I, Shinhwa Kim, am definitely a Korean born and raised in Korea.
However, if I am caught by the officials of the Immigration Office, I will be classified as an illegal alien.
The Republic of Korea in [Cthulhu World] provided the Immigration and Immigration Services with unrealistic authority and power in order to respond to surreal problems occurring inside and outside the country.
There is also the refugee problem in North Korea, and in the Cthulhu mythology, outsiders are sinister beings who bring disaster. And there is a further problem.
I frowned for a moment, but Tudor, who couldn't tell what kind of expression I was making because of the mask, continued talking happily.
"But you understand that this is all because I want to give you the best, right?"
"Well, that must be awkward."
"by the way… … self."
"huh?"
"How on earth did you make that photo?"
That picture? Oh, you mean this?
I looked at the photo on my ID card for a moment. At first glance, the image is blurry, as if it were an out-of-focus photo. But if you look closely again, you can see that the photo was taken correctly.
This is my fake face created using some illusion magic and other complicated techniques.
Not only was the position and size of the facial features precisely adjusted, but the color-coordinated clothing and background were arranged to induce visual hypnosis.
An overly ordinary face that looks like no one and no one else.
Because individuality was intentionally excluded as much as possible, it is impossible to recall the face in this photo in one's mind no matter how carefully one looks at the photo.
"Why is this?"
"If I could make something similar, I think there would be quite a few people who would want it… … ."
Oh, did you mean that?
It seems that Tudor realized what this photo meant.
"Because it's not easy to make… … Moreover, if it increases too much, the effectiveness decreases."
"Hmm, whatever. I just asked because it's a pretty interesting idea, so don't worry. "Hurry up and check your bank account."
At Tudor's urging, I opened my bank account and found that it contained exactly 50 million won.
[50,000,000]
"Do you have a lot of money?"
"The compensation for this job was 10 million won, and I added a little more as a bonus, making it exactly 5,000 won."
I asked to keep all the compensation for the issues resolved after Lee Chang-hyuk. It should have been exactly 4,500 won, but it looks like Tudor gave it a few million won more.
Considering the cash piled up in my room, I have now accumulated over 100 million won. After completing the next quest, it might be worth considering finding a place to live.
"And this."
What Tudor is offering is a smartphone.
It's the latest model with a large screen.
"Is there a problem solver like you who stays out of the house, only comes when it's convenient, takes requests, and then disappears? "I opened the account so that I can contact you whenever it's convenient, so answer my phone calls."
When I opened the screen, Tudor's contact information was saved.
"Umm… … Good. thank you."
"It's been a while since I heard you thank me? "Wow, that's an expensive mouth."
"Anyway, you're going to take care of me in earnest, right? Now, let's finish talking about what we were talking about earlier."
"that's right. "I will treat you well for the amount of money you invest, so be prepared."
* * *
In about a month, I had an ID card, a bank account, and a smartphone.
In Korea, you have secured the basic items generally needed to prove your identity.
"It's better if you have a job."
Not a problem solver or a wizard, but a job in the general, common sense world.
The more work you do as a troubleshooter in the future, the more money you will have to deal with.
In the short term, it may not be a big problem, but in the long term, there is a risk of being held back by tax audits and other types of issues.
When I played [Cthulhu World] simply as a game, that kind of unpleasant event never occurred... … In fact, most of the humans who make up this world live in the same way as reality.
I used my smartphone to access the internet. After a quick search, I was able to find gaming communities and huge wiki sites that I frequented in real life.
'The details have changed a bit... … .'
It's not quite the same, but the community is active anyway. Although there is no nutritional value, creative posts are posted on the humor bulletin board, and many people leave comments on the humor posts with their own slang and catchphrases.
It is not a problem that the details of reality and popular words are different. The important thing is that in [Cthulhu World], which I enjoyed as a game, there was no such community or useless humor bulletin board.
Would it be correct to say that it was not described accurately? In any case, the game only implements the parts necessary for gameplay.
But even here, people with different wills and thoughts move in their own ways. If you ignore realistic problems because you think it's just a game, you may run into unexpected problems.
And one more thing.
There are real problems that need to be solved.
"How much?"
"It's just a studio apartment. "To a place with cheap rent."
Transacting real estate while wearing a mask is not easy.
Therefore, the day after I received my ID, I visited a shabby real estate agency located on the outskirts of Geumchon through Tudor's introduction.
The owner of the establishment suddenly said, 'Cluck, click…' … .' or 'Giggles…' … .' She was an old woman with a suspicious appearance, so much so that it wouldn't be strange even if she smiled.
In fact, as it is a business for people whose identity is not clear, it is a business where transactions can be made even when there is no identification. However, the amount I have to pay varies several times depending on whether I have this ID card or not.
