Baek Ji-an's Revolution
"This guy... could he be...?"
"Hey, Jinseong, you're back?"
Baek Ji-an greeted me cheerfully as I returned home.
"What the hell are you doing right now?"
"Oh, this? I figured it needed a bit more impact."
"Impact?"
"The kind of impact that'd make the family flip out."
"What does that even—"
"I'm planning to take over Baekga today. Whew, perfect."
Snap!
She finished tying up the Baek Gung-hyuk bundle with rope and dropped this insane bombshell. And she said it with the brightest, sunniest face, like she was off on a picnic.
"Yeah, if I head out now, the family should all be gathered. Gotta go. If I show up late and they're scattered, it'll be a pain."
Baek Ji-an gripped the rope on the Baek Gung-hyuk bundle tight and slipped on her shoes at the entryway, standing up.
"Jinseong, leave the cleanup to me! Nothing bad's gonna happen to you, I swear!"
She flashed a refreshing smile and headed straight out the front door.
All I could say to her confident retreating back was:
"Take care! If anything happens, I'll come rescue you right away!"
"...Yeah!"
Ji-an looked startled for a second at my worry, then shyly smiled and nodded.
Thud thud thud! Crash! Thwack! Smack!
"Guhk!"
"Krrk!"
"Ugh, grrrk!"
The Baek Gung-hyuk bundle dragged behind Baek Ji-an's bold strides bounced off the ground, groaning with every hit. Looked just like tin cans tied to a motorcycle.
Crack!
"Grrrk."
Baek Gung-hyuk at the end of the line smacked his head on the doorframe one last time, and then Baek Ji-an and her bundle vanished from sight.
I stared blankly at the empty doorway for a bit, then turned to Yoo Seo-ah.
"Seo-ah, when did you and Ji-an get so chummy?"
When I'd come home earlier, I'd been shocked to see Seo-ah helping Ji-an out. Baek Ji-an had always made it super obvious she hated hearing about Seo-ah from me. She'd grill me like, "What's your deal with Yoo Seo-ah?" and then get pissed if I talked about her with any enthusiasm: "Why're you smiling like that about her?"
I didn't know why, but Ji-an had been extremely wary of Seo-ah. So when they actually met today, I'd been worried there'd be a blowup.
But against all odds, they hadn't fought. They'd teamed up all friendly-like to make the Baek Gung-hyuk bundle.
Probably Seo-ah's natural kindness won her over. With that thought, I casually asked.
"Oh, I'm not really friends with Hunter Baek Ji-an."
Yoo Seo-ah beamed back sweetly.
"But you were just helping her out. Super kindly, too..."
"It was just something Jinseong needed, so we teamed up for a sec. I'm not close with her."
Seo-ah kept smiling all sweet and bubbly, but her voice was stiff as a board. Not her usual "ehehe~" bright and sunny grin—this was a fake mask of a smile.
Seo-ah seemed like she wanted to draw a clear line between her and Baek Ji-an.
"Seo-ah, did something happen between you two while I was out?"
"...N-no, nothing happened."
She glanced away from my question. Total "something definitely went down" reaction. Anyone could tell.
What the hell? What happened in the short time I was gone?
I was dying of curiosity that Seo-ah was hiding something from me. She's Seo-ah—she'd probably spill if I pushed a little, going "Auuu~"
With that hope, I was about to ask again when—
"J-Jinseong! I gotta head out too! Something came up at the guild all of a sudden!"
"All of a sudden?"
"Yeah! Super urgent!"
Seo-ah suddenly acted like she was swamped and dashed to the entryway.
Did Cheongmyeong call her while I was out? Calling her in on vacation—top guilds really live up to their rep, no slacking.
"Got it. Too bad. I was looking forward to hanging out with you today."
"Eek."
Seo-ah, mid-shoe-tying, flinched hard and froze.
"If-if Jinseong says that, I guess I have no choice... N-no! Can't! If I stay, it'll mess everything up!"
