Absolute Dweller

[Episode 07] Seomyeon Station (3)

[A being satisfying the conditions to be recognized as a citizen has been found.]

[Would you like to grant citizenship?]

Most people nearby were already accepted as citizens, but it seemed that there were still some who had not.

A total of 27 people.

Still, the number wasn’t large since citizens had been actively accepted.

‘Grant it.’

I checked again just to be sure, but no new awakened individuals appeared among the 27.

It meant that the ratio of awakened individuals was low.

‘But a Grade A awakener came herself.’

In that sense, Seo Ye-jin was like a pumpkin that rolled in on its own.

It seemed that awakened individuals often voluntarily came in this way.

‘I must make her into a vassal.’

To turn them into vassals, it was necessary to first increase trust and loyalty.

Based on experience, the best way to increase trust was through direct face-to-face interaction with the individual.

“Are you okay?”

Ha Dong-geon was looking at me with a worried expression from the side.

“I’m fine. You can go down and take a rest.”

“Alright. If you need anything, feel free to call me anytime.”

After sending him away, I searched everywhere for Seo Ye-jin.

I thought she might be inside one of the newly added apartments.

However, even after thoroughly searching the two new buildings, I couldn’t find Seo Ye-jin.

‘Where could she be?’

I started to worry a bit.

It could be because of the fright from the tamed mouse being accidentally killed.

‘I should call her. Assign quest.’

《Quest Assignment》

Quest Content: Visit the apartment.

Time Limit: 48 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds

Reward: Cola and chocolate bar.

Failure Penalty: None.

[Do you want to assign the quest as is?]

[Yes / No]

These were the two best-selling items at the convenience store lately.

Regardless of Seo Ye-jin’s exact situation, the reward seemed quite enticing.

I was about to assign the quest as it was.

‘Wait a minute.’

Suddenly, Oh Eon-ju’s words echoed in my mind.

(Why not use your ability to bring your family members over?)

I had tried but failed, and I could hypothesize that it was because my influence didn’t reach far enough.

‘Then…’

Were the individuals granted citizenship under my influence or not?

The answer was ‘under my influence.’

No matter how far away they were from the homebound area, the monsters they hunted were still properly accounted for.

‘Modify the quest.’

I adjusted the quest time and penalty slightly.

《Assign Quest》

Quest Content: Visit the apartment.

Time Limit: 10 seconds

Reward: Cola and chocolate bar.

Failure Penalty: Summoning.

[Do you want to assign the quest as it is?]

[Yes / No]

It was a success.

‘I didn’t expect to utilize the failure penalty as well.’

I had been fixated on the negative effects of the failure penalty, thinking it should only have adverse consequences.

However, now I realized that I could apply the failure penalty according to my own preferences.

‘Summoning is possible.’

While it was a one-time use, it was possible to summon ordinary citizens like vassals.

It was possible to teleport someone who had acquired citizenship.

This was a tremendous discovery.

‘This could be used to safely bring my family.’

If I could grant citizenship to all my family members, I could use the quest assignment system to bring them into my area.

‘It’s said that the outpost will gain a power similar to the homebound area when activated.’

In other words, it meant that it was possible to grant citizenship using the outpost.

Then what if he sent Ha Dong-geon’s party, constructing the outpost, granted citizenship to all family members, and summoned them here using quest assignment?

‘Perfect.’

Among my plans so far, this was the most feasible one.

‘The problem is how much it will cost.’

Currently, I had a significant amount of money.

Therefore, there was no way to estimate how much it would cost to teleport Seo Ye-jin.

In the worst case, all the funds in the wallet could be depleted.

‘Even so, let’s give it a try.’

It was a problem that couldn’t be solved through thinking.

Anyway, it was something that I had to check at least once.

At times like this, the answer was simply to face it head-on.

‘Assign the quest.’

Ding!

[ 00 minutes 09 seconds ]

I anxiously watched the decreasing time.

The quest cost would be charged upon completion.

Now, only 3 seconds remained.

‘Please don’t exceed 1 billion.’

One-time teleportation.

The price was.

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin has failed the quest.]

[Quest cost: 31,674,894 won.]

’30 million won!’

It was better than expected.

“Phew.”

That’s a relief.

It was a bit expensive, but it was good enough for necessary situations.

‘There’s still much to learn, like the cost increase based on distance, but it works properly anyways.’

The gamble was a great success.

“What, what is this place? Where am I?”

Seo Ye-jin’s voice came from the front door.

I approached the entrance and spoke to Seo Ye-jin.

“Hello, Ms. Seo Ye-jin.”

“W-Who are you? Do I know you?”

I extended my hand towards her, who was sitting on the floor.

“I’m the one who granted you citizenship.”

“What?”

Seo Ye-jin’s expression gradually turned to shock.

“Wait, hold on. You mean, the place I’m in right now is…”

“Yes. It’s the top floor of the apartment you saw through the mouse.”

She seemed so shocked that she didn’t even think about taking my hand and standing up.

While she stared at me with her mouth agape, I handed her a can of cold cola and continued speaking.

“I apologize for suddenly inviting you like this. It must have been quite a surprise. Nice to meet you, I’m Kim Jae-hyun.”

Soon, a reaction came.

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin’s trust has increased.]

It seemed she finally understood the current situation.

At the same time, her trust had also grown.

And…

“So… you’re saying that Mr. Jae-hyun summoned me here, right? That strange quest earlier too.”

“Yes. I assigned that quest.”

Seo Ye-jin spoke with a slightly brighter face.

“Sorry for being shameless, but may I ask for a favor? I have people I’m responsible for. Can you accept them as well?”

“…What?”

“It’s quite challenging to bring everyone here, so I was thinking of taking a gamble…”

Oh boy.

