Gacha Rewards

I opened the shop.

Two boxes appeared, each with a description beside it.

"What the hell is this now."

It wasn't hard to figure out.

"It's a gacha."

One pull cost 1 Point, and you'd get a random item from the corresponding pool.

"So the Dirt Spoon Salvation Gacha just hands out cash?"

Up to 200,000 won, no less.

"If I get lucky… that's huge."

I had 10 Points right now. Two million won? In a single week?

"Yeah, right."

Gacha never worked that way. Still, I couldn't deny I was interested. Fun on its own terms, and a structure that could actually make me money.

"It really is a Dirt Spoon Salvation Gacha."

For a dirt-poor guy like me, it was an absurdly good reward.

"I'm curious about the Real Life Cheat Pack, too."

What kind of items would it spit out? I was about to try one pull when the next system chime rang out, and I held back.

"What the fuck?"

The penalty hit my eyes before the reward even registered.

"This system's insane."

I was 187 centimeters. Drop ten from that and I'd be in the 170s.

"I absolutely have to get this one right."

I had zero interest in becoming a 170-something guy.

"The reward's pretty nice, though."

My build was on the plain side. A layer of residual muscle would make for a much better body.

"People say girls like residual muscle, right?"

Maybe I should try a gacha pull after all—

"Ah. Too late."

I still had to walk Sohyun home. And collect the money I'd lent her today. I could start figuring out the altered common sense from here on. I just needed to stay sharp for any weird shifts around me.

I stepped out of the bathroom.

"……."

Sohyun was talking to the boss about something, and her expression was not great.

"I'm paying you, aren't I? So buy me a meal for once."

"And why exactly would I do that?"

"Why? I've been good to you this whole time. You just got paid—treat me."

"I'm the one who worked hard."

That was Sohyun for you. Unflinching, standing her ground. But the boss—

What a piece of garbage.

He wasn't even offering to treat her. He wanted a free meal off her? And asking for dinner at this hour was ridiculous on top of it. My mood soured. No matter how you looked at it, his intentions were filthy.

"Haa. You know what gratitude is, right, Sohyun? Sure, you work hard, but—"

I cut in.

"That's enough, boss."

"……What?"

"Aren't you embarrassed? Acting like that at your age."

Yu Seokwu's face twisted.

"Has this little shit lost his mind?"

And just like that, the boss's chewing-out session began. I listened with a smirk. Personal insults, finger-jabbing—the whole routine. None of it bothered me in the slightest.

"You done?"

"Haa. Fuck. Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Then present your cheek."

Right. That particular piece of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠common sense was still locked into a Common Sense Alteration slot.

"Shit."

The boss stuck out his cheek. I almost died laughing.

"Sohyun. Want to hit him for me?"

I wasn't sure if that would even work. Sohyun clenched and unclenched her fist.

"Is that allowed?"

"Yeah. That's common sense too, isn't it?"

"Hey—hey. What are you talking about? You're the one who's supposed to hit me. That's the common sense."

A little pushback. Fair enough.

That was the common sense stored in the fixed slot. He took a slap as the price—but the rule never specified that I had to be the one delivering it. So I was exploiting the loophole.

"It'll hurt less if Sohyun does it, right?"

"Well, yeah, but……"

"Sohyun. Hit him. Make it count."

"Thank you."

Sohyun bit down hard on her lip. She must have been furious—she spread her palm wide open. The boss squeezed his eyes shut and stuck out his cheek, flinching like he was terrified.

"One, two……"

CRACK—

Holy shit. Sohyun hit like a truck. She'd counted like she was going on three, then cracked him on two. Getting hit on an unexpected beat always hurt worse.

"Guh—!"

The boss's head whipped around so hard his fat body staggered and dropped straight to the floor.

"Ow—shit, that hurts—"

"If you're going to act your age, try living like it. Ah. That felt good."

What a line.

"Yoo Sohyun. You……"

"And hand over my paycheck. If you don't transfer it right now, I quit."

"Shit. Fine. Fine."

"Deposit it immediately. I'm checking."

Customers were watching and she still stood there completely unfazed. Girl-crush levels off the charts. Moments like this made Sohyun look even cooler.

"I sent it."

"Confirmed. Let's go, Oppa."

"Yeah."

I threw the boss one more smirk on the way out. The look on his face was pure satisfaction.

"Sohyun. You better show up for work tomorrow."

Pathetic bastard.

"Oppa. I sent the money to that account you gave me before."

"Yeah. Got it. Thanks."

"Don't thank me. I'm the one who should be thanking you."

"You okay after earlier? That must've sucked."

"I'm fine. Getting to smack him good made up for it. What about you, though? The boss was really laying into you."

"Didn't bother me at all."

"Your mental game is cracked."

