The System's Miracle and Tiles Claimed

In the heart of Oasis's hideout, reeking of blood, Eun Wol let out a long breath. "Hoo..."

The space where Oasis's remnants had been screaming moments ago now echoed with an eerie silence. Shattered furniture fragments, a bent iron door, and blood soaking the floor. It was time to head back, but she stared into the empty air, lost in thought.

What if... there had been no System.

What if the shop's stock hadn't swelled to 700 at that perfect timing, preventing the water price drop? What if Gallery's public opinion hadn't turned against Choi Tae-su?

Could I have found another way?

No. Without the System, it would have been impossible. She hadn't found any other group to manage Suwon Station, and she'd have recklessly roamed the Red Zone in constant fear of death, eventually meeting a gruesome end. Even if she'd survived the Red Zone, without justification or a plan, dragging these people down by force would have left the other survivors to wither and die of thirst.

So Eun Wol posed the question to herself.

Is all this just coincidence...?

That wasn't it either. It was too perfectly timed to dismiss as chance. It felt like some omnipotent being above was gazing down at the chessboard, opening the ideal path for her at the perfect moment and whispering guidance.

To Juddak, the Gallery administrator who was the System's greatest arrangement and part, there was only one such omnipotent entity.

System...

From the start, it had ensured her survival, burdened her with the heavy cross called Juddak, and kept her holding on here even now. The System itself.

It felt like the System was whispering to her.

—Carry out your will without hesitation. The path you wish to walk will ultimately be realized through me.

...Right.

This was a message. A command from the System, telling her—the administrator and the last hunter active in the capital region—to carry out her duty without hesitation.

But perhaps because she'd struggled alone in this horrific, despairing world for so long, a chill doubt suddenly flickered through her mind.

What if all this is just my delusion?

What if the timely stock increase and shifting opinion were mere coincidences, and she, isolated and going mad, was forcing meaning onto them?

"..."

It was right then, as Eun Wol began doubting her own sanity and growing confused.

Clatter—

A faint tremor came from beyond the tightly shut basement door in the corner of the hideout.

"No way."

Eun Wol approached and smashed the door open without hesitation.

"Ah...!"

"Gaaah!!"

Survivors huddled like beasts in the darkness revealed themselves. They'd been dragged here by Oasis just for using the Gallery shop and tortured.

"A-ah...!"

"Juddak-nim...! You're Juddak-nim, right?"

The survivors crawling out of the basement approached Eun Wol and bowed their heads desperately.

"Thank you...! Thank you!"

"If it weren't for Juddak-nim, we'd have been done for...!"

Tears and snot streamed as they poured out their desperate gratitude. But Eun Wol expressionlessly lifted them up and spoke softly.

"...You don't need to thank me."

"Pardon...? What do you—"

"If the System update hadn't happened, I wouldn't have come."

Eun Wol had simply stated the plain truth.

But the moment her calm confession ended—

Weeeeng—!

The space above Eun Wol's head warped grotesquely.

At that instant, her red eyes sharpened fiercely.

An unannounced attack.

Sensing danger instinctively, she reflexively extended her hand to halt the objects—but.

"Huh...?"

Eun Wol's eyes widened upon identifying them.

A Spam can with a yellow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lid gleaming iridescently. Freshly steamed rice radiating warmth. And a bottle of blue Powerade frosted with cold.

As Eun Wol panicked at the unexpected situation—

"Th-that rift just now... it looked exactly like the one from shop deliveries."

"But those foods aren't even in the shop...!"

"This is a m-miracle... The moment Juddak-nim mentioned the System... it responded!!"

The invited members, knowing the causal link between the rift and the items, spoke up.

Eun Wol's red pupils trembled faintly.

"Ah... Aah...!"

The vicious doubt and question she'd hurled at herself moments ago melted away like snow.

"It wasn't a delusion..."

In its place, unwavering conviction filled her.

The System had personally answered her solitary pondering with a clear miracle.

Back in her own hideout, Eun Wol knelt reverently before the meal.

The sacred gift bestowed by the System.

Click, sizzle—

Peeling off the yellow lid and pulling the metal tab released the salty, rich aroma of processed meat, overpowering the hideout's bloody stench and spreading everywhere.

This scent...

When had it been since the apocalypse that she'd even encountered premium processed meat in such perfect form? Even for Eun Wol, it was a distant memory.

She unwrapped the steaming hot rice, placed a slice of Spam atop it, and carefully took a bite.

"...!!"

The salty, umami savoriness melted on her tongue. And the warm carbohydrate's sweetness perfectly embraced that stimulating flavor.

"Hng... So gooood..."

Overwhelmed by the ecstatic harmony in her mouth, Eun Wol closed her eyes instinctively.

"...Has the rice settled a bit?"

As Juddak, the irresistible act while eating was Gallery browsing.

She opened the Gallery.

"Pfft..."

Reading down the post, Eun Wol let out a disbelieving chuckle.

The mysterious anon who'd appeared a week ago. He had a surprisingly funny side. Seemed like pure evil trolling, yet he had this weird pull on attention. Plus, he'd enabled inviting people.

"Intelligence build...?"

However, punishing evil was also an administrator's duty.

"I'll watch you, Buntang Baeksu."

She planned to ban him mercilessly the moment he crossed the line.

Not right now, though.

"Nngh so good... Can't hold back..."

The faith-boosting flavor had Juddak unconsciously posting before she knew it.

Meanwhile, I stood there blankly.

"What? No reaction?"

I'd only sent Juddak the spiciest combo: Spam and rice.

Why no response?

"No way?"

No way to react? Yeah, probably. No one-on-one chat here.

"Least she could post something..."

A bit disappointing.

As I refreshed to soothe my empty feeling—

"What."

A new post was up.

"Pfft."

Speak of the devil— she posted right away.

But the content was wild.

"Did it taste good...?"

It was getting old for me, but Spam's rare—market price barely shows up.

"Looks like she enjoyed it. Good."

But it didn't end there.

Juddak straight-up proved it.

Hey, spoiling food I might sell later?

"Whatever. Gonna sell it all anyway."

Dunno the mood shift, but goodwill's delivered. Her stance screams she'd grant any request.

"Yeah yeah. You're my ally now."

One-sided, but mutual agreement? Good enough.

"Kya... Trolling mastery..."

Gallery's god. Shin Sok Buntang Baeksu System Shop.

"But that's it."

I firmly closed the exploding comment section.

"Cuz...! The moment I've been waiting for is here!!!!"

I manipulated the System UI to bring up the related window.

Selling water after stock boost piled up Magic Stones beyond need for skill level up.

"Ehehehe..."

"Clear it clear it!!!"

The moment to smash the quest had arrived!

I hit upgrade without hesitation.

Ding—!

With a cheerful sound, a 3D blueprint of Starplex hologrammed before my eyes.

"Yoshiiii!!!"

Tiles divided like a go board glowed bluish, awaiting my choice.

I eyed the corners next to the water section.

[Meat Corner]

[Seafood Corner]

I selected one boldly and claimed it, yelling,

"You're the one!!!"