Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 92

“Clear B1. Awaiting orders!”

“Awaiting! Ultra is taken care of. Should we handle the rest too?”

“C2, retreat.”

“Huh?”

“C2! Fall back and wait!”

“Yes, understood. Cease magical attacks. C2! Retreating. Monitoring the situation!”

“Monitoring the situation! C2! Perimeter watch!”

After instructing the guild members and recognizing the shuttle, I retreated back 100 meters. A strange scream came from the hill.

A moment later.

I watched a tragic movie. Well, I filmed a movie together because there was a dangerous situation in the middle.

Why can’t over 300 Awakened handle about 1,000 evolved Zerglings and 300 Hydras?

Even if the mages, healers, and priests are low on mana, this is absurd. Or are there that many mental-type Awakened?

At first, they were endlessly happy when we helped, but after one retreat and two assists, some were grinding their teeth.

Some said to either help properly or not interfere. Fine, I won’t interfere.

So, I retreated after one assist and watched. I secretly produced about ten more new shuttles behind the shuttle to replace the consumed Zealots.

The LC Guild warriors, who had moved with us, hesitated and eventually stayed in their positions. They probably judged that their help wouldn’t improve the situation. Or their own necks were more important.

Anyway, after watching the ‘movie,’ I approached them in the shuttle and shouted a little loudly to those sprawled out.

“7 billion per person to exit the dungeon! First come, first served for 100 people!”

A slight murmur gradually grew and spread like a wave.

“What does that mean!”

Who was it? A gold spoon [someone born into wealth] was a gold spoon, but I don’t remember.

“You don’t need to know. Pass if you don’t have it. Try to survive on your own. We’re leaving.”

As soon as I recognized the shuttle and showed a slight movement, someone shouted.

“Me, me! I’m applying. Am I applying correctly?”

“Oh, welcome. Life is precious, after all. 7 billion is pocket change. I’ll drop one down, so get in.”

I started landing the newly produced spare shuttle on the dungeon floor.

“Me, I’m applying too.”

“Me too!”

“Hey! What guild are you from! Do you want to be expelled from the guild!”

“Do as they say! Shit! I don’t want to die here! How many have already died! I’m getting out!”

“Me too! Four-Star, LC, Gale bastards. You’re all in cahoots [secret agreement]! Once I get out, I’ll expose everything! You sons of bitches.”

Dozens of Awakened strode towards the shuttle.

I landed all the spare shuttles and was counting how many people were trying to board when, oh? That son of a bitch!

“Summon all Dark Assassins!”

[Ding! Summoning 4 Dark Assassins.]

A bald man in his early 50s. What is this bastard doing to my customers!

I summoned the Dark Assassins in front of and behind the bald man, and when the sharp, long swords were placed on his neck, I asked loudly.

“Don’t move rashly. Why are you stopping people from leaving? Were you trying to stab them in the back? P.K. [Player Killing]?”

“Kuh-heuk. You!”

Ha, why is the repertoire always the same? But where is the gold spoon… Ah, the Gale Guild Leader.

“Ah~. Gale? Whatever, why are you stopping people who want to leave?”

“You young punk! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Why? I’m guarding as a customer protection measure. You were trying to stab them in the back first, weren’t you?”

“We agreed to proceed with the dungeon clear together. There’s no reason for you to interfere!”

“Really? But if they give up on the clear, they can leave the group, right? Isn’t that right?”

I left the Gale Guild Leader alone and asked the dozens of Awakened who had approached the shuttle.

“That’s right. What does Gale have to do with it if I give up on the clear!”

“Top Guild gives up on the dungeon clear. Everyone gather!”

“Ensoli too. Everyone come here!”

As some mid-sized guild leaders declared their abandonment of the clear and approached the shuttle, the number of Awakened exceeded almost 150. Hmm, we might not have enough shuttles.

“What are you doing! Do you think you can proceed with the domestic dungeon clear like this! Don’t think of anything else and stay in your positions!”

