"Oh my, you're back again, young man? Steel-Fanged Wolves this time? You should take it a little easier. How did you already manage to hunt D-Rank monsters? Last time, you brought in Orcs."
"Haha, I got lucky."
"All right. I won't ask any more than that. If you're going to deal in monster materials, you've got to know how to keep your mouth shut. Check your bank account. The money should already be there."
Exactly 1.53 million won had been deposited.
I had not gone straight home after defeating the Hidden Monster.
I had visited several more F-Rank Gates and collected every monster byproduct I could.
It might have seemed like I had earned surprisingly little, but that was only natural.
I had invested most of it in Mana Stones and Spirit Stones.
'Why the hell does even the cheapest Spirit Stone cost more than ten million won?'
The 19.02 million won I had earned today disappeared in an instant.
It was disappointing, but I had no regrets.
The amount I earned each day was already increasing.
An investment like this was only natural.
"Have a good day."
"All right. Come again."
I still had plenty of money left.
I decided to buy groceries before going home.
If I earned money, I might as well spend some of it.
Besides, thanks to that pig, there were hardly any ingredients left at home.
Eating delivery food for every meal was not exactly ideal either.
-Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) says he'll choose the delicious food himself!]
[Fire(EX) says the Contractor has absolutely no eye for food!]
"What do you mean, I have no eye for food? This is what people eat. None of it was made for Spirits."
What a picky little bastard.
I was about to ignore him, but he had worked hard today, so I decided to let him have his way.
If he wanted something, I could at least indulge him that much as his Contractor.
Besides—
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) charges toward an appetizing orange fruit!]
"Hey! It's for sale. You can't just touch whatever you want!"
If I refused to buy what he wanted, he looked liable to cause trouble.
Serious trouble.
"What do you want to eat?"
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) asks you to buy fruit, vegetables, and fresh beef!]
"You certainly have expensive tastes."
I chose organic products whenever possible.
By the time I finished putting everything he wanted into the cart, it was completely full.
The total price surpassed anything I had imagined.
"That'll be 1,244,000 won. How would you like to pay?"
"...By card."
"Please insert it there."
So what if food expenses were high?
If our Fire liked it, I had to provide it.
At least indulging him proved worthwhile.
He complained far less often about being uncomfortable inside my clothes.
That alone was enough to satisfy me.
I returned home with both hands full of groceries.
First, dinner.
It was already evening.
I had barely eaten lunch while running from Gate to Gate, so I was starving.
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) asks you to give him some too!]
This bastard too.
"You ate Mana Stones on the way here and stuffed yourself at the sample stands. You're still hungry?"
-Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) says those were merely snacks!]
[Fire(EX) thumps his chest and asks why you're questioning something so obvious, as though he were some amateur!]
He really did digest everything he ate with astonishing efficiency.
I prepared plenty for Fire as well.
We had eaten chicken yesterday and Spam this morning, so I decided to make something fresher for dinner.
"Spicy pork lettuce wraps!"
-Waaah?
[Fire(EX) asks whether meat coated in seasoning really counts as fresh.]
"There are vegetables, and the meat was butchered recently. Of course it's fresh! So, are you saying you don't want any?"
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) asks you to make him a wrap!]
I placed some well-stir-fried spicy pork, rice, and a piece of garlic generously coated with ssamjang onto a lettuce leaf.
Then I wrapped it all up and placed it in Fire's mouth.
His eyes immediately sparkled.
-Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) asks you to make more wraps!]
[Fire(EX) says there is no more perfect combination in the world!]
"Right? Chicken, jokbal, and beef are all great, but when it comes down to it, spicy pork is the best."
After we finished eating, we even had fruit for dessert.
Thanks to Fire, a man living alone like me was actually eating expensive fruit.
With my stomach comfortably full—
"Time to check the rewards."
I started with the Item that had dropped from the Hidden Monster.
"Lucky Charm?"
