Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 185

“Ji-hye, seriously! Do you think we’re a joke?”

Watching the others scold Ji-hye as soon as they walked in, I felt a bit odd.

Ji-hye’s face was bright red, and she kept her head down, unsure of what to do. Psy was hiding behind her, looking flustered.

It was like they were being treated as major criminals who had committed some terrible crime.

Are they taking out their anger on her because they can’t take it out on me?

Is that it?

Ah, I just made eye contact with Gil-su, and he quickly looked away, so that must be it.

“Hey, Team Leaders.”

The others, who were competing to see who could shout the loudest, suddenly quieted down and listened to me.

I knew it.

“Psy, bring all of that here.”

“Yes? Yes, my lord.”

Psy stuffed the mineral plates piled on one side into a bag and brought them over.

“There are 19 first-grade items in here.”

“Gulp.”

“Oh my god! N, nineteen!”

“A whopping 1st grade!”

Their mouths were wide open, drool almost escaping, and they looked ready to pounce, completely losing it.

I knew they’d react like this.

If they’re reacting this way to first-grade items, it’s obvious what would happen if I revealed the absolute-grade skill book from the Primordial Dungeon.

I’m glad I played it cool back then. If I had revealed that… it would have been a real disaster.

“This is, well, the ultimate masterpiece created by my magic power, luck stat, and Psy’s enchanting skills, wouldn’t you say?”

“M, my lord!”

Don’t get emotional in the middle of my speech. It’s not over yet.

After giving them a moment, Gil-su was the first to start negotiating.

“I’ll buy the item that suits my class for 10 billion… no, 30 billion won!”

“Same here! 30 billion for me too!”

“Me too!”

“…I don’t have enough money… would 20 billion be okay?”

The team leaders should all have plenty of money, so why is Choi Eun-ji like that?

I had some random thoughts for a moment, but that’s not the point.

“Whether you sell it, monopolize it, or throw it away, I delegate all of this to Han Ji-hye, the 3rd team leader of the Support Guild. That’s all, order complete! Ji-hye, take this. And everyone, leave! I’m going to sleep!”

“B, brother!”

“Guild Leader!”

“Ah~ Why?”

“How can there be a rule like this!”

“It’s right here, you woodpecker! I’m the Guild Leader, who’s going to say anything! If you don’t like it, you make a first-grade item and give it away! Got it? Then leave! I said leave!”

“O, Oppa~!”

“Stop looking for handouts, and Ji-hye, you leave too! Before I change my mind, hurry!”

At my words, Ji-hye slung the bag containing the mineral plate items over her shoulder, put her hands together, sent out finger hearts [a Korean gesture of affection], spouted nonsense, and went outside.

“Okay! Sleep well! Dream of me~.”

That little rascal is going to die!

Why would I dream of you!

Should I take that back?

No. Still, she was a little cu… cute… Cough.

1 day, 14 hours, and 20 minutes after entering the 1st grade Bio Dungeon in Osaka, Japan.

“Our pretty, kind, good-bodied, and kind-hearted Ji-hye~. Should Oppa set you up on a blind date after leaving the dungeon?”

“Get lost.”

Conversation 1 between Han Deuk and Ji-hye.

“Ji-hye, we’ve been friends since we were young. So….”

“How could you do that? I’m going to try to see how I can do that too.”

“Th, that’s… Ji-hye!”

Conversation 2 between Mi-hye and Ji-hye.

“3rd Team Leader, I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

“You said you were disappointed in me. No, I’m more sorry. For disappointing you… Hmph!”

“…….”

Conversation 3 between Kim Eun-hee and Ji-hye.

“3rd Team Leader. I don’t have much money….”

“Um, what do you need?”

“Since I have ice attributes, I need the purification of ice….”

Ji-hye rummaged through her bag and handed a mineral plate to Choi Eun-ji.

“Here you go.”

“Th, thank you. 3rd Team Leader. Then how much is the payment….”

“Just give me 100 won [approximately 10 US cents].”

“…Yes. 10 billion won, right?”

“100 won! Um, the pronunciation is weird. 1,000 won? 10,000 won?”

“…Re, really? Really?”

“But it’s a secret from Oppa.”

“1st Team Leader? Or 2nd Team Leader?”

“Those guys aren’t my oppas.”

“Ah, the Guild Leader! O, of course. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Thank you, thank you so much!”

“Absorb it where no one knows. Ah, there’s Oppa over there. If you absorb it in Oppa’s tent, no one will know… Ack! I got caught~!”

Conversation 4 between the clumsy, absurd, and clueless Ji-hye and Choi Eun-ji.

