Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 181

6-3

I played dumb.

As if I knew nothing, as if I was hearing some absurd, groundless rumor for the first time.

Of course. If I admitted it here… I’d be screwed.

They would protest, they would try to take advantage of me.

It would start with strong diplomatic protests, gradually moving to financial pressure, and if that didn’t work, they would try to solve it with force.

There’s no way I can fight and win against a country, so I’d just be a pushover, and an internationally certified idiot would be born. So, of course, I had to play dumb.

And back then, I acted like that just to live well… well, that’s right.

I deactivated the Grade 1 dungeon in Osaka, Japan, with my own selfish actions, so I am responsible….

Hmph! I don’t know anything for now!

I’ll play dumb like Gil-su!

I don’t know where they heard it, where they picked it up, or if they’re just probing, but in times like this, ‘I don’t know’ is the best answer.

If you’re going to accuse me, bring evidence!

It’s a country ruled by law!

Don’t you know the principle of presumption of innocence?

You’re coming at me with accusations that won’t hold up anywhere!

Um… by the way, the Grade 1 dungeon in Osaka, Japan, was a bio dungeon, right?

Then, if what Tae-seok hyung [older brother or close male friend] told me last time is correct, they’re losing about 50 trillion won [approximately $38 million USD] a year?

Ah, no. It’s not just money, but also the impact of not being able to procure bio unit corpses from there… um… I can’t even calculate it.

Then, I’ll play dumb again!

I don’t know anything!

Whether the Grade 1 bio dungeon in Osaka, Japan, is deactivated or not, I have no reason to go to that dungeon ever again… Ah, ah!

I have to go there!

I need to use the Elixir of Darkness I got from the Primordial Dungeon to film the first movie of the total 3-part series, ‘Save the Princess and Imprison Her Again’ with Therapy….

Oh, what should I do?

I clearly need to destroy the seal of Therapy’s dungeon subjugation using the Elixir of Darkness… um… hold on for now.

The dungeon isn’t going to run away, and Therapy, who is subjugated to it, is even less likely to die an old maid, so moving right now will only give them a good excuse… Huh? Sa, Sara?

I was moving to the parking lot near Mt. Mudeung with the soldiers around me, and suddenly Sara appeared next to me. I was so busy racking my brain that I didn’t even recognize her.

“Where, where the heck have you been!”

At my shout, the guild members around me looked at me, then turned their heads again after discovering Sara.

With an attitude that they don’t want to deal with a self-destruct skill.

“One has been saved. Two more to go.”

You crazy bitch!

What did you just say?

“… I’m telling you clearly, in advance, for sure, I. AM. NOT. DOING. IT. I almost died this time! Hundreds of humanoid dungeon units rushed at me in the Primordial Dungeon, and really….”

“Poor children.”

“Keuk!”

My incredibly loud shout was cut off in the middle, and I gasped for breath.

“It will be solved if you find my clones. Before that, you need to regain the power for it. You’ve been doing well so far. Please continue to do well in the future.”

“Kaaak! Keueum. So, I’m never going to….”

Huh?

Where did she go again?

“Hey, Sara.”

…….

“Sara Matilda!”

…….

“Damn it! My Absolute Rank skill, Sara Matilda! Manifest! Appear! Why do I have to go back to that damn place to save a crazy bitch! I almost died this time! I’m not going to the Primordial Dungeon or anything! I’m not going in~!”

“… Oppa [term of endearment used by younger women to address older men, often siblings or close friends]. Are you crazy? Why are you yelling by yourself? There are still cameras in the back.”

“Hyung-nim [respectful term for older brother or male friend], do you think normal conversation with Sara-ssi [honorific title] is possible? Just give up.”

“I’m on Hyung-nim’s side no matter what anyone says. Good luck!”

“…….”

Ji-hye, Han-deuk, and Gil-su, who were walking next to me, said a word, and the guild members also looked at me with pitiful eyes.

Damn it.

Siiiiibal [Korean profanity]!

Several weeks later.

After coming out of the Mt. Mudeung Dungeon, the Primordial Dungeon, I went to the Blue House [South Korean presidential residence] once, and had countless meetings with Tae-seok hyung-nim, the head of the Dungeon Management Bureau, government officials, and association officials.

Well, it’s not that I don’t understand their desperate hearts due to the appearance of a new dungeon, but I gave them the Idea Mirror. They can just look at that, so why are they only bothering me?

I was so annoyed that I tried to hand over all the authority to Hong-chan hyung, but I failed.

