Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 65

Han Deuk and the sub-team leaders from the clergy faction approached, casting heals and blessings on my party members, as well as the senior staff and general female employees who were with us.

Most of the mental stress and physical fatigue vanished, and I began to feel sleepy.

Once things had calmed down a bit, the senior staff and the parents and relatives of the general female employees came over to express their gratitude.

After spending some time feeling a bit awkward, a bit proud, and quite embarrassed, I sent my wife and son home first.

I’m quite, considerably, very tired.

Can’t I go home too?

Isn’t the situation over?

As I was gauging the atmosphere and preparing to return home, several employees from the Jeju Branch of the Awakened Association came in and spoke up.

“Fortunately, most are fine. Just some exhaustion and bruises. We’ve prepared some simple meals and bedding. Please stay here tonight, and we’ll see you in the morning.”

“Stay here tonight? Why?”

What are you talking about?

I’m telling you, I’m going home!

“Um, can’t we go back home?”

“We have work scheduled for tomorrow?”

“I have to go to work.”

“We apologize, but we need your cooperation regarding the Random Dungeon manifestation symptoms. Of course, we will provide compensation and benefits for that. As you know….”

“Compensation? What kind of compensation?”

Hyung Kyung-hwan eagerly took the bait.

“Ah, yes. Regarding the Random Dungeon clear….”

*I think this is the same story as when the Yongdam Rank 10 Armored Dungeon manifested last year… Compensation, my foot.* It’s probably just an investigation.

“Wait! Han Deuk!”

“Yes, Party Leader.”

“From now on, I delegate all authority regarding the Jeju area defense party to you, so discuss it thoroughly with those employees. Well, I’m leaving. Hyung! Let’s go.”

“Can we just leave?”

“Are we allowed to go home?”

“I just said it. Han Deuk will take care of it. You’ve worked hard today, so go home for now, and we’ll contact you again tomorrow. Right?”

“Ah, no. You must stay here today. The situation at the City Hall Random Dungeon has not been fully assessed yet, so we ask for your investigation—no, your cooperation—for the time being.”

*Oh, really?*

Is a mere employee, not even the branch manager or a team leader from the Awakened Association’s Jeju Branch, telling me what to do right now?

I’m tired and sleepy.

Let’s go home and sleep.

“I’ll call the branch manager right now. What’s your name…?”

“Ahem, Party Leader, please return home for now. I will contact you again tomorrow.”

“I’ll take care of it tomorrow, so don’t worry. Everyone, go home now, okay? The situation is over, and other people are taking care of the City Hall Random Dungeon, aren’t they?”

“Y-yes, but, according to the Party Leader’s words….”

“You may have seen it, but I had a meeting with the branch manager after clearing the dungeon, and we agreed to meet again. Everyone, go home. I’ll take responsibility.”

“R-really? Can we really do that? There are no instructions yet….”

“Should I call Team Leader Go Yong-seok from the support team? Or the branch manager?”

“Ah, no. Then, trusting the Party Leader, we’ll lift the emergency situation and go back….”

*Oh, really?*

They’re backing out so quickly?

Did they really go home just because I told them to?

“Of course. You know me, right? I’m the party leader of the Jeju area defense party. Who’s going to say anything when I say the situation is over? Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes. If that’s the case….”

The employees who were feeling awkward in the back also brighten up.

Everyone’s backing out.

I’ll give them a good talking to tomorrow. Ahem.

The next day.

My plan to sleep in was thwarted by the phone ringing from morning.

“Ah, son! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

It’s my mother.

“Han-seobang [term of endearment for a son-in-law]! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

It’s my mother-in-law.

“Ji-won. Are you okay? Anywhere….”

Even my uncles, aunts, and relatives….

The late-night calls are mostly the same. *Tsk.*

I roughly brushed it off, roughly explained, roughly hung up, took a shower, ordered a double portion of jajangmyeon [black bean noodles], and then examined my condition.

“Status window!”

