March 16, 2023. It was on this day everything fell into ruins. Thousands of volcanoes erupted throughout the globe simultaneously triggering tsunamis- the sound they all made echoed among all mankind as it resembled that of a trumpet. Tectonic plates moved as if monsters from beneath the horrid seas played toss with each other, and with it- the moon crossed with the sun, aligning with it for all eternity, leaving the skies with an eclipse that will haunt humanity for quite some time. Scientists from all over the globe lost their minds as every single event that came after this day did not anymore blend well with logic. From craters that formed in the crust and from trenches that bloomed in the vast ocean, rose monsters far beyond the wildest imagination. Both Western and Eastern military forces combined cannot contain these beasts that massacred the world into pieces, they can only rely on the drops of these beasts- their nails, their teeth, and plainly internalized "fight fire with fire".
For three months, three weeks, and three days, all of mankind fell into deep despair. However, in the third hour, a bright light shone upon the eclipsed sky- rather, it was the moon taking its leave. The mark of the eclipse culminated, and so did a new hope of humanity fell from every bit of sunshine that fell unto their skin.
Some of humanity acquired superhuman feats- which they call "favors" and were used to combat the brute that lies upon the surface of the earth- those who earn these favors and are strong enough to combat are called "hunters". Soon, humanity gained the upper hand- developing their skills and favors to combat the creatures that lie within every crack and trench, these were called anomalies.
October 8, 2030. When the monsters that haunted the surface diminished in numbers, hunter associations decided to explore what was below the crack of the earth only to find that it was some sort of a labyrinth upon a labyrinth. It was then revealed that there are still floors below the current level humanity has stood on- each floor revealing new secrets upon another that varies on which continent you live in. Though all of humanity focus on one goal- to find the cause of this strange phenomenon. Also because the underworld contained resources new to mankind, introducing new methods of understanding science- and eventually reviving alchemy.
And on June 6, 2038- my dreams were shattered...
"I'm sorry, dear. You are not qualified to become a hunter as your favor is F-rank."
I guess all of hoping and dreaming culminates too, huh? "Thank you, ma'am."
"Though I must recommend to you that the government has introduced a new job on the market." said the lady who assisted me in identifying my favor.
My father passed trying to provide for my family as an E-class hunter- he decided he could not handle the pressure and decided to take his own life. My mother, however, works most of her time in our old retail and surplus store that nobody even bothers to enter. With new stocks pouring into the market from the underworld, old items are simply not a hit anymore. My sister, in her childhood, was sent abroad, off to a better life, and we have not heard from her since. The best I could do is accept labor given that I got my father's shitty shot at having a favor. "Can I hear you out about the new job?"
"As you may have heard... Yuan Melon, right?" the lady searched for a document from a huge array of paper piled upon another on her table. "Just last month, the South East Asian government decided to catch up with other anomaly-owning nations such as USA and Korea to build a city within the first floor of our anomaly.", she sighed as she handed me an application form, "If you want to consider to be a laborer, you can always submit this to the association and we'll ready your papers."
I took the paper she handed to me with a smile and bowed. "Thank you. I'll think about it" I said. I took a step back, looking at the application form as I left the building. Damn it! Why do I have to live through a worse favor than my father?! Now, I don't know anymore where to source our daily needs. Any time soon, we have to sell our retail shop. That's something my mother would pass out knowing! The best I could do with my F-rank skill is to buff up a tiny paper with luck. What am I? An entertainment shaman?
I picked myself up and looked at the vast sky that was once filled with a terrible eclipse back in my childhood. "Look at the bright side...", I uttered to myself, "I have a chance in entering the anomaly... though, as a laborer..."
A few teenagers passed by me, carrying on their conversations. "Dude, did you hear? The SEA has reached floor 10, and it took them 2 years to clear it."
"The North Americans have cleared past 20." replied the one accompanying them, "How incompetent are our hunters?" he sighed. "The Europeans have reached past 22 with the help of SS-class hunter Gwendoline. Don't we have some cool hunters in our part of the world?"
