Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 102

[Damage: Attack Power +100%, Critical +25%]

This skill activates when attacking over 1,000 Zhulats simultaneously.

*Since it’s Rank 4, it must be weaker than the Heaven and Earth Storm, right?*

By the way, what should I name this skill?

Should I ask these guys? Or should I go with what I had in mind?

But shouting it out would be so embarrassing… Sigh.

After I took a shower, the kids were still glued to the monitor, still engaged in their serious and earnest, yet insane, debate about who was more famous.

“Attention! Skill name contest for the skill found in the dungeon. Skill activates when attacking over 1,000 Zhulats simultaneously. Deadline, tomorrow. Prize, 100 million [Korean Won, roughly $75,000 USD]. Done! Out, everyone out!”

“Oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends], how about ‘Shut Up Zhulat’?”

“Shut up yourself! Out, I said, out.”

“Hyungnim [honorific term for older brother or respected male figure], how about ‘No Questions Zhulat’?”

“No questions asked, you get out too. Quickly!”

“Guild Leader, what about ‘Swarm Zhulat’?”

“What! Since it’s a thousand Zhulats, how about ‘Thousand Zhulat’?”

“You wanna fight? Get out, I said!”

Why, why, why, why does this have to happen in my room! Everyone, please get out!

The next day.

From morning, the kids flock to my room again, doing their nonsense.

Why did we even divide the rooms if you’re going to be like this? Just rent a group room for yourselves and do your nonsense or crazy stuff there! Why in my room!

Are they attention-seeking elementary schoolers? You little…

“Shall we have breakfast?”

“If we eat at this time, it’s lunch, not breakfast. Go eat. I’ll just order some room service….”

“Oppa, me too.”

“Me too.”

“Ha… I’ll go out. You guys play by yourselves.”

I threw on some clothes and left the hotel room, and the kids followed me out.

Am I a nanny? Are you guys five-year-olds attending daycare? Why are you trailing after me like that!

Like a mother bird bringing food, I took the kids to a nearby restaurant and had a late breakfast/lunch.

As we were heading back to the hotel with iced coffees in hand, reporters swarmed around us like bees. The hotel security and association staff tried to block them, but there were too many reporters and ordinary people rushing in.

I knew I shouldn’t have come out. I should have just used the hotel restaurant. Why did I come out to eat something different… What a nuisance, what a nuisance. Sigh.

“I’m telling you, it’s ‘Shut Up Zhulat’.”

“No, it’s ‘Thousand Zhulat’.”

“How about ‘Storm Zhulat’?”

“Hmm, that sounds pretty good?”

“Since a thousand Zhulats are rushing in at once, using ‘Intensive’ to represent concentration, and the word ‘Storm’ which is already in existing skills, how about ‘Intensive Storm’?”

“Ooh~.”

“No, it’s ‘Shut Up Zhulat’!”

“’Thousand Zhulat’ sounds cooler.”

“Hyung, Hongchan, ‘Intensive Storm’ wins!”

“Haha, I feel a bit awkward.”

“Tch, you guys are all in cahoots. Did you two plan this?”

“Plan what? I just heard it too. If we had planned it, we would have decided on the skill name in advance.”

We had another coffee time with the team leader-level guild members and Hongchan Hyung to hear the situation briefing about going to the Blue House [South Korean presidential residence] tomorrow.

Well, we also decided on the skill name while we were at it.

I didn’t really like the kids’ naming attempts, but Hongchan Hyung’s skill name stuck in my ear.

It somehow seemed meaningful, and the meaning seemed to fit. As expected, naming should be done in English or another language, not Korean, to make it seem more impressive. Ahem.

“We’ll be leaving at 10 AM tomorrow. They said they’ll come to pick us up, so dress nicely.”

“10 AM? Why two hours before having a meal… Alright, alright. What’s with that look….”

“Just do as they say tomorrow. If you mess things up because you’re annoyed, I might mess things up too.”

“I got it, I got it.”

“Don’t cause trouble, don’t be a pain, and don’t get angry.”

“Ah~, I got it. You make it sound like I’m always causing trouble. I’m not a kid. Are you going to be a mother bird too, Hyung?”

“Mother… what? What are you talking about?”

“Anyway, there’s something like that. No unnecessary nagging.”

“I’m saying this because I’m really worried. Really!”

“I know, I know. Anyway, why does that person keep calling for me….”

“Jiwon-ah!”

“Yes sir~. Yes.”

Am I on the same level as the kids to Hongchan Hyung? Why doesn’t he trust me this much? Have I done that much nonsense? Huh?

