CH 16

Before the screen moved on to the next news, my phone vibrated.

[Shin Mira: Rieul, what are you doing?]

[Shin Mira: Why is there no chat lately? Are you working overtime?]

[Shin Mira: That’s right, right, you said that you resigned. Wow, I’m really envious ㅠㅠ]

It was KakaoTalk from my high school friend, Shin Mira. Come to think of it, I even told her about the news of my resignation, but I wasn’t able to contact her for a while because I’ve awakened and experienced some crazy things lately.

“Human, you have friends.”

What does this cat think of me?

I like to be lazy, but I still have friends. Although I only reported my survival through KakaoTalk.

It’s been a long time since we met because the last time was before my regression.

[Me: Yep. I really recommend resignation, it’s good for your health]

[Me: See you when you’re less busy]

[Shin Mira: OKOK~]

After replying to the Kakaotalk, I washed up and lay on the bed.

Tomorrow, the branch will bear fruit. I’m glad I didn’t have to wait long.

I fell asleep with that thought.

***

“It didn’t grow at all?”

The next morning, when I went to check the branch, I was surprised.

Far from bearing any fruit, the Yggdrasil’s branch had withered more than yesterday. The green leaves even turned yellow at the tips.

Flutter.

Ah, the leaf fell off.

It seems that the rest of the leaves will fall off if they withered a little more.

“You said it grows quickly in one night.”

I protested, but the system’s message was silent.

Yesterday, you put up a notification pretending to be pitiful to the point where my eyes hurt, but are you pretending not to know anything now?

Instead, Mieum said in a small voice.

“The branch lost a lot of strength while left outdoors. So it seems that ordinary water cannot make the tree grows. Waeoong….”

“Then what water should I use?”

The description in the Ether-Wiki was ‘fresh water’. Can’t I use tap water? Should I buy Evian and pour it over?

“You need water with a high ether concentration.”

“Where can I find it?”

Mieum didn’t answer right away and stared at me.

Ah. Now I know what happens when this cat makes a face like this. Obviously, she’s trying to make me do something incredibly cumbersome.

Stop, you don’t have to answer. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.

“If you scoop up ethereal water from the dungeon and pour it in, it will survive.”

I covered my ears.

“I can’t hear anything. I can’t hear anything….”

“Participate in the tutorial dungeon.”

“All of a sudden?!”

“There is a river in the tutorial dungeon on the first floor of Abyss. You can get the water from there.”

I knew it.

I feel like I keep getting involved. It was clear that Mieum and the system were working hard to get me into the dungeon.

I should have noticed it from the moment it kept saying that it was easy and that it would give me a reward.

This is it. A story in which the main character of an RPG game who was only going to run an errand in a neighboring town, eventually gets caught up in a troublesome task and fights the Demon King.

Yeah, I don’t want it. If the system is an RPG game, my role is like the innkeeper of the starter village who sees off the main character.

I was just trying to water the branch. I refused to play the story of entering the dungeon after getting caught up in troublesome work.

“I really can’t hear it. Ahaha, Mieum, I can’t hear you at all.”

“Meooong!”

Mieum jumped up with her back feet and threw a meow punch. The cat’s forefoot attack is quite painful.

‘I’m going to put her in the bath soon.’

I vowed revenge in my heart.

“Waeoong! You look like you’re up to something!”

Like a ghost, she noticed my thoughts, and Mieum jumped up and rushed to my lap. The movement of jumping, which did not go well with her heavy figure, was quick. As I staggered at the heavy attack, the hand that covered my ear fell off.

Tiling, Tiling.

Then a clear sound effect pierced my ears. The system, which had been silent until now, opened a notification window.

[A quest has occurred]

I don’t fall for this trick anymore.

This innkeeper is busy today because she has to go exchange the 5 million won. I don’t have time to check things like quests.

However, the system arbitrarily pushed the quest details screen.

[Sub-Quest: Our Blue River and Green Mountain

Oh dear, the precious branch is on the verge of drying up due to lack of ether.

Let’s make the branch green again by giving them water flowing with ether.

Required Items: 1 liter of ethereal water

Pour ethereal water on the branch 0/1

Reward: 3 Golden Draw Tickets]

Uh, Golden Draw Ticket?

Is it a lucky draw?

The worst civilization ever created by the mankind. The draw that makes you dream in vain and brings despair at the extreme odds of 0.1% or 0.5%.

“…”

Uh, I almost fell for it.

It’s because of my old habit of not being able to stand just by looking at the drawing.

No, it’s not. I won’t do it. I’m not doing it.

***

The intersection in front of Exit 2 of the bustling Apgujeong Hunter Market Station.

In Seoul, where land is famous for being expensive, I saw a flashing sign of the Hunter Market Apgujeong branch. The large exterior of the building and the sophisticated interior seemed to be shouting, ‘go away, foolish rookie’.