Well, it's hard to argue with them. To be honest, currently, there are no awakened S-class in SEA while there is at least one SS-class hunter in other regions of the world, and has currently two SSS-class hunters abroad. In SEA, we're stuck with a handful of A-class hunters and a generous amount of B-class and C-class hunters. But, who am I to complain? Even I, myself, am an F-class. This government's economy is crashing, the number of incompetent hunters is rising, and this nation is doomed, to begin with.
I reached our home with an unfazed look on my face. Needless to say, I have already accepted reality, and just have to consult with my mother about whether or not I should pursue being a laborer inside the SEA anomaly.
Bling! Blang! The bells on our retail shop's door rang as I entered, looking for my mother. "Ma, are you here?" I called upon her.
As usual no replies. To be honest, she never really replies, after all, the last time she replied to me was two years ago, coughing blood. I took a matchbox from my pocket, lit a match, and lit up the candle right in front of her picture frame. Though I don't generally believe in the afterlife, the comfort tradition like these gives me still makes me celebrate them. It's your death anniversary, ma...
Now then, shall I open the retail store? And as usual, to commemorate my mother's death anniversary, I just do what I do every single day: opening the store, sitting at the counter, and waiting for a customer- which doesn't really usually appear.
"Ma, I have been thinking." I looked at her picture frame. "Should I take the job offer? That'd mean I'd leave the store for a few months, but it would also mean I would stop eating soup leftovers and free burnt rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wouldn't you love that for me?"
I just stared at her image. This cursed aroma of paraffin circulating around the store is really putting a toll on my mental health. And as usual logic would state, my late mother's picture would no longer reply. Why would it?
"Also, ma, I was classified as an F-rank hunter. Would you be happy for me that I'm at least a hunter?" I couldn't stop my eyes from rolling down tears. Fuck! At this rate, I'd die in this store being nobody. When will I finally have a break from this stupid life?
How did my mother raise me by selling trash? Did she scam people? Was this whole store a front of what she actually does? Did she sell drugs? I have no clue, but she really was a tough woman. It would be best if I don't speak ill of her anymore.
The best thing I could do is write a pentagram on a piece of paper, focus my mana on it, and boom- the world, for some reason, consider it lucky.
[Lowest grade lucky charm] - or so what the universe considers it so. I should really be a shaman or something, at least that way I can scam off elementary students with some of these lucky charms. The problem is- these aren't scams, and the luck it has it's real, it's just that nobody really wants to buy them because even a monk-type hunter could create better lucky charms. How contradictory is my life? A person with a favor that creates lucky charms, yet is not able to pull his life together. Dead parents, lost sister, what more do I have?
Bling! Blang! The door chined- showing that someone has entered the store. Is it a customer? A loan shark? No, I haven't loaned from anyone despite my poverty. So, who or what is it?
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
I managed to sneak a peek from the counter, covering my face with a cosmetic magazine I found right below the cash register. "Good day, ma'am or sir?" I greeted the person that came.
It was a tall figure, probably in the sixth-foot range. They were covered in a thick, black coat to the point where not any part of their body is visible. There was a tall fedora on their head, so huge that its shadow completely covers any facial features available. Honestly, the only thing visible is the bright white light reflecting from their eyes.
"Yahoo!"- the man? spoke to me with an oddly cheerful tone. It was almost like those type of characters you see in the comics that looks intimidating, but nevertheless, cheerful in nature. "What do ya sell here, kiddo?"
I lowered the magazine that covered most of my face and continued conversing with the strange figure. What is this dude? "Well, we sell a bunch of items here, sir, though most of them are pre-apocalyptic products that don't really anymore sell. Would anything be of your want, I may help you find them."
"Well..." the figure scratched its head. "Do you have a lucky charm? I heard a rumor that the store owner can create some if I'm not mistaken."
