Chapter 6
“One bottle of oil is worth… o-one million won? Just selling a single bottle would cover my monthly rent?”
Wasn’t that more than I’d ever earned, even after working every single day until late at night?
Memories of my constant financial struggles flashed through my mind.
Even after tightening my belt and switching to cheaper medication, my situation had never improved.
Gulp.
I swallowed unconsciously.
Who could stay strong in front of money?
Especially someone who had spent the past week eating nothing but plain rice and kimchi because they couldn’t afford anything else.
“So?”
“Still not convinced?”
As my silence stretched on, the cat began tapping its tail impatiently against the floor.
Actually…
I was already almost convinced.
This power could cure the sensory disorder that had tormented me my entire life.
It could also let me earn money easily.
There really wasn’t any reason to refuse.
The only thing stopping me was…
The purpose for which Mimi had given me this power.
“Save humanity.”
“Protect the peace of Earth.”
Wasn’t that far too grand a mission for an ordinary twenty-six-year-old shop owner?
I wasn’t some superhero from a movie.
Mimi hadn’t explained exactly what I would have to do.
But I was certain of one thing.
If I accepted…
The peaceful life I had built would never be the same again.
“I liked that cautious side of you too.”
Mimi stood proudly, tail raised high, as if she had decided to settle my doubts herself.
I watched curiously to see what she was doing.
Then…
She pressed the TV remote’s power button with one of her tiny black paws.
The television turned on.
A breaking news broadcast was already in progress.
Breaking News. Korean S-rank Hunter Oh Hyeongtaek, who had been dispatched to Tokyo to assist with the Gate crisis, has reportedly been trapped inside a Maze Gate and all contact has been lost. Although Oori, one of only three Search Skill Hunters in the world, entered the Gate four hours ago…
Aside from the United States and Japan, the only countries possessing Search Skill Hunters, every other nation can do nothing but watch. Their only remaining hope is South Korea’s Hunter Kang Jinseo, the only person known to have cleared a Maze Gate.
Although the Maze Gate itself is only D-rank, its danger level has been classified as A-rank because there is currently no known method of escape. As time passes, the survival rate continues to decline due to exhaustion and lack of food…
“In case you didn’t know…”
The cat casually stretched out on the sofa while openly watching my face.
More specifically…
The shocked expression spreading across it.
“Don’t expect another Search Skill Hunter to clear those gates.”
“…Why not?”
“Because that’s the kind of gate they are.”
“…”
The TV screen changed.
A small child was crying desperately while clutching a stuffed rabbit.
“Waaah… Mommy…!”
Judging from the wreckage surrounding the child…
Their parents had undoubtedly been pulled into a gate.
The moment I saw that…
My fists clenched tightly.
The same tragedy that had ruined my own life was now happening across the entire world.
And…
I was being told that I alone possessed the power to stop it.
…
How could I refuse?
It didn’t take long to decide.
“I’ll do it.”
“Good.”
“From now on, you and I will stop the dangers threatening Earth.”
The mysterious being wearing the form of a cat looked directly at me and smiled meaningfully.
Title Acquired: Wise One
Main Quest Available!
Clear the maze gates threatening Earth’s safety! (1/22)
Time Remaining: 490 hours 55 minutes 40 seconds
Failure: You will lose someone precious to you.
Success:
- 2 Stat Points
- Class Level Up
…
“Is this a dream?”
“Or reality?”
Dragging my exhausted body over to the sofa, I collapsed onto it.
“Haaah…”
I rested the back of my hand against my forehead and closed my eyes.
Everything that had happened today replayed in my mind.
I’d fallen into a gait.
Awakened.
Discovered that Mimi was actually some alien-like lifeform.
And now…
I had been told to save the world.
Honestly…
A dream would’ve made more sense.
“I actually awakened…”
To me, Hunters had never been heroes who saved humanity from Gates.
They were simply unfortunate people forced to risk their lives for everyone else.
Even so…
The reason I had endured all those brutal years at the Hunter Training Academy was because I believed that if I became a Hunter…
I could avenge my parents.
I wanted to grow strong enough to wipe every gate from existence.
The gates that had taken them away.
But…
Even after turning twenty-five, I still hadn’t awakened.
Eventually I gave up and focused on surviving everyday life instead.
Just living was already difficult enough.
“And now… I awaken?”
More than joy…
I felt conflicted.
Eighteen long years had been enough to extinguish the blazing emotions I once carried.
Now they felt distant…
Like something hidden behind thick fog.
And on top of that…
I now had to enter twenty-one more terrifying gates and risk my life every single time.
I honestly didn’t want to.
I wasn’t particularly athletic.
Nor did I possess incredible combat stats.
The first time…
Maybe I’d simply been lucky.
