[Ding! There are two ways for the Host to return to Earth: to help the Hero kill the Demon King or die in the world of Numen.]
There's a Hero? There's a Demon King? There are televisions to watch the news, but there's also a Demon King; This feels like a mashed-up RPG with the real world.
[Ding! The system would like to notify the Host that the world of Numen is real, but it's a dangerous subworld. If the Demon King is not defeated, it could affect the Host's previous world.]
Yes, the Demon King is coming out of the manhwa I was about to read and destroy the planet. "Amazing!"
The other way is to… die. Right?
[Ding! Correct.]
So I have to find some painless way to kill myself. It isn't too hard. I guess it's a bit difficult to find guns to shoot myself in the head, but I think I can manage.
I tried thinking of the most logical way to commit seppuku and decided that any local hardware store, in any world, should have means of killing myself. Using whatever is left of A Chul's memory, I "remembered" the location of the nearest hardware store, and set out on my first and hopefully the last quest in this world.
I arrived at the hardware store with a backpack, a bottle of water, some cash, and the room keys. When I say keys, I mean cards: they're cards that you can scan against the door handle (like a hotel card).
I overestimated myself and underestimated A Chul's bank account. There's barely enough to buy anything!
I wandered around the hardware store for what felt like 20 minutes until I finally arrived at the section for ropes.
Why do they have sections for ropes?
Let's see: made from Desert Hay- nope. Moonbask Seaweed- nope. Fire Mantis's antennas- that's gross, but 92 thousand? The fur of Night Wolves- 230 thousand. Silver Viper's broken shed- 431 thousand. Why are the prices getting more expensive? Let me peek at the last one- Manticore's Hair, geez! Three billion! Why is this here? Aren't those monsters with a human's face, a lion's body, and a scorpion's tail?
[Ding! The Manticores¹ are rare B-rank nimble magic beasts specializing in mental magic, poison, and close combat. They have the face of a human, the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon, and the tail of a scorpion. Manticores are found in mountain ranges and forests with heavy fog. Rumor states that Manticores were dead Gifted betrayed by their teammates, and they came back as magic beasts to take their revenge. Their weaknesses are their eyes, the roots of their tail, and the behind; Art element disadvantages are fire, earth, and ice.] A/N: Gifted are a way to call people who own Skills
Behind?
[Ding! Reply to the Host, the Manticore's an*s.]
I shouldn't have asked...
After looking at all of their prices, I think the Desert Hay doesn't look bad. Is it made out of Desert Hay?
[Ding! The Host can use Appraisal to verify.]
Sure, Appraisal that rope.
[Appraisal: Desert Hay rope]
What do you know, it's a Desert Hay rope. What a "surprise!"
Alright, enough with sarcasm. I still don't know what a Desert Hay is.
[Ding! Desert Hay is dried up Desert Grass.]
Okay, "useful" system. What is Desert Grass?
[Ding! Desert Grass are common plants that can survive with small amounts of water and from the temperature of -20°C to 60°C. Desert Grass is commonly found in deserts. They are a common source of nutrition for many herbivore magic beasts with fire mana crystals.]
The system told me about two living things, but I didn't understand small parts of the information. Let's narrow down to the information I need to know: can this rope hold on to my weight?
[Ding! The rope made out of Desert Hay can hold an estimated weight of 124.22 kilograms. The Host is at a weight of 53.43 kilograms and a height of 167.62 centimeters.]
Just being curious- how much is 167.62 centimeters in feet?
[Ding! 167.62 centimeters is 5.49 feet, under the equivalent of 5 feet and 6 inches, 167.64 centimeters.]
So my 5 feet 11 height is gone. There's no time to be depressed: the rope can hold my weight. Where are the pruning scissors?
[Ding! If the Host turns left at a 92.1° angle, walks straight for 32.36 meters, turns right at a 90° angle, walks straight for 13.24 meters, and turns right at a 90° angle, the Host will arrive at the section on gardening scissors.]