"Huh?"
"I'm bummed too, Jinseong! But I can't afford to slack off anymore now that I know where things stand! So... I have to go!"
"R-right."
She shook her head like she was fighting some intense internal battle, then looked at me with steely resolve.
"See you next time, Jinseong! Bye!"
She finished tying her shoes neatly and bolted out the door.
"..."
Our house, which had been anything but quiet with Baek Ji-an, Yoo Seo-ah, and the Baek Gung-hyuk bundle just moments ago, fell dead silent in an instant.
Normally I'd feel lonely, but not anymore.
"Alright, time to check my settlement from this mess!"
Because now it was time for the super fun, exciting settlement phase!
"System! I saw that max satisfaction pop when Ji-an's chin grab hit peak! Gimme my reward!"
Service Satisfaction: MAX GRADE ACHIEVED!
Earlier, when I'd grabbed Ji-an's chin to calm her down, I'd hit max service satisfaction grade. No clue what part of the chin-grab she loved so much, but hey, max grade achieved.
Things kept popping up, so I was just now checking—my expectations were sky-high.
Last time with Seo-ah, max satisfaction got me Man-gae-hwa (Custom Ver.). A total cheat ability letting a D-rank total mana pool like me take down B-rank beasts.
With that precedent, I was pumped for this one.
Max Satisfaction Grade Reward: Granting House Owner 'Member Registration Ticket (EX-rank) x1'.
"Eh, skip that—next!"
Member Registration Tickets weren't that appealing anymore, not with my temporary registration authority. Plus, my close ones were just Yoo Seo-ah and Baek Ji-an—no one else to use it on.
"Incentive!"
All I wanted now was the incentive.
"Hurry up and copy Baek Ji-an's unique ability for me!"
Once you've tasted the high of a unique ability like Man-gae-hwa, there's no going back.
I was bouncing around like a maniac, hounding the system, when—
Readjusting Member Baek Ji-an's unique ability to suit your body.
Please be patient a little longer. 'Safe House Customization Service' is also working hard.
"Ah, got it."
The system straight-up scolded me. Fine, if it says wait, I'll wait.
I unequipped my gear and plopped on the sofa.
"Crazy how much shit went down today and it's still not even evening."
Rescued Ji-an from Baek Gung-hyuk, smashed the Black Sword Unit that broke in, beat down Baek Gung-hyuk who followed, healed Ji-an, even saved the bulldozer team—and sunset wasn't even here yet.
"Event density is no joke. Real?"
Realizing the nonstop chaos hit me, and sudden fatigue crashed in.
Sleep it off, and the readjustment should be done. Wonder what insane unique ability I'd get. Hella excited.
With those thoughts, I closed my eyes to the wave of tiredness.
Three hours later, as the sun set and night fell.
I woke up and couldn't believe my eyes.
"Wh-what the fuck is this."
The internet had exploded while I slept for three hours.
And it was all about me.
※ Beneath the cathedral's glass dome.
The moon was hidden behind thick clouds again tonight, just like yesterday, but Maria Bell wasn't disheartened.
Her gaze wasn't on the ceiling's glass dome, but on the phone screen in her lap.
The video Maria Bell was watching was the hottest thing worldwide right now: an interview with Baek Ji-an, who'd just seized the Baekga deputy head position.
Maria Bell watched Baek Ji-an in the video without even blinking.
Baek Ji-an's declaration of alliance as Baekga deputy head. The unprecedented bombshell had the comments in chaos, of course.
But Maria Bell didn't care about that at all.
The one thing burned into her ears:
"A healing ability that cured even the poison of the S-rank beast Monster Dragon Belkas... something unheard of, unseen..."
The impossible healing power that saved Baek Ji-an.
"Hunter Kang Jinseong... could he be the one...?"
A spark of hope flickered in Maria Bell's golden eyes, usually shrouded in gloom.