Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 171

“… Damn it! Han Deuk, Gilsu, Jihye, Mihye! All team leaders, gather over here!”

My loud shout echoes through the cavern.

Sometimes, when things happen that I can’t handle alone, I look for the smartest people around me to get their input.

It’s not certain yet, but since I’m not planning to dig this mound myself, let’s at least ask them. If we really have to dig up or get rid of this mound….

They’ll figure it out themselves.

I just need to tell them there are minerals underneath. That’s it.

The rest is up to them, depending on their situation and how they feel about it.

Some will dig the ground, some will dig the ground, and some will… well, you get the idea. Heh heh.

It’s not certain yet. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Ahem.

“Hyung-nim [older brother or respected male figure], what’s going on?”

“Oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends], what is it? Huh? Why are the Probes all together… what? What are they doing?”

“Guild Leader. Why did you summon the Probes…?”

As expected, my brain is superior to theirs.

“Can’t you tell?”

“Tell what?”

“What? What is it~?”

Han Deuk, Gilsu, Jihye, Kim Eunhee, and Choi Eunji are clueless. Mihye, at least, makes a slightly strange expression, then her face contorts as she looks in the direction the Probes are moving.

“Su, surely. It’s not that, is it?”

“Probably, wouldn’t you say?”

Mihye’s expression darkens rapidly at my answer, and the protests from the dimwits next to her grow louder.

“What is it? Hyung-nim, what are you talking about?”

“Guild Leader! Just tell us straight out.”

“Mihye, what’s wrong? Tell us!”

As Jihye’s voice threatens to get louder, Mihye stammers, trying to explain.

Ignorant fools! Tsk tsk.

What else could it be when the Probes move as a group like this? There’s only one thing.

“The Guild Leader is summoning the Probes to find minerals. I don’t know what command he gave, but isn’t there only one case where the Probes move like this in a group?”

“Ah! The Probe is carrying a mineral… huh? Huh!”

“Wa, wait a minute! But why are they crawling over there! There’s nothing there!”

“No way. I can’t do it. I’m telling you clearly in advance, I’m not doing it.”

“Me neither.”

“Me too.”

“Same here.”

Oh?

So, you’re saying you’ll just leave the dungeon like this?

Like a sparrow passing by a mill without stopping [missing an opportunity]?

What nonsense… and you guys, except for Gilsu, are all mages!

Mages objecting like that doesn’t sound very convincing, does it?

It would be different if Gilsu, who will probably have to dig the ground like crazy from now on, objected.

For now, everyone followed the Probes.

Gilsu gives me a desperate look, strangely tensing his legs, trying to lure the Probes elsewhere, taking actions to attract attention, but he couldn’t stop the Probe wagging its tail and crawling along.

Before long, the Probe arrived at the huge pile of rocks in the middle of the cavern, and Gilsu’s face turned blue.

The Probes, which had been crawling along, climbed over the fragments of the collapsed stone pillars and moved to the center of the mound, then disappeared into the cracks in the collapsed pile of rocks.

As expected.

There’s something under here. And that something is….

“Everyone saw it. There’s a dungeon clear reward under here. Gilsu, have them dig it up.”

“…….”

“Hey. Gilsu!”

“…….”

“Choi Gilsu!”

“…….”

“You wanna die? You son of a…!”

“Hyung-nim! This isn’t right!”

“Then is this outside?”

“… The warrior ratio among the dungeon clear guild members is less than 30%. It’s not even twenty people! To clear all this with that number of people, we might have to stay here for months! So, let’s find another way….”

“It’s okay. I have a lot of food. We can stay here for a year, not just a few months… Dig it up. Are you digging the ground to give it to someone else? Anyway, the reward will all be yours. If you work hard this time, I’ll give the warriors a separate percentage of the clear reward. Sounds good, right?”

“No. It’s definitely not good. The reward isn’t the problem right now, this is a problem that can’t be solved with human labor.”

“It’s okay. We’re Awakened. And you’re a warrior. So you can do it. Cheer up! Power up!”

“Hyu, Hyung-nim is also a warrior! Then, if Hyung-nim helps too….”

“Denied!”

“Hyung-nim!”

“Hey~ you over there! Tell all the warriors on the clear team to gather!”

“Hyu, Hyung-nim~!”

