Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 22

“Oppa!”

Ji-hye, who had been crying and looking for her mom, ran over and hugged me from behind.

Then, she started kissing my neck and cheeks like crazy.

Are they all collectively insane!

After a little time passed, Ji-hye was the first to come to her senses and hurriedly gathered the items.

‘Purification of Flames (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 10,

Fire Magic Stat Usability: 1.4% increase (variable based on level)’

Two of these.

‘Purification of Ice (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 10,

Ice Magic Stat Usability: 1.2% increase (variable based on level)’

One of these.

‘Warrior’s Spirit (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 10,

Combat Stat (Warrior) Usability: 1.7% increase (variable based on level)’

One of these and one with 1.5% usability.

‘Blessing of Idea (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 10,

Healer Stat (Priest, Healer) Usability: 1.3% increase (variable based on level)’

One of these and one with 1.2% usability.

‘Idea’s Healing (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 10,

Healer Stat (Priest, Healer) Usability: 1.6% increase (variable based on level)’

One of these.

‘Julot’s Top Armor (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 9 (Common),

Anti-Personnel Defense Stat Usability: 1.3% increase (variable based on level)’

One of these.

‘Julot’s Gauntlets (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 10,

Combat Stat (Warrior) Anti-Personnel Attack Stat Usability: 1.2% increase (variable based on level)’

One of these.

And lastly….

‘Idea Pouch (Absorbable)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 10), Grade: Rank 9 (Common),

Inventory Capacity increased by 4’

One of these.

With a total of 11 items spread out on the floor, Go Han-deuk and Choi Gil-soo laugh like crazy.

“Puhaha… There are days like this in the world.”

“I don’t know if this is a dream or reality. Kahaha….”

“If we sell these, even roughly calculated….”

“Stop it.”

“Ahem… Y-yeah.”

Ji-hye had been clinging to my side like a cicada on a dry branch since her, uh, *wholesome* confession to me earlier.

“Hyung-nim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]. We won’t be greedy. Just so you know, you should absorb this and this out of everything here, and sell the rest through the guild or association.”

Go Han-deuk pointed to Julot’s Top Armor and the Idea Pouch, telling me to sell the rest.

“What about you guys?”

“Yes? What do you mean? ….”

“Why aren’t there any for you?”

“……”

“…Are you going to give us one?”

Huh?

Normally, items that come out while clearing a dungeon together are divided according to the contribution to the clear, or calculated by settling at a certain rate… Ah… Contribution!

Today, clearing the Aradong Rank 10 Armored Dungeon, my contribution was accidentally the greatest.

It wasn’t intentional, but I know it, and they know it too.

I don’t know how many Julots these guys dealt with in the middle.

Because I didn’t see it.

Even if they insist they handled everything, I can’t say anything.

Still, they are conscientious. And even with the items in front of them like now, they are not greedy.

I don’t know what this sly cat clinging to my side is thinking… but somehow, I don’t dislike it.

No, in fact, I’m very grateful.

The first time entering a Rank 10 Armored Dungeon.

Not only did we clear it without anyone getting hurt, but we also got more minerals than expected, and we also did various characteristic tests.

If I continue to work with them, achievements like today will continue to happen.

Of course, I can enter dungeons with other awakeners, but I don’t easily break ties with people I’ve made a connection with.

Even if it’s Aria Guild’s Jeju branch, Hyun Ga, that bastard….

Moreover, the number of dungeon clearers in the future will be a warrior, a combat mage, a priest, and me. The combination is perfect.

If I can be with them for a not-so-short time, this kind of item is nothing.

It’s an investment.

An investment in me and an investment in them.

I made a lot of money today, so why not be generous with items I can’t absorb… That’s the way to grow them and grow me from a macro perspective.

I pushed two Warrior’s Spirits and one Julot’s Gauntlet from the floor towards Choi Gil-soo, two Blessings of Idea and one Healing towards Go Han-deuk, and finally, two Purifications of Flames and one Purification of Ice towards Ji-hye.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, each of them got three items.

As if tailored to their classes.

“This is for Gil-soo, this is for Han-deuk… and this is for Ji-hye.”

“……”

“…H-Hyung-nim!”

“…Oppa.”

Everyone just stares blankly at me.

Like they’re seeing items for the first time…

“What are you doing? Have you never seen items before? Well… I’m seeing them for the first time… I’m giving you guys a little bribe in advance because I think you’ll need them to clear dungeons in the future. Is it too little? If it’s too little, I’ll take out my minerals or….”

