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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The System Administrator's Contract
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As she hesitantly lowered her hand, she saw a transparent barrier she hadn’t noticed before, separating her from the wolves.
The wolves, which had looked ready to pounce at any moment, now paced outside the barrier, drool dripping from their mouths. It was as if they knew they could never break through it.
What in the world was happening?
“Administrator…”
A System Administrator. Did such a thing really exist?
The System was something only the Awakened could use. Some had speculated that, like a game, there might be someone managing it.
But unlike the ‘Constellations’—beings called stars or gods in the sky—it had never revealed its existence, so no one could be sure.
But an administrator was showing up *here*?
“…Administrator?”
As a skeptical Seora tentatively asked into the empty air, a new message popped up before her eyes as if it had been waiting.
【Verifying information on the Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’ who cursed at the System Administrator.】
“…”
What is that.
What, was cursing at the system some kind of summoning spell?
Momentarily speechless, Seora hurriedly apologized before she could offend the administrator.
“I-I’m sorry for cursing! I must have been out of my mind for a moment.”
Another message appeared.
【Information Compilation Complete】
Name: Yoon Seora (F-Rank)
Title: None
Trait: Combat-Type Sharpshooter
Contracted Constellation: None
Special Note: Foul-mouthed enough to curse at her benefactor
“…”
Was it just her imagination, or did that last line seem particularly bold?
It seemed the System Administrator was a bit petty.
Seora immediately prostrated herself on the ground.
“I’m sorry, Administrator. I was wrong. And… thank you so much for saving me.”
Who would have thought the administrator was listening? She had been trying to curse at Park Jinyong, and the words had just slipped out; she hadn’t meant to curse the system.
Really.
【Name: Yoon Seora】
【Awakening Rank: F-Rank】
【Overall Evaluation】
Mana: F-Rank
Mana Sensitivity: F-Rank
Combat Power: E-Rank
Title Conferral: Impossible
Constellation Contract: Impossible
Awakening Limit: F-Rank
But seeing her overall evaluation appear instead of a reply, it seemed the administrator’s mood hadn’t improved.
Look at that. Weren’t those the most laughably weak stats ever?
Normally, Awakened could rise to higher ranks through effort. F-Ranks were no exception, but Seora was so utterly lacking in talent that even that was impossible for her.
So how could the gods, the so-called Constellations, possibly be interested in her? Even if she survived this, nothing would change.
She would live her entire life as an F-Rank, always be looked down upon, and might even face a situation like this again.
And yet.
“That’s right. I’m weak.”
So what?
“I’m truly sorry for cursing you, Administrator. I didn’t mean to. But that’s just how much I wanted to live.”
She hadn’t struggled to survive all this time just to become monster food.
“I want to survive until the very end, tenaciously, even if others point their fingers at me.”
Facing stats that were the lowest of the low, Seora wore a bright smile.
“It’s better to be alive and rolling in the mud than not at all, right?”
As if in response to her words, the system window began to glow brightly.
【The System Administrator's laughter shakes the entire system!】
【The System Administrator of Planet—Earth joyfully drafts the first contract.
Subject: Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’
No contracted Constellation confirmed
Contract eligibility confirmed】
【System Administrator's Contract】
The Administrator of Earth wishes to enter into a contract with the Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’.
1. Upon accepting the contract, the contractor's stats will partially increase.
2. The Administrator will be unable to kill the contractor.
3. The Administrator may bestow a blessing upon the contractor.
Do you wish to proceed with the contract?
(Yes | No)
Seora stared blankly at the message—no, the contract—floating before her eyes.
“A contract?”
Am I seeing things?
Encountering the Administrator was absurd enough, but a contract was possible too? Like how a Constellation contracts with an Awakened?
“But why with me, of all people…?”
As she blinked, confused, one particular line shone brightly.
【2. The Administrator will be unable to kill the contractor.】
It was as if it were telling her to accept the contract if she wanted to survive here as she wished.
“Uh, so you’re giving me… a chance?”
Seora was at a loss for words. She had always believed that due to the limits of her talent, she would never in her life make a contract with a Constellation.
And yet, not just a Constellation, but the System Administrator himself wanted to make a contract with her.
No, that didn’t matter. What was important was that she had been given a chance to survive.
Everyone would rather grasp a diamond spoon than die, right?
“Of course I’ll do it.”
When would she ever get a better opportunity in her life? She also liked that her stats would only partially increase.
She didn’t want to be too strong. It would attract attention.
It was far better to become moderately strong than to stand out and bear the responsibility that came with it.
Seora cleared her hesitation and, with a very happy heart, pressed [Yes].
