NOVEL WEB Chapter 2: The Absolute Dweller (2)
[Episode 01] The Absolute Dweller (2)
Slurp―
The freshly boiled, chewy noodles eagerly slid into my mouth.
Perhaps due to using less water, the intense flavor of the ramen broth stimulated my taste buds.
Adding a half-cooked egg yolk into my mouth created a perfect harmony.
After finishing the noodles, I generously poured the remaining broth over a bowl of rice and ate it together.
“Ah.”
With ramen and rice combined, it felt like my stomach was about to burst.
“Hmm.”
‘Did I eat too well…’
Having filled my stomach, I soaked the dishes in water for washing and returned to the area near the living room window.
[The Absolute Dweller cannot leave the dwelling space.]
‘Still impossible.’
I checked, just in case, but it was as I expected.
‘Although the skill level has increased, I still can’t go outside.’
However, it wasn’t entirely without hope.
‘I see a possibility.’
The fact that hunting monsters increases the skill level was a glimmer of hope.
As the skill level increased, new skills with additional functionalities emerged.
‘I might gain a skill that allows me to go outside as the level goes up.’
So, my current goal was clear.
‘Hunt monsters to level up the skill.’
However, there was a significant issue with this plan.
‘But how can I hunt monsters if I can’t go outside?’
To level up, I needed to hunt monsters, and unfortunately, they were all roaming outside.
As someone confined to the dwelling space, my options for hunting monsters were extremely limited.
‘It’s not like I can rely on luck like just now.’
Catching the monster bird named Kellican was entirely due to good fortune. Being able to stun it thanks to the Absolute Dweller’s Declaration skill and seizing the opportunity to finish off the goblins that attacked was also quite lucky.
It was unlikely for such fortunate events to occur again.
‘Goblins might be manageable.’
There wasn’t a particularly impressive strategy.
[The Absolute Dweller cannot leave the dwelling space.]
As you can see, if I reached out just beyond the living room window, an invisible barrier prevented me.
However, this only pushed ‘me’ away.
I threw the crumpled tissue that I held in one hand out.
The tissue passed emptily next to where my hand was touching, falling outside.
‘Alright, it works.’
Fortunately, this place was the top floor of the apartment, the 30th floor.
Moreover, perhaps because the Kellican’s remaining carcass was quite heavy, the goblins were still unable to deal with it even now.
The Kellican’s corpse played the role of a perfect lure.
If it was a reasonably heavy object, it could serve as a weapon, and if I aimed well, I could probably dispatch the goblins with one blow.
‘With this, it should be enough.’
3kg dumbbell.
It was an item that my mom personally bought, suggesting that I do some exercise.
Of course, I used it only a handful of times.
It’s a bit ambiguous to say I used it when I’ve only lifted it a few times.
But who would have thought it would be used like this?
‘Thank you, Mom.’
The problem was the number of dumbbells.
‘Just two…’
Even if I did well, catching only two goblins was the limit.
‘Can I do it?’
As I pondered while holding the dumbbell, I saw goblins carrying the Kellican’s remaining corpse.
There were more goblins than before clinging to the Kellican’s body.
Despite their whining, the Kellican’s corpse was slowly moving.
‘Oh no.’
The goblins were leaving.
‘I can’t miss this opportunity!’
I had observed them for the past few days, but seeing this many goblins gathered was a first.
It was all thanks to the Kellican’s corpse.
‘Take this!’
Swish!
I threw the dumbbell out of the window at a terrifying speed.
And…
Thunk!
“Keak!”
“Kek!”
From where the dumbbell hit, there was a gruesome sound of bones shattering, and blood sprayed.
‘…I messed up.’
However, the dumbbell didn’t hit the goblin’s head.
It landed where the Kellican’s head used to be.
‘It’s down to just one now.’
It was despair.
Sure, there were still items like the computer and TV that I could use to catch goblins.
But using them just to catch goblins seemed too wasteful.
Rationally, I knew these were unnecessary items.
But…
‘How much are these worth…’
This was in the realm of sentiment.
Maybe I wasn’t that desperate yet.
‘But I don’t think I can throw the TV or computer body with my strength.’
At best, I could push them out of the window, but that alone wouldn’t reach where the goblins were.
‘This is just right.’
In reality, the dumbbell didn’t fly far from where the goblins were.
It missed, but…
‘Is there anything else?’
I prayed inside the house, scouring every corner with the hope of finding a dumbbell, but none appeared. Well, even if I were my mom, I wouldn’t have bought a dumbbell for someone like me who didn’t use it even once. There’s no point in buying something I won’t use. It’s just wasting money.
‘Did those goblins really leave during this time?’
I peeked out the living room window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the goblins’ situation. However, I made eye contact with the goblins. ‘Darn!’ On top of the Kellican’s head, a goblin held the dumbbell I threw, pointing it towards my location and making gestures with its fingers.
“Keck!”
“Keaeek!”
The goblins began to rave, pointing at me. It seemed like they had noticed that I was the one who threw the dumbbell. They abandoned the Kellican’s corpse and rushed towards the inside of my apartment.
‘Are they coming up?’
The lower floors of the apartment had already been overrun by the goblins. Judging from the fact that they were dragging the Kellican’s corpse into the apartment, it seemed like they had turned the lower floors into their nest.