"A lucky charm, sir?" I moved my head, trying to understand what he wanted. Is this the moment I get to show off my favor, or is he looking for a historical shamanic lucky charm? "Well, I can make one for you, sir. If that's the thing you're asking."
"So you're the store owner?" they chuckled. "Well, I'll have this old bicycle wheel and one lucky charm from you."
When did he pick up the bicycle wheel? I swear- I looked at him the entire time he was here. Is that really my product? I looked at the place where it was placed, and it was really gone. It really is my product.
I picked up a piece of sticky note and engraved a pentagram on top of it with my index finger. Thus, as usual, when creating a lucky charm, the scent of sulfur envelopes the paper as I pour my mana into my creation. [Lowest grade lucky charm]
The figure picked up the charm as he smiled looking at it. "Jolly! How much will you charge for the wheel?" they asked.
"I'll just price it for a thousand pesos, sir." I looked into the stranger's eyes. "Nine hundred, final price." This will be enough to last me for the week. Most of the products in my store are decades old, wouldn't be surprised if this is considered now an antique shop.
"Now, how much will you charge for this charm?"
"It's free of charge." I smiled back. "Take it as a complimentary product for supporting this roach-infested store."
I just let myself slide with it. Besides, it has been a long time since I had a customer, and the money they shall pay would greatly help me survive this week.
"Oh really?" the man gave a grim laugh, but nevertheless chuckled like a video game mascot. "Great, then I shall pay this charm with something from my own arsenal." he placed a black box on the counter and pushed it toward me together with the payment for the wheel. It was a thousand pesos, so I got to give him the change.
"You give such a cheap price for an epic item. Though I am a fair man, I want you to be aware of every value, take this box for me, will ya? Well then, I shall take my leave."
What value does a bicycle wheel hold anyway? What a weirdo. Wait, let me pick up the change first from the cash register. "Sir, your change!"- but, as soon as I looked away, he was nowhere to be found. It was as if he was never there, to begin with. The wheel, however, was really bought. Was he a high-ranked hunter from somewhere? I couldn't even hear his footsteps...
Anywhoo, he placed this some sort of a box on my counter. I wonder what it is... Should I even open it, rather, am I allowed to open it? I mean, he placed it on my counter, so it's mine now, I guess.
I slowly touched the black box, trying to open it. As I gently looked for what it contained, an eerie sensation circulated throughout the entire store- it was far different from the scent of paraffin from the candle nor was it the sulfury aroma from my charms.
I opened it and a little notification popped up on my screen.
「Do you want to install the system: The Revenue OS?」
Though I have not seen anything like this before, it is quite similar to the manhwas I read in my teenage years. Yes, people have gone crazy that a similar scenario from cliche manhwas has manifested into reality, but I'm on the brink of sanity that a strange game-like system was embedded in the front of my sight- a higher level of cliche. What is this?! What should I reply? Should I plainly say-
"Yes?"
「Installing: Revenue FS」
「Revenue FS Installed」
「Hello, Yuan.」
What is this?!
「The Revenue FS is a Favor System developed by * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚. It is to enhance the capacity of its user in selling. You can monitor your favor using this system. 」
It can hear my mind? So, monitor favor?
「 Favor: Luck Alchemist (F-rank) - Can create lucky charms.」
Oh. It really is just that. What help would this great gift the strange figure has given me anyway?
「 Answer: Your store will be a hotspot for anyone who has access to the Revenue FS. Your store is now considered a part of the Revenue Community. 」
Okay, hold on. There are so many options to select from, and I was left without any manual. I need to study this new system through. Maybe this could be the missing link in me finally acquiring the chance to improve my life!