“I told you to deploy the warriors from the beginning, what is this!”

“Mental-type Awakened are of no help in the clear. Why is the warrior ratio so low in the bio dungeon! Didn’t we say that the reconnaissance team should operate with the main base!”

“You agreed before entering! If you act like this now, we won’t proceed with the clear!”

“It’s over. It’s more urgent to return alive now. Isn’t the dungeon already ruined!”

“I’d rather join the support guild. Mind your own business.”

“Even if I don’t get the reward, I’ll work with the support guild from now on. How many casualties have there been in two clears already! Is this the method led by Gale, Four-Star, or LC? I’m really disappointed!”

“High risk, high return, don’t you know? A 3-star clear isn’t a joke! Of course, there will be sacrifices!”

Oh? They’re breaking up the team themselves. Anyway, they’re sticking to me? There’s no need to go that far.

“Hey. Bald old man.”

“You!”

“I’m just saying what I see, but what did you say earlier? Of course, there will be sacrifices? You’re kidding me. Like last time, and this time too. We don’t have a single casualty. And we plan to keep it that way. Casualties mean that you can be one at any time. Understand?”

“Why are you blaming me for your lack of level and ability? Does that mean I’m responsible for all the Awakened who died in domestic dungeons! That’s nonsense!”

“Ha, okay~ Live as you please.”

There’s no answer, no answer. Let’s ignore the bald old man for now.

“Guild leaders and Awakened, form teams of 12 first, and Han Deuk-ah.”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

“Prepare the contracts. And Gil-soo.”

“Yes.”

“Take care of the Ultra corpses.”

“Understood.”

I landed all the shuttles and told the guild members to help Han Deuk and Gil-soo.

Han Deuk and some guild members handed out A4 papers to the mid-sized guild members and Awakened, and Gil-soo and others were about to put the Ultra corpses into their inventories when,

“Those Ultras are ours!”

‘Bullshit.’

“We were clearly fighting them first, but you stole them!”

‘Oh, really?’

When some small gold spoons under the gold spoon started to argue, I recognized the Zealots and gathered them around the Ultra corpses.

“If you have any conscience, you’ll know who handled them, right? It’s not that I necessarily want to take them. Do you want them?”

Hundreds of Zealots were divided and waiting in front of the Ultra corpses, and our guild members and about 150 mid-sized guild Awakened were watching.

The few who were arguing shut their mouths in embarrassment. Behind them, the bald old man’s face was red as he grumbled.

After some bickering, we collected all the Ultra corpses and filled the new shuttles and spare shuttles with Awakened. And without looking back, without saying anything, whether you die or not, we moved on.

The gold spoon and his subordinates stared blankly at the shuttles rising into the air. Some looked envious, and some showed eyes begging to be taken with them, but I can’t know if they don’t open their mouths.

You have to take care of your own neck.

Only the brave can get a beauty… Bullshit! You just need to be rich and handsome.

A moment later.

After moving for about 20 minutes, I landed the shuttles and gathered the mid-sized guild members and new Awakened.

I overlooked it earlier because I was conscious of them and annoyed by being in that place, but there was something I had to do for sure. Of course, the injured also needed to be treated.

Although the seriously injured had done their own first aid, the healers’ and priests’ mana was low. There was no urgent matter, so it was to treat the injured, have a meal, and write the contracts accurately.

Seoul City Hall 3-Star Bio Dungeon Regen Clear Entry 1 day 5 hours 10 minutes later.

“If it’s a support guild, we’ll participate in the clear too.”

“We too.”

“There’s no need to do that. Just watch.”

“No. Now that it’s come to this, we’ll go to the end. Moreover, since there are 57 members in our guild, we’ll have to pay close to 40 billion if we leave the dungeon, so we have to earn at least our share.”

“Same here.”

So, you’re saying you’ll earn your neck value and leave? The same goes for other guilds?

Well, it doesn’t matter. The mineral distribution will be based on the clear contribution anyway. Take care of the bio unit corpses in the middle.

