Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 31

“Hyung-nim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend], this is still a jackpot.”

“That’s right, Hyung-nim. You know the probability of a 10-grade dungeon clear item dropping, right?”

“Yeah, I know. It’s 0.015%. But compared to last time, this is….”

“Oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend, used by females], don’t be too greedy. You’ll turn into Scrooge.”

“That old man has a lot of money, a big house, and does all sorts of things with young ladies….”

“Oppat~!”

Was my joke not funny?

It’s true, though.

If you have a lot of money, you’ll have a fancy house, and if you have a lot of money, even if you’re old, you’ll be with a young woman… so that’s… ahem.

Anyway, the items dropped from this Eorimok 10-grade Mech Dungeon totaled three.

Still, in terms of probability, it’s amazing.

Not three times the 0.015% probability… um?

I don’t know how to calculate it.

Anyway,

‘Purification of Flames (Absorbable)

Source: Mech Dungeon (10-grade), Grade: 10-grade,

Fire magic-type stat availability: 1.7% increase (differential availability based on level)’

‘Purification of Ice (Absorbable)

Source: Mech Dungeon (10-grade), Grade: 10-grade,

Ice magic-type stat availability: 1.5% increase (differential availability based on level)’

‘Warrior’s Spirit (Absorbable)

Source: Mech Dungeon (10-grade), Grade: 10-grade,

Combat-type (Warrior) stat availability: 1.4% increase (differential availability based on level)’

That’s what we got.

Two mage items and one warrior item.

Unfortunately, I handed the Purification of Flames to Jihye, the Purification of Ice to Mihae, and the Warrior’s Spirit to Gilsu.

“As you know, the distribution of items after clearing a dungeon that doesn’t match your characteristics is up to me, right? Only three came out, so I distributed them according to the appropriate job. Instead, those who received the items get no minerals. Agreed?”

“Yes. I agree. And thank you, Hyung-nim.”

“Oppa, you’re the best~.”

“Um… should I receive this…? I didn’t do anything today….”

“Mihae, aren’t you in our party? Absorb it quickly before I change my mind. I wouldn’t have known you had ice attributes if Jihye hadn’t told me last time….”

“… Yes. Thank you so much. O, Oppa~.”

“Hey! Why are you acting cute with my Oppa! Only I can do that!”

Let’s just not do it at all.

Really… ah, no, maybe sometimes it’s okay… ahem.

Now, as I was about to distribute the mineral chunks mined around the Nexus, Hanteuk said something.

“As I said before, I’ll give all the minerals to Hyung-nim for the time being. I have to pay for the item until the next dungeon clear.”

“Forget it. Take it.”

“No. The item you gave me is really expensive.”

“I know. Just take it when I’m being nice. It’s your share anyway. Take it and then, you know, pass it on. Hehe….”

“… I understand. Then… I have definitely received this reward for clearing the Eorimok 10-grade Mech Dungeon. And this is the mineral in exchange for the item you gave me last time.”

“Y, yeah.”

It’s like covering your eyes and stealing, but the calculation must be accurate… right?

That’s good for everyone. Whether it’s money, items, or mineral chunks.

Jihye, Mihae, and Gilsu took the time to digest the items they had absorbed before leaving the dungeon, and I asked Hanteuk about the upcoming schedule….

All applications for 10-grade dungeon clears are closed for this year.

In other words, we can’t clear dungeons that other Awakeners have already taken because we didn’t apply, weren’t approved, don’t have time, or they got there first.

Still, our ‘Ji-Won Party’ had the opportunity to clear two Mech Dungeons that Hanteuk had already applied for.

I took out a mineral chunk from my inventory for the last time and asked Gilsu to break it into pieces. After absorbing all the absorbable mineral pieces, I came out of the dungeon.

And today, the dungeon clear reward is a jackpot.

I got all the minerals in the dungeon….

After leaving the Eorimok Dungeon, we washed up at the sauna we went to last time in two cars, stopped by the Awakener shopping mall to exchange money and shop, and then headed to a Korean beef restaurant.

Total mineral amount: 32.873kg.

That’s the amount of minerals received from clearing the Eorimok 10-grade Mech Dungeon.

