Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 184

“I don’t know.”

Huh….

Are they really ignoring me right now? Right?

I’ve been babying them lately, and now they’re trying to climb all over me and be my equals.

“Please, ascend. You are the one chosen by that being.”

I’m a little embarrassed by their nonsense, their ridiculous words, but I invite Therapy to sit on the golden chair on the altar.

I’ll deal with you guys after the Dungeon Spell Shockwave is over. I’ll set a date and fix your manners properly… Ah, Spell Shockwave!

“Sai!”

“Yes, Master!”

The guy who was far away jumps to me at my call.

“Get that out. The mineral plates.”

“M, Master! Your grace is boundless!”

The crazy bastard shouts crazy things and takes out dozens of mineral plates from his inventory.

Huh?

When did you make this? Wasn’t there only one?

As I stare at him intently, the crazy bastard makes excuses.

“I, I made them in advance in case we run short. Please, have mercy!”

“Yeah. Do whatever the hell you want.”

The only way to deal with a crazy bastard is with weakness and indifference. Let’s ignore him.

At my words, Sai spreads dozens of mineral plates around the golden chair.

“It’s all done, Master!”

“… Call those nuisances over there too.”

“Yes, Master.”

Sai excitedly shouts to the guild members, including the team leaders, that a Dungeon Shockwave is about to occur.

Okay. Let’s stop.

This is so embarrassing.

I plopped down on the golden chair, whether they were settling in or not.

‘Shaaaaa….’

Pristine white light blooms in the massive cavern.

Just as the light that filled the surroundings wrapped around the dungeon units and Therapy and permeated my body, an alert rings.

[Ding! You have cleared the Rank 1 Bio Dungeon. Calculating contribution. 19 minutes 59 seconds, 58 seconds, 57 seconds, 56 seconds…]

The massive mature tower disappears, and all the surrounding dungeon units disappear as well. The space that exuded a gloomy atmosphere disappears, and the dungeon sky is visible, just like last time.

“Wow! Level up!”

“Me too!”

“Me as well! Thank you, Guild Leader!”

“Thank you, Guild Leader!”

I hear the sounds of guild members leveling up due to the Spell Shockwave effect and words of gratitude from around me, and Sai is busy checking the surrounding mineral plates.

And Sarah and Therapy approach me and start collecting debts like they’re getting back the money they lent me.

Sarah stretches out her hand in front of me.

What?

“The dungeon is cleared. There’s time until it regenerates, so now, please sever Therapy’s mark of servitude with the Dark Elixir.”

So, can you move that hand and talk?

“… Even if there’s time until it regenerates, we need to sever the mark as soon as possible. Otherwise….”

Uh.

I understand.

I said I understand!

So, if you could just move your hand….

“…….”

“… Give it to me.”

“Give what?”

“…….”

“Ah, I got it. I understand! Jeez, I barely managed to get one while crawling around in the dungeon cave, and it’s not like I have an obligation to give it to you just because you hold out your hand….”

I grumbled for a long time and summoned the Dark Elixir I had put in my inventory.

A single ceramic bottle the size of my fist.

“How do I do it?”

“Give it to me.”

Suicide Skill Sarah snatches my Dark Elixir and takes it.

Damn it!

I really feel like I’m being chased for debt.

Why do I feel so empty and wronged?

Sarah hands my precious, one-of-a-kind, Dark Elixir that I never want to get again to Therapy.

“Drink it.”

“A, are we becoming one now?”

“It’s more like the lost piece is being fitted.”

“I see. Thank you for everything so far.”

“Yeah. Let’s always be together.”

“Yes.”

What are you guys doing?

Are you guys doing a skit [a short, often comedic, performance]?

Seriously….

Therapy, after exchanging incomprehensible words with Sarah, carefully opens the lid of the Dark Elixir, closes her eyes tightly, and drinks it coolly.

Is it tasty?

What does that taste like?

Suddenly, a strange curiosity and extreme interest arise like a fire, and a pristine white light begins to ripple from Therapy’s body, and those beams of light connect to Sarah. Soon, pristine white lights that blind the eyes spread in all directions.

Has a fleeting moment passed?

I rub my stinging eyes and look at where Therapy was standing… Huh? She’s gone?

“Thank you. Now there are two left.”

Wh, what is it?

Therapy has disappeared somewhere, and a woman who seems like I’ve never seen before, with a pair of wings like some kind of fairy on her back, speaks to me. Ah, no, she strangely resembles Sarah?

“Perhaps, Sa, Sarah?”

“Yes?”

