Prologue: The Heavenly Council
The Buddha sat atop a lotus in the Pure Land, looking down on the human world.
For over a thousand years, the tears humans had shed while reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms,
and the hearts aching at the tragic endings of the heroes, all caught the Buddha's merciful gaze.
"So many living beings are heartbroken by the heroes' tragedies.
Liu Bei never unified the world,
Guan Yu lost his life due to betrayal,
Zhuge Liang was slain by his subordinate's sword,
and Zhuge Liang became a star in the Wuzhang Plains without achieving his goal."
The Buddha took a deep breath and resolved.
Now was the time to present humanity with a new story of hope.
The Buddha immediately requested an emergency meeting with God, Adi Buddha, and Jesus through the celestial network.
"Hello, I believe the human world needs a new Three Kingdoms story.
This time, with a happy ending."
God answered in a majestic voice.
"Good idea, Buddha's nephew. But who will write this story?"
Adi Buddha said with a mysterious smile.
"There is a young man in Korea named Minjun.
He is a writer with a pure heart and creativity.
How about we entrust him with this mission?"
Jesus nodded with warm eyes.
"Very well. I will personally appear in his dream and convey the revelation.
I will incarnate as Minjun's grandfather and guide him."
Buddha clapped his hands in joy.
"Very well! Jesus! Then I will also incarnate as his grandmother and take turns helping Minjun.
Let us together present a story of hope to humanity!"
Thus, the heavenly meeting concluded,
and the fate of Minjun, who had been writing a novel in his small studio apartment in Korea, began to change.
Chapter 1: A Revelation in a Dream
Minjun was a 29-year-old unknown writer. He majored in creative writing in college, but five years after graduation, he hadn't published a single novel, and was working part-time at a convenience store to make ends meet.
That night, he sat in front of his laptop, staring at the blank screen. He tried to type, but his fingers wouldn't move.
"Ah... Is this not working again?"
Exhausted, Minjun lay down on the bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
That was when...
"Minjun..."
A warm, familiar voice was heard. Minjun opened his eyes from his dream. Standing before him was his grandfather, who had passed away ten years ago.
"Grandfather...?"
Tears welled up in Minjun's eyes. His grandfather had been telling him stories of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms since he was a child. He had constantly told him about Guan Yu's loyalty, Zhuge Liang's wisdom, and Liu Bei's virtue, and these stories had led Minjun to the path of writing. "Minjun, don't be alarmed. Grandfather has come to give you a special mission."
Grandfather's eyes radiated a divine light, not that of an ordinary human being.
"Minjun, you must write a new Romance of the Three Kingdoms. But this is not a simple novel. This will be a story that comforts countless people and gives them hope."
"A new Romance of the Three Kingdoms? But the Romance of the Three Kingdoms has already..."
"No. This time, it's different. Modern Korean gamers are reincarnated as heroes of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and this time, it's a story of victory, not tragedy. A story where Liu Bei unifies the world, and all the heroes meet a happy ending."
Grandfather placed a hand on Minjun's shoulder. In that moment, countless images and information flowed into Minjun's mind. Landscapes from the Three Kingdoms era, battle scenes, and seven gamers enjoying the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in modern Korea...
"Find them. And write their stories. Whenever you get stuck, Grandfather—no, we—will help you."
"Us?"
"Yes, your grandmother will join you."
At that moment, Grandmother appeared. Even though it was a Buddha in the form of his grandmother, Minjun simply shed tears of joy at meeting his beloved grandmother.
"Minjun, Grandma will cook you lots of delicious food. And whenever you're stuck, she'll give you good ideas, so don't worry."
The grandfather and grandmother disappeared into the bright light, and Minjun awoke.
"Was it... a dream?"
But Minjun's mind was filled with vivid images and stories. He jumped up and turned on his laptop. Strangely, his fingers began to move on their own.
"New Three Kingdoms... The Gamers' Reincarnation War..."
Minjun's new challenge had begun.
Chapter 2: Seven Gamers
Based on the information he'd received in his dream, Minjun began to plan the first scene of his novel. Seven Three Kingdoms gamers living in modern-day Korea. While they each lived different lives, their passion for the Three Kingdoms was unparalleled.
First, Kang Minwoo - The Reincarnation of Yubi
35-year-old Kang Minwoo was the CEO of a small business. The company was constantly struggling financially, but he never once missed a paycheck. In fact, he even reduced his own salary to care for his employees.
"Minwoo, you're cutting your pay in half again this month? What are you going to do about your family?"
Director Kim asked worriedly.
"It's okay. Our employees come first. Our company is like a family, isn't it? Family overcomes difficulties together."
Minwoo's motto was "benevolence." Growing up, he heard stories of Liu Bei and Xuande from his grandfather, and he believed that, like Liu Bei, winning people's hearts was paramount.
At night, Minwoo would play the Romance of the Three Kingdoms game. He always chose Liu Bei's side, never playing for another faction. Even in the game, he achieved victory through diplomacy and benevolence rather than force.
Second, Kwon Hyuk-jin - Guan Yu's Reincarnation
Kwon Hyuk-jin, 32, was a bodyguard with a background in special forces. Nearly 190cm tall, with a muscular physique, and above all, his unwavering loyalty were his defining characteristics.
