Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 122

“Not bad?”

“Excellent. But it needs to solidify before we see any reaction. Our people are like instant ramen.”

“True. Quick to boil, quick to cool. You have to keep the heat on to make it earthenware [a type of pottery].”

“When do we apply the heat?”

“A little later. When the US, China, and Russia get involved, then.”

“…There will be considerable casualties on their side, won’t there? I’m not sure if this is okay.”

“If you have time to worry about other countries, think about when the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Dungeon breaks. We really need to stop that. If bio-units spread around, we’re done for.”

“Are you going to let that one break too?”

“You know the answer.”

“Sigh~ I keep having strange thoughts. Is this the right thing to do?”

“Think of it this way. If we, the Jiwon Guild, didn’t exist, what would have happened? We can’t clear every dungeon in the world. Nor do we have to.”

“I know. I know, but….”

“I told you, just once is enough. Not everything is good just because it seems good. That’s why we’re spending all that money. If you start doubting, I’m out.”

“Jerk. You always have something to say.”

“Stop worrying about other countries and focus on the Top Guild and Ensoli Guild M&A [Mergers and Acquisitions]. We’ll handle the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Dungeon with them.”

“Yes, sir~ Who am I to disobey your orders? I’ll do as you say.”

“Hey, just because I’m your hyung [older brother or close male friend] doesn’t mean I won’t hit you, right? We’re Awakened, remember?”

“…Yeah. I’m busy. Gotta go.”

As Hong-chan hyung seemed to sense something and hurriedly hung up, I put down my phone and chuckled.

Who in the world likes getting hit… though I’m sure there are some?

Whatever.

So, what should I do for fun today?

They’re definitely still watching me.

Should I go fishing?

Two days later.

The same routine, the same joys.

Today, the weather is great again, so I grabbed my fishing gear and headed outside, but,

“Please wait just one hour. The Director and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs are on their way to Jeju.”

“Isn’t it the same story anyway? I don’t think I need to wait.”

“Still….”

“It’s fine. If you’re not going to escort me, I’ll just grab a taxi. Is that okay?”

“…We will escort you.”

“Well, that’s good for me.”

They can’t hide their displeased expressions, but what can they do? They do what they’re told from above.

This makes me feel unnecessarily sorry… nah!

What about me, being watched 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?

They call it protection, but honestly, it’s surveillance.

Following me wherever I go is your main mission.

Well, I’m not paying you, so do as you please.

I found a spot on the rocky shore near the coast, not far from home, set up my fishing gear, and tossed bait and shrimp onto the shimmering water. Then, I cracked open a cold canned coffee and took a big gulp, followed by a cigarette. This is paradise.

The weather is starting to get hotter, but I’m still okay.

Will this year not be so hot? Last year and the year before, the tropical nights were so bad I couldn’t sleep… Ah, did my stat points increase, so I don’t feel it as much?

Come to think of it, I’ve seen Sai and the guild members crawling on the floor, saying they were dying when I lightly smacked them upside the head these days, so maybe.

Well, you shouldn’t do things that deserve a smack, right?

If you don’t mess around and stay quiet, I won’t go around smacking you upside the head… huh?

As these random thoughts chased each other in my head, someone approached from behind.

I glanced back and saw the Director of the Dungeon Management Bureau and two unfamiliar men staring at me with curious eyes.

“How have you been, Han Ji-won? I’ve brought some new people with me today.”

“…….”

“You’re as unenthusiastic as ever. This is the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and this gentleman is from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“…So? I think I’ve told you dozens of times that my magic is inactive, right?”

“We know. We just came to vent. I’m fine, but this gentleman’s situation is quite serious.”

The Director of the Dungeon Management Bureau subtly gestured, and a man in his early 50s stepped forward and opened his mouth.

“お
会いできて嬉しいです.
私は日本外務省所属の外務事務次官 浜田光一郎と申します.
今回は私たちが….”

What is he saying?

Do I look like a Japanese person to you?

Are your eyes messed up? What is it?

I was about to turn away, thinking I’ve seen all kinds of weirdos….

“Ah! I will interpret for you. Nice to meet you. I am Hamada Koichiro, the Administrative Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This time, we….”

Hmm, these guys are sloppy as usual.

Why is the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs volunteering to be a translator?

