Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 215

‘Kwa-gwa-gwangg… Kwagwang. Kwaaaangg!’

With earth-shattering explosions, armored units vaporize, sending plumes of black smoke soaring upwards.

‘Pah… Chichijik. Kwa… Chi… Jijik!’

The magic lightning of the Lightning Shamans detonates near the Cavies within range.

‘Kuaaaangg… Kuaaangg.’

‘Kwa-gwa-gwangg… Kwagwang. Kwaaaangg!’

A roar tens, hundreds of times louder echoes once more.

I ordered the hundreds of Cavies to continuously produce Pyramids, then gazed at the Warp Ship shimmering in the distance.

Let’s take it one step at a time.

No need to rush.

…….

‘Pah… Chichijik!’

‘Kwa… Chi… Jijik!’

‘Kwang. Tu-kwakwakwang!’

The magic lightning attacks of the Lightning Shamans, the cannon fire of the Range Up Dracans, and the dozens of Scouts and Cavies charging from all directions, are all incinerated in mid-air before they could even reach my shuttle.

Well, there are over 500 Cavies. And over 10,000 Pyramids using their self-destruct skill.

Though dozens of Cavies were destroyed by the Fallen Warrior’s replication magic and the accumulated damage from the magic lightning attacks, there’s still no problem dealing with the armored units while moving through the air.

Moreover, as the Lightning Shamans, Thorcans, and Grub Tanks were prioritized for destruction, the bio-units began to swarm under my shuttle.

With the Cavies in the air and hundreds of thousands of Zerglings, tens of thousands of Hydras, and Ultras acting as meat shields on the ground, the armored units retreated faster and faster.

As the dozen or so Warp Ships, constantly emitting blue light, were caught in the replication magic of the Fallen Warrior I summoned and transformed into summon units, the armored units began to flee in all directions.

But units that have lost their base are pretty much done for.

They could build a Nexus [Protoss base building] with Probes [Protoss worker unit], mine minerals and gas, and replenish armored units from the Gateways [Protoss unit production building], but this is Idea, a world of bio-units.

Where could they run to where there aren’t any bio-units, since this isn’t their Olympus?

I left the task of dealing with the fleeing armored units to the Queens and declared the battle virtually over, and the roars of hundreds of thousands of bio-units echoed all around.

She subtly approached and wrapped her arm around mine.

The massive Mature Tower located in the Idea Bio-Base.

Her flushed expression changed drastically when I mentioned going home, now that the final, ultimate battle was over.

“If you go back like this, I might cut off the connection with Earth. You know what that means, right?”

“Is that a threat?”

“If it sounds like one, I can’t help it. But are you really going back?”

“…….”

Cut off the connection with Earth?

If that happens, all the bio-dungeons on Earth will be deactivated or disappear. And Olympus, following Idea’s lead in losing interest in Earth, will also cut off the connection, and even the armored dungeons will vanish.

After all, Earth’s dungeon system is part of Idea’s magic system.

The basic magic that maintains the dungeons is the same as the magic used here in Idea or on Olympus, so if the connection is cut… there will probably be a huge economic impact.

The minerals mined from the dungeons.

Starting with the items obtained by processing those minerals, everything from basic, research, bio, to core businesses… everything will collapse, everything will disappear.

Among them, the dungeon clears by the Awakeners will also disappear.

Awakeners who can’t clear dungeons?

What will happen then?

Warrior class will wander around construction sites using their strength, Healers and Clerics will be in hospitals or rehabilitation facilities, and Mages will be stuck in laboratories or doing odd jobs.

The infrastructure will change, and a huge paradigm shift will come.

“Yeah. Still, it doesn’t matter. I’m going back.”

She, who had been momentarily stunned by my words, blushed, jumped up, and shouted loudly.

“Ugh! Wh, why! I said I’d give you everything if you stayed here! You can enjoy all those things from Earth in other dimensions, on other planets! Why would you turn down all this wealth and glory and say you’re going back! You’re just a human who can’t even live for 100 years! ….”

