Absolute Dweller-Chapter 112

[Citizen Kim Dabin's trust level has increased.]

[Citizen Kim Dabin's trust level has reached 100.]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Telepathy.’]

The telepathy skill seemed to be one of the most useful abilities acquired so far.

While the Ring of Communication had a similar function, it only allowed communication with retainers. Telepathy, on the other hand, enabled direct interaction with ordinary citizens as well.

At that moment, Kim Dabin spoke up.

"Representative Jae-hyun, do you have a moment?"

"Why?"

"I know a great dessert shop, and I’d like to introduce it to you. My treat!"

"Really? Where is it?"

As I prepared to use the Absolute Dweller’s Door, she stopped me.

"I’d like to walk today. I want to see more of the city’s scenery."

"Alright, let’s do that. I was out for a stroll myself."

"Perfect! The café is about a twenty-minute walk from here. I’ll guide you."

Following her lead, we began walking toward the bustling district.

The shopping area in front of the apartment complex had flourished, even more so than before the monsters appeared.

Since the core of the domain had expanded around the apartment complex, the commercial area naturally thrived.

"There are a lot of seafood restaurants here."

"There are," she agreed.

It was likely a remnant of the time when sea monsters were frequently hunted, even in non-coastal areas.

Next to seafood restaurants, barbecue joints were the most common.

The smell of grilling meat filled the air, luring people in, especially around lunchtime.

Beyond those, there were restaurants offering spicy braised chicken, home-style meals, pork cutlets, ramen, and more.

The variety of eateries was staggering, with many customers queuing outside.

‘This is my first time experiencing this in person.’

Seeing it with my own eyes felt different from observing it through the Absolute Dweller’s Eye.

‘I’ve eaten most of these foods, but...’

Initially, the restaurants here focused on selling their food through the exchange.

With a mere 5% fee considered equivalent to delivery costs, and the food remaining fresh and unsullied after registration, it was an efficient system.

Thanks to this, buying food through the exchange had become incredibly convenient.

‘I used to wonder why people would bother opening physical stores...’

Now, having seen it for myself, I understood.

“So, what I did back then was...”

"I still can’t forget that moment. Because..."

"Cheers to everyone’s hard work!"

The lively atmosphere resonated with nostalgia.

People missed the things they once took for granted in ordinary life: meeting others, sharing drinks, eating delicious food, and chatting comfortably.

Kim Dabin glanced at the bustling restaurants, then spoke.

"I should start organizing team dinners with everyone from now on."

"That sounds great."

"Oh."

"What’s wrong?"

"I just realized I didn’t bring any cash. I left in such a rush. Do you think we’ll need cash at the café?"

Sensing her worry, I reassured her.

"Don’t worry. Cash is rarely used these days."

"Really?"

"Yes, while it’s still in use, most people prefer the exchange system."

Korea had long transitioned into a cashless society with the advent of cards.

Though cash usage had surged for a time due to the high fees in citizen-to-citizen transactions, the advent of the exchange system completely shifted the paradigm.

"You mean the exchange system?"

"Exactly."

"How does it work?"

It was apparent that, despite her administrative prowess, she hadn’t been fully briefed on recent developments due to being stuck in the office.

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"Look at what those people are holding as they leave the store."

"...Is that paper?"

"Yes, it’s a type of receipt. Customers list it on the exchange at the price written on the bill, and others can buy it."

"Ah."

She looked amazed and continued, "That’s impressive. I never thought of using the exchange like that..."

Who first came up with the idea remained unknown, but the method had become standard across all eateries.

"I’m sure the café you’re taking me to uses the same system, so you don’t need cash. And..."

Using the storage system, I summoned a wad of cash that had been lying unused.

"Even if cash is needed, there’s no problem."

As we passed Jeonpo Café Street and entered Seomyeon, the atmosphere grew even livelier.

Gone were the ruined buildings and streets littered with corpses. In their place were clothing shops, hot dog stands, arcades, and coin karaoke rooms, all thriving as before.

I muttered a long-held question to myself.

"How are these places operating? Surely not all the original owners are alive."

I had observed the revitalization of the area through the Absolute Dweller’s Eye, but the exact details eluded me.

Without hesitation, Kim Dabin answered.

"Basically, properties are allocated as rentals to those who first claimed them. Per your directive, ownership is granted to individuals with valid claims, recognizing private property. If the original property owner can’t be found, the tenant running the business is granted ownership. It was an idea to stimulate the economy, and it seems to be working well."

