[Episode 09] Gathering (2)
I looked at Lee Jun-hyeok, who was bending down, and checked his citizen information window.
『Name: Lee Jun-hyeok (Lv. 33)
Reliability: 48
Awakening Ability: Create Water
Experience distribution rate: 0% (+100%)
Settlement distribution rate: 0% (+100%)
★Quest Granting Exit』
Create Water (Grade B)
You can create water by consuming mental power.
Strangely enough, he was a man of high level compared to his abilities.
Considering that Seo Ye-jin was level 31, Lee Jun-hyuk’s level was incredibly high.
‘Even her awakening ability level is lower than Seo Ye-jin’s.’
Since it was a B-rank ability, it was likely to start at around level 25.
This means that you leveled up 8 times after awakening, which means you hunted a lot of monsters.
There didn’t seem to be any flaws in his character.
‘You can bring me in as a guest.’
It seemed like it would quickly fulfill the registration requirements because it had high reliability from the beginning.
“How many people did you say came together in total?”
“There are 24 people in total, including me.”
“I see. Then I’ll give you three rooms. Junhyeok can use room 1802, and the rest of you can use rooms 1501 and 1302.”
Lee Jun-hyeok tilted his head and asked back.
“yes?”
“We’ll provide electricity, water, and gas, so go and take a shower first.”
“Now, wait a minute. You’re giving me the house?”
“Yes. Because it is worth it to Lee Jun-hyuk.”
[Citizen Lee Jun-hyeok’s trustworthiness has reached 50.]
[Loyalty is open.]
They say praise makes even a whale dance, and the response came quickly.
“Thank you. I will work hard!”
The other people who were standing awkwardly behind Lee Jun-hyeok also bowed and expressed their gratitude.
“We, we will do our best! We are all capable of handling one or two goblins, so just give us the orders!”
There was one strange thing about what the man said.
That would be the case, as his level was only level 9. It was relatively high, but it was still average.
‘If you’ve been hunting monsters, shouldn’t your level be higher?’
I asked him.
“I guess you’ve hunted goblins a lot before?”
He answered confidently.
“Of course. The number of goblins that have died by my hands is already in the three digits.”
If that were the case, it would have been even stranger.
After citizens acquired basic skills, they were quickly reaching level 10 by just hunting a few goblins.
If you’ve hunted that many goblins, you should be at least level 10.
“Is it the same for the rest of you?”
“There are differences, but most people, regardless of gender, would have caught at least a few dozen. That guy over there has caught an orc too.”
But everyone else’s level was all about the same.
Although there were some who were over level 10, they all had solid bodies from working out.
Considering that most people in good health were around level 10, this means that they hunted countless goblins without increasing their level.
‘Is leveling up something that only the Awakened can do?’
It was something new I learned.
Ordinary people could not gain experience points even if they hunted monsters.
This was information that was unknown because there were not many cases of hunting monsters before obtaining citizenship.
Until now, there have only been cases like that, such as the Hadonggun party and Owen Ju.
‘So it was possible to grow up while obtaining citizenship.’
In fact, simply obtaining citizenship would be tantamount to being treated as a pseudo-awakened being.
‘My abilities are greater than I thought.’
The maximum number of citizens I can accept now is 19,000.
This means that it is possible to train 19,000 pseudo-Awakened people.
I asked Lee Jun-hyeok.
“Is what he said true?”
“Yes. It’s a bit of a boast, but it’s mostly true.”
“Hey! When did I···!”
I was left in pure admiration.
“That’s amazing.”
I said to them.
“Please actively participate in monster hunting. You can use the money you earn from hunting at the store on the first floor. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for the gym on the second floor.”
The reactions of those who heard me were unanimous.
“yes?”
It seemed like he didn’t understand the concept of catching monsters to make money.
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I already knew that I wouldn’t get any money from hunting monsters before I got citizenship.
It was thanks to the many conversations I had with the Hadonggun party.
I heard that before becoming a citizen, no notification would appear even if you caught a monster.
It seemed like it would take too much time to explain each of those things to them.
I said with a bitter smile.