“[Art Factor/Warrior: Han Ji-won (Lv-6)

Nationality/Affiliation: South Korea/Ji-won Party,

Age: 40, Height/Weight: 178cm/78kg,

Agility: 7, Endurance: 4, Strength: 5,

Stamina: 7, Intelligence: 3, Luck: 14,

Enchant: 8, Inventory: 9/10

(Awakened Boots, Gloves, Cloak,

Zulot (Speed Up +100%) (160), Drakan (6),

Dark Assassin (4), Slug Tank (15)

Minerals (105.732kg), Idea Awl (2)),

Buildings: 11

(Forge, Battery, Gateway, Drakan Core,

Gas Extractor, Speed Core, Land Core, Stargate,

Black Core, Light Core, Land Spore Core),

Crystal: 0/60, Personal Stat Points: 30,

Summon Target Stats: 351 (Probe),

Zulot’s Upper Armor 1,

Possessed Artifacts: Mineral Fragment (Absorption) 260,

Gas Fragment (Absorption): 30, Idea Pouch (Absorption) 1,

Idea Awl (Absorption) 2]”

“Heh heh, heh heh heh.”

A hollow laugh makes the jajangmyeon in my mouth splatter. *Damn it.*

Wiping the splattered jajangmyeon off the table with a tissue, I pondered.

The reward for clearing this Random Rank 6 Armored Dungeon is about 700kg of minerals!

Due to the inventory weight limit, I distributed large mineral chunks to the party members, but I decided to exchange them for cash after visiting the Jeju branch today.

40% of the 700kg of minerals, 280kg, is purely my share. That is, 980 million won [approximately $740,000 USD] is the minimum reward for clearing this Random Rank 6, and if we add the reward according to the dungeon title…!

“Heh heh heh.”

*Ssibal!* [Korean slang for “damn it!”]

The jajangmyeon splatters again.

After laughing foolishly, I pondered how to distribute the 30 personal stat points from leveling up.

The same 고민 [worry/concern] I have every time I level up.

Before, I was 고민 [worrying] about how to distribute 10 stat points, but now it’s three times that amount.

Moreover, with the appearance of the job mix ‘Warrior,’ multiple jobs.

After much 고민 [deliberation], remembering the experience of being backstabbed when entering the dungeon, I distributed them evenly to agility, stamina, strength, intelligence, enchant, etc… Huh?

“[Ding! Exceeded 10 Enchant stat points, increasing the magic circuit creation availability.]”

“… Oh쭈구리 [exclamation of surprise/excitement]! Full summon of Idea Awl!”

“[Ding! Summons 2 Idea Awls.]”

With the notification, I placed the summoned Idea Awls on the table and examined them closely.

‘Idea Awl (Possession)

Source: Bio Dungeon (Rank 7), Rank: Rank 7,

Creation: Magic circuit creation possible regardless of job,

Magic-type (Art Factor) Enchant stat availability: 2.1% increase’

‘Idea Awl (Possession)

Source: Armored Dungeon (Rank 8), Rank: Rank 8,

Magic-type (Art Factor) Enchant stat availability: 1.7% increase’

One Rank 8 and one Rank 7.

Is this phenomenon caused by the enchant stat availability?

What’s changed?

If the magic circuit creation availability has increased, should I engrave it directly on the mineral?

I was shaking the awl in my hand, looking at it from side to side, when,

‘Woong.’ [Sound effect for vibration]

KakaoTalk [Korean messaging app].

Checking it, it’s my wife,

‘Honey~ Are you up?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Woowoong.’ [More intense vibration sound effect]

It’s hard to express her feelings in text, so she called.

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“Honey. Can’t you just go into dungeons up to Rank 8? Like this time, suddenly going in, the news coming out, people calling from everywhere asking….”

What are you talking about?

If you cut off the beginning and end and talk like that, I can’t understand at all?

“I couldn’t help it this time. It was a Random Dungeon manifestation.”

“So, just clear dungeons below Rank 8. You could earn more than a large company’s salary by clearing them just once a month… And I’ll quit my job and take good care of you. I’ll be good to your mother, educate our child well, and go to cooking school….”

