Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 101

4-1

“Ji-won, listen carefully. Even though we haven’t known each other for long, I’m saying this because I really think of you as a younger brother.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Right. You know that our country only has 3rd-grade Dungeons here, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And those people, no, the Awakened from large corporations and mid-sized guilds like Saseong, LC, and Jilpung, over a thousand of them, came in to clear this regen [a recurring Dungeon instance], right?”

“Yeah. What is it? You’re just stating the obvious. Just get to the point.”

“If you, almost alone, solo clear a 3rd-grade regen that over a thousand Awakened couldn’t, how do you think they’ll feel?”

“How would they feel? They’d look at me with respect, envy, or… Ah. Is it because of that?”

“Exactly. They’ll feel self-loathing. Self-doubt and emptiness. Things like that. Or even more than that. Imagine someone almost soloing a Dungeon that a thousand Awakened entered and gave up on clearing. Not to mention the injured, there are hundreds of casualties and missing people. Soloing such a Dungeon? If I hadn’t accepted the M&A [mergers and acquisitions] you mentioned back then, I would be looking at you with the same feelings as them right now. Emptiness, self-loathing, and a sense of futility, even denying my own existence. That’s how they must feel right now.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but that seems a bit of an exaggeration.”

“Why? Do you think I’m exaggerating?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that they…”

“What do you mean?”

“You know it too, hyung [older brother or respected male figure]. No, they all know it, and those people definitely know it too. And after a little time passes, those feelings you mentioned earlier will all disappear.”

“Huh?”

“They’re Awakened. We’re Awakened. Where in the world is there a Dungeon that isn’t dangerous? This isn’t an amusement park. No, safety accidents happen even in amusement parks. That’s right. I understand what you’re saying. But, but you know, we’re Awakened. What do Awakened do? Isn’t the main purpose entering dangerous Dungeons and mining mineral rewards? And making money with those minerals? Right?”

“… W, well, that’s true.”

“Then it can’t be helped. It’s the reality we face. Even if they feel empty and self-loathing right now, it can’t be helped. Why? Because we’re Awakened. Would an Awakened work at a regular company? Run a business? If you’re Awakened, you come to Dungeons. Whether it’s 10th grade, 9th grade, or 3rd grade, you clear it according to your ability. And you get minerals as a reward. They must have come here looking forward to the regen clear reward. But, if they feel self-loathing or emptiness, will they miss out on this next time? If so, they’re not Awakened, they’re just ordinary people. You know. We’re making money by risking our lives. If you give up because of some feelings, you’re not an Awakened.”

My long explanation makes the guild members perk up their ears and nod.

Ji-hye is looking at me with red eyes, and Gil-su and Han-deuk have admiring looks. Mi-hye, Kim Eun-hee, and Choi Eun-ji are even looking at me with teary eyes.

And the useless human is muttering something like a madman. As if trying to memorize what I said.

“… That’s right. Ji-won, you’re right. I was wrong.”

“No. Your words are also right, hyung. But, I can’t understand their feelings. No, there’s no reason to. Not yet.”

“Right. There’s no need to. We’re Awakened. Awakened speak with minerals. Team leaders!”

“Yes.”

“Yes, Vice Guild Leader.”

“Awakened speak with minerals. From now on, we mine the Dungeon clear reward minerals!”

“Understood. Vice Guild Leader.”

“Yes! Warriors, gather here!”

“Healers, priests, come here! From now on, we mine the clear reward minerals. Hurry!”

As the guild members start moving near the Core Tower, I slowly follow.

To absorb the consumed gas… Huh? Wait a moment.

Why is a Drone mining minerals? Ah!

“Wait! Don’t kill the Drone! Put it down. I said put down the mineral-mining Drone!”

We haven’t destroyed the Ultra Core yet.

There’s more to gain besides the Dungeon clear reward.

Seoul City Hall 3rd Grade Bio Dungeon Regen Clear Entry 2 days 10 hours 40 minutes later.

“Oh~ He produced a Drone.”

“Right. You have to produce a Drone first to speed up the mineral mining.”

