Life's Genre
[Achievement unlocked: 'This House is the Best' — Unlocking the reward for the House Owner exclusive ability 'Service Evaluation Incentive (EX-rank)'!]
'This House is the Best'
Maximum satisfaction rating achieved!
◈ Granted to House Owner for achieving maximum satisfaction rating.
"...Hmm."
Maxing out service satisfaction gave me another Member Registration Ticket. No other notifications popped up after that.
Was that it? I stared at the system window floating in front of me for a moment, then just nodded a couple times.
It was because, after suffering for so long since my mana circuit shattered, I'd finally accepted it.
That my life could never be the protagonist's story.
Everyone has a genre to their life. Take Yoo Seo-ah's life as an example—it'd be something like a shonen manga growth story.
After debuting as a hunter, she awakened her talent, skyrocketed in growth, and got love calls from the three major guilds in just four years. She was living the protagonist's life, no doubt.
Me? I was living a life worlds apart from her glamorous one.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape D-rank. My ceiling was porter work. Even after awakening my unique ability, I still couldn't be the protagonist.
The genre of my life was the story of a supporting character who backs up the lead.
Yeah, a side character tale.
"Now that I've accepted it all, it's fine!"
Monologuing like this makes me sound super depressed and resigned, but nah, not at all.
If anything, now I knew exactly where my path lay, and my mind was at ease.
And how lucky was I to even live as a side character?
I could help Safe House member Yoo Seo-ah aim for the top together.
I could witness the dreams I couldn't achieve myself, through her power.
We'd even made a promise to get along great from here on out. That was basically a lifetime contract.
This life was awesome.
I mean, I got to support none other than that Yoo Seo-ah?
Yeah, I'd accepted my fate.
So even if the reward was just a single Member Registration Ticket (EX-rank), I wasn't disappointed at all.
Yeah, not disappointed at... all...
"No way, this can't be right! Just one Member Registration Ticket and done?!"
I was disappointed!
This was total bullshit!
Accepting my fate was one thing, but the reward being this stingy was a whole other problem.
They said maxing service satisfaction would unlock a hidden reward!
I was seriously looking forward to it!
"You can't tease it like that and then make the incentive just one ticket for adding a member?!"
Saving Yoo Seo-ah wasn't about expecting a reward.
I had to save her, no question.
But that's that, and this is this.
You take what's yours, and it's natural to expect rewards if they're on offer.
Betraying that expectation like this? I was losing my mind.
If I punched the wall, would the Safe House feel it too?
That thought crossed my mind seriously when—
Sword Flower Yoo Seo-ah's satisfaction precisely measured.
Apologies for the wait.
Qualifications verified.
House Owner exclusive ability — 'Service Evaluation Incentive (EX-rank)' activated.
Granting top-grade incentive to House Owner.
A new system notification appeared before my eyes.
Precise satisfaction measurement took a while?
Now the real reward?
"Yeah, ending with just one Member Registration Ticket didn't make sense. Handing out tickets without rewards just means more work."
Of course I'd use the new ticket.
I nodded at the promise of rewards but didn't get my hopes up too high.
After that last betrayal, the emotional damage was bigger than expected.
Yeah, expectations lead to betrayal.
I etched that wisdom into my heart, crossed my arms like a cool loner, and jutted my chin.
"Fine, show me this so-called reward."
As if this lucky massage parlor ability had anything impressive to offer...
Copying Sword Flower Yoo Seo-ah's unique ability.
CRASH!!!
If this were a comic, my eyes would've bugged out with a whoosh! effect. The notification hit like a thunderbolt.
What the hell?!
I was stammering in shock when the system window continued.
House Owner provided perfect service to Sword Flower Yoo Seo-ah.
Cast Healing Massage (EX-rank) on Yoo Seo-ah at death's door without hesitation.
Immediately activated Healing Body (EX-rank) upon vegetative state warning.
Service spirit prioritizing member's peace and safety.
A mindset worthy of Safe House (EX-rank).
House Owner Kang Jinseong's qualifications 'perfectly' verified.
Thus, Safe House (EX-rank) grants fitting reward to enable continued perfect service.
The notification promising fitting rewards popped up, and suddenly my chest burned hot.
More precisely, my heart—scorching heat spread from deep inside.
"Guh, urk?!"
The heat from my heart surged through my whole body.
Irresistible power welled from the depths of my heart.
Thud!
A vortex of overwhelming force buckled my knee—I couldn't even stand.
Crackle—zzzt—!Zzzap!
Sparks flew across my entire body now.
To a bystander, it'd look like "Holy shit, short-circuit guy! Call an electrician!"
But I wasn't unfamiliar with this, even if it was disorienting.
Because I'd been through it once before, ten years ago.
Yeah, back when I was 15 and awakened.
The exact same: searing power sweeping my body, mana sparks everywhere.
It was so shocking, I still remembered it vividly.
Looks like I was awakening again.
And that meant—
New mana circuit formed in House Owner's heart using remnants of shattered mana circuit.
My mana circuit, shattered by the Grim Reaper's Shattering Curse, was back.
"...Hoo."
The tumultuous awakening ended, and calm returned to my body.
I straightened my knee, stood, closed my eyes, and looked inward.
Humm—!
Sensations I'd lost since retirement flooded back.
Mana particles flowing through my veins across my body.
I focused on them, guiding my mind to the source.
There, in the depths of my heart: a sleek, shiny new mana circuit, gleaming perfectly.
"Ha, haha..."
The hunter's dream I'd thought gone forever.
The one I'd resigned to living vicariously through Yoo Seo-ah—it was right here again.
Mana circuit formation complete. Proceeding with copied unique ability inheritance as incentive.
Sword Flower Yoo Seo-ah's unique ability Man-gae-hwa (Full Bloom) (S-rank) imprinted on House Owner's mana circuit.
The very unique ability that earned her the title Sword Flower: Man-gae-hwa.
Looks like my life's genre wasn't side character after all.
"Wait, was my life genre actually a growth story?!"
The past ten years as a half-assed D-rank hunter flashed before my eyes like a panorama.
Endless humiliation, persecution, disdain and dismissal wherever I went.
But not anymore.
I didn't have to live ignored any longer.
Because I wasn't a half-assed hunter anymore.
Now I could unleash badass slashing petals like Yoo Seo-ah with Man-gae-hwa!
"Should I buy a sword with the leftover money from the house? Fuck yeah, now I can drop a cool 'Everyone, you held out great. I'll finish this' and land the epic finisher?"
Just imagining it made my chest swell and my body tremble with hype.
I couldn't hold back anymore.
"Fuck it, let's go! Getting Man-gae-hwa and not splurging? That ain't human!"
Even Buddha couldn't resist this!
I whipped out my phone, opened the hunter gear trading app, ready to blow every last won on the best sword available.
Right then—
Unique Ability - Man-gae-hwa (S-rank) incompatible with House Owner's current body.
Imbuing sword with Man-gae-hwa like Sword Flower Yoo Seo-ah risks 83% body collapse probability.
Purchasing sword for Man-gae-hwa (S-rank) use not recommended.
"..."
I finally got a combat unique ability.
I was thrilled to not be a half-assed hunter anymore.
But my body couldn't handle it?
What kind of bullshit was this?
I swear I heard mocking jeers in my ear: "Expectations lead to betrayal. Falling for it again, Jinseong?!"
My shoulders, which had soared to the heavens, started drooping.
That's when—
Readjusting Unique Ability - Man-gae-hwa (S-rank) to fit House Owner's body.
"Huh?"
Another heart-fluttering notification appeared before my eyes.