Idiot.
The fluffy mattress wrapped around my body just right, and the frame was wide enough that two people could roll around without any issues.
It felt like a giant teddy bear with soft fur was hugging me tight.
And this comfort, with my face completely buried in it.
I wanted to keep clinging to the pillow, as if I were smelling a pleasant perfume.
'I'm so tired… just a little more… a little more…'
But what was that?
From a while ago, some strange sound kept reaching me.
From somewhere deep inside my heart.
Really deep.
It was definitely a familiar voice.
Like someone had said it to me before.
In truth, it was so warm that I wanted to see the speaker more than I wanted to hear them.
—Our son.
Huh?
—Shouldn’t you wake up?
‘Mom?’
Suddenly, a voice from a hazy childhood memory reached me.
Why did it feel so nostalgic?
Yet the first emotion that rose was joy.
So I bolted upright.
Because she was close enough to touch with just one outstretched hand.
“Just now… just now…”
My clumsy grasp caught the startled woman’s voice.
Was this what I had been searching for?
“Ah, um…”
I fumbled for words.
It had been so long since anyone woke me in the morning.
“Ah… yes. Good morning, Siyeon-ssi.”
I answered her in a daze.
When I sat there blankly for a moment, I heard her swallow nervously, as if flustered by my reaction.
She really was modest. It was almost enough to make me smile.
“No. You woke me right on time.”
“It’s fine!”
I stood up as if nothing was wrong.
My eyes fell on the neatly polished, luxurious dark-red mahogany table beside the bed. I grabbed the phone I had tossed there earlier and turned on the black screen.
Soon…
“Ugh…”
Seeing the time brought a fresh wave of drowsiness.
The truth was, I had only slept for about four hours.
But I couldn’t close my eyes again.
Today wasn’t for me—it was for her.
So I had to push through.
They say the first time is always the hardest.
These days, everything felt like a first.
Putting a person inside my inventory.
And having to take care of her from now on.
I had never even imagined anything like it.
The bittersweet comedy of the buckwheat soba incident, and everything that would come after.
'I have to take responsibility.'
There was no time to waste.
“No. Royal Valley opens at six, so we should head over right now.”
“It’s nothing! Let’s get going!”
Maybe her apologetic tone felt awkward, or maybe I just wanted to escape the strange atmosphere—either way, I rummaged through the carrier that held my clothes, then immediately opened the bedroom door and stepped out.
Her voice had completely chased away any lingering sleep.
'But it really is long.'
The hallway stretched on endlessly, making my steps feel insignificant.
As I had noticed yesterday, Siyeon-ssi’s house was incredibly spacious.
The white walls reminded me of an art gallery. Modern patterned tiles covered the floor in elegant lines, and large oil paintings—pieces that looked like they belonged in a major museum—hung on the walls.
With every step, soft indirect lighting washed over the paintings.
Strangely, the light spread sideways, illuminating the pure white wallpaper and adding both antique charm and refined elegance.
It was so atmospheric that I almost wanted to turn around and walk the path again.
'It’s way too long.'
Time was short, yet my eyes were thoroughly entertained.
The corridor I had just walked through was simply that—a long, extended hallway.
For a moment, the casual clothes I wore felt like a formal suit.
S-class ability user Lee Siyeon.
Even her hallway felt S-class.
Going back and forth from this house every morning, sharing space with Siyeon-ssi…
For the time being, it was almost too—
“Yes. A lot.”
I really did.
Wait.
“Hold on, Siyeon-ssi. Did you just read my mind?”
Ugh…
I suddenly pictured Siyeon-ssi with her ear pressed to the floor.
This was a lethal dose of cuteness.
*
In this chaotic world overflowing with every kind of ability user, corporations that smelled money naturally turned their attention to the military industry.
As time passed, military contractors around the globe improved their technology day by day. Competition grew fierce.
Funny enough, after the Purple Hall opened, the periodic table gained two extra rows.
I had never personally fought monsters, but the rare minerals embedded in their bodies or heads—especially the gems that emitted unique light classified as rare earth elements—were famous for their astronomical prices.
