(Probability is affected by the immutable stat Luck)
===
"······What the hell."
My mind went a little blank.
This seems like a downgraded version of the “Keep Getting Stronger” I’d thought of before.
······Whatever. It’s fine. It’s amazing. I got it for free, so even if it only goes up by 0.001 a day, I should be grateful.
"Nice!"
Unable to contain my joy, I hugged Evandel tightly as she sat beside me tearing into chicken.
"Ak, wha’ is it."
Even while being hugged by me, Evandel stubbornly kept eating her chicken. Nom nom nom nom. As if she thought I was trying to steal it from her, she actually sped up her consumption.
* * *
The weekday after the class competition ended.
Cube suddenly became desolate.
Because all the cadets had realized that exams were now two weeks away.
The hollow-eyed cadets moved back and forth between the training rooms and the reading rooms, and even class hours were bleak. Team play also had less energy than it had at the start of the semester.
"Phew."
After such desolate days passed, once Thursday’s regular classes were over.
I stood once again in front of Cube’s portal customs office.
My destination was Seoul.
Before getting down to business in earnest, there were many things I had to bring back from Seoul.
As I checked my wallet, cards, and such in front of the automatic doors of the customs office, a voice came from my right hand.
"Hajin, Hajin."
"······I told you, you can’t talk."
"It’s stuffy."
"······."
Right now, Evandel was inside a pet carrier. When I said I was going to Seoul, she threw a tantrum, saying she wanted to go outside too, so I had no choice but to bring her along like this.
"I wanna get outta here."
She had transformed her body into a rather peculiar dog. In appearance, she was just a short-haired Pomeranian, but from the area around her head, some kind of long golden hair(?) was growing. Because of that, she looked even cuter and more elegant.
"I’ll let you out when we arrive. Just hold on a little."
"······."
Evandel wordlessly made a puppy whine. I gave a few fake coughs and approached the customs officer.
"Oh? A star has arrived."
That was what the officer said the moment he saw me.
I tilted my head.
"······Pardon?"
"Haha. No, I mean, I was just listening to it too. If."
The customs officer chuckled and showed me his watch. [If (Song Competition ver.).mp3] was playing.
"There’s an mp3 of this too?"
"I extracted it from the video. I bet a lot of people downloaded this."
"Ah······ a lot?"
"Of course. You sang well."
The officer smiled brightly and wrote my name in the register.
"Have a safe trip. Though I don’t know where you’re going with your pet."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
* * *
===
[Obsidian Bracelet of an Athenian Citizen][Magic Relic]
A bracelet engraved with magic inscriptions. It is presumed to have been worn by a noble of ancient Athens.
□Damage Absorption & Automatic Recharge
─When the wearer receives damage, it converts the damage into magic power and stores it inside the bracelet.
─It slowly absorbs mana from the air and recharges itself with magic power.
□Intermediate Magic Power Aura
─By consuming magic power, it deploys a Magic Power Aura over the area desired by the wearer.
─The size of the Magic Power Aura and the degree of damage absorption differ depending on the amount of magic power stored.
===
I went to the Seoul Magic Tower and retrieved the obsidian bracelet I’d left there last time. Engraved on the obsidian bracelet was a magical effect similar to a protective aura—“Magic Power Aura.”
—You’ll probably only be able to use it once in your lifetime at most, so only use it when it truly matters.
That was what the magician who engraved it had said. “Once in a lifetime” was probably because he didn’t know about the bracelet’s automatic recharge function, but this person was quite honest. I should recommend him later when Yu Yeonha establishes a Magic Tower.
After that, I went to the office of SH Agent. It was because there was an item I’d entrusted to Park Suhyuk.
But more than that item, I was surprised by the scale of the agency’s office. Before I knew it, the business had grown considerably.
"We already have 11 employees. We’ve also signed exclusive contracts with about 5 hunters. Ah, and the office was invested in by Madam Yu."
Park Suhyuk said this for some reason with pride. By Madam Yu, he must mean Yu Yeonha.