He threatened to quit if even a little bit of work was added to what he was doing now, so I couldn’t even open my mouth and was dragged around.

However, they didn’t clear the Primordial Dungeon themselves, and they didn’t put everything about the dungeon in the Idea Mirror, and they can’t even grasp a single humanoid dungeon unit, so there’s a limit to what they can grasp based on what I, our Support Guild clearing team, say.

I told them to do that, and I told them to guess roughly.

Repeating the same words with the same meaning for almost two weeks… is so annoying.

Anyway, I endured the extremely annoying, meaningless time that I had nothing more to say, and finally, finally, I came down to Jeju.

Has it been almost a month?

I’m going to forget my son’s face.

Tumbling.

Flailing.

Thrashing.

I was lying on the bed in the master bedroom, watching various entertainment programs that I hadn’t seen before on the large wall-mounted TV, and reading the fantasy novels that had been serialized on my phone with chuckles… and I’m hungry.

Did I eat breakfast… no, lunch?

I came out to the spacious living room and went into the kitchen, and sat down at the dining table where eight people can sit at once, and the housekeeper asked.

“Shall I prepare a meal for you? From a light brunch to soybean paste stew or kimchi stew….”

“Yes. Just give me whatever’s there.”

“Okay. Just a moment. Have some fruit juice first.”

I chugged the cold kiwi juice that the housekeeper gave me, and was fiddling with my phone… Keueum.

An article about me was prominently featured on the portal site’s main page.

I wouldn’t care if it was a good article, but absurd words filled with strange rumors, strange columns, and strange conjectures were pouring out. No, actually, it’s true. I’m just denying it.

Strange rumors that started when the cold wind started to blow.

Until now, the only people who directly asked me about it were the reporters at the Mt. Mudeung Dungeon last time, but somehow, as time goes by, the debate is in full swing.

Should I hold another press conference?

Or should I post something on FaceTalk [Korean social media platform]?

If I respond to these rumors, more and more doubts will arise… um, what should I do?

There must be guys instigating this somewhere, and if I stay still, they’ll see me as a pushover, but if I step forward, it won’t look good. Since it’s just a hypothesis, a guess, and a few minority opinions that it might be like that, it would be easier to ignore it, but the problem is the public opinion that agrees with it and the hot-bloodedness of ordinary people who are not awakeners.

As expected, the hasty nature of Korean people, including me, and the meddling that doesn’t distinguish between time and place… Huh? Security Team 2 Leader?

While waiting for the meal to be prepared, I was looking at various things on my phone and racking my brain, and I got a call from the Security Team 2 Leader who is guarding my wife and son.

…….

Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine, and goosebumps on my arms.

What’s wrong?

What could be wrong?

Why is my heart pounding so much, and why am I so anxious?

Since someone who never calls me suddenly called… I carefully answered the phone with a trembling heart.

“Ye, hello?”

“This is Team Leader 2. I’m at the emergency room of Jeju National University Hospital right now….”

“Wh, what! Who’s hurt? Why are you there!”

“Please don’t get excited, and listen to me until the end….”

“Quickly! Who is it? My wife? My son? H, how badly are they hurt?”

“Th, there was an attempted kidnapping. Madam is fine, but Seong-jun has some scratches and is quite shocked….”

“You son of a bitches! What are you doing! You fucking bastards, I’m going there now, so don’t move a single step! Siiiiibaal! Who is it~!”

I nervously hung up the phone and screamed.

Shortly after.

I shouted to ignore the signals, speed, and lanes and drive like crazy. Security Team 1 turned on the emergency lights and honked the horn with two cars, achieving the feat of arriving at Jeju University Hospital from the Oedo house in just 10 minutes.

As soon as I got out of the car, I kicked open the emergency room door and looked around, and the security guards of Security Team 2 were arguing with the doctors on one side. I hurriedly approached and shouted.

“What the hell are you doing!”

Some of the people around me recognized me and started to murmur, and my wife, who was next to my son, came to me crying.

“Hic. Honey.”

“Yeah. How’s Seong-jun?”

“The doctor says he’s okay… but… hic.”

“Call Han-deuk! No, call all the healers and priests nearby, regardless of affiliation! To the maximum extent!”

At my shout, the security guards started making phone calls somewhere, and I approached my son lying on the bed.

Please, please….

“Dad~.”

“Y, yeah. My baby! Where does it hurt?”

“Yeah. Here and here. It hurt a lot at first, but it’s okay now. But Dad, are you angry? Don’t be angry.”