They could just hire a translator… Hmm, is it because of decision-making power?

Whatever. I’m going to fish.

Whether they talk or not, I reeled in my line to check the bait.

Where did all the fish run off to? Damn it.

“…So, we have come to you with the conviction that the Jiwon Guild can properly clear the Osaka Rank 1 Bio Dungeon. If you handle the Ultraman [likely a mistranslation and should be Ultra] outside the dungeon and just clear the dungeon, we will pay 1.1 trillion won in cash as a success bonus, excluding the bio-corpses!”

As the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs translated, he stuttered, surprised by the amount of the reward offered by Japan.

He’s scared.

It’s a Rank 1 Bio Dungeon, so that much is obvious.

No, maybe it’s a small amount.

Compared to Osaka turning into a bio-unit wasteland where people can’t live, it’s a drop in the bucket. Yes, that’s right.

Whether they do or not, I continued fishing with an indifferent look.

Acting as if I didn’t care what they were saying.

After talking for a while, the Japanese Administrative Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs sighed and left, and the Director of the Dungeon Management Bureau gave me a strange look before following them.

What are you going to do?

Even the Pyongyang governor can quit if he doesn’t like it.

I’m still in a state where my magic is inactive, and I’ve entered a bum mode. Cough cough.

A few days later.

The news is more interesting than dramas.

Even America’s proud Gap Guild and China’s Chacha Guild failed to clear the Osaka Rank 1 Bio Dungeon.

As the two guilds, having suffered dozens of casualties, declared their abandonment of the dungeon and returned to their countries, all of Japan’s public opinion turned to the Jiwon Guild in Korea.

Why aren’t you helping us!

Why are you ignoring Japan’s request!

Why is the Jiwon Guild just standing by!

I’m still hungry.

Um, is it because I didn’t eat lunch?

In any case, the units that came out when the Osaka Rank 1 Bio Dungeon broke have been somewhat contained, but since the dungeon itself hasn’t been cleared, it’s only a matter of time before it breaks again.

The situation requires a clear within two to three months at the latest.

Moreover, with the top guilds from the US and China giving up and leaving, they are just as panicked. Now there’s a way… Ah, there is a way.

Just give up on Osaka. It’s simple.

Since the dungeon is Rank 1, abandon a 100km radius around the dungeon, evacuate all civilians, and give up all infrastructure. Done!

Easy, right?

Finally, the long-awaited time for the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon to respawn and break was approaching.

Awakened Association President Tae-seok hyung, who had been calling me from time to time, finally heard the news and was restless.

“Hey, bro! What’s going on? That’s not true, is it? Is it?”

“What is?”

“This isn’t the time for this, is it? Your magic is blocked! What are you going to do! Wasn’t that the place that Saseong, LG, and Jilpung couldn’t clear even with a thousand Awakened last time! This isn’t the time for this! Come up here quickly. Come up here and find a way to activate your magic, whether it’s at the association or a hospital! There are only a few days left!”

“There’s no way right now. I’ve tried everything. Instead….”

“…Instead?”

“We’re planning to surround the dungeon with our guild and a few guilds that recently merged with us….”

“Surround? Then, it, it’s going to break?!”

“Yes. Since we can’t clear it, it’s right to let it break.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Your magic not activating too?”

“Yes.”

“…Hey, bro. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but this is really going to be a big problem. You know that, right?”

“Of course.”

“I see. I’ll find a way.”

I felt a bit guilty at Tae-seok hyung’s low voice.

Is this really the right thing to do?

Is this really the best way?

Is there really no other way I don’t know about?

I don’t know.

But I can’t turn back now that I’ve come this far.

Anyway, if, if it wasn’t me, if I hadn’t Awakened, the result would have been the same.

Then, it’s fine.

I’m not a saint.

After all, the world of Awakened is ruthless.

I felt that when I was first eaten by the Yongdam Rank 10 Bio Dungeon.

Awakening is the best opportunity and the worst outcome.

The next day, morning.

Tomorrow, the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon will break again.

Since no guild has entered to clear it, it’s a matter of course.

Guilds belonging to large corporations, mid-sized companies, and the Top Guild and Ensoli Guild members who were recently M&Aed [merged and acquired], including the Jiwon Guild, all went up to Seoul and were on standby near Seoul City Hall.