The next day.

It’s a mess from the morning.

Waking up early, taking a shower, styling my hair, changing into the dark navy suit I bought yesterday, and the new shoes… Ha, do I really have to do this? Really?

I’m doing as Hongchan Hyung tells me to, but really, really, really annoying.

It’s not like I’m desperate, and just because that person wants to see me, I have to go through this fuss!

If I were still working around this time last year, maybe, but we’re Awakeners. With the Awakener’s mindset, I could just coolly ignore it… Hongchan Hyung would flip out, right?

Well, today I’ll sacrifice myself for Hongchan Hyung. Sigh.

I was amazed once by the elegant, bling-bling, somewhat forced and strange makeup techniques of the team leaders Jihae, Mihae, Choi Eunji, and Kim Eunhee, and twice by the bizarre and strange outfits of Hanteuk and Gilsu, who claimed to have shown off their masculinity to the fullest.

Most of the guild members gathered in the hotel lobby in somewhat fancy attire, and we moved to the Blue House in a large bus with the agents who were supposed to escort us.

And then,

“You must wear this.”

“I don’t want to.”

“If you don’t control your mana, you will not be able to have an audience.”

“Then, let’s just go back. Goodbye.”

“Jiwon-ah!”

“Ah, seriously! We’re not criminals, why do we have to wear this! Who called us here and is telling us to wear this crap! Did I say I wanted to see them? They called me….”

“You’re being too harsh. You can’t call them that so carelessly. Please be careful.”

“Ha, I’m about to lose it.”

“Jiwon-ah!”

“Ha~. Alright, alright. But, I really, just ugh. Ha~. Relax, relax. Give it to me. I just have to wear it on my wrist, right? If there’s more than this, tell me quickly. If not, it’s over. Right?”

“All weapons, including armor, summons, mental abilities, magic manifestation, spells, etc., are prohibited, and mana is forcibly blocked inside and outside the reception room. Therefore, the mana manifestation of mages, healers, and priests will also be temporarily suspended, and warriors will wear mana blockers on their wrists. This is a uniform measure in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, so we ask for your understanding.”

“… What is that unforeseen circumstance? Is it an unforeseen circumstance that we’re going to do something harmful? Who called us! I didn’t want to come here….”

“Hey! Han Jiwon!”

“… Sigh. Alright. Let’s go. Is this the place?”

I asked the sturdy, young man who seemed to be a security guard or bodyguard, turning my back on Hongchan Hyung, who looked like he was about to draw a greatsword at me.

“This way. Only team leader-level personnel and above, please come this way, and the guild members can enter that way. Now, please follow me.”

“Okay~.”

The tense kids and Hongchan Hyung, whose face had turned red, were following me, and the guild members seemed to be entering the other way.

It’s like meeting a really great person; the procedures are complicated and the restrictions are severe.

There are Awakeners who seem to be bodyguards everywhere in the hallway we’re walking through… Oh? There’s someone hiding too? Stealth, is that their unique trait?

Seriously, is that stealth when it’s so obvious? It’s like shouting, ‘I’m here!’… Huh? Wait a minute!

Why can I feel mana? This is supposed to be a mana blocker!

I stared at the mana blocker on my left wrist with a bewildered look.

Is it broken?

A little later.

Our guild members were gathered like statues in a reception room that didn’t seem like a large lobby, just sipping water.

You little…! If you were going to come, you should have come quickly. What’s with calling us and making us wait?

No, if you were going to make us wait, why did you make us do this from two hours ago!

I was trying hard to cool down my boiling stomach with the water in front of me, but the surrounding bodyguards were only looking at me. What? What are you going to do?!

By the way, is this broken? If you blocked the mana, I shouldn’t be able to feel it. Hey, you hiding on top of that podium, and you in the upper left corner of that window. Aren’t your legs sore? What are you doing crouching there?

“The President and First Lady, Choi Hanseok, are entering. Distinguished guests, please rise from your seats to greet them.”

“What a load of crap.”

“Ji, Jiwon-ah.”

“… Ha, okay. Relax, relax.”

Looking at the kids with their eyes wide open, I wondered if I had gone too far. Okay, let’s be patient, be patient.

The door opened and a middle-aged man in his mid-60s and a woman in her late 50s, whom I occasionally saw on TV, and a young woman in her early 30s and a few people who seemed to be aides entered.

They approached the prepared table, right up to the seat in front of me, and shook hands with me.

“It’s really nice to meet you like this. I’m Choi Hanseok.”

