Chapter 1: Prologue

“Why is the store so stuffy? Didn’t you turn on the air conditioner? No wonder you don’t have any customers.”

No.

It’s the opposite.

There are so few customers that I turned off the air conditioner.

“Yeah, it’s a bit stuffy because it’s dark, so I turned it off. Haha.”

I replied with a casual laugh.

The Elder grumbling over there is the landlord, and I’m the tenant.

“If you want customers to come and go, the building stays alive, and you’ll make enough to live on too. Pfft. Try bringing in some fresher goods. Why do you only have basic healing potions and arrows?”

“That’s just the basics…”

“Sigh, well, I’m sure a young person like you can figure it out. Oh, you know the rent’s due tomorrow, right? Don’t be late with the payment.”

He’d been beating around the bush, but that’s what he really wanted to say.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to send it on time.”

“It’s just that business is so slow, I’m worried for you.”

The Elder left.

I understand how he feels, but it’s a bit disappointing.

In six years, I’ve never been late with the rent, not even once.

Still, business has been terrible these past few days.

Maybe it’s time to close up the store.

Display shelves and a secondhand wall-mounted TV.

That’s all there is in this tiny Item Shop.

Grandfather left it to me when he passed away.

After losing my parents to a Dungeon Break.

Grandfather was the only family I had left.

I clung to those memories, not wanting to let go, but now even that seems to be coming to an end.

[…We’ve successfully cleared the Fifth-Rank Dungeon. The Boss Monster Huorun is a plant-type monster with long, thorny branches that whip around like tentacles…]

Now that the Elder is gone, the sound from the TV I left on catches my ear.

The news of the first-ever domestic Five-Star Dungeon raid.

That’s all every Channel has been talking about for days.

A sturdy man clad head to toe in iron armor.

He didn’t sweat a drop as he boasted about the greatness of his Guild.

“So envious.”

There was a time I dreamed of becoming a Hunter too.

Their wealth and fame.

And their superhuman bodies that don’t sweat a drop even in this heat.

I’m jealous.

Just watching makes my chest feel tight.

I pressed the remote to turn off the TV.

It won’t turn off.

What’s going on? Is the remote broken?

The LED light comes on just fine every time I press it.

Tap tap.

I lightly tapped the TV with my fingertip.

Pzzzt—

Smoke started rising from the TV.

I quickly pulled out the plug.

“Great, just my luck.”

My insides twisted with frustration.

I stepped outside the store.

At least the breeze outside should be a little cooler.

“…There’s not even a breeze.”

Still, I might as well walk for a bit.

I locked up the store and wandered aimlessly through the neighborhood.

In the distance, the Hunter Association Building came into view.

I could also see the bright sign of a giant Shopping Mall, shining with borrowed light.

Those are the very places that made my store a ghost town.

Just looking at them makes my blood boil.

I should just go back.

“Since I’m out, maybe I’ll grab some milk.”

For years, my breakfast has been cereal.

If I run out of milk, I’ll have to skip breakfast tomorrow.

I headed to the supermarket.

I opened the fridge and enjoyed the cool air for a moment.

Before the owner could notice, I grabbed some milk.

As I headed for the counter, something caught my eye.

[Super Special Sale! 6-Pack of Beer, Only 5,000 Won!]

A sign written with Magic.

Cases of beer were stacked high on the display behind.

So cheap. Must be a bad product.

“7,900 won, please.”

In the end, I bought the beer too.

I don’t usually drink much, but today I was drawn to it.

Must be the lingering heat.

The walk back felt even quicker.

A cold shower and a refreshing beer before bed—that’s the plan.

I headed to the room behind the store.

Bed, desk, computer.

And in the corner, a secondhand two-door fridge.

That’s everything I own.

I put the milk in the fridge.

I started to unpack the beer to put it in too.

“Ugh, it’s warm.”

No wonder—it was sitting on the display, so it’s not cold.

Should’ve thought of that.

I clicked my tongue and remembered an old trick.

“Let’s put it in the freezer.”

If I shower and come out, it should have a thin layer of ice.

I opened the freezer.

The beer fell to the floor.

Because of the astonishing scene unfolding before my eyes.

Pitch black—

Dum dum dum dum—

“What the…”

Tiny creatures, no bigger than two joints of my finger.

They were moving around inside the freezer.

“What is this… huh?!”

And before I could even fully voice my confusion, I was struck speechless.

Because of the messages that appeared before my eyes.

[You have awakened the Class: Dimensional Traveler.]

[You have discovered Dimension: ESKHJ-0702L.]

[You have acquired the Unique Skill: Communication.]