When I examined my son, he had a bandage on his left arm and several band-aids on his face.

Ha… I’m glad it’s just this much.

My heart, which had been pounding, was slowly regaining stability, and the doctors, who had been standing far away, hurriedly approached and explained.

“There are no major abnormalities in appearance, but we will take MRI and X-ray images for an accurate diagnosis….”

“He’s a young child, so he’s very shocked. Just in case, we should combine psychiatric treatment….”

“I was a little excited. I’m sorry for the commotion, but can you give me some time?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“Of course. I’ll be waiting over there, so please call me anytime.”

Two doctors, who appeared to be in their early and late 50s, hesitated and stepped aside.

The fact that two specialists at the university hospital’s emergency room are sticking to a child with scratches means that they recognized me. Of course, the security guards revealed my identity, but I’m not happy about it.

I scanned the surroundings and looked at the Security Team 2 Leader, and a man in his late 30s approached and bowed his head deeply.

“I, I’m sorry. Guild Leader.”

“… Where, who is it?”

“They were on their way to J Mart after school. They were waiting for a signal at the Nohyeong intersection when awakeners suddenly rushed from both cars and recklessly….”

“I asked where, who is it.”

“… The criminals were high-ranking awakeners, so we couldn’t respond. I, I’m sorry. In the meantime, a male awakener in his early 20s helped, and he said to give this to the Guild Leader….”

The Security Team 2 Leader carefully handed me a note that he took out from inside his suit.

Ha… using the enemy against the enemy, feinting?

Unless it’s using the urgent situation in reverse, another force?

Damn… I sighed deeply and unfolded the note that the Security Team 2 Leader handed me.

Then,

‘To Dad.

You were very surprised, right? Kelkelkel [onomatopoeia for laughter].

I can’t reveal it in detail, but I’m Dad’s son.

Ah! Seong-jun, who is next to you now, is me. So don’t go poking around.

And the country starting with J that you’re thinking of now is the culprit. The guild starting with R, which is one of the far-right forces there, is the main culprit of the incident.

Well, some senior officials belonging to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also included.

I was very troubled by this incident when I was 9 years old. Kelkelkel.

Well, of course, it got worse because Dad kept repeating strange nonsense, but I’m okay now.

Ah! Just remember that I was more stressed because Dad was poking around the world for about 5 years.

So, I’ll take care of it, so just go home and take good care of me now.

The mental damage is greater than you think.

It seems like it would be okay if you gave Han-deuk ajusshi [term for older man, like uncle] a lot of blessings.

Then, I’ll contact you again later.

Kelkelkel.

PS. Dad. Don’t go poking around here and there like a crazy person. That’s so annoying. Got it?’

…….

Eh… so… this….

I looked at my baby, who was listening to his mother with sparkling eyes next to me.

Did you write this?

Did my 9-year-old son write this to me?

No, no.

Looking at the contents here, he’s not him. No, he says he’s him, but… how can he… so… um….

“What the heck are you talking about!”

The Security Team 2 Leader’s head went down further at my shout, and my wife and son, who were over there, looked at me.

Ugh.

First, let’s get out of here. My son’s treatment is done, so I should go home, call Han-deuk, and have him cast heals and blessings.

“We’re going home. Get ready.”

The Security Team 2 Leader, who had been bowing his head, hesitated for a moment, then took the surrounding guards and went outside.

“Ha… seriously, what the hell? Which bastard is pulling this kind of crap!”

A little later.

Four black SUVs were lined up, heading home.

I was in the second car, my wife and son in the third, and I, feeling a strange suspicion, asked the Security Team 2 Leader in the passenger seat again.

“Who gave you this?”

“It was a man in his early 20s. He was wearing old jeans, a short-sleeved t-shirt, and an ill-fitting baseball cap, and he seemed to be a top-tier Awakened. He took care of those we couldn’t stop in an instant and disappeared. I apologize again….”

“Enough. It happened because you weren’t capable enough, let’s not talk about it anymore. First, contact the Jeju branch and the Processing Bureau and tell either the branch manager or the bureau chief to gather as quickly as possible. I’m not just going to let this go.”

“Yes? Yes, I understand.”

The Team 2 Leader turned his head, took out his phone, and started talking to someone. I opened the car window to cool my head, which was starting to steam.

Dad? He said Dad?

So, besides the 9-year-old son in the car behind me, do I have another son?

No, a man in his early 20s?

If he’s in his early 20s, that means I would have had to meet a woman in my late teens and have him after some hanky-panky, but I never did that… um… that couldn’t have happened!

