Chương 48: A STEP INTO THE REAL WORLD

Jimin quickly put his license in his wallet and put the mask in the inventory, along with the box. Then, he stormed out of the washroom. His heartbeat was still quite high.. He avoided eye contact with anyone as he walked through the hallway, trying to suppress the lingering excitement bubbling inside him. Every few steps, he felt the urge to grin again. D-rank Appraiser… Even thinking about it feels unreal. He went to the cashier's office to claim his payment for today.

After Jimin received the payment, he glanced over the numbers. 690, 000 won. His eyes widened slightly. Damn… That's even more than I expected. The payment notification arrived on his phone seconds later. Apparently, D-rank appraisals paid 50, 000 won per appraisal here. That means it should be around 100, 000 won outside… His lips started to grin despite his efforts. That's insane. After exiting the office, he let out a quiet breath. I'm actually earning money now… Money that could change his life.

Money that could let him leave the orphanage sooner. He walked toward the building exit. Near the exit, Kim Ji-hye waved at him. They had become surprisingly close during the past few days. As soon as they finished greeting each other, Ji-hye crossed her arms.

"Why did it take you so long?" Jimin smiled slightly.

"Guess what happened today?" She narrowed her eyes immediately.

"What… Wait… Don't tell me." Jimin pulled out his Appraiser License from his wallet and flashed the back of it briefly. Ji-hye's eyes widened instantly. She almost screamed but clamped both hands over her mouth at the last second. She whispered loudly, barely containing herself.

"You have become an actual Appraiser? Congratulations!"

"Thanks." They began walking toward the gate together.

"Can I see it?" she asked eagerly. Jimin hesitated.

"Uh… Sorry. But I can't show you." He quickly slid the license back into his wallet. Ji-hye blinked, "Huh… Don't…" She suddenly stopped walking and glanced around carefully. Her voice dropped to a whisper. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Don't tell me… You became a masked appraiser?" Jimin scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Y-Yeah, I did. Why?" Her eyes sparkled, "That's so cool…" He chuckled softly, "Thanks." I should keep my rank a secret. By then, they were already out of the headquarter's vicinity.

"You know what that means, right?" he said. Her tone changed slightly softer this time. She nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

"You won't be coming here from now on."

"Yeah," he replied quietly. For a moment, neither spoke. But Ji-hye suddenly smiled brightly, trying to lighten the mood, as she said, "Doesn't matter. We'll just grab some coffee sometime." Jimin smiled back, "We will." A comfortable silence followed. Then he asked, "By the way, how is your preparation going for the entrance exam?" She sighed dramatically.

"Fine. I mean, there's still more than two months left… but I'm dying."

"You'll do well."

"You better come support me."

"Of course. I will." I have to go anyway. They walked together a little longer before reaching the intersection where their paths separated. Ji-hye waved, "Don't disappear suddenly, okay?"

"I won't." They parted ways. Jimin headed toward the orphanage. —----- He reached his orphanage. But as soon as he stepped inside, he spotted Mrs. Han near the stairs. She looked at him with intent.

"Why are you so late today?"

"Uh… Nothing. Just work." She stared at him for a bit. Jimin noticed and said, "Is there something on my face, Mrs. Han?"

"No," she said slowly.

"It's just… you were looking a bit tense for the last few days. Today, it seems a bit better. Did something happen?" His heart skipped. Did I look that obvious?

"Uh… No. Nothing like that. It was just a hectic week. But I got a small bonus today. So… maybe that was it." Mrs. Han nodded gently.

"Oh. I see. Then go to your room and rest. Dinner will be served soon."

"I will. Thanks for asking, Mrs. Han." She gave a small approving nod. Jimin climbed upstairs quickly. The moment he entered his room, he dropped onto the bed. It's been an exhausting day. After resting for a while, he freshened up and joined dinner. After finishing, he returned to his room. He sat cross-legged and began meditating. It's the weekend tomorrow and there are no classes. He exhaled slowly. I will just visit an Appraiser Center. It's time to see what it's truly like to be an Appraiser…

And some more money. A few seconds passed and then suddenly- He opened his eyes.

"Damnit… I think I am getting addicted to earning money." He frowned.

"I don't feel like meditating like this." He grabbed his phone. I'll just watch something on Metube for a while. He opened the app and started scrolling. Within a few seconds, he noticed a few videos with thumbnails saying-'Earn 50, 000 won per hour with this method.'

'3 easy jobs to earn half a million per day in 2091.' Jimin stared blankly.

"Fuck it..." He closed the app immediately. This is getting out of hand. He tossed the phone aside and resumed his meditation. After a few hours, he went to sleep. —---- Morning came quickly. Jimin woke before sunrise and headed out for training as usual. The cold air cleared his mind instantly. After finishing his training, he checked his LP. [Current LP: 1018]"Just a few more left." A small smile appeared.

"Then, I can create 'Overtime'." The thought alone filled him with anticipation. He returned to the orphanage, ate breakfast quickly, changed clothes, and left again. Today, he had a purpose. He headed to a mall. —-------- The mall was crowded. Bright advertisements flashed everywhere, showcasing luxury brands and high-end gear meant for successful Rifters. Jimin felt slightly out of place. But not for long. Gotta buy something good to look professional. He browsed store after store.

Most outfits looked either too flashy or too ordinary. After much searching, something caught his eye. A black hooded long coat displayed on a mannequin. Simple, elegant and mysterious. Perfect. He checked the price. It was 300, 000 won. Jimin froze. His old instincts screamed immediately. It's bloody expensive. He stood there silently for several seconds. It's damn expensive. I should have around four million in savings… But I've been saving to buy gear.

He imagined walking into an Appraiser Center dressed like a student. Then, he imagined walking in wearing this. Perception and reputation matters. After a long internal debate- Damnit… I'll just consider it an investment. He paid using his card. This is the most expensive piece of clothing I've ever had. But now I even need something to wear with it. Then, he bought black pants, black shoes and a skull cap as well. When he checked the final total, he winced slightly. All that cost me 550, 000 won…

He exhaled slowly. All that money spent in an hour… Still… worth it. After leaving the store, he found a quiet corner and stored the clothes inside his inventory discreetly. —------ Outside, the city buzzed with weekend activity. Jimin headed toward the subway. His destination was already decided. The Appraiser Center at Yongsan. It had a D-rank Field Rift nearby. Which meant higher-tier items and higher payments. As the train moved through tunnels, reflections flickered across the window.

Jimin stared at his own reflection. Soon, this face won't be the one people will recognize. They would know only the Night Monarch. A strange excitement settled in his chest. On his way, Jimin thought, It's time to earn some serious cash…