The Absolute Ruler of the House (2)
Slurp―
The freshly cooked, firm noodles were sucked into my mouth with vigor.
Since I had used less water, the intense flavor of the ramen broth strongly stimulated my tongue.
When I placed the half-cooked egg yolk in my mouth, it was a perfect harmony.
After finishing off the noodles, I mixed a generous portion of freshly cooked rice into the remaining broth and ate it.
"Phew."
With ramen and rice filling my stomach, I felt like I was going to burst.
"Hm."
Just a moment ago, I had been on the verge of tears, worried about my parents. But now, watching myself devour food so mindlessly, I couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.
'Did I eat too much…?'
With my stomach full, I soaked the dirty dishes in water and moved back near the living room window.
[The Absolute Ruler of the House cannot leave the house.]
'As expected, I can't.'
I had hoped, but it was still the same.
'Even though my skill level has increased, I still can't leave.'
But it wasn't entirely hopeless.
'I saw a possibility.'
Killing monsters raised my skill level.
And as my skill level increased, new abilities emerged.
'If I keep leveling up, I might gain a skill that lets me go outside.'
That meant my goal was clear.
'I need to hunt monsters to level up my skill.'
But there was one huge problem with that.
'How am I supposed to hunt monsters if I can't go outside?'
To level up, I had to hunt monsters. But all the monsters were roaming outside.
Since I was stuck inside, my options for hunting were extremely limited.
'I can't just hope for another stroke of luck like before.'
Being able to kill that monstrous bird, the Kelikan, was pure luck.
The fact that I could knock it out with my "Home Declaration" skill, and that the goblins finished it off after it fell—everything had been a fortunate coincidence.
There was no way such a convenient situation would happen again.
'But maybe… goblins are doable.'
It wasn't anything complicated.
[The Absolute Ruler of the House cannot leave the house.]
As you can see, if I reached out just a little past the living room window, an invisible wall would block me.
But that wall only repelled me.
I picked up a crumpled tissue in one hand and threw it outside.
The tissue easily passed the spot where my hand had been stopped and fell outside.
'Good, this works.'
I was on the 30th floor of an apartment building.
And since Kelikan's corpse was too heavy, the goblins still hadn't managed to move it even after all this time.
Kelikan's body was serving as the perfect bait.
If I used something heavy enough, it could become a deadly weapon. As long as I hit them on the head, I could take down a goblin in one hit.
'This should work.'
A 3kg dumbbell.
My mom had bought it, suggesting I should exercise a little.
Of course, I had only used it a handful of times.
In fact, I had barely touched it at all.
And now, here I was, about to use it like this.
'Thank you, Mom.'
The problem was the number of dumbbells.
'I only have two…'
At best, I could only take down two goblins.
'Can I do this?'
As I hesitated with the dumbbell in hand, I saw the goblins still struggling to move Kelikan's corpse.
More of them had gathered around.
Despite their efforts, they were only managing to slowly drag the body.
'Damn.'
The goblins were leaving.
'I can't miss this chance!'
I had been observing them for days, but this was the first time so many had gathered in one place.
All thanks to Kelikan's corpse.
'Take this!'
Whizz!
The dumbbell I threw plummeted downward at terrifying speed.
And—
Crack!
"Kegh!"
"Keck!"
A brutal sound of shattering bones echoed as blood splattered.
'…Damn it.'
But the dumbbell didn't hit a goblin's head.
It had landed on Kelikan's head instead.
I had completely missed.
'Now I only have one left.'
Despair set in.
There were still other heavy objects I could throw.
I had a computer. A TV.
But using them just to kill goblins felt like such a waste.
Logically, I knew they were useless now.
But still.
'Do you know how much those cost…?'
It was an emotional thing.
Maybe I wasn't desperate enough yet.
'Besides, I don't think I could even throw the TV or computer case properly.'
At best, I could shove them out the window. But that wouldn't be enough to reach the goblins below.
'This dumbbell is perfect.'
After all, the first one had nearly reached them—if only I had aimed better.
'Is there anything else?'
I searched the house desperately, but there were no more dumbbells.
Of course.
If I were my mom, I wouldn't have bought more dumbbells for someone like me either.
I never even used them.
Why waste money?
'Did the goblins leave already?'
I cautiously peeked outside.
And—
My eyes met those of a goblin.
'Shit!'
One of the goblins was standing on Kelikan's corpse, holding the dumbbell I had thrown.
It was pointing at me.
"Keeeg!"
"Keeeeh!"
The goblins started shrieking and pointing at me in fury.
They had realized that I was the one who threw the dumbbell.
Abandoning Kelikan's corpse, they began charging toward the apartment building.
'Are they coming up?'
The lower floors of the apartment had already been overrun.
Judging by how they were dragging Kelikan's body inside, they had likely made it their nest.
"Keeeeh! Kyahhh!"
"Kekekegek!"
Dozens of goblins poured out from the lower floors.
And they were all screaming in my direction.
Now, there were even more goblins closer than before.
'Should I throw the TV? If I kill a bunch at once and unlock a new skill—wait, huh?'
I suddenly remembered something.
"Ah!"
I had been so distracted by the electricity and gas coming back on that I hadn't checked one of my skills.
Absolute Ruler of the House's Store Lv. 1
Allows you to purchase registered items at regular price.
It had unlocked along with my "Dignity Maintenance" skill.
"Open Store."
As soon as I gave the command, a new window appeared before me.
[Absolute Ruler of the House's Store]
(Please register an item.)
ᚠBalance: 2,203,239 KRW
▶ Register Item
'The balance is connected to the Absolute Ruler's Wallet skill.'
The store was empty since I hadn't registered anything yet.
I held up the dumbbell and spoke.
"Register item."
[Do you want to register this item?]
"Yes."
A light scanned the dumbbell.
[Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg has been registered.]
Now, the store showed a familiar item.
[Absolute Ruler of the House's Store]
Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg (16,990 KRW)
ᚠBalance: 2,203,239 KRW
▶ Register Item
'Same price as when I bought it online.'
Even the store image showed two dumbbells crossed together, just like the set I originally purchased.
"Buy Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell."
[Are you sure you want to purchase?]
[Yes / No]
"Yes."
Clink!
With the sound of coins clinking, a bright light shone onto the living room floor.
Ziiing―
Two identical dumbbells materialized.
'Perfect!'
I put down the one in my hand and grabbed the newly purchased ones.
'Weight feels right.'
The grip, the texture—everything was identical.
'Let's go.'
I hurled the dumbbell out the window.
Crunch!
[You have slain a Goblin (Lv. 7).]
[You have gained experience.]
[3,345 KRW has been deposited into the Absolute Ruler's Wallet.]
"Yes!"
It hit its mark this time.
And so, my goblin extermination plan began.