【The contract between the Administrator of Planet—Earth and Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’ has been concluded! Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’ has become the System Administrator's sole contractor.】
【You have achieved a first-ever accomplishment on Earth! A title is being granted!】
【The Administrator's blessing descends upon the contractor ‘Yoon Seora’! Your stats are changing!】
【Mana stat increased】
【Mana Sensitivity increased】
【Combat Power increased】
【Second title granted】
【You have acquired a new skill.】
【All systems have been opened.】
【Your stats have greatly increased. Re-evaluating overall assessment!】
“…Ah.”
New messages endlessly appeared before her eyes. But even without reading them, Seora could feel the changes in her own body.
What should she even call this feeling?
Like being trapped in a small fish tank and then suddenly thrown into the vast ocean?
Like being in a tiny hole and then suddenly soaring into the wide sky?
The sensation was like a waterfall bursting forth from deep within her, leaving her unable to even gasp in awe.
It felt like every channel in her body had been opened.
【Overall evaluation complete.】
【Overall Evaluation】
Mana: S-Rank
Mana Sensitivity: SS-Rank
Combat Power: S-Rank
Title Conferral: Complete
Constellation Contract: Impossible
Awakening Limit: None
【Awakened Information】
Name: Yoon Seora (S-Rank)
Title: System Administrator's Contractor (EX), Sniper Who Watches the Battlefield (S-Rank)
Trait: Unique Ability Type — Sniper
Contracted Constellation: None
Special Note: The sole contractor of the Administrator of Planet—Earth
“…”
Wait, hold on a second.
Seora, who felt like she was being swept away by the endlessly surging power, snapped back to her senses when she saw her stats.
I think I just saw something strange.
Um, what did that say?
…S-Rank? ‘Awakening Limit: None’? And my Trait is even a Unique Ability Type?
“Administrator, Administrator! You said my stats would *partially* increase. Partially! You didn’t say it would be this much…!”
Jumping from F-Rank to S-Rank?
Is this for real?
I cursed the administrator, and I became an S-Rank.
Is that what this is?
‘I thought I’d won the lottery, but this is on the level of winning the Powerball…!’
Seora’s eyes began to tremble violently. She had never wanted to be an S-Rank, not even for a second, so she wanted to grab the administrator by the leg right now.
But it seemed he had no intention of stopping there.
【The System Administrator bestows the first gift upon his sole contractor.】
【A sniper rifle has been placed in your inventory.】
A gift, he says.
Now starting to feel a little scared, Seora hesitated for a long while before she could finally open her inventory.
There sat a jet-black sniper rifle she had never put there herself. A magnificent weapon, befitting the title ‘Sniper Who Watches the Battlefield’.
Seora, who had awakened the Sharpshooter trait but never held a proper gun due to her nonexistent mana, was momentarily speechless.
“I think I could break a diamond spoon with this.”
First jumping to S-Rank, and now a sniper rifle on top of it.
After he had done all this for her, it would be embarrassing to say she didn’t want it.
‘S-Rank… My feelings are complicated, but since it’s come to this, I might as well use everything I can.’
Maybe this was fate, too.
“…Thank you.”
Seora hugged the sniper rifle tightly and bowed her head to the empty air. The rank-up was one thing, but honestly, she was overjoyed to receive the sniper rifle.
The corners of her mouth kept twitching upwards.
【The System Administrator retracts the barrier.】
Just then, the transparent barrier that had formed in the middle of the dungeon dissipated into thin air.
Seora, who had been stroking the sniper rifle with a silly grin, snapped her head up.
Even though only the administrator's intervention had vanished, the atmosphere had completely changed. The wolf monsters, which had been baring their fangs, were now becoming terrified by the sudden appearance of an S-Rank Hunter.
“Is this his way of telling me to try out my gift?”
Their instincts were sharp, as the monsters were tucking their tails between their legs, but Seora had no intention of sparing them.
If you’re going to hunt prey, you have to be prepared to be hunted as prey yourselves.
Despite holding a sniper rifle for the first time, Seora took a stance as skillfully as if she had been using one since birth.
【Activating ‘Title — Sniper Who Watches the Battlefield’. You will automatically master the use of all firearms.】
【The mana consumption for all firearms is automatically adjusted to a minimal amount.】
It was all thanks to this title.
Seora pulled the trigger.
“…Ah.”
Goosebumps spread across her entire body.
It was completely different from before, when she couldn’t even properly scratch a monster’s tough hide after squeezing out every last drop of her mana for a single bullet.
Not only did a monster’s head explode in a single shot, but thanks to the title's effect, her surging mana showed no signs of decreasing even after firing several rounds.
This was the power of an S-Rank.
Yoon Seora felt with every fiber of her being that her stats had truly, properly risen.
*Bang!*
Feeling a thrill course through her body, Seora pulled the trigger once more.
