The Automatic Rooting Range Is Too Wide - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Auto Looting Range Too Wide Episode 1

Episode 1: Every Awakening Has a Reason.

-There is no awakening without a reason.

27 years old this year.

Kim Min-chul, who had finished his military service, graduated from university, and was enjoying the unemployed life, was mindlessly watching YouTube Shorts today as well.

-When their life is in danger, when they need to protect someone, or when they’re placed in a desperate situation, people experience awakening.

-So you’re saying that desperate feelings bring about awakening.

A Professor with a shiny bald spot right in the center of his head and an announcer were having a conversation.

It was mainly a format where the announcer asked questions and the Professor answered.

-Then does the awakened ability change depending on the reason?

-That’s correct. The world-renowned Hunter Malcolm Bernard gained the ability to control cold air thanks to his burning desire to save people from a burning building.

People’s biggest interest lately was awakening.

A mysterious Tower that suddenly appeared in the sky one day.

This was because only awakened individuals could enter that place known to be full of treasures.

-Then it would be possible to artificially create awakened individuals?

-That’s an opinion that comes up frequently in academic circles. But it’s too dangerous an idea to ever put into practice. As I mentioned earlier, people only awaken in desperate situations.

-To artificially create such situations… we’d have to commit terrible acts.

Actually, from Mincheol’s perspective, it wasn’t particularly important information. Very few people became awakened. Most people had no connection to awakening whatsoever.

Even becoming awakened was problematic. They said money and fame would roll in if you climbed the Tower, but it was equally difficult.

The inside of the Tower was crawling with dangerous monsters. Moreover, to climb the Tower, you had to complete difficult Quests.

They said there were floors where you wouldn’t die in the early stages, but the experience of dying couldn’t be pleasant.

That’s why there were many people who lived ordinary lives despite becoming awakened.

“Yaaaawn.”

Lying down and watching YouTube made him drowsy. Mincheol yawned lazily.

Blink, blink.

As sleepiness washed over him, it became hard to keep his eyes open. The frequency of his blinking gradually increased.

Just as he was about to fall asleep without realizing it, his fingers lost their strength.

Clatter-.

His smartphone made a loud noise as it dropped down.

Unfortunately, since he was lying facing the wall, the smartphone fell into the gap between the bed and the wall.

That completely woke him up. Mincheol sat up abruptly and examined the gap.

He could see layers of accumulated dust and his smartphone between the wall and bed.

Mincheol lamented. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed impossible to retrieve without moving the bed.

“Ah, this is really annoying…”

But he couldn’t just leave his smartphone there.

Mincheol got down to the floor and grabbed the corner of the bed to pull it.

Nngh…

The bed frame was heavy, so he couldn’t move the bed with just a light pull. Mincheol held his breath and pulled the bed with all his might.

The bed moved little by little. Judging this was enough, Mincheol climbed back onto the bed and stuck his hand into the gap.

The problem was that the widened gap and the thickness of his forearm matched perfectly.

“Why… won’t… this… reach…!”

His fingertips touched the smartphone, but his forearm was stuck tight and couldn’t go down any further.

But going back down to pull the bed again was bothersome. Mincheol pressed his face close to the wall and pushed his arm in.

“Just… a little… more and… I think I can get it…!”

That’s when it happened.

Something suddenly appeared before Mincheol’s eyes.

【Congratulations on your awakening!】

【Status window, skill window, and inventory are unlocked!】

【You have acquired the unique skill ‘Auto Looting’!】

“Huh?”

Mincheol froze in place from the shock.

He slowly pulled his arm out from the bed and examined the message that appeared before his eyes.

“A-awakening? I became an awakened individual?”

The content he had just seen on YouTube came to mind.

Every awakening has a reason.

There are no awakened individuals without a reason.

“But is it okay to awaken for this kind of reason?”

Awakening while trying to pick up something that fell on the floor? He had never heard of or seen such an absurd awakening in his life.

“And why is the unique skill like this? Auto Looting?”

A unique skill referred to a one-of-a-kind skill that only one Hunter possessed.

While similar unique skills might exist, completely identical unique skills did not exist.

That’s why unique skills were the most important factor determining a Hunter’s value.

“How do I use this?”

【If you name the desired item, you will automatically acquire that item.】

“That startled me!”

【Acquired items are stored in inventory.】

As if understanding Mincheol’s question, another message appeared. Mincheol spoke with half-belief.

“Uh… smartphone?”

【All smartphones within a 100m radius will be acquired.】

“What? 100 meters?”

Suddenly, an ominous thought crossed his mind. Sure enough, Mincheol’s worry became reality.

【22 smartphones are stored in inventory.】

“Shit, what! Where did my smartphone go?”

“Kyaa, kyaaah! It’s a ghost! A ghost appeared!”

Screams erupted from the entire dormitory building. The walls were thin, so people’s voices could be heard vividly.

At the same time, the inventory opened before Mincheol’s eyes. Various smartphones were stored in the inventory.