*Why does this guy talk like that? He looks like Psy [famous South Korean singer]?*

“Yes. I’m Han Jiwon.”

As we were about to shake hands and sit down,

“This is my wife and daughter. They wanted to see Mr. Han Jiwon so much that I made up my mind and brought them along. Is that alright?”

“… Yes.”

*Is that alright? When did you ever ask me?*

No wonder the scheduled time was so long.

Just as I was about to get used to the strange way of talking and my mental breakdown was about to befriend me in my head, the food came out.

Samgyetang [Korean ginseng chicken soup].

Is today Boknal [one of the hottest days of the year in the lunar calendar, traditionally eaten with Samgyetang]? What’s with the samgyetang?

“Do you like samgyetang? I’ve been eating it a lot lately because I’m not feeling well. Please have a lot.”

*Aren’t you going to ask us? There’s a big difference between you eating it because you’re not feeling well and us being forced to eat a menu that’s been decided on.*

“Yes. Thank you.”

Hongchan Hyung pressed down on my thigh with his hand and answered instead.

Only the sound of spoons scraping against bowls was heard quietly, and everyone was just picking at their food.

Samgyetang is best enjoyed by tearing off the chicken leg and holding it in your hand, which aids digestion.

“Slurp, slurp. Crunch. Hmm, the taste is good. The broth is sweet, just right.”

“… I don’t know what ‘sweet’ means, but I’m glad you like it. Haha.”

“Samgyetang goes well with soju [Korean distilled rice liquor]….”

“Is it alright to drink during lunch?”

“Drinking during the day is the best.”

“Haha, is that so? Bring a bottle of soju here.”

The surrounding bodyguards were looking at me again. Hey, you on top of that window. Are your legs numb? Why are you wriggling like that? Just come down.

A female bodyguard? A waitress? Someone who looked like that brought two soju glasses and a bottle of soju on a tray and was about to put them on the table when,

“May I pour you a drink?”

The woman in her early 30s, who had been acting demure and quiet like a daughter-in-law from a prestigious family, grabbed the soju bottle.

“Well, there’s no reason not to. Thank you.”

“Yes. You’re really handsome in person.”

“Hahaha, I’m a bit good-looking, right? Haha.”

“Hehe, you’re also full of confidence.”

“I hear that a lot.”

The daughter-in-law from a prestigious family filled the soju glass to the brim and asked the man next to her.

“Dad, would you like a drink too?”

“Hmm, should I? Just one drink.”

“Are you alright, dear?”

“Haha. Seeing such a handsome man, I suddenly want to have a drink. Pour me a drink.”

It’s strange. The way he talks is strange. It changes back and forth.

The strange man who received a glass from the strange woman said strange things.

“Since we’re connected like this and will likely see each other often, let’s have a toast.”

“… Yes.”

He doesn’t seem to be deliberately using this tone.

I clinked soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] glasses with the strange man and was about to bring it to my lips when the man above the window, who had been bothering me since earlier….

“Hey, if you’re going to keep squirming, just come out. I know your legs are probably numb, so why are you staying in that position….”

Suddenly, quickly, very quickly, the surrounding bodyguards approached, and the strange man tried to get up from his seat in a strange posture.

The guild members were equally bewildered, not knowing what was going on.

Huh? What did I just say?

Dozens of bodyguards with earpieces surrounded the table where we were eating.

The strange man, surrounded by bodyguards, struggled to get up from his seat, pushed past the surrounding bodyguards, and slowly approached me. And, as a bonus, the muscular guys who looked like they wanted to kill me were glaring at me intensely.

The strange man looked at the magic suppressor on my left wrist and asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“Is that fake?”

“This? I don’t know. That guy over there told me to wear it in the waiting room.”

When I pointed to the bodyguard who had explained the precautions until my ears hurt, several people turned their attention to him, and someone approached and scanned my wrist with a strange scanning device.

“It’s normal. It’s activated.”

“Then how did you recognize the stealth? Come out. You’ve already been caught. Raise TX-1 and move.”

When the bodyguard in his early 50s gave the order, the surrounding muscular guys quickly moved.

“That’s enough. No need to make a fuss.”

The strange landlord tried to stop the man who appeared to be the head of security from giving instructions.

Pushing past the bodyguards who were trying to stop him, he carefully sat back in his seat, and the First Lady and Young-ae, who had moved to the entrance of the grand ballroom, walked back towards us.

Dozens of bodyguards surrounded our table, staring only at me.

“Tsk. Just for saying one wrong word, I’m being treated like a criminal?”