“Huh? That guy is going over there? Oh! He’s morphing.”

“Damn it, destroy it.”

“Yes.”

Gil-su jumps forward and strikes the Drone trying to morph with his greatsword. Green and red liquid splatters, and the morphing Drone collapses.

Right now, the team leader-level guild members, including me, and Hong-chan hyung are sitting huddled in front of the Core Tower, watching the creatures popping out of the surrounding eggs. The rest of the guild members are mining minerals, and hundreds of Zealots [a type of monster or unit] are waiting nearby.

If an Ultra awakens from an egg, we plan to catch it immediately, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Can’t it be like this?

“Why isn’t an Ultra coming out?”

“Will this work?”

“The Ultra Core is over there. The only thing it can produce is an Ultra, so shouldn’t it come out?”

“Why don’t you stop talking and mine minerals?”

“I’m not a warrior, and I’m just a nuisance hanging around.”

“Well, that’s true. By the way, are you filming well?”

“Yes. So far. But, are you really going to hand this over to the Association President?”

Han-deuk asks, handing the Idea Mirror to me.

“Last time, everything went to Saseong. This time, they’re really asking me to do it. I’ll just take the money and hand it over. What’s different about seeing it?”

“This regen clear is probably….”

“Why? Because of my skills?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t it be better to hide it if possible?”

“There are hundreds of witnesses. You have to hide what you can hide. It’s better to make money with this.”

“Understood. I’ll film until we leave the Dungeon.”

“Yeah. That way, we can use it to avoid responsibility for the Dungeon exploding later. They won’t say anything to us, but the golden spoons [people born into wealth and privilege] only have crap in their heads, so who knows what they’ll come up with. It’s all blood and flesh. But, why! Why isn’t an Ultra coming out! There’s only an Ultra Core, so an Ultra should come out!”

“W, well.”

“Crap! This sucks. Gather the kids. We’re destroying the Core Tower.”

“Yes.”

“Everyone stop working! Gather in front of the Core Tower!”

“Spell Shockwave! Mages stand in front, then healers, priests. Next are the warriors. Hurry!”

I guess I had a vain hope. I thought if there was only an Ultra Core, it would keep producing Ultras from the Core Tower. Tsk [a sound of annoyance].

Okay. After destroying the main Core Tower, let’s absorb the gas and leave.

“Ready.”

“Okay. You destroy the Zealots from you to you.”

I ordered the Zealots around me to destroy the Core Tower.

About 20 Zealots strode forward and began to poke the Core Tower with their long gauntlets.

After a little time, a clear blue wave spreads in all directions.

[Ding! Level 1 increase due to accumulated availability. Personal stat 10 is granted.]

[Ding! Level 1 increase due to accumulated availability. Personal stat 10 is granted.]

Is level 2 the end of the increase in this Seoul City Hall 3rd Grade Bio Dungeon regen clear?

Last time it was a storm level up. Tsk.

It seems that leveling up will become more difficult. Maybe it’s because of the ability weighting.

The ratio of the corresponding ability weighting becomes extremely difficult as you go to a higher grade, so raising the Awakened grade to 3rd grade or 2nd grade is like picking stars in the sky [extremely difficult].

When the Spell Shockwave ends, shouts of leveling up are heard from the guild members around, and a celebratory atmosphere continues.

After telling Hong-chan hyung to mine minerals on his own, I headed to the empty lot in the back. Let’s absorb as much gas fragments as possible and leave. My stomach hurts.

Seoul City Hall 3rd Grade Bio Dungeon Regen Clear Entry 2 days 12 hours 50 minutes later.

“Everyone board the shuttle.”

“Boarding!”

“Boarding!”

“Shuttle take off! Move!”

When all the guild members and mid-sized company guild members boarded the shuttle, I moved the shuttle toward the Dungeon entrance. The Seoul City Hall 3rd Grade Bio Dungeon regen clear had a lot of talk and trouble.

Still, I got one thing, no, a unit skill separate from the Ultra corpse including the clear mineral reward, so that’s it. Cough.