“Uh, haha, haha…”

Mincheol, who had suddenly become a smartphone thief, laughed awkwardly.

27 years old this year.

Kim Min-chul, who had served in the military, graduated from university, and was enjoying the unemployed life, awakened today.

For the ridiculous reason of wanting to pick up a smartphone that had fallen on the ground.

* * *

Returning to his studio apartment, Mincheol looked up more detailed information about awakeners.

Since it was a society overflowing with information, he could easily find the information he wanted.

-Professor, what exactly is a tutorial?

Among them, what Mincheol focused on was the original video of the shorts he had just watched.

-The tutorial is a gateway that newly awakened individuals must pass through. I’m sure you all know what a tutorial is.

-Yes, it’s like a training program prepared by game companies to help new users adapt to the game, right?

-That’s correct. The Tower’s tutorial is no different. Since it was created for awakeners who just gained skills, it’s very safe and kind.

Safe and kind.

Both were words far removed from the Tower.

Even Mincheol, who had little interest in the Tower, knew well how vicious that place was.

-Awakeners don’t die in the tutorial. They simply return to Earth. Moreover, they can challenge it again and again.

-Is that really true?

-It’s true. Plus, the test content is always the same. According to Hunters’ testimonies, you need to obtain a red gem guarded by ten goblins.

You don’t die. You can challenge it repeatedly. The test content is the same every time.

Though Mincheol had great resistance to the Tower, listening to the professor’s words gradually made his curiosity grow larger than his fear.

The Tower was as mysterious a place as it was dangerous.

-Due to these characteristics, many awakeners challenge the tutorial multiple times. Even if they’ve already cleared it.

-Why do they go through such hardship?

-Because the faster the clear time, the greater the rewards. Experience points, titles, and if you do well, you can even get special rewards.

-So the better your clear performance, the stronger you can become compared to others. Then what’s the best record?

-The world-renowned Hunter Malcolm Bernard holds the best known record at 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

Mincheol put down his smartphone.

Without realizing it, time had flown by as he concentrated on the video. The sky was already painted with sunset colors.

Mincheol approached the window and looked up at the sky. Only a small portion of the sky was visible due to the building across from him.

Even so, he could see it clearly. The Tower floating in the distant sky.

Humanity knew nothing about the Tower.

Why it appeared. Who created it. What its exact name was.

All humanity knew was that the Tower was full of treasures.

Elixirs that could make even the elderly young again.

Ointments that could instantly regrow severed arms.

Staffs that could bring rain and overturn the earth, and so on.

All the treasures obtainable from the Tower easily surpassed human civilization.

“The Tower…”

Of course, Mincheol had no intention of climbing the Tower. To climb the Tower, you had to fight dangerous monsters.

However, he was curious. What would the inside of the Tower actually be like?

“They said you don’t die in the tutorial, right? Should I just take a look?”

【Would you like to enter the tutorial?】

As if it had been waiting, a message appeared. Mincheol was startled and stepped back.

“Geez, that scared me.”

【Would you like to enter the tutorial?】

The message appeared again. After agonizing, Mincheol impulsively shouted.

“Fine, I’ll go in.”

As soon as he finished speaking, light flashed. Mincheol instinctively squeezed his eyes shut.

A moment later, when he opened his eyes, Mincheol was not in his studio apartment. He was standing in a completely unexpected place.

Massive pillars carved from stone and arched bridges supporting the ceiling.

“A temple?”

That was his first thought. Mincheol looked around with a face full of wonder.

Then, he saw something glittering in the distance.

A red gem about the size of an apple was floating gently in mid-air.

“Could that be…”

【The tutorial will begin in 10 seconds.】

【You need to obtain the red gem visible before you.】

【However, ten goblins will interfere with you.】

Something came tumbling down from the sky.

Green skin, small stature of 140cm, short thick clubs gripped in their hands.

Large noses and mouths torn all the way to their ears. Their appearance was so hideous it was disgusting to describe.

“Kekik.”

“Keheek.”

The goblins laughed grotesquely while pointing at Mincheol. They seemed to be pondering how to devour him.

‘Those are goblins? They’re even uglier than I thought.’

Mincheol observed the goblins with a face full of curiosity.

Even though he knew well how dangerous monsters were, since his safety was guaranteed, curiosity preceded fear.

【10 seconds have passed. The tutorial begins.】

Along with the message, the light barrier protecting Mincheol disappeared.

Simultaneously, all ten goblins rushed toward Mincheol.

“Kieek!”

“Keeek!”

They were faster than expected. At this rate, he would get beaten by their clubs.

Even though you don’t die in the tutorial, he didn’t want to experience pain.

Mincheol’s mind raced quickly. Then, an idea flashed through his brain.

If there were no clubs, there would be no getting beaten, right?

“Clubs!”

【Obtaining all ‘Goblin Clubs’ within a 100m radius.】

As soon as the skill activated, all the clubs the goblins were holding disappeared completely.