I downloaded and installed Facetalk from the smartphone store and created an account. Then, I uploaded a selfie to my profile and carefully began to write down my feelings.

‘How did I end up like this?

My magic won’t activate!

The world is full of uncertainty and the unknown.

I Awakened by chance and came this far with luck, but is this the end?

Can I no longer help the domestic Awakened and their families?

Did I start something unnecessary….

What qualifications do I have to stand before others when I can’t even clear the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Dungeon right now?

I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’

As soon as I posted the message, the views slowly started to rise, and when I checked again in the evening, there were hundreds of thousands of ‘likes’ and tens of thousands of comments, and my phone, which only my family knew, kept buzzing.

After roughly explaining, roughly making them understand, and roughly skipping over things, I became accustomed to my wife’s worried eyes, and finally, the pattern that Hong-chan hyung and I had been thinking about began to emerge on Facetalk.

A trend had taken hold after tens of thousands of comments.

Centered around the Awakened.

‘tyh786: I’m a Rank 10 Warrior, and I’m in Busan right now. I’m taking the KTX [Korean high-speed rail] to Seoul. Going to give a bio-unit from the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Dungeon a taste of my blade!’

‘adress8754: Joining. I’m a Rank 9 Healer. At the terminal now. See you tomorrow morning~.’

‘hahaha999: The Jiwon Guild Leader, who is giving us benefits that no one has ever cared about, is worrying, so what are you all doing at home! Let’s go! Let’s show them that even noobs can do it if we stick together! I’m joining!’

‘e777t555: hahaha999 is right. We can do it too!’

‘treetree: Sigh~ I wish I was an Awakened so I could join….’

‘dremfather77: I’m not an Awakened. But I’m still going up. Even if civilians are controlled, I’ll cheer from the sidelines.’

‘aabb78etc: Rank 8 Warrior here. Joining!’

‘friendon123: My family runs a kimbap [Korean seaweed rice roll] shop. I told my mom to pack 300 rolls of kimbap and I’m going. I’m going to share them with the Awakened around me.’

‘qqqeeew99: Buying 5 bottles of 2L water and drinks that were at home. friendon123, let’s meet up and share them together~.’

‘yesandend8765: Rank 9 Mage. Joining!’

…….

The page at the bottom can’t keep up with one click of the refresh button.

Dozens of comments were being posted in a matter of seconds, and low-level Awakened, their families, friends, and relatives who were willing to help in any way with the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon breaking were adding fuel to the fire.

Even now, my account link is spreading exponentially like branches extending from a tree.

Okay.

First, the fire has been lit….

I carefully started tapping on the small phone keyboard again.

‘Thank you so much for the attention so many of you have given me, but everyone!

You shouldn’t act as a group like this. It’s dangerous!

Just being faithful to your current role is the result of helping me.

No. It’s not your fault.

It’s all my fault for being inadequate.

I should have listened to those high-ranking officials from the beginning.

It’s a dungeon that occurred domestically, and it’s a clear reward that came from within, so I should have just given it to them as they said.

If I had, this wouldn’t have happened.

I Awakened late in life, and I started something unnecessary to help Awakened in the same situation as me, confusing you all.

I’m sorry and sorry again, but to those of you who are going up to Seoul!

Come down. It’s dangerous.

Your one life is not just yours.

Think of your remaining parents and family.’

As I added a new post like this… an even more intense reaction began to pour out than before.

Who are those high-ranking officials?

Who is the bastard who asked for the clear reward?

Who is the real son of a bitch?

Hey~. You all know very well.

Korea has the best IT infrastructure in the world.

There’s a state-of-the-art ultra-powerful cyber investigation team that even the police can’t catch.

Find out who that son of a bitch is.

And if you find him… beat him until he dies.

I’ll stay still. Cough cough.

Even more comments and attention poured into the newly written post.

The comments had turned into almost real-time chat, and I quietly smiled.

There’s an old saying.

In dealing with an enemy, directly moving to punish the enemy is the worst strategy.

Instigating others to deal with the enemy is a moderate strategy.

And making them bow their heads on their own is the best strategy.

I cleverly mixed the moderate and best strategies, and I started to play the victim myself.

The Facetalk posts that I write and upload from now on will be watched and acted upon by low-level Awakened and those related to them.