Is it 기-승-전-full-time housewife [a common Korean phrase meaning the conversation always leads to her becoming a full-time housewife]?

Well, it seems like I can get a Rank 6 dungeon this time, so I don’t really need the money, but still, I’ve been working part-time for over 10 years, even taking the exam to become a full-time employee, so I should have some 애착 [attachment/affection]… or not?

“Um… okay. I’ll finish up until this month and wrap things up.”

“R-really? I’m really quitting?”

“Yeah, really. But you have to make sure to prepare breakfast. Got it? Five side dishes or more. And clean the house, organize it, and do it well. So I don’t have to touch it. Can you do it?”

“Yeah. Of course. I’ll make you not just five, but seven, ten side dishes for breakfast.”

“I’ll see how you do.”

“Yeah, thank you. I love you~.”

As expected, in the end, the goal was to quit the office.

Ah, or not?

My wife must have been very anxious when I went into the Random Dungeon.

It’ll be hard to deal with the situation of her crying in the hospital like yesterday anymore.

I’m also an Awakened with the characteristics of a mid-Rank 7 ability.

Most Awakened with spouses who are above Rank 8 are devoted to their husbands or wives.

Whether it’s the husband or the wife.

It is said that 수신제가치국평천하(修身齊家治國平天下) [cultivate yourself, manage your family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world] and 가화만사성(家和萬事成) [when the home is harmonious, all things will succeed].

The rest of the work goes well when the home, the family, is stable or peaceful.

Let’s not be bitter.

Let’s think that she endured a lot for half a year.

I have to think that way… my stomach… *tsk.*

After putting the jajangmyeon bowl outside and changing clothes, I was enjoying coffee when I received a text message that Gil-soo and Han Deuk had arrived, so I left the house.

When I came down, Ji-hye was in the passenger seat of Gil-soo’s car, and Han Deuk was in the back seat.

After roughly accepting their greetings, Han Deuk started talking to me as we set off.

“Hyungnim [term for older brother/respected older male]. That mineral plate you mentioned last time, you know?”

“Oh, yeah. Did you get it?”

“Yes. I looked into it, but it’s quite expensive. The Jeju University Magical Item Research Institute uses it for research purposes….”

“How much is it? Just tell me the amount.”

“It’s 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD] for 50cm wide and 1m long.”

Those thieving bastards.

How can a single mineral plate cost 100 million won?

“That’s not all mineral powder, is it?”

“No. They say they do some processing of mineral powder on an artificial crystal plate, but I don’t know the professional terms well. What should we do? Should we order it?”

“Get as much as you can. Up to 500 million won [approximately $375,000 USD]. Ask if a discount is possible… No. Let’s go together after the Jeju branch work is done. I have to see it myself.”

“Today?”

“Yeah. Are you free?”

“I am, but I’ll contact them first. Should we make it around 5 PM?”

“Okay.”

That’s good.

The Idea Awl keeps chattering about something, so I should take this opportunity to practice making magic circuits.

2 PM, Republic of Korea Awakened Association Jeju Branch Conference Room.

“Welcome. Did you get home well yesterday? Are you hurt anywhere?”

As I entered, the Jeju branch manager greeted me with an uncharacteristic, unseemly, excessive greeting.

The team leaders of each team also stood up to welcome me, making me feel unnecessarily embarrassed.

“Yes, I’m fine. Anyway, about going to Seongpanak [a mountain in Jeju] today….”

“What are you talking about? It’s a party clearing a Rank 6 dungeon with five people. What proof do we need! Forget it. Even the main association is in an uproar with executives coming down. Haha.”

“It was quite tough. There were civilians, so there were many difficulties in clearing it.”

Big packaging, pretty packaging.

“I know, of course, I know. Nevertheless, five Awakened. The fact that five people cleared a Rank 6 dungeon is something! Even now, with the Awakened Law changing, there are huge protests from lower-ranked parties….”

Too much talk, mister!

Get to the point quickly.

“Then, are the conditions for establishing the Jeju Regional Defense Guild met?”

