The Village of Wisdom and the Hidden Truth

Haha, this is a great set

Lan Tian called Uncle Shin early in the morning.

"Uncle Shin, are you ready? We're going to execute my plan."

On the other end of the phone, Uncle Shin groaned. "Ah… Lan Tian, I'm sorry, but I can't go with you today. My daughter's school has a parents' meeting."

Lan Tian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then just don't go."

There was silence. Then—

"WHAT?! Do you want me to starve for another five days like last time?! I barely survived! If she kicks me out again, I won't even be a hunter anymore—I'll be a spirit summon myself!"

Lan Tian smirked. "Well, at least you'll match your profession then."

Lan Tian sighed. "Tch, you're overreacting. Just buy some food from a shop and stay at a hotel for a while."

Uncle Shin let out a deep, tragic sigh. "Ahh… If only it were that easy."

Lan Tian frowned. "What do you mean?"

"In the past, to make my daughter happy, I gave her full access to my bank account…"

Lan Tian's face darkened. "And?"

"Now… all my money continuously transfers to her account every month. I have nothing left! I'm even worse than a beggar!"

Lan Tian was speechless. "...So, you're basically working hard just to fund your own suffering?"

Uncle Shin sighed dramatically. "Exactly! I sweat, I grind, I risk my life… all so my daughter can enjoy luxury while I starve in the streets!"

Lan Tian held back his laughter. "No wonder she doesn't respect you. You're basically her walking ATM."

Uncle Shin groaned. "Argh! Stop stating facts! It hurts more than any monster attack!"

Lan Tian sighed. "Okay, okay… I won't force you. Do as you want." Then, without waiting for a response, he hung up.

Leaning back, he muttered to himself, "Ahh… I said I wouldn't force him, but this might mess up my plan."

He exhaled sharply, then stood up. "Whatever. If I move fast, I won't be too late. The plan can still go smoothly."

Without wasting another second, he grabbed his gear and rushed out, his mind already calculating his next move.

Some time later, Lan Tian stood outside a dense forest, gazing into the shadowy depths.

He thought to himself, After dungeons appeared in this world, this forest also mysteriously emerged… No one knows how or why, but it's definitely not normal.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, making his way into the eerie forest.

But just as he took a few steps—

Rumble!

The ground beneath him trembled, and suddenly, a dungeon gate materialized right in front of him.

Lan Tian stepped into the dungeon, his eyes scanning the surroundings. As he walked deeper, he thought to himself, This dungeon… it's not an ordinary one. This is a dungeon where familiars live.

Narrator:

In this world, a special type of hidden dungeon exists. Unlike normal dungeons filled with hostile monsters, these dungeons are home to creatures known as familiars. These beings are not humanity's enemies—they are meant to be allies.

Lan Tian's Thoughts:

But in my past life, this was discovered far too late… By the time humanity realized the truth, years of constant attacks had already enraged the familiars, turning them against us. They became enemies, not by nature, but because of our own mistakes.

He clenched his fists. And this dungeon… this is the very first familiar dungeon that ever appeared on Earth.

Taking a deep breath, Lan Tian stepped forward. This time, I won't let history repeat itself.

Lan Tian looked around and muttered to himself, "This dungeon is just a D-rank one… but even some SS-rank dungeons are actually familiar dungeons."

His gaze hardened. If humanity had realized this sooner, things could have been different.

"If we can make them our friends," he continued, "it would be a huge help in saving the world."

With that thought, he took another step forward, determined to change the future.

Lan Tian walked deeper into the dungeon, his mind piecing together what he knew.

Because this is a familiar dungeon, the natural restrictions don't apply here… Unlike normal dungeons where monsters are trapped inside, the creatures here can move in and out freely.

And in five days… they will leave this place to negotiate with humans.

These creatures weren't just beasts—they were highly intelligent beings, capable of communication, capable of coexistence.

But humans will misunderstand them… Fear will cloud their judgment.

Instead of listening, they will attack. And before anyone realizes the truth, the familiars—potential allies—will become enemies of humanity.

Lan Tian's expression hardened.

"I won't let that happen."