“By the way, what about Gale, Four-Star, and LC? Where did they go?”

“I don’t know. We separated near the entrance of the dungeon. We moved in opposite directions….”

“There won’t be any difference from us. The number of mental-type Awakened, mages, warriors, healers, and priests, etc., the clear progress composition was similar.”

Then, they will be no different from the Gale Guild. No, now that they know that it is impossible to clear the 3-star bio dungeon regen by themselves, they will either devise other methods or try to approach me.

Even with the goose that lays golden eggs in front of them, they can’t take it, so they’ll either cause trouble or try to steal the goose. Let’s think about the future later. The regen clear is the priority now.

“Will the Gale Guild be okay there? There were quite a few injured and casualties….”

“Well, won’t they wait? They’ve also dealt with the dungeon units nearby. They’ll wait for the support guild to clear it and leave when the clear notification pops up. That’s probably their only option now.”

“That’s right. Anyone would think that way.”

“Well, we’ll have to see. That bald old man was strange.”

“Haha, as expected of the support guild leader. Calling the Gale Guild Leader that. Hahaha.”

“Well, isn’t it true? Bald and old. It fits perfectly. Cough cough.”

“Hahaha.”

Why? Isn’t it right?

Seoul City Hall 3-Star Bio Dungeon Regen Clear Entry 1 day 15 hours 30 minutes later.

After taking care of the injured members of the mid-sized Top Guild and Ensoli Guild and having a meal, we moved for nearly 3 hours and discovered another multi.

The same method as yesterday, the same organization. No, there are more mages, healers, and priests, excluding the useless mental-type Awakened. They haven’t fully replenished their mana in a day, but they’re doing okay with magic attacks because they’ve rested well. But it’s like showing off in front of a silkworm pupa [showing off something insignificant].

“Summon all Zealots, Lightning Shamans, and Torcans!”

[Ding! Summoning 500 Zealots (Defense + Attack 200%).]

[Ding! Summoning 100 Lightning Shamans.]

[Ding! Summoning 100 Torcans.]

“Lightning Shamans, area lightning!”

The 100 Lightning Shamans prepare for an area lightning attack on the multi. Blue light flickers from each Lightning Shaman’s body, and the moment they thrust their hands forward, gathered in front of their chests!

‘Kwa… Chi… Chijijik. Pajijik. Pajijik… Pajik.’

“Kaaak!”

“Oops!”

“Wh, what!”

They were surprised, and I was surprised too.

A large-scale area lightning attack surrounds the multi.

I didn’t know that 100 Lightning Shamans would create such a CG [computer graphics] with tremendous sound effects.

With a tremendous roar like thunder striking next to you, white and blue streaks of light intertwine and surround the entire multi area. Thick streaks of light divide the area like branches spreading out, and slender twigs follow behind, filling all directions and burning the dungeon units.

When the area lightning attack that enveloped the heavens and the earth ended, a pungent smoke and the smell of burnt meat vibrated everywhere.

[Ding! Hidden skill has been activated. Name the skill and register it.

Skill Name: ? (3-Star)

Condition: Use area lightning with 100 or more Lightning Shamans

Effect: Area lightning within the recognized range (Bio Dungeon +200%)

Damage: Area Lightning +200%, Critical +50%]

Huh? Wh, what? Hidden skill?!

“Heo….”

“Th, this can’t be!”

“I, in the world!”

I was spacing out with my mind off because of the strange notification, but the guild members are screaming next to me. Let’s worry about it later, for now.

“… Zealots, Torcans, clean up the rest.”

After ordering the waiting Zealots and Torcans to clean up the remaining units, I was lost in thought. Hidden skill….

Zerglings and Hydras that left only black leather no matter where you look around. A lurking Lurker wriggles and crawls out of the ground, staggers and falls, and a Ultra, indistinguishable from a black cow, foams at the mouth and walks dangerously as if about to fall.

