Chapter 05
Jackpot!
[The Constellations with increased spending desires are causing a commotion about wanting to go to the hot spring.]
Being the owner of a hot spring meant a lifelong job, and if it guaranteed 90 million gold per month, it was more profitable than most S-rank hunters.
I only ever dreamed of it, yet it actually happened!
Who cares if I’m F-rank?
As long as I make money, that’s all that matters.
The thought of walking down a path of endless prosperity made my lips curl into a smile.
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ asks, “Do you believe in fortune by any chance?”]
‘Isn’t this just like that “Do you believe in the Way” line?’
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ emphasizes that it’s ‘fortune,’ not ‘the Way.’]
It seemed my thoughts had reached them again.
Now that I think about it, ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ had correctly guessed that I had terrible luck earlier.
Since they had already proven their insight, I felt an odd sense of trust.
‘Why do you ask? I don’t have any money.’
I immediately guarded my wallet.
You never know when you’re being scammed, so it’s always good to be cautious.
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ waves his hand, saying, “I only wanted to read your fortune because you’re so beautiful, not because I wanted money. You can put your wallet away.”]
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ wags his tail while smiling with his eyes, asking “Instead, since it’s more accurate to read palm lines together, may I hold the owner’s hand for a moment?”]
Why is he wagging his tail while saying he’ll read my fortune?
[Constellation ‘Immortal Murderer’ draws his sword and emanates killing intent, saying “If you make the new owner run away because they’re uncomfortable with you, I won’t let it slide.”]
[Constellation ‘Yeomra of the Underworld’ steps forward saying “If it’s for such a matter, I’ll gladly lend my ledger.”]
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ sniffles, saying “I purely just wanted to read her fortune.”]
‘I’m not particularly uncomfortable though.’
Having spent years living with Park Si-woo and Ji-ho—who were both widely considered flower boys—I had built up resistance to flirtation from the opposite sex.
So I wasn’t particularly fazed, just bewildered at the blatant fox-like behavior.
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ proudly says at my words, “The impure thoughts exist only in your own minds.”]
[Constellation ‘Immortal Murderer’ warns, “Don’t be fooled by that innocent face” saying “Inside is a nine-tailed fox.”]
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ puts on an innocent expression, saying, “Fortune knows nothing of such things.”]
Even without meeting them in person, I could already sense an overwhelming FOX energy from ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’.
Suddenly, ‘Immortal Murdererer’s words sounded very credible.
I decided to take their warning to heart.
But curiosity was curiosity.
‘So what’s my fortune like? Let’s hear it.’
Since he was a constellation using an EX-rank hot spring, his skills were practically guaranteed.
I figured I might as well get a sneak peek into my future.
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ says, “I need to see your palm lines first.”]
‘Palm lines?’
Just as I was wondering how I should show my hand…
[Constellation ‘Immortal Murderer’ draws his sword.]
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ hastily changes his words, saying “Come to think of it, that might not be necessary.”]
Well… So he’s saying there’s no need to read palm lines after all?
If ‘Immortal Murderer’ hadn’t been there, I might’ve believed him outright.
My suspicion toward ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ grew.
‘Forget it. I don’t need a fortune reading.’
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ grins slyly and says “It was just a joke, please give me one more chance.”]
Well, since it’s free, should I give it a shot?
I was actually curious about my future.
‘Fine. Do it properly.’
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ tosses some coins onto a table to divine your fate.]
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ looks at the fallen coins and sighs, lamenting, “Ruin.”]
‘Not a future full of flower paths… but ruin?’
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ reassures you, “It’s not complete ruin.”]
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ says, “Wealth and death will come at the same time.”]
‘What good is wealth coming in? If I die, it’s all useless!’
[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ says “Since we want to enjoy the hot spring, please try to stay alive while running them.”]
To them, I was nothing more than the hot spring owner.
I found it refreshing that he viewed me as nothing more or less than a money source, but his fortune-telling left me uneasy.
Not that divination was necessarily accurate.
Deciding there was nothing more to gain from the constellations, I stepped into the hot spring.
[Hidden Field ‘Dried-Up Hot Spring (EX)’ reveals its magnificent appearance.]
“Wow… It’s huge.”
I had already noticed its size from the outside, but stepping in made it feel even more immense.
Even though there were several entrances leading to what seemed to be different baths on the first floor, the spacing between them was wide.
And there was a second floor on top of that.
Truly, a hot spring worthy of its EX rank.
Was this the hot spring that would accompany me down my golden path for the rest of my life?
“First, get changed.”