Even the name sounded special.
Luck?
"It doesn't improve a physical attribute like strength or stamina. If it improves luck, isn't that practically one of the best effects you can get?"
-You are correct, Human. Luck can even make the impossible possible, so Items related to it are traded at extremely high prices among Humans.
"That's insane!"
What Clone said next excited me even more.
-Their prices generally start in the hundreds of millions of won. The expensive ones can reach several billion.
"I was only trying to unlock the Spirit Shelter, and I ended up getting this lucky?!"
Fire might complain all the time, but he was practically a walking blessing.
He had even helped me obtain an Item this valuable.
When I checked the description, it was exactly as expected.
<Lucky Charm(C-)>
Description: Simply carrying it slightly increases the probability of fortunate events occurring.
If I sold it, I could move out of this studio apartment immediately.
I could probably even rent a nice officetel in Seoul.
-Are you going to sell it?
"No. You said Items that increase luck are rare, right? Why would I sell something that valuable? I'm keeping it and using it for as long as possible. The long-term benefit is greater than the immediate profit."
-A wise decision, Human.
Using it was simple.
The moment I attached it directly to my skin, the yellow charm turned transparent on its own.
It did not feel uncomfortable either.
It did not shift when I moved, and there was no problem when I washed.
In other words, I did not have to constantly remove and reattach it.
"It should be working, right? Since it's luck, I can't exactly tell."
-Its true value will reveal itself gradually, so there is no need to worry, Human.
"That's good, then. Next..."
It was time for the Spirit Shelter.
Defeating the Hidden Monster had naturally completed the unlocking condition.
[You have successfully defeated the Hidden Monster, Mighty Troll!]
[Spirit Shelter has been unlocked!]
[One ability from the defeated Hidden Monster, Mighty Troll, will be transplanted into the newly unlocked Spirit Shelter!]
[Exceptional Regeneration(D+) Lv. 1]
<Exceptional Regeneration(D+) Lv. 1>
Description: Slightly restores Mana, energy, and stamina.
<Fire(EX)'s Spirit Shelter>
❰Possessed Buff: Exceptional Regeneration(D+) Lv. 1❱
❰Possessed Furniture: None❱
❰Floor Area: 1 pyeong❱
……Exceptional Regeneration(D+) Lv. 1 can level up upon reaching 10,000 Hunger
……A new buff can be acquired by defeating a Hidden Monster
……A Warm Bed can be crafted after acquiring Burning Stonewood (0/10) and Blazing Cotton (0/5) (Requires a Floor Area of at least 5 pyeong)
……Floor Area can be increased by 1 pyeong after acquiring Burning Stonewood (0/30)
"There's a lot here."
I slowly examined everything.
Buffs, furniture, and floor area.
Those seemed to be the main functions.
"Wow! Hunger is required here too? I thought unlocking the Spirit Shelter was supposed to make it easier to obtain Mana Stones and Spirit Stones."
-Human, all of the functions I mentioned only become available after the Spirit Shelter has been sufficiently enhanced and developed.
"I guess that's only natural since it's still at the beginning. But what are the furniture and floor area for?"
-They can improve a Spirit's recovery and comfort while providing minor buffs. Later, as I mentioned, they can also provide Mana Stones and Spirit Stones and improve skill grades.
So, in other words—
"I need to gather Mana Stones, Spirit Stones, and construction materials too?"
-One fortunate aspect is that crafting will happen automatically as long as you bring the required materials. However, unlike with the Hidden Monster, I will not tell you where those materials can be found.
"Right. What wonderful news. Thaaanks for telling me."
-Thank you for the compliment.
Fire was not the only one who could enter the Spirit Shelter.
I could enter as well, as long as Fire gave permission.
[The Spirit Shelter opens!]
[Fire(EX) has granted permission to enter the Spirit Shelter!]
A red portal appeared in midair, far smaller than an ordinary Gate.