“So, you’re Sarah, who is subordinate to me?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Then where is Therapy?”

“She’s with me.”

“Huh?”

What are you talking about?

You’re trying to play a Suicide Skill game with me again, but that won’t work.

“Where is Therapy?”

At my question, Sarah pokes her chest with her finger.

I want to try that too.

If I poke that voluptuous and soft chest with my finger… Keuehm.

“Therapy is in your chest?”

“That’s roughly right. She’s with me.”

“Keuehm. Forget that, what are those wings?”

“It’s a natural thing since I found the lost piece.”

“… Shee-bal!” [a Korean swear word, similar to ‘shit!’]

Okay.

I’m the idiot for asking.

Whether Therapy is with her or not, whether she has two pairs of wings or three, I just won’t pay attention to it… Wa, wait! Wings, two pairs or three?

Uh? Uh-oh?

I’ve definitely seen it somewhere?

I’ve definitely seen a noble woman with more than one pair of wings somewhere… Wh, where did I see it… I can’t remember.

Is it a delusion?

Or dementia?

What! What’s my intelligence stat!

Ah, I wonder if intelligence and dementia have no correlation? Keuehm.

While I’m busy doubting the state of my head, Ji-hye, who was waiting over there with the guild members, shouts.

“Oppa! Is it all done? Then shall we mine minerals?”

“Hyung-nim [term for older brother or respected male], I’ll mine the clear reward minerals.”

“Do whatever you want. Ah, no, set up the camp first. I’m tired.”

I need to rest because of my throbbing head. It seems like I already have signs of dementia due to the excessive stress caused by you guys, so I’ll have to keep resting a lot in the future.

“… What did you do… Understood. I’ll set up the camp first. Take out the supplies tent, some warriors fetch water, and mages light the fire!”

“Warriors from teams 1 and 2 fetch water, and warriors from teams 3 and 4 pitch the tent.”

“Mages, help too.”

Hey, Gil-soo.

What did you say earlier?

It’s good that you’re still full of defiance, but it looks like you need to be beaten a bit.

Hmm, by the way, Sarah changed like that after severing Therapy’s mark of servitude with one Dark Elixir, so if I collect all three missing Dark Elixirs and destroy the marks of all the humanoid units subordinate to the remaining dungeons, will Sarah’s wings increase further? Furthermore, it seems like Therapy has been absorbed into Sarah….

The lost piece?

Were they originally the same kind of being?

A clone? Or another piece?

And what the heck are those big wings on her back?

Symbolism? Or something else… Ah, my head is really going to break.

Let’s think about the future later.

I’m tired.

6 hours and 50 minutes after entering the Rank 1 Bio Dungeon in Osaka, Japan.

“Master. May I come in for a moment?”

I think I dozed off on the makeshift bed in the tent that the guild members hurriedly set up, but a crazy bastard is disturbing my sweet sleep.

“No. Get lost.”

“… I am deeply sorry for disturbing your rest, but I think you need to know about this. Or should I come back later? The magic power absorbed into the mineral plates during the Dungeon Spell Shockwave you first mentioned seems unusual, and I am very worried about whether I can dare to judge this. Therefore, I kneel and beg for forgiveness, hoping that your broad wisdom will enlighten my foolish thoughts….”

“Come in! I said come in!”

“I am deeply moved, Master.”

You little bastard!

It’s no use saying such things now… Ha… I should have just listened to Seung-chan hyung [term for older brother or respected male] and not accepted this guy as a guild member from the beginning.

If I had known he was such a proper, certain, and accurate psycho, I would have just ignored him.

Well, what’s the use of regretting it now? The bus has already left [meaning the opportunity is gone].

“Why? What’s the matter? Summarize the conclusion in less than five letters and get out.”

“Yes, Master. If you look at this….”

Sai rummages through a large bag and lays dozens of mineral plates on the tent floor.

The geometric magic patterns, having absorbed enough magic power from the Dungeon Spell Shockwave earlier, emit strange lights to each other, adding mystery to the tent.

So what?

I’m an idiot who doesn’t know anything about that!

So what are you going to do?

Even if you stare at me like that, unless I’m a mage, I’m terrible at magic circuits or magic circles… Huh?

‘Purification of Flames (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Fire Magic System Stat Usability: 2.1% Increase’

‘Purification of Ice (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Ice Magic System Stat Usability: 2.2% Increase’

‘Warrior’s Fighting Spirit (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Combat System (Warrior) Stat Usability: 2.3% Increase’

…….

“Wh, what is it?”

“It has been itemized.”

“No! I’m looking at that too! Wh, why is the rank like this!”

