I Sell Bottled Water for Gold in Another World!

"I, Alex, am a security guard."

"I graduated from a prestigious university in the capital, majoring in computer science. I finished at the top of my class. But after graduation, the only job offer I had was with a salary of 7,000 rupees a month."

"At that time, I was confused. I didn't know what direction my life should take. All around me were college students, so full of hope and ambition... and I felt lost."

"My grandfather gave me advice. He told me, 'It's better to do something than to sit and wait for everything to line up perfectly.' So, I chose to become a security guard."

"I get food and accommodation, and I now earn 15,000 rupees a month. It's not much by some standards, but it's stable."

"After working as a security guard for a few months, I realized that being a security guard is not only stable but also allows me to meet many different people and eccentricities."

"Life, right now..."

At this moment, in front of the security room railing, a black car was constantly honking its horn.

"Beep, beep, beep."

"Beep, beep, beep."

"Beep, beep, beep."

The car owner was quite angry and honked the horn several times, signaling to Alex to lift the railing remotely and let him in fast.

"Don't keep honking the horn, even though I know you're in a hurry," Alex explained. "Don't rush. This car is not registered and cannot enter. Please register before entering."

"This is a new car! A new car! I work in the building!" The car owner opened the car window and looked impatient.

"Strange vehicles entering the residence—registration is required," Alex sighed slightly.

"I am the supervisor inside the company!"

"Please register!"

"I'm almost late for the meeting!"

"Please register."

"You, you, you—"

"Please register!"

After several questions and answers, the owner was so angry that he couldn't do anything to Alex. He got out of the car and registered his name.

Seeing the information was correct, Alex let him in.

"Just you wait for me," the man said after entering. He slowly opened the car window and glared at Alex.

Alex raised his eyebrows.

Threaten him?

Who even cared?

However, at that exact moment—

[Ding!]

[Work as a security guard for 99 days! Security Service Function Unlocked!]

[Time remaining for first time-travel: 10 minutes!]

Hearing it, he froze. Wait… did the security uniform just talk?!

Flashback 99 days.

Alex's grandfather had passed away and left him a box. He'd said, "When life feels confusing, and you don't know where to go—open this."

So, freshly graduated and lost in life, Alex opened the box with a spark of hope.

And what did he find?

Security Guard Outfit.

But that wasn't all.

Pinned to the uniform was a letter—"If you're lost, if life gets hard… then go be a security guard."

So, unsure what else to do, Alex put his trust in Grandpa and joined a security firm.

And honestly? It wasn't bad. He stuck to the job—99 whole days.

Now here he was, fiddling with the same uniform, curious about its supposed "functions."

[The user can travel to ancient times in 10 minutes.]

[After 30 minutes, the uniform runs out of energy and automatically brings the user back.]

[To time-travel again, work more modern-day shifts to recharge it.]

"…Hiss~"

Alex couldn't help but gasp.

This security uniform…has time-travel capabilities?!

Was this for real?

Alex blinked. "How do I time travel?"

The uniform's voice replied smoothly,

[Silently think to yourself-Travel.]

Without another thought, Alex muttered the phrase in his heart.

The next moment—

"Whoosh!"

Alex vanished in a flash of white light.

-------------

Ancient Times.

Ironhold City.

City gate.

As Alex slowly opened his eyes, the very first thing that took up his field of view was the tall, ancient city walls of Ironhold City, their grey stones worn by time but standing strong like mute witnesses to many forgotten years.

"Oh my god!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with shock as he took a step backward, almost letting go of the plastic water bottle still held in his hand.

This scene. this style of architecture. these enormous wooden doors braced with iron plates. this is just like something right out of an old historical TV drama set," Alex grumbled to himself, his brain whirling as he frantically scanned every detail to try and assure himself that this was not merely some sort of crazy prank.

"Did I really… did I really go back in time?" He asked the parched wind, half-hoping to get a reply, but only the silence and the far-off groan of the city gate replied.

Shit!

This security uniform really can travel through time!

But what's going on in this city?

Why does it feel so depressed?

Beyond the city gates, where a river should have run, there lay only a serpentine scar of broken earth reaching out into the distance like an unhealing wound. The sun pounded down ruthlessly on the parched earth, cracking it into a mosaic of angry lines, and not a single sprout of grass was bold enough to push its way through this wasteland.

Scattered here and there were half-dead trees, their bark peeled by hungry humans who long ago had resorted to desperate means just to have something in their bellies.

Within the city walls, there was little improvement. Through the open gate, Alex could see the shadowy outlines of emaciated figures gliding ghostlike along the narrow streets, their clothes loose on their skeletal frames. The marketplace which once may have been filled with calling vendors and the clang of commerce was empty now, with quiet stalls and deserted carts which creaked faintly in the arid wind.

--------

Alex was stunned.

Seeing the situation unfold, memories from basic history lessons immediately flashed through his mind.

This looked exactly like the scenes of ancient famines he'd studied.

In history, countless civilizations have faced situations like this.

For example, there were times when extreme droughts led to desperate acts—even cannibalism.

In another recorded era, entire regions were filled with wandering refugees, trading valuables just for food or water.

In Alex's eyes, the same signs were now appearing.

Without thinking, he subconsciously took a sip from his water bottle.

"Water! It's water!"

"He's drinking water like that?!"

Nearby, seeing Alex drinking water in big gulps, the refugees' eyes widened in shock.

After three years of severe drought, every drop of water is precious.

Who doesn't regard water as more precious than gold?

The most luxurious way to drink is to just take a small sip.

But this man, dressed in strange clothes, was drinking it in huge gulps!

And then—

Something even more outrageous happened.

Alex felt his face was a bit dry… So he casually splashed water on it to rinse it off!

The refugees: !!!

He washed his face with drinking water?!

Such extravagance!

It didn't take long for hungry, desperate eyes to focus on him.

People began inching forward, the greed in their gaze clear.

They didn't care who he was.

They want water too!

"Uh-oh…"

Realizing their intent, Alex snapped out of it.

Careless... The bottle in his hand… stood out too much!

There had been severe droughts for many years during this era, and people would go to any extreme just to get food or water.

Not wanting to draw more attention, Alex quickly shoved the bottle into his pocket and...ran.

After running for more than ten minutes, Alex felt that no one was chasing him anymore, so he stopped at an alley.

"Oh my god…"

"I'm being chased over a bottle of water. Who'd even believe that?"

"When can I travel back?" He asked the system.

[Remaining time before return: 5 minutes and 36 seconds]

The system responded.

Alex: "Wait—you mean I can only return after the full time is used up?"

[At present, yes.]

"At present?" Alex frowned.

But before he could ask more questions, a voice sounded from behind...

The tone was gentle, polite, and careful.

"Sir, please wait."