I left Ji-hye, who was screaming and jumping up and down, alone and gestured for Choi Eun-ji, who didn’t know what to do, to come over.

Choi Eun-ji approached me with a look as if she hated it more than death.

It looked like tears would pour from her big eyes at any moment.

That’s all acting, right?

“Go in and absorb it.”

“…Re, really? Th, thank you. Guild Leader.”

“What? Thank Ji-hye. It’s not like I gave it to you.”

“Yes. Guild Leader. 3rd Team Leader! Thank you!”

“Yes? Yes. Go in quickly. And O, Oppa, so….”

“It’s okay. I told you. Do whatever you want with it.”

“Okay! As expected, Oppa! I love you~.”

Oh?

After saying something strange to me and slinging her bag over her shoulder again, Ji-hye skipped over there, and I was caught in a strange mood.

Um, should I really take that back?

Why does she keep spouting nonsense? … Oh? It’s Gil-su.

Gil-su suddenly appeared in front of Ji-hye, who was skipping along, and spoke to her.

“Ji-hye, this older brother….”

“Shut up and get lost!”

Ji-hye’s rough voice could be heard all the way here. Anyway, 5.

2 days, 12 hours, and 40 minutes after entering the 1st grade Bio Dungeon in Osaka, Japan.

After watching Ji-hye and the others’ funny skit and helping the Zerglings [a type of creature] mine minerals, I went to the back of the open space and absorbed as many gas fragments as possible, storing them away. Of course, I also absorbed minerals to the limit.

When the gas fragments, which I had used up in the last Primordial Dungeon, were full to the limit, I felt like a rich uncle. As expected, a man can only hold his head high wherever he goes when his wallet is thick.

Even though Psy, Joong-hwan, and Moon-hee and I had absorbed the gas, there was still quite a bit of gas left.

I simultaneously raised the Mech Tech Tree and the Bio Tech Tree, additionally produced Zerglings and Dark Assassins, Fallen Warriors, Lightning Shamans, etc. that had been consumed, and replenished Bio Units centered on Zergling and Magic Earthworms.

After replenishing the summoning units to the limit of the summoning target’s ability stats, I felt a sense of fulfillment and returned to the tent, where Psy and all the team leaders were waiting for me.

Is the Ji-hye and the underlings skit over?

What about the items?

It was fun to peek at you guys in the middle, but seeing you all gathered together like this, it seems like it’s really over. Cough.

“What are you all doing here? Aren’t you mining minerals?”

“Oppa~.”

“…Why?”

“Can’t we go inside and talk? There’s a bit of a problem.”

“Solve the problem among yourselves.”

“It’s not that kind of problem.”

“…….”

What kind of problem is it?

And the reason I gave that to you, Ji-hye, also included the meaning of don’t come and bother me like this, right? These guys always come to me for everything….

“Including Psy and Art Team Leader, there are a total of 8 team-level personnel, and even if I give one to each person that suits their class, I only have 13 items now. What about the rest? And there was something strange here? Do you know about it too, Oppa?”

“Something strange?”

Something strange, something strange….

What does the word strange even mean?

Even if an item is strange, it’s just an item!

“Psy.”

“Yes. My lord.”

“Did you do anything strange?”

“How could I do that! I only enchanted the magic circuits that I have been practicing on the mineral plate. Please have mercy!”

“…That’s what he says?”

When I stared at Ji-hye at Psy’s answer, she was dumbfounded.

“Let’s go inside and talk first.”

“Whatever.”

The team leaders dared to enter my tent, the Guild Leader’s exclusive tent, my exclusive space in the dungeon, as if they were going to a convenience store. Only Psy remained by my side until the end. Muttering strange things to himself.

“I just enchanted it as practice….”

…….

After going inside and taking a seat, Ji-hye took out a mineral plate from the large bag I gave her and made a nasal sound.

“What is this~?”

‘Goddess’s Footsteps (Absorbable)

Source: Art Factor Go Byeong-chan, Grade: 1st Grade,

Cognitive Coordinate Movement (Time 720 minutes)’

“As expected, it’s really amazing no matter how you look at it.”

“Right? As expected, it’s 1st grade. The one I saw at the shopping mall was for a week.”

The other guys next to her seemed to know in advance and made item evaluations one by one.

“…Okay. Teleport. So what? Can’t anyone absorb it?”

“Oppa, do you know you’re really stupid?”

You little brat!

I gave you so many 1st grade items, how dare you call me stupid so carelessly….

“The time is 720 minutes! A whopping 720 minutes. Don’t you know what that means?”