At my words, Hong-chan sighed deeply next to me, and I could hear the team leaders clicking their tongues.

What? So what? I spoke the truth.

“It seems there was a slight misunderstanding. Have you finished your meal?”

“Well, I’m mostly done. It’s a bit awkward eating alone in this atmosphere.”

“Haha. Then, would you like to have a cup of coffee for a while?”

“Just me?”

“Aren’t you the guild leader? Isn’t that enough?”

“The vice guild leader is in charge of guild operations here. If it’s okay, I’d like to go together.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

In this chaotic atmosphere, with dozens of bodyguards staring only at me, the landlord said he wanted to see me separately.

I grabbed Hong-chan, who was looking at me pitifully, by the wrist, got up from my seat, and left the grand ballroom to move to the office.

After some time, when I was getting tired of the subtle coffee scent, the landlord, the head of security, and the bodyguards, who had briefly gone outside, came back in.

“Han Ji-won, you didn’t have your Awakened grade and stats re-measured earlier this year. Would you be able to have them re-measured for a moment?”

“Why? Is it mandatory?”

“Please cooperate?”

“… I guess so.”

After the reluctant answer, one of the bodyguards approached, placed a portable magic measuring device on the table, and stepped back. I grabbed the measuring device without saying a word and allowed it to recognize my magic power.

When the light came on and an alarm sounded on the small LED panel, the bodyguard who had stepped back approached, retrieved the portable magic measuring device, and handed it to the head of security. And then,

“… T, two thousand two hundred!”

“Huh! What is it!”

“How could someone who was a Grade 7 just a few months ago….”

Huh? Are they talking about me? Are they?

The bodyguards murmured, and the head of security, after checking my magic power level, placed a few sheets of A4 paper on the landlord’s table and continued speaking.

“You first awakened in October of the year before last, were measured as Grade 7 in May of last year, and Grade 4 in November, but this current level of over 2,200….”

“Is Grade 3 from 3,200?”

“That’s correct, Mr. President.”

“Are there any Grade 3 Awakeners in the country?”

“None at all.”

“Anyone with a magic power level over 2,000?”

“No. As far as has been reported, Hong Tae-sung, the guild leader of the Four-Star Guild, maintains a level of 1,900, which is the highest in the country.”

“Yes, that’s right. Even so, over a thousand Awakeners from the Four-Star, LC, and Gale Guilds couldn’t clear that regen [a type of dungeon]. There were over 400 casualties.”

“… Yes.”

Hey? Uncles.

Why are you calling me here and having a conversation among yourselves?

And you could have that conversation separately. We don’t necessarily need to be here!

My stomach was churning, and Hong-chan nudged my foot with his shoe.

Okay. I’ll wait.

“It burst twice after manifestation, right?”

“Yes.”

“If Jiwon Guild doesn’t clear it, what’s the probability of it bursting again?”

“Over 98%.”

“Then, what’s the probability that Jiwon Guild without Han Ji-won can clear it?”

“Less than 10%.”

“So, it sounds like Han Ji-won here has absolute authority, is that correct?”

“That’s correct.”

“Jin-hwan is waiting, right? Tell him to come in.”

“Yes, sir.”

A few bodyguards went outside, and in less than two minutes, a man in his late 50s wearing a black suit came back in.

What are you trying to do now?

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Let me introduce you. If the Association is a quasi-public institution, then this friend here is the head of an institution run by the government. He’s the director of the Special Agency.”

“I’m Kim Jin-hwan. Nice to meet you.”

Well, I’m shaking his hand because he’s asking me to, but what’s going on right now? Something’s strange.

“What kind of organization is the Special Agency?”

Hong-chan asked what I was curious about instead of me.

“Ah, it’s still confidential. We’ll be officially announcing it soon. Just think of it as something similar to the Association. And Han Ji-won?”

“Yes.”

“Are you interested in clearing the Grade 3 Regen together with Four-Star, LC, and Gale?”

Ha, now even the highest leader of a country is on the side of the privileged?

Why is that coming up here?

“I don’t have good chemistry with them, and our compatibility, class, traits, and stats are all bad. Our guild isn’t anything to brag about, but we haven’t had a single death while clearing dungeons so far. If we were to proceed in conjunction with them, I wouldn’t want to do it, and an unfortunate incident might occur.”

“I see. That’s a shame. So, Jiwon Guild will be regularly clearing the Regen, right?”

“If the Association approves the operation, that’s what we plan to do.”

