As I left my solitary room, a dazzling light glared into my eyes, blinding me for a moment. It took a while for me to regain my vision, and a scene of office workers and students wandering the street bore into my eyes.
It was a sight I hadn't seen in a really long time. I had no opportunity to see such a sight during the vacation, when I was practically stuck at home and only went out when the sun had already set.
The sun shone brightly on the top of my head, warmth creeping up across my pale skin as I was basking in the sunlight. The smell of spring permeated the air, bringing liveliness and excitement.
I leisurely watched the busy street as I descended the stair. The lush greeneries and vibrant advertising board swam across my vision. My usually dull and grey world suddenly turned vivid and colorful like it was never before.
It wasn't simply because of the change in my body, but something more fundamental had been transformed deep inside me.
I now had a goal to pursue. My life had something resembling a 'purpose' that I had long been absenced with.
"Then, where are we going to go?"
To fulfil my newly acquired quest, I first had to be in contact with someone else. Meeting my family or acquintances would be the most reasonable choice, but…
Considering that the semester had yet started, it would be difficult to meet up with my acquaintances even if I went to the campus. On the other hand, I most likely would be met with empty house if I decided to go home as my parents would've gone to work and my sister might still be in the school.
It was a lie to say that I wasn't nervous. It was somewhat nerve-wracking to go outside full of outsider. Even now, my palm was soaked in cold sweat as the anxiety started creeping into my heart.
Even if I looked fine now, I was worried that I might look strange since I was stuck in the corner of the room for a while. I must admit that I was conscious of himself more than I thought.
I really wanted to turn around and go back to the safety of my cold, dark room, but my desire to complete his quest and meet with Ji-yeon again override my fear.
But, it turned out my worries somewhat unfounded as the people just passed by without paying me any attention.
I let out a sigh of relief and decided to walk slowly down the street and mulled over my option on the way.
While taking a stroll, I let my gaze wandered about, observing the hustling and bustling city.
There was a woman selling taiyaki in the still cold weather, and there were office workers and students running in a hurry. But what I cared about more than them was the women in their twenties who were in full swing and roaming the streets which most likely around the same ages or slightly older than me, a senior or in the last year in college.
'The level of difficulty is too high for me now.'
If you want to date someone older than you, you need to have a good way with words, certain degree of cuteness and playfulness, or thick wallet to spend on. To my dismay, I had neither of them.
If it wasn't the case, I had to spend quite a decent amount of time to mingle with them, diligently raising their favourability with a frequent interaction and flirting. Too much for a NEET like me, really.
'So, let's find someone younger or the same age.'
It would be nice if it was someone whom I could speak comfortably with and have many things in common..
I muttered that to himself, but no one came to mind. Well, it couldn't be helped. If there was such a person in the first place, I wouldn't have been stuck in the corner of the room.
After walking aimlessly down the street, my throat felt somewhat parched and needed some drink to quench my thirst. Something like Cola would be nice.
With that thought in mind, I went to a convenience store I frequently visited. The moment I entered, the sound of jingling and words overlapped at the same time.
"Welcome!"
"Hello."
It was a lively voice, so different from my low-pitched, gloomy voice. And then I realized that the girl in front of him was the girl I met every time I went to the convenience store.
'Doesn't she work on night shift?'
I bowed my head slightly and walked over to the beverage stand to pick up a coke. To appease my unsatiated hunger just now, I grabbed two triangular gimbap and put them on the counter.
While doing her calculation, for some reason the cashier girl kept throwing occasional glance at me. So, the moment I lifted my head, I met with her beautiful clear brown eyes as she spoke.
"Aren't you the regular who often come at night to buy things?"
"...yes?"
It was somewhat abrupt, so I couldn't help but ask back, to which she replied hastily in stammer.
"I-I think you looks very similar to the person who wears a hoodie every night to buy things. The atmosphere is a little bit different, but..."
Saying that, her gazes fixed at me with a somewhat concerned look in her eyes.
Come to think of it, whenever I came to buy her stuff, she kindly offered a greeting, and it seemed that she sometimes worried about me when she saw that the only thing I picked up were ready-to-eat meals or instant foods.
"Yes, that's indeed me."
"As expected! I thought I was wrong, so I feel a little bit ashamed."
I suddenly felt a great sense of incongruity.
I also had a part-time job, albeit briefly, but at that time, I just did the minimum necessary work and didn't seem to be interested in anything more. In comparison, this girl remembered and cared about each of her guests.
'Am I abnormal or is she overly kind?'
"How should I say it, the air around you are completely different from usual. It's really surprising that you visit in the morning."
When I saw the cashier girl smiling brightly, the words flowed subconsciously.
I scratched my head in embarrassment. "Ah… well. How to say it… It's like... I've got an opportunity to start over."
"It's good to start over." The girl replied with an amused expression. "If possible, stop eating instant food and cook yourself. You should take care yourself more."
"Yes. Thank you for your concern."
At my words, she said, "Then, these on me. Let's say it's a congratulatory gift," and scanned all of his order, then took money out of her pocket and put it in the register.
I was startled by her sudden behavior and tried to stop her, but she wouldn't even listen.
"It's okay, I'm getting a pretty good hourly wage. There are a lot of self-employed students around here, so the hourly wage is high. It's not a waste to spend a little money for a new start. Now, take it."
Seeing her winking while saying that, I fell into thought.
'We're not even that close, no we're not even an acquintance. Even if it's just 2,500 won, is it okay to accept such kindness?'
Thinking so, I thought for a moment before summoning up the courage I lacked.
"Then... I'll buy you a meal later."
At my words, she paused for a moment, then a warm smile bloom on her face as she nodded.
"Yeah, instead, buy me something much tastier than now."
"Sure."
We shared some giggled together before I bid goodbye to her and left the convenience store.
Not even a second passed, a series of notification popped up in his mind.
---
Tutorial quest (2) complete!
1500 p and 2 free stat points can be collected.
---
Tutorial Quest (3): Use Skill For The First Time
Description: You may look like an ordinary person now, but you're anything but ordinary. Use the power bestowed to you.
Condition: Use 'Hand of Eros'. The target must be a woman.
---
".... Well, shit."