An idle game. A game where currency increases automatically without any special interaction. 

   Also known as a limited-interaction game, its main feature is that the player doesn't have to do much. At most, players might set up a strategy in advance or occasionally press a button, minimizing player involvement. That's exactly what an idle game is.

   " ...... "

   I sighed and looked up at the sky, an empty gaze fixed on the dark clouds, the rain-soaked ground, and the medieval-style buildings blending wood and brick around me.

   'Who am I even explaining this to...?'

   Smoke drifted lazily from a nearby chimney. My name is Lee Seon-Woo.

   [!]

   An all-too-familiar alert sound echoed from the air.

   Swallowing nervously, I quickly reached out toward the empty space.

   [Status Window]

   I felt a faint sensation in my fingertips as text appeared in mid-air.

   ======
   
   **Status Window**
   - **Name**: Keyal Klein
   - **Race**: Half-Demon
   - **Age**: 24
   - **Title**: Commander
   - **Adventurer Rank**: 1st Class
   
   ======

   **Skills**
   - **Regression**: Rank C+
   - **Arrogant Harm**: Rank F-
   - **Command**: Rank S-
   - **System Calibration**: Rank A+
   - **Demonic Army**: A+
   - **Demonic Traits**: B-
   - **Demonic Energy**: C+
    
   ======

   **Stats**
   - **Strength**: 20
   - **Endurance**: 17
   - **Agility**: 19
   - **Regeneration**: 20 +2
   - **Mana**: 9
   - **Malice**: 20 +10

   After skimming through the endless lines of text, I lowered my hand and looked around, rubbing my arm nervously to see if anyone had noticed. Thankfully, it seemed the townsfolk couldn’t see the status window.

   I let out a sigh of relief, then, feeling completely dumbstruck, collapsed to the ground. The sudden status window, the medieval town around me, and lastly, that painfully familiar nickname—Keyal Klein. Lee Seon-Woo knew this name all too well.

   ‘No way… That’s the character name I used in *TBG Heroes*.'

   *TBG Heroes*. A turn-based strategy mobile idle RPG hero game, often shortened to *TBG Heroes*. Despite the grandiose name, it was just like any other idle mobile game—a game where you gather resources and level up characters with little effort. 

   You’d pick a nickname, design a guild emblem, and start by building an adventurer party, completing dungeons, and taking on quests. Upon reaching level 50, you’d gain permission to create a guild, recruit "heroes," and develop them. The guild had a maximum roster of 10, and for dungeons or raids, you could deploy up to five heroes at once. 

   'Looks like I can’t deny it—my name is Keyal, and I’m a Half-Demon.'

   I’ve somehow been reincarnated into the world of *TBG Heroes* as my in-game character, Keyal Klein.

   ***

   Before I could truly comprehend it, the main question was: Why did I end up inside the world of *TBG Heroes*, a game that shut down a year ago?

   I brushed off the dust and stood up, leaning back against a wooden tile-roofed house. A worn-out window with smudges made it look like it could shatter at any moment. I looked at my reflection, faint but clear enough to reveal a delicate, pretty-boy face—a face that belonged to someone else.

   ‘Well… it’s my face now.’

   Indeed, it was the face of Keyal Klein—the guild leader of *Edric*. He should have been off raiding dungeons or running guild events with his heroes, not standing here.

   Gritting my teeth, I clenched my fists. As a Half-Demon, my pupils narrowed, leaking faint black energy, transforming Lee Seon-Woo’s face into something that looked almost inhuman.

   "Seriously? Why would a big-shot adventurer like me be stuck in a low-level starting village…"

   [Alarm!]

   The status window blinked again, filling with text as if delivering a missed message.

   ======
   **Keyal Klein**
   
   - The sole survivor of the Half-Demon race, Keyal Klein was once the renowned leader of the famous guild *Edric*, known for his overwhelming power that could be counted on two hands. However, for unknown reasons, *Edric* collapsed, and all remaining heroes in the guild—*Cheonho’s Pharmacist*, *Dragon Lord*, *Wisdom Sage*, *Elf Queen*, and *Vampire of Restrictions*—also disappeared from the guild territory.
   
   ======

   **Quest**

   "Find the lost heroes and assemble an adventuring party."

   Accept the quest? [ Y/N ]
   
   "Re-establish the *Edric* guild with the missing heroes."

   Accept the quest? [ Y/N ]
   
   [Beep!]

   ======
   
   **Quest(?): Protect this world.**
   
   Accept the quest? [ Y/N ]
   
   ======

   I sighed, raising my hand to the "Yes" button. Once clicked, the text faded.

   'Shouldn't quests usually mention rewards first?'

   'Even if it sounds intriguing, I’m not sure I want to take it… Ah, forget it.'

   I waved my hand, dismissing the quest window. At least this time, the demonic energy wasn’t flaring up.

   ‘...I guess the first thing I need is a party.’

   Although I’d been abruptly summoned to this world to restore the guild with lost heroes, I found myself smiling—a faint, childlike smile, as if reliving a careless, adventurous youth.

   ***

   Lee Seon-Woo, or rather Keyal Klein, calmly accepted the situation. He wasn’t mentally broken, nor was he triumphant. It just felt… oddly manageable.

   For one, he had power. The Half-Demon traits, paired with demonic energy that filled his body, were far from ideal for mana compatibility or aptitude, but who cared? His base physical stats alone were enough to overwhelm most races.

   In *TBG Heroes*, every hero and even the players had distinct stats. From one to twenty, with one being the lowest and twenty the highest, my stats at least put me on the level of a mid- to high-tier character in this world. 

   The most crucial thing, however, wasn’t raw stats. It was the unique traits each hero possessed—ranging from simple and seemingly pointless to overwhelmingly powerful.

   My traits, unlike the Half-Demon’s usual “Malice Resonance” ability, allowed me to wield true demonic power, nearly on par with full demons. 

   I could summon undead or channel concentrated demonic energy to unleash devastating magic, though the duration was short. If used for too long, the energy would consume me, making me lose my mind. 

   In the game, if I cast demonic skills for four turns, I’d attack both allies and enemies alike, which caused quite a few headaches. I’d go berserk mid-battle, shrieking or attacking allies instead of enemies, which usually led to chaos back at the guild.

   ‘Hah… those were the days.’

   I grimaced, a memory surfacing. Back then, this “trash trait” felt useless. But now? It was a high-risk, high-reward skill. In turn-based games, you had to follow strict turn limits, but here, I could exploit my abilities freely. 

   I could trigger the Half-Demon traits without relying solely on demonic energy—then back out before the frenzy hit or just use brute force instead.

   ‘Well, I guess I’ll find out soon enough.’

   I pushed open the door of a dimly lit shop and stepped inside.

   “...Who’s that?”

   Rough-looking adventurers with bloodshot eyes glared at me.

   “A rookie, huh…”

   Everyone looked worn down, some with limbs missing, bandages covering most of their bodies, and their eyes dull with fatigue. Even the women were blood-stained and ragged, giving off the feeling of battle-worn survivors.

   'Wow, the atmosphere here is just… cheery.'