Chapter 14: Chapter 13 - The house with the shoji doors
"It's been about 4 hours since the Karaoke incident, the police should've been called at this point and news reporters would be all over it by now, I need to move fast before word spreads" she thought to herself.
Seon-mi stood across the street from the house the boy told her about, idly fiddling with a vending machine outside a nearby store in order to blend in.
Looking down at her clothing Seon-mi commented "Hmph, this kid really went and bought me a shirt, anyway, he said the house with the shoji doors; this must be it,"
"I've been standing here for roughly an hour and a half but nobody has gone in or come out yet. I guess what that kid said about there only being a few of them during the day was right."
The house was a serene retreat nestled at the end of the quiet street. Its exterior embraced traditional Japanese architectural elements, adorned with shoji doors featuring delicate paper screens that hinted at the privacy within. Wooden lattice frames added a touch of elegance to the entrance, their intricate patterns creating a play of shadows in the soft sunlight.
A neatly tended garden surrounded the structure, offering a peaceful contrast to the urban chaos outside. The gate, adorned with a well-maintained bonsai tree, creaked gently as a breeze rustled through its leaves. The pathway leading to the entrance was lined with carefully arranged stones, guiding visitors with a deliberate sense of order.
The sliding doors offered glimpses of the interior, where tatami mat floors beckoned a sense of tradition and simplicity. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, adding a layer of tranquility to the surroundings.
Seon-mi summoned the system box:
INFO
LEVEL: 3
XP: 29 (LEVEL UP AVAILABLE)
AVAILABLE COINS: 0
NAME: Song Seon-mi
JOB: Hitman*
GENDER: Female
AGE: 23
WEIGHT: 58KG
HEIGHT: 5'5
HP: 75
SP: 95
MP: 100
CONDITION: minor concussion, sore left cheek, blood stained
STATUS EFFECTS: None
XP TILL NEXT LEVEL: 15
"Minor concussion huh? Well that explains the throbbing in my head. I should probably level up before I go in, I need to be at my strongest if I'm gonna have any chance at walking out of there alive."
She proceeded to tap the level up button next to her 'XP' and the all too familiar surge of pure energy coursed through her entire being, increasing all of her stats by one point.
ATTRIBUTES
STRENGTH: 15 (+1)
SPEED: 10 (+1)
CHARISMA: 6 (+1)
DEXTERITY: 5 (+1)
AGILITY: 8 (+1)
IQ: 20 (+1)
SKILL: 7 (+1)
ENDURANCE: 16 (+1)
LUCK: 2 (+1)
HUMANITY: 991 (+1)
"Ah that feels much better. Levelling up automatically resets my health and stamina so this was definitely the right choice."
"Hold on, I know what the 'H' and the 'S' means, but what's MP? Magic? Yeah that can't be right, I'll look into that another time."
Now facing the imposing house, Seon-mi felt the weight of its intimidating aura. Encased within a protective barrier of high walls that enveloped the perimeter, the structure stood like a fortress, guarding its secrets from prying eyes.
Bracing herself for the impending challenge, Seon-mi took a moment to reflect, her gaze shifting toward the mysterious house. Her fingers danced over the system interface, checking her stats one last time before she embarked on the perilous journey that awaited her beyond the walls.
"Nine Agility points, let's see what I can do with that."
Seon-mi surveyed her surroundings with a quick glance left and right before committing to her daring move. She took a deep breath in and exhaled. Sprinting across the silent street, she approached the formidable wall that shielded the house.
With swift agility, she leaped to the side, her left foot expertly propelling her off the gate's surface. Grasping the top of the wall, she executed a fluid motion, kicking her feet upward and pulling herself effortlessly onto the wall.
Perched atop the wall, Seon-mi's eyes now had a complete view of the mysterious house that lay beyond. The sun painted the scene in an ethereal glow, unveiling the subtle details of the traditional Japanese architecture and the serene yet ominous atmosphere that enveloped the estate.
"Wow, it really is a nice house."
Balancing on the edge of the wall, Seon-mi's agile form seemed to defy gravity. With a graceful twist, she spun around, her feet sweeping through the air.
Pushing off the wall in a seamless motion, she descended to the ground below, landing with remarkable finesse. Her knees bent slightly, absorbing the impact as she seamlessly transitioned from the silent dance on the wall to the stealthy embrace of the estate's grounds.
"Well I definitely couldn't do that before, so that's agility huh, I should really look into leveling that up more later"
Crouching low, Seon-mi moved with newfound confidence, she could feel her stats slowly altering her physical capabilities and it lit a fire under her.
Pressing her back against the side of the house, she listened intently to the distant chatter,
"Hmm, that doesn't sound like someone talking, must be a tv"
Stealthily navigating the perimeter, she sought the perfect vantage point to gather more information about the house's interior.
Advancing around the side of the house, Seon-mi arrived at the rear, only to find the once serene, blissful garden now marred by destruction. The koi pond, once a haven of vibrant fish, now harbored murky water with beer cans and plastic bags in it.
Stone lanterns lay shattered, their remnants scattered across the disrupted path. The once-graceful lily pads were torn and tattered, drifting aimlessly amidst the wreckage. The tranquil beauty had been replaced by a disheartening scene, a testament to the callousness of the men who had invaded the space.
Seon-mi noticed the back door had been left open, creeping to it quietly, she pressed her ear against the thin paper screen.
As Seon-mi crouched by the open sliding door, she sensed a sudden shift in the air. The creak of floorboards and an ominous presence behind her sent a shiver down her spine.
The next words she heard, whispered with a sinister tone, intensified the chill that gripped her: "Don't fucking move."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone