Open Run (1): Shopkeeper, Please...!
.... Heart-wrenching stories started flooding the Survivor Gallery.
"Wahhh... That must've been so tough..."
I read through them one by one, inviting users accordingly.
There was one reason the gallery had turned into this.
H-Hey...! I! I got invited too!!!
This old guy's nickname was folksy as hell, but his reaction speed rivaled a pro gamer teen.
The moment he got invited, he posted a proof thread: "I shared my tough story about having a family, and thankfully got invited."
The second that went up, the Survivor Gallery turned into a nationwide "brag about your poor neighbors" contest and a human documentary fest.
Of course, the gallery admin seemed a bit stressed.
But not my problem.
"Damn... Why are there so many suffering people in this world...!!!"
Don't let my looks fool you—I'm Shin Sok. A guy with rich sensitivity and sky-high empathy.
It wasn't easy for a guy like me to read these heartbreaking tales.
"Wahhh, my sensitivity's exploding..."
These users' desperate plights awakened the hidden empathy power deep inside me.
"But I'm Shin Sok. If I were that empathetic, I'd be a gender-bender by now."
I wouldn't have awakened this shut-in mouse-clicker ability.
"Come at me with all you've got!!! I'll read 'em with full tetotsu power!!"
"Fuuuuck!! Accepted! You're in!!"
What a filial son.
"I don't even have parents to care for! Jealous bastard!"
No lies detected.
Member List: 32
Nice. The poor neighbors quota system's off to a great start.
"Gotta fill the capacity first, then reopen."
To prevent early invitees from hogging everything, I'd set the shop to pre-open status.
Yeah, settings like that worked.
Back to the gallery.
Mom hasn't had clean water in weeks, her face looked so bad... I couldn't farm due to injury, then the system updated with a shop... Told her I got invited, and she cried asking if we won't have to suffer anymore... Shopkeeper, thank you... Got invited and parents are thrilled...
Posts like that warmed my heart too.
"Yeah yeah, inviting you right now."
I scrolled down, hammering invite buttons nonstop.
Thus, the poor neighbors quota system progressed swimmingly.
What do I do alone... Shopkeeper-nim... I ask for your mercy...
Pfft-!
"Hey hey cut! Cut!"
This was prime moving moment, and you're ruining it?
Next next.
"..."
Bro, how are you even gallerying if you're paralyzed from the neck down...
Brain-break posts started popping up one by one, and Judak was cleverly helping out, but it wasn't enough.
"Oh?"
Then one post grabbed my eyes.
Is it something to brag about, selling your sob stories to get invited? And you guys with no stories? Making up brain-rot fakes because you're desperate?? Know some shame. Shop, or System, or whatever—get it together. Even if you accept these beggars, they'll just 'rice-eat' and barely last a week.
[Dozens_of_Magic_Stones_Stacked.jpg]
So, shop, wake up and... 'Invite me.'
[Guild_Business_Card.jpg]
I’m in a guild, so I get a stable weekly salary of magic stones. Story? None. I just want to buy clean water easily... Like a proper Shop-Stalker, I'm kneeling in a polite pose waiting for my invite, yeah.
Men's hearts are reeds, they say.
My maxed empathy crashed to zero.
"Right. What poor neighbors quota."
I'm no charity case. No human rights laws here anyway.
"The world rolls on ruthless capitalism even in apocalypse!!"
You? Accepted.
[Verification_Proof.jpg]
You broke-ass losers!!!! A story? I don't have one!!! My situation? It’s not luxurious, but I can take care of myself!!! And yet, I still got invited!!! Thank you, Shopkeeper-nim!!! You finally recognized my true potential!!!
I muttered watching that.
"Hmm, ramen for lunch?"
My one choice flipped the gallery from poor-brag fest to spec-brag fest.
Slurp-!
I poured hot water from the security room purifier into cup ramen.
"Hot hot!"
But my eyes stayed glued to the gallery.
One decision and the bait switches whiplash—felt like I was the gallery's maestro.
"Good, you too accepted."
I filled the remaining spots with poor neighbors, magic stone proofers, solid-job users.
And finally.
Current Members: 99 / 100
"Hm. One spot left."
Who to pick. Scrolling the gallery.
"Haha, this guy's funny."
Entertainment slot accepted.
Current Members: 100 / 100
Okay, full.
"Post the notice first."
Gallery remnants: mostly uninvited masses bummed out.
But why the drama
High-spec users who never thirsted hard, or those indifferent from start.
"Good. Setup done."
Bit funny all this hassle just to sell water.
But investment for smooth sales when varieties and stock grow later.
"Wasn't even hard."
Interviewers have it easy anyway.
Now, sell 100 Odasu to 100 members.
Key here.
"Fair. Super fair."
One-per-person dumb, don't want that.
All members simultaneous fair buy chance.
That's my policy, my belief.
But how.
"Timer here...!"
Three minutes later, perfectly chewy ramen lid popped, I muttered.
"Alright... Buy fair from now."
Such settings basic.