The Wanderer, the Weaver, and the Winter

Yule has always enjoyed reading fantasy books in which the main character's life becomes a video game, or they fight their way through dungeons or a tower to save the world or themselves.

He does not anticipate being forced into these scenarios himself. Specifically, he's forced through a series of Challenges with no end in sight.

Fortunately for him, he doesn't seem particularly unique among the other Challengers, so he most likely doesn't have to undergo the usual additional problems a main character would. After all, there are plenty of people around him far more suited for the spotlight, like the Ranked #1 Challenger and the Wanderer who's fought through various Challenges designed for other worlds. Perhaps he can just coast through it as best he can like a side character or a background extra.

Ah, but...something feels wrong.

It's as if he's been involved even before the Challenges began...