The Absolute dweller

[Episode 01] The Absolute in the Corner of the House (5)

The notification window displayed four attached photos.

They showed a couple in their 30s with two children – the people next door.

After a moment of thought, I queried the system window:

"What happens if you don't grant citizenship?"

[Individuals who are not granted citizenship will be kicked out of the house.] [Are you sure you do not want to grant citizenship?]

'As expected.'

I wasn't simply asking a question.

The system understood my intent.

Or perhaps it could read my thoughts.

'If not, it would have been impossible to store only the ramen in the bowl or only the oil in the canola oil container.'

The absolute corner skill.

While I don't fully understand this power, I believe it allows for some degree of two-way communication.

Of course, the system's explanation was not particularly friendly.

Because I don't teach you everything.

'Being kicked out of the corner of the house...'

I couldn't fathom how they would be evicted, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be pleasant.

"Grant citizenship to all four."

[Citizenship is granted to Choi Hyeong-jun, Park Hye-won, Choi Na-yeon, and Choi Seo-yeon.]

After granting citizenship to the family next door, I immediately opened the skill window.

I anticipated that skills related to citizenship would be newly activated.

However,

"Huh? Something else?"

The newly awakened skill was not for managing citizens.

Eyes of the Absolute in the Corner Lv.1

* Nothing in the corner of the house can escape the eyes of the Absolute.

I immediately realized that the strange phenomenon I had just experienced was a result of using the Eyes of the Absolute.

'Where's the citizen-related stuff? Ah, I found it.'

Surprisingly, things related to citizens were integrated into the corner declaration skill.

Declaration of Cornerstone (Passive) Lv. 6

* No one can invade the corner of the house without the permission of the Absolute.

Citizen Management

A new button called Citizen Management was added to the Home Corner Declaration skill.

When I pressed it, I saw pictures of the four people I had seen earlier, along with brief numerical data.

□Choi Hyeong-jun (Trust: 24) (Lv. 9)

□Park Hye-won (Trust: 18) (Lv. 5)

□Choi Na-yeon (Trust: 33) (Lv. 3)

□Choi Seo-yeon (Trust: 42) (Lv. 2)

Current population (4/600 people)

"600 people?"

The number at the end likely represents the maximum number of citizens that can be accepted. I was certain of this because the number 4 preceded it.

But the number was enormous.

'That means we can accept 596 more people in the future. Isn't that a bit excessive?'

I instinctively realized that this function played a crucial role.

"Choi Hyeong-jun."

When I called out the name of one of the four citizens, detailed information about them appeared in my mind.

『Name: Choi Hyeong-jun (Lv. 9)

Reliability: 24

Awakening Ability: None

Experience distribution rate: 0%

Settlement distribution rate: 0%

★Quest Granting Exit』

Experience distribution rate and settlement distribution rate.

This meant that the experience points and settlement money earned by the citizens during hunts would eventually be transferred to me.

It also meant that I could control the distribution rates at will.

'Could this be?'

Was this feature present from the beginning, rather than a new feature added as the level increased?

Perhaps we were unable to grant citizenship simply because there was no one else in our house?

'I thought something was strange.'

Initially, I believed my skills were extremely abnormal.

The ability to create a perfectly safe zone within my home was excellent, but I was essentially confined to a corner of the house.

'But if citizenship had been granted from the beginning, the story would have been different.'

If someone had been living with me from the start, I could have simply granted them citizenship.

Because the experience points gained by the citizens from hunting would all revert to me.

'Is that how I was supposed to grow?'

My fight with Kellykan had just revealed that my abilities were far more deceptive than I initially thought.

I'm unsure of the exact power of level 27, but I believe it's sufficient to block most monster attacks.

'If only I had stayed at home from the beginning instead of here, all of this could have been avoided.'

My parents were caring for my grandparents in a two-story house. If I had awakened there, everything would have been different.

Firstly, I would be able to protect my family, and I would also be able to develop my abilities without hindrance.

'No need to worry about hunting.'

When I recall the way I hunted Kellicans, I could have hunted them without even leaving the house.

Simply open the front door and engage the monsters within the house.

Reflecting on this, I realized that my isolation stemmed from awakening my abilities in a 30-story high-rise apartment.

Had I been on the first floor, I could have grown by confronting goblins outside the living room window.

'If I hadn't been fortunate, I would have died without accomplishing anything.'

Originally, it was an ability that should have been developed by commanding citizens from the outset, but I only now gained the ability to do so.

'I suppose I should consider it fortunate.'

Ultimately, everything turned out well.

'But what is this?'

One item in Choi Hyeong-jun's citizen information window particularly caught my attention.

"Quest granted."

The quest granting window was divided into quest content, time limit, success reward, and failure penalty sections.

I filled in each item as a test.

"Hunting one goblin, the duration is a generous week, no reward, and no failure penalty."

The quest window that appeared precisely mirrored my input.

"Quest Granting"

Quest Content: Goblin Hunt (0/1)

Time limit: 168 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds

Reward: A small amount of experience points.

Failure Penalty: None.

[Do you want to grant the quest as is?] [Yes / No]

The strange thing was the reward. Even though I explicitly chose none, a small amount of experience points was offered as a reward.

