CHAPTER 2
The Absolute Ruler of the House (2)
Slurp—
The freshly cooked, chewy noodles were sucked into my mouth with force.
Because I had used less water, the intense flavor of the ramen seasoning stimulated my tongue.
When I placed the soft-boiled egg yolk in my mouth, the harmony was perfect.
After finishing the noodles, I mixed a generous amount of freshly cooked rice into the remaining broth and ate it.
"Phew."
After eating ramen and rice together, my stomach felt like it was about to burst.
"Hmm."
Just a moment ago, I was tearing up, worrying about my parents. But now, seeing myself stuffing my face so thoughtlessly, I couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed.
'Did I eat too much…?'
After filling my stomach, I left the dirty dishes in the sink and returned to the living room window.
[The Absolute Ruler of the House cannot leave the house.]
'As expected, it doesn't work.'
I checked just in case, but the result was the same.
'Even though my skill level has increased, I still can't go outside.'
Still, it wasn't entirely hopeless.
'I saw the possibility.'
The fact that my skill level increased by hunting monsters.
The fact that new skills with different functions emerged as my skill level went up.
'If I keep leveling up, I might acquire a skill that lets me leave the house.'
So, my goal was clear.
'Hunt monsters and level up my skills.'
But there was one massive problem with that.
'How am I supposed to hunt monsters if I can't go outside?'
To level up, I needed to hunt monsters—but all of them were roaming around outside.
Being trapped inside meant my options for hunting were extremely limited.
'I can't just rely on luck like last time.'
The only reason I managed to kill that monster bird, Kellikan, was pure luck.
It was fortunate that my "Household Domination" skill knocked it unconscious, and even luckier that goblins finished it off when it crashed.
There was no way something that convenient would happen again.
'But goblins… I might actually be able to kill them.'
It wasn't a particularly grand plan.
[The Absolute Ruler of the House cannot leave the house.]
As you can see, if I reach my hand just a little past the living room window, an invisible barrier blocks me.
However, this barrier only repels me.
I crumpled up a tissue in my hand and tossed it outside.
The tissue passed effortlessly past my outstretched hand and fell outside.
'Alright, this works.'
Luckily, my apartment was on the 30th floor—the very top.
On top of that, because Kellikan's corpse was too heavy, even after all this time, the goblins were still struggling to move it.
Kellikan's body was acting as the perfect bait.
If I threw something heavy enough, it could become a lethal weapon. If I aimed for their heads, I might be able to take out a goblin in one hit.
'This should be good enough.'
A 3kg dumbbell.
My mom bought it for me, hoping I'd exercise a little.
Of course, I had barely used it.
Maybe once or twice—hardly enough to say I ever worked out.
And yet, now I was about to use it like this.
'Thanks, Mom.'
The problem was the number of dumbbells I had.
'Only two…'
At best, I could only kill two goblins.
'Can I do this?'
As I hesitated with the dumbbell in hand, I noticed the goblins still struggling to move Kellikan's corpse.
More goblins had gathered around it than before.
They were groaning, but slowly, Kellikan's body was beginning to shift.
'Damn it.'
The goblins were about to leave.
'I can't miss this chance!'
I had been observing them for days, but I had never seen this many gathered in one place.
It was all thanks to Kellikan's corpse.
'Take this!'
Whoosh!
The dumbbell I threw plummeted toward the ground at high speed.
And then—
Crack!
"Kegh!"
"Kerk!"
A brutal sound of bones shattering echoed as blood splattered.
'…I screwed up.'
The dumbbell did not hit a goblin's head.
It landed right on Kellikan's head instead.
A complete miss.
'Now I only have one left.'
It was hopeless.
I still had other things I could throw to kill goblins.
There was my computer.
There was my TV.
But using those just to kill a few goblins felt like such a waste.
Logically speaking, I knew they were useless in my current situation.
But still—
"How much was this…"
This was a matter of emotions.
Maybe it wasn't quite that desperate yet.
'Besides, I don't think I have the strength to throw a TV or a computer tower.'
At best, I could push them out the window, but that wouldn't be enough to reach the goblins.
'This is perfect.'
After all, the dumbbell had flown right near where the goblins were.
Even though I missed.
'Are there any more?'
I searched every corner of my home, practically praying, but no more dumbbells appeared.
Well, if I were my mom, I wouldn't have bought me more dumbbells either.
What's the point if I never use them?
It'd just be a waste of money.
'Those goblin bastards haven't left already, have they?'
I cautiously peeked out the living room window to check on them.
And then—
I made eye contact with the goblins.
'Damn it!'
One of the goblins standing on top of the Kellican's corpse was holding the dumbbell I had thrown in one hand and was pointing directly at me.
"Kekek!"
"Keeeeek!"
The goblins started screeching and making a commotion while pointing at me.
It seemed they had figured out that I was the one who threw the dumbbell.
Leaving the Kellican's corpse behind, they began swarming toward my apartment.
'Are they trying to come up?'
The lower floors of the apartment had already been taken over by them.
Considering they had been dragging the Kellican's body inside, it seemed like they had made the lower levels their nest.
