I looked at Lee Joon-hyuk who bowed his head and checked his citizen information.

『Name: Lee Joon-hyuk (Lv. 33)

Trust: 48

Awakening Ability: Water Creation

Experience Distribution Rate: 0% (+100%)

Settlement Money Distribution Rate: 0% (+100%)

★Quest Assignment 🖾Expulsion』

Water Creation (Grade B)

Consume mental power to create water.

Interestingly, he had a high level for his ability grade.

Considering that Seo Ye-jin was level 31, Lee Joon-hyuk’s level could be considered quite high.

‘And his awakening ability grade is even lower than Seo Ye-jin’s.’

Since it was a Grade B ability, it’s likely that he started around level 25.

That means he had leveled up eight times since awakening, indicating that he’s hunted a lot of monsters.

He didn’t seem to have any major personality flaws.

‘I think I can trust him.’

With such a high initial trust, he seemed likely to meet the conditions for vassal registration soon.

“How many people are in the group?”

“Including me, there are 24 of us.”

“Alright. Then I’ll give you three rooms. Room 1802 is for you, and rooms 1501 and 1302 are for the others.”

Lee Joon-hyuk raised his head in surprise.

“What?”

“We’ll provide electricity, water, and gas, so go take a shower first.”

“Wait a moment. You say you’re giving us a house?”

“Yes. Because you have that much value.”

[Lee Joon-hyuk’s trust has reached 50.]

[Loyalty is unlocked.]

The praise brought a quick response.

“Thank you. We’ll do our best!”

The other people who stood awkwardly behind Lee Joon-hyuk also bowed their heads and thanked him.

“We’ll do our best too! Please give us some orders, we can handle a goblin or two!”

There was something strange about their words.

Considering that his level was only 9, albeit relatively high, it was still average.

‘If they’ve been hunting, then shouldn’t they have a higher level?’

I asked.

“Have you hunted goblins before?”

He confidently replied.

“Of course. I’ve probably killed goblins in the triple digits by now.”

Then it was even more strange.

Since acquiring Basic Salary, just hunting a few goblins would quickly propel them to level 10.

If he had hunted so many goblins, he should have reached at least the early 10s in level.

“Is it the same for the rest?”

“There’s some differences, but most, regardless of gender, have probably hunted dozens of goblins. That guy over there has even slain orcs.”

Yet, the levels of the others were all modest.

Although there were some that were over level 10, they all had sturdy physiques from exercise.

Considering that most fit people were around level 10, it meant that despite hunting numerous goblins, their levels hadn’t increased much.

‘Is leveling up something only Awakeners can do?’

It was a newly-discovered fact.

Ordinary people couldn’t gain experience even if they hunted monsters.

It wasn’t known until now since there were only a few cases of people hunting monsters before obtaining citizenship.

Ha Dong-geon’s party or Oh Eon-ju, for example.

‘So gaining citizenship enables growth.’

In essence, obtaining citizenship alone was similar to awakening.

‘My abilities are greater than I thought.’

The citizen limit was currently 19,000.

Meaning I could cultivate 19,000 pseudo-awakeners.

I addressed Lee Joon-hyuk.

“Is what he said true?”

“Yes. It’s mostly factual, albeit a bit exaggerated.”

“Hey! When did I…!”

I was purely in awe.

“That’s amazing.”

I said to them.

“Please actively participate in monster hunting. The money you earn from hunting can be used at the shop on the 1st floor. Oh, and don’t forget to register for the gym on the 2nd floor.”

The reaction of the people hearing my words was the same.

“Huh?”

It seemed like they didn’t grasp the concept of earning money by hunting monsters at all.

I already knew that before obtaining citizenship, you couldn’t earn money by hunting monsters, thanks to conversations with Ha Dong-geon’s party.

There were also no notifications popping up when hunting either.

Explaining all of that to them one by one would take too much time.

With a wry smile, I said, “Go to the 21st floor and find Kim Dabin. Tell her I sent you, and she’ll kindly explain everything. And…”

I bought gifts for them from the store.