"That’s amazing. Ah. You didn’t forget my investment, right?"
"Of course not. Obviously. I gave it to you in shares. I’ll multiply those tenfold."
"Oho."
I looked around the office with renewed admiration. The interior was neat, and there was even an in-house café, so the working environment looked very good.
"Let’s go down first. The item’s in the parking lot."
Park Suhyuk said with a smile.
To pick up the bike I’d ordered last time, I went down to the parking lot with Park Suhyuk.
"Ah, is that it?"
The parking lot we reached by elevator. Some flashy motorcycle was taking up two parking spaces.
"Uh, yeah. Hey, Hajin. But where did you get a dog like this? It’s incredibly cute."
Park Suhyuk looked at Evandel in his arms with a fatherly smile. The dog version of Evandel was smiling brightly and leaning against him calmly.
Her human version is much cuter, though.
"Uh······ try contacting an abandoned dog shelter."
I made up a rough excuse and inspected the bike’s condition.
===
[Agusta Vigilante][Masterpiece]
□High-Grade Mana-Processed Chassis
□Lightweighting and Reinforcement Preservation
─The weight of the chassis was reduced to improve speed, and the resulting vulnerability to impact was handled with reinforcement preservation.
□Mana Booster
─By burning mana, instantaneous speed amplification is possible.
===
Even though it was a mass-produced product, it had the label of “Masterpiece” attached.
It really is worth the high price.
But with it being this big, how am I supposed to carry it anywhere?
"Ah, Hajin. I’ve gotta get going. The employees are calling me."
"Okay. Take care, hyung. I’ll come by again later."
"Yeah~"
Just then, it seemed Park Suhyuk had received a call. Park Suhyuk put Evandel down on the floor and hurriedly ran off somewhere.
After Park Suhyuk had completely disappeared, I examined my surroundings.
As expected, there were CCTVs.
"Tsk."
With no other choice, I picked up Evandel and got on the Agusta. I drove slowly and stopped in a nearby alley.
Only then did I add a new setting.
===
□Portable Form (携帶化)
If a portion of Stigma’s magic power is injected, it shrinks into the form of a suitcase.
[100 SP will be consumed.]
===
Thanks to the condition that Stigma’s magic power was required, the necessary SP was only 100. On top of that, this vehicle was necessary equipment for the next main storyline, as well as for the “work” I intended to do.
I pressed save without hesitation.
"Let’s see······"
I tried infusing a portion of Stigma’s magic power into the bike. Then the motorcycle clattered as it dismantled itself, and soon reassembled into the form of a fairly large suitcase.
I grabbed the handle and lifted it.
It was heavy. It seemed to weigh at least over 20 kg, but, well. I’d grown enough that this much no longer felt burdensome.
"Nice."
Holding the suitcase, I muttered in satisfaction. Puppy Evandel stood on two legs and yipped as she asked.
"Hajin, Hajin. Where’re we going now~?"
"Let’s go eat. How does steak sound?"
"Suteak?"
Oh, right. She hasn’t tried steak yet.
"Yeah. There’s something really delicious."
"Slurp. Is it tasty?"
"Yeah. But first······ let’s turn into a human. I think it’s fine here."
* * *
Meanwhile, this was Cheongdam Intersection in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.
Cube cadet Yu Yeonha was walking the streets with her mother, Jin Yeojeong, for the first time in a while.
"Take a good look. All of this land will be yours someday."
"I’ve already thought of exactly how I’ll use it all."
This neatly arranged intersection was entirely owned by Jin Yeojeong.
Jin Yeojeong was one of South Korea’s foremost real estate tycoons, an extraordinary woman who had taken the money of her father, once merely a wealthy farmer, invested it, and multiplied it several hundredfold. Currently, not only the headquarters of the [Essence of the Strait] Guild, but also the buildings housing the guild’s various businesses—“Essential Armory,” “Essential Insurance,” and the like—all belonged to Jin
Yeojeong.
There was a reason that berserker Yu Jinung lived so completely under his wife’s thumb.
