TL/ED: Hamsterminator

An Irregular evolves endlessly.

A body that perpetually grows naturally seeks out nutrients worthy of that process.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Jin’s insane appetite originated entirely from this.

On top of that, there was the despairing experience of starvation in the early part of his first year.

To Jin, eating wasn’t just about filling his stomach, it was something that touched the deepest layers of his unconscious.

To put it simply, he eats an incredible amount, and does it obsessively.

And yet, he didn’t have an ounce of fat on him, because despite consuming more calories than an Olympic medalist, his body absorbed every bit of nutrition without leaving anything behind.

Truly, not even a grain was wasted.

And even that wasn’t enough, causing faults to arise.

So even Jin’s body had something to say.

That what he was giving it was nowhere near enough.

That this much barely sufficed to enhance the body and recover from injuries, and that it needed more! More! More!

And today.

For the first time in over a year and a few months.

Rain poured onto the always-starving body of Jin.

It was the Elixir.

*

Um, uh, wow, oh.

When a person is surprised, only exclamations come out.

No, this is, well, whoa.

Like a regression of language function.

Like he couldn’t quite form words.

Jin remembered where he’d felt something similar before.

Right, the aquarium!

A giant aquarium he visited with his parents during childhood naturally came to mind.

The view beyond the glass had been grand, even awe-inspiring to a child’s eyes.

That massive thing that had swum through the deep blue...

That massive...

Hmm. Better stop thinking about it.

Jin smacked his own cheeks with the palms of his hands.

Wondering if he hadn’t fully woken up yet.

But even though he kept slapping himself until his face stung, it was still there.

Oh, wow, mm, ohh.

Jin, letting out another reflexive exclamation close to awe, scratched the back of his head.

What’s going on here?

Honestly, he was just confused about the situation.

Why?

Because he’d never been depressed over this issue in the first place.

No, correction. He never even had the time to be depressed about it.

There’s that saying, right?

That you only notice what’s missing when you’re surrounded by abundance.

Just like someone living day to day, struggling just to survive, doesn’t randomly look in the mirror and lament being bald, Jin had long since excluded his own defect from his thoughts, in a similar vein.

So Jin was simply flustered now.

Tripod walking?

No idea. What the hell is this. It’s scary...

That’s when it happened.

Sniff.

His nose twitched involuntarily.

At the same time, his brows furrowed hard.

Wait a minute, what’s that smell?

As he belatedly recognized the stench and looked around, Jin flinched in surprise.

It was because of the bedding, now heavily stained in a dark red-black hue.

It wasn’t just stained, unabsorbed waste had crusted into dried scabs on the blanket.

The source of the nauseating smell was obvious without needing to point it out.

“Wow. Fuck.”

Jin quickly sprang up.

Practically leaping out of bed.

What the? My body feels light.

Only then did he realize the chronic muscle pain he’d suffered for two weeks straight had completely vanished.

Reflexively, Jin checked his right arm first.

It was clean.

Just yesterday, the arm had been covered in dark bruising like a branded scar, but now it had returned to its normal skin tone.

And that wasn’t all.

Crackle!

Even Light Pole, which had been unable to function properly in the wrecked house, now sparked with electricity, asserting its presence.

That’s when Jin realized his mana circuit had been fully restored.

And not just restored, tougher and more durable than before.

At this point, anyone who wasn’t a fool would retrace their memory.

Just like someone detecting ominous rumblings in their lower belly mentally replays everything they’ve eaten in reverse order, Jin went through the same process.

Honestly, it would’ve been impossible not to notice.

Naturally, his gaze landed on the glass bottle that had rolled onto the floor.

She said it was a gift.

It felt like he’d received something far more incredible than expected.

As expected, rich kids are just different.

Even being a third-generation conglomerate heir means living in another world.

A family with a thousand-year history? No need to even explain.

A thousand years is nearly twice the length of the Joseon dynasty, after all.

Seriously long. Long? Wow, tsk, ohh.

Staring blankly down at his crotch, Jin suddenly shook his head hard.

“Ha-”

Then, after letting out a shallow sigh, he trudged toward the bathroom.

Deliberately continuing a different train of thought.

