Music Genius in Virtual Reality Episode 16
Following Charles’ lead, Yoo Hyun headed up to the second floor of the cathedral.
The elder’s office was tucked away at the far end of the hallway.
“This is the Elder’s room. I’ll leave you two to talk in peace.”
Yoo Hyun glanced around, taking in the place. The hallway was spotless, and the antique portraits on the walls gave off a dignified air.
Just from the atmosphere alone, it was obvious—this wasn’t a space just anyone could enter.
He remembered what Charles had said: no other outsider had been granted an audience with the Elder before.
‘What kind of person is this Elder…?’
Knock knock.
He tapped gently on the door. A calm, deep voice answered from inside.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
When Yoo Hyun stepped in, he saw Elder Germano in a wooden wheelchair, waiting for him with a warm smile.
“Oh, you’ve come. Pleased to finally meet you, musician.”
“Nice to meet you, Elder.”
The Elder spoke kindly.
“It’s an honor to welcome someone like you finally. I should’ve come to you myself, but as you can see, I don’t get around too easily.”
“No, the honor’s mine. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Please, take a seat.”
Yoo Hyun nodded politely and sat down on a plush sofa.
The Elder poured some tea and offered it to him.
“This is tea from the village of Gair, famous for its leaves. Please, try some.”
“Thank you.”
Yoo Hyun looked down at the cup.
The teacup was elegant and classic in design, and the smell of the leaves tickled his nose—it was clear even without tasting that this was top-tier stuff.
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you,” the Elder said. “They say you’re such a gifted musician that even Geye changed her mind because of your playing. And Olsen, our village instructor, speaks very highly of you. Says your combat skills are as impressive as your music.”
“…You’re too kind.”
Yoo Hyun gave a modest laugh. Lately, it felt like he was getting more praise than he deserved.
All he’d really done was work hard.
“There’s no need to be humble. Olsen was a decorated knight before coming to this village. For someone like him to praise you so earnestly means a lot.”
The Elder smiled gently, then continued.
“The reason I asked to see you today is because I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor? Is this… about the upcoming ritual?”
“Well… It’s related in a way, yes.”
The way he said it felt a little vague.
Was it about something else entirely? Before Yoo Hyun could ask, the Elder continued.
“Have you ever heard of the ‘Guide of Melodies’?”
“…The Guide of Melodies?”
“The first bard—one who united the continent with music. A legendary figure. They could play every known instrument, and were also incredibly skilled in combat.”
Yoo Hyun tilted his head, listening.
“Is this ritual somehow connected to that person?”
“It absolutely is. The first ever ritual performer was the Guide of Melodies. They left behind a tremendous blessing—five whole years of peace for the village from a single performance.”
“Five years?!”
Yoo Hyun’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He’d been told the ritual was held every year.
And yet… that one person had extended its effects for five full years, with just one performance.
‘What kind of performance could possibly do that…?’
Yoo Hyun’s curiosity was only natural, especially as a fellow musician.
But the connection between the ritual and the legendary bard still wasn’t entirely clear.
What exactly was this "favor"?
“There’s a ruin located behind this village,” the Elder said. “Outsiders tend to call it a ‘dungeon’.”
“A dungeon? I’ve heard of those. Underground labyrinths filled with monsters, right?”
“Exactly. But this one’s… different.”
The Elder’s tone grew serious.
“That place was created by the Guide of Melodies themself. They called it a space to leave behind their will. I’d like to ask you to explore it.”
As he spoke, a system message appeared before Yoo Hyun.
Ding!
[Linked Quest: Path of the Guide (1)]
• Rank: Legendary
• Requirement: High musical and combat ability
• Reward: Legendary Class – “Guide of Melodies”
• Failure: You will no longer be eligible to become the Guide of Melodies
• Description: The Elder has chosen you, one skilled in both music and combat, as a candidate for the successor of the Guide of Melodies. This is a grand challenge. If you overcome the trials, you will earn the right to advance to the legendary class.
“…!”
Yoo Hyun’s eyes shot open.
Just from looking at the quest window, he could tell—this wasn’t something just anyone could receive.
It even offered a legendary class.
Considering how even level 1 legendary items sold for tens of millions of won… the value of a legendary class? Practically immeasurable.
‘Why me though…?’
