IFH - 3

Then what were those system messages for! And now I'm suddenly awakening like this?

Could it be...

"M-monsters, are they coming out now?"

Just as the stunned Baek Eun jumped up from her spot.

[The constellation 'Judge of the Dead' shrugs and conveys that this is not a dungeon.]

"Phew. I've been seeing things since earlier."

Baek Eun muttered, wiping away sweat and waving off the system window that appeared before her.

'Judge of the Dead.' Why would a constellation with such a terrifying name show interest in her?

'More importantly, if this isn't a dungeon, then where is this place?'

And what was 'Novice Farmer'? She had never heard of such a trait before.

As Baek Eun tilted her head in confusion, another system message popped up.

[The Constellation tempts you, saying it will treat you well if you contract with it.]

[The Constellation subtly appeals that your abilities would be very compatible with it.]

...Were constellations originally like this? From the reviews circulating online, Awakeners who made constellation contracts said they rarely conversed with their constellations...

When Baek Eun continued not to respond, system windows rose up in rapid succession as if determined.

[The Constellation explains in advance that it has already claimed you, so other constellations won't even try.]

[The Constellation laments that you have a teacher who would teach you everything from one to ten, yet you can't trust it, says sorrowfully.]

[The Constellation hooks its finger and promises to let you eat all the vegetables you like.]

"All the vegetables I want?"

Even Baek Eun couldn't help but waver at those words.

When she was very young, her mother had once made ssambap using her father's promotion bonus salary to celebrate.

Fresh vegetables with freshly cooked white rice, stir-fried squid, and stir-fried pork—wrapping them all together in one big bite.

She could taste the fantastic flavor of the main dishes wrapped in the cool, crisp vegetables.

'Mom! It's... it's so delicious!'

As Baek Eun drooled and mumbled with her mouth full, Baek Mungi smiled warmly and said.

'Princess. That's how ssambap is. It's delicious eaten one by one, but when many gather together, it becomes even better.'

'When many gather together?'

'In other words, these vegetables are like Mom and Dad, the stir-fried squid is our princess, and the stir-fried pork is the prince. Just like how our family becomes happier when we're all tightly together.'

'What! I hate squid! I want to be the stir-fried pork!'

She had sulked, but Baek Eun had come to love the vegetables that embraced the twins like her parents.

Which meant Baek Eun had an enormous romantic longing for field crops, based on that memory.

Of course, unlike those poor days, they could now buy vegetables freely from the Agricultural Research Institute, but it didn't feel right since it wasn't with her own money.

'But to be able to eat to my heart's content... Is it related to my trait?'

When Baek Eun showed curiosity despite not yet properly understanding her awakening ability, her constellation quickly bit the bait.

[Not just vegetables, but luscious fruits and flour-based foods too, your constellation will let you eat your fill, thumping its chest.]

"...Ugh! Fine! You're too noisy!"

The moment she answered, golden spheres gathered around Baek Eun and formed the shape of an ear of wheat. Though not physically real, Baek Eun felt her heart swell with some sacred feeling.

Accepting constellation contract with the constellation 'Judge of the Dead.'

Constellation contract accepted. Constellation skill section unlocked.

Adding Purification (A) to constellation skills.

Stamina (limited) greatly enhanced through the blessing of the constellation 'Judge of the Dead.'

Baek Eun couldn't keep her composure at the cascade of system windows opening with a rumble.

"Ugh. This is overwhelming...!"

A quest has arrived.

To cultivate crops, you must purify contaminated land.

Use your constellation skill to purify the land!

Progress: 0%

Success reward: Experience 50, ??? Entry Key, Lettuce Seeds, Fragment of Truth I

Failure penalty: Terminal illness

To accept the quest... (See more)

.......

What is this. I think I saw something wrong just now.

[Your constellation winks, saying it will never let you regret choosing it.]

My constellation is strange. Why is it acting like some outdated, cringey old-timer...

Baek Eun looked at the system window with cloudy eyes, then asked something she had wanted to ask since earlier.

"Where exactly is this place?"

[Your constellation conveys that this is a subspace materialized by your will within ■■.]

"Judge of the Dead-nim. The system window keeps having errors, so please explain so I can understand. And what exactly is a subspace?"

I definitely came through a gate... How can this not be a dungeon?

'Though the gate's appearance wasn't normal to begin with.'

[Your constellation sighs, asking you not to call it by such a bizarre name as 'Judge of the Dead-nim.']

"Then, Judge of the Dead-oppa?"