I was able to mine more than 10kg more minerals than last time, and after taxes and fees, a little over 100 million won was deposited into my account.

Have I ever had this much money in my account in my life?

Of course, if I had sold the items obtained in the dungeon, I could have received more money depending on my contribution.

However, if we settled that way, I wouldn’t have been able to form an official party with Jihye, Gilsu, Hanteuk, and Mihae, who joined this time.

No matter how they plan the clear, they can’t have more contribution than me….

If that happens, I’ll almost monopolize the items and minerals. What Awakener would just watch me monopolize everything?

But I can’t go into a 10-grade dungeon alone either.

The 10-grade dungeon clear entry requires at least 4 Awakeners.

Solo play is not allowed, and I can’t go anywhere to find 3 more Awakeners.

It doesn’t make sense for a level 1 Awakener with a stat of 4 to find clear members for a 10-grade dungeon.

So, it’s better to clear dungeons by yielding a little bit like this for now.

There’s no reason to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Until now….

Soon, if even a little rumor about me spreads in the Jeju area, Awakeners will come looking for me, and I can reconsider the abilities of my party members at that time.

Right now, these guys saw me summon Probes, produce Crystals, Gateways, and Zealots, so they let me include them in the party. No Awakener would believe it if they went somewhere and said this, and it’s strange for me to spread rumors here and there myself.

Moreover, I’m level 1 with a stat of only 4 in a 10-grade dungeon.

Of course, my summoning stat is 51 now, but until I take the new Awakener ability test… huh?

Wait a minute!

Summoning stat is 51?

Then 9-grade [Awakener ranking]?!

“Everyone… stop for a second! Just a moment!”

Those who were munching on the vividly colored marbled sirloin, like last time, all looked at me at the sudden shout.

“Oppa, why suddenly?”

“Jihye, what are your level and characteristic stats?”

“…Tch! You know that’s a rude question, right?”

“Of course. But I’m the party leader, so I should know.”

“It’s not obvious~ It varies from party to party. I only ask about job and level, not stats~.”

“I’m level 5 with a stat of 37. Approximately 20% left until level up.”

“I’m also level 5 with a stat of 35, 7.5% left until level up.”

“I, I’m also level 5 with a stat of 33… 35% left until level up….”

Hanteuk, Gilsu, and Mihae, who were looking at me, answered first.

“Tch… I’m also level 5 with a stat of 34, 12% until level up, okay? But why?”

“Wait… isn’t level 5 or a stat of 30 the requirement for 10-grade? Why are you guys still 10-grade?”

“Silly Oppa! License renewal is twice a year. Of course, it’s much higher than when we first measured it. We only measured it once at the beginning of the year, and it’s gone up quite a bit thanks to Oppa these days….”

“…Then, will everyone be 9-grade next year?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case? Everyone’s stat is over 30… Oh! What about Oppa? Your stat is still not 4, is it?”

“It’s 51.”

Jihye looked back at me with surprised eyes at my words.

Not only Jihye, but also Gilsu, Hanteuk, and Mihae looked very surprised.

“51? Really?”

“Hyung-nim. Is it real?”

“Congratulations, Hyung-nim. But I know you haven’t Awakened for long, so how…?”

“Is 9-grade from stat 30 to 60?”

“That’s right, Hyung-nim. You’ll be 8-grade soon.”

“Don’t raise your Awakener grade and get a license if possible. You know. It has nothing to do with the stat range.”

“That’s right. A 9-grade Awakener isn’t necessarily safe in a 9-grade dungeon.”

“Yes. Renew your current license at the beginning of next year, and after that….”

Hanteuk gave me advice about license renewal from the side, and I carefully remembered it and asked about the parts I didn’t know well.

We took turns proposing toasts, and unlike last time, there were two more pretty young ladies, so the atmosphere was even better.

Everyone will renew as Awakener 9-grade next year and level up… huh?

Wait a minute… why is their level up a percentage?

Me? I only have stats, and I don’t know how to level up?

Is it different for each Awakener job?

My level is currently 1.

And I don’t know how to level up.

Of course, stats and availability don’t matter to me.

Only the summoning stat is my standard.

It’s strange no matter how I think about it.

Is it because I’m an Art Factor?