“That’s why I’m telling you.”

“Shee-bal! What’s your rank, why is this rank coming out!”

“I’m in the early stages of Rank 5 now.”

“But, why! Why is Rank 1 coming out!”

“That’s why I’m telling you, but?”

“… Are you kidding me right now?”

“How could I ever do that, Master!”

“Ha… I’m going crazy.”

I’m going crazy.

No, I’m going to die.

I was already hiding the Pandora’s Box, the skill book I got from the Primordial Dungeon, because it was so dangerous, and now dozens of Rank 1 items are pouring out.

Did I save the country in my past life… No, it’s not me.

Even if Sai saved the country dozens of times in his past life and won the lottery 1st prize 10 times in a row, it would be lower than this.

How much is a Rank 1 item… Ah! Money is not the problem right now!

“What’s your luck stat?”

“It’s 12, Master.”

“But, but why is it like this!”

“Isn’t it all thanks to your virtue, Master?”

“Ha… That’s what you say when….”

Is that right?

Anyway!

If this item, that is, the item corresponding to Rank 1, is released outside… It will be turned upside down.

The item dropped from a Rank 3 dungeon is roughly hundreds of millions of won, but this is… Moreover, it’s not just one or two!

“Put it in the inventory for now. Let’s think about it later.”

“Th, that’s also a problem. At first, it wasn’t activated, so it was recognized as one mineral plate, but now that it’s itemized, the types are different, so….”

“Is there not enough space?”

“Yes, Master.”

“So, you put it in that bag and brought it?”

“That’s right. It seems….”

“Okay. I’ll keep it.”

“Understood, Master. There are 22 in total.”

“… Wait a minute.”

I briefly looked at the remaining space in my inventory.

‘…….

Inventory: 18/22

(Jullut (Defense+Attack 200%, 3,157), Dark Assassin (25), Fallen Warrior (8), Dran (101), Mineral (5.54kg), Water (2.0L 1,493), Spam Canned (4,397), Cooked Rice (Large Container 9,178), Cabbage Kimchi (416.8kg), Raw Chicken (157), Pork (Pork Belly 29.7kg), Red Pepper Paste (79.2kg), Purification of Flames and Ice (1), Idea’s Treatment (1), Dark Warrior (6), Key of Genesis (2), Fire Wall Skill Book (1), Ice Tornado Skill Book (1))

…….’

There’s… there’s no space left.

I need to absorb the dungeon clear reward gas in the future to replenish the armored units and bio units, but in this state… Should I take out all the food?

Ah, no. You never know what will happen when, so that’s absolutely not possible.

Last time, in the Primordial Dungeon, if there hadn’t been food, I might have starved to death.

There’s no guarantee that such a situation will definitely happen, but still… Hmm, should I take it out? I don’t really need pork and raw chicken. I can just cut up and eat Ultra… So, um….

After a while.

‘Warrior’s Fighting Spirit (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Combat System (Warrior) Stat Usability: 2.3% Increase’

“This is mine.”

“That is the right thing to say.”

I took my hand to the item, the mineral plate, that was emitting a strange light on the tent floor.

With a white light, it fills up abundantly… Hmm, I don’t know.

I’ll have to use it when I beat up Gil-soo later.

‘Purification of Flames (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Fire Magic System Stat Usability: 2.1% Increase’

‘Purification of Ice (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Ice Magic System Stat Usability: 2.2% Increase’

…….

“Let’s just throw these aside….”

“Understood.”

Thud, thud.

‘Idea Pouch (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Inventory Stat Increased by 6 Slots’

“Hmm, I need this too… No. Still, I ate one earlier, so you eat this.”

“I, I am deeply moved, Master!”

As Sai takes his hand to the mineral plate placed on the floor with an almost tearful expression, a white light briefly stays on his body and disappears.

“Th, thank you, Master.”

“Well, that’s about it… Okay, next is….”

‘Idea’s Treatment (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Rank: 1

Healer System (Priest, Healer) Stat Usability: 2.6% Increase’

“Hmm… This won’t work either, right?”

“That’s right, Master.”

Even if Art Factor me and Sai absorb the items of the healer or priest class, it’s like pouring a handful of water on a parched desert.

This is an item we don’t need.

And Sai just ate one, so if something better comes out, it’s my turn.

I carelessly threw the Idea’s Treatment item, the mineral plate, aside and tried to check the next item….

Thump.

Huh? Thump?

Not thud, but thump?

Did it get caught on something?