Was this a continuation of that surprise quest earlier? That would make more sense. Otherwise, why would a total stranger like the Elder entrust him with something so huge?
“You’re the only person who has earned the approval of both Charles and Olsen,” the Elder said. “The Guide once said only those skilled in both music and combat can enter the ruins.”
The Elder’s expression sharpened for a brief moment.
Many had passed through this village—great warriors, brilliant musicians—but never both in one person.
‘Those who fought well couldn’t play. And those who played well couldn’t fight…’
In this beginner village, the level cap was just 10.
How could anyone possibly balance both swordplay and music in that short span?
It had been a hundred years, and still, no one had ever qualified.
“Of course, I can’t say what rewards lie beyond the trials. Only the Guide themself would know that. But I have no doubt…”
The Elder looked Yoo Hyun straight in the eye.
“…for a musician, getting a glimpse into the path of one who could move the heart of the gods—that’s an opportunity worth more than anything.”
Yoo Hyun already knew the quest rewards. But strangely, that wasn’t what stirred his heart.
What hit him the hardest… was the Elder’s words.
“The heart of the gods…”
It conjured up the image of a musician so great, their music could shape destiny—someone truly legendary.
What musician wouldn’t chase after a miracle like that?
“This is something only you can do,” the Elder said softly. “No other outsider has ever been recognized by both Olsen and Charles.”
Yoo Hyun’s journey had started like everyone else’s—with a wooden sword and a basic tutorial.
But he had taken it seriously. Trained hard.
And in the end, Olsen himself had acknowledged him.
That validation was something he had earned.
‘Then there’s no reason to let this chance slip by.’
If there’s a world that recognizes your value and gives you a shot… then take it with gratitude.
That’s just who Yoo Hyun was.
With conviction in his voice, he said,
“I’ll do it.”
“Ohhh… I’d hoped you’d say that. I’ll let Charles know to open the path to the ruins.”
Ding!
[Quest accepted.]
[Legendary quests contain trials.]
[Only by clearing all trials can the quest be completed.]
Another message popped up out of nowhere.
Yoo Hyun’s eyes widened again.
‘Wait—what?!’
[Linked Quest: Path of the Guide (1)]
Trial 1: Clear the Deep Forest Dungeon (within 24 hours of quest acceptance)
Trial 2: ???
Trial 3: ???
There was a time limit?!
Worse, two out of three trials didn’t even tell him what they were.
‘But the ritual’s tomorrow…’
His plan had been to do the ritual first and then tackle the quest afterward.
Now, that plan was out the window.
‘Only 24 hours? That leaves me with almost no time for the final rehearsal…’
This quest… was going to be way harder than he expected.
* * *
“What?! You have to do it within 24 hours?!”
On the way to the ruins, Charles looked like his eyes were about to pop out.
“I guess I won’t be able to rehearse tomorrow. I don’t want to mess things up for everyone, so I’ll practice separately whenever I have time. If you’d like, I can help set up a practice schedule for the others and—”
“Oh, heavens no! Don’t even worry about it!”
Charles flailed his hands dramatically.
Even if it was sudden, there was no way he’d put work on Yoo Hyun right now.
Sure, having him in the cathedral for guidance had been helpful, but that was not why he was saying this. Not at all. Definitely not.
“This is the place.”
Following Charles’ lead, Yoo Hyun arrived at a spot tucked away deep within the village—a place that hadn’t been opened once in all his time here.
It was a hidden area, completely unknown until now.
In fact, this was the first time any player had ever unlocked it.
Clack.
Charles unlatched the lock on the heavy door.
Yoo Hyun narrowed his eyes as he stared into the dungeon beyond.
‘So this is… a dungeon.’
A chilling aura and deep darkness drifted up from the underground staircase, and an uneasy feeling suddenly washed over him.
This was his first time entering this dungeon.
Which meant he had no one to ask for help or advice.
“My son told me something once,” Charles said in a calm, composed tone.
“He said if you want to win a fight, you shouldn’t care about the means. Do whatever it takes.”
He paused, then added with a gentle smile,
“He also said that if you trust in everything you've done up to this point and keep moving forward, you’ll get a good result.”
Ding!
[Trait ‘Fanatic’ has been activated.]
“This is a return scroll. If anything goes wrong inside the dungeon, don’t hesitate—just use this and get out. Got it?”
Charles pulled out an item he had clearly prepared in advance.
