Chapter 1 – A Lucky Day
When I opened my eyes, I was already inside a sudden Gate.
This must be a dream.
I pinched my cheek, trying to hypnotize myself—but the sharp pain told me otherwise.
“Ouch…”
Towering trees surrounded me in a thick jungle. My cheek stung, and in the distance came a deep, strange rumble.
Putting it all together, I realized something.
I was totally screwed.
Just a few minutes ago, it had been an ordinary, peaceful weekday afternoon.
I’d been sitting in front of a convenience store, waiting to sell something secondhand. My grand plan for the day was to go home, cook some instant noodles, look for a part-time job, and then sleep.
But now this?!
I clutched my head in disbelief. My uncut hair, long overdue for a trim, turned into a bird’s nest as I tugged at it.
Even though Gates were said to appear without warning, the chance of a random civilian getting caught in one was extremely low.
“Why me…?”
A powerless, non-awakened girl whose only talent was haggling and rejecting lowball offers—me, inside a Gate?!
I quickly scanned around. Nothing but endless jungle.
Maybe… I was being punished for cleaning out my brother’s stuff?
That ridiculous thought made me sigh again.
Three months ago, I’d finally started sorting through my brother’s belongings.
He had died a year ago, caught in a sudden Gate—exactly nine months before I found the courage to begin.
At first, I couldn’t even think about it.
We weren’t just siblings. My brother was eight years older than me, and after our parents passed away, he raised me like his own child.
How could I possibly “move on” so easily?
But I had to survive.
Losing my brother didn’t mean the world would pity me.
I got fired from my part-time job, fell behind on rent, and even eating once a day became hard.
I tried to work construction—figuring I was stronger than most girls—but even that field was now dominated by Hunters.
I had no options left.
So, after three months of sorting, today was supposed to be the end.
All that remained was one thing: a feather. A trophy my brother once proudly brought home.
Once I sold it, I’d finally close that chapter and start living again, however humble.
But if this was divine punishment, maybe my brother bribed God himself to make sure I suffered for it.
“Sorry, bro!”
I groaned, gripping my head.
That’s when—
Rustle—
Something moved in the bushes.
“Huh? Did I imagine that?”
Rustle, rustle—
Nope. Definitely real.
And if horror movies had taught me anything—it’s that when you think you heard something, you absolutely did.
I’d just raised a death flag.
“….”
Something tall moved beyond the grass, approaching slowly.
Cold sweat slid down my neck.
As a non-Awakened, all I could do was run—but my body wouldn’t move.
“Why can’t I move?!”
Frozen with fear, I clenched my sweaty hands tight.
Was I going to die here, without even a chance to escape?
Images of my plain, uneventful life flashed before my eyes. I shut them tight, unable to face whatever monster was coming.
But then—
“Mya—”
That soft, fragile sound was definitely not what I expected.
“…A cat?”
Through the tall grass came a small, fluffy white kitten.
I blinked, dazed.
“…Cute.”
Not exactly the right thing to say in a deadly jungle, but honestly, it was adorable.
If this weren’t a Gate, I’d think it was a pampered pet that escaped from some rich family.
“Mya—”
With bright blue eyes, the kitten approached, curling its tail around my ankle and mewing softly.
The tension in my legs melted away.
I sat down and gently petted its soft head.
Its silky fur felt like the finest fabric.
A shady tree above, cool breeze, soft grass beneath, and a cute kitten beside me—was I… dead already?
So peaceful, it almost felt like heaven.
“Don’t tell me you’re a monster, right?”
“Myaa.”
The kitten stopped licking its paw and looked up, mewing again.
That adorable sound hit me like a critical attack.
It was way too cute—enough to make me forget I was in mortal danger.
Wait—no!
“This is a B-rank Gate! Get it together, Haewon!”
I shook myself and scanned the area nervously.
The emergency alert had mentioned this Gate was at least B-rank.
Considering most Korean Hunters were C-rank or lower, rescue chances were basically zero.
I was as good as dead.
“Is there somewhere to hide?”
I muttered as I looked around.
“Mya.”
The kitten meowed, then started walking off.
“…What, you want me to follow?”
“Mya.”
“You know the way?”
“Mya.”
“You live here?”
“Myaa.”
“So you don’t, but it’s dangerous here?”
“Mya.”
“…Smart cat. Wait, hold on.”
I froze mid-sentence.
Did I just… have a conversation with a cat?