'So there's a basic reward? Then... how far can the failure penalty extend?'

It's not malicious.

I simply wanted to experiment to see the limits.

Because I confirmed that the quest isn't granted immediately.

"Quest failure penalty fixed, death."

The quest window appeared again, reflecting my input.

"Quest Granting"

Quest Content: Goblin Hunt (0/1)

Time limit: 168 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds

Reward: A small amount of experience points.

Failure penalty: death.

[Do you want to grant the quest as is?] [Yes / No]

"······no."

[Cancel quest granting.]

···I knew this would happen.

Even though I can control the quest content and time limit as I wish, there's no limit to the failure penalty.

The implications were clear.

'I can kill civilians whenever I desire.'

That I hold absolute power over the lives of my citizens.

It wasn't difficult.

Even if it was just a quest to capture a single goblin, setting the time limit to 1 second would have been tantamount to an immediate death sentence.

"Crazy."

When I witnessed the true capabilities of the skill, I felt goosebumps all over my body.

The realization that the lives of one person, or rather, four people I accepted as citizens, were in my hands weighed heavily on me.

For the first time, I was afraid of my own abilities.

'This is the absolute skill of the corner of the house···.'

As the name suggests, my skill grants me absolute influence only within the confines of my home.

'···What should I do?'

There were numerous ways to exploit the citizens.

In extreme cases, I could use them as long-term pawns by manipulating quest assignments.

By setting the penalty to death as I had just done, I could force them to hunt even at the risk of their own lives.

This meant that I could exploit citizens to my heart's content.

'You can also assign them quests like rescuing their parents.'

But,

'Will the citizens actively attempt to complete the quest? Or will they possess the ability to complete the quest beforehand?'

The guy next door, Choi Hyeong-jun, was only level 9.

He should be able to handle goblins without issue. Their level is only 6 or 7.

However, the outside world was now a dangerous place, with monsters like the level 27 Kellikan roaming freely.

'Even if that wasn't the case, if dozens of goblins attacked simultaneously, I would perish instantly.'

So, it was pointless.

'I need to raise them to a level where they can overwhelm a group of goblins. Or at least form a team capable of doing so. Only then will I have a chance of rescuing Mom and Dad.'

The method was straightforward.

Considering the experience distribution rate, it appeared that citizens could also gain experience by hunting monsters.

If so, I could continuously assign monster hunting quests.

I could have forcibly compelled them to undertake the quests, but I didn't want to resort to such tactics.

Not only is it ethically questionable, but it would undoubtedly create animosity.

And that would simply serve as a negative factor in my efforts to save my parents.

'In the worst-case scenario, both Mom and Dad could be in danger.'

I didn't want a long-term workforce that would simply obey my commands.

I truly needed individuals who would act on my behalf.

'You can't achieve this by coercion.'

To win someone over, you must first win their trust.

'Adopting a win-win strategy.'

After reaching this conclusion, I decided to visit my neighbor's house.

Then, I paused after catching my reflection in the full-length mirror in the hallway.

My unkempt beard and comfortable tracksuit were the typical attire of an unemployed individual.

Moreover, my entire body was drenched in sweat from the recent battle with Kellykan.

'Let's clean up first.'

I understand the importance of first impressions when building relationships with people.

Swaaaah

While enjoying the warm water, I checked the skill window and noticed something I hadn't previously observed.

"Uh?"

Corner Absolute Shop Lv. 1 [+]

* You can purchase items registered in the store at the regular price.

[Skill Points Available: 3]

Maintaining the Dignity of the Absolute in the Corner (Passive) Lv. 1 [+]

* Restores normal functions of all corners of the house to maintain dignity.

[Skill Points Available: 3]

The Warehouse of the Absolute in the Corner Lv. 1 [+]

* It is a subspace where you can store items.

[Skill Points Available: 3]

There was a plus sign next to the skill level.

'You can level up your skills!'

Finally, it was possible to list new items in the store.

'The corner declaration skill... is it possible to not raise it with skill points?'

The only skills displaying a plus sign were the shop, dignity maintenance, and warehouse skills.

The wallet skill was at maximum level, so it was clear that it couldn't be raised further. The absolute's eye skill, which I had just acquired, was displayed as level 1, but the plus button didn't appear.

'Are there any skill prerequisites?'

It didn't matter anyway.

Because the skills to be leveled up were predetermined.

[Do you really want to level up the Shop skill of the Absolute in the Corner?]

"Yes."

At that moment, the skill window flashed with a golden light.

Woof!

[The Shop Skill of the Absolute in the Corner has been raised to Lv. 2.] [The number of items that can be registered has increased to 20.] [The price of all products is discounted by 10%.]

"Oh?"

It was expected that the limit for product registration would increase.

And on top of that, I even received a price discount.

"Are you okay?"

Two points remained.

I checked the shop skills just in case, but this time there was no + button.

'It seems there's some kind of condition for each level up.'

I had a hunch.

'If I fill all twenty of the item registration limit, won't I be able to advance to the next level?'

Regardless, I had already decided on the items I would register.

The first priority was to register new, unused items.

These included shower items and toilet paper.

'Let's give it a try.'