Given this one rare chance, I spent over four- or maybe six hours trying to learn the features of the Revenue FS- or so what this thing calls itself. For starters, Revenue FS is an invite-only system that helps its users attain great heights. In my case when the strange person has given me this, he just wants me to produce better lucky charms. Oh damn it, when will I leave the working class?! I don't really know how many people or creatures use this system, but it has a specific instruction where one shall never reveal the existence of Revenue FS unless to a fellow owner of the FS or they will be eliminated by the administrators. Of course, I would not want to die at this point in life, so I'd be quite wary of that. Now, the Revenue FS has two applications. One, Community RFS- it helps you chat with other RFS users that you have met personally, in my case, I have zero on my card. And second, the RFS Level Up Guide where the application helps you hone your skills as a hunter. I mean, how would it help a non-combatant class like me? Just to create better lucky charms for RFS users?
For the past hours, everything felt so unmundane really. But, it will feel much worse when I'd leave the door of this store far confused. I need to sleep despite the time being six in the evening. Should I close the store? Maybe I should.
I stood up, but before I really close the store, I walked down the dusty aisle that I did not even bother cleaning for how many years. These scraps won't even sell anymore... should I just abandon and sell this store and continue working as a laborer in the underworld? Mom, I need some answers, please answer me.
I touched some of the old items on display. These same items were on display for two years, I didn't bother moving them after the death of my mother. "Now, why don't we reminisce about this surplus shop?" I uttered to myself.
With my eyes focused on the displayed products, I touched a rusty old knife and smiled at it. Who would buy stuff like this? What was my mother thinking?
「A previous account history has been detected. Do you want to merge data? Note: Current statistics available would not be lost. 」
A previous account? What in the world is happening?! And to whom was this account named?
「Yuletide Melon. Would you like to merge data?」
Ma?! My mother owned an account from the RFS?! My mother just carries more mysteries than she already had. I thought my mother was an insane woman for not letting go of this store, but it seemed like she was far more cunning, rather, she was multitudes far more cunning than what I thought she originally was. What would happen if I... merge data?
「Merged account data with Yuletide Melon. Some data are corrupted, only skill [Appraise] and skill [Magic shop] can be inherited.」
Corrupted data?! What has my mother gone to? She died a boring death! How come she ruled this kind of mysterious life? Now, I'm far more curious in knowing what kind of woman she is. Could it be possible that the person in the black coat was a friend of my mother? Ugh- I have no need for speculations today.
What is this skill I inherited? And the fact that it was from her?! I picked up the rusty knife.
Appraise?
「 Dagger of A Charlatan - A sharp dagger that can guise itself into a weak knife. [Rare]」
Huh? What is this? I looked back to check another thing behind me. It was a picture of an 18th-century friar with Hebrew symbols inscribed in every corner of the frame. Could everything...
"Appraise."
「 Priest of Lucifer - A demonic priest trapped in a picture frame. Do not unseal. [Forbidden]」
In this store... I looked at a vase with a dragon painting on its sides. Wait, why do I have a forbidden item? That's illegal in our nation. Anyways... let's continue checking on this vase.
"Appraise."
「 Heavenly Serpent's Vase - A flower vase made from the ashes of an ancient dragon. Increases overall room atmosphere and charisma by 10. (Unactivated) [Rare] 」
All magic items?! I looked at a crystal ball.
"Appraise!"
「 Useless Psychic Ball - Can predict 10 seconds into the future [Common]」
Have I been mindlessly selling valuable magic items?! I really need to lock this shop. I guess I need to be awake through the night studying all the shit my mother has been selling all this time. What was my mother's secret? Why was she able to procure such abundant magic items?! This was not a surplus store. This was a magic store!
As I approached the door of my store trying to hastily lock it, another person entered without warning. Their aura was heavy it was as if tons of elephants were riding my back. Her skin was foreign as it was as light as milk. What is this intense pressure I feel?! Who is this?!
"Is there the one who sells surplus and lucky charms here?" the giant lady asked howling.
"Yes..." I answered while trying not to vomit myself. Who is this woman dressed in all white and beaded pieces of jewelry?! Hold up... don't tell me. She's giving a European passing design, tall, and powerful? Don't tell me she's an S-class hunter...
"I am Gwendoline Marmite, and I heed a request for an item."
What the fuck?! Damn it. I was about to close this store!