Defense buildings such as mature towers and spine crawlers don’t seem to have much damage, but area lightning is fatal to living bio units. I roughly guessed the compatibility between mechanical units and bio units, but I didn’t know it would be so effective. It’s just a coincidence that I planned the clear focusing on high-level units because I was worried about the gas.

As 500 Zealots and 100 Torcans circled the multi and cleaned up the remaining dungeon units and spine crawlers, I landed the shuttle.

Leaving the mid-sized guild members who were just staring blankly at me, I told Han Deuk to mine minerals and headed behind the mature tower. It’s also to absorb the consumed gas, but it’s also to think about the notification from earlier.

‘Clearly, it said to name the skill and register it.’

Skill name? So, are you talking about those phrases that wizards say when they cast spells?

No. It’s a skill. Skill.

Like in games, when you use a specific skill, a certain pattern automatically unfolds.

Hmm, what would be good? I guess once I decide, I can’t change it?

It needs to be flashy but simple, considering the characteristics of the Lightning Shaman, and also look impressive.

Since it’s lightning, the word ‘lightning’ should be included, and I should also add words like ‘area’ or ‘region’ since it’s an area-of-effect skill. Should I include the word ‘shaman’ too? It needs to be simple though…

Seoul City Hall, Grade 3 Bio Dungeon, Re-spawn Clear Entry, 1 day, 19 hours, 20 minutes remaining.

Build a gas mining station, summon 100 Probes, absorb gas to the maximum, and produce the consumed units… but I don’t need to do that.

Thanks to the Lightning Shaman’s skill, there weren’t many units consumed in the second multi.

At this rate, there’s too much gas left in the multi… Ah! Duran!

Should I upgrade the bio tech tree with the remaining gas?

I couldn’t decide how to use the remaining gas fragments or what to name the skill, so I was racking my brain when the Top Guild Leader and Ensoli Guild Leader, along with a few other Awakeners, walked over.

“Are you busy? We have something to say.”

That’s good. If I keep pulling my hair out, I’ll end up bald like the Gale Guild Leader.

“I’m fine. Go ahead.”

“Well, this is a bit delicate, but is there any way we could join as a support guild?”

“Pardon?”

“Whether it’s an M&A [mergers and acquisitions], MOU [memorandum of understanding], or a branch concept, we don’t care. It seems like this Grade 3 Bio Dungeon at Seoul City Hall won’t be re-spawn cleared without a support guild. It seems like you’re short on guild members right now. We’ll also offer the Grade 6-7 dungeons we’re operating.”

Short on members, my foot! They have nothing to do but twiddle their thumbs, or rather, the warriors’ main task is mining minerals. Of course, the situation is different if we go down to Jeju.

“You know we’re the defense guild for the Jeju region, right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you willing to come down to Jeju?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm, talk to Hongchan. I’m terrible at guild management. The Vice Guild Leader handles everything.”

“You mean the former SG Guild Leader? Still, if the Support Guild Leader decides, that’s how it goes, right?”

“Well, yes, but talk to him first. If the Vice Guild Leader approves, I’ll consider it in a positive light.”

“Yes. I understand. We look forward to working with you.”

“We look forward to working with you.”

“Thank you!”

The Top Guild Leader and Ensoli Guild Leader bowed deeply.

What? I haven’t even given permission yet?

Even after they left, I kept agonizing over it, but I couldn’t come up with a skill name that struck me.

I just morphed Duran into a Mature Tower, created Zergling Cores and Hydra Cores, roughly compared the gas consumption between building creation and unit production at Mature Tower 2, and then examined the characteristics of the remaining bio units at Mature Tower 3.

Bio units consume a lot of gas, making it difficult to produce a large number of units.

How great would it be if I could mass-produce Ultras like Zerglings?

Should I activate the Magic Worm’s special ability and use Magic Mist instead?

After much deliberation, I was examining the characteristics of advanced bio units when the Useless Human cautiously approached.

