Awakening the EX-Rank Safe House
Safe House
Unique Ability - Safe House (EX-Rank) Awakens!
"......"
A single line of blue, translucent system window floated before my eyes. Staring at the text on it, I spaced out for a moment before pinching my cheek hard.
Pinch!
"Ow, fuck!"
Why does it hurt? This isn't a dream? No, that doesn't make any fucking sense. Even as the pain hit me, I couldn't believe the system window right in front of me. And for good reason—this blue, translucent window was something only those who awakened a unique ability ever saw.
Hunters who awakened unique abilities gained something called a system. It was like a status window that informed them about their manifested unique ability. I'd lived my whole life without one as a half-assed hunter, so this thing felt utterly alien to me.
Hence, it seemed super suspicious. Is this really the system? Is some asshole trying to trick me? Maybe using an illusion ability to make it look like I have a system.
Who the hell would pull some retarded shit like that? Yeah, exactly. I wanted to know too. The world's a big place, full of shitty people, and those shits know exactly how to exploit your weak spots.
Fuck, it reminds me of that time at 17. That fucking bastard who said if I ate the pill he made, I'd awaken a unique ability. His scam was just like this—right after I swallowed that pill at 17, he hit me with an illusion ability showing a fake system.
Thinking about the three months' living expenses that bastard stole from me still pisses me off so bad I can't sleep. Every time.
Memories of that flooded back, and rage boiled up.
"Which fucker is it?! Come out! I know you're there! If you show yourself now, it's ten hits and done, but if I have to find you, it's life or death, bitch! Counting to three! 3! 2! 1!!!"
I put all my strength into my throat and bellowed the threat.
Silence......
No one showed. Hell, there wasn't even a hint of presence.
I felt like a total idiot. Huh? Wasn't someone watching me from the house across the way just now? Huh? They're suddenly drawing the curtains? Didn't the person who was staring call someone just a second ago? Uh...... um.
"......Ahem, guess the coward bolted. I'll let it slide just once."
I muttered some bullshit excuse and hurriedly flung open the front gate, rushing inside. It wasn't because I was scared the neighbors might report some crazy guy. Nah, just, uh, I suddenly wanted to go into my dream house.
Once inside, a spacious yard came into view.
"Whoa, check out this yard."
My house was beautiful no matter how many times I saw it. The yard was pretty and nice too. Looking at it melted away my anger toward that unknown psycho who'd hit me with the illusion ability.
It was still just bare dirt, but that dirt yard held infinite possibilities. If I made a little vegetable patch here, it'd look amazing. Yeah, growing some greens and cherry tomatoes would be perfect. Cherry tomatoes are fucking delicious.
Lost in those pleasant thoughts, a new message popped into my view.
Unique Ability - Safe House (EX-Rank) has confirmed the user's wishes.
Designating the house you own as a 'Safe House' will unlock customization features.
Would you like to designate this house as a 'Safe House' now?
"......Huh?"
The new blue, translucent system message floating before me had read my mind. Did I accidentally blurt out my thoughts? But my mouth was definitely closed.
There were tons of awakened people in the world with wildly diverse unique abilities, but I'd never heard of anyone who could read minds. Even if there was, no big shot would waste their power on a retired nobody like me.
......Which means.
"This is real?"
A unique ability had truly awakened in me.
※
As per the user's will, this house is designated as a 'Safe House'.
Your title has changed to 'House Owner' upon Safe House designation!
Designating my house as a Safe House triggered a barrage of notifications again. The system was awfully chatty—definitely felt like an EX-rank ability.
"EX-rank, huh...... I'd rather have had a normal rank ability."
Typical unique abilities were ranked from F to S, but there were also ones that didn't fit anywhere. Those were EX-rank. Literally extra—side abilities that could never be main characters.
They all had one thing in common: they sucked for combat.
"In my ten years as a hunter, I saw plenty of EX-rank hunters, and not one had an ability useful in fights."
Of course, that didn't mean EX-rank abilities were completely useless. Awakened with stuff like 'Monster Chef,' 'Otherworld Stylist,' or 'Interdimensional Engineer' raked in more wealth and fame than most high-rank hunters.
But that was the best case. EX-rank covered such a broad range that duds were fucking common too. Take 'Six Fingers,' an EX-rank ability that literally just gave you an extra finger. The guy who had it was basically in the same boat as me—a half-assed nobody with one weird digit.
That's EX-rank for you: pure luck of the draw. So even though this miracle unique ability I'd dreamed of had awakened out of nowhere, I couldn't just be thrilled.
If it didn't help with hunter life, nothing would change from before.
"Yeah, my mana circuit's shattered anyway from retirement. Even a good ability now would be hard to use. So no expectations."
Muttering to myself, I steeled my nerves—no hype, just check it out—and willed the system to show my ability.
Sensing my intent, it promptly displayed a blue window with details on my new unique ability, Safe House (EX-Rank).
Transforms the House Owner's living space into a safe haven protecting its members!
The Safe House always prioritizes the peace and safety of its members.
The House Owner of the Safe House gains exclusive abilities within it.
Rescue registered members from danger, heal and protect them, clear achievements, and earn rewards with top-tier service!
"......What the hell is this."
Turns my house into a safe haven and protects members? At least it doesn't seem as useless as 'Six Fingers.' But that 'members' bit is weird as fuck.
Lots of abilities helped others, but none where the system straight-up said, 'Members come first!' I'd never heard of one.
"Who are these members? Do I decide? That Member Registration Ticket from the reward?"
Yes. Use the rewarded Member Registration Ticket (EX-Rank) to register desired members to the Safe House member list.
I muttered offhand, and a system window answered my question.
"The polite explanations make it even more ridiculous."
This was the unique ability I'd craved for ten years, from 15 when I first awakened hopes, to now at 25. But it turned out to be EX-rank, obviously useless for combat.
I'd sworn not to expect anything, but this weird shit still deflated me.
Still, better know what it does. The achievement rewards sounded intriguing too.
"How do rescues and healing work? What's this exclusive ability?"
If you can't avoid it, enjoy it—that's life. I shook off the disappointment and resolved to study my Safe House.
That information unlocks after registering your first member to the Safe House list.
"Argh!? I just psyched myself up, and this?!"
Unlock conditions too? What a picky-ass ability. But wallowing in frustration wasn't my style.
I shoved it down and pondered how to unlock info.
"Gotta register a member first to do anything. Members, huh...... But I can't just add anyone."
'Rescue registered members from danger, heal and protect them to clear achievements and earn rewards!' That line screamed not to add randos.
First one had to be someone I trusted.
Someone trustworthy...... Sadly, my circle was tiny. Orphanage kid, no hunter academy, dismissed as a half-ass in the industry. Ten years in, I could count close friends on one hand.
And someone I could confidently trust?
"Only that one guy."
Just one came to mind.
"But she's in a raid right now. At least a month before she exits the dungeon. Hmm......"
Unlike me, she was crazy busy—no way to meet and register her now.
"Sigh, guess I wait till she gets out."
Finally got a unique ability and can't even test it for a month? As that shitty fate sank in with a sigh—
Bzzz— My phone lit up with a short vibration.
Oh right, I forgot. Today was housewarming day.