“Of course. The qualifications are more than enough, aren’t they? A party that clears even Rank 6 dungeons if there’s just a party leader. No, now it’s a guild. A Jeju Regional Defense Guild that clears Rank 6 dungeons. Kya~ Isn’t it cool? Let’s sign the contract. Of course. Oh, you know you need to have over 100 Awakened in the guild, right?”

“Of course, Branch Manager.”

Han Deuk answers even more excitedly from the side.

Ji-hye and Gil-soo, their faces reddening, are the same.

“The Rank 6 random dungeon in City Hall that was discovered this time, it’s ours, right?”

“Of course. Are you going to use that for promotion?”

“Yes. Since it’s Rank 6, we need at least 20 Rank 7 Awakened….”

“Why don’t you take the lead?”

“What do you mean? I’m Rank 7.”

“… Oh, really? Just a moment! So, five Rank 7 people cleared a Rank 6 dungeon!?”

“To be precise, the party members were Rank 9. I was the only Rank 7.”

“… Uh, huh?”

“Wh, what!”

“Oh my!”

“No way!”

The team leaders of the Jeju branch next to him are even more of a mess.

“Are the party members really Rank 9? Really?”

“Yes. That’s how it was before entering the random dungeon. But everyone leveled up by one or two stages while getting hit by the mana wave.”

“Mana wave? Ah~. Spell Shockwave! Then now….”

“Most of them will be Rank 7. I’d have to re-measure to know for sure.”

“What about you? Didn’t you level up?”

“No.”

My leveling situation is different from other Awakened, mister.

“So, as you said earlier, one Rank 7 Awakened and four Rank 9 Awakened cleared a Rank 6 random dungeon?”

“Yes.”

“While protecting five civilians? Without a healer or priest?”

“Yes. It was a bit tough.”

“… Heh, heh heh. Hehehe.”

Huh?

Why is the branch manager laughing so emptily like an old man who has lived his whole life?

“Support Party Leader, I’m confused whether I should believe this or not… So, taking five civilians with you, without receiving healing or blessing support, one Rank 7 Awakened and four Rank 9 Awakened cleared Rank 6. Is that correct? Team Leader Go, am I understanding correctly?”

“Yes, we saw them coming out of the dungeon after it was cleared, so it must be true. We can quickly find out the ranks of the party members if we measure them… Seriously, this is absurd.”

“…….”

A strange silence lingers in the conference room for a moment.

About five minutes pass?

Just as steam starts rising from the branch manager’s bald head, he suddenly blurts out something out of the blue.

“Let’s go one more time!”

Huh?

What does he mean, go again?

“Support Party, no, Support Guild Guild Leader. Han Ji-won!”

Alrighty?

Why is he setting such a mood?

“Using ‘Idea Mirror,’ let’s take one of our Awakened, or five in case of an emergency, assuming they are civilians, and clear the City Hall Rank 6 dungeon one more time.”

“Branch Manager, it’s a random dungeon that was cleared yesterday. Why bother with a regen clear… Su, surely!”

“Are you going to submit it to the main association, no, the World Awakened Association?”

What are they talking about?

The team leaders next to him are clamoring at the branch manager’s words.

My party members and I are watching, clueless.

“I will pay a separate fee regardless of the clear reward. Team Leader Go.”

“Yes, Branch Manager.”

“How much is the total available amount, including the budget that our branch can apply for to the main association and the reserve fund?”

“Well, I can’t tell you the exact amount right now, but if we apply for a budget to the main association with the 4.7 billion won in reserve, it’s about 5 billion….”

What are they doing among themselves right now?

The atmosphere is flowing in a strange direction.

“Han Ji-won! No, Support Troop! I will pay 9 billion won for re-clearing the City Hall Rank 6 random dungeon!”

“Huh?!”

“N, ninety billion won?!”

“…….”

What did I just hear?

How much?

And why? For what reason?

Why are you doing this to me?

Some time later.

The smoking room on the rooftop of the Korea Awakened Association building.

“Hoo~. Should I really do it or not?”

“Oppa [term for older brother used by females]! What are you talking about! You have to do it unconditionally!”