“…….”

Uh. I don’t know.

If it’s teleport, it’s teleport, but what does cooldown have to do with it!

Whether it’s 720 minutes or 7,200 minutes, what’s so great about that useless, insignificant, unnecessary means of transportation that just moves to the coordinates you’ve marked… Ah, 720 minutes is 12 hours, so you move twice a day? So what?

When I was just still and quiet, Ji-hye’s voice got louder and gave an explanation that wasn’t like an explanation.

“Why don’t you know something like this! Seriously, it’s not like I’m taking care of a child. Listen carefully. For example, assuming that the teleporter Awakener’s magic power can replenish not only himself but also others, if you use it at 9 a.m., you can reuse it again at 9 p.m. So, if you say this in reverse….”

“Working from home?”

“…Wh, what are you talking about!”

That’s right!

Go to the office at 9 a.m., show your face, teleport back home, and then back to the office before quitting time… Ah, do I have to work overtime unconditionally because of the cooldown?

“Overtime mode? Do they give allowances?”

“…….”

“…Hyung-nim [term for older brother or male friend]. You’re joking, right?”

“…Puhahaha. As expected, my lord! That’s a great joke.”

“Right? I think it was a pretty good dad joke.”

“…….”

“…Ha… never mind. Never mind. Okay. I’m not doing it! I’m really going to do whatever I want!”

Okay.

I gave it to you to do that.

I absolutely hate being bothered. Just do as you please.

After that, Haste, Strength, and Smog magic items ended up in Jihye’s hands, but I didn’t say anything. No, Jihye just casually pulled out mineral plates from her bag, said she had these, and left the tent. Then, Gilsu and Hanteuk said they would select members with decent magic power from the guild to form a separate team, and I just told them, “Do as you please.”

How many top-tier dungeon clears do you guys have that you’re dragging me into such trivial, useless matters?

A team leader in the Dae(Great) Support Guild is equivalent to the guild leader of a decent mid-sized guild in the country.

Handle it yourselves. Just handle it.

Why should I waste my precious, golden mental energy on pointless, trivial, useless things?

And those things all seemed useless… Ah! There was one item that I thought was pretty good.

Dig.

It’s literally earth-digging magic, but it seemed better than the smog item that creates fog, or Haste that makes you run super fast, or Strength that makes you super strong.

Because, at least, it seems like it would help with mining minerals.

Since the minerals are buried in the dungeon floor, digging the ground easily would make mining minerals a lot easier. So, I should sweet-talk the guild member who absorbed the Dig magic item and use them to mine minerals professionally in the future.

Other than that… Hmm? Wait a minute.

If you tell a warrior with super strong power to move super fast and mine the minerals from the dungeon floor?

Oho~. Ohora [exclamation of realization].

This is pretty good?

Perfect for mining minerals!

3 days, 14 hours, and 20 minutes until the trip to the Grade 1 Bio Dungeon in Osaka, Japan.

Hanteuk and Gilsu brought some applicants and selectees from the guild members to me, but I just told them to handle it themselves and sent them back.

Why do I have to approve of dungeon clear rewards and personnel for mining minerals from now on?

Please, please, handle it yourselves… Please.

It’s so annoying. Ahem.

Late evening.

When the abundant minerals were almost depleted, Mihae suddenly came to the tent, hesitated, and said one thing.

“Um, Guild Leader.”

“Yeah. What is it?”

“It’s hard to say this….”

“…….”

“No matter how much I think about it, it seems like no one cares right now, so I’m asking on purpose.”

“…….”

The introduction is long.

Can you just tell me quickly instead of beating around the bush like that?

I’m about to get really annoyed?

But, why is everything becoming so annoying these days?

Is it already menopause?

As I stared intently at Mihae, the main point finally came out of her hesitant mouth.

“I don’t know if I’m meddling, but… what are you planning to do with the people left at the dungeon entrance… I don’t think this is morally right. It started as a joke, but after thinking about it, I don’t think this is right. I hope we don’t do terrible things if possible. I know you’re very angry, Guild Leader. But, people shouldn’t be treated like that… I’m sorry if I’m overstepping, but… still….”

“…….”

That’s a lot of words.

And Mihae, actually… I forgot about that?

I haven’t thought about those sons of bitches I abandoned at the entrance even once.

In the middle, because of Therapy, no, the Grade 1 item created by the suicide skill Sara, now the absolute suicide skill Sara with wings, I erased them from my mind.

Um, 3 and a half days since entering the dungeon, including today.

They don’t even have food, let alone water… Surely they haven’t all died?

Well, if they die, there’s nothing I can do.