“… Because they’re there.”

“What did you say?”

“My family is there. My cute son and fox-like wife. My father watching over me with a contented smile, and my mother still nagging me to eat properly. Even my younger brother, who’s all grown up and awkward, and my mother-in-law, who still worries about what to make for dinner when I say I’m coming home… They’re there, so I’m going back.”

“…….”

“You were the same, weren’t you?”

“Wh, what are you talking about?”

“You were waiting for him, preparing meals over and over again. Or was I wrong?”

“…….”

“I told you, don’t bother bringing up good memories and letting them fade.”

“…….”

“Take care.”

“…….”

She didn’t hold me back in the end.

No, she didn’t try to dredge up good memories anymore.

“Sarah. Take me home.”

“… Okay.”

Sarah glanced at her and approached me.

As pure white light began to emanate from Sarah and me, she asked in a trembling voice.

“Y, you are….”

“I know. And you still have precious things left too, don’t you?”

“…….”

“Take care.”

Space warped, and the world changed.

In the vanishing space, I read her lips.

“Th.a.nk. Yo.u.”

“Me too.”

I desperately hoped my voice would reach her.

‘S… Pa… Aaat!’

2 years later.

“Honey. Wake up and eat breakfast. You have to go to work.”

“… Ugh.”

“Even if you’re the boss, you have to show your face to the employees every day.”

“… Just 5 more minutes.”

“It’s almost 10 o’clock.”

“… Ugh.”

After writhing in bed for a while at my wife’s time alert, I got up and headed to the bathroom, pulling out a cigarette.

But,

“I told you not to smoke in the bathroom! If you’re going to smoke, do it in the garden!”

“Sigh….”

My wife’s nagging keeps flying into my ears from the morning.

Still, she wears that well.

On my wife’s left ring finger, as she was chopping on the cutting board, was an old copper ring engraved with a geometric pattern.

“Are you going to work? Chairman.”

I barely ate breakfast and left the house, and the man in his late 60s in charge of security bowed 90 degrees.

“Ah, really. I told you not to do this. I’m not a chairman… just call me like before. Branch Manager.”

“How could I dare… Anyway, have a good day. What are you doing? Open the car door quickly.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Goyongseok, who used to be the support team leader of the Awakeners Association Jeju Branch, hurriedly opened the car door at the branch manager’s words.

“I’ll escort you.”

“…….”

It’s uncomfortable. So uncomfortable.

I shouldn’t have listened to the branch manager’s request!

Still not used to the discomfort, I went to the office. I had started the company, not to make money, but because my father said that people should work until they die, and because my wife gave me a lot of glares if I lazed around at home all day. I was having a cup of morning coffee when someone came into the president’s office.

“President. We had a meeting with Jeju Weekly TV this morning, but….”

“Ah. Was that today?”

“Yes.”

I checked the time and it was already past 11:20 AM.

Even if I moved to the meeting place at this time….

“Um… can’t we just cancel it?”

“That’s the second time you’ve canceled.”

“Ahem. Okay. Tell them I’ll visit in person this afternoon.”

“Understood. Then….”

The woman in her early 30s, who insisted on being my executive secretary because she was Jihye’s friend, left, and I switched the monitor screen again and started focusing on an internet game.

Meeting my ass… they just want charity disguised as an interview.

Two years ago, after I returned from that place, the world changed.

I don’t know what Idea’s she was thinking when she cut off the connection with Earth, but the first thing that happened was that the bio-dungeons were deactivated.

As all the bio-dungeons on Earth were deactivated in one day, the world turned into chaos, and before they could even find the reason, the armored dungeons were also deactivated.

Then, the price of minerals skyrocketed.

The amount traded at around 3.5 million won per kilogram of mineral started to double, and in three months, it rose more than 10 times.

As the demand was enormous but they could no longer supply minerals, the large corporations finally started investing money in alternative resource research, but even after 2 years, there was nothing that could replace minerals.