Are other Art Factors like this?

The thought of where I can find the same job as me keeps popping up.

Jihye said something because the atmosphere became strange as I became serious.

“Oppa, worry about characteristics later… let’s eat first~. Call me later and I’ll worry about it with you~ How about it?”

She’s looking for bread even while eating dinner [Korean expression for hitting on someone].

Yeah, Jihye is right.

There’s no reason to break this good atmosphere for now.

It’s not like the answer will come out if I worry about it now.

“Okay, I’ll worry about it later. Thank you, Jihye.”

“Hehe… if you’re thankful, later separately….”

“Forget it.”

“Tch~.”

I’m definitely saying this, I’m… married.

I even have an 8-year-old son!

I’ll get caught if you keep doing this.

Why are you wagging your tail like that?

I pretended to be chic on the outside and muttered inwardly.

* * *

3 months later.

The year-end atmosphere is starting to show everywhere in the city.

Large Christmas trees and pretty lights are starting to stand out, and carols are ringing through the streets.

In the meantime, I entered the 10-grade Mech Dungeon twice and was able to clear it at almost the same time.

Only one item came out after clearing the Mech Dungeon twice.

Moreover, it was an Idea Pouch that increased inventory stats.

It’s strange that the item drop rate is gradually decreasing.

When I cleared the dungeon for the first time, 11 items came out….

Um… what’s the difference?

The Idea Pouch was an item I could absorb, so of course I absorbed it, and I monopolized the mineral rewards from the two clears.

Thanks to their concession that it was the value of the existing items, I was able to pay off all my debts, and I still had more than 200 million won left in my account.

I transferred 200 million won from my existing account to a newly issued bank account, took the account book, seal, check card, and internet banking security card, and entered the promised Japanese restaurant.

Today is our wedding anniversary.

We got married nine years ago when the first snow fell.

Today is the day I finally reveal the money I’ve saved up as a wedding anniversary gift.

To my wife….

“Welcome.”

“I’m Han Ji-Won. I made a reservation for two adults and one child today.”

“Ah… please come this way.”

Crossing the hall, I opened the room and entered. There was a table for four with floor chairs, and basic tableware was set.

“Two servings of A course, please. And one mild soju [Korean distilled beverage] and one cider.”

“Yes. Shall I prepare when your party arrives?”

“No. Give it to me now.”

“Yes.”

This is a high-end Japanese restaurant located at Yeondong intersection that my wife and I sometimes visit.

Well, we always ordered two servings of sushi and one spicy fish roe soup, but this is the first time we’ve had a course meal like this.

The A course is 150,000 won per person.

Two servings, so the meal alone is 300,000 won. If you add the alcohol….

Until a few months ago, I was busy borrowing money from my brothers a week after receiving my salary, but now I don’t feel much pressure.

I looked at the account book with the seal placed next to the table.

I feel full just looking at it.

Before the main course came out, my wife and son came into the room around the time when various seafood, abalone, sea cucumber, sea squirt, and conch, etc., came out in a fancy display.

“Dad~.”

“Hey. My baby!”

“Oh? Did you order a course?”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t it expensive?”

“A little.”

“Are you going to pay?”

“Yeah.”

Until I promised to have dinner with her on KakaoTalk today, my wife didn’t say much.

Just that I didn’t forget our anniversary?

However, as my wife’s favorite sashimi and various foods that she doesn’t usually eat began to come in, she seemed to feel a little better.

My son was a bit noisy and talkative, looking around and eating this and that.

I toasted with a soju glass, and my wife and son toasted with cider glasses that I poured for them, and we congratulated each other on our anniversary.

And the moment I had been waiting for arrived.

“Here… take a look at this.”

As I handed over the account book that was placed next to me, my wife’s eyes suddenly sparkled and she asked, stuttering slightly.

“W, what is this?”

“What else? It’s an account book. I wonder… what’s inside the account?”

“Wh, why an account book. Is there money in it?”

“Take a look.”

My wife carefully took out the account book and examined the contents(?).

“T, this… a hundred million [~76,000 USD]? W, what kind of money is this! Did you do something bad!”

How could she think that, after sharing the same blanket… well, it’s been a while, but what does she think of me….