After a while.

While moving to the Dungeon entrance, I found hundreds of remaining speed-up Zerglings and Hydras [types of monsters or units], but I left them alone. There’s no reason to deal with them one by one, and the price of their corpses isn’t much.

I only dealt with 5 Ultras and stacked them neatly in my inventory.

When I arrived at the Dungeon entrance, I found that quite a few of the defense towers installed when entering were broken. They were blocking the Dungeon units from going outside, and they did their part well.

When I came out of the Dungeon, I felt a slight dizziness, and huge shouts and countless camera flashes burst from all directions.

“Wow!”

“It’s the Ji-won Guild!”

“Ji-won Guild Leader, please say something!”

“What happened to the Saseong, LC, and Jilpung Guilds that went in first?”

“Are the people who came out with you the people rescued from the Dungeon?”

“There’s an opinion that if the Ji-won Guild had proceeded with the regen clear from the beginning, the Dungeon would not have exploded. What do you think?”

“There’s talk that the Ji-won Guild, excluding Saseong, LC, and Jilpung Guilds, should operate this Dungeon in the future. What do you think?”

The soldiers were guarding the Dungeon entrance and controlling the people around, but hundreds of civilians, reporters, broadcasting vehicles and cameras, Association employees, and police officers were mixed up in chaos.

Did they wait until we cleared it and came out? Why? How did they know when it would be cleared?

It’s a similar situation to when I first cleared it last time.

Maybe I’ll move to the Awakened Association now… As expected, Association executives and Association President Tae-seok hyung are approaching this way, pushing through the crowd.

“Hahaha. It’s the Ji-won Guild as expected. Congratulations on clearing it safely this time as well. Are there any injured people?”

“We’re okay, but there are quite a few injured over there. Have them transported to the hospital.”

“Okay, handle it that way. Let’s move first. If we stay here, we’ll be crushed to death by people, not Dungeon units. Haha.”

“Yes. Is the vehicle ready?”

“Of course. This way.”

“Move. Form a formation.”

“B2! Moving formation!”

“Warriors get out! Moving formation!”

“Stay alert until the end! Teams 1-4! Move quickly!”

The team leaders’ orders are not properly conveyed to the guild members because of the shouting people around. But we can’t just push through recklessly.

With the help of Association employees, soldiers, and police officers, we safely moved to the parking lot and moved to the Awakened Association using a large bus.

2 hours later.

Republic of Korea Awakened Association President’s Office.

After showering and changing, only me, Hong-chan hyung, Han-deuk, and Gil-su visited the President’s office separately.

After sitting down and exchanging various words of blessing, Han-deuk took out the Idea Mirror from the inventory and handed it to me, and Association President Tae-seok hyung’s eyes were blazing.

“Is this it?”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Isn’t it much different from last time? If I refer to this, I can try fighting them once.”

“Tae-seok hyung.”

“Huh? Yes, speak. Younger brother.”

“There were quite a few things that happened while clearing the regen this time. There were many issues for the Awakened in the Dungeon and for me. And did you know that they recruited mental Awakened and went in, hyung?”

“No, no. As you know, it hasn’t been 3 weeks since I took office. What power do I have? Didn’t the former Association President believe your words and put me in this position? But, what did you say earlier? Mental? What are you talking about? Did they do something?”

As expected, the Association doesn’t know either. When I stayed still, Hong-chan hyung stepped forward.

“No. Association President. Actually, we also guessed that the Seoul City Hall 3rd Grade Bio Dungeon would explode this time, but who knew it would really happen? Of course, if they had cleared the regen properly, nothing would have happened. But in the end, the Dungeon exploded, and we had to step in to fix the situation. So when I went inside, it seemed that they had recruited a large number of mental Awakened and were trying to clear it in a unique way. Anyway, it’s all in the Idea Mirror, so you can see it, but I’d like you to consider the contents as confidential as possible.”

“Well, if you ask me to do that for my younger brother’s work, I’ll do it. But, is there a need to hide their flaws? If you slip it to the media, it will spread on its own. Someone has to take responsibility.”