The stock prices of item manufacturing companies, including Awakener defense gear, weapons, and accessories, and all related companies, began to plummet, and the aftermath even affected various potion businesses made from bio-unit corpses.

It heralded the end of an era that had used unlimited minerals for nearly half a century in home appliances, bio, machinery, life, metal, magic, items, etc., and conversely, new occupations began to emerge.

So-called dungeon looters.

Although the bio-dungeons and armored dungeons were deactivated with a gap of three months, they were deactivated in an instant, so they were looking for minerals left in the dungeons that had not been cleared of respawns.

But the problem is that they don’t know the location of the Mature Tower of the bio-dungeons or the Nexus of the armored dungeons because they are deactivated dungeons.

Furthermore, the minerals themselves are not around the main base, but buried in the ground, so they have to search the wide dungeon one by one, and that’s not something that can be done overnight….

Anyway, that’s how the new occupation of dungeon looter was created, and if there were any looters who found even a small amount of minerals, they could hold a pretty good amount of money, called the lottery of lotteries….

‘Bang.’

“Hyungnim!” [Term of respect for an older brother or male friend]

It’s Gilsu.

But why does this bastard come in and out of my office as he pleases?

“I told you not to come in without permission.”

“Hanteuk and Jihye are going dungeon looting at City Hall this afternoon. Let’s go together?”

“Denied.”

“Hyungnim!”

“What!”

“Let’s go together.”

“I said denied.”

“… Then just lend me 100 Probes [Protoss worker unit].”

“… So if I lend them to you. Do you think they’ll listen to you?”

“Th, that’s why I’m saying let’s go together!”

“I’m busy!”

“What are you busy with! You’re just going somewhere to give to charity again. Don’t do that and just for one day, half a day~ huh?”

“No work. If you’re going, take Cy with you.”

“Cy went up to Seoul. The art team leader went to the United States, and Munhee is wandering around Gangwon-do or Daejeon. So if Hyungnim could help….”

Haaa….

I don’t know how many times this has happened.

At first, I went a few times as a picnic.

Yongdam, Seongpanak, Eorimok, Hallim, Aewol, Pyoseon, etc.

I went a few times to get some fresh air, change the atmosphere with these guys, and do a few things at the same time… but now it’s annoying.

I also have a charity meeting scheduled this afternoon with some broadcasting station that’s forcing me to beg.

Furthermore, if the purpose is to make money, they should aim for a 1st grade dungeon like Seoul City Hall, but Jeju City Hall dungeon is 6th grade… Huh? Wait a minute! I have a bad feeling about this?

“Gilsu.”

“Yes. Hyungnim. You’re going with us, right?”

“Don’t you have money?”

“Huh?”

That’s right.

One of his habits. When he scratches the back of his head with his left hand, it’s because he’s embarrassed.

“You had at least tens of billions, didn’t you? Where did it all go!”

“Th, that’s not it.”

“You got scammed again, saying you were going to buy land and buildings, didn’t you?”

“Th, that’s not it….”

“Then is this inside or outside! Speak properly! Where did all the money go!”

“That’s… well… um… you know Jeju Taebaek in Nohyeong?”

“Wow. You bought that?”

I know it too.

It’s a famous barbecue restaurant, and the entire 8-story building is a restaurant, and it’s an absolute must-visit for those visiting Jeju, including Chinese tourists and domestic tourists.

My wife seemed to be aiming for that building too… If he managed to buy that, I understand… Huh?

“Isn’t it?”

“That place is too expensive, so the one across from it….”

“The one that does both pork and beef?”

“Yes. There….”

“That place is good too. That place is famous too.”

“Ah, no. The 3-story restaurant behind that….”

“…….”

Um… this son of a bitch….

As I stared at him silently, he stammered and opened his mouth.

“I, I didn’t spend much. I bought it cheaply by taking over the existing employees and giving them a little goodwill!”

“…….”

“About 2.4 billion….”

“… Bullshit.”

“4.47 billion. I, I gave them exactly 5 billion! That’s the end of it!”