“Go to the 21st floor and ask for Kim Da-bin. Tell her that I sent you and she will be happy to explain things to you. And···”
I bought a gift for them at the store.
Ramen, Choco Pie, cola, cookies, etc.
And he summoned ten sets of bows and arrows and ten spears.
Jiiing―
“This is my small gift.”
I hope they live up to expectations.
[Citizen Lee Hyeon-chan’s trust level increases.]
[Citizen Cha Jeong-Hyeon’s trust level increases.]
[Citizen Jang Jin-young’s trust level increases.]
[Citizen Kim Ji-tae’s trust level increases.]
······
······
So I sent them off and went back into the house.
“Siwoo, is it delicious?”
There was Owen Ju looking at his son with a happy expression.
“Yeah! It’s delicious!”
A feast was laid out in front of a child who looked to be about five years old.
There was warm, well-cooked rice and seaweed soup, along with stir-fried sausage and vegetables, grilled spam, and a fried egg.
“Mom. But whose birthday is it?”
“Huh? No?”
“But why is there seaweed soup?”
“Our Siwoo likes it.”
“Wow! This is so good!”
Oh Eun-ju smiled happily as she watched Si-woo munching on the food he had prepared with care.
“Is it that delicious?”
“yes!”
Siwoo found me returning to the living room and pointed at me with a spoon.
“It’s my uncle the wizard!”
I smiled and waved, then sat down at the table.
“Thank you for your consideration, Jaehyun.”
“No. Rather, I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to Siwoo, I get to eat such delicious home-cooked meals.”
The resurrected Siwoo could not leave the corner of the house.
And so far, I couldn’t leave my house, which wasn’t an area that had expanded while leveling up.
That’s why Owen Ju is at our house now.
“I ate well!”
Siwoo emptied his rice bowl and ran straight to the sofa to sit down.
“Pippi, come here!”
-Beep
As Siwoo approached, Kami let out a small sigh and hugged Siwoo.
Because I ordered him to please Siwoo if possible.
Siwoo spoke to Owenju while carefully stroking Kami.
“Mom! Play Gogodino!”
“okay.”
Originally, Siwoo’s wish could not have been granted. All TV channels had ended, and without internet access, it would have been impossible to watch it again on IPTV.
However, Owen’s house had a computer with Gogodino footage stored on it.
We brought it into our house and connected it to the TV and played it.
[Moving Rock Stegosaurus!]
It was thanks to this that I had downloaded the cartoon that Siwoo usually liked.
I carefully spoke to Oh Eun-joo while watching Si-woo, who was focused on the TV.
“sorry.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“You can’t get out of here. I didn’t expect that.”
Owen Ju answered with a smile.
“Just being here with you like this is enough. It’s better. It would be better for Jaehyun if this matter didn’t become known to others.”
The anger that always filled her eyes was nowhere to be found.
“I am so satisfied now. I want to be loyal to Jaehyun for the rest of my life.”
[Citizen Owen’s loyalty increases.]
[Citizen Owen’s loyalty has reached 100.]
[Citizen Owen Ju is already registered as a resident.]
[The limit on the number of items you can hold has increased.]
“······.”
Even if it wasn’t a system notification, her feelings were conveyed through her expression and attitude.
Owen Ju waited until I finished eating and finished washing the dishes before approaching his son.
“Siwoo, can I watch it with you?”
“yes!”
She clung to her son, kissed him on the head, and stayed there quietly for a long time.
As I was looking at that sight, I suddenly thought of my mother.
I wonder how the family is doing.
‘Let’s not be impatient.’
It was only one day.
What kind of attitude has Owen Ju had while carrying out his mission to obtain this day?
I could understand for a day or so.
‘Because Seo Ye-jin’s mouse is heading to her parents’ house anyway.’
I had a hard time passing by the area around Busan Station that was destroyed by the giant’s tyranny, but I was now safely over it and heading towards Jagalchi.
‘When the mouse gets home, it can deliver necessary items to its family.’
You could give them water or food, or even give them a weapon like a gun.