Narrator:

The Restriction of Nature is a force that prevents otherworldly beings—those who are enemies of humanity—from invading Earth. However, this restriction is not absolute. Monsters can break through it with sheer force.

The higher the dungeon's rank, the weaker the restriction.

E-rank dungeons take around half a year to break because the monsters within are weak.

SS-rank and SSS-rank dungeons? They can shatter the restriction in half a day.

But even that isn't the worst-case scenario.

Lan Tian's Thoughts:

In my past life, when an SSS-rank dungeon evolved into a Disaster-Level Dungeon…

The restriction shattered in an instant.

No time to prepare. No warning. Just complete destruction.

Lan Tian clenched his fists. This is why I need to change the future.

Lan Tian walked continuously through the dense forest, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings. After some time, he finally reached an open area—a village hidden deep within the dungeon.

As he stepped inside, a notification popped up before him.

[You have entered the Village of Wisdom.]

Before he could react, several creatures emerged from the village. They were large, orc-like beings with strong, muscular bodies—but unlike the brutal orcs he had fought before, these ones had kind eyes and intelligent expressions.

"Welcome! Welcome, guest!" they greeted him in unison, their voices deep yet friendly.

Lan Tian observed them carefully.

So… these are the villagers of this place?

He had read about this in his past life, but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely.

Lan Tian was guided through the village by the orc-like villagers, who led him to a large, open hut at the heart of the settlement. The air around the hut felt thick with wisdom and history. As Lan Tian entered, he was met with a shocking sight.

Sitting majestically at the center of the room was the village chief—a massive, white python.

This wasn't just any snake. The python's scales gleamed like polished marble, reflecting the ambient light. Its eyes were a sharp, glowing amber, filled with an unsettling intelligence. The creature's body coiled around the large stone dais, its muscles rippling with each slight movement, and its head—larger than any snake Lan Tian had ever seen—was raised high, almost level with his own.

The python's fangs, long and sharp, gleamed like silver daggers, and there was an ancient aura surrounding the creature. It looked dangerous, not in the way that a typical monster would, but in a way that suggested immense power, restraint, and centuries of wisdom.

Despite its terrifying appearance, there was something dignified and noble about the village chief. Its presence commanded respect, and Lan Tian couldn't shake the feeling that this creature was far more than just a monster—it was a guardian, a leader with knowledge that spanned beyond the comprehension of ordinary humans.

The villagers, seeing Lan Tian's awe-struck expression, respectfully bowed their heads as they introduced him to the chief.

Lan Tian took a cautious step forward. He couldn't help but feel the weight of history and mystery that surrounded this ancient being.

Before Lan Tian could say anything, the massive white python lowered its head slightly, its glowing amber eyes locking onto him. Then, in a deep, rumbling voice that carried both wisdom and power, the village chief spoke.

"Ah… a human visitor." The voice echoed through the hut, smooth yet ancient, as if carrying the weight of countless years. "May we hear why you have come to our village?"

The orc-like villagers all turned their gazes to Lan Tian, waiting for his response. Some looked curious, others wary, but none seemed hostile.

Lan Tian straightened his posture, trying to maintain his composure. He had expected to introduce himself first, but it seemed the village chief had no interest in formalities.

Taking a deep breath, he carefully chose his words. "I came here to warn you."

The village chief's massive amber eyes widened in shock. "What…? Why would you say that?"

Lan Tian took a deep breath and met the serpent's gaze. "You believe that all humans are good… but that's not true. Not all of them will welcome you with open arms." His voice was firm, carrying the weight of his past life's knowledge. "I'm here to negotiate with you. I want to ask you to stay inside this dungeon for now—at least until I become strong enough to protect you."

Murmurs spread among the villagers. Some looked uncertain, while others exchanged glances filled with concern.

The village chief narrowed his eyes. "And why should I trust you? A mere human, telling us to hide… How do I know you're not lying?"

Lan Tian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he opened his system window. His fingers moved swiftly, doing something within the interface.

Then—Ding!

A system notification suddenly popped up in front of the village chief.

The python's pupils contracted in shock. "W-What?! How do you know about this?"....