Her eyes sparkled as she discussed the topic, likely because it related to her work.

"What about unoccupied stores?"

"The person who revitalized the store gets to keep the profits. Some café part-timers have even become full-fledged owners."

"What happens if the original owner shows up?"

"In that case, the rights are returned to them, but the original owner must compensate the individual who revitalized the property. If they can’t afford it, they share ownership and continue operating together."

"Have there been any issues?"

"Not yet. There haven’t been many cases like that, so we’ve been able to resolve them smoothly."

I looked at her silently, prompting her to tilt her head in curiosity.

"Do you have more questions?"

"No, it’s just..."

"Just what?"

"I feel really fortunate to have met you, Dabin."

Honestly, if it weren’t for Kim Dabin, society would still be limping along in disarray.

"...Thank you for the compliment. But honestly, Director Jo Jun-pil and Attorney Lee Jong-seok have worked even harder than I have."

Among the citizens were many skilled individuals—former civil servants, lawyers, detectives, firefighters, doctors, and more.

"They’re incredible, of course, but you’re the one who assigned their talents to the right places. That’s your skill, Dabin."

"...Thank you."

Thanks to her efforts, Seomyeon had regained much of its former bustling atmosphere. However, not all scars had been erased.

As we moved further from the apartment complex, the number of shops dwindled, and abandoned, ruined buildings began to appear.

Though there were no corpses, bloodstains and debris from collapsed structures still remained in places.

‘Even so, this is remarkable progress.’

While the recovery was limited to the vicinity of the apartment complex for now, I had no doubt the scope would gradually expand.

"There it is."

The café Dabin brought me to was on the second floor of a quiet building.

It wasn’t a small café, with about ten tables, but every seat was occupied except one by the window—a surprising sight.

"Looks like this place gets a lot of customers."

"Yes, their cakes are really good."

Once a central spot in Seomyeon, the café now sat on the outskirts with little foot traffic.

That it still attracted so many customers was a testament to its quality.

"What would you like?"

"I’ll have an iced Americano, please."

"Iced Americano for two and one Nutella chiffon, please."

"Got it."

Like many places, Café Molle used the exchange system. They wrote “#89” on their business card, uploaded it to the exchange, and Dabin purchased it.

The owner, after confirming the transaction, handed us a buzzer.

"Please wait at your table for a moment."

The café’s charming decor, filled with cozy and whimsical items, created a relaxing atmosphere.

Seated on a plush sofa with stuffed animals arranged around us, we waited briefly before our coffee and cake arrived.

"Try it."

"Thank you."

As I pierced the chiffon cake with my fork, I could already feel its delightful fluffiness.

Taking a bite, I was greeted with the soft, sweet texture of the cake, putting me in a good mood.

True to Dabin’s confidence, the dessert was outstanding.

"This is delicious."

"Right?"

Smiling meaningfully, Dabin cut a piece of the Nutella chiffon for herself and beamed with happiness as she tasted it.

Then, she turned to me.

"Representative Jae-hyun, do you know where chiffon cake originated?"

"Uh, no?"

"Chiffon means ‘rag’ in French, but it’s often interpreted as ‘silk.’ The cake was named for its silky, elegant texture. It was first created in the 1940s, and..."

Listening to her explain the history of chiffon cake, I understood how she managed her work so meticulously.

‘She’s incredibly smart.’

Even as a dessert enthusiast, could anyone be this knowledgeable?

Time flew by as she detailed the history of chiffon cake, and before I knew it, the cake was gone.

"That was fun. Shall we get going?"

But Dabin’s passion for desserts ran deeper than I anticipated.

"How about one more before we go?"

After learning about the history of another cake, we finally left the café.

But then.

"Alright, let’s head out."

"Sure! The next café is called Knockout, and their tiramisu is amazing!"

Ah.

That day, I ended up visiting three cafés and learning about the history of six desserts before being released from her grasp.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s military concentrated most of its forces near the 38th parallel, as the war was technically still ongoing.

As a result, the rear areas were relatively understaffed and under-equipped, with artillery rarely stationed there.

The rear wasn’t meant for combat but for auxiliary duties such as training recruits, reservist education, and civil defense drills.

There were exceptions, though, like the Hanbit, Kori, Wolseong, and Hanul nuclear power plants.

The defense of these plants was critical since any incident there could spell catastrophe for the entire country.

That’s why, when monsters appeared, related units focused their efforts on protecting the plants.

But there were limits to what they could do.

Today—

BOOOOM!

Something exploded at the Kori Nuclear Power Plant.