"Yes. I trust you, Yeonha. You aren’t immature like your father."
"Dad has gotten a lot better these days too······."
Yu Yeonha suddenly stopped speaking and sniffed. For some reason, a delicious scent had drifted into her nostrils. While watching her mother’s reaction, she stealthily shifted her gaze.
There was a snack shop in a nearby alley selling tteokbokki, sundae, fried foods, and the like.
Ah~ that place. I know it. It’s a famous place that’s even been on TV. I want to eat there, I want to eat there.
"······Yeonha?"
At that moment, Jin Yeojeong’s chilly voice snapped Yu Yeonha back to her senses. Yu Yeonha flinched and looked at her mother.
After confirming the snack shop Yu Yeonha had been staring at until just now, Jin Yeojeong furrowed her brow.
"Yeonha, don’t tell me you still haven’t quit?"
"Pardon? Ah, slurp. No way. I’m not a child······. Slurp. I’ve graduated from all that now."
Yu Yeonha shook her head with an innocent expression.
"Then why do you keep swallowing your saliva?"
"Huh? Ah~ My mouth keeps getting dry these days. I have dry mouth syndrome, you see."
Yu Yeonha hurriedly turned her gaze elsewhere.
In that instant, her eyes widened.
"······Huh?"
For some reason, she saw someone familiar.
The man soon passed by, but Yu Yeonha quickly picked out his general features.
He was wearing sunglasses, but since he was in profile, she could see his eyes slightly. His eyes looked ordinary.
He was wearing a jacket, one that someone somewhere often wore.
And most of all, there was a platinum ring on the ring finger of his right hand.
"What is this?"
Judging from the evidence above, he was definitely Kim Hajin.
But······ who was that little kid beside him? They were holding hands as they walked.
"Uh, Mom. I—"
Yu Yeonha hurriedly called her mom. But Jin Yeojeong sharply cut her off.
"You should say Mother. How immature."
"Ah, Mother. I think I need to go right now."
First, she needed to confirm with her own eyes what she had just seen. It hadn’t been long since he disappeared into the alley. If she chased after him now, she should be able to find him······
But Jin Yeojeong did not allow that.
"What are you talking about? We have so much to do today. We have to inspect the streets and interview the tenants. I told you, you’ll be inheriting all of this later."
"Mother. I really suddenly have something to—"
"Be quiet and follow me."
Jin Yeojeong seized Yu Yeonha’s wrist.
"No, Mom, I really. Ah, aah······"
Since Jin Yeojeong herself had lived a fairly tough life, Yu Yeonha could not withstand her strength and was dragged away helplessly.
End
I came to a steakhouse with Evandel. I’d come after hearing that it was quite a famous restaurant, and sure enough, it was so crowded that if it had been the weekend, we might not have even been able to get in.
"I’ll take your order."
"Please give us about eight dishes, starting from the most expensive."
"······Pardon?"
The employee tilted his head at my order. But about eight plates would be enough for Evandel and me to finish off. Three plates for me, five plates for Evandel.
"Eight?"
"Yes. All medium."
"Uh······ yes."
After placing the order, only then did the gazes around me enter my eyes.
The customers inside were glancing this way. No matter how many foreigners there were in Seoul, with an appearance like Evandel’s, she couldn’t help but draw people’s attention. Because of that, I didn’t take off my sunglasses even indoors. The onlookers might be thinking that Evandel was the young lady of some Western noble family and that I was her attendant or bodyguard.
"Here. This is the garlic steak to start."
A slab of steak came out. It was a steak garnished with garlic. At its appetizing appearance and savory smell, Evandel’s eyes sparkled brightly. I cut the steak into easy-to-eat pieces and handed them to Evandel.
As if brimming with anticipation, Evandel’s hands even trembled as she stabbed the meat with her fork.
Soon, a piece of steak entered Evandel’s mouth.
"······!"
Evandel’s body shuddered. It was an expression of not just admiration, but rapture. After that, Evandel busily moved her hands without saying a single word. Literally wolfing it down.