“Hyung. It’s not them, it’s me.”

“Huh? What?”

“Look at it first and then talk. 2 hours… No, it’s late today, so let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Hmm, I don’t know what it is, but I understand for now. I’ll contact the security office and have them look into it with the minimum number of people. Then see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. Rest well, hyung.”

“Okay. You worked hard. Rest well.”

I gave Association President Tae-seok hyung a homework assignment and left the President’s office. I don’t know if Tae-seok hyung can really do that homework properly.

After finishing a simple dinner with the team leaders, I was having a cold draft beer at a nearby pub, and huh? A man who appeared to be an Association employee looked around the store, found me, and approached this way.

“Huk huk [sound of heavy breathing]. Ji-won Guild Leader. The Association President is looking for you. The employees were searching the area because they couldn’t reach you. To the Association President’s office now….”

“Do you have a cell phone?”

“Yes? Yes. Here.”

“Call the Association President and tell him to come this way. It’s within spitting distance, why do we, with so many people, have to move? The person with business comes. And I clearly agreed to meet again tomorrow, why is this hyung doing this at this hour!”

I don’t even have to watch the video.

While looking at the Idea Mirror, he must have questioned the regen clear method of the Saseong, LC, and Jilpung Guilds that entered first, and the rest must be questions about my skills.

Well, he won’t ask about such trivial, useless, and troublesome experiments as leaving only the Ultra Core and destroying the main base, right?

It’s just a test. A test! Ah!

I did so many skill tests with the units!

Um, it’ll be alright, right? It’ll be fine. Yes.

The next day.

I roughly took care of breakfast and visited the Association President’s office again.

Today is to discuss the compensation for the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon, along with the disposal of unit corpses. Of course, it will be handled the same way as before.

“I was really surprised yesterday. You’re still amazing! Hahaha.”

“You shouldn’t open it up right away. Not yet.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that? Don’t worry. Anyway, how are you going to hold them accountable?”

“It’ll look strange if we step in. Let’s just subtly leak it to the press?”

“Will that be enough? Some newspapers and broadcasting stations are owned by them. If you’re not going to step in, we’ll take care of it on our end.”

“Yes. Please take care of that, hyung [term of endearment for an older male]. About the regen clear compensation this time, are the unit corpses going to be auctioned off like last time, and will the association buy all the minerals like before?”

“We’ll handle the unit corpses through auction, but, how much is the mineral clear compensation… in total? Is it perhaps like last time…”

“210 tons.”

“…T, two hundred and ten tons!”

“Hyung, the association has some money, right?”

In the end, the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon unit ultra corpses were entrusted to the association to be sold through auction as before, and the Association President asked to wait for the mineral exchange for the clear compensation. He said the association might not have enough available funds.

Since minerals are a currency like money anyway, it doesn’t matter. Except for the condition of handing over the Idea Mirror, which doubled from the original 10 billion won to 20 billion won [approximately $15 million USD].

Even excluding the bio unit corpse auction proceeds, the total amount of mineral clear compensation is 210 tons!

Converted into money, it’s a whopping 735 billion won [approximately $550 million USD].

Well, after deducting various taxes and fees, it won’t be that much, but still, if I distribute it to the guild members according to their dungeon clear contribution, no, I’ll almost monopolize it. Ahem.

“Oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend]! This is really not fair, is it? I acknowledge that oppa played an important role in clearing the dungeon, but why is there such a big difference in the clear compensation! What are we, anyway? Extras? Consumables?”

“Correct.”

“Oppa!”

“What do you want me to do? Do I calculate the clear contribution? It’s the dungeon system. I’m just receiving what comes out, why are you picking a fight?”

“Tch. I know. I know, but… I have a stomachache. Ah~ stomachache.”

“Constipated? Go to the bathroom.”

“Hmph!”

“Hyung, by the way, what percentage of clear contribution did you get this time?”

“Me? 80.056%.”

“Do everything yourself! There are over 200 guild members! 80% by yourself! What about us? What about us!”