“Kiek?”

“Keek?”

The goblins stopped in their tracks, startled. All ten of them stared at their now-empty hands, not knowing what to do.

“Keeek! Kieek!”

Just then, one goblin pointed at Mincheol and continuously let out strange cries.

The longer the cries went on, the more the goblins’ faces hardened stiffly.

Their pointed ears also drooped down. It was as if they had become frightened of Mincheol.

“Keeeeek!”

“Kieeeeek!”

Finally, the goblins began scattering in all directions to avoid Mincheol.

“Wow, this actually works?”

Mincheol said with an amazed expression. Soon he quickly came to his senses.

“This isn’t the time for this. I need to hurry and get the gem.”

It would be troublesome if the goblins regained their senses and charged at him again. Even if they were barehanded, their numerical advantage hadn’t disappeared.

Mincheol ran toward the red gem. The distance was farther than he thought, making it difficult.

“Huff, huff, this is killing me. Just how many meters is this? It seems like at least 100 meters.”

Suddenly, this thought occurred to him.

If it’s hard and bothersome to walk there… couldn’t he just get that with auto-looting too?

“Red gem.”

【Acquiring all ‘red gems’ within a 100m radius.】

As soon as he activated the skill, the red gem immediately entered his inventory.

【You have acquired a Quest item.】

【You have successfully passed the tutorial!】

【3 minutes 40 seconds! This is a world record!】

【This is an unprecedented Achievement! Rewards will be enhanced!】

Numerous messages appeared one after another. Among them, what Mincheol focused on was the time of 3 minutes 40 seconds.

“Didn’t that Professor person say the world record was 5 minutes 30 seconds…?”

He had beaten the world record by over a full minute. And so easily at that.

It was so easy to break that it didn’t even feel real.

【Would you like to complete the tutorial as is?】

A message appeared before the bewildered Mincheol. He was about to reflexively say he would complete it, but changed his mind.

“This… I could probably beat it by even more.”

By Mincheol’s estimation, the red gem’s position was about 100 meters away. That meant it was within his auto-looting range.

“I’ll try again.”

Light flashed again. Before he knew it, Mincheol was back in his original position.

Everything was exactly the same as before. Including the red gem in the distance.

“Kieeek!”

“Kyaaak!”

And the goblins baring their teeth at him.

【The tutorial begins!】

The light barrier disappeared. The goblins charged at Mincheol again.

Mincheol, who had been waiting, immediately activated his skill.

【Acquiring all ‘red gems’ within a 100m radius.】

【You have acquired a Quest item.】

【You have successfully passed the tutorial!】

【0.01 seconds! This is a world record!】

As Mincheol expected, the red gem was within his auto-looting range.

As soon as he acquired the red gem, the goblins disappeared. And the completion message appeared.

【Would you like to complete the tutorial?】

No matter what he tried, he couldn’t beat this time any further. Mincheol gladly completed the tutorial.

“I’ll end it here.”

【You have cleared the tutorial!】

【You have passed in an impossible time!】

【The Tower is greatly satisfied with your Achievement!】

【Tutorial rewards will be greatly enhanced!】

【You acquire a special title!】

【You acquire a ‘Hidden Piece’!】

At that moment, a flood of messages poured in.

* * *

Around the same time.

The Management Office that oversees Hunters in South Korea suddenly began moving busily.

“What? Someone passed the tutorial in 0.01 seconds?”

Just moments ago, the tutorial record had been broken.

Any awakened person could check the Tower’s records.

The information that someone had cleared it in 0.01 seconds was also provided by an awakened person working at the Management Office.

“No way, is that even possible? The world record is 5 minutes, so how could 0.01 seconds be possible?”

“Have we confirmed which country they’re from? Please don’t tell me it’s America again?”

“Find them! We must identify who this is!”

It wasn’t just the Management Office that was shocked after checking the record board.

“Master, someone who cleared the tutorial in 0.01 seconds has appeared.”

“Yeonhui, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? How could 0.01 seconds appear? Does that even make sense… What? It’s real? 0.01 seconds really appeared on the record board? W-who is this? Who did that?”

Seolangdo, South Korea’s number one guild.

“0.01 seconds? Am I seeing this correctly right now?”

“What? It’s not one of our guild rookies? Then where the hell did they raise such a monster?”

Helios, America’s number one guild, was also shocked.

“Someone slap my cheek. Is it really 0.01 seconds?”

“I thought a monster like Malcolm Bernard would never be born again… but someone who easily surpasses him has appeared?”

Crusade, Europe’s number one guild, was also stunned.

“Where the hell did they raise such a monster? Please don’t tell me it’s Helios again?”

“Can you set a record of 0.01 seconds just by being raised well?”

“Just what kind of unique skill do they have to clear it in 0.01 seconds?”

South Korea was shocked, America was surprised, Europe was brought to its knees, and all countries and guilds were turned upside down by this news.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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