Chapter 7

But now, things have changed.

At this rate, I can steadily earn a few thousand every month.

If I can successfully manage my finances with that money, won't it be like a snowball rolling down a hill, growing at an incredible speed?

However, human hearts are truly fickle.

'Is it really necessary?'

The doubt or fear that I should take risks when I'm already making a stable income with the "Quantity to Quality Conversion" skill.

'I don't really know much about stocks or coins...'

I've seen several employees with blank stares, having lost a few thousand overnight.

There's no guarantee that I won't end up like that.

In that case, it's much better to stick with the 100% success rate "Quantity to Quality Conversion."

By the time I arrived home, I had somewhat sorted out my thoughts.

'If I keep working like this, I'll earn 600 million won a year. I should just focus on what I'm good at...'

Just then, a call came in from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

[Is this Shin Yuwon?]

"Yes, it is. What's the matter?"

[This is the Mapo Tax Office. We received a report. You've been selling a lot of items on Hongdangmu Market recently, right?]

"Yes, that's correct."

As soon as we exchanged a few words, I thought, "Here it comes."

Business registration. Tax payment.

I had planned to do it anyway.

I even wrote down the registration deadline in my scheduler.

But I kept getting caught up in exciting things every day and ended up forgetting.

Still, it was fortunate.

When I cautiously continued the conversation, it seemed the tax office employee didn't intend to take harsh measures.

"Shouldn't I be able to file within 20 days of starting the business?"

[That's right. It's still okay for now. You should register soon.]

It was a kind of recommendation.

To register as a business owner as soon as possible and clearly and detailedly inform customers in the sales posts.

'Phew.'

They were even kind.

They mentioned potential cases that could arise from selling items on a second-hand market due to carelessness and advised me to be prepared in advance.

[Then, I hope you handle it well. Have a good day.]

"Yes, thank you! Have a good day too!"

...I received a good lesson in a positive way.

As soon as I hung up, I proceeded with the business registration and online sales registration procedures.

The system is well-established now, allowing online applications.

But as I filled out the business-related information on HomeTax, I felt a strange sensation.

Since obtaining "Quantity to Quality Conversion," I've been doing and moving as I please, following my whims.

Am I really becoming a formal business owner now?

[Business Name: TamPC]

[Industry Code: 525101]

[Industry Subcategory: Online Sales]

[Industry Sub-subcategory: E-commerce Retail]

[Business Type: General / Simplified ...]

A bit of excitement.

'Am I the CEO of TamPC?'

And a bit of discomfort.

'Am I an online salesperson?'

Still, action is more important than thought.

I continued with the business registration.

I had indeed made a profit over the past two weeks, and I intended to pay taxes honestly.

And I thought of it as a life experience, having never done anything like this before, due to my studies, job hunting, and work.

"Done!"

Now I'm a proud business owner.

I can sell items openly and confidently without fear of criticism.

But.

'...I'm not going to do this for the rest of my life, right?'

The previous discomfort resurfaced.

I have things I've longed for.

I had to suppress them for practical reasons.

Dreams I wanted to achieve as soon as I had financial freedom.

Those dreams were certainly not about selling computer parts.

But.

'50 million won is not enough. 600 million won is not enough either.'

Maybe they were dreams that were beyond my reach from the start.

...Like someone born with a silver spoon who would mock my dreams.

"Let's get to work."

If I keep saving money, an opportunity will come someday.

'Don't grumble. You should be grateful for everything.'

Come on! I opened the graphics card box with renewed energy.

But then.

It responded.

This maddeningly lovely quest system.

──────────

The tutorial Ⅲ of "Brilliant 30s" has started.

◇ Quest: Convert something invisible into quality.

◇ Time Limit: 10 minutes.

──────────

Convert something invisible?

But the tutorial isn't over yet?

...I had a good feeling.

But.

"Something invisible?"

...What could it be?

The important thing is that it's invisible.

──────────

The tutorial Ⅲ of "Brilliant 30s" has started.

◇ Quest: Convert something invisible into quality.

◇ Time Limit: 10 minutes.

──────────

I was puzzled by the idea of converting something invisible, but at the same time, I felt excited.

Isn't it in "The Little Prince"?

[The important things are invisible to the eye.]

Maybe I could create something even better than a graphics card or monitor.

But what?

'Something invisible... '

Air.

Something that can lead to death in a few minutes if it's gone.

But how do I feed air to Tam?

I brought five 500ml PET bottles that I had washed for recycling.

I closed the caps and handed them to Tam.

"Tam, I want to convert the contents inside the bottles, not the bottles themselves."

Tam sucked in the PET bottles as usual, but the "Preview" didn't show any options related to air.

A. 1500ml PET container

B. 50ml glass container

C. 10ml heat-resistant glass container

This isn't what I wanted.

When I canceled the operation, Tam spat out the PET bottles at my face.

"Ah, hey!"

...Tam is so unpredictable.

That's why when converting something large and fragile like a monitor, I sometimes hold a blanket in both hands to catch it.

I kicked the fallen PET bottles aside with my foot and thought again.

'What else is invisible?'

Meanwhile, the time limit was ticking down.

「00:08:51」

「00:08:50」

「00:08:49」

Mind?

But how do I feed my mind to Tam?

The mind is ultimately part of brain activity, and I can't feed my brain to Tam.

"Hmm..."

「00:07:31」

「00:07:30」

「00:07:29」

I started to feel anxious.