"There are a few nearby. "Do you want to see it?"
"If it's still possible, I'd like to see it and choose."
"Hmph, annoying… … ."
The main customers who visit this establishment seem to have signed contracts without even seeing the room. It's worth it. The place itself did not show any sense of trust or enthusiasm for providing services to customers.
The map clumsily attached to the wall depicts what Paju looked like 30 years ago, and the coating on the consultation table is so worn that the areas touched by customers' hands are dented and shiny black.
It was such a business, but fortunately the items it introduced were quite normal.
Without looking around for a long time, I signed a contract right after checking out a couple of places.
Although it was cramped, it was fully equipped, and best of all, it was within walking distance from Vasilisa.
Since there was no luggage to begin with, the move was easily completed with a round trip to the motel immediately after signing the contract.
Quiet and neat. It's not bad.
Although motels have refrigerators, there are also washing machines and even rice cookers in the sink for simple cooking.
I felt a little better. I especially like the fact that I can handle the cooking and laundry myself.
As soon as I unpacked, I thought I would do the overdue laundry, buy ingredients from outside, and cook.
To be precise, it means that I just thought about it.
Penalty characteristics attached to the body are not the kind of problem that can be easily overcome.
Due to the [lowered stamina] characteristic, I was already close to exhaustion by the time I unpacked all my luggage.
In the end, I skipped eating and doing laundry and went to bed.
"Okay… … ."
After all, lying down is best.
I thought for a moment that the bed springs were a bit too bouncy, but it was much better than the creaky motel beds.
I also like the white wallpaper plastered on the ceiling.
Just escaping from a motel plastered with crazy, brightly colored wallpaper is worth the move.
Now that I have given up eating and doing laundry, the remaining tasks can be done while lying down.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu... … .
I spread my arms wide towards the white ceiling, and magic circles of various shapes rose from my open arms.
These are colorful magic circles made in jagged shapes without uniformity that would be frightening to those who learned magic through the normal inheritance process.
There is no need to follow a standardized form designed according to symmetry, regularity, and traditional methods.
Instead of configuring it in the most primitive form, leaving only the core, it is calculated so that each magic circle can exert influence on each other, realizing an extremely efficient and free-wheeling effect.
In an instant, the interior of the studio was cut off from the outside.
Now, no one can look inside or enter without my permission. Of course, if they are above the level of an ordinary person, they can force their way in, but for such people, several security spells such as magical traps and alarms are installed.
This is enough. Anyway, I have no intention of staying in this ineffective, ordinary studio for a long time.
Among the residences in [Cthulhu World], there are special places that provide magical benefits just by owning or staying there.
Some of them even have huge buildings with underground dungeons where you can level up or farm.
Of course, to get to such a place, you have to become a higher level.
'Or you have so much money that you can ignore such things altogether.'
Anyway, not now.
"By the way, it was pretty good today."
I thought of an improvised skateboard to solve a race event with a biker gang. It was almost a last-minute idea, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.
[Cthulhu World] has magic to strengthen the body or objects. However, the number of enchantments that can be cast on a target is limited, and the more enchantments you cast, the greater the load on the target.
Therefore, if possible, aim for an indirect effect by attaching the magic circle to an object in your possession rather than directly on the body.
I don't think it's a bad idea to imbue the board with mobility-related magic to move things around. It's already very difficult to walk because of the [low stamina] debuff.
Wouldn't skateboarding be a good way to compensate for the physical limitations of being exhausted just by moving a little indoors?
'But there is no artifact in the form of a board... … .'
Should I cut down a suitable sacred tree or something and make it myself? All you have to do is attach wheels to a plank, right?
However, since dexterity is a function affected by dexterity, I was not confident in making it properly.
For now, let's just buy one or two suitable items, use them, and then throw them away. Anyway, as you level up, you can offset the decrease in stamina.
As I lie down and stare blankly, I slowly fall asleep.
"Shall I sleep for now?"
I'm tired.
Although it was only about a month, it was very busy.
Thanks to Tudor's care, I mainly did low-difficulty quests, but even those were not easy for my weak body, which was burdened with all kinds of penalties, to endure.
In this case, wouldn't it be better to adjust the schedule to increase rest time instead of increasing the difficulty of the quest? If nothing else, this method will grow faster.
'Well, I'll give you a full-fledged quest from now on... … . 'It'll be fine if you don't worry about this any more.'
I want to think more and plan more, but I'm too sleepy. I feel dizzy. I couldn't sleep well because of nightmares that continued every night for a month.
My eyes feel sore and my eyelids feel heavy. I eventually couldn't bear it anymore and closed my eyes.
I fall into sleep with the feeling of falling into deep darkness.
Let's take a nap for now… … .
Anyway, I will still wander through the nightmare presented by the being of the abyss today... … .