Chapter 2: My Status Window Has Gone on Strike (2)

Lee Taejun

Status

CSTR?!#3

DEX%^%$&

VIT)(*&*9

Magic: &&*2

Skills

Remarkable Growth (?) - Increases stats and skill acquisition probability through #^&^#.

Lying in bed, I rubbed my eyes again.

What? Why is this happening?

Am I still drunk?

It’s already strange that the status window popped up as soon as I woke up.

The stats are invisible, replaced by bizarre numbers and system codes.

As I stared at the chaotic status window, a newly written message at the bottom caught my eye:

Your Status Window is currently on strike. Reason: Owner’s baseless acts of violence.

…A strike?

The reason is the owner’s violence? Could it be because I impulsively flicked my honey the day before in a fit of anger?

The Status Window went on strike because of that?

As I stared at the absurd message, dumbfounded, a new holographic window popped up with a ding!

If you have any inquiries, please submit a consultation request to the Status Window Manager.

Would you like to submit a consultation request to the Manager? Y/N

My Status Window suddenly went on strike. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

??? What kind of bullshit is that;;
Kekeke, seems like your brain went on strike too, buddy.
OP here. I’m serious. It says “Status Window Strike” and isn’t displaying my stats or skill information properly… Has anyone experienced this before? Please reply if you have.
Hey Hunter buddy, stop making up nonsense with that D-grade hunter ID you secretly picked up and go to sleep.
Actually, maybe you haven’t even awakened yet and you’ve just been hallucinating this whole time?
ㄷㄷ That comment just gave me chills; that’s probably it.
We’ve got a sage in the house here;;

“There’s no answer.”

I sighed softly.

No matter how hard I searched the internet, I couldn’t find any information about the situation I was currently experiencing.

Eventually, I even joined a hunter-only community to ask for help.

This was the result.

But it was fleeting.

Unable to shake off my lingering hopes, I scrolled up and the most recent post caught my eye:

Solution for When Your Status Window Goes on Strike [Must Read!]

Oh, so I’m not the only one experiencing this!

Relieved, I clicked on the post only to be greeted by this message:

There’s no such thing, you noob! Kkkkkk How can a Status Window go on strike? Kkkkkkk

The post featured a frog-faced character throwing a punch.

”…”

Sigh. What was I even expecting here?

After all, hunter communities are mostly populated by D-class awakeners and porters—practically ordinary people.

It was never the place to find real answers.

I turned off the monitor after washing my face.

So, only one option remained.

If you have any inquiries, please submit a consultation request to the Status Window administrator.

Would you like to submit a consultation request to the administrator? Y/N

The Status Window still flickered before my eyes.

Following its suggestion to contact the administrator.

After a moment’s hesitation, I finally moved my hand to ‘Y’.

And then, immediately:

You have submitted a consultation request to the Status Window administrator. Please select a consultation method:

The consultation recommendation message vanished, replaced by new options:

1:1 Consultation
FAQ
Automated Response

The FAQ must be a list of common questions and solutions.

Is the automated response something like a macro?

I pondered briefly.

Was the Status Window strike so common that it warranted a FAQ entry?

Could it be resolved with an automated response macro?

The answer to both questions was no.

You have selected a one-on-one consultation with the Status Window Manager. Connecting to the Status Window Manager. Please wait…

As soon as I selected option 1, the Status Window flickered as if it were loading.

I waited for about five minutes.

Suddenly, the blue glow of the Status Window faded, and the screen transformed into something resembling a chat window.

Before I could fully process this unprecedented change to the Status Window, a message popped up on the left:

[ Status Window Manager: Hello! This is Status Window Manager, here to assist you with your valuable time! ς(>‿<.) How may I help you? ]

”…”

Is this how the Status Window Manager usually starts a Q&A session?

I wanted to pick apart countless things about this, but first, I needed to figure out how to type messages when the Status Window didn’t even have a typing function.

Status Window Manager: Please direct your questions at the Status Window! (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑

As if reading my mind, another message popped up.

Is this a voice input feature?

I cleared my throat and carefully opened my mouth.

“Uh, hello. I’m contacting you because there seems to be an issue with my Status Window.”

Could you be more specific about what seems to be wrong? _〆(゚▽゚*)

“Just yesterday, everything was fine. But when I woke up this morning, my Status Window stats and skills weren’t displaying anymore. It doesn’t seem like my stats and physical condition are linked at all.”

Oh no, that’s terrible! You must be very distressed. Did the Status Window happen to display any specific cause for this?

“A new Status Window did pop up. It said it was on strike.”

Oh my! Are you saying your Status Window declared a strike? (◔_◔)

“Yes, exactly.”

I see! Let me investigate and get back to you. Please wait a moment!

With that, the message disappeared, leaving me staring blankly at the screen. The situation still hadn’t quite sunk in.

What the hell is this?

Does this mean there’s actually a separate department that manages the Status Window?

It’s strange—there seems to be no record of anything like this happening in the last 30 years.

But before my thoughts could spiral into further complications, a new message popped up:

Status Window Manager: We’ve been expecting you, Inquirer! I’ve just finished assessing the situation.

“Yes.”

As you mentioned, your Status Window’s functionality was suspended by the 담당자 after they declared a strike. (˃̵⌓˂̵)

”…Did they really go on strike?”

Yes, yes, the reason given was your baseless violent behavior, Inquirer. According to our records, you struck your Status Window with your fist three times 13 hours and 34 minutes ago. ( ง ǒ ∽ǒ)ง=3=3

“Wait, they went on strike over that?”

…Well… Normally we’d just let it slide. But the person in charge of the Status Window is known for having a glass mentality around here.