I turned my head and looked at the place where I had carelessly thrown the mineral plate, and there, the Idea’s Treatment item I had just thrown was placed squarely on top of a small, pretty shoe. And the owner of that small shoe is….

“O.ppa.what.are.you.do.ing?”

Ji-hye, with a face contorted like a witch, asks me in a chilling voice.

Shee-bal!

I got caught again.

“Wh, what!”

“Wh.at.are.you.do.ing.right.now?”

It’s eerie.

It’s gloomy.

I really didn’t know that Ji-hye’s voice could be so low and bizarre.

I stood in front of Ji-hye and frantically gestured for Sai to quickly hide the mineral plate behind my back.

“Sai-ssi! If you move even a little more in that state, I’m going to cast Fire Wall!”

“Hic!”

You stupid bastard!

Hurry, I said hurry and hide it!

I’ll have to play dumb for now. There’s no way she’ll really attack!

“Oppa, I’m seriously considering whether to shout and call the other oppas right now, what should I do?”

“Huh?”

Uh? What?

So… Uh… Also….

“Hahaha. Ji-hye, you trust oppa, right?”

“No. Not at all!”

“Haha, so that’s what happened… Uh… Sai!”

“Yes, yes, Master!”

“Say that again, from earlier.”

“Yes! So, Team Leader 3, what happened was….”

…….

After a while.

“Did you check outside?”

“Yeah. Everyone’s busy mining minerals.”

“Where’s Han-deuk?”

“I put him next to Gil-soo oppa.”

“Good job.”

“Hehehe. Right? Then, I’ll eat this.”

“Yeah. Absorb it comfortably.”

“Yeah. Thank you, oppa~!”

“What, between us.”

“Hehet….”

Ji-hye takes her hand to the Purification of Flames item, the mineral plate. A white light flows for a fleeting moment, and Ji-hye, who had closed her eyes for a moment, shivers.

“Ki, killing it! Status window!”

“…….”

“…….”

Killing it, there’s nothing special about it.

Well, there’s quite a difference in rank and level between me and her, so that’s how she might have felt.

Sai and I left Ji-hye alone for a while to check her status window.

“Th, this is really amazing! Totally, really, super amazing! Oppa, thank you so much! Sai-ssi, thank you too!”

“Yes? Yes. Ah, no. This is all a result of your virtue, Master.”

“But if what Sai-ssi said is true, doesn’t something seem a bit strange? Then if we process units in other Rank 1 dungeons, items should drop, though not as much as this, right? Isn’t that so?”

“Ah, that’s not it. Team Leader 3. As you know, items are dropped with an extremely low probability when dungeon units are annihilated, right? That’s how it originally was, but this time, it seems it was possible because we gathered the magic power that was uselessly discharged into the dungeon when the Nexus or Mature Tower was destroyed in one place. Of course, we were able to obtain these results thanks to you, Master, acting as the Mature Tower. Since the Spell Shockwave originated from your body, it’s not an impossible thing to happen when considering your luck stat and magic power. Carving the magic patterns on the mineral plates in advance also played a part. Well, that’s it.”

What does that mean?

I have no idea what he’s talking about at all. Keuehm.

As expected, it wasn’t meant for me to hear, Ji-hye nods and opens her mouth.

“I see. But oppa, how much is your luck stat anyway? I already know that your magic power is extremely low….”

“144.”

“Cough… Cough!”

“… H, luck only?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha… I thought I was pretty amazing too, but oppa is seriously severe. What about other traits?”

“They’re all similar.”

“Wow….”

“Y, you are indeed the Master!”

“What, this guy is even more serious. Isn’t that right, Sai?”

“I just poured everything into enchantments as you told me to….”

“Then what’s Sai-ssi’s enchantment stat?”

“It’s probably around eleven hundred? Right?”

“Wow….”

“Including what I received during this Spell Shockwave, it’s 1,207, Master.”

“… See? Right?”

“… Wa, the really serious person was someone else.”

“I know. Anyway, that’s that, what should we do with the rest of this? Should we just distribute it?”

“What! How much is one of these, are you just going to give it away? No matter how unnecessary it is for oppa and Sai-ssi, still, each one of these is… outside….”

“We.will.buy.it. Buy.it.instead.”

Suddenly, a strange sound is heard, and the tent entrance flutters as Han-deuk, Gil-soo, Mi-hye, Kim Eun-hee, and Choi Eun-ji enter with wide eyes and stiff expressions.

You said you were mining minerals like crazy!

“We heard everything outside, Ji-hye.”

“How could you do this? Even if the Guild Leader made it, you should have told us!”

“Team Leader 3, I’m disappointed.”