Instant noodles, Choco Pie, cola, snacks, and more.

Then I summoned 10 sets of bows and arrows and 10 spears.

Ziing―

“This is my humble gift.”

Hoping they would perform to my expectations.

[Citizen Lee Hyun-chan’s trust has increased.]

[Citizen Cha Jung-hyun’s trust has increased.]

[Citizen Jang Jin-young’s trust has increased.]

[Citizen Kim Ji-tae’s trust has increased.]

…

…

After sending them off, I went back into the house.

“Si-woo, is it delicious?”

There was Oh Eon-ju, looking at her son with a happy expression.

“Yes! It’s delicious!”

There was a sumptuous meal prepared in front of the child who looked about five years old.

Sausage stir-fry, spam, fried eggs, warm rice, and seaweed soup were laid out.

“Mom, whose birthday is it?”

“Huh? No one’s.”

“But why is there seaweed soup?”

“Because Si-woo likes it.”

“Wow! It’s so good!”

Watching Si-woo eat the lovingly prepared meal, Oh Eon-ju had a happy smile on her face.

“Is it really delicious?”

“Yes!”

When Si-woo spotted me returning to the living room, he pointed at me with his spoon and exclaimed, “It’s the magician uncle!”

I chuckled and waved at him before taking a seat at the table.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Jae-hyun.”

“Oh no, I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to Si-woo, I get to enjoy such a delicious meal.”

The resurrected Si-woo couldn’t venture beyond my house.

Just like me before the area expanded from leveling up.

That was why Oh Eon-ju was here in my house.

“Thank you for the meal!”

After Si-woo finished his meal and dashed over to the sofa, he called for Kkami.

“Chirp, chirp, come here!”

-Cheep

As Si-woo approached, Kkami let out a soft sigh and nestled into Si-woo’s embrace.

This was because I had instructed Kkami to comply with Si-woo’s wishes if possible.

Si-woo gently stroked Kkami and said to Oh Eon-ju.

“Mom! Please play Godzilla!”

“Sure.”

Normally, Si-woo’s request wouldn’t be feasible. All TV channels had ended, and without internet access, it was impossible to watch replays on IPTV.

But Oh Eon-ju’s house had a computer stored with Godzilla videos.

She had transferred it to my house and connected it to the TV.

[Stegosaurus, the Moving Rock!]

Si-woo liked the cartoon, it was completely downloaded.

Watching Si-woo engrossed in the TV, I cautiously broached the topic with Oh Eon-ju.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? What for?”

“You can’t leave from here. I hadn’t anticipated this.”

Oh Eon-ju smiled gently in response.

“Just being together like this is enough. It’s actually better this way. It would be best if this news didn’t spread.”

There was no trace of the anger that had always filled her eyes.

“I’m so satisfied right now. I want to devote my life to you, Mr. Jae-hyun.”

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju’s loyalty has increased.]

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju’s loyalty has reached 100.]

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju is already registered as a vassal.]

[The limit for vassal registration has increased.]

“…”

Even without the system notification, her loyalty was evident in her expression and attitude.

Oh Eon-ju waited until I finished eating before approaching her son after washing the dishes.

“Si-woo, can Mom watch with you?”

“Yes!”

She pressed her lips to her son’s head and stayed quietly by his side for a while.

Seeing that scene, I suddenly thought of my mother.

How is my family doing?

‘Don’t be anxious.’

It was only a day.

To secure this one day, how had Oh Eon-ju been crazily carrying out her missions?

I could understand.

‘Anyway, Ye-jin’s mouse is heading to my parent’s house.’

Although we had some trouble passing through the area near Busan Station which was destroyed by the giant, we were now safely heading towards Jagalchi.

‘Once the mouse arrives at their house, it can deliver necessary items to my family.’

It could provide food or water, and even hand over weapons like guns.

I could even send a message written on a piece of paper using the warehouse skill to let them know I was safe.