Then what the heck is it?

Just some crazy bastard’s clumsy prank?

But that crazy bastard knows exactly what’s going on?

He knows the country I’m thinking of, and even pointed out the guild the criminals belong to?

How the hell does this crazy bastard know that?

Furthermore, what?

He said I was stressed for 5 years because of this and did a lot of useless things? … The current me?

The current me?

The current…!

…….

Eh… no way… maybe… is my son from the distant future coming back to save my current son in some clumsy, forced setting?

Don’t do that!

I’m the protagonist of this novel anyway! Even if this crazy bastard is really my son from the future, I can never give up the protagonist role. Never!

Yeah. Well. Even thinking about it doesn’t make sense. Ugh.

“Hyung [term for older brother or close male friend]! How’s Sung-joon?”

“Oppa [term for older brother used by females], how are Unni [term for older sister used by females] and Sung-joon?”

“Guild Leader, are you okay?”

“D, Doryeonnim [term of address for a young master]~!”

When I arrived home, the team leaders and some guild members had gathered, having already heard the news.

Um… come to think of it, they built their houses near mine and were living here!

I didn’t know. No, I knew, but I forgot.

As my son and wife got out of the car, they rushed over and made a fuss. Especially one guy….

“Doryeonnim! Are you alright? Team Leader 1! Doryeonnim is hurt. Quickly, quickly cast heal and blessing to restore Doryeonnim’s wounds. Look at this! How much it must have hurt! Seeing Doryeonnim growing up so bravely without crying, even this lowly body would….”

“Dad~ Sai Uncle is weird.”

“He’s always like that. It’s okay.”

“By the grace of the Goddess Idea, Personal Heal!”

As Han-deuk cast Heal, a white light permeated my son’s body and gradually disappeared.

“Wow~ this is so amazing! Do it again. Again!”

“Sung-joon-ah. This level of injury only needs to be done once….”

“Tsk!”

He’s my son. My son.

The most precious, most meaningful, and only adorable son in the world!

“… Pe, Personal Heal!”

Again, a white light flickered and disappeared.

“Wow~ it’s really amazing. Han-deuk Uncle, again!”

“…….”

“I’m leading these guys through rain or shine, snow or wind, through thick and thin….”

“Personal Heal! Personal Heal! Eat it all. Personal Heal! Heal! Heal!”

“E.a.t. I.t. A.l.l.?”

“… Hyungnim. As Hyungnim knows, this level of injury can be healed just by spitting on it….”

“So?”

“… I, I’m just saying.”

Oho~.

You have plenty of magic power, so you’re stingy about casting Heal once? Huh?

So, you’re saying you’re stingy about casting Heal on my precious son!

I’m already about to explode because another son in his early 20s is telling me not to do useless things, so you’re in trouble today. You little bastard….

“Thank you all for coming. Go in quickly. Honey. Take Abeoji [term for older brother-in-law] inside.”

“Where’s Abeoji here?”

Wife smiled once and took her son inside.

Ji-hye, Mi-hye, Kim Eun-hee, and Choi Eun-ji also followed, repeatedly saying, “Unni, are you okay?” The rest of the Abeoji leftovers were watching me.

“Kya~ there’s no one like Jumo-nim [term for older sister-in-law]. Despite Doryeonnim suffering a serious injury, she still has such a generous heart to care for us like this….”

*Thwack!*

“Ack! J, Jugun [term for master]!”

“Stop it. That’s enough.”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Let’s all go inside. We have something to discuss.”

“Yes, Hyungnim.”

“I understand.”

“… And thank you for coming like this.”

“… Heol [Korean slang for ‘wow’ or ‘unbelievable’].”

“… Oh my god.”

“I am overwhelmed. Juuuguuun!”

*Thwack!*

“Aaaack! Jugun!”

Yeah.

That’s how you guys should be.

I went into the house, caught in a strange mood.

The corners of my mouth slowly turned upwards.

A little later.

“Um… what’s the best way to handle this? This is making me worry for no reason?”

“Hyungnim, wouldn’t it be better to watch the situation for now?”

“Oppa, let’s watch for a while? I don’t believe all of this, but if he saved Sung-joon and Unni, then he’s an ally to us.”

“Where’s an ally who’s hiding his identity like this? Do you think this makes sense?”

“No, it doesn’t make sense. But isn’t the result important? It’s true that he helped Oppa.”

“… Well, yeah, but I don’t trust any of this content.”