I gave up so many dungeon clear rewards to do this… but not yet. I haven’t used them all yet.

Anyway, the fire has been well stoked.

The next day, morning.

Finally, the long-awaited Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon broke again.

I put a large-sized popcorn and a 1.5L cola next to me and started watching TV in real-time.

The tension was palpable even when viewed on the TV screen, and after a while, the entire bio-dungeon emitted a white light in all directions, and then numerous zerglings, hydras, lockers, ultras, wyverns, and fools came out of the dungeon entrance in order and spread around… Huh? Not bad?

Not only the Jiwon Guild, but also guilds belonging to large and mid-sized companies and soldiers surrounded the dungeon entrance in double and triple layers, and the tanks’ shelling and the mages’ ranged magic attacks poured in one after another.

The bodies of the zerglings, hydras, and lockers that were coming out of the narrow dungeon entrance exploded, and green and red flesh scattered in all directions.

When a cloud of smoke and red flames swept around, numerous bio-units poured out of the dungeon entrance again.

Is this something anyone can watch? What’s the viewing age rating? Is it okay because it’s a news flash?

They should at least put a mosaic on it.

It’s not good for the elderly, the weak, or pregnant women to watch… Oho~ Ultra is here.

As the huge Ultra came out of the narrow entrance, concentrated fire poured in from all directions. However, due to its characteristics, it can’t be dealt with by modern weapons, and only the fire and ice magic of attack mages is the only way to deal with it… Oh~

Hundreds of fireballs flew towards the entrance from behind the first line of defense surrounding the dungeon entrance.

The sight of fireballs ranging in size from the size of a human torso to the size of a soccer ball filling the TV screen as they flew was spectacular.

Should I have gone to see it in person? I shouldn’t have stayed cooped up at home, worrying about what others would think. Tsk.

Hundreds of fireballs exploded with tremendous explosions, and a cloud of smoke and a red firestorm covered the surroundings.

A young woman, whether she was a reporter or an announcer, screamed something, and the TV screen showed the dungeon entrance from a different angle.

Um, this is okay. There’s no difficulty in grasping the current situation even if I sit still.

Whether someone used wind magic or not, the cloud of smoke was pushed to one side, and the Ultra that was burning in places was caught on the TV screen. Its movements were… That’s right! Ultra isn’t something that dies so easily. Of course!

However, hundreds of warriors rushed towards the Ultra, limping and trying to stand up, and a barrage of blessings and heals poured in from behind.

They planned this out properly?

I don’t know who’s in command, but it’s a typical bio-unit combat formation.

The Ultra, which had its head and body separated in an instant, collapsing its huge body.

Dozens of warriors who appeared from somewhere rushed to the Ultra as it was… Huh? Transporting it to the back.

What? Why? Why are they transporting the Ultra… Ah! Concealment, cover!

I think I know.

Since the Ultra corpse is so large, they’re clearing obstacles to deal with the bio-units coming out of the dungeon entrance.

It’s a matter of course that ranged attacks are easier when the field of vision is well secured.

But transporting that Ultra corpse is not easy for ordinary people… Huh? Hahaha.

They’re low-level warriors.

The low-level warriors who flocked to Seoul City Hall with my Facetalk were transporting the Ultra corpse.

Then, the magic attacks that flew from behind the first line of defense?

Oh, that’s a pretty good combination.

In the future, I should gather hundreds of low-level Awakened and… Okay. Let’s think about it later.

Numerous bio-units pour out of the dungeon entrance again.

Alright! It’s the second round now.

I reached for the popcorn and gulped down the cola to watch the exciting movie.

Three hours later.

Ooh!

Oho~

There were five more battles in three hours.

They dealt with the bio-units that came out of the dungeon in the same way as before, but there’s no match for quantity.

Zerglings, hydras, and lockers were somewhat wiped out with the support of modern weapons, but the only way to deal with ultras, wyverns, and fools was with the magic attacks of mages.

Guild members belonging to large and mid-sized companies, including the Jiwon Guild, fired hundreds of spells, and healers and clerics gave them numerous heals and blessings, but their magic was gradually running out.

When some ultras and wyverns broke through the first encirclement and spread around, and the word ‘abandonment’ gradually hovered in my head instead of the word ‘hope’… the thing I was thinking about happened.

I don’t know how many gathered. There’s no way for me to know.