“……”

“Oppa! ….”

Suddenly, Ji-hye pounces on me.

What is this crazy woman doing… no… Cold raindrops fall on my chest from her hot eyes as she knocks me down. Moistly….

So, something *did* happen?

After a little time passed, Ji-hye absorbed the item placed in front of her after regaining her composure. Seeing that, Go Han-deuk and Choi Gil-soo also reached for the items.

I also absorbed Julot’s Top Armor and the Idea Pouch.

“Status window!”

[Artifact: Han Ji-won (Lv-1)

Nationality/Affiliation: South Korea/None, Age: 39, Height/Weight: 176cm/84kg,

Agility: 1, Stamina: 1, Strength: 2, Constitution: 1, Intelligence: 2, Luck: 1,

Inventory: 1/5 (11.453kg of minerals), Crystal: 1/3,

Buildings: 3 (Pylon, Battery, Gateway),

Summon Target Stats: 16 (Probe), Julot’s Top Armor 1,

Possessed Artifacts: Mineral Fragment (Absorb) 0, Idea Pouch (Absorb) 1]

“Hmm….”

Inventory capacity increased from 1 to 5, Julot’s Top Armor was added to the summon target, and the Idea Pouch was absorbed into the possessed artifacts.

Ah… Is the armor summoned?

“Julot’s Top Armor, Summon!”

I tried summoning the armor with a reluctant voice.

As expected, it couldn’t be done properly… Huh?

My chest is tickling…

‘Puchi… Zzzzt’

Oh my!

A white light that sprang up from the floor quickly climbed up my feet, and before I knew it, it had turned into Julot’s Top Armor.

When I gently touched it with my hand, I didn’t know what it was made of, but the outside felt rough and cold, and the surface was hard….

‘Kwang!’

Oh my goodness!

What’s that sound?

When I looked in the direction of the sound, Ji-hye was looking at her hand with surprised eyes. Then, she raised her head and looked at me, and in an instant, she came to me… and pounced again.

Until the dungeon clear completion time, Han Ji-hye, Choi Gil-soo, and Go Han-deuk ran around like crazy, some shooting fire magic from their hands, some slicing burnt Gateways and half-destroyed Nexuses [structures from the game StarCraft] with greatswords, and others healing the exhausted ones.

Well, I just watched those crazy people.

They were running around throwing fireballs and dancing with swords… It was spectacular.

It would have been better if there was popcorn or cola….

If Han-deuk hadn’t said that we had to leave, we might have had to pay additional dungeon usage fees to the management guild.

Of course, I don’t know how much it is.

Why? Because I’m ordinary… no, it’s because I need to have done it to know!

While walking towards the dungeon entrance, Ji-hye handed me all the minerals she had obtained as the item value. Then, Gil-soo and Han-deuk also took out their minerals from their inventories and said a word.

“Hyung-nim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]. It’s not much, but please accept it as payment for the items.”

“That’s right, Hyung-nim. In the future, whenever we clear a dungeon, you can have all of our shares.”

“As if a single item is worth that much….”

Even so, I carefully stacked the minerals they gave me in my inventory.

I even had Gil-soo break the mineral chunks in half so I could absorb the smaller pieces to the maximum. I’ll have to make crystals out of them later.

Of course, I put the rest back into my inventory. This is all money, after all.

The minerals alone weigh about 20kg.

It’s great to have an inventory. No need to carry anything around.

And 20kg of minerals… roughly calculated, that’s 70 million won [approximately $53,000 USD]. Kkahahaha….

With this amount, I should be able to clear all my debts.

Probably….

Stepping outside, it feels like a different world.

How can it feel like this after only a few hours in the dungeon?

Even though Jeju has relatively clean air, it can’t compare to the freshness inside the dungeon.

Han-deuk rented a car, and we headed to Shinjeju [New Jeju City].

He said we’re going to stop by the Awakened shopping mall after washing up at our usual sauna… Why would we go there… Huh? For me?

What does that mean?

A large shopping mall near the OO intersection in Shinjeju.

I’ve passed by it often.

Of course, I’ve never been inside. I’ve never had a reason to go….

This place specializes in Awakened magic items.

“Hyung-nim. Use the minerals you got this time to get some beginner equipment. No Awakened person goes into a dungeon wearing everyday clothes like you, Hyung-nim.”