"Keeek! Kyaaak!"
"Keggegegek!"
Dozens of goblins poured out from below as proof of that.
Then they started shouting up at me, almost as if they were protesting.
There were far more goblins gathered now, and they were much closer than before.
'Should I throw the TV? If I do it now, I might be able to take out a few at once. If only I could unlock a new skill… Huh?'
Then, suddenly, a realization hit me.
"Ah!"
I had been too distracted by the electricity and gas coming back on to check an important skill.
Homebound Overlord's Shop Lv. 1
You can purchase registered items at their original price.
It was a shop skill that had unlocked along with the Dignity Maintenance skill.
"Open shop."
As soon as I spoke the command, a new window appeared before me.
[Homebound Overlord's Shop]
(Please register an item.)
ᚠ Available Funds: 2,203,239 KRW
▶ Register Item
'Looking at the funds, it must be linked to the Overlord's Wallet skill.'
The shop was empty since I hadn't registered anything yet.
I held up the dumbbell in my hand and spoke.
"Register item."
[Would you like to register this item?]
"Yes."
A bright light emerged from the shop window, scanning the dumbbell I was holding.
[Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg has been successfully registered.]
At the same time, a familiar dumbbell image appeared in the once-empty shop window as a new product.
[Homebound Overlord's Shop]
Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg (16,990 KRW)
ᚠ Available Funds: 2,203,239 KRW
▶ Register Item
'That's the same price I bought it for on Coupong.'
It seemed like prices were still the same as they were before the world collapsed.
'The ones from Coupong came as a set of two.'
Sure enough, the shop image also displayed two dumbbells crossed over each other.
"Purchase Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell."
[Are you sure you want to purchase this?]
[Yes / No]
"Yes."
The moment I confirmed the purchase—
Jingle!
A coin sound effect played, and light spilled out from the shop window onto the living room floor.
Ziiiiing
Two identical dumbbells materialized, just like the one I was holding.
'It worked!'
Carefully setting down the dumbbell he was holding, he picked up the newly created one.
"Feels good."
The texture and weight in his hand were identical to the original.
"Alright."
Without hesitation, he hurled it out the window.
And then—
Crash!
[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 7).]
[You have gained experience points.]
[3,345 won has been deposited into the Absolute Homebody's wallet.]
"Yes!"
Since the goblins were swarming right below, it hit the target in one shot.
"Keeek!"
"Kekek!!"
"Kaaagh!"
The goblins erupted into chaos as one of them was killed.
He grabbed another dumbbell and threw it at them again.
This time, the goblins, having seen the dumbbell, scattered in a panic.
Boom!
The dumbbell crashed into the ground, making a loud noise.
"Close one."
It missed, but there was no need to be disappointed.
"Purchase Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3-Set."
Bzzt—
Now, he could acquire as many dumbbells as he wanted.
Whoosh— Crack!
[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 6).]
[You have gained experience points.]
[2,512 won has been deposited into the Absolute Homebody's wallet.]
It was after successfully hunting the second goblin that it happened.
[Your skill level has increased.]
[You have acquired a new skill.]
"Nice!"
He had been worried that the goblins' low levels would slow his progress, but leveling up was happening faster than expected.
"It's probably thanks to the experience I got from killing Kellican."
Kellican had been level 23.
If the experience gained from defeating it had nearly maxed out his level-up bar, this progress made sense.
He immediately checked the new skill.
Absolute Homebody's Storage Lv. 1
— A subspace where items can be stored.
As soon as he read the skill name, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"A storage skill, huh?"
Just from the description, he could tell what kind of ability it was.
"Open storage."
Ding!
With a cheerful notification sound, a window appeared, resembling the shop interface.
He grabbed one of the extra dumbbells and placed it inside.
[Would you like to store this item in the storage?]
"Yes."
Bzzt—
A light, similar to the one from the shop window, shone on the dumbbell. The weight in his hand faded, and the dumbbell disappeared like a mirage.
[Absolute Homebody's Storage]
Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg (1)
Confirming that the dumbbell was successfully stored, he looked at the empty air in front of him and spoke.
"Summon dumbbell."
Bzzt—
A beam of light shot from the storage to the designated location, and a dumbbell materialized in midair.
Plop!
He snatched the dumbbell out of the air and grinned.
"It works."
He could summon stored items anywhere he wanted.
"In that case…"
He stored the dumbbell again and stepped closer to the living room window. Stretching his hand outside—
[The Absolute Homebody cannot leave the home.]
A transparent wall blocked him, accompanied by a notification window.
He carefully observed the goblins gathered below.
Then, aiming at a point about three meters beyond the invisible barrier, he spoke.
"Summon dumbbell."
Bzzt—
A light from the storage shot to the exact location he designated, and a dumbbell appeared midair.
Gravity took over, and the dumbbell plummeted at high speed.
Crash!
The goblin struck by the dumbbell had its head smashed in, and a cheerful notification sound rang out.
[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 6).]
[You have gained experience points.]
[2,733 won has been deposited into the Absolute Homebody's wallet.]