“You know I Awakened [gained supernatural abilities] last time, right?”

“A, Awakened? Th, then…?”

“After that, I cleared the Tier 10 mech dungeon a few times. Luckily, I met some young Awakeners and we were able to clear it….”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

My wife, who had jumped up from her seat, suddenly came to me. Has it been about 4, 5, or 6 years? ….

She gave me a deep kiss.

A little later.

As my wife regained her composure and returned to her seat, I told her about the plan I had been thinking about.

“First, look for a large villa near Oedo. If the amount is not enough, tell them we’ll pay the balance early next year… I don’t know how much it will be, but roughly 100 million [~76,000 USD] can be earned by clearing the dungeon twice….”

Again, I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Because my wife was attacking me again… but, tears are flowing from my wife’s eyes.

I’m sorry.

For making you suffer until now because you met such a useless husband….

I’ll do better from now on….

I thought to myself.

At that moment, a strange notification hit the back of my head.

[Ding! Your wife’s dream has come true. She is overjoyed at the first opportunity to buy a house after marriage. Accumulated availability increases level by 1. Personal stat 10 is granted.]

My wife must be out of her mind, but I’m also out of my mind.

Next to me, my son is repeatedly telling his mom not to cry.

I told them I would go to the bathroom and went outside, took out a cigarette, and moved to the back of the building.

My head hurts.

How did this happen?

The first trigger for Awakening was when I went fishing and caught a black sea bream, and after that, the notification rang when I made dinner for my son, when I did a big cleaning of the house, and today when I gave my wife money to buy a house.

Looking at this as a whole, there is no correlation at all.

Just when I was happy, or my son was happy, or my wife was touched… um… wait a minute!

When I caught that 29cm black sea bream last time, I was happy, but the notification didn’t appear then. Even after that, I made various things for my son and cleaned the house several times….

First? The first time?

When you do something, what you have to do first?

Um… I think I know roughly. Roughly….

Anyway, for now,

“Status window!”

[Art Factor: Han Ji-won (Lv-2)

Nationality/Affiliation: Republic of Korea/Support Party, Age: 39, Height/Weight: 176cm/84kg,

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

Inventory: 3/9 (Awakener Boots, Gloves, Cloak), Crystal: 0/10,

Buildings: 5 (Nexus, Battery, Gateway, Dracan Core, Gas Mine),

Personal Stat: 10 (Available for distribution),

Summon Target Stat: 51 (Probe), Zealot’s Upper Armor 1,

Possessed Artifact: Mineral Fragment (Absorption) 80, Idea Pouch (Absorption) 1]

As expected, level 1 has increased, and a new characteristic called personal stat has been created.

And a new building called Dracan Core has been created among the building characteristics.

If it’s a Dracan Core, does that mean I can produce Dracan from the Gateway?

As expected, the mech dungeon grade classification tech tree is the same.

I don’t know why this is happening to me… are all Art Factors like this?

Of course not….

Um… and personal stat….

Could this be!

“Agility increased by 1!”

I recognized my personal stat and tried to increase agility by 1….

[Ding! Would you like to distribute personal stat (10) to agility (1)?]

“As expected! … Yes.”

[Ding! Agility (2) increases. Personal stat (9) remains.]

Um… it works as expected.

But where did I see these symptoms and stat distribution? Was it on the internet?

First, I distributed stat 2 evenly to agility, stamina, strength, endurance, and luck.

“Status window!”

[Art Factor: Han Ji-won (Lv-2)

Nationality/Affiliation: Republic of Korea/Support Party, Age: 39, Height/Weight: 176cm/84kg,

Agility: 3, Endurance: 3, Strength: 4, Stamina: 3, Intelligence: 2, Luck: 3,

Inventory: 3/9 (Awakener Boots, Gloves, Cloak), Crystal: 0/10,

Buildings: 5 (Nexus, Battery, Gateway, Dracan Core, Gas Mine),

Personal Stat: 0,

Summon Target Stat: 51 (Probe), Zealot’s Upper Armor 1,

Possessed Artifact: Mineral Fragment (Absorption) 80, Idea Pouch (Absorption) 1]

First, I have to go into the dungeon again and test it in this state… huh?