"Hyukjin, I recently received a job offer from a major corporation, but the salary is three times what I'm currently paying. What do you want to do?"
A colleague asked.
"I won't go. The chairman trusted me and entrusted me with this position, and I can't betray him for money."
A statue of Guan Yu was enshrined in Hyukjin's room. Every morning, he burned incense and prayed to Guan Yu.
"General Guan Yu, please give me the strength to protect the person I'm assigned to today. Please help me uphold my loyalty."
Even in games, Hyukjin always chose Guan Yu. From Guan Yu, who wielded the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade and cut through enemy lines, he learned the true spirit of a warrior.
Third, Park Min-seok - The Reincarnation of Jangbi
At 28, Park Min-seok was a team leader at a construction site. Despite his hot temper and loud voice, his subordinates all followed him. Because Minseok always took the lead, taking on the toughest tasks, and protected his subordinates until the very end.
"Team Leader! This project is too dangerous. We lack safety equipment..."
"Okay. I'll go to headquarters and investigate, so you guys, don't ever do anything dangerous!"
Minseok ran to headquarters and yelled at the safety manager.
"You guys! What do you value human life for? Get your safety equipment back immediately! Otherwise, our team won't work!"
His harsh shouts were filled with genuine concern for his subordinates. Back home, Minseok poured himself a bottle of soju and started playing the Romance of the Three Kingdoms game. He always chose his equipment, and he found joy in swinging his long-armed sword and decapitating the enemy general.
Fourth, Lee Junho - The Reincarnation of Zhao Yun
Lee Junho, 26, was a former national taekwondo athlete. Now retired, he runs a children's taekwondo gym. Junho's most notable characteristic was his perfectionism. He needed every movement to be executed precisely and beautifully. "Director Junho, my child is having a really hard time..."
The parent complained.
"I'm sorry, but Taekwondo isn't just a simple exercise. It's a martial art that trains the mind and body. Only when you can execute precise and beautiful movements can you become a true warrior."
Junho didn't give in. However, he loved his students more than anyone else and meticulously cared for each of their growth.
In games, Junho always chose Zhao Yun. Countless times, he reenacted the scene from the Battle of Changbanpo, where he single-handedly fought his way through a million-strong army to rescue young Adu. He learned the meaning of true bravery and loyalty.
Fifth, Jeong Hyeon-woo - The Reincarnation of Zhuge Liang
Jeong Hyeon-woo, 31, was the CTO of an AI startup. He was a genius who had graduated at the top of his class in computer science from Seoul National University and earned a Ph.D. from Stanford. Hundreds of algorithms and strategies were running in his head simultaneously.
"Hyeon-woo, will we win this competitive bidding?"
The CEO asked anxiously. "Don't worry. I've already analyzed our competitors' strategies and calculated our odds of winning at 98.7%. Here's the presentation I've prepared."
Hyunwoo convinced the CEO with flawless logic and data. And indeed, he won the bid.
At night, Hyunwoo selected the hardest difficulty level in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms game. He played as Zhuge Liang, devising strategies to defeat a numerically superior enemy with a small force. Reenacting the Battle of Red Cliffs and the Battle of Qishan countless times, he discovered the beauty of strategy.
Sixth, Choi Sunghoon - The Reincarnation of Bangtong
Choi Sunghoon, 29, was a naval officer. He graduated from the Naval Academy and was currently serving as the chief of staff of a destroyer. Sunghoon's defining characteristic was his penchant for unorthodox strategies.
"Chief Choi, in this training exercise, our ship must surprise the enemy. What should we do?"
The captain asked. "Captain, a frontal assault is dangerous. I think we should feign retreat, lure the enemy, and then ambush them at the narrow point of the strait."
Seong Hoon's strategies were always unexpected, but their effectiveness was remarkable. He excelled at applying ingenious strategies like Pang Tong's Linked Chain to modern naval warfare.
Even in games, Seong Hoon always chose Pang Tong. He was more drawn to Pang Tong's ingenious and risky strategy than to Zhuge Liang's orthodox strategy. He believed Pang Tong's Linked Chained Chain should have worked in real life, and he proved it in the game.
Seventh, Kim Dae-hyun - The Reincarnation of Yeo Bu
Kim Dae-hyun, 27, was a mixed martial artist. Aiming for the UFC, he was gaining attention for his natural physical prowess and aggressive style. However, he had a fatal weakness: his inability to stay with one team until the end.
"Dae-hyun, I heard you're moving teams again? How many times has this happened?"
A friend asked worriedly.
"Hyung, this isn't for me. The coach doesn't understand my style. I need to go somewhere better."
Dae-hyun was always on the move, seeking better conditions and a better environment. Despite his exceptional skills, no one truly believed in him or followed him.
In the game, Dae-hyun chose Yeo Bu. Yeo Bu's image of crushing everything with his peerless power seemed ideal to him. However, even in the game, Yeo Bu met a tragic end, betrayed and isolated.
"If Yeo Bu had met Liu Bei... would things have been different?"
Dae-hyun often wondered.
________________________________________
These seven people were strangers to each other. But they all had something in common. They all loved the Three Kingdoms, and each held their own heroes in their hearts.
And they were destined to be summoned into Minjun's novel.