“Am I going to make a phone call to the president of Aju Real Estate right now? The market price around there will come out in 30 minutes?”

“… I gave them 7.5 billion.”

“…….”

7. 5 billion?

So 7.5 billion for a 3-story building?

You’re completely crazy!

“I’m going to call your father right now.”

“Hyu, Hyungnim! No! Please save me! If you know about this again, I’ll be kicked out of the house!”

“You should be kicked out. What? Seven-ty fi~ive bi~illion? You must have a swollen liver, I’ll bury you in front of your house as it is.”

As I took out my cell phone and tried to call Hanteuk’s father, he slumped down and complained.

“Haa… you know Suji?”

“Huh? Why is your girlfriend there… maybe that place is….”

“Yes. She said that was her father’s building, so I looked around here and there….”

As expected.

Probably of course.

It’s not surprising since this has happened several times so far.

“Did you get scammed again?”

“Cr, crheuuheuk. Hyo, Hyungnim~.”

“Tsk….”

Awakener is a sin.

Rich Awakeners are sinners.

What fault do you have?

That’s why I told you to choose well among Jihye, Kimeunhee, Choi Eunji, and Mihae.

Ah, no. Sorry.

If I think of the rest of them as my wife except for Mihae… Keuheok.

I silently patted Gilsu’s back, who was sitting on the floor and sobbing without saying anything.

After a while.

“Oppa~ [Term of endearment for an older brother or male friend from a female] long time no see.”

“Hyungnim. How have you been?”

Jihye and Hanteuk approached with a welcoming greeting.

“Do you know about Gilsu’s situation?”

“Yes.”

“He was originally a moron. Leave him alone.”

Jihye accurately pointed out the facts and even recommended a response to me.

“If a pretty girl wags her tail, he doesn’t even know what it is and just drools and gets dragged around. It doesn’t matter to men like Oppa who have a family, are capable, and humorous because women fall in love with them first, but the losers, the stupid, and the clumsy Dumb and Dumber can be scammed. So ignore it….”

“…….”

As expected.

As expected, if you date or marry someone like this… Keuheok.

I silently patted Gilsu on the shoulder, who had filled out the dungeon entry application and returned.

But are you crying right now?

“Summon 100 Probes!”

[Tring! Summons 100 Probes.]

“Mine the minerals nearby.”

At my command, the Probes began to waddle towards 2 o’clock.

I, Jihye, Hanteuk, and Gilsu followed those Probes and began to have useless small talk.

5 hours and 40 minutes after entering the Jeju City Hall dungeon looter.

‘Thud. Pueeeok.’

‘Thud thud. Pueok!’

“Hyungnim. Please help me too.”

“Denied.”

“Oppa! Summon 100 Zealots [Protoss melee unit].”

“Usage fee: one Zealot, 1 million won per hour.”

“Tch! Are we really going to be like this with each other?”

“That’s the market price these days. It’s originally 2 million won. You know that, right?”

“Really! Why is the dungeon in this shape!”

“Hyungnim. Just 50 Zealots, for one hour….”

“Dumber! 50 Zealots for one hour is 50 million! Can’t you calculate?”

“Ahem.”

“Stop talking nonsense and dig!”

“Kheuheum. Hyo, Hyungnim!”

“Denied!”

I watched them dig the dungeon floor and sipped the cold canned coffee I took out of my inventory.

I raised my head and looked at the dungeon sky, and the blue light mass became infinitely high.

Kha~ This is why I do Art Factor.

By the way, what notification rang when I first awakened?

[Tring! Congratulations on entering the world of labor. Welcome to Hell.]

Was it this?

Funny.

Welcome to Hell is what it would be like for the rest of the Awakeners except for Art Factor.

Like now.

“Hey~ dig faster. We have to dig it all up and go dig somewhere else.”

They all stare at me at my shout.

Looking at me.

If you’re upset, you should do Art Factor too.

As expected, Art Factor is the best.

Kheuheum.