“I see. Let’s settle that like that. Director, bring that out now.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the landlord’s words, the person called the director of the Special Agency rummaged through his briefcase and took something out.

It’s like a satellite photo and a map full of contour lines, with a large red ink stain, and it’s in a strange file, so I don’t know what it is at all. Ahem.

“Let me put it simply. A dungeon manifestation phenomenon has been detected near Taebaek, Gangwon-do [a mountainous province in South Korea]. This photo was taken last week, and this is this week’s. As you can see, the surrounding area is collapsing, or rather, being eroded, centered around this point. The size of the dungeon entrance started at 5m and has now grown to over 40m, and it’s still growing. Based on the dungeon’s magic power generation level, it’s possible that a minimum of Grade 2, or at worst, a Grade 1 dungeon may manifest.”

“… E, a Grade 1?”

“…….”

Is this the time to pretend to be crazy and lose my mind?

A little later.

I slipped out to the back of the office and pulled out a cigarette while the bodyguards watched.

It was impossible to understand this situation with a clear mind.

Well, smoking one cigarette doesn’t make me sane, but still. I need to think about something… I’m just pulling it out and smoking it. Don’t say anything. Ahem.

“What are you going to do?”

“I need to think about it. What about you, hyung [older brother or male friend]?”

“I don’t know either. I don’t know how to judge this.”

“Haven’t we gotten somewhat used to Grade 3? Grade 2 is twice that, and Grade 1 is twice that again….”

“There are quite a few lives that have been lost thinking like that.”

“… Who doesn’t know that? I’m just saying it because it’s absurd.”

“Anyway, this is a big deal. Is this the world’s first?”

“Grade 2? Grade 1?”

“Both.”

“I guess so. But why does it have to be our country? There are many other countries.”

“Am I a god? Why are you asking me that?”

“Hyung, aren’t you a god? A minor god.”

“Is that ‘minor’ a ‘JOB’ or just ‘雜’ [miscellaneous]?”

“Think about it yourself.”

“… You, even in this situation, you can come up with such useless gags?”

“People should always think optimistically. Just because you worry a lot doesn’t mean you’ll get good results. Sometimes you have to think simply to solve complex problems. Don’t worry. It’s not a problem we can solve, so what are you worrying about?”

“… Sometimes when I look at you, I think you’re really smart. Sometimes….”

“Sometimes?”

“You seem like a crazy person.”

“Correct! Hahaha.”

“Crazy bastard.”

“Double correct! Hehehe.”

“… Haha, hahahaha.”

The bodyguards around us stared strangely at our laughter.

Whatever.

“Well, what has been decided?”

“I can’t make a decision. I need to ask the guild members for their opinions. Can I contact you separately later?”

“Yes. Please do so. Here’s my contact information. Please contact me here for the time being, and we’ll announce it along with the President’s press conference.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you before then. If everyone can’t do it, we may have to recruit Awakeners from large or mid-sized guilds.”

“I’m aware. The Ministry of National Defense is also preparing. We’ll talk more about the details then. Well then. Please return safely.”

“Yes. I’ll be going. Thank you for your hard work.”

In a situation where we only sketched the big picture, we received a business card from the head of the government agency called the Director of the Special Agency, and we left the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president].

Some of the guild members were busy contacting people here and there, proud that they had been invited to the Blue House, and some fell asleep, probably nervous.

“Oppa [older sister’s boyfriend or older male friend], what did he say?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“No, you went in with the vice guild leader and had a meeting with him, right? What did he say? Are they going to give us some kind of benefit?”

“Well, it wasn’t anything special. He said thank you for clearing the Grade 3 Bio Dungeon in Seoul City Hall.”

“Tch, what is that? You could have told us that. Didn’t we clear it together?”

“I just received the words of gratitude on behalf of everyone. He said he’ll give a separate congratulatory speech later through the media.”

What the Director of the Special Agency said was true, but it’s not the stage to talk about it yet.

The grade of the dungeon hasn’t been accurately identified, and we don’t know the type either.

Unnecessary hype could lead to a strange atmosphere among the guild members. It’s still a secret. Still.

All the guild members moved by large bus, stopped by the Seoul branch, and announced the disbandment for the Regen clear.

After organizing the clear reward details, future schedules, and guild operation issues, we moved to the airport.

It’s time to go home.

As soon as we got off the plane after an hour-long flight and left the airport in Jeju [an island province of South Korea], the air we breathed was different.

“Ahem, this is the taste.”

“Hehe. Hyung, what is?”

“Can’t you feel it? This refreshing air, this clear sky, this beautiful….”