I didn’t expect there would be people with her.

The number was also quite substantial – a total of 35.

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin’s trust has increased.]

Looking at Seo Ye-jin, who was eagerly anticipating, I spoke with a firm tone.

“I’m sorry, but that is going to be difficult.”

“Yes…?”

For a moment, Seo Ye-jin’s pupils trembled wildly.

“W-What do you mean…”

“It’s impossible for me to teleport them here using my ability.”

It was not only impossible to teleport non-citizens, but even if I could, it was also a problem. Bringing one person Seo Ye-jin cost 30 million won, so bringing thirty-five people would require over 1 billion won.

I had no intention of investing nearly 1 billion won to save them.

Seo Ye-jin seemed shocked by my resolute answer. She crawled towards me, grabbing my knees and pleading.

“No! My mother and brother are there! I’ll do anything I can, so please…”

Considering her desperate attitude, I pondered if there was anything I could do.

The first most ordinary solution that came to mind was dispatching Ha Dong-geon’s party.

Considering their ability, bringing thirty-five people at once would be more than possible.

However, a better solution crossed my mind.

‘Even though Seo Ye-jin wasn’t in direct contact1Talking about how she used her tamed mouse to touch the area., citizenship was granted.’

That meant the homebound area might’ve recognized the mouse as part of her.

‘It might work if I do this right.’

To implement the idea that came to mind, I first needed to accept her as a vassal.

That way, the title would activate.

I checked Seo Ye-jin’s citizen information.

『Name: Seo Ye-jin (Lv. 31)

Trust: 37

Awakening Ability: Queen of Mice

Experience Distribution: 0%

Settlement Funds Distribution: 0%

★Quest Assignment ??Expulsion』

The trust level, which used to be a single-digit number, had risen to 30 in a short time.

‘Fast.’

As expected, trust skyrocketed as soon as we met face-to-face.

‘Just a little more…’

I wondered if there was a way to raise trust and loyalty that would be unlocked later.

Looking at Seo Ye-jin, who was holding onto my leg with moist eyes, I asked.

“Are you really willing to do anything?”

After some brief hesitation, Seo Ye-jin nodded slowly.

“Anything. I’ll do anything.”

“There’s only one way.”

I lowered myself to be at eye level with her, who was sitting and holding onto my knees. Then, I looked directly into Seo Ye-jin’s desperate eyes and continued.

“Completely trust me and pledge loyalty to me.”

“Huh…?”

“I’ll save them if you do.”

A head-on breakthrough.

I had chosen the straightforward method of asking her to trust me and pledge loyalty directly.

I didn’t think this method would work.

But I tried it just in case.

If this method didn’t work, I could send Ha Dong-geon’s party.

However…

“I will trust you. I will pledge loyalty. If it’s to save my family, I’m willing to sacrifice my life. How can I prove this determination?”

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin’s trust has greatly increased.]

Surprisingly, this method worked.

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin trust has reached 50.]

[Loyalty is unlocked.]

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin’s loyalty surpasses 30.]

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin has fulfilled the conditions for Vassal Registration.]

‘…It worked?’

She fulfilled the conditions for vassal registration in the shortest time among the people I’ve met so far.

Perhaps it was due to her desperate desire to save her family.

She must have believed my words with all her might. With all her strength.

I sincerely said, “Well done.”

I immediately registered Seo Ye-jin as a vassal.

Shiiiing!

The characteristic bright light when registering as a vassal emanated from her body.

I had a good feeling.

Usually, the brighter the light, the better the result.

And.

『Name: Seo Ye-jin (Lv. 35) [+]

Titles: [Tenth Vassal] [Knight] [Tamer]

Trust: 52 Loyalty: 33

Awakening Ability: Queen of Mice, Evolution

Experience Distribution: 0%

★Quest Assignment』

{Tamer}

Increases the stats of tamed creatures by (Loyalty)% and accelerates the growth rate of all tamed creatures by (Trust)%.

Evolution (A+ Grade)

Tamed subjects continue to grow.

When a certain level has been reached, subjects will evolve.

It was the birth of the Fourth Knight.

I asked Seo Ye-jin, who had tears and snot streaming down.

“Are there any tamed mice where your family is?”

Seo Ye-jin nodded urgently.

“Bring those mice to your family right away.”

“Okay.”

I said to her, who was kneeling on the entrance floor.

“Come inside. It’s cold out there.”

Seo Ye-jin followed me inside.

Sitting on the living room floor in a half-lotus position, Seo Ye-jin closed her eyes and concentrated.

‘Absolute Dweller’s Eyes.’

The moment I focused my sight on Seo Ye-jin.

‘I can see it.’

A mouse with short legs was running diligently through a narrow corridor.

『Tamed Mouse (Lv. 2)』

It was a success.

The moment Seo Ye-jin shared her senses with the running mouse, an area where the Absolute Dweller’s Eye could be used was created.

Before I knew it, the mouse appeared in front of people in a frenzy.

“It’s a mouse!”

“Isn’t that Ye-jin’s mouse?”

“Ye-jin! Where did you go?!”

In front of them who were looking a bit lost, I conjured items purchased from the shop.

Zzing―

“Wow!”

Starting with water and chocolate bars, it mainly consisted of simple items that could be eaten immediately, such as bread and milk.

At the same time.

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin’s trust has greatly increased.]

[Citizen Seo Ye-jin’s loyalty has greatly increased.]

‘As expected.’

It seemed that the Absolute Dweller’s Eyes could only be used on mice Seo Ye-jin shared her senses with.

But that was enough.

Her ability and the Absolute Dweller’s Eyes complemented each other too well.

In the future, tens of thousands of mice crawling through the sewers would become my eyes.

‘This is insane.’

I had acquired the ultimate reconnaissance unit.