{Quest is loading...} {Make Toonka become your ally.} {Reward: 100 XP.}
I was planning on making him my subordinate anyway since he had good potential in stealing which may be useful later on.
“How long are you planning on following me?” Toonka snapped at me.
“As long as I need to.” I shrug nonchalantly
“Are you some kind of stalker?” he asked incredulously.
I ignored that. This brat sure has a lot to say.
“You have skill, but if you keep stealing like that, you’ll get caught immediately.”
He scoffed. “Why are you so interested? Are you some kind of expert in stealing?”
“No, not even close. I’m a detective.” I say proudly.
You’re joking, right?” He stared at me, exasperated. “That job is so outdated. You’re not from around here, are you? Magic here is everything; no one needs detectives anymore.”
“We’ll see about that” I mutter under my breath.
“You talk big for an orphan. Although you got potential you’ll definitely get caught if you keep stealing like that. What are you going to do if you get caught? Nobody can share the burden with you, am I right?”
I’m pushing it here, and I know it. I’m guessing based on his clothes, his rough look, his attitude. But if I’m wrong, this little brat might never listen to me again.
“I don’t need to know your whole life story to see the kind of trouble you’re in,” I continued “If you keep running on your own.”
His fists clenched tightly, but he didn’t make a move. The tension hung thick in the air between us for a few moments.
“Let’s talk somewhere else detective,” He says reluctantly.
I smirk “I know the perfect place”.
***
I turned and led him back to the cabin where I had first woken up. It wasn’t much to look at—old, creaky, and barely holding together—but it would do for now. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the walls as I pushed open the door.
Toonka stepped inside, his eyes darting around the small space. “This dump?” he scoffed “figures you’d live somewhere like this detective”
“How rude this dump is where I was when I first opened my eyes” I replied dryly, sitting on a chair.
“So you were born in this garbage dump and what a weird way to phrase it” He said plainly plopping into the bed.
“So what do you want?” He asks, not bothering with pleasantries which I appreciated. I was never good with small talk.
“I’m going to make a detective agency and I want you to be my first employee” I announce casually.
“You should know that thieves and detectives don’t go well together” He said exasperated.
“Well I guess we’ll be a weird combo” I shrug
“You’re a real pain?” he sighed. “I’ve got nowhere else to go and nothing to risk, so... I guess I’ll try something new but just so you know I’ll ditch you if things get bad.”
{Quest complete.} {Reward: 100 XP.}
‘Put 60 XP into Luck’ I thought
{50 XP Spent.}
Luck: -10+60 (50)
So you don’t have to say it out loud, that''s good. I don''t want people thinking of me as a crazy person that wouldn’t be good for my reputation.
{Quest is loading...} {Build the Reputation of your agency.} {Reward: 200 XP.}
That''s strange. I was just thinking about that.
“Hey, what are you staring at detective?” Toonka’s voice interrupted my thought. He was sprawled on the bed, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling like he owned the place.
“Okay, first, let’s clean this place up. It’ll be where we live now.” I stretched languidly.
Toonka groaned. “Seriously? You’re making me clean? This is your dump, remember?”
“It''s our dump now,” I shot back, scanning the room. The floor was covered in dust, the furniture was worn and wobbly, and the windows hadn’t had a good washing in years. I was a clean freak before I came here so I can’t resist the urge to clean this dump. “If we’re going to call this a detective agency, we can’t have our clients running away”
“Clients?” he repeated. “You really think anyone’s going to come here?”
“They will,” I said confidently, though inwardly, I didn’t feel as certain. “But they definitely won’t come if this place stays the same”
I opened the storage chest in the corner of the room, hoping to find something useful. Inside were a few rags, and an old broom with most of its bristles intact.
I guess increasing my luck was a good thing.
I toss him a rag and broom and he catches both.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said, holding the rag like it was some sort of alien artifact. “What are we supposed to do with this?”
“Clean,” I replied flatly. “If we need more, I’ll figure it out. There’s bound to be a market or supply shop in the area.”Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
“I feel like I picked the wrong person to be my boss” He sighs exaggeratedly.
“You didn’t pick me. I picked you,” I corrected, rolling up my sleeves. “And since you’re my first employee, you get the honor of helping me transform this place your welcome.”
Toonka muttered something under his breath, probably an insult, but I ignored him and got to work. The broom was a disaster, shedding bristles with every sweep, and the rags smelled faintly of mildew. Still, it was better than nothing.
“Do you even have a plan, or are we just winging it?” Toonka asked as he half-heartedly swiped a rag over the dusty windowsill.
“Of course, I have a plan,” I said, brushing cobwebs off the corner of the ceiling. “Step one: make this place livable. Step two: attract clients. Step three: solve cases. Step four: profit.”
“Great plan,” Toonka said sarcastically. “But you forgot step five: survive.”
I smirked. “We''ll manage so don’t worry about that.”
He stopped cleaning and stared at me, his face unreadable. “Why me? Out of all the people you could’ve picked, why’d you choose a thief?”
I paused, considering my answer. “Because I see potential in you. You’re sharp, quick, and good at thinking on your feet. But more importantly I feel like I could act normal around you”
It wasn’t a lie. I felt like I could talk smoothly with him without beating around a bush.