“I’m a mage. Calculate it.”

“Geez. Someone has 80% contribution, and someone has 0.35%. Mi-hye, what about you?”

“I’m about the same.”

“What about Haneuk oppa and Gilsu oppa?”

“…Don’t ask.”

“…….”

Haneuk and Gilsu hang their heads without saying anything.

Well, Haneuk is a healer, and Gilsu is a warrior, but they didn’t do anything in this dungeon clear.

The mages at least poured out attack magic from the shuttle, but Gilsu only mined minerals, and Haneuk only cast heals on the mages. So their clear contribution is bound to be low.

Seeing the kids looking dejected, it might be good to cheer them up a bit.

“Alright. The mid-sized guild awakeners we agreed to receive from the dungeon are 7 billion won per person. If there are a total of 151 people… uh, uh? What, what is this! Hey! Is this right? 1 trillion won? Is it? Huh?”

“Geez, oppa. That’s only if you receive it all from those people. The Rank 7 is paid for life, right? And Rank 6 is for 3 years, right? Moreover, we don’t even know if those people will keep their promise or not.”

“Ah, right. Kahaha. I was scared for nothing. Crap.”

“Scared? You looked really happy. Your ears were practically touching your mouth.”

“Leave me alone. It’s my mouth. Anyway, when the mid-sized guild awakeners’ head money comes in, I’ll set up incentives for the guild members.”

“What percentage?”

“50?”

“Why not spend a little more? 60?”

“40?”

“Hehe. Oppa, what do you want to eat? Should I buy you a cold drink?”

“The refrigerator is full of drinks. By the way, Haneuk.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Make sure to collect the mid-sized guild awakeners’ head money properly. Accurately identify their identities and affiliations. That’s your money from now on.”

“Of course, hyung.”

Of course, half of that is my money, but there’s no reason for me to say that.

If you don’t like it, you can be the guild leader.

Anyway, it’s a side income generated by me, so receive it well and put it in my account. Ahem.

“Okay. Then everything we went into the dungeon for this time is roughly settled, right?”

“Minerals, unit corpses, Idea Mirror, awakeners’ share. Isn’t that settled? Ah, what about them?”

“Them? The silver spoons [those born into wealth]?”

“Yes.”

“Leave them alone. The association said they’ll take care of it, so let’s just eat rice cakes and watch [a Korean idiom meaning to sit back and observe].”

“I understand. Then, shall we go down tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Make a reservation to go down late in the afternoon, and is there anything else?”

I checked the overall details of this Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon regen clear, and reviewed the approximate details with the team leaders to go down to Jeju.

Once the discussions on the most important clear compensation and unit corpses were over, it was somewhat finished.

I was going to stay for another day to rest or have personal maintenance time before returning to Jeju, but Hongchan hyung, who had been watching all along, spoke up.

“Ji-won.”

“Yeah.”

“Someone came by when you were meeting with the Association President earlier, and they’re affiliated with the Blue House [the executive office building and official residence of the President of South Korea].”

“The Blue House? What Blue… Huh? That place?”

“Yeah.”

“Why there? I didn’t do anything wrong. Why? Perhaps, is that person looking for me? Huh?”

I was startled!

Why? What for? For what reason? I didn’t do anything wrong?

Ah, if I did something wrong, someone from there wouldn’t come out, the association or the police station would come… Ah, that’s not important right now!

“I received a lunch invitation.”

“Huh? Who? Us? No, me?”

“The entire Ji-won Guild, they want everyone to come.”

“Why?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Why do they want to have lunch?”

“How would I know? They just suggested it, so I said okay. It’s the day after tomorrow for lunch.”

“Ah! Seriously! Why did you agree to that! I really hate those kinds of gatherings! They’re so awkward, so troublesome, so annoying!”

“Then, do you want to do a press conference? A two-hour one?”

“What are you talking about? Why would a press conference come out of there?”