The spirit moved its small body and handed me a modified hanbok that looked comfortable for work.
I was about to take it without much thought when—
“There’s no need for that.”
A stranger’s voice came from behind.
As I turned my head, I saw a man with mysterious silver hair that looked like woven silver threads and clear blue eyes reminiscent of a serene lake. His beauty was breathtaking as he strode toward me, his ocean-colored robe billowing in the wind.
A refreshing appearance that could appear in a blue ion drink commercial.
That was my first impression of him.
Were Constellations’ appearances also at EX-rank?
It was the first time I had seen someone whose face could make Park Si-woo and Ji-ho look ordinary.
As the man lowered himself toward me, the earring dangling from his ear swayed gently.
“You’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
His cold, ocean-colored eyes locked onto me.
Unlike his flower-like beauty, the words that came out of his mouth were far from pleasant.
That dissatisfied tone…
I could already guess who he was without even asking.
“You’re the Ruler of the Hot Spring, right?”
“That’s not something you need to know. But I’ll say it again—soon, you’ll be walking out of here on your own.”
The more I looked at him, the more I wondered…
‘Did he eat rudeness for breakfast?’
“I can hear you.”
‘I meant for you to hear it.’
I could hear the man grinding his teeth in irritation.
“Let’s see how long you can stay relaxed.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a window appeared before my eyes.
[(Required!) First Step to Becoming a Hot Spring Owner, Revive the Dried-Up Hot Spring!]
[Find the Water Vein (0/1)]
[Death upon failure]
What the hell?
I had been so distracted by the grandeur of the building that I hadn’t noticed—everything around me was dry, barren land.
“This is too much! How can you just order an F-rank to find a water vein out of nowhere?”
“You’re right. Finding a water vein without any tools is impossible.”
[Acquired ‘Ordinary Pickaxe (F)’ from Constellation ‘Ruler of the Hot Spring’.]
The man placed a pickaxe in my hands.
[Ordinary Pickaxe (F)]
[Just an ordinary pickaxe, as the name suggests.]
What?
This description is as lackluster as its name.
‘Are you telling me to find a water vein with just this unremarkable pickaxe?’
[The Constellation ‘Immortal Murderer’ protests, saying, “It’s too harsh to impose such conditions on an abandoned hot spring with no one to manage it.”]
[The Constellation ‘Yeomra of the Underworld’ sighs and puffs on his pipe, commenting, “His prickliness is on par with a hedgehog.”]
[The Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Fortune?’ gets offended, saying, “Don’t insult hedgehogs.”]
“Shut up. If it’s a barren hot spring, then opening it has no meaning anyway.”
Ignoring the Constellations’ complaints, the man lazily sprawled out on the wooden floor, watching me like a lounging cat.
Failure means death—wasn’t that a bit extreme?
At that moment, I recalled the fortune I had been told.
‘Wealth and death will come at the same time.’
So that’s what ‘wealth and ruin’ meant?
If I died, what would happen to my money?
“If I die, what happens to the 90 million gold I was already given?”
“Of course, it’ll have to be returned.”
The moment I heard that, I started swinging the pickaxe at the ground.
‘Not 900,000 gold, not even 9 million—but 90 million gold? There’s no way I’m giving that back!’
On top of that, I had no intention of dying a silent and pitiful death.
[The Constellation ‘Ruler of the Hot Spring’ looks at you with a pitying gaze, saying, “It would be easier if you just gave up.”]
‘You do realize I’m holding a pickaxe, right? Want to take a trip to the afterlife together?’
[The Constellation ‘Ruler of the Hot Spring’ notices your chilling gaze and quickly looks away.]
Fueled by frustration, I struck the ground with even more force.
[A surge of rage engulfs your body. You have acquired the skill ‘Rage-fueled Pickaxe Strikes.’]
[Due to obtaining the skill ‘Rage-fueled Pickaxe Strikes,’ the Luck stat has been unlocked. Luck +10.]
At that moment, a droplet of water fell onto my face.
“Is it raining?”
Since I was in an open-air hot spring, I could see the sky.
But the sky was clear.
Then where did this water come from?
[Water vein discovered. Hot spring water will burst forth soon. Time remaining: 3 seconds]
Did I really find a water vein?
“I’ve hit the jackpot!”
I raised both arms and shouted in excitement.
Until I saw that warning message.
[※ Warning: If caught in the surge, you may die.]
Wait, hold on.
[Time remaining: 2 seconds]
At least give me time to run away!
[Time remaining: 1 second]
[Time remaining: 0 seconds]
[The hot spring water erupts violently.]
Thank you for reading! ♡