Toonka blinked, clearly caught off guard. He quickly turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, I’m only sticking around because I’ve got nowhere else to go.”
“That works for me,” I shrug, going back to cleaning.
We worked in relative silence for a while, the only sounds being the squeak of rags and the occasional creak of the old floorboards. By the time we finished, the cabin was still far from perfect, but it was leagues better than before. The windows were clear enough to let in some light, the floor was mostly dust-free, and the air smelled faintly of wood instead of mildew.
We both collapse on the ground.
Toonka groaned dramatically, his arms sprawled out like he’d just fought a battle. “That was terrible. I’m starting to think I’d be better off in jail might’ve been easier than being your employee detective.”
I look out the window. The sky is dark.
“Get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be busy.”
Toonka didn’t respond, already half-asleep on the floor. I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
This bastard was already asleep, sprawled on the now clean wooden floor. I sighed, walking over to him.
“You’re going to hurt your back like that,” I muttered under my breath, grabbing him under the arms. He stirred slightly as I hoisted him up, but he didn’t resist. This kid is heavier than he looks, I drag him toward the bed.
After some effort, I managed to get him onto the mattress. He mumbled something incoherent.
I guess this is what it''s like to have a little brother. It''s kind of nice.
I stepped outside, taking in the crisp night air. The stars above twinkled faintly, their light barely piercing the darkness.
Too bad I don’t have the luxury to sleep.
I stretch and go into the forest.
The crisp night air greeted me as I stepped outside, the faint rustle of leaves in the forest surrounding the cabin.
I twirled the stick in my hand absentmindedly, testing its weight. It wasn’t much, but it had a decent balance. I felt sore from cleaning, but rest would have to wait. Training wasn’t something I could afford to put off.
I moved the stick through the air, doing slashes and thrusts. My skills sucked any professional who saw that would shake their head in disbelief.
I was mid-swing when a sudden crack of a branch nearby snapped me to attention. I froze, my eyes darting toward the source of the sound.
A figure emerged from the shadows. It was low to the ground, its movements eerily smooth. The creature’s glowing yellow eyes locked onto mine, its form resembling a wolf but far more menacing.
“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath.
The wolf-like creature growled, baring its fangs as it stepped into the clearing. Its body was lean, muscles rippling under its dark fur. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence—this wasn’t just some mindless beast.
It lunged without warning, and I barely had time to dodge to the side. The creature’s claws scraped against the ground where I had been standing, leaving deep gouges in the earth.
I swung the stick instinctively, aiming for its head. The blow connected with a sickening thud, but the creature barely flinched.
“Great. Of course, you’re tougher than you look,” I muttered, backing away.
The monster snarled, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey. I kept my eyes on it, trying to predict its next move.
When it lunged again, I was ready. I sidestepped and brought the stick down hard on its side. This time, the creature let out a pained yelp, staggering slightly.
I didn’t give it a chance to recover. I darted forward, delivering another blow to its hind leg. The creature stumbled, its movements becoming sluggish.
But it wasn’t done yet. With a sudden burst of speed, it leaped at me, its claws outstretched. I barely managed to block with the stick, the force of the impact sending me stumbling back.
The stick was splintering in my hands, but it held. I swung again, aiming for the creature’s head. The blow landed with enough force to send it crashing to the ground.
It didn’t get back up.
Panting, I stared at the creature’s still body, my stick reduced to a cracked and splintered mess.
I cover my mouth. I felt like throwing up. It was probably because my mental strength was too low but whenever I looked at the dead body I felt dizzy.
{XP Gained: 120.}
{Combat Skill: 50.}
‘Put 50 XP points in Strength, dexterity, and mental strength’
{100 XP Spent.}
Strength: 30+50 (80)
Dexterity: 30+50 (80)
-Status-
Name: Ji-won Park
Age: 17
Profession:
None Race: Human
Magic Affinity: None
[Basic Stats]
Intelligence: 60
Physical Endurance: 10
Strength: 30
Combat Skills: 50
Deductive Reasoning: 60
Magic Resistance: 20
Mental Strength: 70
Agility: 20
Dexterity: 30
Charm: 15
Luck: 50
XP Points: 10
[Skills]
Observation Mastery: Passive (Increased perception of your surroundings; +20 to observation-related tasks.)
Unshakable Mind: Passive (Increased resistance to mental manipulation or stress; +10 to mental resilience.)
Keen Observation: Passive (Automatically notices small details about others, places, or things.)
Intimidation Expertise: Passive (Pressing on a matter persistently makes people feel forced to reveal information; more effective against those with weak resolve.)
I let out a sigh of relief, dropping what was left of the stick. The dead wolf like body didn’t bother me any more so I pulled carried it to the cabin
I put the wolf outside of the cabin. I should probably be able to sell it so I shouldn’t go ditching it when it could be worth something.
I glanced up at the sky. The stars seemed a little dimmer now it was almost sunrise. Better get some sleep.
When I finally returned, the cabin was quiet. Toonka was sprawled on the bed, snoring softly.
Where do I sleep? He''s taking over the whole bed. I sigh and sit on the chair and put my head on the desk.
It’s a good thing I’m a fast sleeper…