“M-My Lord! Please grant me the opportunity to be in your grace!”

“…Is that some new bullshit you made up?”

“My Lord!”

“Recite it.”

“Yes?”

“I was going to ask the others later, but this is perfect timing. What would be a good name for the area-of-effect lightning attack that the Lightning Shamans unleashed earlier? If I like it, I’ll grant you the opportunity you’re talking about. I don’t know what that is, though.”

“Ah~ yes. How could I ever forget that scene? The radiant, magnificent, and dazzling, yet powerful spectacle of light! I have never seen such a wonderful sight since I was born. You are truly amazing, amazing, My Lord!”

“Cut the crap. Just get to the point.”

“Yes. Simply, since it’s an area-of-effect lightning attack, how about Extensive Area Lightning Attack? Wouldn’t that be ki…”

*Thwack!*

“Agh! M-My Lord!”

“Want me to kill you? Do you want me to cringe at that for the rest of my life, you son of a bitch!”

Where did this bastard learn to peddle such nonsense!

What was that just now? What? Extensive something?

It’s so long I can’t even remember it. I’d be too embarrassed to shout that skill name. Damn it.

Well, it’s my fault for expecting anything from you.

It’s better this way. Since a creative name doesn’t come to mind easily anyway, there’s no reason for me to rack my brain alone. I can just ask the others and steal their ideas. Hehe.

That’s right, to activate the Magic Worm’s Magic Mist, it costs 300 gas fragments, so invest 150 fragments in the Worm Core….

I stared at Psy, who was constantly rubbing the back of his head, and began comparing the bio tech tree activation with my status window.

Seoul City Hall, Grade 3 Bio Dungeon, Re-spawn Clear Entry, 1 day, 20 hours, 50 minutes remaining.

As about 40 Warrior-class Awakeners, who had drifted in, helped mine minerals, we were able to mine all the clear reward minerals in a slightly faster time than yesterday.

The minerals mined from the two multis alone amounted to about 100 tons. Converted into money, that’s a staggering amount of over 350 billion won [approximately $265 million USD]. Grade 3 is indeed Grade 3.

Hongchan, who was reporting the situation to me, looked up at the darkening dungeon sky and asked.

“We’ve mined all the minerals, so should we just stay here today? There’s a small stream down there.”

“Oh, sure, why not. By the way, earlier, the Top Guild Leader and Ensoli Guild Leader….”

“I heard. What do you want to do?”

“What do you think?”

“Let’s accept them.”

“Why? It doesn’t seem like we’re lacking anything right now?”

“In the future, the support guild will have to deal with not only the Jeju region defense but also the entire country. The number of guild members is too small to operate the Grade 6-7 dungeons they offered. We need to raise the guild members’ grades, create a re-spawn clear dedicated team, and regularly clear up to here every month, but with the current number of people, it’s impossible. Moreover, Top Guild and Ensoli Guild are quite valuable.”

“Why would such guilds bow their heads and try to join us?”

“…Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Yeah.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha~. I have no words.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know! You brat.”

Why? I don’t understand at all? Ah, hey~ no way.

After giving instructions to stay here tonight, while building defense towers in the nearby area, the guild members took out tents and set them up, gathered firewood to light a bonfire, and fetched water from the stream on their own.

Seeing some of them taking out and preparing Ultra corpses, the new Awakeners, including the Top Guild members, looked quite surprised.

Is it their first time seeing Ultra corpses being eaten?

Seeing them drooling as if it were nothing, they were filled with curiosity and worry.

“Is it okay? Are you short on food?”

The Top Guild Leader expressed his doubts from the next tent.

“It’s for both purposes. But only up to 3 corpses.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Anyway, 3 corpses is the limit. Don’t ask for more later.”

“So, you’re saying we’re asking for more Ultra corpses because we don’t have enough? Is it for eating purposes?”

“I said there’s none. There’s none.”

“…….”

Shortly after.

“W-Wow!”

“Slurp. I-It really melts. Melts.”