“It’s ridiculous! Aren’t you weirded out? It’s not just a few tens of millions; it’s a whopping ninety billion. Do you even know how many zeros are behind the number 9?”

“Hyung [term for older brother used by males], you agreed to hand over the Idea Mirror usage rights, didn’t you? It seems like it will be spread for promotional purposes nationwide or even worldwide.”

“Yeah, I think so too. Then all my traits will be completely exposed. That’s the problem.”

“Oppa, most of it is already rumored anyway. It’s just a verification stage. You get verified and make money. It’s a win-win! Killing two birds with one stone! What are you even hesitating about! If it’s 9 billion, Oppa gets 40%, which is 3.6 billion won, and we get 1.35 billion each! I was going to build a country house for my parents this time….”

Heh, Ji-hye, this girl.

Han Deuk and Gil-soo are listening from the side and calculating precisely.

Look at Gil-soo and Han Deuk’s faces hardening.

That’s why you shouldn’t take in black-haired beasts… Tsk.

But, what should I really do?

Should I just go for it?

The 10-minute consultation time requested from the branch manager was well over 20 minutes.

“What are you hesitating so much about? It doesn’t seem like it’s because the amount is too small. 9 billion is an amount that even a decent mid-sized guild can’t ignore.”

“If it were about the money, I wouldn’t be hesitating.”

“Then, what is it… Ah~ Are you worried about your traits being revealed? Heh, geez. It’s mostly all spread out anyway.”

“Huh? What’s spread?”

“Aren’t you talking about the summoning ability? The job is Art Factor, currently Rank 7, Zulot and Drakan can be summoned with available stats regardless of rank, and units can be produced using dungeon minerals, something like that?”

“…….”

I look at the team leaders next to the branch manager’s words, and they all nod.

Is Ji-hye right?

I can’t hide it anymore… But not everything, right? Hehe.

If so,

“Okay. Let’s proceed with re-clearing the City Hall Rank 6. How about the day after tomorrow?”

“Good. We have a few things to prepare on our side, so let’s do that. You thought well. You thought very~ well. Hehehe.”

“Then, how about the City Hall Rank 6 dungeon title….”

Han Deuk asks about another matter as the re-clear-related matter is settled.

“Well, since the Support Party, no, the Support Guild cleared it first, it’s yours, and you can set up a management office and manage it from now on, right? Discuss the legal stuff, fees, and tax issues with Team Leader Go… Oh, is the title going to be ‘City Hall Rank 6 Armored Dungeon’?”

“No, it’s going to be ‘Support Rank 6 Armored Dungeon.’”

As Ji-hye blurts out nonsense from the side, everyone from the branch manager to the team leaders slowly smiles and looks at me.

Han Deuk, send her home.

It’s so embarrassing.

And why are you deciding on that title alone?

I really hate having my name on it!

After the branch manager left the conference room, we started discussing minor but quite weighty issues with each team leader.

For example, with the title issue of the Rank 6 Armored Dungeon that was discovered this time, Ji-hye’s stubborn insistence that the word ‘Support’ must be included, Han Deuk’s request for the word ‘Priest,’ Gil-soo’s request for the word ‘Warrior,’ and the words ‘Magic,’ ‘Blessing,’ and ‘Heal’ that Mi-hye, Choi Eun-ji, and Kim Eun-hee blurted out as they arrived, and so on.

I quietly went up to the rooftop alone and took out a cigarette.

It’ll be sorted out when I go down in 10 minutes, right?

Instead of being sorted out, they were now arguing about the issue of distributing the re-clear fee of 9 billion won.

The key point was that they would deduct a certain portion of the fee for guild operating expenses, but the female mages, including Ji-hye, not only did not agree but also questioned why they should, with explanations and curses, etc….

I just quietly went back up to the rooftop.

In the end, all decision-making power was passed on to me.

No matter how much they discuss it this way or that way, if I use the word ‘reject,’ it’s useless.

It’s like they’re passing the bomb to me.

I roughly finished the legal aspects, tax and fee issues for operating the dungeon management office with the Jeju branch team leaders, and the detailed consultations on the Spell Shockwave impact that could occur during the re-clear, and left the branch.

