After purchasing the seeds, Joo-Hee felt a strange sense of relief, as if leaving the store would finally bring her clarity. The store had felt… off, yet she couldn't put her finger on why.
She quickly paid the cashier—510,000 won for the seeds—and grabbed her bag, eager to escape the odd tension in the air.
But just as she was about to step out of the store, she felt a gentle but firm hand grip her arm.
"Miss," the lady behind the counter said, her voice carrying a sweet, almost too-friendly tone. "Thanks for your purchase! Here's a little gift for first-time customers."
Joo-Hee glanced down at the woman's outstretched hand and took the small, neatly tied bag she offered. It felt oddly calming in her palm, as if the seeds inside were alive.
"These are the seeds of the Mindbloom Herb," the lady continued, her voice velvety and hypnotic. "It's said that when consumed, it can enhance one's insight, as claimed by those fortunate enough to cultivate it to full maturity."
Joo-Hee nodded, her gratitude sincere despite the lingering discomfort that wouldn't let her relax. "Thank you," she muttered, giving a tight smile. Her gaze briefly met the woman's, and for a fleeting moment, she saw something in the lady's eyes—something almost… predatory.
With a soft bow, the woman introduced herself, "I'm Park Maejin. Please don't hesitate to return when you need more seeds. I'll be here."
She turned away quickly, the nagging feeling that something wasn't right only growing stronger. As the door swung closed behind her, she stepped into the cool air, finally able to breathe more easily.
Once Joo-Hee had vanished from sight, the woman's smile twisted into something far darker. The warm, comforting atmosphere vanished with a wave of her hand, her appearance shifting as her attire morphed back into the familiar green witch robes.
The eerie aura in the room thickened, as she whispered to herself with a soft, cruel laugh.
"Unlock your sigil soon, little boy," she said, her voice cold and filled with malice. "Don't you dare run away. I'll be watching you, from that needle of mine..."
A wicked chuckle escaped her lips as she imagined the inevitable future unfolding.
...
As Joo-Hee made her way back to the association, a haze of confusion clung to her thoughts. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't piece together the events from inside that strange store. It felt like her memory was fragmented, pieces missing without explanation.
I'll deal with this later, she told herself, shaking her head. First, I just need to get back to the association and hope I haven't missed my number.
Stepping up to the building's entrance, a thought jolted her memory. Wait... that notification! She glanced around, then whispered, "Status," hoping it would appear.
_______________________
[The system upgrade is now in progress. Estimated time to completion: 24 hours. Temporary access restrictions are in effect.]
_______________________
With her mind finally clear, Joo-Hee was struck by a surprising realization: her system had the ability to upgrade. She'd always assumed it worked just like Jin-Woo's—unchanging, without specific ranks or levels.
But this notification suggested otherwise.
If my system needed an upgrade, it must have started as low-level, she thought, a mix of frustration and relief washing over her. Then, that would explain why it only responds occasionally... as if it's limited, unlike Jin-Woo's.
She sighed, the realization settling in. No wonder her system had always felt different—quirky, unpredictable, and, at times, annoyingly unresponsive.
The possibilities left her excited but cautious, and she quickly decided: she'd delay her dungeon run by a day just to see the results. It's better to wait until it's complete, just in case there's something crucial.
Inside the association, she hurried to the dungeon rental area. She spotted the current number display—1519—and sighed with relief, realizing she hadn't missed her turn.
Finally able to relax a little, she took a seat in the waiting area, her fingers absentmindedly reaching into her bag for the seeds she'd purchased.
One by one, she inspected each seed, trying to focus on their details.
...
After just 30 minutes, Joo-Hee's number was finally called. Finally, I can go home soon, she thought, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation.
She stood up and made her way to the counter, where she met the same woman who had previously directed her to the Hunter Assessment Area.
With a quiet nod, Joo-Hee handed over the form that had been stamped by the assessment officer to verify her qualification for solo diving in practice dungeons.
The woman took the form with a practiced hand, but as she looked at it, her eyes widened in disbelief. She adjusted her glasses, staring at the stamp as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
"Wait… you actually passed?!" she asked, her voice betraying her shock. She looked up at Joo-Hee, her expression transforming into one of genuine amazement. "Not many people actually complete that test successfully. Congratulations!"
Joo-Hee offered a small, appreciative smile, but inside, she was already thinking ahead. She didn't have time to linger over pleasantries—there was something she needed to do.
The lady, still clearly impressed, quickly retrieved a list of available dungeon gates for Joo-Hee. But Joo-Hee didn't even glance at it, her mind already made up.
"I would like to explore the Goblin's Hideout for two days, starting the two days after tomorrow, if that's possible," Joo-Hee said decisively, cutting to the chase.
The woman paused for just a moment, then nodded eagerly. She could tell that Joo-Hee was a hidden gem—a rising star.
The woman's mind raced as she processed the request, already thinking ahead about how to turn this opportunity into something beneficial for herself.
If I can make her a regular, she might be the key to my promotion, she thought, her smile widening. She definitely has great potential.
With that thought, she immediately sprang into action, preparing Joo-Hee's gate access. As she worked, her excitement growing as she pictured her own advancement within the association.
The woman handed Joo-Hee a tablet along with a bank card and fingerprint scanner, directing her to sign the invoice that appeared on the screen.
As Joo-Hee's eyes skimmed the numbers, her heart sank. The bill was a whopping 2 million won—1 million for the day's dungeon rental.
Her legs felt like they were about to give out under the pressure, but Joo-Hee gritted her teeth and forced herself to stay calm.
This is worth it. Yeah, worth it, she told herself, trying to push down the knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach. I'm sure of it... I guess.
Taking a deep breath, she signed the tablet and scanned both her bank card and fingerprint. She handed it all back to the lady, offering a smile with a tint of sorrow.
"Here," she said, her voice tinged with the weight of the decision.
In just a while, the woman processed the payment quickly, finishing with a smile and handing Joo-Hee the dungeon pass along with a business card. "Here you go. Everything's set," she said, her tone warm and professional.
"Instead of coming to the association every time, you can just give me a call directly to save you some time, Ms. Lee," she said with a warm smile, her tone both friendly and professional.
"I'm Yoo Minji, by the way. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."
Joo-Hee felt a wave of relief wash over her. Having a direct contact would certainly save her time and trouble, and she was grateful for the convenience.
"Thank you, Ms. Yoo. I really appreciate it," Joo-Hee replied, her voice a bit brighter.
Minji's smile grew even more satisfied, her eyes gleaming with a knowing look.
"Goodbye, Ms. Joo-Hee," Minji said with a nod, watching as the young woman left the counter and headed toward the exit.
Joo-Hee's steps were lighter now, the weight of her earlier anxiety temporarily lifted. She waved a final goodbye to Minji and headed home, her thoughts already shifting to the system upgrade—and the restrictive quest waiting for her.