Life with Mrs. Kim passes so slowly that Kei sometimes forgets that he is in a strange world.
In the morning, he helped her arrange goods in the store. At noon, he learned how to use the phone, bank cards and living rules that he had never heard of before. In the evening, the two of them sat down to eat and heard the TV sound coming from the living room.
It is a normal life that anyone should experience, but precisely because it is normal, Kei feels these moments are extremely precious.
He had never had such peaceful days in the old world. There were no alarm bells, no screaming monsters, no battles that lasted until the blood dried on the cloak.
There was only the smell of hot, delicious food, the sound of Mrs. Kim nagging him because he hadn’t arranged the goods neatly, and the beautiful rays of sunlight shining through the old window inside the large warehouse.
But there is one thing that makes Kei unable to rest assured. He has been in this world for more than a month, but the magic power in his body has not recovered.
At first, Kei thought he just needed time to adapt. Then he tried meditating, tried transporting magic power the old way, and even tried absorbing energy from items in the store.
But all of it had no effect, not even a drop of magic power appeared.
Kei sat outside the store, resting his chin on his hand, watching the people passing by. Cars drove on the road, electronic billboards lit up, hunters carrying weapons passed by with hasty expressions on their faces.
A world without elemental magic might be like this.
If this place really doesn’t exist, then will he never be able to use magic again?
How is an SSS rank magician who no longer has magical power any different from a normal person?
In this world, how long can a normal person survive in a Dungeon? Maybe you should just find a way to live like a normal person, you’re really useless now.
"Kei-nim, you’re dumbfounded again."
Hanna’s timid voice pulled Kei back to reality.
She stood next to him, holding a glass of water in both hands, occasionally looking into the store, where Ular and Lee Jae Ji were choosing some stat-boosting accessories on the shelves.
"Sorry. I was just thinking for a bit."
Kei smiled and said.
"Are you worried about something?"
Kei looked at her, then decided to ask what he had always been curious about.
"Hanna, how do hunters see their stats?"
Hanna was stunned for a moment, then she quickly explained to Kei one of the common sense things that everyone should know.
"After awakening, each person will see a personal dashboard. Only that person can see their dashboard, and they will not be able to see other people’s dashboards."
Hanna explained quite slowly, as if afraid that Kei wouldn’t understand.
"Equipment with stat-increasing properties will be recorded as soon as it is worn. For example, rings that increase strength, shoes that increase speed, or potions that restore energy. Those changes will also appear on the stat sheet."
"So the hunters all have their own system?"
Kei was startled.
"You could say that."
Hanna confirmed it with him.
Kei frowned slightly. This way of operating was completely different from the magic and alchemy of the old world, where index tables had never existed.
"If Kei-nim has time, you should go to the awakening center and try it out. Maybe you’ll awaken a powerful ability."
Kei burst out laughing, he asked Hanna again:
"Do you think I can become a hunter? Are you confident that I can awaken into a powerful hunter?"
Hanna smiled shyly.
"At least... we’ll know what you can do."
The next morning, Kei asked Mrs. Kim to take a day off to go to the awakening center of Dong-San city.
The awakening center is located in the downtown area of Dong-San. Outside the building, there were many people lined up, mostly young men anxiously waiting for their turn to see if they could become a strong hunter or not.
Kei went through the procedures and filled in his name on the registration form.
Kim Kei.
This is the name Mrs. Kim registered for him, making Kei truly feel his connection to this new world.
The staff checked the documents and then took Kei into a large room. In the middle of the room is a white stone nearly as tall as an adult.
"Please place your hand on the awakening stone."
Kei stepped forward, he placed his palm on the cold surface of the stone.
Then a small white light flashed.
Just like that, the atmosphere in the room was silent for a few seconds. Then, before Kei’s eyes, a transparent information panel appeared.
[Awakening completed.]
[Determining occupation and rank.]
[Kim Kei — F rank craftsman.]
The staff standing nearby quickly confirmed the results:
"Kim Kei, awakened to rank F."
The voice was calm, without any surprise. Because most awakened normal people just sit around evaluating E and F ranks.
Kei looked at the information board in front of him, but there wasn’t much fluctuation in his heart. He had been mentally preparing for this result for a long time.
At least, he learned that this world has another name for the ability he awakened in this world, which is Crafter.
Kei signed the confirmation form, received his temporary hunter card, and left the awakening center. When returning to the store, as soon as Mrs. Kim saw the paper in his hand, she immediately walked over to receive it and read it quickly.
"You awakened at F rank?"
Kei nodded.
Mrs. Kim patted him on the shoulder.
"It’s okay. If you practice your skills diligently, you will definitely become stronger in the future. The initial assessment does not determine the entire life of an awakened person."
"I’m okay, don’t worry."
Kei smiled and replied. Mrs. Kim looked at him for a long time. After confirming that Kei really didn’t care about this, she nodded and turned to leave.
In the evening, the two of them ate dinner as usual. Mrs. Kim continued to put food into the Kei bowl, while he just silently listened to her tell stories about the strange customers who had visited the store.
After dinner, Kei returned to his room. He locked the door, sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the dashboard.
Faint light appeared in the darkness.
[Kim Kei]
[Physical: F-]
[Strength: F-]
[Speed: F-]
[Dexterity: F+]
[Energy: 100/100 (F+)]
[Magic Power: 0/ Unmeasurable]
[Occupation: Craftsman rank F / Legendary Magician rank SSS(Currently sealed)]
Kei stared at the last line.
The legendary magician ranked SSS is still there, not completely gone, just sealed?
Kei reached out and touched the words on his profession as a magician. Immediately, another information window appeared.
[Legendary magician ranked SSS]
[Status: Sealed]
[Unlock condition: Magic recovery]
Kei was silent for a long time.
Turns out his powers don’t disappear. It just doesn’t have any magical power that can be used. The problem is how to restore magic power in a world where elemental magic does not exist?
Kei leaned back, his eyes gradually becoming serious.
If this world’s system can recognize the crafter profession, then maybe the items in the Dungeon also contain an energy that can replace magic power.
You need to learn them. The items he had seen in Mrs. Kim’s shop were quite interesting and worth researching, especially since Kei had a second career as a Craftsman.
Their principles may be different from alchemy in the old world, but the difference does not mean they cannot be researched.
Kei gently squeezed his hand.
Outside the window, Dong-San city was still lit. Somewhere in the night, the Dungeon gates are quietly opening, hunters are still diligently moving inside the Dungeons in search of money and power.
But Kei doesn’t know that, from today, the countdown to his peaceful life has begun.