At my loud shout, a team of guild members who had been exploring the surroundings hurriedly ran around to spread the word, and Gilsu, who was watching, grabbed my pant leg from the side.

Dude, let go.

My pants, already worn out from crawling on the dungeon floor, are going to tear.

After a while.

Hmm, something’s strange.

Hmm… something’s really strange.

The 100 Probes that went into the pile of rubble aren’t coming out.

If there were minerals underneath, they should naturally come back to me with mineral fragments in their mouths… but they’re not coming out.

So, what are they doing down there right now?

Can’t mine the minerals?

That doesn’t seem right.

No minerals?

Then there’s no reason to go inside.

There are minerals, but they can’t mine them?

That seems like the most likely explanation, but there’s no way to confirm….

“Summon 100 Probes!”

[Tring! Summoning 100 Probes.]

How to confirm it!

Just do it again.

I summoned 100 new Probes and ordered them to mine minerals.

The Probes, which had been spinning around, crawled under the pile of rocks at my command… and didn’t come out.

You sons of bitches!

I clearly told you to mine minerals!

If there are no minerals, don’t go in, and if there are, just bring them back… why is it that once you go under, you disappear without a trace!

Even if no news is good news, if this keeps up, the warriors will have to clear this massive pile of rocks… hmm, no one saw that, right?

So, is there anyone wondering why the Probes aren’t coming back… huh?

When were you standing there?

As I was looking around with a pounding heart, Ssai was staring at me from behind with sparkling eyes.

“As expected of our Lord. Despite the dungeon clear being over, in order to prepare for the guild members not letting their guard down even for a moment, causing the problem of the clear reward, the Lord’s deep, deep dualistic way of thinking is something that this humble one can never follow, and I am saddened by this….”

“… Ssai.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Shut up.”

“… Yes.”

Should I just tell Gilsu?

Watching Gilsu freak out seems better than listening to Ssai’s crazy nonsense next to me… hmm, I don’t know.

Gilsu, just dig.

If you dig like crazy, you’ll either find the minerals that are the dungeon clear reward, or the 200 Probes that are looking at those minerals… probably. Heh heh.

The next day.

Uh… again… so.

Ssai tells me that 17 days, 18 hours, and 30 minutes have passed since entering the new Mt. Mudeung dungeon clear.

This bastard always has a crazy interest in strange things?

Strange conversation methods using strange contexts, strange time concepts, and strange magic circuit understanding.

Since the person himself is strange, everything seems strange… heueum.

Let’s ignore it. I’ll become strange too.

Anyway, checking the time concept that Ssai told me, Gilsu and all the warriors among the guild members were stuck to the pile of rocks, the mound.

What are they going to do?

They have to do it if I tell them to. Heh heh.

It’s not like I’m making them do something pointless!

If you dig that like crazy, you’ll either find the minerals that are the dungeon clear reward, or the 200 Probes that are looking at those minerals!

Ah! Sorry. 300 Probes.

I tested it one more time last night. Heukheum.

So, again the next morning.

Gilsu, sweating profusely and clearing the pile of rocks, comes to me during a short break and spouts nonsense.

“Hyung-nim! I can’t do it anymore! This isn’t something a person should do! It’s like shoveling in front of an excavator, how long do we have to clear that! We don’t even have any potions, and they’re about to die from exhaustion! Let’s just give up the dungeon clear reward….”

“Have you finally gone crazy? Where is this?”

“Even if I’m crazy, I can’t do it. It’s really not something a person should do!”

“Okay, where is this?”

“Huh?”

Did this son of a bitch put a stake in his ear [is he deaf or ignoring me]!

Why is the conversation flowing one-sidedly?

“What kind of dungeon is this place!”

“… Uh, what kind of dungeon? Isn’t it just a dungeon within the Mt. Mudeung dungeon?”

“Didn’t the notification go off when you first entered? What did it say to your head back then?”

“… So, that’s….”

“Let me tell you instead. The Primordial Dungeon! This is the Primordial Dungeon, with that sacred name!”

“…….”

“Don’t you get a sense of it? Why I’m not leaving this place even though there are injured guild members? Why I was trying to get the clear reward even while trapped in a collapsed cave and crawling on the dungeon floor? Why I was trying to clear this place even while using up all the high-grade potions? Don’t you get it? And you’re the warrior team leader in the Great Support Guild? You don’t know what I’m talking about right now? Really?”

