"My Mom Is the Best...."
I was so ecstatic that I muttered to myself. Heh heh. My total stats were now approaching 90. That was something you'd only see in S-rank prospects. Compared to my first playthrough, when my average stats barely topped 5, it was night and day. S-ranks and A-ranks—the ones destined to make it—had started from a completely different baseline. But now, I was standing on the same starting line as them.
Hold on. That means my hardware was pretty much set. And the constellation sponsoring me was my mom, who loved me more than anyone in the world! So then...!
"How about sponsoring me with an S+ grade weapon while you're at it, Mom?!"
Sung Hyun-sook slowly shakes her head, telling you not to talk nonsense since there's no extra budget!
"...Huh, no?"
Pulling a sweet potato on me out of nowhere isn't cool, Mom.
Sung Hyun-sook quickly shakes her head, saying her lovely son can't be spoiled rotten!
Not spoil me rotten, huh. I'm an adult who knows it all now....
"Then how about a skill orb, at least a good one...."
I stared into the empty air with damp, rain-soaked-puppy eyes.
...Nothing popped up.
No way, huh? That's what you're saying? Too harsh.
I hunted those orcs diligently just like Mom told me to.
My shoulders slumped in disappointment. Sigh.
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook peeks around, checking on My Son♡.
Wondering if you're sulking, Sung Hyun-sook casually asks while feeling anxious inside.
This damn hologram system reveals even inner thoughts—Sung Hyun-sook curses!
"I'm not sulking."
I pouted and grumbled. Jeez, asking if a 20-year-old son is sulking like a kid.
...I was sulking, though.
Truth is, she spent God Coins on vitamins and has nothing good to give—Sung Hyun-sook confesses honestly.
"What? That's why?"
You should've said so from the start. I almost got upset for real.
Mom and I are still the same—not honest with each other.
Still, no intention to spoil—Sung Hyun-sook puts hands on hips!
Aigoo, fine. Whatever.
Considering Mom's personality, she wouldn't spoil me anyway.
By the way....
"How do you earn God Coins?"
By working, answers Sung Hyun-sook curtly.
You wouldn't understand what kind of work, she adds.
"You earn them by working, huh...."
I was dying to know what kind, but Mom's "adult circumstances" vibe made me hold back.
Well, it's a gathering of heroes who made names back in the day, so probably nothing shady. Mom wouldn't do that.
Weeeeng!
Right then, a siren wailed, and an armored vehicle came rushing into the scene from afar.
The player guild handling local security.... What was their name? Ah, right—.
I recognized them from the logo on the vehicle.
"They're quick."
Living up to their name. Weekend or not, no alarm went off, but this was ridiculous.
"Those assholes, showing up early for once."
"Why bother coming? Tell 'em to turn back. Talk about crashing the party."
"They'll hog the credit anyway. That guy's the one who solved it!"
People grumbled as the armored vehicle barreled in breathlessly.
Pretending to rush now was pointless—the situation was already over.
Clunk!
The transport door swung open, and dozens of men piled out.
The apparent leader took a few steps forward, face flushed red and purple as he scanned the scene.
Wow, check out that expression. Anyone would think I'd stolen their rice bowl.
...Not exactly wrong?
"What the...!"
The man let out a sigh like that, then suddenly shifted his gaze to me.
I met his eyes confidently, as if to say, what do you have to say?
Lighten up a bit.
Glancing back and forth at the orc corpses smeared like bloody rags behind me, the man spat out his first words.
"You did that?!"
"These guys? Yeah."
"Even so, there's such a thing as professional courtesy between peers! This is our jurisdiction—how can you just barge in like this?!"
Never thought professional courtesy would come out of his mouth. Haha, what a lunatic.
My fists were itching. Hollering.
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook fidgets anxiously!
Don't stop me. Mom said she can't stand seeing her son get pushed around, right?
With so many eyes around, can't beat him freely—Sung Hyun-sook sighs!
"...That's what you meant."
I wanted to smack him, but I wasn't really planning to.
Mom's always so hot-blooded.
But the world has lines you don't cross, right? Plus, yelling obscenities and popping veins would just put me on his level, which I hated.
I flashed a sly smile at the man, whose face was ballooned up like an inflated balloon, full of spite.
"The first thing you should say after I cleaned up your shit is 'thanks'—that's real professional courtesy. But looking at your character, I guess I expected too much."
"Wh-what?!"
