Total Fruit [1]

<17:30>

In the northern district of Jarion VI's 4th sector, a crowd of residents strolled through the streets. In the distance, a massive tower, nearly taller than a skyscraper, stood imposingly, visible to all despite being separated from the city by a two-kilometer-wide wall. 

Amidst the bustling crowd, a man in his early thirties stood, his hair both messy and straight, wearing rectangular glasses. 

"Sir, please, I beg you! Call this number—you won't regret it!" 

With a hopeful expression, he stretched out a flyer to a passerby while wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. 

Every person he approached firmly refused, apologizing before quickly walking away, eager to avoid what they perceived as a lunatic. 

The man sighed. After an hour of fruitless effort, he was ready to give up. 

"Damn it… This isn't working. No one is willing to accept the offer." 

'Does this mean I'll never be able to start my company…?' 

Just as he was about to gather the remaining flyers stacked beside him, a hand reached out and took one. Startled, the man in glasses looked up at the person holding the leaflet. 

Standing before him was a young boy, his frame thin and frail. His blue-gray eyes gleamed with curiosity, and his brown hair shone under the fading sunlight. Large, round glasses, almost too big for his face, perched on his nose. 

"Interesting... 'Park Ho-Bong's Company: No Monster Spared.'" 

The boy then handed the flyer back and, with a smirk, said, 

"I presume you're Park Ho-Bong, correct?" 

__

After training class, I changed into fresh clothes and started heading toward the dorms, with Sae-jin walking beside me. 

"Hey, Sugil, are we training with your sister again today?" 

His eager tone made it clear that he was looking forward to it. 

"Yeah… I think so. We'll keep training like this for a whole week." 

Although I understood the necessity of these training sessions, they didn't excite me. They would help prepare me for the practical exam, but they wouldn't be enough to ensure my success at the academy. 

Fighting in the [simulation room] didn't grant me any experience points. My system seemed to recognize that the monsters were mere training dummies, mimicking real creatures but lacking substance. 

'So, I need to find a better way to grow stronger outside the academy…' 

Fortunately, I already had an idea. 

Park Ho-Bong—the leader of the [NMS] Company: 'No Monster Spared.' 

At the novel's beginning, his company was utterly pathetic—arguably the worst of them all. In fact, he was its only employee, as well as its founder. 

But as the story progressed, his significance increased. By the time of the 'Apocalypse Arc', his company became the main sponsor of Sae-jin and played a crucial role by providing rankers with a rare item—[The Total Fruit]. 

[The Total Fruit] 

Harvested from [The Nameless Tree], which could be found on the first floor of the tower Ho-Bong had acquired the rights to. 

This fruit had a simple yet powerful effect—it multiplied experience gain by five for any ranker who consumed it. 

It was thanks to this tree that Ho-Bong's failing company, once on the verge of collapse, eventually rose to prominence. 

But… there was a catch. 

While the fruits from the tree were incredibly valuable, the tree itself was nearly impossible to find. In the original story, Ho-Bong had discovered it purely by accident while exploring the tower's first floor. 

That meant retrieving the fruit wouldn't be easy. But it was my best—and possibly only—way to gain strength without interfering with the main storyline. 

"Hey, Sae-jin," I said, turning toward him. 

"Hmm?" 

"Uh… Tell my sister that I might not be able to make it today. I have, um, an urgent matter to take care of." 

"Oh? What kind of urgent matter?" 

"I'll tell you later, but for now, just let her know, okay?" 

Without pressing further, Sae-jin nodded. 

__

"Sorry for the mess… I haven't had time to clean up with everything that's been going on." 

We were currently sitting inside a small, rundown office. Piles of papers were scattered everywhere, the desks were covered in dust, and mold clung to parts of the walls. 

'Yeah… this place is a dump.' 

But I didn't mind. In the future, this very location would transform into a thriving company with hundreds of employees. I had no doubt about its eventual success. 

"Go ahead, take a seat," Ho-Bong offered. 

"Thanks." 

We both sat down on small wooden chairs. Ho-Bong, seated across from me, scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. 

"So… you—" 

"Yes, I want to join your company, and I'm absolutely sure about it. Well… 90% sure." 

I spoke confidently, closing my eyes with a smirk. 

"And, if possible, I'd like access to the tower under your jurisdiction." 

I folded my arms and watched as Ho-Bong's mouth dropped open in shock.

[Quest: Reach Level 5 during the entrance exam

Rewards: New card abilities of 1 or 2 stars, gain points in STR and END.

Failure to complete the quest within the time limit will result in penalties for the next 10 days. Quest difficulty: RANK F.]