The Ultimate Shut-In

Expansion of Power (2)

Of course, without bothering to ring the doorbell, I immediately grabbed the door handle and turned it.

Unlocking the front door wasn't difficult.

It was easy to manipulate the electronic devices within my domain.

However—

Click!

I couldn't do anything about the analog lock.

'Damn it!'

Click-click—!

'Isn't there some other way?'

For a moment, I thought about coming down from the upstairs window, but it was impossible.

Due to the restrictions of my domain, I couldn't fully exit through the window.

I could stick my hand or head outside the living room window, but I couldn't go far enough to escape completely.

'That's right. The new skill!'

In the chaos, I remembered the skill I hadn't had time to check yet.

The Invisible Hand of the Absolute Ruler Lv.1

Summon and control an invisible hand.

'Bingo!'

I immediately used the skill.

From using the Dignity Maintenance skill and The Absolute's Eye, I had realized something:

When using a skill, only one thing truly mattered—

'My will.'

What I wanted was the most crucial factor.

The moment I visualized unlocking the security latch, I felt something surge from my body and strike the latch.

Boom— Crack!

"…"

The Invisible Hand shattered the security latch with ridiculous ease.

It was so powerful that even part of the front door bent when the latch was forcibly ripped out.

As I stared at the heavily damaged door, a better idea finally came to me.

'…I should have just used the Summon Retainer skill.'

Now that I thought about it, I could have summoned Choi Hyung-jun from inside to unlock the door.

But what could I do?

The damage was already done.

'Let's focus on rescuing the person first.'

I turned on the lights in the darkened house.

As the bright light illuminated the interior, I saw Kim Da-jung lying unconscious in the middle of the living room.

She was a beautiful woman.

Even in her exhausted, emaciated state, her beauty was still striking.

'Why is she in this condition?'

Why was she lying on the living room floor?

There were perfectly good beds in the bedroom and the smaller room. It wasn't as if a blanket was spread out in the living room either.

"Hey, wake up."

I carefully tapped her cheek.

When she didn't respond, I grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her.

Nothing.

Her body swayed limply, but she didn't wake up.

The only proof that she was still alive was the faint rise and fall of her breathing.

'Her condition is worse than I thought.'

Her skin was dry, her eyes sunken, and her lips cracked. She had a slight fever as well.

Even in this weakened state, her beauty was surreal, like a princess from a fairy tale.

'She's severely dehydrated.'

I didn't understand.

The kitchen still had plenty of bottled water.

There were dozens of 300ml Isis water bottles—small, but easy to hold.

If she had just drunk those properly, she wouldn't be in such critical dehydration.

On the island table, there were snacks and chocolates, and the cupboard was stocked with various types of ramen.

There was food and water.

Yet she was on the brink of death.

'What is she doing?'

Had she intended to die?

Looking at her hands, neatly folded together, it did seem like she had resigned herself to death.

Even if she had chosen to die, I had no intention of letting her.

I would save her.

'What should I do?'

I remembered something I learned in the military—giving water to a severely dehydrated, unconscious person was dangerous.

Especially if they were unconscious, as there was a risk of choking.

'The proper procedure is to take her to the ER.'

The only real solution was intravenous fluids to restore her blood volume.

But in this ruined world, there were no functioning hospitals, and no paramedics to come to the rescue.

For now, I elevated her legs.

This would help direct blood toward her heart, prolonging the function of vital organs.

'If I do nothing, she will die.'

She had healing abilities.

I couldn't lose her so easily.

'I have to save her.'

What could I do?

I checked every skill I had, every item in my inventory, and even the shop's stock.

Nothing seemed useful.

Then, a thought struck me.

'Could this actually work?'

No time to hesitate.

I just had to try it immediately.

'Grant quest. Reward: Recovery from dehydration.'

The quest requirement: Take one breath.

And then—

[Citizen Kim Da-jung has completed the quest.]

[10,000,000 won has been deducted as the quest cost.]

'Success!'

It had cost me a whopping ten million won, but I didn't regret a single bit of it.

"Mm…"

Because the effect was immediate.

Kim Da-jung slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the bright living room light as she raised an arm.

"Hey, Miss Kim Da-jung. Are you awake?"

At the moment our eyes met—

[Citizen Kim Da-jung's trust level has increased.]

Another trust increase notification.

'Again?'

It wasn't just Kim Da-jung.

Ohn-ju, Ha Dong-geon's party, and even Choi Hyung-jun's family all had their trust levels rise the moment they met me.

'Everyone I meet seems to trust me quickly.'

It made sense.

People naturally trusted someone they knew over a complete stranger.

But the immediate trust increase was unnatural.

It had to be because of a skill.

'Is it because of Dignity Maintenance?'

Kim Da-jung, still drowsy, looked at me and asked,

"…Who are you?"

"I'm Kim Jae-hyun. Your upstairs neighbor."

"…What?"

As she gradually regained her senses, she suddenly jumped back from my arms in shock.

"W-Who are you?"

"I told you, I'm your upstairs neighbor."

"How did you get in?"

"You were in critical condition, so I forced the door open."

"What are you talking about…?"

Kim Da-jung's confused eyes wandered around the room.

Then—

"…Ah."

She suddenly seemed to realize something.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Aah…!"

Covering her face with both hands, she began to cry.

Her frail shoulders trembled.

"…"

As I silently watched her, I thought—

How does one offer comfort?

What words could reach someone crying so sorrowfully?

I didn't know.

Hugging her or empathizing required a certain level of familiarity.

I didn't have that with her.

So I decided to say what I truly wanted to say.

"Miss Kim Da-jung."

She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes.

And I said,

"Please help me."

I didn't ask why she was crying or what had happened.

There was no need to force her to recall painful memories.

Instead, I wanted to shift her focus to the present.

"My comrade is severely injured."

(Continued…)