Ask why those rocks were so expensive, and the answer was simple: military contractors had begun processing the minerals monsters produced into super-alloys stronger than steel.
I realized just how incredible that processing technology was because that was the moment equipment quality began to change completely.
A simple example: load an M82 or M107 fifty-caliber sniper rifle with Redeye-processed dark-red super-alloy bullets, and even weak monsters would have their heads explode like crushed tomatoes.
One second later, the explosion would tear the body clean in half.
No matter how I looked at it… this was straight-up magic.
If this wasn’t twelfth-circle single-point explosion magic, what was it?
Watching operation footage of the Association’s non-ability Special Operations Teams sometimes made me feel sorry for the monsters.
Dozens of soldiers concentrating fire with guns like that? Send one of those teams to some hopeless, grim otherworld and the Demon King would probably be on his knees begging them to leave after three days.
With equipment this good, even untrained non-ability users were entering dungeons with nothing but a few rifles.
Of course, performance that was too good created its own problems.
Anyway, even after the Purple Hall opened, capitalism remained unchanged. The military industry burned bright with competition.
To secure the raw materials essential for manufacturing equipment, companies began scouting ability users unaffiliated with the Association or signing contracts that restricted trading partners. Such cases grew more common.
'And thus, the age of freelancers arrived.'
Many retired early because they disliked the Association’s pay, while companies frequently snatched promising talents midway through their contracts.
On the flip side, the Association sometimes scouted freelancers already under contract. The result was a hilarious stalemate where both sides glared at each other without uttering a word, even while tearing at one another.
While the Association’s raid teams led most dungeon clears and monster raids generated by the Purple Hall, plenty of skilled freelancers willingly risked their lives for the rewards.
That was why so many people visited Royal Valley in search of the best equipment.
When everyone was staking their lives, there was no safer investment than good gear.
So this kind of business… truly fit the era.
A healthy, desirable economic cycle.
Freelancers sold mineral items through contracts, and military contractors turned them into equipment for ability users, then sold those.
Royal Valley
Put simply, this was a support center providing equipment and supplies exclusively for ability users. More accurately, it was a department store just for them.
In truth, it was a kind of syndicate operated by the Hunter Association’s foundation, but…
Anyway, this enormous support center—large enough to fit several baseball stadiums inside—bore the proud name Royal Valley. Here, renowned multinational military contractors sold their wares to combat ability users.
Non-combat ability users would have little reason to visit, but I was an exception.
I had worked for many years in the Association’s supply support team.
Every piece of equipment and supply sent to raid teams inside the Purple Hall had passed through my hands.
I had attended every monthly demonstration of new products released by military contractors without missing a single one. I remembered them all.
I selected only the best from Royal Valley and recommended them to the Association, then delivered the goods directly through my inventory.
So when it came to equipment and supplies, I could proudly call myself more knowledgeable than any combat ability user.
“Yes. I may have been removed from the supply team, but I wasn’t expelled from the Association. The companies won’t bother with the details of my position anyway.”
“Of course. The military companies I recommended for major contracts with the Association always thanked me and said to let them know if I ever needed anything.”
“Hmm… That’s probably because the First Raid Team destroys everything—dungeons or monsters alike—don’t you think?”
“Don’t be too surprised, Siyeon-ssi! Then let’s go pick up your item!”
I smiled and walked deeper into the hangar that resembled a fighter jet warehouse.
Soon a human figure appeared.
It was a woman in simple office attire.
From a distance, she waved her arm loosely, as if happy to see me.
“Over here, Oppa.”
It was a face I knew very well from my first days in the supply support team.
Seong Hana, facility manager of Royal Valley.
Her messy blonde hair was tied back in a braid, and she was rubbing eyes that should have been shining bright green.
“Ugh… so sleepy…”
She looked exactly as she always did—worn out from overwork.
“You’re early… Minwoo Oppa.”
“Yeah. Hana. Nothing unusual going on, right?”
“Nothing unusual…? That’s my line. I heard about the accident. How’s your body?”
“Fine. See? Perfectly normal.”