“Ah! Ah, no. Hyung-nim. I forgot about that. That’s right. Hyung-nim! I will definitely, certainly, without fail, find the clear reward. Watch me!”

“Okay. I believe in you.”

“Yes. Hyung-nim!”

Gilsu, who answered in a loud voice that echoed through the huge cavern, threw himself back into the pile of rocks with a confident stride and began clearing the fragments like an Ultra Saiyan, so I watched for a while and then turned around and sat down.

“Who’s next?”

“It’s oppa’s turn.”

“Hmm… Jihye is in a godori [a type of card combination in Go-Stop] emergency, and Han Deuk is in a chodan [another card combination] emergency. So is it my turn to call a shodan [yet another card combination] here?”

“Guild Leader, you can’t establish a shodan because there aren’t two cards left.”

Mihye, who sold her light and died [a Go-Stop term], says a word from the side.

“Huh? Really? It works in our neighborhood?”

“Where does that exist? I’m telling you it doesn’t work.”

“Ah, I’m telling you, our neighborhood plays like this~!”

“What nonsense….”

Hmm… Gilsu, don’t worry about this for now, just do your job diligently.

If you dig that like crazy, you’ll either find the minerals that are the dungeon clear reward, or the 300 Probes that are looking at those minerals!

Ah! I’m sorry for keep saying the same thing,

“What doesn’t make sense? Our neighborhood has three-card shodan!”

Let’s solve this first… Heh heh.

Mt. Mudeung New Dungeon Clear Entry 18 days 6 hours 50 minutes

Finally, Gilsu raised both hands and lay down in front of me.

“Tear me apart! I can’t do it anymore! The Primordial Dungeon and whatever, someone is digging like crazy, and someone is playing Go-Stop for 1,000 won per point! Really, it’s so dirty and unfair, I’m not doing it!”

Caught.

So, if you admit that there is a three-card shodan, there was no reason for me to raise my voice, so there was no reason to get caught!

Why did Mihye, who was stubborn in a strange place, miss the shodan chance… moreover, if you sold your light, you should just watch, why are you giving advice from the side… Heueum.

Anyway, that’s it,

“Is it that hard?”

“It’s not about being hard! Someone is working their ass off, and someone is playing Go-Stop while playing! It’s not fair! It’s not fair!”

“We’re not going to take that? It’s all yours?”

“… Yes?”

“We’re not interested in the minerals of this Primordial Dungeon.”

“Re, really?”

“Yeah. Right~?”

“That’s right. Gilsu oppa and the warriors can have it all.”

“Yeah. We’re not helpful, so instead of butting in, we’ll just pass the time like this, so the warriors can divide the reward among themselves. That’s what we agreed on.”

“I agreed too.”

“Me too.”

Han Deuk, Jihye, Mihye, Kim Eunhee, and Choi Eunji all say a word from the side.

Then Gilsu, who had been lying on his stomach, jumps up and checks one more time.

“Re, really? Really? Really?”

“I guarantee it. All of the clear reward for this dungeon, excluding the guild operating percentage, will be distributed according to the number of warriors and their contribution. Of course, if the priests and healers helped clear that….”

“That’s enough. That’s enough. What help! We can just do it ourselves. Yes, of course! I’m going! Haha, hahaha~.”

As Gilsu bursts into a hearty laugh and runs back to the pile of rocks, the remaining guys say a word each.

“As expected, he’s simple.”

“He’s a warrior. Warriors are originally like that.”

“It’s not simple, it’s innocent. And aren’t you going to get revenge? I lost 100,000 won yesterday.”

You guys!

What time is it now, to be playing Go-Stop….

“I also have a warrior class. And there’s definitely a three-card shodan.”

“Oppa, there’s no three-card shodan!”

“Ah, I’m telling you, our neighborhood has it!”

“You have to attach the shodan on both sides, there’s no three-card.”

“Ah~ really! Our neighborhood accepts three cards!”

I sat down to play time-killing Go-Stop with the remaining guys, saying such nonsense.

And Gilsu, why are you so short-sighted?

If you think about why these guys aren’t interested in the dungeon clear reward, you wouldn’t have to clear the fragments so diligently like you do now… Ah, no. Just dig the ground like crazy.