“No way…”
It couldn’t be, right? But the meows really did sound like answers.
“Can you understand me?”
“Mya.”
“If yes, meow twice. If no, meow three times.”
“Mya-mya.”
“…Holy crap.”
It wasn’t a cat.
It understood me!
Wait—if that’s true…
Maybe this thing wasn’t trying to kill me. Maybe it was helping me.
It was waiting for me, even looking back.
If I’d somehow been chosen or something, maybe I could ask it for help.
I crouched down and met its eyes.
“Do you know a safe place?”
“Mya.”
That sounded like a yes!
“Can you take me there?”
“Myaa.”
What? That sounded like a no.
Did it just change its mind?
‘Cats really do whatever they want…’
If I wanted to survive, I had to make it cooperate somehow.
“How do I bribe a cat…”
I’d never owned a pet before, but I knew cats liked toys.
No snacks, no cat treats—but wait.
“Oh my god, I do have something!”
I pulled a glass box from my jacket pocket.
Inside was the feather—today’s trade item.
Perfect.
“Thanks, bro.”
I grabbed the feather by its shaft and waved it in front of the cat.
Its eyes instantly widened, curiosity lighting them up.
“Knew it. You’re still a cat.”
I swung the feather playfully. The kitten bounced, leaped, and even squeaked in excitement.
“Myaak!”
It looked completely addicted.
“Myaaa—!”
It shrieked like a sugar-high toddler.
Perfect.
Once it was totally hooked, I stopped moving the feather and tucked it back into my jacket.
“Myaaahhh—!”
It yowled in protest.
But I’d dealt with plenty of unreasonable buyers in secondhand markets before—this was nothing.
I crouched again, meeting its eyes.
“This is a trade. Take me somewhere safe, and I’ll give you the feather.”
“Myaaa.”
“Don’t like that?”
I showed a glimpse of the feather. Its eyes sparkled again.
“Deal?”
After a moment of grumbling, the cat let out a sharp meow.
“Myaak!”
That was a yes.
***
After hours of walking without water, I finally heard it.
“Rescue team here!”
I nearly cried.
“I’m here!” I yelled back, voice echoing through the forest.
“Anyone there?! Please respond!”
“Over here! Please help!”
Footsteps thundered through the underbrush.
That wasn’t the mindless stomp of a monster—it was people!
A man burst through the bushes. A huge guy with kind eyes—human, definitely human.
“I’m saved…”
And not just anyone. I recognized him.
Park Bobae, the White Shield, an A-rank Hunter from the guild Baekdan, ranked 2nd nationwide.
One of the best of the best.
‘Safe. Totally safe now.’
He smiled warmly. “You’re lucky. You were right near the Gate entrance.”
“The entrance?”
“Yes. Just five minutes that way—see that red pillar? That’s the exit. Usually, civilians spawn near the center, so we checked there first.”
“…”
So I was right next to the exit this whole time?
That meant… the cat hadn’t lied.
It actually led me to safety.
My knees gave out, and I slumped down in relief.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, just… exhausted.”
“Well, it’s been two days outside. We cleared the boss already. Head straight for that red pillar and you’ll be fine.”
He left to find other survivors, and I looked toward the glowing red pillar.
Some kind of skill must have made it visible—it hadn’t been there before.
“I actually survived…”
It was like escaping hell.
“Myaak!”
“Oh, right.”
The cat pawed at my leg impatiently.
This was all thanks to it.
“Fine, fine.”
I pulled out the glass box and held it out.
My brother’s last keepsake.
It was time to let it go.
No one else would appreciate it anyway.
I petted the kitten’s head and smiled softly.
“Thanks. That was a successful trade.”
Then—
Ding!
A clear tone rang in my ears. I looked around in shock.
“What was that sound…?”
And then—
[Human “Lee Haewon” has made a trade with an interdimensional being.]
[First achievement unlocked in ‘Dimension–Earth.’]
A bright white light filled my vision.
“…A notification window?”
Only Awakened Hunters could see those.
[Searching for a suitable title…]
I stood frozen, staring at the glowing window.
A few minutes ago, my life had been over—and now this?
Maybe this was my brother’s blessing after all.
Then, the light exploded like fireworks.
[You have awakened as ‘Open Market Administrator (EX)!’]
My eyes widened.
EX? That was a ridiculously rare rank.
But then I noticed the title itself.
“Open Market Administrator…?”
I frowned.
“There are weird awakenings out there, sure—but what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Love this