There’s no reason for me to bother with such trivial, minor things… or is there?

There are hundreds of witnesses who watched the situation around us when we came in here, so if only we leave this place, it will probably get quite noisy.

Even if they are criminals, if the public opinion spreads that foreigners killed their own people in Korea, not only me but also the Support Guild will be severely damaged.

Of course, there is no accurate physical evidence, but we entered the dungeon together, and only one side comes out? Moreover, all the people who were forcibly dragged along have disappeared? All of them civilians?

It’s obvious without saying, and it’s shit without tasting it [a Korean idiom meaning the outcome is obvious].

It’s so annoying, I really don’t want to, it’s really unpleasant, but I have to take them out of here normally for now.

Well, I don’t know when I’ll take them out yet.

I don’t know what will happen in the meantime. Ahem.

The next day.

The dungeon clear reward minerals have all been mined, and it’s finally time to leave this place.

But, it’s a shame to just leave like this.

Destroying Therapy’s dungeon subjugation seal with the Dark Elixir and taking the minerals as a bonus is fine, but the sons of bitches are the problem.

Everything I had planned since entering this place has become useless, but it’s still… um… I have to show them a painful lesson so that they never, ever, absolutely have strange thoughts again, but what would be good?

I was thinking about a nasty prank for a while, and then I smelled something delicious.

Um, this is the smell of Ultra Steak being grilled?

Probably to celebrate the successful dungeon clear, Jihye brought Ultra corpses from outside, and the guild members are having a big meal and trying to go out, but what’s good… Ultra? Ultra!

Bingo.

As the 80 guild members were munching on Ultra corpses and starting to pack up the tents and personal belongings, I called Art Team Leader Joonghwan and Munhee separately.

“Did you produce any Wyverns?”

“Yes. We always produce at least 10 in case of an emergency like last time.”

“Good job. We’re going to withdraw in a bit, but there’s something I need you and Munhee to do. Well, this is a bit of a personal matter, but how about it?”

“Just tell us. It’s okay.”

“Me too.”

“Okay. As you know, it’s about the guys I abandoned at the dungeon entrance….”

“Are you finally going to deal with them?”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”

“…….”

Hey.

What are you two thinking right now?

“It’s not like that. And we have to take them out for now. We’re just showing them a painful lesson for now. First, you guys take the Wyverns and go near the dungeon entrance to find them….”

As I started explaining in detail what they had to do, Joonghwan and Munhee’s laughter gradually grew louder.

5 days, 13 hours, and 50 minutes after entering the Grade 1 Bio Dungeon in Osaka, Japan.

“Oh~ They’re over there. Found them, Hyung-nim [term for older brother or male friend]!”

“Yeah. I saw them too. Kahaha. They’re running well.”

20 upgraded Zerglings were chasing after the sons of bitches, who were a mess, 400m ahead.

Of course, they were intentionally slowing down the Zerglings to make it look like a simple herding hunt.

“One, two, three, four… seven, eight. They’re all alive? What a shame, Hyung-nim.”

“It might be more painful not to die. I’m going to make them feel that from now on. Keuheuheu.”

“Oppa [term for older sister or female friend used by younger females], you’re really a pervert.”

“Yeah. I’m a pervert. Did you just find out? Keukeuk. You bastards, you’ll have to run like hell if you don’t want to die.”

“If you do that twice, you’ll be crippled, Hyung-nim.”

“…….”

Sigh, Gilsu.

Is that an old man joke?

It’s not funny at all.

I indifferently watched the sons of bitches running like crazy in front of me, falling and being trampled by others, desperately running away like beggars.

Guaranteeing 2 hours of sleep a day, providing minimal food and water, freedom of choice whether to run away as a team or scatter separately, and medical insurance benefits to treat areas bitten or torn by Zerglings.

I’ll play with you for at least 3 days. You sons of bitches!

You dare target my family?

Say you’re dead!

After setting up the tent again at the dungeon entrance, we played well for three days.

Summoning hundreds of upgraded Zerglings to surround them in a huge circle, and every time a certain amount of time passed, giving them a rest time just enough to not collapse, and then continuously attacking them.

Then, some ran away separately to save themselves, some seemed to have gone completely insane and rushed at the Zerglings with strange shouts, and some lay on the floor as if giving up, telling them to do as they pleased. I felt that the punishment for the son’s kidnapping was somewhat… bullshit!

I’ll make you say, “Please kill me!”

You dare try to kidnap my son and wife?

I’ll show you a new world of deathless, painful, despair! You sons of bitches!

In the meantime, please don’t die.