‘Woong… woowoong….’

It’s my wife.

How long has it been since I said I was going to the bathroom… it’s been over 10 minutes.

I’ll check the status window later and make my wife happy today… ahem.

I stopped thinking and went back into the restaurant, and my wife was chatting excitedly with my son while eating this and that.

“Honey~ What took you so long in the bathroom? Did you finish smoking?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

It’s not the way she usually calls, names, points out, or indicates me, but a sound that goes down softly as if she has something in her mouth.

The tone and expression we used to call each other nicknames when we were dating.

Something is unusual.

“Honey~ You can look forward to tonight~.”

“……”

I poured the mild soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] next to me into a glass and shot it down.

I suddenly started to get scared of my wife.

And that night.

As soon as my son fell asleep, my wife came out to the living room where I was lying down, and slowly towards me… cough, cough!

The next morning.

‘Tap tap… tototok….’

‘Boil boil….’

Something smells delicious, and someone is chopping on the cutting board… huh?

Wow….

I can’t believe it!

My wife, who had stopped, didn’t do, lost interest in, and didn’t even touch it at the end of our newlywed life, is preparing breakfast.

“Honey~ Are you awake? Hurry up and wash up and go to work, even though I don’t know how long you’ll be going? The team leader can’t just quit without responsibility.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this side of my wife… no, I can’t even remember when it was.

And what she just said sounds like this to my ears.

‘If you’re awake, don’t quit your job because you’re Awakened, go to work and earn more money!’

Why does it sound like this to me… ah, no. Let’s not be suspicious.

Last night, I worked so hard… cough!

I barely ate breakfast and went to the office much earlier than other days.

I was busy with project management, human resource management, output checks, and issue identification,

‘Woong… woowoong….’

Oh? It’s my mother-in-law.

“Yes. This is Ji-won. Mother.”

“… Son-in-law Han. Thank you. And I heard you became an Awakener? Congratulations. Avoid dangerous things as much as possible and stay stable like now….”

…….

‘Woong… woowoong….’

It’s my mother.

“Yes.”

“Son! I heard you Awakened! Why didn’t you tell me? Are you going to buy a house this time? Mom doesn’t have to give you money?”

…….

‘Woong… woowoong….’

It’s my youngest uncle.

He is a professor at OO University….

“Yes. Ji-won is….”

“Hey~ Congratulations. I heard you Awakened this time? Then are you going to quit your current company? Well, how old are you? What’s the point of holding on to a place that doesn’t have the concept of a lifelong job….”

…….

‘Woong… woowoong….’

It’s my third uncle.

He is the director of the OO department of the OO office….

After sending an automatic rejection text saying that I was in a meeting and couldn’t answer the phone, I immediately sent a KakaoTalk [Korean messaging app] to my wife.

‘Did you tell your mother-in-law that I Awakened?’

‘Yeah. About looking for a house too. Did I do well? [Emoji]’

‘It’s been almost 5 months since I Awakened… it’s a bit late to say it now….’

‘Your stat was 4. Not now, right? ♡’

‘Yeah. But… no. I might be late today….’

‘Yeah. Have a good day~ [Emoji]’

Cute emoticons that I rarely use, almost never see, are rolling around on KakaoTalk [Korean messaging app].

I can’t even imagine how the rumors will spread to all my relatives by the next New Year’s Day or Lunar New Year [Seollal].

Damn it….

After sorting out the chaotic situation, I called Han-deuk and told him to stop by the office when he had time.

I can’t enter the Tier 10 dungeon anymore this year, so I plan to renew my Awakener license early next year and clear the Tier 9 dungeon.

Anyway, all the party members will have their licenses renewed to Tier 9, and the competition to apply for Tier 10 dungeon clearance is too fierce.

Perhaps this situation is happening because most Awakeners in Jeju Island are trying to clear the Tier 10 dungeon….

How do they operate the Tier 5 and 6 dungeons on the mainland?

Well, how big is the population in the province? It’s absurd to compare it to the mainland.

But wait a minute!

How many Tier 9 dungeons are there in Jeju Island…?

“Ha… is there only one?”

“Yes. As you know, the Bio Dungeon in Hallim is Tier 9. And….”