In the middle, I suggested that Ji-hye, Mi-hye, Kim Eun-hee, and Choi Eun-ji have their Awakened abilities re-measured, and everyone’s license was renewed.

Han Deuk and Gil-soo smacked their lips, enviously looking at the sparkling, newly issued Rank 7 Awakened licenses.

“Hyung, this is unfair. Ji-hye, who was in the same team and at the same level, is Rank 7. I want to get hit by Spell Shockwave too.”

“That’s right. I think equal opportunities should be given to the party members who couldn’t enter the City Hall random dungeon this time.”

“… Want to get hit?”

“… Hy, Hyung.”

“If you keep bothering me, I’ll overturn the Rank 6 dungeon or the Jeju Regional Defense Guild and run away.”

“…….”

“… So, sorry.”

Han Deuk and Gil-soo lower their heads as if they’ve lost their spirit.

You little punks.

I’ll give you a good gift instead.

“From now on, the vice guild leaders of the Support Guild are Han Deuk and Gil-soo. Announce it to all employees tomorrow.”

“… Oppa!”

Ji-hye’s loud shout echoes through the street.

Ah~ It’s so embarrassing.

I hurriedly approach Gil-soo’s car and open the door….

Hey! Why isn’t this opening?

Continuously honing the skill of filtering Ji-hye’s nagging, I stopped by the Jeju University Magic Item Research Institute, bought five mineral plates for 450 million won, and after packaging them nicely, carefully, and preciously, brought them home.

Of course, I had another fight with Ji-hye because I had to stack them neatly in the back seat of Gil-soo’s car.

Anyway, I finished the schedule like that today, had a simple dinner in Oedo [a neighborhood in Jeju], and then parted ways.

Maybe it was because the soju [Korean distilled beverage] I had with the spicy pork stew was strong, but Ji-hye’s voice sounded strange when we parted, but I don’t have any reason to care about that. Hehe.

The next day.

Waking up leisurely, roughly solving lunch leisurely, and going to work leisurely, the sparkling eyes of the party members, no, now guild members, who are not leisurely, greet me.

“Hehe. Is everyone gathered?”

As soon as I enter, Han Deuk and Gil-soo approach and stand next to me as if protecting me from the left and right, huh?

Look at how their complexions have improved overnight.

“All 28 members are gathered. Guild. Leader. Nim!”

“Um, really? Then I will briefly explain the situation so far. As everyone knows, the random Rank 6 Armored Dungeon was discovered at City Hall the evening before yesterday, and I, along with Team Leaders 3 and 4, the vice team leaders, and five civilians, were accidentally eaten by the dungeon. Afterwards, we were barely able to clear the suddenly discovered Armored Dungeon with the cooperation of the team leaders and vice team leaders, and this became a substitute role for the previously mentioned Defense Guild fulfillment condition, clearing Seongpanak Rank 8. Yesterday, the Jeju branch of the Awakened Association also confirmed this, and from now on, our Support Party will be reborn as the Jeju Regional Defense Guild.”

“… Wowww~.”

“Beep~ Beep. Party Leader, thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re so cool, Party Leader.”

Wait a minute!

I told you to keep the noise down!

The glass is going to break again.

“Also!”

The surroundings become quiet again as if a mouse had died at my next words.

“There will be an increase in the minimum number of guild creation personnel, 20 Rank 7 Awakened, and the quota will be increased to 100, and the existing guild members will be given corresponding benefits, including the creation of new departments or teams for the operation of the so-called City Hall Rank 6 Armored Dungeon, while establishing various internal clauses for the welfare and convenience of the guild members….”

As my words get longer, the expressions of the female mages who were sulking yesterday gradually turn red, perhaps because there was new content.

Well, even the title of Jeju Regional Defense Guild is an endless blessing to them.

Anyway, am I good at talking?

This is all a skill that makes you drag on when writing project proposals in the old office… Sorry, guys. You don’t know what I’m talking about, right? Hehe.

Ordinary Art Factor

Volume 3