I could also hand over a piece of paper with a storage skill to let them know I’m safe.
It was when the Absolute One’s eyes were fixed on the mouse with which Seo Ye-jin shared her senses and was watching.
[Unauthorized person attempts to enter.]
‘Here you go again.’
It wasn’t just Lee Jun-hyeok and his group.
Since the capture of the giant, survivors have been gathering at our apartment complex.
[An entity that satisfies the conditions for acceptance as a citizen has approached the corner of the house.]
[Would you like to offer citizenship?]
This time, it was six men and women who appeared to be a family.
‘Offer citizenship.’
I checked with high expectations because of Lee Jun-hyeok’s case, but this time there was no awakened person.
‘I guess I should tell them to go find Kim Da-bin right away.’
If there was no Awakener, there was no need to give a quest to come find me and reduce trust or loyalty.
Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was already bedtime.
“Mr. Oh Eun-ju, you can sleep on the bed in the master bedroom with Si-woo.”
“No. We can sleep outside―”
“No, you can’t. Sleep comfortably with Siwoo. It’s an order.”
“···Thank you for your consideration.”
So I forced them into the bedroom and lay down on the sofa.
As I was lying on the sofa, I could hear Owen’s lullaby through the crack in the bedroom door that wasn’t completely closed.
As I listened to that, my eyes seemed to close slowly.
That day, I fell into deep sleep.
The next day passed by without anything special.
We ate the food that Owen Joo prepared with Siwoo, and watched Siwoo’s favorite cartoons together.
Siwoo adored Kami, and Kami was annoyed by Siwoo, who kept interrupting her from basking in the sunlight.
Owen Ju and Siwoo took a nap together and played with the toys I bought them at the store.
In the meantime, time passed colorlessly, without waiting for even a single moment.
It was just one day.
The time I can give to Owen Joo and Siwoo.
The time of promise passed quickly, and before we knew it, our separation was fast approaching.
“mom.”
“huh?”
“Why are you crying?”
“Mom, don’t cry.”
Owen Ju cried endlessly while holding his son in his arms.
“No, I’m crying.”
Siwoo lifted one hand and stroked his mother’s face with a look of genuine curiosity.
Siwoo said, wiping away Owen’s tears.
“Don’t cry, Mom.”
“Hey. Siwoo···.”
Could that have been the trigger?
The emotions that had been suppressed for so long burst out of Owen’s mouth as if they were exploding.
“Ugh. Mom… is scary.”
“What is it?”
“I’m so scared of a world without my son….”
Owen Ju was careful not to hurt Si Woo and hugged him as tightly as he could.
“Mom, I can’t breathe.”
“sorry···.”
The tears wouldn’t stop flowing from her weeping face.
He carefully pulled his trembling hands away from Siwoo, his voice still cracking.
It was painful to see her unable to control her strength, yet feeling sorry for the passing of time.
At that time, Siwoo hugged Owenju with his short, small arms.
“Mom. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
At the sight of Siwoo trying to reassure his mother with a warm voice.
“Hehehe.”
Owen Ju collapsed.
“I love you, Mom.”
“Me too, Mom loves our Siwoo. Siwoo, Mom···.”
Then, the promised time arrived.
Siwoo’s body becomes increasingly blurred and his voice becomes faint.
The child smiled at his mother, as if he knew something.
“Hi, Mom.”
And that was the end.
“Siu, Siu! Siu!”
Siwoo is leaving.
“Ugh. Ugh.”
Owen Ju mourned and cried for a long time, until the warmth that Si Woo had left behind in that place had completely disappeared.
hope.
Hope is a flower that blooms only in despair.
That is why those who have hope will always be in the midst of the pit of despair.
Cruelly.
“Don’t be too discouraged. This won’t be the last time.”
I gave her hope once again.
“Ugh. Really?”
Owen Ju looked up at me with a face full of tears.
I nodded slowly.
Owen listened to the devil’s temptation.
“Anytime I get the chance.”
[Citizen Owen’s credibility increases.]
[Citizen Owen’s trust level has reached 100.]
[Acquire ‘Primeval Vitality’.]
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