It was while I was keeping my eyes fixed on the mouse that shared sensory information with Ye-jin when it happened.

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

‘Again.’

It wasn’t just Lee Joon-hyuk and his group.

Survivors had been gathering in the apartment complex since we hunted the giant.

[A being satisfying the conditions to be recognized as a citizen has approached the area.]

[Would you like to offer citizenship?]

This time, it was six men and women who seemed to be a family.

‘Offer citizenship.’

I checked with anticipation since there was Lee Joon-hyuk’s case today, but there were no awakeners this time.

‘I’ll tell them to go find Kim Dabin.’

Since there were no awakeners, there was no need to give quests to increase trust and loyalty like with Lee Joon-hyuk.

Time flew by, and it was already time to go to bed.

“Oh Eon-ju, you can sleep in the bedroom with Si-woo.”

“No, we can sleep outside…”

“No, sleep comfortably with Si-woo. It’s an order.”

“…Thank you for the consideration.”

With that, I forcibly ushered them into the bedroom and lay down on the sofa.

As I lay on the sofa, I heard a lullaby seeping through the partially closed door.

Listening to it made my eyelids grow heavy.

That day, I fell asleep like that.

The next day passed uneventfully.

Oh Eon-ju ate the meal she prepared with Si-woo and watched his favorite cartoons together.

Si-woo loved Kkami, while Kkami found Si-woo annoying as he hindered its sunbathing.

Oh Eon-ju and Si-woo took a nap together and played with the toys I bought from the store.

Time passed without waiting for even a single moment.

It was just one day.

The time I could give to Oh Eon-ju and Si-woo.

The appointed time passed quickly, and before I knew it, the moment of farewell was approaching.

“Mom.”

“Hm?”

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying, honey.”

Oh Eon-ju held her son in her arms and cried endlessly.

“But you are crying.”

With a genuinely curious expression, Si-woo raised his hand to gently stroke his mother’s face.

Wiping away Oh Eon-ju’s tears, Si-woo said, “Don’t cry, Mom.”

“Sob… Si-woo…”

Was that the catalyst?

As if all her suppressed emotions had exploded, tears poured out of Oh Eon-ju.

“Heuk… Mom… is scared.”

“About what?”

“I’m scared of a world without my son…”

Oh Eon-ju held Si-woo as tightly as possible, making sure he wouldn’t get hurt.

“Mom, I can’t breathe.”

“I’m sorry…”

Tears continued to flow from her face.

Carefully removing her trembling hands from Si-woo, her voice continued to break.

It was painful to watch her unable to control herself and feeling regretful for the passing time.

At that moment, Si-woo hugged Oh Eon-ju with his short, tiny arms.

“Mom, I’m here. I won’t go anywhere.”

With a warm voice, Si-woo tried to reassure his mother.

“Sob…”

Oh Eon-ju collapsed.

“Mom, I love you.”

“I love you too, Mom loves Si-woo too. Si-woo, Mom is…”

At that moment, the promised time arrived.

Si-woo’s body gradually became blurry, and his voice faded.

Was the child aware of something as he smiled at his mother?

“Bye, Mom.”

And that was the end.

“Si-woo, Si-woo! Si-woo!”

Si-woo was gone.

“Sob… ohh…”

For a long time, Oh Eon-ju mourned and cried until the warmth left behind completely disappeared.

Hope.

Hope is a flower that blooms only in despair.

That was why those who had hope would always find themselves in the midst of despair.

To the point of cruelty.

“Don’t despair. This isn’t the end.”

I breathed hope into her once again.

“Sniff… Is that true?”

Oh Eon-ju looked up at me with tear-stained eyes.

I nodded slowly.

Like a devil’s temptation, Oh Eon-ju listened.

“Whenever there’s a chance.”

[Oh Eon-ju’s trust has increased.]

[Oh Eon-ju’s trust has reached 100.]

[Obtained ‘Primordial Vitality.’]