In the afternoon, I came to this Hunter Market as scheduled.

However, only the destination is the same. The today’s purpose is completely different. It was not to exchange 5 million won, but to purchase items to enter the dungeon.

“Ha….”

I really had no intention of doing the quest.

It’s true that there wasn’t….

The problem is I’m weak-minded person.

The branch withered as if it was going to die at any moment, and I felt like I had to finish the quest once I started it.

They even give me tickets for the golden draw.

It’s not that I fell for the golden ticket.

I just felt sorry for the dying branches. It sounds unconvincing, but it’s true.

Of course, I had no intention of jumping into the dungeon recklessly, and initially made my own plan.

It is said that ethereal water can be collected from the river on the first floor of Abyss, where the tutorial dungeon will be held.

So, wouldn’t it be okay if I had a party with the Hunter participating in the tutorial and just went in to fetch the water? Or I can pay them money and ask them to bring me some water.

With that in mind, I entered the party matching service on the tutorial dungeon application site.

It was an intermediary site for hunters who wanted to join a party. Wizards, healers, assistants, and others who had difficulty clearing dungeons by themselves used this to form parties and participate.

After skipping all the long explanations, I entered my personal information in the application box, but an error appeared with a beep.

“Huh? What’s wrong with it?”

/System Error/

How can a F-class live with this shame!

I know what ‘contact separately‘ means at times like this. If you ask, they will say that it is difficult to form a party because of the low grade.

‘Hunter-nim’s grade is a bit … it is difficult to participate with a Hunter of the desired grade.’

They’ll just give you an answer like this.

I had no choice but to look for recruitment posts from the Hunter Community.

But….

[Recruitment] Tutor-Party Member Wanted, special treatment for E-class or higher healers

[Recruitment] Those who will join the Tuto Dungeon!! Starting from D-class

[Chatting It’s a bit difficult for F-class to apply for party recruitment postings;

[Recruitment] Looking for 4 person for Tutor-Party, class is irrelevant (E-class declined)

No matter how hard I tried to find it….

[Recruitment] Tutor’s Dream Bus Ride

Oh, this would be fine. I don’t have to force myself to find a party to enter, I just need to stick on a strong hunter like a dust and then get the water.

I clicked on the post with that in mind.

***

[Recruitment] Tutor’s Dream Bus Ride

Upvotes: 13 / Downvotes: 1

***

Writer: Jijon

Party Leader C-class Level 20 Inspection

Level Authentication Available

Possessing a full set of C-class inspection equipment

Knowing the strategy of guaranteed quick clear

Low-level non-combat hunters are also welcome ^^

This supreme leader is responsible and I will make sure that even a low-level newbie can clear the tutorial dungeon ^^

Everyone knows that tutorial dungeons are important for early level up, right?

Don’t hit each other and choose a really capable hunter in advance ^^

There are only three seats left, so if you are interested, please send me a message as soon as possible.

※Caution※

No bus fare nego—

You keep asking me to negotiate, but I’m offering you the lowest price.

——Bus Fares——

D-class 10 rubies

E-class 30 rubies

F-class 100 rubies

***

What, you charged 100 rubies for a F-class? 10 million won?

Have you ever seen such a vicious hunter? Even the nickname “Ji-jon” is ridiculous. I pressed the downvotes button and closed the window.

[Recruitment] F-classes go around together

Yes, it would be better to form a party with similar awakening classes than to be placed on top by a strong hunter.

***

[Recruitment] F-classes go around together

Upvotes: 5 / Downvotes: 0

***

Writer: F-class

Hello ^^

It’s hard to find a party for new hunters who have awakened to F-class ㅠㅠ

You can beat the tutorial with plenty of ease if you get together with the F-classes~!!

We are looking for F-class hunters to go with us.

I’m a ranged attack mage, so I’m recruiting for a defensive or swordsman class.

If you’re not in combat class … I’m sorry ^^;;;;

And you know that it is manners to match the equipment with at least an E-class item set, right?

Please send me a message~!!!

***

Yes, you’re sorry….

After being rejected many times like this, the anger slowly rose in my heart. Obviously, I feel bad if I keep getting rejected even if it’s for a place I don’t want to go.

If I talk to Kwon Jiwoon, he’ll surely get me some ethereal water, but….

“Don’t show any interest in Hunters or anything like that, and just stay as a normal person.”

When I remembered those words, I couldn’t open my mouth.

We are not close, and I’ve already bothered him with the black bear incident last time. I haven’t even told him that I have awakened yet.

So, I will somehow go into the dungeon alone and finish the quest. Who knows for sure that I wouldn’t be able to do it!

“Miaaaaw? What’s wrong with you, human? Your eyes are scary.”

“Mieum, don’t stop me.”

“Waeooong?”

That’s why I came to this Hunter Market Apgujeong branch.