“Do you know how many requests for press conferences you’ve received so far? Do you even know how many requests for broadcasts and interviews there have been? The Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Dungeon, which is constantly being talked about on TV and in newspapers, is the biggest issue in the country, but have you ever explained the situation in front of a camera even once! If you say anything about that one time you briefly appeared, I’m really going to lose it. At least 50 meeting calls come in every day! And that’s not to the office phone, but to my cell phone! Because you ignore the calls, they all come to me! Okay, I’ll give you credit for focusing on clearing the dungeon and handing over the guild operations to me. But as a guild leader, you should at least take the lead on external image and major national issues! Everyone is only looking for you, what am I supposed to do!”

Having accumulated so much, his resentment burst out, and he shut my mouth.

I’ve never seen Hongchan hyung angry like that before. That means there are so many people looking for me.

“…S, sorry.”

“If you know you’re sorry, you’re going there the day after tomorrow. Got it?”

“Huh? Uh.”

“That’s it. Rest. I’ll contact them and take care of other things.”

“Uh.”

As Hongchan hyung opened the door and went outside, the kids said one thing each.

“Wow, the Vice Guild Leader’s force is no joke.”

“But why are they calling us there?”

“How would I know?”

“Don’t you watch TV or the internet these days? We’re totally famous.”

“Well, it’s hard to walk down the street.”

“Is it because of you? It’s because of hyung.”

“That’s true. Hehehe.”

Useless chatter.

Anyway, Hongchan hyung’s words keep ringing in my ears.

And there are so many people looking for me? Why? I’m already annoyed to death!

Should I search the internet for information about the Ji-won Guild? What’s the big deal….

After a while.

I went to the portal site on the latest PC in the room and typed in the phrase ‘Ji-won Guild,’ and dozens, hundreds of news articles, videos, and blog posts poured out.

There were expert discussion videos on awakener grades and stats based on levels with me as the subject, videos taken at the entrance of the Seoul City Hall Rank 3 Bio Dungeon and the Jeju City Hall Rank 6 Armor Dungeon, as well as news, photos and images, blogs analyzing me, and even fan cafes. There was a huge amount of content of all kinds.

“Oppa, you’re totally a celebrity.”

“Wow. The fan cafe has 300,000 members.”

“Where did they take that picture? Is it photoshopped?”

“Probably. More than that, look at the number of comments. 10,000 per post is the basic.”

We sat huddled together watching the PC monitor, and the kids kept teasing me. No, they’re teasing me, right?

“Everyone, go back to your rooms. Don’t you have anything to do? Ji-hye, you said you were going shopping? Take Haneuk with you.”

“This is more important than shopping. It feels fresh since it’s been a while.”

“There’s really a lot. How did they make all this?”

“Hey, uncles and aunts. Can you get out of my room?”

The kids kept pushing me and trying to take over the keyboard, typing in their own names instead of the phrase Ji-won Guild.

Annoyed, I stepped back and gave them space, but Mi-hye’s strange voice grated on my ears.

“It wasn’t this much until last week….”

Huh? Last week?

How on earth do you distinguish between last week and this week?

Late evening.

For a full three hours, why, why do we have to stare at the PC monitor together in my room?

You guys have PCs in your rooms! No, you can just search on your smartphones!

Why do you have to huddle together, examining everything one by one, cursing, shouting, and cheering? Huh?

That’s it. Let’s not pay attention.

I should take a shower and crash.

I went into the bathroom and stood under the lukewarm water, trying to sort things out one by one, when suddenly I realized I had missed something….

“Ah, Zealot skills!”

Am I an idiot?

I made such a fuss about finding unit skills in the dungeon, and then I forgot about it when I came out.

Well, the rewards are as important as clearing the dungeon. Ahem.

“Skill information!”

[Ding! Checking your skill information.]

[Skill Name: Heaven and Earth Storm (Rank 3). Time: 480 minutes/480 minutes

Condition: When 100 or more Lightning Shamans use area lightning

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

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

[Skill Name: ? (Rank 4)

Condition: When 1,000 or more Zealots attack simultaneously

Effect: Strengthens physical attack power according to the target (Armor Dungeon +100%]