I watched her quietly for a while, then seized an opening and spoke.
"Evandel. Can you stay by yourself this weekend?"
Evangel, who had been chewing her steak, suddenly froze mid-bite. Then she raised her gaze and stared at me quietly. She didn't eat the steak; she simply stared with her fork stuck in the meat.
Somehow, I felt uneasy. For her to stop eating like this. She wouldn't start crying, would she?
"......Instead!"
Feeling anxious, I spoke up first.
"I'll buy you a ton of toys today."
"......A ton?"
"Ah, I mean a lot. It means a lot."
Money was overflowing. So today, I planned to go to the department store and buy everything that could possibly be used for play—whether it was Lego, dolls, or puzzles.
Evangel looked at me, then nodded with an expression that was half-pout, half-sadness. She didn't eat any more of the steak. With more than half remaining, she was about to set down her fork...... when.
"Your next tomahawk steak."
The staff member brought out a massive steak. It was an overwhelming size, one that looked like it needed to be picked up in one hand and torn into.
"Uwaa! What is this!"
Evangel quickly regained her vigor.
*
After the steakhouse came the New World Department Store.
At first, I had tried to head to the toy section of the department store. But Evangel's gaze was fixed on something strange. She stood frozen in place, staring only at that spot, not budging an inch even when I tried to get her to move.
What had captured her attention so completely was a white kitten sitting inside the glass enclosure of a pet shop located in a corner of the first floor.
"......."
Evangel blankly made eye contact with the cat. I glanced over as well. The snow-white kitten was cute even to my eyes.
A cat, huh...... Let me do the math on the lodging's size.
19 pyeong with 2 rooms.
Raising a kid and a cat in 19 pyeong seemed manageable enough.
And well, I had wanted to raise a puppy or a cat since long ago, too.
"Hajin, Hajin."
Evangel, who had been staring at the cat for quite a while, grabbed my sleeve. Her intention wasn't hard to figure out.
"I want to play with Hayang."
Evangel pointed at the cat with her index finger. It seemed she had already named the cat.
"Hayang? You mean that cat?"
"Yeah!"
Evangel answered with a bright smile. I glanced at the cat. Meow—when it made eye contact with me, the cat cried out with its tail raised.
I smirked and bent my knees to meet Evangel at eye level.
"......But Evangel. If we raise him, what about your ghost friends?"
"Ghost friends?"
"Yeah. They might fight with him."
The animals Evangel had created numbered around a dozen or so at home.
At my words, Evangel pondered for a moment, then spoke with a resolved expression.
"I'll make sure they don't fight."
"......Really? Then, promise."
I held out my pinky finger. Evangel moved her hand clumsily and locked pinkies with me. I rubbed Evangel's plump cheeks with my fingers, then stood up.
And I went to the staff member and said,
"Excuse me. How much is this one?"
* * *
The next day, Friday at 5 PM, after all regular classes had ended.
Before opening the door and leaving, I looked back once more.
"Hayang, you. Why did you bite and tear this? Do you want to get scolded?!"
Evangel was educating the cat with a rather solemn attitude. I wondered if it was even possible to educate a cat, but that cat had cost a whopping 6 million won. At that price, it ought to understand at least a few words of human speech.
No, not just a few words. It wouldn't even be strange if it spoke directly.
"Evangel. I'll be back soon, so play nicely with Hayang."
"I'm not playing."
Evangel glared at me and corrected me.
"......Yeah. Okay. Scold him moderately. I'm going."
"Okay."
Evangel didn't pay me any attention, focusing her gaze solely on Hayang.
Somehow I felt a bit disappointed, but ironically, that put me more at ease.
I stepped out of the lodging comfortably.
My first destination was the Cube Portal Customs Office.
"I'm going to Seoul."
"Yes. Cadet Kim Hajin. Confirmed."
After taking the portal from Cube and arriving in Seoul, I moved to the portal customs office connected to Torino.
To take the international portal—