“The mech dungeon in Seongpanak is Tier 8.”

“Yes.”

“What should we do?”

In response to my question, Han-deuk answered without hesitation as if he had planned it in advance.

“First… we should apply for the Hallim Bio Dungeon once a month, put in Tier 10 in between, and decide whether to challenge the Tier 8 mech dungeon after seeing the stat and level increase.”

“First, we run it regularly, the rest is supplemented in Tier 10, and then we watch and do Tier 8?”

“Yes. It depends on the situation, but wouldn’t we get about 1 billion [~760,000 USD] per person with this?”

“Including Tier 9?”

“Yes. And, Hyung [term for older brother or male friend]. There is no safety zone from Tier 9. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then shouldn’t we prioritize defense against dungeon unit attacks until we produce Zealots? Of course, we can protect you, Hyung [term for older brother or male friend], but to do that, we need to build defense towers first and make it easy to defend with buildings from the attack route….”

As expected, Han-deuk is thoughtful.

I can see that he has been thinking about the Tier 9 dungeon strategy as much as I have.

“I have something in mind. I have something to show you… anyway, I’ll check it later. By the way… we should get together once before the end of the year, right?”

“Haha… Yes. I’ll ask the guys and contact you.”

“Okay~.”

I ended my short meeting with Han-deuk like that.

Tier 9 dungeon… is there gas?

And I have a new building characteristic, Dracan Core… cough.

* * *

The hectic end of the year passed.

Year-end parties and dinners were lined up everywhere, and my mother called so often that I had dinner at my parents’ house.

Of course, my uncles and aunts, and even my cousins ​​who were younger than my son, were gathered, and as I watched my father and mother constantly burst into laughter… I should give them a generous allowance.

There was a drinking party almost every other day, and every time, my wife made bean sprout hangover soup or dried pollack hangover soup in the morning, but the taste wasn’t that great… ah, no. Sincerity is important. Sincerity!

The year ended and a new year began, and I turned forty.

My wife also got a year older, and my son became a second grader in elementary school… no, elementary school.

The new house is relatively close to the existing company building… about 80m away, in a newly built multi-generational villa-style complex, and I bought it for 280 million won [~213,000 USD] with 33 pyeong [Korean unit of area, approx. 1,168 sq ft].

Real estate in Jeju Island is not that different compared to the mainland….

It’s a bit cheaper.

These days, land prices are soaring due to Chinese people, overseas investors, and big hands from inside and outside the province… but it has nothing to do with me….

Ah, will it be there in the future?

I pushed the company building where I lived to my favorite junior in the office, and the president readily agreed, and the insufficient house price for the newly moved house was taken care of without me having to worry about it.

The new house is half and half in name.

Joint ownership.

Money must have gone out of my account… cough!

Instead of the old and small-capacity refrigerator, a double-door refrigerator is in the kitchen, and there are sofas, living room cabinets, rocking chairs, dining tables, and a children’s bunk bed (I didn’t ask why it was a bunk bed), desks, and bookshelves in my son’s room, and my room… is the same as before.

Only the wallpaper color is different.

My wife said that she got some help from somewhere, and she got a personal loan for the first time in her life from the workplace (bank) she was working at, and she talked a little about how much it cost to buy a house and move….

Um… I have to clear the dungeon hard.

How did all the debts get paid off, but why are new debts popping up here and there again….

After eating Tteokguk [Korean rice cake soup] for the New Year, on the first weekend a few days later, I went to the Jeju Branch Awakener Association with Han-deuk and renewed my license.

With me and Han-deuk as the last ones, all the members of the ‘Support Party’ obtained Tier 9 licenses, and I heard that there are only a few parties in Jeju with all members at Tier 9, and I feel proud.

* * *

Saturday, the last week of January.

The dungeon clearance application that started from the new year has ended early, and it will remain the same unless a new dungeon is created.

Probably unless there is an accident… that’s it. I’m going to get bad luck.

And today is the day I finally enter the Tier 9 Bio Dungeon in Hallim.

I got a ride in Han-deuk’s car and entered the dungeon parking lot next to the Hallim Gymnasium, and the guys who arrived at a similar time are approaching.