---
6:50 a.m. – Dae-Hyun's Room, Now 14% Less Miserable
Dae-Hyun sat cross-legged, sipping banana milk, staring at his phone with a mix of pride and existential dread.
> [Current Balance: ₩412,320,000]
[Auto-suggestion: "Min-Ji's Housing Situation – Critical"]
[Option: Buy & Transfer Ownership of Nearby Studio Apartment? (₩182,000,000)]
[Anonymous Purchase Available.]
He hesitated.
Min-Ji had mentioned her apartment building had no elevator.
And no hot water after 8 p.m.
And sometimes the neighbor's cat broke in to steal eggs.
He imagined her stumbling home after a long shift, carrying groceries up six flights of stairs… in the rain… as dramatic music played in the background.
Then he imagined her walking into a brand-new apartment with warm floors and a real kitchen.
A voice in his head whispered:
> "Don't do it."
But the system whispered louder:
> [Would you like to proceed? Y/N]
"…Just this once," he muttered. "Just one comfy little studio."
He pressed Y.
---
Three Hours Later – Across Town
Min-Ji stood in front of a sleek modern building, holding a letter she had just found taped to her broken mailbox:
> "Congratulations! You've won a special promotion from 'K-Living Deluxe Housing'. This brand new apartment unit is yours, free of charge, no strings attached. Please use the code below to claim your key from the smart lock. Sponsored anonymously."
She stared at it.
Then she looked at the building.
Then back at the letter.
"…This is either the luckiest day of my life… or I'm being recruited into a cult."
Still, she entered the code.
Click.
The door opened.
Inside: shiny hardwood floors, brand new appliances, a walk-in closet (she'd never had a walk-in anything), and a bathroom so clean it looked AI-generated.
She stepped in, cautious, as if the floor might vanish.
"…Is this a prank?"
Then the voice greeted her:
> "Welcome, Min-Ji. Please enjoy your new home. You deserve it."
Her mouth dropped open.
"The HOUSE IS TALKING?!"
---
Meanwhile – Dae-Hyun's Room
He was curled into a ball, clutching his pillow.
"…Why did I add the voice greeting? Why?!"
> [Optional Update: 'Delete voice greeting?']
[Too late. She's heard it.]
He screamed into the pillow.
---
Back at Work – Later That Day
Min-Ji arrived at the restaurant in shock.
She sat in the breakroom, staring at her phone, muttering to herself.
Dae-Hyun tiptoed in, pretending to look for extra napkins.
"Hey," she said suddenly.
He jumped. "Yes?! I mean… hi."
She looked at him, eyes narrowed. "Did you do something again?"
"Who, me? I'm just a humble napkin enthusiast."
"Because," she continued, "I just got gifted a new apartment. Fully furnished. With a talking wall. And somehow… it feels like your fault."
"…That's crazy. I don't even have a microwave," he lied.
"I never said anything about a microwave."
"…Ha ha. Did I say microwave? I meant… uh… bike wave."
She sighed.
"Seriously. If I find out you're some secret heir or chaebol runaway or the reincarnation of a generous alien prince, I swear I'll smack you with my slipper."
He raised his hands. "Swear on my ramen budget—I'm just a regular guy."
She walked away slowly, suspiciously.
---
That Night – Rooftop of the Restaurant
Dae-Hyun stared at the sky. His hoodie hood was up. He looked like a lonely philosopher.
> [Current Balance: ₩263,000,000]
[Daily Accumulation On Track]
He muttered to himself.
"I need to stop giving people houses. Next thing you know, I'll adopt the manager's dog."
Then a new notification appeared.
> [Auto-Suggestion: Buy Backup Scooter for Restaurant Deliveries – ₩2,300,000]
[Upgrade Breakroom Coffee Machine? – ₩750,000]
[Employee Wishlist Available – View Now?]
"…This system is turning me into a corporate sugar ghost."
He looked down from the rooftop.
Below, Min-Ji was helping an old lady walk past the street.
She smiled, laughed, and bowed politely.
"…Maybe just one more upgrade."
---
End of Chapter 5