“And this is a compass. You can't afford to get lost in there. This is a lantern—who knows how dark it’ll be inside? Oh, and these are some extra potions just in case. And this is…”
Eventually, Yoo Hyun ended up with so many items that his entire inventory was practically full.
[You have received a Return Scroll – Hemona Village.]
[You have received a Compass.]
[You have received a Lantern.]
[You have received x10 Low-Grade Health Potions.]
…
‘All this…?’
As he accepted each item, Yoo Hyun’s eyes widened.
A return scroll, compass, lantern—every one of them was absolutely essential for any adventure.
But the one thing that caught his attention more than anything else…
[Hemona Village’s Special Chocolate]
[Description: A sweet, delicious chocolate that slightly restores HP. Also, it’s really tasty.]
‘…Did he give me this in case I run low on sugar?’
Was he worried Yoo Hyun might collapse from low blood sugar during a rough battle?
Or maybe, in case the dungeon got cold, he was thinking it would help him stay warm?
That wasn’t all.
[Moist Aloe Lotion]
[Description: A lotion with excellent moisturizing effects.]
[Premium Wet Wipes]
[Description: High-quality wipes that can clean any stain.]
At this rate, it felt like he could start living in the dungeon instead of just exploring it.
Wet wipes in a dungeon? That seemed a bit much.
Still, Yoo Hyun smiled quietly.
‘He really went out of his way for me.’
Grateful for the unexpected kindness, Yoo Hyun spoke with sincerity.
“If anything happens, I’ll use the return scroll right away. You don’t need to worry too much.”
“Please, really—don’t get hurt. There’s nothing in the world more important than your life. Promise me you’ll come back safe.”
Charles was clearly more worried than Yoo Hyun was. It almost felt like Charles was the one entering the dungeon.
Yoo Hyun scratched the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly.
“You really don’t need to worry about me. You should head back—I’ll finish getting ready and go in.”
When Yoo Hyun spoke with a firm tone, Charles finally looked a little more at ease.
“Alright then… I’ll be going. Please come back safe, Sir Yoo Hyun!”
And with that, Charles left.
“…Alright, let’s do this.”
Yoo Hyun packed his inventory neatly, then turned toward the dungeon with a determined expression.
The closer he got to the underground staircase, the heavier and darker the air seemed to become.
Finally, right as he reached the edge—
Ding!
[You have discovered the Deep Forest Dungeon.]
[You are the first player to discover the Deep Forest Dungeon.]
[For 24 hours, EXP gain increases by 50%, and item drop rate increases by 20%.]
[Achievement Unlocked!]
[You have earned the title: ‘I Found a Hidden Dungeon (1)’]
[All stats increase by 1, excluding Divinity and Charisma.]
No matter how many times he heard it, that sound was always satisfying.
And what really caught Yoo Hyun’s eye was the reward for discovering the dungeon first.
‘50% more EXP and 20% more item drops…’
Basically, every two monsters he defeated would be like taking down three. And for item drops, that boost was a huge deal for any player hunting rare loot.
But the best part?
The new title.
[Title: ‘I Found a Hidden Dungeon (1)’]
[Description: A hidden title awarded only to those who discover a dungeon first. The more discoveries you make, the stronger the title becomes.]
‘So the stats keep going up each time I find one.’
+5 after five discoveries, +10 after ten—every time he was the first to find a dungeon, the effects would stack.
It was only a +1 stat boost now, which didn’t seem like much.
But thinking long-term, it was a ridiculously valuable title.
‘Someone must’ve used this to grow insanely strong back in the beginning.’
Just like how Hwarang had skyrocketed with the Sword of Allstat back in the early days.
That was the privilege of pioneers—those who got there first.
‘And now… that opportunity is mine.’
Here he stood, at the entrance to the dungeon that held the legendary bard class.
‘Just discovering it gave me this much already…’
Who knew what kind of golden rewards lay ahead?
Of course, only if he made it out alive.
“Hoo…”
Yoo Hyun took a deep breath and stepped forward toward the stairs.
Ding!
[Do you want to enter the Deep Forest Dungeon?]
This was it—the beginning.
A path no one else had ever walked. A feat only he could achieve.
Yoo Hyun answered firmly, with resolve:
“Enter.”
And thus began the legendary journey—
The quest to earn the mythical bard class.