I don’t know how much time it will take, but if you dig it all up, you’ll know why I did that.

Until then, just work hard… Heh heh.

Mt. Mudeung New Dungeon Clear Entry 20 days 14 hours 30 minutes.

When the Go-Stop with the guys was getting more and more fun, Gilsu came and freaked out at me with a strange tone and strange eyes.

“Help me!”

“…….”

“Please help me!”

Has this bastard finally gone crazy?

A body covered in sweat, a look that makes crows want to be friends [he looks disheveled and unkempt], a hollow face, and a sweet smell coming from his mouth as he still breathes heavily… but why are his eyes like that?

It’s like he’s going to grab me by the collar if I don’t help him?

“The Primordial Dungeon with that sacred name….”

“I don’t need that! Help me!”

“… The clear reward is all for the warriors….”

“I don’t care about the reward, the bowl [another word for reward], or anything, I might just give it all up, so help me!”

“…….”

You son of a bitch!

Is that a threat?

It seems like a threat?

Is it a threat?

“I think you’ve lost your sense of things….”

“Fuck! I’m not doing it! I don’t need the dungeon title or the dungeon reward! Tear me apart! I’m not doing it!”

“…….”

Gilsu jumps up and down from his seat, takes off his shirt, lies on the floor, and thrashes wildly.

He’s finally gone crazy.

He’s finally lost his mind.

You don’t deal with crazy people.

Do you avoid it because you’re afraid of poop? You avoid it because it’s dirty.

I left Gilsu, who was crawling on the dungeon floor, alone and moved towards the pile of rocks.

Seeing Gilsu coming out like that, it seems like it’s too hard anymore.

It’s safe to say that the good days are all over. I thought I could play with the mages for a few more days… but seeing the crazy guy acting crazy, it’s time for me to step up. Of course, I don’t know if it will work out well.

“Heehee… I’m going to die. Really.”

“Hoo… really, I’m going to die. When are we going to clear all this?”

“What are the mages doing! Why are they breaking this instead of clearing it all one by one? There are things that can be done with manpower, and things that can’t, this is just telling us to die!”

“That’s right! Why are you clearing this one by one! It’s easy to just break it all down?”

“That’s right. It would be okay to do that.”

The warrior guild members, who were sitting on the pile of rocks taking a break, were startled by my answer and hurriedly got up.

“Guild Leader!”

“Have you come? Guild Leader.”

“You don’t have to get up. Rest comfortably.”

As some guild members slyly sat back down, I looked around and opened my mouth again.

“Who said it earlier? Why are you clearing this one by one?”

“… Ye, I….”

One of the warriors who was sitting down awkwardly raised his hand.

“I’m not saying anything. Of course, you guys are frustrated, but there’s a reason for that. As you know, there’s a dungeon clear reward under here. But it’s not certain. No one knows if there will be a huge amount of minerals or gas. And maybe, there might be something other than minerals and gas.”

“Oth, other than that, what kind of….”

“That’s why we’re clearing it one by one like this. Because we don’t know what will come out. And it shouldn’t be damaged because of this.”

As I tapped the pile of rocks with my right foot, some guild members nodded.

“… I see. You’re saying we have to clear it to know, right?”

“I understand what you mean. I’ll try harder.”

The guild members seem to understand to some extent and are about to start working again.

But,

“That’s enough. Someone said they don’t need the Primordial Dungeon or the huge clear reward. You guys agree, right?”

“… It’s not necessarily like that, but it’s true that it’s too hard.”

“That’s right. It’s practically impossible for us to clear this by ourselves.”

“Okay. Receipt completed [understood]. Everyone go down.”

At my words, the warriors murmured and went down under the pile of rocks, and I followed them down and finally started the main work.

The work that I had the warriors do so far can be seen as a kind of show. Ah, of course, it’s true that I wanted the guild members to handle it themselves until the end. I don’t want to throw away the clear reward with the title of Primordial Dungeon on the street either.

But, what’s the point?

I can’t stand seeing them say they’re going to die, they’re going crazy, or lying on the floor like someone and thrashing around like a madman anymore. Moreover, it seems like I’m just playing around with the mages, but it’s also true that I’m tired of the endless wait of not knowing when we’ll clear this all.”