[Your constellation sighs deeply, saying your destructive sense makes it worry about your future.]

[Your constellation conveys that a subspace is essentially a personal dimensional space, which is easier to understand that way.]

[Your constellation advises that this place is unaffected by the outside, so you can plant crops freely and growth speed is increased.]

"Huh. Why would such an amazing place materialize by my will? I never wanted this!"

[Your constellation consoles you that you simply can't see the truth yet because you're weak, but you'll learn someday.]

What. Is this a secret?

"Then why did I end up coming here?"

The 'Judge of the Dead' looked down at its contractor, who tried to grasp everything with one question, with satisfaction. Indeed a clever child.

[Your constellation cheers you on, saying you'll learn that someday too, and if you're curious, work hard to clear quests and grow stronger.]

"......."

Why me? What if I fail and my life goes to ruin after accepting for no reason?

Baek Eun, who valued her life, had absolutely no intention of accepting the quest.

"Whatever. Go away. Not buying."

Hmm. Would it really be that way. From a very high place, the 'Judge of the Dead' smiled strangely.

∞∞∞

Baek Eun turned around and headed straight for her house. Not her real house, but the house in the subspace, but anyway.

[Your constellation softly coaxes, asking why not look around a bit more instead.]

"Noisy. I'm going home."

[Your constellation urges again that you can achieve everything you want here unlike reality, so isn't it a waste to leave now.]

"Whatever. There's a key in the quest reward. I can come again, so why act like now is the last time?"

Of course, she would have to succeed in the quest, but it wasn't completely impossible anyway.

[Your constellation asks in surprise how you knew that was the key to this place.]

Unless one's perception was zero, how could she not know.

Instead of saying that, Baek Eun gave a different answer.

"My family isn't here."

At your constellation's words that time would resume when she left the subspace, Baek Eun decided to exit.

Of course, before leaving, she didn't forget to shake the tree once more to make fruits fall down in abundance.

Baek Eun quickly gathered all the fallen fruits into her inventory, then turned around immediately as if she had no more business there.

[Your constellation smiles contentedly, saying you prioritize family as always.]

It was an appropriate answer, so fortunately it didn't try to stop her. Its constant urging to stay here was suspicious, but she had no intention of digging deeper.

Having arrived home, Baek Eun flung open the bathroom door. And before leaving the subspace, she asked with an uncomfortable face.

"...It's not that I can only enter and exit through the bathroom, right?"

[Your constellation pretends not to hear you.]

Why.......

Why does it have to be the bathroom of all places.

∞∞∞

The world returned to normal. Except for one thing—Baek Eun's daily life.

[Your constellation nags, asking when exactly you'll accept the quest.]

"I told you I'm not doing it. What if I fail and become ill, will you take responsibility?"

Even when lying in bed.

[Your constellation pounds its chest in great indignation, saying how, how...! How dare it cheat on its wife with a young girl!]

"...Tone down the emotional immersion."

Even when watching morning dramas.

[Your constellation strongly opposes, saying it absolutely opposes short skirts.]

Even when shopping for clothes online, your constellation chattered all day long. Perhaps it was fortunate that it couldn't be heard through her ears.

Baek Eun was already tired of how frequently this unfamiliar system window could open.

[Your constellation says it's fortunate your child's dinner isn't capsules, but aren't other humans pitiful, it urges once more.]

"That's true but..."

Since Baek Dan, ranked second, established his guild, their family circumstances had improved, allowing them to purchase expensive crops.

But ordinary people mostly spent their days consuming 'capsules' containing all nutrients evenly.

Capsules the size of fingernails that neither satisfied taste nor hunger. They became the catalyst for accelerating depression worldwide.

Taking advantage of Baek Eun's weakening resolve, her constellation coaxed once more.

[Your constellation throws words soothingly, saying the quest is no big deal, it's an ability to help people and grow the vegetables you love to your heart's content.]

"Uuugh, but...!"

What if I fail? I don't want to leave this world yet...!

[Your constellation asks you to trust just once with eyes tightly closed, saying failure is absolutely impossible, and if you must, come out to the front yard and get some fresh air while thinking about it.]

Should she. She had been staying home for days, so it did feel a bit stuffy.

The determined girl jumped up from bed and came out to the front yard. Her eyes caught the empty land without a single blade of grass, excluding the terrace.

Baek Eun looked at that place and muttered.

"Can contaminated land really be purified?"

And at that moment.

Quest accepted!

A quest window she had never accepted popped up.

What.

Why is it accepting the quest without my permission!