“That’s right. I was really surprised when I first saw your outfit, Hyung-nim. I thought some peddler was coming to sell something at the dungeon management office….”

“Why are you picking on Ji-won oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend]? Did you guys know everything from the start?”

“…….”

“… You… guys?”

“Tch!”

Ji-hye, please….

Please don’t ruin the mood with strange remarks.

Since we’ve come this far, I decided to go inside and take a look around.

There was a procedure to verify Awakened licenses at the entrance, and security guards in suits were visible around the area.

Are ordinary people not allowed in here?

As I stepped inside, I saw luxurious interiors with red carpets, spacious areas, and magical items I didn’t recognize… along with female employees with considerable beauty, all wearing bright smiles… Hey. Why are you poking my side?

“Wow….”

What surprised me most was that beginner Awakened boots cost 12 million won.

Gloves were 9 million won, a cloak was 23 million won, and the prices of various accessories, weapons, and armor were… Keuheok!

Shocked, I wondered if other items were priced similarly, so I went further inside and happened to see something.

It was in the item corner….

‘Purification of Flames,

Grade: 10,

Fire Magic Attribute Usability: 1.4%,

Price: 128,000,000’

Huh? How much?

That small, jewel-like, red stone, that shabby, insignificant… how much is that item?

O, one hundred and twenty-eight million?!

Then, the value of the three items I generously gave to Ji-hye in the dungeon is…?

I stood there blankly staring at the Purification of Flames.

Especially at the price….

Intently….

…….

Ji-hye, who had been following me, spoke from behind.

“Oppa. Even if you don’t get anything else, you have to buy boots, gloves, and a cloak. Bio dungeons have plant-type attack units… you could get poisoned.”

I turned around and faced Ji-hye.

After staring at her intently for a few seconds, Ji-hye squirmed, feeling embarrassed.

“O, Oppa… why~?”

Should I ask for the items I gave Ji-hye back?

Should I ask Han-deuk and Gil-soo for theirs back too…? Keuaaak!

It wouldn’t be right to ask for something back after giving it away, and it would be ridiculous to say I didn’t know it was so expensive now.

Besides, they gave me their minerals with gratitude, so it’s not exactly free. And they said they’d give me more in the future, so I need to get that amount back… B, but it’s still so wasteful.

Ssibal! [Korean curse word]

I sold all 21.684kg of the broken mineral pieces at the mineral exchange in the shopping mall, and the amount came out to be about 77.3 million won.

After taxes and fees, about 70 million won was deposited into my account, and after buying the boots, gloves, and cloak that I absolutely had to have, about 33 million won was left.

Still, it’s something!

My annual salary at the company I work for is less than 40 million won, but after clearing a Grade 10 Gear Dungeon, I bought magic items and still had over 30 million won left… No, I’m still a little disappointed.

No, I’m very disappointed.

Next time….

After leaving the shopping mall, we headed to a Korean beef restaurant in the upper part of Shinjeju.

Whether they had a reservation or just came here often, we went into a quiet room and took our seats, then ordered drinks and food.

As the brightly marbled sirloin began to cook over the charcoal, Han-deuk handed me a glass of raspberry wine.

“Hyung-nim. I’ll offer you a drink.”

“Yeah. Okay. But raspberry wine is only for the first drink. Why raspberry wine with beef?”

“Understood, Hyung-nim. Today, really… thank you so much.”

“Thanks… I’m very grateful too.”

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Let’s do it. Gil-soo and Ji-hye, let’s all toast together.”

“Okay, Oppa~.”

“Yes.”

Everyone filled their glasses and toasted, and after wetting my throat with the sweet raspberry wine, I put a perfectly cooked piece of sirloin in my mouth, and there was nothing to envy in the world.

This is why I clear dungeons… No, if I had a lot of money, I could eat this anytime.

After ordering mild soju [Korean distilled rice liquor], Chamisul [a popular brand of Soju], and beer separately, the real drinking party began.

Ji-hye had soju and beer, Han-deuk had raspberry wine, Gil-soo had Chamisul, and I had mild soju. Everyone had different tastes.

We poured drinks for each other, drank alone, and laughed at Ji-hye, who insisted that the meat had to be well-done… The atmosphere was really good.

When we were somewhat full, Han-deuk cautiously asked me.

“Hyung-nim. How about the Grade 10 Gear Dungeon in Eorimok next Wednesday at 3 PM?”

“Wednesday? 3 PM?”

“Yes.”

“I have to go to work on weekdays?”

