Lee Jaseong (2)
Junil left Kang Hae-il’s VIP room and returned to his own.
Click.
He locked the door and confirmed no one else was inside.
‘Okay. Let’s check the shop once.’
The message had been up for a while now.
You can upgrade the shop anytime, anywhere!
Cost: 2 Hearts (HT)
He could finally upgrade the shop now.
Held Coins: 10.7 Hearts (HT)
Just like Ham said, it looked like he had earned quite a bit from the World Boss battle. His coin balance was more than enough.
‘I’m excited.’
The Narrative Trick series had proven pretty useful. Level 3 was bound to have even more practical items.
Ding.
Shop upgraded!
Lv.2 → Lv.3
A loud fanfare rang out as the shop window glowed brilliantly. The words Lv.3 sparkled with a flashy effect. It was a cute little service to show off that he had just leveled up.
Of course, that wasn’t what mattered to Junil.
He went straight to the item list.
The first new product that caught his eye was the ‘Weather Control Kit.’
‘Does it actually change the weather?’
It wasn’t something he needed right now. The price was also much higher than he expected.
He looked at the next new item.
This one was also ridiculously expensive.
But…
‘This one’s actually decent.’
It was an item that forced the target into a one-on-one duel no matter what.
When used on a visible target, the opponent is forced to accept a one-on-one duel with you.
Single-use item.
The downside was that it was single-use.
‘Hmm…’
Still, it was worth considering. Having one on hand could be a lifesaver if he ever got surrounded by multiple enemies.
‘Last time it was the Narrative Trick series. This time it’s all Stage Direction?’
The next item also had “Stage Direction” in the name.
A band appears and loudly performs and sings any song you desire. Characters around you feel almost no discomfort.
Cooldown: 24 hours
Duration: One song
There was even an item that blasted music loud enough for everyone around to hear.
‘What the hell am I supposed to use this for?’
It looked almost useless, but this shop really did carry everything under the sun.
There were also things like Stage Direction Spotlight, Curtain Call, Encore, and more. A bunch of bizarre functions.
‘I could probably use some of these offensively.’
They weren’t just for putting on a show for the Constellations. Some could be weaponized. Like blinding enemies with a spotlight, for example.
‘This really is Level 3.’
Junil was quite satisfied with the Level 3 shop. After all, it wasn’t just selling items anymore.
There was a new [Upgrade] function.
‘Oh. Upgrades.’
He could now upgrade items he had already purchased.
Narrative Trick Hwando Upgrade — 20 Hearts (HT)
Convenient Settings Inventory Upgrade — 30 Hearts (HT)
Narrative Trick Bulletproof Coat Upgrade — 10 Hearts (HT)
Junil had been happy to see the upgrade option, only for his eyes to nearly pop out at the prices.
‘These crazy… sausage bastards… they’ve really lost their minds over money.’
Looked like he’d have to send Ham on a few more inventory tour punishments.
‘Let’s see what else there is.’
Junil slowly scrolled down, examining everything. The Constellations thought he was just glued to YouTube.
The Constellations were slowly leaving, but there was nothing he could do about it. The items in this shop were essentially cheat keys that only he could use. If he didn’t master them properly, he might not be able to handle what was coming.
‘This world isn’t kind to me… I need to prepare thoroughly.’
How much humiliation had he suffered just because of that single F rank? He had to get used to it.
This was a world led by Ram. To seize control here, half-hearted preparation wouldn’t cut it.
Evening.
He ate the meal delivered to his VIP room. It was mild but decent.
‘I thought F-rank would mean they’d spit in the food, but it’s actually good.’
After finishing, Junil headed down to the first-floor café.
About five people moved with him. Since they were all Awakened, he could sense the flow of their mana and immediately identified them.
‘They’re even rotating shifts to keep watch…’
They stayed at least fifty meters apart, forming a loose encirclement as if they were “protecting” him.
“Ha. This is annoying. I can’t be a righteous thief like this.”
It might look like protection to others, but to Junil it was nothing but an irritating surveillance network.
The way Junil had grown stronger was by first snatching the special meals prepared for Kang Hae-il. This pre-chapter was sure to have special perks and opportunities prepared for the protagonist as well.
Yet here he was, stuck like this.
‘Well… it’s not that big a deal since Kang Hae-il is here too.’
As long as he was stronger than Kang Hae-il, there wouldn’t be any major problems.
‘But what about the Red Gate?’
The Red Gate he had left behind in Incheon kept bothering him.
A short while later, Junil settled down at the first-floor café to help with digestion.
Even though it was evening, many people were drinking coffee and chatting. It seemed most visitors were here with family. They had come to visit patients and were now killing time with small talk.
‘……’
Junil found himself unconsciously staring at a family of four.
A chubby baby in a stroller and an adorable little girl with pigtails who looked like an elementary schooler. It was the kind of scene you’d see in a movie when they wanted to show a happy ending.
It wasn’t that he was jealous of having a family. He didn’t even know what that was like in the first place.
He just found it strangely fascinating. That was all.
But—
‘Huh?’
Suddenly the father took the child’s hand and started walking toward him.
At first he thought they were just passing by, but they were clearly heading straight for him. The kid was even pointing.
Remembering what the kids in his apartment complex had done to him, Junil quickly looked away.