No, tell me if you’re going to die.

I’ll tell Hanteuk to pour blessings and heals… Oh? Ah, sorry.

I don’t know Japanese.

Just keep screaming. I’ll heal you if you’re about to die.

9 days after entering the Grade 1 Bio Dungeon in Osaka, Japan, and roughly 4 nights and 5 days in original time, I took the insane, wide-eyed, foaming-at-the-mouth, corpse-like guys out of the dungeon.

As soon as I came out, I handed over the corpses, which were still breathing, to the Japan Awakened Association, and told them to let me know when they came to their senses, recovered, and returned to being ordinary people again.

Reason?

There’s no special reason.

We have to have a second round.

Since we met, it would be a shame to just see each other once and part ways.

And there are still Tokyo and Yokohama dungeons left, so I have to quickly heal them and take them there too. I have to roll them, roll them, and roll them until they really go crazy.

If they still don’t go crazy, I have the obligation and responsibility to make them go crazy….

“Support Guild Leader, I’m sorry, but do you happen to know Taros Guild, JJ Guild, and Tabu Guild, which belong to medium-sized companies?”

While watching the guys being loaded into the ambulance and agonizing over the upcoming punishment, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who appeared after a long time, suddenly mentions the organizations that instigated them.

I know them.

I know them very well.

I’m going to take out the leader first and then crush the bones of the remaining rabble and chew them up, but why?

“I think I’ve heard of them somewhere, but I’m not sure. But why?”

At my question, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs looks at me with trembling eyes.

What? Why are you looking at me so strangely?

“… A total of 19 people, 6 Awakened from Taros Guild, 4 from JJ Guild, and 9 from Tabu Guild, reportedly died yesterday. They all went to Jeju a month ago, but I’m afraid it’s related to you because of the unfortunate incident last time….”

“헐 [Heol – Korean expression of disbelief or shock]… Are you serious right now?”

“Yes. It happened while you were clearing the dungeon. And… I don’t know how you’ll feel about this, but there are no records of any Awakened belonging to the Support Guild entering the country except for the clear team here. Ho, 혹시 [hoksi – Korean for ‘perhaps’]… Did you order another guild outside….”

“… Are you saying I instigated it?”

What the?

Is this guy crazy too?

Doesn’t he know why I’m here right now?

You guys begged me so much to come and clear this Grade 1 Bio Dungeon!

But what? I instigated it?

Well, I can roughly guess who did it… but that’s not the point!

I’m already pissed off that you suspected me, but you dare to see me as an instigator, no, a contract killer, no, that’s not it either, anyway, you saw me as such a guy? Huh?

At my sarcastic, sneering, serious question, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs sweats profusely, but stammers and says what he has to say.

“S, situationally, that’s the only way to think. The association and the government cannot stand by and do nothing about the death of 19 high-ranking Awakened of Grade 4 or higher….”

“Oho~ Is that so? So? So what are you going to do now? Ah! Now I see why the soldiers are armed with automatic weapons. Oh? Is that a high-ranking Awakened behind you? Why? Are we going to have a fight here?”

“Ah, no! How could that be? Those soldiers are not the people I brought. And I’m just asking for a little cooperation to confirm the facts….”

“Fact check? Fuck off! Clear Team! A1! Real situation!”

At my loud shout, the team leaders who were watching the situation step forward first.

“A1! Real situation!”

“Warriors, form ranks! Mages, manifest magic power!”

“Let’s do it, you bastards! Wrath of the Goddess Idea… Huh? Why is it like this!”

“Goddess Idea’s… What, what is it!”

The warrior guild members, including Gilsu, quickly step forward and take their positions, and the mages try to chant the magic power manifestation spell, but something is wrong.

“G, Guild Leader! No! It’s not like that!”

“What do you mean it’s not? You’re suspecting me right now, aren’t you! You sons of bitches, are you telling me to put down the loot now that I’ve cleared the dungeon for you?”

“Absolutely not! We’re too busy cleaning up Tokyo and Yokohama right now. Absolutely, absolutely not!”

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs screams in front of me and runs around frantically, trying to stop the guild members.

“Why are you doing this? Mages, release your magic power! Warriors, why are you doing this? No. It’s not like that! It’s a misunderstanding. It’s a misunderstanding!”

“What misunderstanding! Situationally, it must have been ordered from that side.”
Huh? What?

Someone responds to the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs’ shout.

A crazy guy in his late 30s walks out from the boundary surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, and in Korean… Huh? Huh?

He looks familiar?

Who is it?

Ordinary Art Factor

Volume 7 (Completed)