“Yes? Yo, you have to work?”

Ji-hye looked at me, startled, and Gil-soo’s busy hands, which had been grilling meat, stopped.

“Yeah. I’m an office worker.”

“…….”

“… No, you’re joking, right?”

“Oppa!”

Uh? Did I do something wrong?

Of course, I have to work to make a living!

Then what about you guys?

Ah~ you guys don’t have to work….

Um… the money I made today is thirty million. No, if you include the magic items, it’s seventy million.

Well, even without the items, if I make seventy million a day….

If I could only go into the dungeon twice a month….

Um… should I quit my job?

* * *

The next day.

When I woke up around 11 AM, my head hurt more than usual, whether it was because I overdid it yesterday or because I mixed my drinks.

As expected, my wife had taken the child to my sister-in-law’s house. I could tell because no one was home.

I drank cold water from the refrigerator, took out a cigarette, and headed to the bathroom.

After taking a shower and coming out, I called Hyung Kyung-hwan.

Today is Sunday.

Weekends are always for fishing.

‘Hot night~ I can’t sleep~ This….’

“Did you just wake up? Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“Did you call? I didn’t see it?”

“I called yesterday afternoon….”

“Ah~ yesterday I went into the dungeon and came out… ahem….”

“What? Du, dungeon? You? Really? Really? Hey! Are you lying?”

Hyung Kyung-hwan pounced on me when I said that without thinking.

“Think what you want. And are you going fishing today?”

“Fishing isn’t the problem now! Did you really go into a dungeon yesterday and come out?”

“If you’re curious, bring your fishing gear and come over~. I’ll tell you when you get here. Bye.”

I said what I had to say and hung up.

The phone rang again immediately; he must have been very curious.

But… should I even be talking about this?

If I tell the truth, the news will spread among the members in no time… and it’ll spread everywhere… Ugh….

My loose tongue is to blame for mentioning yesterday’s events so carelessly.

I roughly cleaned the living room, changed clothes, and was drinking a hot cup of coffee when the doorbell rang.

Did Hyung [older brother or male friend] Kyung-hwan already arrive? He’s damn fast.

I put on my shoes, opened the door, and stepped outside, and Kyung-hwan Hyung, who had been waiting, grabbed my arm.

“Hey! Really? You really went into a dungeon? You? How was it?”

”
… I told you I Awakened. You even saw my license last time. Let’s go fishing.”

I walked down the apartment hallway, but Kyung-hwan Hyung didn’t follow.

I turned around and saw him staring at me blankly.

“Aren’t you going fishing?”

”
… How much did you make?”

Is he more curious about how much I earned than about me going into a dungeon?

Well, I guess I’m the only Awakened person he knows, and if you look at portal sites or TV, the average annual income of a Rank 10 Awakened is over 400 million won [approximately $300,000 USD], so I guess he’s curious about how much I earned.

That’s true, but after knowing each other for 20 years, when you hear that someone went into a dungeon, shouldn’t the normal reaction be to ask if they got hurt, if they’re okay, what the atmosphere was like, about the units, the other Awakeners… shouldn’t you ask something like that?

No.

We’re too shy to ask about things like that.

Asking how much I earned, like he’s doing now, is the maximum expression of concern.

Still, our members probably think my stats are 4, so I can just tell them roughly, right?

I can’t hide it forever anyway….

“500.”

“Huh? 500? Including the entrance fee?”

“Excluding the entrance fee.”

”
… Wow~ Amazing! The most amazing thing ever. Hey! You’re buying us drinks!”

“If we go fishing.”

“Hyung. Let’s go quickly. I’ll serve you today.”

“Hyung can carry the bait box too.”

“Yes, sir~ Of course… Here… this way….”

“It’s faster to go this way.”

“Yes, sir~ Then that way….”

“Kyahaha….”

“Keuheuk….”

We joked around as we walked down the hallway.

Hyung knows, and I know too.

That this isn’t everything….

It seems like we’ll be having drinks again tonight.

Probably….

Kyung-hwan is half-heartedly fishing.

He keeps glancing at me, then puts down his fishing rod and comes over here.

He takes out a new piece of raw squid, puts it on the fishing hook, casts it far away, fixes the fishing rod on the rocks, takes out two canned coffees from a plastic bag, comes over to me, and hands me one.

“Let’s have a coffee.”

“Okay.”

I also put my fishing rod on the ground, opened the canned coffee Kyung-hwan Hyung gave me, and took out a cigarette.