"Sorry about that. I'll handle things here, so don't strain yourselves on a weekend—go home and get some sleep."
Pat pat.
I patted his shoulder, as if acknowledging their effort in showing up late.
Polite enough, right?
So why were their faces still twisted in anger?
"You, you little shit... State your name and guild right now! Don't guilds have manners about not touching each other's turf?!"
"Yeah, no clue. Just awakened, no guild. No reason to tell you my name or show registration."
"...Just? You mean you awakened for the first time today...?"
This bastard wouldn't even say thanks.
Who does he think he's investigating?
Won't get anywhere talking to this guy. Time sink.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through emergency contacts.
Let's see... Player Association number... Ah, here.
Hunted monsters? Time to make money. The miscellaneous drops from dead ones are the hunter's spoils.
Player Association handles the procedures.
Right before I hit call—
Snap.
A pristine white business card suddenly covered my screen.
I looked up, and the same guy who'd been glaring daggers was now politely offering his card.
"This is me."
Sudden polite speech.
Move your hand—can't see the screen, asshole.
Flick.
I knocked it away with the back of my hand.
But it boomeranged right back. I had no choice but to sigh.
This prick...
"Please forgive my earlier rudeness. My eyes were blinded—I failed to recognize a great one like you..."
"I see."
"Since you just awakened, you'll get rated at the Association soon. We'd love it if you joined . We're desperately seeking talents like you."
"Wow, really."
"Soloing orcs right after awakening? At least B-rank for sure. We provide free A-grade items and training for newbies for half a year—"
Yeah, keep yapping.
I'll do my thing.
...But this card's blocking my screen. Annoying as hell.
Sighed again, pocketed the phone, and took the card.
I didn't miss his face lighting up for a split second.
Rip!
Of course, I didn't miss it souring into a shit-eating grimace when I tore it to shreds.
Cheap stock—tears like butter. Use better paper for business cards.
"Whoops, sudden gust."
I flung the confetti at his face.
So, what was his name again? Now I'm curious.
To the man whose flush had gone ghostly pale, I shot a friendly smile.
"Nice meeting you. Gotta make a call now, so bye."
"You dog bas—"
His hand landed on my shoulder as I turned.
I whipped around, glaring like I was about to deck him.
"Why? You wouldn't hit a regular citizen like me, right?"
"Regular citizen? Bullshit! You just said you awakened today—"
"Me? Hmm, don't remember. No registration anyway—no way to prove it."
"......"
He flinched, shoulders twitching.
Even awakened, no Association-certified registration? You're a civilian.
If this player punk laid a hand on me? Minimum 10 years jail. Up to life or death depending on damage.
No suspended sentence, no fine.
I could even press charges for the hand on my shoulder if I wanted.
But what good would tangling with this trash for another minute do me?
"Get it now? If you do, scram. Stop holding up a busy guy."
"Th-this...!"
"For your guild's sake. Get your hand off my shoulder. Don't you feel the stares?"
"Stares...?"
Only then did he glance around at the crowd.
No need to sugarcoat—they were pure why isn't he dead yet? vibes.
"Ah, no..."
Cold sweat poured down his cheeks like a waterfall.
His guildmates, standing dumb like scarecrows, couldn't hide their embarrassment.
He yanked his hand off my shoulder and muttered low.
"...Withdraw."
Yeah, get lost.
Vrooom!
The armored vehicle loaded everyone up and fled the scene.
Clap clap clap!
The crowd gave me light cheers again.
...I felt relieved too, but this vibe wasn't my thing.
Ahem.
I cleared my throat to brush off the awkwardness and called the Player Association.
Staff picked up; I gave a quick rundown of the situation and the address.
They'd send someone right away. Only then could I pocket my phone with satisfaction.
Watching the scene, Sung Hyun-sook shows great satisfaction!
As a mom, she has to sponsor now—she's excited!
Will borrow some God Coins from constellation friends quick—wait just a bit!
"What?"
Borrowing money? No need to strain your empty household...
"...Mom?"
No reply.
Damn, she really went to borrow.
Said no spoiling, yet...
Jeez, go figure.
"Ah, right."
With the mess wrapped up, harsh reality reared its head.
...The shitty reality that my house was gone.
Ah, damn. Fucking orcs.
"Let's see, in the first round, definitely..."
I stared vacantly at my house in the distance, dust still billowing, replaying my pre-regression life—
"...Excuse me."
Someone called from behind.