Since Fire kept complaining about how uncomfortable it was inside my clothes, I could let him stay here whenever we traveled.
There was only one problem.
"It's pretty damn small."
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) demands to know why his shelter is a prison just like the Contractor's home!]
"It's not a prison. I'll make it bigger soon. It's still better than being stuffed inside my clothes, isn't it?"
I barely managed to negotiate with him.
One pyeong really was a bit much.
It was already late today, so I would go looking for materials tomorrow.
"But how do I obtain the materials?"
-They can be harvested from Gates and Towers. As for other methods and which Gates contain them, you will have to discover that yourself, Human.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it."
The Spirit Shelter might have been small, but its effects were undeniable.
Fire had been exhausted after defeating the Hidden Monster and clearing multiple Gates.
Yet—
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) says that although it is cramped, he can rest very well inside!]
He became energetic again in no time.
And that was not all.
It affected me as well.
I had only stuck my head inside, yet my fatigue rapidly disappeared.
-Waaah!
[Fire(EX) tells you to get your huge head out immediately!]
"Fine. The Spirit Shelter is surprisingly spacious for one pyeong. There's no height restriction at all."
If I kept developing it, it would certainly prove worth the effort.
That was enough for today.
I was about to rest when another System message appeared.
[The One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon has been unlocked!]
"Huh? One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon? Ah!"
Only then did I remember.
-It is a one-time Dungeon where large quantities of Mana Stones can be acquired. It unlocks twelve hours after clearing the 3rd Floor.
"Fast as always, Clone. Thanks. This is why I climb the Tower."
-You're welcome. Please note that monsters can respawn indefinitely for one hour.
It was the One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon event.
Even though most of the Mana Stones were low-ranked, they dropped at a much higher rate than in the Trial Tower.
That was why people normally prepared thoroughly before attempting it.
Usually, they waited until they had climbed farther up the Trial Tower.
But—
"I'm going right now. Time to earn your food. You're fully rested, right?"
-Waaah! Waaah!
[Fire(EX) repeatedly shouts that there is no problem!]
The Spirit Shelter's effects were excellent.
Entering the Dungeon worked the same way as entering the Trial Tower.
[Would you like to enter the One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes!"
My vision darkened before gradually returning from the center.
A grassy field stretched before me, a completely unobstructed plain.
Pure-white rabbits with red eyes hopped around across it.
[You have arrived at the One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon.]
[Defeat 20 Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits.]
[An event will begin immediately after 20 Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits are defeated!]
[Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbit: 0/20]
There was nothing more to think about.
Start immediately!
[Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Hellfire(EX),' activates.]
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!
ROOOOAR!
Twenty Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits were reduced to ashes in an instant.
Then the event began.
[An event has begun!]
[Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits will respawn immediately whenever 20 are defeated!]
There was no need to fire another attack the moment they reappeared.
The aftermath of Hellfire was still lingering.
[20 Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits have been defeated!]
[20 Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits respawn!]
[20 Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits have been defeated!]
[20 Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbits respawn!]
…….
…….
Only after the message appeared five times did the lingering flames finally stop killing them.
At that point, Fire used Hellfire again.
We repeated the process for an entire hour.
Since Fire could use his skills while inside the Spirit Shelter, his recovery was nearly endless.
Exactly one hour later, the event ended.
[You have cleared the One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon!]
[Red-Eyed Snow-White Rabbit: 6,000/20]
[You have succeeded in overwhelmingly clearing the One-Time Mana Stone Dungeon!]
[Lowest-Rank Mana Stone(F) × 705 acquired!]
[Low-Rank Mana Stone(E) × 454 acquired!]
[Lower-Intermediate-Rank Mana Stone(D) × 150 acquired!]
[Intermediate-Rank Mana Stone(C) × 83 acquired!]
[Upper-Intermediate-Rank Mana Stone(B) × 1 acquired!]
The flood of Mana Stones sent a rush of dopamine straight through me.