”
… Tell me honestly.”

”
…….”

“Are you going to be like this between you and me?”

”
…….”

“More than 500, right?”

”
… Yeah.”

“Is it 1,000?”

“Roughly around that.”

‘Thwack~.’

Suddenly, Kyung-hwan Hyung hits my shoulder hard.

“Why!”

“Buy us drinks twice.”

“You could have just told me to buy them, why did you have to hit me? And keep it a secret from Seung-chan Hyung and Sang-joon Hyung, or if you’re going to tell them, just say it’s around 500.”

“Okay.”

Kyung-hwan Hyung chuckles and looks at me.

Will he really keep it a secret?

Instead of saying congratulations, we hit each other on the back of the head or shoulder. Hard.

And we buy drinks. A lot.

We finished fishing early and headed to the billiards hall near City Hall.

Before dinner, there’s always a billiards game to decide who pays for dinner….

When I arrived at the billiards hall, all six members were gathered: Seung-chan Hyung, Sang-joon, Sang-ho, Seo Yong-sung, Kyung-hwan Hyung, and me.

“What’s going on, everyone’s here….”

“Congratulations.”

“I heard you’re treating us big today?”

“Should we just go straight there instead of playing billiards?”

“Should we? It’s meaningless. Meaningless….”

“Ji-won… good for you.”

Huh? What’s with this atmosphere….

I understand why Kyung-hwan Hyung went to the bathroom first as soon as we arrived at the billiards hall.

That day, I bought dinner at an eel restaurant for the first round, and I bought the second round at a yukhoe [Korean-style beef tartare] place that Seung-chan Hyung occasionally goes to.

* * *

The new week began with an executive meeting early Monday morning.

This week is going to be hectic due to the completion of the OOO project.

Still, I have to clear the Eorimok Armored Dungeon on Wednesday.

It’s a lot of money….

Roughly 3~4 hours should be enough, even including the travel time to Eorimok and the clearing time.

Before that, I need to handle the work I’m in charge of flawlessly.

To create enough time to be able to leave my seat, I’ll have to move busily today and tomorrow.

And still, no one in the company knows that I’m an Awakened.

It’s best to maintain this state unless I intentionally tell them.

There’s no reason to stir up trouble.

And for the time being, until I have enough financial 余裕 [yoyuu – leeway, margin], until I have enough spare money, until I pay off all my debts, buy a house, buy a car, and can do something for my wife, I plan to hide the money I earned this time as much as possible.

After all, if expectations are too high, the disappointment will be even greater.

In any case, I plan to continue working at the company as much as possible.

As much as possible….

The next day, in the afternoon.

I submitted all the project completion documents to the institution and had some time left until dinner, so I stopped by the office.

Of course, this project was successfully completed. So much so that the person in charge offered to buy me a meal, but I postponed it until next time….

I was checking manpower, schedules, and deliverables for another project when my phone rang.

‘Vibration~ Vibration~.’

It’s Han Ji-hye.

“This is Han Ji-won.”

Come to think of it, this kid and my name are similar.

Like siblings.

“Oppa [term used by a younger female to address an older male she’s close to]~ Where are you?”

“Going to the bakery to find bread. I’m in the office now. Why?”

“Really? Really in the office? At the company?”

“Really. Really in the office. At the company.”

“헐 [Heol – Korean slang expressing disbelief or shock]… Can I meet Oppa if I go to the address on the business card you gave me last time?”

“Of course, where else would I be?”

“Okay~ Arriving in 20 minutes. Gil-soo Oppa and Han-deuk Oppa are with me too. And there’s a pretty decent kid who’s a little less pretty than me, and later….”

I hung up the phone.

But why are these guys barging into the office?

We can meet tomorrow!

After receiving a text that they had arrived, I went down to the first floor of the office, and Gil-soo, Han-deuk, Ji-hye, and a young woman who appeared to be her friend got out of a pearl-colored Santope [likely a car model].

“Hyungnim [honorific term for older brother or respected male]!”

“Hyung.”

“Oppang~.”

“Going to the bakery for bread… Everyone, let’s go up for now. Have a cup of coffee and go.”

I took them to a conference room in the company.

After making them each a cup of instant coffee and sitting down, the young woman I saw for the first time greeted me.

“Hello. I’m Kim Mi-hye. I’ve heard a lot about you from Ji-hye. I look forward to working with you.”

Huh? Me?

Why is she saying she looks forward to working with me?