Taejo, Taejong, Sejo, Munjong, Danjong, Seongjong, Yejong, Jungjong... (TL Note: Names of kings of Joseon)

***

To go straight to the point, what Jin experienced was a kind of oversaturation phenomenon.

His body, which had always been frugally dividing its limited energy to enhance itself and heal injuries, though it couldn’t speak, it had been making do in its own thrifty way, was suddenly hit with a torrent in the form of the Elixir.

Of course, the transformation had to be dramatic.

In the blink of an eye, his mana circuit, which had been practically a rag, was restored.

All his accumulated injuries vanished without a trace.

And the energy that remained was used as material to strengthen his body.

Slowly, but without a trace of waste, Jin’s body absorbed the power of the Elixir over and over.

And in the process, the rebellion down below was also mercilessly suppressed.

Ah, how fleeting.

Like a midsummer night’s dream.

“...What.”

Naturally, Jin had no way of knowing any of this.

He just tilted his head in confusion at his body returning to normal the next day.

Did you leave me?

Hey, hey?

The thing just sulked in silence without responding.

Of course, Jin didn’t pay it too much attention.

It came back, even if only for a moment.

That was enough.

It’s not like it was completely hopeless.

Plus, he had found the ‘medicine’ to resolve the issue.

That’s it. Per⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌fect.

Once again, Jin interpreted the situation however it pleased him.

In reality, due to consuming the Elixir this time, the upper limit of energy his body could absorb had risen considerably, so a similar dose wouldn’t produce the same oversaturation effect, but how could he possibly know that?

He just felt relieved and thought that now he could finally go outside.

And so, unintentionally having been cooped up in a motel to avoid other people's gazes, Jin stepped out.

The streets of Downtown, same as ever, welcomed him.

Cigarette butts and colorful business cards with no promise of ever being cleaned, dust-covered outdoor units, slowly flickering lights.

The sliver of sky visible above was a dirty shade of gray.

A color that made it hard to tell the time with the naked eye.

But Jin had been in Downtown for two years.

He squinted and roughly guessed.

It was probably around 4 to 5 PM, he thought, nodding to himself.

The reason he had to guess was because his terminal had broken again.

The cause of death this time: [Prolonged exposure to overwhelming heat].

So Jin did some shopping for the first time in a while.

He got himself an old model terminal, then stopped by a nearby clothing store and changed from head to toe into a new outfit.

And just as he was about to pay, the store owner said,

“Aren’t you tired of wearing the same thing all the time?”

Maybe it was because Jin had visited a few times that his face was now familiar.

The question carried the implied message: “I know who you are.”

Jin turned his head to look at his reflection in the full-length mirror.

Then, showing off his broad back to the mirror, he replied,

“What do you mean the same? The embroidery’s different. This one’s got a cross. What was it last time? A tiger? Goblin?”

“No, I meant the style. Bomber jacket, jeans, and leather boots. You always buy the same thing. With a decent face like yours, why don’t you change it up? What a waste of a good frame.”

“I like this.”

Jin paid and left the store.

Then, for no reason, tilted his head.

Am I the weird one?

The reason Jin stuck with this style wasn’t anything special.

It was just that when he first fell into this world, his outfit had been more or less the same.

And because he had lived in that look for months.

You could say he’d grown attached to it.

Humans naturally find comfort in familiarity.

And Jin had an especially strong tendency in that direction.

The right corner seat on the second floor of Rumpumpumpum.

His sleeping spot was an unmanned motel in South Downtown.

A hot dog stand that only opened in the mornings.

His outerwear was a bomber jacket.

Pants, jeans.

A small boundary of life filled with things he liked and preferred.

Things that let him remain himself.

Things he wanted to protect, at times.

Jin crossed the street.

And at some point.

He opened the door to a fami⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌liar bar, one that had slowly started to move within the boundary of his life.

Ding-

With a clear chime of the bell, the bartender spotted Jin entering the bar and gave him a faint smile.

“Jin.”

“Hey, Poe.”

Waving his hand, Jin walked over to the center table and perched himself on a chair, glancing around the place.

“There are a lot of customers today.”

“It’s something to be thankful for.”

“Are they all Solos?”

“Not all of them.”

“Yeah?”

Jin raised an eyebrow.

Then, he shifted his gaze to casually scan the customers, some might be in the same line of work, some might not.