Who could guarantee I’d survive the next?
I glanced over at the strange alien cat casually changing TV channels with its paw.
“…Sigh.”
Still…
I’d already promised.
I had to take responsibility.
“Status Window.”
Feeling completely drained, I looked at the cat-eared status window floating before me.
Hidden Class: Beginner Owner of a Healing Therapy Shop
Skill: Absolute Senses (EX Rank)
Passive Skill: Relax
(Visitors to your shop feel an inexplicable sense of comfort.)
Sight: 1
Hearing: 0
Smell: 0
Taste: 0
Touch: 0
??: ?
Remaining Stat Points: 1
Virtue Points: Calculating…
Unlike the first time I’d seen this ridiculous class and skill…
I wasn’t completely dumbfounded anymore.
But even now…
It still made me laugh in disbelief.
“What kind of class is this?”
“How exactly am I supposed to save the world with this?”
I deliberately muttered loudly enough for the cat to hear.
Mimi responded with a crooked grin.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
As I looked back toward the status window…
A new pop-up suddenly appeared.
Would you like to claim your Gate Clear reward?
“Oh right.”
“I completely forgot.”
I’d been too overwhelmed earlier to even think about it.
“I wonder what I’ll get.”
With growing anticipation, I pressed Yes.
Pop!
A small square gift box appeared out of nowhere.
It bounced happily while continuously changing the color of its wrapping paper.
It should have looked adorable.
Instead…
The label underneath made me uneasy.
“Random Lucky Box for Beginner Shop Owners…?”
A random box?
Confused, I looked toward the cat.
Its bright yellow eyes sparkled expectantly.
Almost like it was forcing me to open a birthday present.
“Can this thing contain junk too?”
“No.”
Hearing there were no bad prizes, I confidently tapped the box.
Ta-da!
A ridiculously cheesy sound effect played.
Then…
A single sheet of paper floated onto the floor.
“W-What?”
I jumped to my feet and picked it up.
The Gate Clear reward…
Was it just a piece of paper?
Disappointment spread across my face as I looked down.
“…Temporary Employment Contract?”
What in the world?
How was this a gate clear reward?
When the paper dropped, I’d naturally assumed it was some kind of magic scroll.
Instead…
It was an employment contract.
Just as I was about to glare at the cat in protest—
“Oh?”
“You got something really good right from the start.”
The cat opened its eyes wide in genuine surprise.
It didn’t look like it was pretending.
“This is good?”
I looked suspiciously back at the fluttering sheet of paper.
Temporary Employment Contract
Contract Duration:
One month from the signing date.
Job Description:
All duties necessary for operating the shop.
(Tasks unrelated to shop operations cannot be assigned.)
Salary:
Unpaid.
“…What?”
“Unpaid?”
“Is this a slave contract?”
I frowned.
I couldn’t even understand why I was supposed to hire someone for this tiny shop.
And these absurd working conditions…
Especially the part that said unpaid…
Made absolutely no sense.
How was this considered a good item?
I flipped the paper over.
There was more writing on the back.
“Terms and conditions…?”
Employment Contract Terms
1.
The employment relationship lasts for thirty days from the contract date.
The employee is automatically registered as the employer’s party member.
2.
To ensure efficient shop operation, the employee receives the following effects for one month:
- All basic stats (Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intelligence, Luck) increased by 30%
- Mana regeneration speed increased by 30%
- Complete immunity to all status ailments and debuffs
- 100% item drop rate when clearing Gates
- 30% bonus Coin rewards
- One-time effect: Negates 100% of all physical and magical damage
- Reduces Mana Poisoning by 10%
3.
During the contract period, the employee is completely incapable of harming the employer.
4.
The contract is signed in the following manner…
“T-This…”
The paper in my hands began trembling.
My eyes wandered helplessly across the page.
My mouth hung open.
The contents were beyond shocking.
The buffs listed here were stronger than using dozens of existing S-rank items simultaneously.
“You’re telling me…”
“One contract alone can grant buffs this brokenly?”
“Ahem!”
“I told you it was a good item.”
The cat proudly held its tail high.
“This isn’t just good…”
“It’s completely overpowered.”
Among all the effects…
The hardest one to believe was Mana Poisoning Reduction.
Mana poisoning was a disease caused by mana residue accumulating inside the body and brain, leading to various side effects.
Every Hunter suffered from it to some extent.
Because of Mana Poisoning…
A Hunter’s average career lasted only about fifteen years.
The higher a Hunter’s rank and mana consumption…
The shorter that lifespan became.
Some people even said that if mana poisoning didn’t exist…
Humanity would already have been free from Gates.
The biggest problem was this.
For the past twenty years…
Not a single potion or skill capable of treating mana poisoning had ever been discovered.