A glass mentality?

So when you suddenly resorted to violence, they couldn’t handle the stress and declared a strike.

I stared blankly at the chat window.

How fragile could someone’s mental state be to go on strike after three punches?

No, that’s not the important part.

“Is it normal for the Status Window to go on strike?”

It happens occasionally. Though it’s truly rare… You should treat them with more care! The Status Window manager is more sensitive than you might think.

“Sensitive?”

Moreover, your designated manager is about ten times more emotionally perceptive than most.

”…”

We’ve been trying our best to persuade them, but they seem absolutely furious.

No, of course it’s my fault for resorting to violence without warning.

But how was I supposed to know there was a manager for my Status Window?

It’s useless to argue about it now.

I glanced at my chaotic Status Window and asked, “So, what happens now?”

Until your Status Window manager ends their strike and returns, you’ll be unable to apply stats or use skills. This is unavoidable.

“When will they return?”

That depends entirely on your manager’s heart, dear inquirer. ( •́ ̯•。̀ )

If Management Mi’s words are true, I won’t even be able to work as a D-grade porter until the manager returns.

As I made a bewildered expression, another message popped up:

If there are no further questions, Status Window Manager will now sign off!

“Wait a minute.”

Do you have any more questions?

“I know it was wrong to hit the Status Window, but I had a reason.”

What reason might that be? (ﾉ*▽*)ﾉ

I can’t let it end like this. It’s not fair.

Finally, I began explaining why I had lashed out at the Status Window.

To be precise, it was because of the “Remarkable Growth” skill displayed on the Status Window.

This skill had been deceiving me for seven years, and the more I pondered it, the angrier I became, ultimately leading to my impulsive act.

”…That’s what happened. Still, I shouldn’t have taken it out on something innocent.”

After finishing speaking, I let out a soft sigh.

I hadn’t expected much from this conversation anyway, not knowing if my listener was human, a system, a machine, or even an alien.

It was simply a heartfelt lament, a cathartic outpouring I needed to share with someone who would listen.

But then—

Status Window Manager:

The Status Manager remained silent even after I had finished speaking.

“Manager?” I called out again, wondering if they’d deemed me unworthy of their attention and left midway through.

Um… could you repeat the name of the skill you possess?

“Remarkable Growth.”

You’ve had only that one skill since your Awakening?

“Yes.”

Remarkable Growth, an S-class skill. Is that correct?

“First, it’s marked as S.”

Please wait.

I stared at the message window, puzzled.

What’s this? The atmosphere suddenly feels different.

The absence of even a single silly emoji gave it an abrupt, serious tone.

Then, after a moment:

Dear Lee Taejun, are you the Earthling whose Status Window activated seven years ago?

“Earthling… yes, yes.”

Hmm, first of all, I must apologize.

“Apologize?”

The administrator sent an astonishing reply:

The “Remarkable Growth” skill you currently possess cannot be activated with your existing Status Window.

“What does that mean?”

A skill that can’t be activated with my current Status Window?

“Uh, so, ‘Remarkable Growth’ is a skill that’s linked to the latest version of the Status Window. That’s why it can’t be activated on the outdated version of the Status Window assigned to Earth.”

”?”

To put it more simply:

It’s like downloading a triple-A, cutting-edge game, but your computer’s specs are so outdated you can’t run it.

But let’s think about this.

I didn’t learn this skill separately.

The Status Window has had this skill imprinted in it since I first awakened.

In other words:

“So, all my lack of progress these past seven years… it was really all because of the Status Window?”

“Yes, this is entirely our fault. To be precise, it was the mistake of the department employee who linked a skill incompatible with Lee Taejun’s Status Window. But that employee was fired long ago.”

”…”

Still, the Lee Taejun-nim’s stagnant growth is entirely our responsibility, and as an apology, we wish to offer appropriate compensation.

Compensation.

If you’ve let someone waste seven years of their life, you definitely owe them compensation.

But what kind of compensation would this mysterious group managing the Status Window offer? Frankly, I was worried.

As if reading my thoughts, the administrator spoke:

Don’t worry. The compensation won’t harm Lee Taejun-nim’s body in any way!

“Then what exactly is the compensation? Are you going to drastically boost my stats or something?”

It’s against the rules to arbitrarily adjust Lee Taejun-nim’s Status Window values.

“Then…”

Instead, I’ll upgrade Lee Taejun’s Status Window, which is currently inactive due to the strike, to the latest version.

Upgrading his Status Window to the latest version?

By the way, if you agree to this reward, Lee Taejun will become Earth’s first and only owner of the newest Status Window. There are no plans to implement this new Status Window on Earth! ٩( ᐛ )و

The administrator’s demeanor brightened considerably.

Did he have that much confidence in this reward?

The first and only owner of the latest Status Window.

To be honest, I couldn’t fully rejoice yet since I didn’t know exactly what that meant.

“Do you really think this is enough for seven years’ worth of rewards?”

Absolutely! Once you experience it firsthand, you’ll be more than satisfied! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Even her pointless emoticons radiated overwhelming confidence.

Well, if that’s the case.

I had nothing to lose in my current situation.

Though there was still a 30% whiff of snake oil about it.

With my broken Status Window staring me in the face,

I couldn’t afford to sit around waiting for the striking manager to return.

Especially since I knew my current Status Window would never unlock Remarkable Growth.

“Then do it,” I replied quietly.

Right! Let’s get this Status Window replacement underway immediately. It’ll sting a little! Sting! (੭ ᐕ)੭*))

”!”

A searing pain, like being jolted by a taser at the base of my neck, flooded my senses, and I lost consciousness instantly.