‘Ah, they’re probably going to complain because I’m F-rank and dared to look at them.’
He turned on his phone and pretended to be busy. But they didn’t back off and kept coming closer.
‘What the hell do they want?’
Ha. No choice but to hear them out. Surely they wouldn’t curse at him in front of their daughter, right?
With that thought, he casually looked up.
His prediction was completely wrong.
The father, looking extremely embarrassed yet incredibly polite, spoke to him.
“Um… excuse me… are you by any chance Moon Junil? The one who worked as a porter…”
Junil instinctively scanned his surroundings.
‘Is this an assassin sent by the Incheon Union? These filthy bastards even dragged a kid into it?’
He was certain there had to be some assassination plot behind this.
‘What is this? I can’t read their intentions at all.’
Countless simulations ran through his head as he built every possible hypothesis, but every single one was wrong.
“Wow, it really is you. My kid’s a huge fan. Could we maybe take a picture together?”
“……A p-picture? But… I’m F-rank.”
“That’s exactly why my child thinks you’re even cooler. A self-made man, they said.”
The daughter chimed in beside them.
“Yeah! Mister, you’re the best!”
“……!”
A little while later, Junil was standing awkwardly beside the child, smiling for the camera.
“Okay~ one~ two~”
He almost instinctively struck a Sagosul pose at “three,” but managed to hold it back.
The Constellations were even shedding tears over a single photo. Junil, still feeling dazed, waved at the excited child.
“Take care.”
“Yes! Fighting, Mister Porter!”
“F-Fighting~”
After waving for a long time…
‘Wait. How did this happen? This level of reaction?’
Junil sat back down and checked the internet on his phone. He visited several communities where he could gauge public opinion.
In the community mostly visited by older baseball-watching uncles:
In the community mainly for mothers in their 30s:
In the community for mothers in their 30s:
Even in communities full of men in their 20s.
‘Don’t tell me even the Awakened…?’
He visited the Awakened Law Forum.
It was a little different here.
The top eight posts were all bashing Kang Hae-il.
But right below them, as expected, was talk about the Porter.
Out of those five Awakened who supposedly killed the dragon or whatever, isn’t the Porter clearly the best?
Reaching level 30 as an F-rank is already insanely hard.
Knowing full well he was going to die, he still stepped up to stop the boss. That’s legendary.
He’s a man of true conviction.
Everyone else is just privileged scum putting on a show.
The post claimed that the Porter was the one who had taken the World Boss battle the most seriously.
It was absurd.
‘It’s the complete opposite.’
Junil had been the one standing there with the most fake attitude of all.
Yet people were interpreting it in the exact opposite way.
It seemed the hatred and jealousy toward high-rank Awakened was so intense that they were deliberately elevating Junil, who was F-rank.
The comment section was also overwhelmingly positive.
Even the Awakened were acknowledging him!
‘What is this? Is it a bug?’
It felt like the world itself had glitched and was now focusing on him, showing him favoritism.
Current Watching Constellations: 3,981
Maybe it was because the number of Constellations had grown so much?
‘If the Rookies leave, maybe I can break out of the supporting role?’
Five thousand was the wall for supporting characters. He was already approaching four thousand. If the Rookies left, wouldn’t he break through five thousand?
Then maybe he’d become a main supporting character? Or a sub-lead? Either way, something would improve. His treatment would get better too.
‘The world is simping for me!’
This was tremendous progress. The perception of the “Porter” who had been showered with empty cans was gradually shifting to that of a “self-made young man.”
‘This… might be the perfect timing.’
Junil instinctively knew.
This kind of popularity?
It wouldn’t last long anyway. The public was fickle. One mistake and they’d go right back to throwing stones, saying “See, that’s why F-rank doesn’t work” as if they had never supported him.
Only right now.
‘This is the moment of the stars.’
Now was the time to create a guild and expand his influence.
It was then that a massive shadow fell over him.
“Whoa~ Look who it is.”
A thick yet sharp voice rang out.
“Isn’t that Moon Junil?”
“……?”
Junil looked up.
“Who… huh?”
He recognized the face immediately.
‘Why is this bastard here?’
There was no way he wouldn’t know that face. It was one of his orphanage classmates.
Lee Jaseong.
“You remember me, right? We were pretty close.”
Without waiting for permission, he sat down directly across from Junil.
Just like back then, he had a massive build and a threatening face. Lee Jaseong was the type who knew exactly what he had and how to use it. He was doing the same now—sitting in an arrogant, intimidating posture while barely staying on the right side of the line.
‘Moon Junil is still Moon Junil, after all.’
He was certain that no matter how long it had been, this soft-hearted kid wouldn’t dare talk back to him.
“Wow. I just came to visit an older brother I know who’s hospitalized, and there you are. What a coincidence. Hey. You doing alright?”
Jaseong held out his hand.
Junil shook it.
“Yeah. Nice to see you. What a coincidence, huh?”
The moment he saw Junil’s grinning face, Jaseong sensed something was off.
‘Hm? His face should’ve stiffened the second he saw me.’
What did that smile mean? Confidence? Or just a bluff?
He couldn’t tell.
In truth, it was neither.
That smile was the smile of realization.
Junil had no intention of kicking away the good fortune that had rolled right into his lap.
‘You’re dead meat, Jaseong.’