I spread both arms wide.
Hana yawned and spoke in a lifeless voice.
“Yaaawn… Sorry. I meant to visit you, but work kept piling up.”
“It’s okay. I know you’re always busy managing the facility. Oh! Hey!”
What was that?
Something had just slipped from her fingertips.
“Uh, uh?”
So clumsy.
She had yawned and dropped the phone she was holding.
It happened in an instant.
Without thinking, I reflexively bent down and caught the phone with both hands before it hit the floor.
It was fortunate, but the situation became slightly embarrassing.
In my haste, I had grabbed both her hand and the phone.
“Uh… thanks, Oppa.”
“Be careful. How many times have you replaced that screen now?”
“Seventeen times, wasn’t it…”
“Seriously, Seong Hana. Nothing stays intact once it’s in your hands. Nothing.”
“Is that so… Yaaawn…”
“Hey! Again!”
What now?
Why was she trying to drop it again?
“Actually, that one was a joke.”
“It was obvious. Do I look surprised at all?”
“Guess not…”
“Exactly…”
I laughed, mimicking her drawling tone.
Then, just a little—
the corner of Hana’s mouth lifted.
“But the Cube is working properly, right?”
“Yes, Oppa. I installed it like you asked. You should probably inspect it yourself though.”
“Yeah, I think so too. Thanks. I’ll take it from here.”
“That would be a big help. I still have to check all the way to hangar forty-seven. This saves me some time.”
“Take it easy, Hana… You’ll work yourself to death. Get some sleep too.”
“Oppa, you always say sleep is for the dead. You work like you’re trying to die too… Anyway, I’ll be going now! Come by later and I’ll buy you coffee, so make sure you tell me!”
Tap, tap.
Hana tapped the phone with her finger as she spoke.
“See you later, Oppa~ Thanks for the phone!”
She waved and walked away lightly.
She always looked exhausted, but today she seemed a bit more energetic.
I wondered why, but other matters came first.
“Alright then. Time to move the Cube.”
Cube.
I placed my hand on the giant square structure and spoke.
It was a simple living facility designed for long-term operations inside the Purple Hall.
Its greatest advantage was the ability to assemble necessary living modules like pieces of a puzzle.
Of course, the Cube I ordered had every option available.
Automatic water purification, a hyper nuclear reactor for self-generated power—every convenience imaginable was packed inside.
It was a confident demonstration piece from an American military contractor.
A product with a sad story.
Simple is best.
No matter the dungeon, the best strategy was to kill the monsters quickly and leave.
Who would choose long-term operations?
Naturally, it was ignored by the market and buried completely.
The Cube was literally a forgotten product.
I had completely forgotten about it until I suddenly contacted the company. They said they had surplus stock and sent me a fully optioned unit for free.
It was exactly what Siyeon-ssi needed.
“Okay, I’m putting you inside now, Siyeon-ssi.”
“Siyeon-ssi?”
Strange. Why did she sound so deflated?
Or was it just me?
It almost sounded like a voice I had never heard before…
Hmm…
First, the Cube.
“Be careful. Stay still where you are. I’ll place it a little distance away from you since it’s so big.”
I examined the Cube from top to bottom, then pictured Siyeon-ssi.
The process went smoothly.
“Oh. It’s in. It’s bigger than you expected, right, Siyeon-ssi?”
I couldn’t wait to see the smile that would soon bloom on her face.
So I closed my eyes slightly and checked the inventory.
But something was wrong.
She had opened the Cube’s door, turned her body, and was looking at me with only her face visible.
Her gaze was icy.
She held her head slightly high, looking down at me from above.
“Uh…”
I felt strangely scolded.
I wanted to say something to her, but seeing her lips pressed into a pout, as if thoroughly displeased, left me speechless.
It wasn’t exactly an angry expression, but…
“Um, Siyeon—”
—Bang!
The moment my words were cut off, Lee Siyeon slammed the Cube door shut and disappeared inside.
The loud, deliberate sound of the door closing—what did it mean?
“Siyeon-ssi…?”
All I could do was stand there blankly, calling her name.