The system has a GPS. Why didn't it tell me earlier when I searched for the rope?
[Ding! The Host did not ask where the ropes were.]
Screw you!
[Ding! The system does not have a physical body, and sexual activity is incompatible, but the system is grateful for the Host's enthusiasm.]
I can feel my eyes twitch. This system is unbelievable.
[Ding! The system thanks the Host for the compliment.]
It wasn't a compliment! You dumb*ss!
[Ding! Should the system remove "unbelievable" from the list of compliments?]
You're unbelievably troublesome.
[Ding! The system asks the Host for suggestions to improve itself for future Hosts.]
Huh? What do you mean by future Hosts? Was there one before me-
Before I could finish "talking" to the system, a feminine voice echoed, "The store will close in ten minutes: all customers, please head towards the cash registers."
Ah! Shoot! I need to get the scissors!
• • • • • • • • • • (P.O.V. change)
Ha Hyo was working near the cash register. Although life is a bit difficult as an Un-Gifted, she can still find ways to satisfy herself for being unable to achieve her dream. Ha Hyo decided to treat herself by going to a 24-hour fast-food restaurant.
Although working four part-time jobs is challenging, by maintaining how much she spends every day, Ha Hyo could become independent and move far away from her overprotective parents. After today's hard work, she'll receive her paycheck for the week!
After encouraging herself, she noticed a patch of green standing out. Green hair? A teenager was dazed by something above her head. "Good evening!" She greeted the young man and thought how the teen was probably the same age as her.
After coming back to reality, the teen tossed a rope and a pair of pruning scissors without greeting back.
Ha Hyo can tell this man is unsociable. Such a friendly face with an unfriendly personality is conflicting, but the item combination raised some questions.
'He's not going to rock climb with a pair of gardening scissors-' Ha Hyo's mind begins to wonder, 'No way! Is he going to kidnap someone? However, the victim can scream and shout-' She glimpsed at the silver bracelet on the teenager's wrist.
'He's a Gifted from 'TREE'! He must have a Skill to silence someone!'
Absent-mindedly, Ha Hyo scanned the two items, but she stood there silently for over a minute.
The young man was opening his mouth to speak, but before a sound could come out of his mouth, Ha Hyo shouted, "K-Kidnapping is bad!"
Everyone around her stopped moving, a pen dropping could be heard.
"Isn't that illegal? Or are the laws different in this world?" The young man mumbled to himself.
Ha Hyo realized that she made a mistake. She quickly apologizes, "I'm sorry, it's 63,483.98 won."
A few minutes later, Ha Hyo decided to call law enforcement since the teenager bought the two items with cash.
— — — — — — — — — —
1 - E/N: According to the DnD 5th edition Monster Manual, the Manticore is a lawful evil Large monstrosity. it can understand human speech and is a challenge level 3 monster. boasting a massive 50ft flying movement range, and a 17 strength and constitution stat. They are quite hard to kill. However, they have rather low intelligence and charisma, and players may try to take advantage of that.
A regular manticore has 24 tail spikes, which can shoot out up to 200ft. These spikes grow back, but not instantly, limiting the monster to medium-ranged attacks. In addition to tail spikes, the manticore also uses its claws and mouth to attack.
Manticores hunt prey in packs, attacking with tail spikes first and then coming in close to finish the prey. When outnumbered, they will take to the air and shoot spikes in order to retreat. Manticores are hunters first and foremost but are not unreasonable. If there is an advantage to be gained from sparing its prey, the manticore will do so, asking for a sacrifice in return.
Being intelligent creatures, manticores often work with other monsters who provide them with regular prey. They might provide aerial support for a goblin army, act as guards for trolls, or hunting companions for giants.
They have many enemies and competitors, including chimeras, griffons, perytons, and wyverns. However, while manticores are weaker creatures, their pack-hunting tactics often put them at the top of territorial rule. The one creature they will always fear is dragons, and they will avoid them at all costs. A/N: Just stop
E/N: Ha Hyo is the best girl!