“Keaeek! Kyaak!”
“Kegegegek!”
As evidence, dozens of goblins poured out from there and started screaming towards the high-rise where I was.
There were many more goblins gathered much closer than before.
‘Should I throw the TV? I might be able to kill several at once now. Once the new skill feature is unlocked… Huh?’
Suddenly, I remembered one crucial fact.
“Ah!”
Amidst the chaos when electricity and gas were restored, I had overlooked one skill I hadn’t checked yet.
The Absolute Dweller’s Shop Level 1
- You can purchase registered items at the regular price.
The shop skill opened along with the dignity maintenance skill.
“Open Shop.”
As soon as I uttered the command, a new window appeared before my eyes.
【The Absolute Dweller’s Shop】
(Please register items.)
ᚠCurrent Balance: 2,203,239 won
▶ Register Item
‘Looking at the current balance, it seems to be linked with the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet skill.’
As there were no registered items yet, the screen was empty. Holding the dumbbell in one hand, I approached the shop window and said, “Register item.”
[Would you like to register this item?]
“Sure.”
At that moment, light emitted from the shop window, scanning the dumbbell I was holding.
[Registration of Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg is complete.]
Simultaneously, a familiar image of the dumbbell appeared in the shop window, along with a new item.
【The Absolute Dweller’s Shop】
Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg (16,990 won)
ᚠCurrent Balance: 2,203,239 won
▶ Register Item
‘The price matches what I paid at Coupang.’
It seemed that the market value remained the same as before the world collapsed.
‘I bought two sets from Coupang.’
The image in the shop window showed two dumbbells intersecting each other.
“Purchase Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell.”
[Are you sure you want to purchase?]
[Yes / No]
“Yes.”
The moment I confirmed the purchase.
Ching!
With the sound of coins jingling, the shop window began to emit light towards the living room floor.
Zing!
Two identical dumbbells appeared there, mirroring the one I was holding.
‘Perfect!’
Carefully placing the dumbbell I held on the floor, I picked up the newly created one.
‘Good weight.’
The texture and weight in my hand were exactly the same as the original.
‘Great.’
Without hesitation, I threw it out the window.
And…
Thunk!
[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 7).]
[You have gained experience.]
[3,345 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.]
“Yes!”
‘Perhaps due to the goblins being crowded right below, I was able to hit them all at once.’
“Keaaak!”
“Kekkek!”
“Kaaaack!”
With goblins dead below, chaos ensued. I threw the dumbbell once more towards the creatures.
This time, as soon as the dumbbell was seen, goblins scattered in all directions.
Kwaaaang!
Thanks to that, the dumbbell hit the ground, creating a loud noise.
“Good.”
Even though it missed, there was no need for regret.
“Purchased three sets of Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell.”
Ziiiiing!
Now that I could easily obtain dumbbells, I threw one again.
Swish! Thud!
[Hunted a Goblin (Lv. 6).]
[You have gained experience.]
[2,512 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.]
That’s when I succeeded in hunting two more goblins.
[Skill level has increased.]
[Learned a new skill.]
‘Nice!’
I was a bit worried about goblin levels, but I leveled up faster than expected.
‘Maybe it’s thanks to the experience from defeating the Kellican.’
The Kellican’s level was an impressive 23. If the experience gained from defeating it was sufficient until just before leveling up, this progress was quite possible.
I immediately checked the newly acquired skill.
The Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse Lv. 1
A space where items can be stored.
Just looking at the skill name, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
‘Another storage skill this time.’
Without looking further into what kind of skill it was, the description alone conveyed its nature.
“Warehouse open.”
Ding!
With a cheerful notification sound, a window similar to the shop appeared.
I conveniently placed one of the remaining dumbbells there.
[Would you like to store this item in the warehouse?]
“Yeah.”
Ziiiiing!
The light pouring out from the store window, similar to the one from the shop window, showered down towards the dumbbell, and the weight of the dumbbell in my hand faded away as if it were an illusion.
【The Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse】
Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg (1)
Confirming that the dumbbell had entered the warehouse, I opened my mouth while looking at the empty space.
“Summon dumbbell.”
Jiiiiing!
The light emanating from the warehouse, as if it knew, directed itself towards the empty space I was staring at, and soon, the dumbbell appeared from there.
Tuck!
Having caught the dumbbell that appeared in the empty space, I smiled with a sense of accomplishment.
“It works.”
I could summon items from the warehouse to any place I desired.
“If that’s the case.”
After storing the dumbbell in the warehouse once again, I approached the living room window. Then, reaching out through the window, I spoke while observing the goblins crowded below.
[The Absolute Dweller cannot leave the dwelling space.]
Confirming the appearance of the notification window, blocked by the transparent wall, I carefully observed the location of the goblins gathered below.
And, aiming at the empty space about 3m beyond the transparent wall, I said:
“Dumbbell summon.”
Jiiiiing!
Light from the warehouse accurately shot towards the location I wanted, and a dumbbell appeared in the empty space.
The dumbbell that appeared in the empty space rapidly fell due to gravity.
Kwajik!
With the dumbbell hitting the head of a goblin, a cheerful notification sound accompanied by system messages appeared.
[Goblin (Lv. 6) has been hunted.]
[You have gained experience.]
[2,733 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s wallet.]