"I keep it sturdy."

I thumped my chest and grinned. Sohyun laughed along with me. Lately it felt like she showed her feelings a lot more freely around me. I'd never once seen that kind of smile when she was dealing with the boss or the customers.

"You've got class tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. Morning."

"Shame."

"Huh? About what?"

"I was thinking we could grab a meal together. Which day do you not have morning classes?"

"Tuesday?"

"Then after work tomorrow, let's go to Mom's bunsik place together."

"For real? Really?"

"Yes. I'm grateful you lent me the money, so it's my treat. You're free, right?"

"Of course I am. I'd make time even if I didn't have any."

Maybe I'd sounded a little too excited. A pretty dimple bloomed on Sohyun's cheek.

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Oppa."

"Yeah! See you tomor—no. I'll walk you home."

"Mm. You don't have to."

"A man's manners. Just take it."

"Well, if you insist."

Sohyun gave a bashful little smile and walked ahead. Side by side like this—it felt like we were dating, and that alone made my chest flutter in the best way.

"You're not quitting the PC bang, are you?"

"No. I can't stand looking at the boss's face, but the hourly pay is the best around."

"How much do you make?"

"That's a secret. You'd get sad if you heard."

"So there's a big gap between us, huh."

Pretty girls had market value. That much was obvious.

"Wouldn't a café or something be better, though?"

"There is a place that offered more recently."

"Yeah? So why not switch?"

Sohyun looked straight at me, eyes clear.

"Hmm. I don't know. I just… don't want to leave. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If it were before, I would've jumped at those conditions."

Her eyes were so bright and pretty. My heart kicked up again for no good reason, a fresh wave of fluttering.

No way it's because of me… right?

My head felt ready to explode. The implication was sitting right there.

Ah, the lifelong-virgin disease is flaring up again.

I forced myself to settle down. Sohyun waved.

"Hurry home. You've got morning class tomorrow, remember?"

"Right. You head in too."

"Okay."

Sohyun bounced off with a spring in her step. I watched her disappear into the bunsik shop, then turned toward home myself.

"There's no way it's actually because of me, right?"

Come on. No chance. That didn't even make sense. The café was probably far from her place, or the hours didn't work out.

"Still no idea what it is."

Whatever common sense had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been altered, it wasn't showing its face yet. Was it not even about Sohyun? It was tied to me, so it had to involve someone in my orbit. Stewing on it now wouldn't get me the answer.

"If I'm thinking about Points, I need to nail it as fast and as accurately as possible."

Ah—the gacha!

I hurried home. Time to check the gacha. Current accumulated Points: 10P.

"What should I try first."

One at a time. Starting with the Dirt Spoon Salvation Gacha.

A white box marked with question marks floated up into the air. It spun, then popped open with a burst of fireworks.

"Nice detail."

After the fireworks, a white window lit up with a number.

"Oh!"

Strong start. Cap was 200,000, so 160,000 was a solid hit—more than a full day's pay.

"If I burn through all of them, I could clear a million."

Over a million won earned in a single week.

"Let's try the Real Life Cheat Pack too."

Same presentation as the last one. Fireworks went off, and above them an icon shaped like a pain-relief patch appeared.

"What even is this."

The patch-shaped icon dropped out of the air and landed on my knee. The moment I touched it, the item description popped up.

"No way!"

So this was the kind of stuff it handed out. Now I understood why they called it a Real Life Cheat Pack.

"It definitely gives items that help with everyday life."

I had to pull one more just to confirm.

"Called it!"

An ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠actual cheat pack. The patch and the cola were sitting in my hands. They looked ordinary enough on the outside, but they were absurdly useful items.

"I could probably make some money selling these."

Then again, would anyone even buy them? Explaining what they did would be a whole project on its own. Something to worry about later.

Seven Points left.

"Just one more each."

I ran one more Dirt Spoon pull and one more Cheat Pack pull.

"Ah, got shafted."

It was a gacha—low rolls were part of the package.

Now this one was solid. I wasn't much of a singer to begin with—I'd always been a little jealous of people who could actually sing.

"Insane. Absolutely insane."

Perfect for winning over girls.

"Sohyun… if I took Sohyun to karaoke……"

I might actually be able to score some points with her.

"Hoo."

I never thought something like this would happen to me. A friendly Common Sense Alteration System, rewards, Points—the whole package.

"This life's looking up."

A grin spread across my face on its own. Five Points left. I considered going again, then held back. Once I calmed down and actually thought it through—

"If the shop levels up, I might be able to spend these more efficiently."

So I decided to save them for now.

"Earning Points is insanely important, too."

From here on, I had to nail those common sense quizzes. As for this week…

"Focus. Whatever it is, it's definitely a change happening around me."