloting colossal mechs called Colossal Mechs.

In short, it was a game where players directly controlled these mechs from the cockpit.

When he first started the game, as a former fighter pilot, he thought it would be a breeze. Having experienced war, he believed his natural talent for piloting would make the game trivial.

But this game wasn’t called a “messy game” for nothing. Despite his confidence, he was quickly game-overed and had to play in Bug Mode, the easiest difficulty, just to get used to it.

Thanks to his talent, he eventually became a veteran and achieved the monumental 100% completion rate, becoming the first in the world to do so. But the moment he created a custom character, he was sucked into the game.

What a logical conclusion.

He sighed again.

What now?

He genuinely wondered what to do.

Tactical Combat was inherently difficult, but once you got used to piloting the Colossal Mechs, even Bug Mode became manageable.

The Status Window system and Characteristic Skills helped with piloting, so once you adapted, the game was enjoyable.

Especially the protagonist’s Characteristic Skill, Synchronization, was considered the best in Tactical Combat.

This skill increased synchronization with the Colossal Mech, allowing for more flexible and precise control. As it evolved into Oneness of Body and Mind, it felt like controlling your own body.

The only problem? He didn’t have that overpowered skill.

Tactical Combat was a game where you could only play as the protagonist. Given its high freedom, that was enough to enjoy the game, and early players didn’t complain much.

But as time passed, veterans craved new challenges and wanted to play as characters with different narratives.

Thus, Custom Mode was born. It allowed players to create their own characters, which would be reflected in the game.

Veterans salivated at the new mode, eagerly awaiting its update.

But Custom Mode wasn’t available to everyone. Only those who achieved 100% completion could unlock it.

When veteran gamers protested, the developers shut them down with one sentence:

– “You call yourselves veterans with achievements still left?”

That one line stung. Proud of their mastery, they gritted their teeth and rushed to clear all achievements.

But Tactical Combat’s achievements weren’t easy. Many seemed impossible, and people gave up.

Yet, someone pushed through the absurdity.

That someone was Kang Do-jun, who had just opened his eyes in this world.

With sheer determination, he achieved 100% completion and proudly unlocked Custom Mode.

Now a true veteran, he had no intention of playing Custom Mode normally.

How could he, after unlocking it with such effort?

Seeking a unique thrill, he went with the recent trend of the Golden Sun concept for his character. Aiming to be the ultimate concept enthusiast, he customized his character.

The result was the Characteristic Skill, “Your Mech is Awesome.”

This skill allowed him to use the protagonist’s ultimate skill, Oneness of Body and Mind, without penalty when stealing someone else’s mech. It was a very Golden Sun-like skill.

The idea was that the Golden Sun should steal others’ possessions, making battles more fun by hijacking mechs.

If it were just a game, he might have praised himself for such detailed customization. A Golden Sun-looking guy stealing mechs? Hilarious.

But now, that Characteristic Skill was truly his.

What should have been a trump card became a double-edged sword.

“Your Mech is Awesome” could only activate when stealing a registered Colossal Mech. Otherwise, he had to rely solely on his piloting skills.

Was this fair?

This penalty was satisfying in concept play but utterly useless in reality.

Whatever. Fine.

He couldn’t keep complaining. He needed to figure out why this happened.

Of course, the idea of entering a game was absurd, but since this wasn’t a dream, he had to accept it.

But seriously, was this even possible?

He was just a quiet guy who posted his gameplay online for fun.

He never argued with anyone or sent complaints to the developers.

Wait a minute.

One thing stood out.

Officially, he was the fastest to clear all achievements in Tactical Combat. The developers had confirmed he was the only one to do so.

“Damn it.”

The curse he had been holding back finally escaped.

Was that the trigger?

A condition that dragged the person who cleared this mess of a game into it?

There was no other answer. And thinking about it, it made sense.

Getting dragged into a game for being good at it… Unbelievable.

He took deep breaths, trying to calm down.

It still didn’t feel real, but after days with no change, he had to accept it.

Taking a deep breath, he managed to calm down.

Well, more like he gave up.

After days of chaos, he realized that no matter what, he was now in the world of Tactical Combat.

Was there a way back?

Having given up, he had to think about what to do next.

The fundamental question: Could he return to his original world?

Even though this game world was insane, he honestly wanted to go back.

He had no strong ties to his original world.

He was from a single-parent family, and his mother had passed away from cancer long ago.

Not to mention, his body was a wreck from severe injuries, so there was no reason to return.

But still, it was the world he was born in, where he was supposed to live and die.

No matter how terrible, he had memories with comrades, sharing life and death. He had to go back.

At least he didn’t want to die in a place like this.

What should he do now?

He sighed deeply and slumped into a chair.

Without knowing the exact reason he was in Tactical Combat’s world, finding a way back was nonsense.

But if he had been pulled into this world by clearing the game in reality, maybe completing all scenarios here would send him back.

It was just a guess, but it was all he could think of.

He rubbed his chin with the back of his right hand.

A subconscious action when deep in thought.

– Knock knock

“Young master, the Count is calling for you.”

“…Understood.”

No time to think.

Unconsciously, he had avoided meeting this body’s family, but it seemed that was no longer possible.

Tactical Combat was a console game.

Meaning, it had a story, and clearing it was the way to play.

But the Golden Sun character he created, Gilbert, had no background.

He had made a custom character for fun, but as someone who loved Tactical Combat’s world, he had simply placed the character in a suitable noble family.

He hadn’t even carefully chosen the family.

Just to secure early funds, he picked a prestigious family, naturally landing on the Lion Heart family, the current Count of Lithuania and a border lord.

In the game’s setting, the Lion Heart family was renowned in the Empire, making it an excellent condition for him to live here.

If he had added strange settings, he might have been in trouble today.

The only problem was that Gilbert Lion Heart, the character he had possessed, was set as a playboy to stick to the Golden Sun concept.

The eldest son of a Count, a playboy.

What did that mean?

He had become the stereotypical troublemaker noble eldest son often seen in web novels.

The Characteristic Skill was laughable, but the real issue was this.

The playboy troublemaker setting was a staple in web novels. While he hadn’t done anything, the original owner of this body had, making it a cult favorite.

But in reality, it wasn’t so fun.

After observing those around him for days, he could feel his current reputation.

He was truly a troublemaker, nothing more, nothing less.

But what could he do?

He set aside his complaints.

He had to meet Gilbert’s father, the Count of Lithuania, now.

He straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes and followed the servant waiting outside to the office.

“Count, I’ve brought the eldest young master as you commanded.”

“Come in.”

As soon as permission was granted, the door opened.

He sighed inwardly, calming his trembling heart.

Though he hadn’t fully grasped this world, if he couldn’t pass this first hurdle, surviving in this harsh world would be hopeless.

Having become Gilbert, he steeled himself and stepped into the office, which felt like the gates of purgatory.

 

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