“If you eat this, won’t you lose your appetite for Hanwoo 1++ [top-grade Korean beef]?”

“Wow~ look at this juice. It’s amazing.”

“The taste is great, but what about the ability stat increase?”

“Nom nom. Why didn’t I know about this delicious thing until now?”

“Gulp. You idiot! One Ultra corpse costs billions, would you put that in your mouth? The Support Guild Leader is giving it to us out of generosity.”

“The Support Guild Leader is the best. But isn’t the amount a bit small? I can’t eat my fill.”

“It’s a waste of time to talk. Shut up! Slurp slurp slurp.”

A feast broke out around us.

A meat party with the food prepared when entering the clear, along with the detoxified Ultra corpses.

Of course, we know how to eat it in various ways, so we ate it raw or cooked according to our preferences, and the new Awakeners clumsily followed us.

But would 3 Ultra corpses be enough for hundreds of Awakeners? Even for our dinner yesterday, 3 Ultra corpses were a bit short.

Moreover, the amount of food that Awakeners eat is more than twice that of ordinary people. And if it’s food that slightly increases ability stats?

Look at them. Their eyes are pleadingly looking at me, wiggling their butts.

That’s it. I clearly said it. Up to 3 corpses.

The dinner time, which was adequate for some and very disappointing for others, ended, and the shuttle teams took turns standing guard, followed by personal maintenance and rest time.

I called all the team leaders, including Hongchan, into the tent. It’s to decide on a skill name. Hehe.

“Everyone’s here, Guild Leader.”

Hongchan set the stage, and I opened my mouth.

“Well, it’s nothing much, but everyone saw the area-of-effect lightning attack I used at the multi this afternoon, right?”

“Yes. Oppa [term of endearment for older brother/male figure]~ that was a really awesome event!”

“I saw it. It was really amazing. It just melted them, didn’t it?”

“I’d believe it even if it was computer graphics (CG). It was really cool.”

“So, what would be a good name for that attack? Lightning Shaman’s area-of-effect lightning….”

“Oh? Hyung [term of endearment for older brother/male figure]! Did you get a skill?”

Gilsu suddenly hit the nail on the head. That perceptive guy.

“Oh? Uh. Do you have a skill too?”

“Yes. Warrior classes have skills, don’t they? It’s a repetitive physical labor, so of course, we have it. But how did Hyung… Ah, Hyung also has a warrior class… Huh? That was used by the Lightning Shaman earlier!”

With a loud shout, Gilsu jumped up, and Hanteuk’s mouth dropped open.

Hongchan, Mihae, Kimeunhee, Choi Eunji, and the Useless Human were just staring blankly at me.

Finally, after a long time, Jihye made a simple but accurate judgment.

“Don’t try to understand my oppa. Just accept it. It’s easier on your mind.”

That’s an appropriate expression. But who’s your oppa?

Shortly after.

The fact that I had a skill became a secondary issue.

Well, I don’t know anything about my own characteristics, so how would you guys know?

This damn Awakener system has never kindly taught me anything, so I just have to live with it.

Inside the tent, everyone was sitting together, seriously pondering about my skill naming, when the Useless Human opened his mouth for the first time.

“Extensive Area Lightning Attack, isn’t that good?”

“…Pfft!”

“Hehe. Did you come up with that?”

“Yes. Doesn’t it sound impressive….”

*Thwack.*

“Agh! My Lord!”

“Stop talking nonsense and everyone, say one thing each.”

I smacked Psy, the Useless Human, on the back of the head and asked the others.

“Just Area Lightning. How about that?”

“If you do that, it sounds like nothing. The skill name will be used continuously in the future, so it has to sound impressive when others hear it.”

“Storm Shower, how about that?”

“Oh~ that’s good?”

“No. That’s too weak too. Giga Lightning or Tera Lightning?”

“Should I split it into byte units?”

Hanteuk and Gilsu each said a word, and then,

“Hmm, Electro Wave?”