It felt like being stuck on a math problem with no solution in sight.

「00:06:43」

「00:06:42」

「00:06:41」

"What should I do?"

While pacing around the room, trying to think of what else is invisible, my phone vibrated.

Ding──

A reflex from my second-hand trading habit, I picked up my phone and turned on the screen.

But it wasn't a Hongdangmu Market chat.

It was a withdrawal notification.

────────

Withdrawal

100,000 won

Jinseong Securities

Balance: 55,898,379 won

────────

"Ah, this is going out again."

It was an automatic transfer for a 100,000 won fund.

It was a product that followed the U.S. stock market index, which I joined on a senior colleague's recommendation without much knowledge.

I treated it as a savings account and regularly deposited money, making it my only investment.

Occasionally checking, the return was usually positive.

The profit was about 300,000 won?

Considering it had been about three years, it was better than a savings account.

Still, every time I saw the automatic transfer notification, I felt strangely like I was losing money.

The feeling of only taking out and never putting in.

Maybe it's because the profit isn't visible.

'Huh?'

A flash of insight hit me.

'Not visible?'

I rummaged through my desk drawer.

*

It was a simple realization.

Something invisible but abundant around us.

Something invisible but crucial.

Information.

'The world runs on bits of data.'

In a world where salaries, credit card bills, and account balances are just numbers and text.

So, what if I could "Quantity to Quality Convert" those bits of data?

The problem was how to feed data to Tam.

'Tam couldn't recognize the air in the bottle.'

How could I make Tam recognize data?

「00:04:52」

「00:04:51」

「00:04:50」

With the tight time limit, I prepared two methods.

One was my phone.

I accessed the Naver Securities page on my phone.

I went to the page for a popular stock.

Prices, charts, investment information, and various numbers and text appeared on the screen.

I showed the screen to Tam.

──The power of "Quantity to Quality Conversion" is activated.

──Item: Jinseong Electronics Z10

──Quantity: 0.71

──Do you want to start the conversion process?

──The estimated processing time is 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

──The "Preview" skill is activated!

──Please select the result.

──A. Used Jinseong Electronics Z12 (LCD damaged)

──B. New Xiaolonglong SOL 3 SE

Failure.

Only options to convert products to products appeared.

The information on the smartphone screen was not processed.

「00:03:29」

「00:03:28」

「00:03:27」

With only about 3 minutes left.

"Phew."

I moved on to the second method.

It was a time-consuming approach, but it was the best option for now.

"Let's try it!"

I sat at my desk and held my phone in one hand.

The page was still displayed on the screen.

In the other hand, I held a pen.

I started scribbling the information from the smartphone screen onto an A4 sheet.

────────

HT Biologics (KOSDAQ)

Opening price: 12,150 won

Change from previous day: ▽1,150

Change rate: -8.75%

Market capitalization: 1,640 billion won

Market capitalization rank: KOSDAQ 592nd

Number of listed shares: 13,500,000

Par value: 500 won

Trading unit: 1 share

────────

The page contained much more information, but I had to stop there due to the lack of time.

「00:02:05」

「00:02:04」

「00:02:03」

As I handed the paper, the A4 sheet fluttered into Tam's mouth like it was carried by the wind.

──The power of "Quantity to Quality Conversion" is activated.

──Item: Mook A4 paper

──Quantity: 0.85

──Do you want to start the conversion process?

──The estimated processing time is 1 minute and 30 seconds.

As expected, the processing time was short for a single sheet of paper.

Now, I just needed the options related to information to appear...

──The "Preview" skill is activated!

──Please select the result.

──A. Mook Premium A6 paper

──B. HT Biologics 4Q Performance Review (Source: Jinseong Securities)

It appeared!

Option B clearly had nothing to do with paper.

So, it could be seen as the result of "Quantity to Quality Converting" the information written on the paper.

Sure enough, the system confirmed my guess.

──!!!Caution!!! Option B uses 'HT Biologics stock overview' as the material, not 'Mook A4 paper'.

──!!!Caution!!! Please confirm the material again.

"No, I don't have time. Proceed."

As I answered, Tam's light beams started rotating fiercely.

And 1 minute and 30 seconds later.

──Quantity to Quality Conversion is complete.

──Please "Consume" the converted item.

──Time limit: 10 minutes

A single sheet of paper fell gracefully from the air.

"Yes!"

I caught the paper before it hit the ground.

[HT Biologics 4Q Performance Review]

[Analyst: Kim Jin-tae, Jinseong Securities]

The title confirmed that it was the result of the "Preview" option B.

──"Consumption" is complete.

Thus, the quest was completed.

──Congratulations!

──You have completed the tutorial quest Ⅲ of "Brilliant 30s," "Quantity to Quality Application."

Great!

And what happens when you complete a quest?

──The experience of the "Alternate Space Workbench: Basic" has increased.

──The efficiency of "Quantity to Quality Conversion" has slightly improved.

──The processing time of "Quantity to Quality Conversion" has slightly decreased.

──The time limit for "Consumption" has slightly increased.

──As a quest reward, you have received a "Lucky Strike" coupon (one-time use).

A quest reward!

The second "Lucky Strike" coupon!

"Hehe."

I smiled foolishly, feeling elated.

The quest reward was great, but the ability to "Quantity to Quality Convert" invisible information?

The possibilities were endless.

Just the ideas that came to mind were numerous.