Just Do It
“Sis, your master… is on Earth?”
Hold on, isn't this dangerous…?
A Primal Dragon—one of only two in the long history of the Ereinia continent. The mythical being rumored to have created the Multidimensional Secondhand Market to combat the Blue Spear of Destruction that breeds extinction. The idea that such an overwhelming dragon might be breathing somewhere on this Earth where I lived felt utterly unreal.
“I don't know if he's still there. Master wanders between dimensions like the wind. But one thing's for sure: he's set foot in your dimension at least once.”
“And that's why I got access to the Multidimensional Secondhand Market?”
“Yeah. Though that's just a guess.”
I was still confused.
“But why me, of all people?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did I get this community access? Honestly, I was just a regular repairman scavenging junk around the neighborhood. Earth is crawling with hunters way stronger, smarter, and richer than me. So why grant this power to someone like me?”
Jermad shrugged lightly at my question.
“Beats me. How could I presume to guess Master's profound intentions? But one thing's clear: you've been saddled with this fate.”
An ancient dragon who'd lived thousands of years couldn't fathom his master's depths. And yet, that transcendent being had stopped by Earth and handed me community access. Why me? What destiny had I been born into?
As I lowered my head, sinking into a swamp of thought, Jermad's voice cut through.
“The reason doesn't matter, little bro.”
I looked up to see her eyes—now back to their beautiful ruby hue—gazing at me.
“What's done is done. How you got that power? Irrelevant now. What you should be worrying about is what to do with it next.”
She was spot on, a hundred times over. Whether the history she shared was truth or lie, whether Master's choice was a mistake or miracle—none of it changed what I had to do right now.
The system would escalate the hierarchy, gates would grow fiercer. Earth would accelerate toward doom. To survive, I had to get stronger. To fix this world, I had to act.
I took a deep breath, clearing the tangle from my mind.
“Haa… You're right, sis. No time for pointless brooding. I need to focus on what I can do now.”
A satisfied smile curved Jermad's lips at my response.
“That's the spirit. Brooding's for time-rich folks like me. You? Just charge ahead. Level up fast so you can summon me to your dimension already. Got it? Just do it.”
“Yep.”
Jermad stood, stretching lightly.
“We'll talk more later. Now that Master's come up, I should get moving too.”
“Got it, sis. Thanks to you, I see a path to save Earth. I'll stock up on desserts and hit you up soon.”
“Kuhahaha, I'll be waiting.”
With Jermad's hearty laugh, the golden nest filling my vision fizzled and scattered.
I opened my eyes to the familiar ceiling. A strange sense of déjà vu. Was this reality, or had the video chat been?
Surprisingly, not much time had passed. Just a few hours since starting my first day at the guild. But in that short span, my mindset had flipped completely.
The selfish urge to make some cash and live easy? Gone. In its place surged a sense of duty to stop Earth's doom.
“Oh, you're back, Contractor.”
A clear, bell-like voice snapped me from my thoughts. Turning, I saw the Spirit King Ariel standing by the workshop's floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the outside world.
“Huh, you haven't gone back yet?”
“No. While your consciousness was lost in that bizarre space, I found it quite amusing to watch the unfamiliar landscapes stretching out there. The mana may be murky, but the civilization humans have built here has its own charm.”
Ariel smiled faintly at the towering skyscrapers beyond the glass. Watching her back, I recalled Jermad's advice.
Spirits aren't commanded—they're asked. Spirit arts' foundation is affinity and communication. So my next move was obvious: build rapport with this Wind Spirit King, somehow.
I cleared my throat and approached.
“Um, Ariel.”
“Why call me so creepily…?”
“Creepy? No way…”
“Your face just screams it.”
Damn, her perceptiveness was sharp. But I pressed on.
“What do you usually like, Ariel?”
She turned at my out-of-nowhere question, her expression shifting subtly.
“Hm? Why ask that suddenly?”
“Just curious. Food or… wait, spirits don't eat, right? Anyway, hobbies or whatever—you must like something. As your contractor, shouldn't I know?”
At my polite demeanor, Ariel blinked, then rested her chin on her hand, staring into space.
“Hoo… It's been ages since a human asked about my personal tastes. They were always too busy borrowing my power.”
I played it up.
“Really?”
“Yes. Your question's got me pondering things I hadn't. Hmm… What do I like…?”
What would wind like? Wind phenomena? Cool breezes? As my mind raced with nonsense, Ariel's lips curved into a soft smile. She spoke slowly.
“I know.”
“Oh, tell me!”
With distant eyes on the cityscape, Ariel said:
“The tickle of early spring breezes licking the breath of wildflowers melting frozen earth. The faint melancholy of a bard's sad song scattering into the night sky on an empty street. I love all those fleeting moments—carrying the world's sounds and scents through its crevices.”
Whoa… damn… literature major much?
It was a beautiful description, steeped in profound lyricism, like a poem recited aloud. And hearing that masterful poetic expression, I summed it up crystal-clear and straightforward.
“Oh, so you like sniffing smells and listening to songs?”
“……”
Ariel's face twisted for a split second. She pressed a small hand to her forehead, sighing deeply.
“Your sensitivity is hopeless, Contractor. I lament your dry vocabulary… but if I must answer at your level, yes.”
So I nailed it?
“Ah, then check this out.”
I pulled my smartphone from my pocket and detached one wireless earbud.
“Hm? What's this?”
“It's an app called Blow—a music streaming service. Thought you'd like it.”
I gently placed the earbud in Ariel's tiny, dubious hand.
Adorable. So pitifully cute, holding that little plastic piece. Too cute for a Spirit King.
I fired up the app and played the latest popular tracks.
The next instant—
“Oh! Ho?”
Ariel's eyes widened in shock.
“Ooooooh!”
From that tiny plastic bud, perfect harmonies from dozens of instruments assaulted her eardrums. Worlds apart from Ereinia bards' strings—modern science and sound engineering at its peak.
“Wh-what is this miraculous melody?! No instruments in sight, yet a full orchestra plays in my ear! And this texture… my god!”
I smirked.
“Tons of genres—K-pop, ballads, classics. Swipe the menu there; tap to skip.”
I handed her the phone.
“I-is that so?”
Ariel dove into musical trance, clutching the earbud with both tiny hands, eyes closed, bobbing her head to the rhythm.
Affinity operation: massive success.
With Ariel pacified, I sat at the desk and opened a notepad. Time to source items for my Fantasy Quartet contracts.
Online malls had plenty. Acquiring them was easy.
The real issue: how to use the fantasy items I'd get in exchange for cheap daily goods.
“Hmm. Need a scientist.”
I scribbled as I muttered. The latest magic tools from Tower Master's warehouse, potions soul-crafted by the alchemist. Great for combat crises, sure—but until Master rank, their output would be massive.
I wasn't chugging potions like water or ripping scrolls for fun. Better to repurpose these resources for the real world.
Research. That's how to stop the end.
Boosting Earth's total power mattered. Solo limits were real.
For that, I needed someone who could spread the tech—not just high-rank hunters.
And one person perfectly fit: Jeong Yuna!