“I agree with that. It would have been better if he had just told us the criminals… writing strange things like that….”

You guys can’t believe it, right?

Me neither.

I don’t know which crazy bastard is impersonating my son from the future, but he’s trying to help us, so I’ll just go along with it.

Even that is suspicious, though.

While we were having an in-depth communication about how to respond in the future, my wife told me that someone had come to visit.

“Honey. The Jeju Branch Manager and the Deputy Director of the Processing Bureau have arrived. Should I take them to the study on the second floor?”

“Uh.”

First, I told the others to wrap it up for today and headed to the study on the second floor.

I opened the door and went inside, and the Jeju Branch Manager of the Awakened Association and the Deputy Director of the Dungeon Processing Bureau were waiting for me, drinking coffee.

“I heard the news. Are your wife and son okay?”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Are you alright?”

Um….

Should I really flip out?

How dare they, how dare they try to kidnap my family in Jeju, where I am, and the Awakened Association and the government are acting like this!

I’m not overreacting, but shouldn’t they be reacting like this?

It’s fortunate that the kidnapping attempt failed midway, but if my son and wife were really caught by some organization, my blood would be drying up right now, but what? You’re sorry to hear that?

Ha….

I understand the Association. Because I’m so-so with them.

But Deputy Director Ajusshi [term for older man, like uncle]!

Even the Director Ajusshi can’t say that to me. Furthermore, if you have time to sit there leisurely and drink coffee, shouldn’t you be calling everywhere until your phone is on fire, and running to me, panting?

What have I been risking my neck for, clearing dangerous dungeons until now!

Whether it’s a Grade 1 dungeon or a new dungeon, why did I go in there and crawl all over the dungeon floor!

Money? Good.

Who in the world doesn’t like money? But I don’t need to make any more money?

I have enough money for my children to play and eat for 10 generations!

You guys were flattering me, asking me to do it, asking me to do it, so I reluctantly put it in!

Then, at least, morally, the country, the government, should be responsible for my family’s safety and guarantee it!

“Ha… seriously… I’m going crazy. Deputy Director Ajusshi.”

“Yes. Guild Leader Ji-won.”

“You’ve accurately grasped the situation of what happened today, right?”

“W, well, roughly, but why are you doing this….”

“Roughly? Did you just say roughly? Yes?”

“I haven’t received an accurate report yet… th, that is, why are you doing this….”

“… Ha… never mind. I’m just a moron, so I’m like this.”

“…….”

That’s it.

That’s really it.

This country is the same as it was in the past or now.

I’m the real moron for expecting something.

I took out my phone and called the Blue House boss Ajusshi, whom I occasionally talked to. That’s why I created the hotline.

Whether he calls or I call first, that’s not important now.

As I was saying strange things and suddenly took out my phone and called someone, the Deputy Director Ajusshi was fidgeting.

Yeah. If you had been worried about my family’s safety like that from the beginning, I wouldn’t be like this.

Look. He still doesn’t know what’s going on and is looking around.

After a slight waiting tone, the Blue House Ajusshi answered the phone right away.

“Oh ho. This is a first. Guild Leader Ji-won is calling first like this.”

“Do you know what happened today? Exactly, about an hour and a half ago.”

“Um… what happened? I haven’t received a report yet….”

“I see. Well, you wouldn’t. Let me put it simply. Today, no, an hour and a half ago, my son and my wife, whom I cherish the most in this world, were almost kidnapped by some ssibambassangnom’s [a very strong curse word] sons of bitches! I was calling to see if you knew! Then, I’ll hang up. I’m busy negotiating with the country I’m going to immigrate to with my family!”

After roughly saying what I had to say, I hung up the phone, glared at the Deputy Director for a moment, and went down to the first floor.

The Blue House boss Ajusshi called back, but I took out the phone battery and threw it on the sofa.

The team leaders were gathered in the living room, having fun talking with my wife and son, and said a word each after seeing me like this.

“Hyungnim, is it starting?”

“Good job.”

“Guild Leader, we’re joining in from now on too.”

“Oppa, you’re so cool.”

Yeah. This is how it should be.

This is what makes us the same team, the same guild.

This is what makes us true comrades who can trust each other’s backs and heads.

But Ji-hye-ya.

What does ‘you’re so cool’ mean?

Thump, thump.

The Deputy Director of the Dungeon Processing Bureau came down from the second floor in a hurry. The Jeju Branch Manager was also hesitating behind him, watching me.

“G, Guild Leader!”

“…….”