He made eye contact with a few.

Fortunately, no one threw out a line like “What the hell are you looking at?”

Jin hadn’t looked at them with hostility to begin with, and even the eye contact had been nothing more than a passing glance.

Soon placing his head back in its usual position, Jin spoke to Poe.

“Khalifa’s in Linker mode right now?”

“Yes. She’s in the middle of a briefing. Been busy since yesterday. A distinguished guest visited, too.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“If she’s busy, I can let her know to contact you later-”

“It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of time.”

Jin waved his hand like he was telling him not to worry.

Poe gave a slight nod.

And before he knew it, there were cookies and milk on the table.

Ah, this is it.

Jin’s eyes lit up.

Just looking at the menu, you couldn’t tell if this was a bar or a dessert café.

While everyone else was touching lips to glasses under the dim glow of the lights,

He was busy indulging in sweet and nutty treats all by himself.

Still, not wanting to disturb the quiet atmos⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌phere of the bar, he didn’t scarf the food down like usual and instead quietly munched with small movements.

As if understanding his thoughts, Poe gave a soft smile and said,

“I heard the news. I heard your achievements were impressive.”

“Ah. You heard?”

“How could I not?”

“Well, yeah, I was pretty amazing.”

Jin nodded proudly with an “mm-hmm, no doubt about it” look.

Then suddenly, a thought came to him.

What had started at Rumpumpumpum had blown up into something huge.

A noble house and Styx, no less.

Naturally, Jin recalled what Khalifa had said.

He’d been sick when he heard it, so his memory was a bit hazy.

But he remembered enough to summon the details in his head.

The Actavis Company building had ultimately collapsed that day.

The city government had immediately launched a formal investigation.

(Such a response was only possible because it happened in one of the 30s districts.)

As a result, it was revealed that Actavis employees had either conspired with Black Mages, or were Black Mages themselves.

Of course, this wasn’t information from an official government report, but merely a rumor that had leaked out.

Still, that alone had driven Actavis Company’s stock to rock bottom.

Added to that were rumors that a giant man had been found on the scene of the building collapse, suffering from extreme full-body burns, and naturally, all sorts of talk began to circulate.

Did Kilgit make a move? Murmurs.

Black Flame got burned? Murmurs.

Could it have been Solard? Murmurs.

With talk like that, Khalifa figured there must already be quite a few people who had grasped the overall outline of the incident.

And there was something else, too.

As Jin furrowed his brow in concentration, trying to recall whatever it was that was dancing on the tip of his memory, Poe, who had been watching him, spoke.

“Jin, have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“That the CCTV footage from Rumpumpumpum and King’s Groom recently made quite a buzz on the Solo intranet.”

“No?”

Jin tilted his head, and Poe chuckled knowingly, opening his palm.

“May I borrow your terminal for a moment?”

“Hm? Ah. Yeah.”

Jin instinctively moved to stack his hands together, then instead pulled the terminal from his pocket and handed it over.

“Here.”

Poe placed his chrome-coated fingertip on the display. A circular motion began tracing clockwise at the center of the screen, and once the circle was completed, a video started playing.

“H⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌m?”

Jin’s brows furrowed slightly.

The scene on the screen looked familiar.

That’s Rumpumpumpum, right? The second floor.

But it’s on fire...

The next moment.

In the overhead view on the screen, someone slammed the ground hard.

A flash of violet lightning surrounded them.

They closed the distance in an instant and slammed someone into the ground, the opponent spewed flames in resistance, but the violent fire show didn’t stop.

“...That’s me?”

“As I thought, you didn’t know.”

Poe said that as he withdrew his hand.

“Along with the footage from King’s Groom. Once it was revealed that the person in both videos was the same individual, your reputation naturally rose quite a bit. You instantly fulfilled the criteria that normally require money and a certain number of completed requests.”

Jin, who had been glued t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌o the screen until then, finally lifted his head.

Then came Poe’s voice, laced with a light chuckle.

"Congratulations. Jin. You are already a veteran?"

And at the same moment, as if on cue, the status window appeared.

[Promotion]──────────────

A little farther, a little higher.

You have been promoted to Solo (Lv3).

Reward: Perk XP 5,000

─────────────────