Chapter 34: The Forge of Assistants

I had enough materials to craft a set of clothes each.

After making work clothes for a miner and a spinner—

[Miner’s Work Clothes Top is infused with the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

[Miner’s Work Clothes Bottom is infused with the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

[The Blacksmith’s Soul takes form.]

[Please name the Blacksmith’s Soul.]

I used the Blacksmith’s Soul skill.

Like the first time, I felt something leave my body as the work clothes came to life.

Miner’s work clothes and spinner’s work clothes.

Modeled after images of those professions found online, I used different colors for easy distinction.

“Miner 1, Spinner 1!”

[The Blacksmith’s Soul is named ‘Miner 1’.]

[The Blacksmith’s Soul is named ‘Spinner 1’.]

Two new assistants were created.

Miner 1, a mining specialist, and Spinner 1, a spinning specialist, just like Lumberjack 1 for logging.

Naming them so casually might seem lazy, but it’s practical to avoid confusion when I have more assistants.

If it feels off, I can rename them later.

“Heh, am I entering auto-farming mode?”

I imagined it.

My assistants diligently working in the Mine.

Miner 1 in Area 1.

Spinner 1 in Area 2.

Lumberjack 1 in Area 3, gathering materials.

As their numbers grow, so will the materials.

I’d use those to craft items and make production assistants to churn out items like a factory.

Then, I could dominate Korea’s item market.

No, the world’s item market!

As I thought about making another assistant—

Clatter.

“Uh, can you move a bit?”

“Understood…”

Thud.

“No, by the fridge.”

Crash.

“No, my rice cooker…”

The assistants were getting in the way.

They don’t fit in my inventory, and with three assistants in my cramped studio, it’s no surprise.

My anvil and furnace take up the center, plus the bed, desk, sink, and TV.

With three assistants, it’s naturally crowded.

Seeing Miner 1 smash my rice cooker while stepping back, I sighed.

“Be careful not to break anything and stay in the corners, okay?”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

They respond well.

But as they shuffled to the corners, more clattering followed.

With some space cleared, I was about to continue crafting when—

“If I add more, I won’t manage.”

It hit me.

My studio, once spacious and comfy, felt tiny with three assistants.

I’d never invited anyone here, so I hadn’t anticipated this.

Ugh.

Ugh.

Trouble.

Real trouble.

A few more assistants, and I might suffocate in my own room.

“Guess I need to move?”

I’d been thinking about it.

My bank account holds hundreds of billions.

A bit more, and I’ll hit a trillion.

Honestly, I could buy most houses.

But—

Ugh.

Ugh.

I don’t want to leave.

This is my first home, escaped from that hellish place.

Small and cramped, but cozy and comforting.

Could I adapt to a new house?

Me, who’s too scared to take out the trash and uses delivery apps for it?

Hoo.

Hoo.

Agoraphobia, social anxiety, and the like.

Not diagnosed clearly, but those issues plagued me.

Staying in my room has helped, but the outside world still terrifies me, and I lack the courage to leave my sanctuary.

Even a big, nice house might not feel like home.

Sighing, I turned on the computer.

“Let’s look into it.”

I browsed real estate listings.

Houses at prices I couldn’t have imagined before.

Now, they didn’t seem so expensive.

With hundreds of billions in my account.

Then—

My eyes caught a listing that made them sparkle.

“Huh? This is…”

[Arum Villa]

No doubt.

The name of the villa I live in.

I checked the map to confirm, as there were similar villas nearby.

Arum Villa.

My home.

The landlord hadn’t been maintaining it properly, and now it was listed for sale entirely.

The price?

“Affordable?”

It was less than a tenth of my wealth.

“Hello? Is this Mirae Real Estate?”

I called the agency as soon as they opened.

Talking to someone was nerve-wracking after so long, but I’d recently messaged the Mir Guild and Park Kang-chul.

Calling a real estate agent was simple.

Though, with the Mir Guild and Park Kang-chul, it was just messages.

“I’m calling about Arum Villa.”

• Great call! The owner put it up as an urgent sale. Have you seen the place? If you’re free now…

“No, I don’t need to see it. Is a non-face-to-face contract possible?”

• Of course, sir. It’s a busy world, right? Laws have relaxed, so as long as you submit the documents, there’s no issue.

The process was faster than expected.

Non-face-to-face contracts were always possible, but Gates and monsters relaxed laws further.

What a great era.

Buying an entire building with a few mouse clicks from my room.

• There’s an electronic contract system. Sign the file we sent, review the transaction agreement…

I followed the agent’s instructions.

I was scared of exposing my identity or getting scammed, but what choice did I have?

This was my only option.

I considered asking the Mir Guild, but this kept ‘Vulcanus’ more hidden.

I worried the agent might ask what I do, but—

• I’ll handle it perfectly. Privacy is key for non-face-to-face clients, right? Let me know if you need anything else.
  
• If you’re uneasy, you can use a system contract. I’m not a Gate-clearing Awakened, so I’m an agent, but I’m Awakened too.
  

“You’re Awakened? What’s a system contract?”

• Oh, you’re new to this, sir. Awakened can buy contracts to ensure secure deals.
  
• If you want, I’ll stake my life on it! I’m Lee Dae-ho, a man who lives and dies by trust.
  

“Then let’s use a system contract.”

• You’ll need to cover the contract purchase cost. Is that okay?

“Yes.”

No issues there.

A system contract, huh.

I learned something new.

The contract was pricier than expected, but safety comes first, so I bought it and signed with the agent.

The contract was simple.

We pledged via our systems to honor the deal.

The terms ensured confidentiality.

The agent couldn’t disclose any secrets about me, the client, learned during the transaction.

The contract was completed faster than expected.

• Contract complete. Thank you, sir.

I bought Arum Villa entirely.

Tens of billions left my account, plus hefty fees.

But my account’s leading digit didn’t change.

I hadn’t had much to spend on anyway.

Buying a house didn’t feel wasteful.

“Oh, what about the current residents?”

• Let’s see, two vacant rooms. Leave it to me, I’ll fill them quickly. Deposits and rent…

“No, can you get everyone out?”

• What? You mean all of Arum Villa’s residents?

“Yes.”

• Why… I mean, hold on. The latest lease has a year and a half left. If they don’t renew, they’ll be out then.

A year and a half.

Too long.

I want Arum Villa empty now.

Even with a few vacant rooms, my assistants walking around would freak people out.

“Hmm, any good solutions?”

The agent paused at my question.

I thought he was flustered, but an excited voice came through.

• Of course, sir! I’ll help out.

“How?”

• Offer moving expenses. I’m confident in this area. It’ll cost a bit, though, okay?

Money?

No problem.

I used to tremble at the thought of spending, but expanding my room to a four-story villa? No issue.

I need space fast.

“Please handle it.”

• Leave it to me, sir!

Real estate aside, my three assistants were on the balcony since the place wasn’t cleared yet.

Three of them.

No, three people.

No, three units.

What do I call them?

They looked pitiful huddled on the balcony, but with them inside, hammering would be tough.

“Just hang in there. I’ll make a waiting room soon.”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

Thankfully, they didn’t seem too upset about balcony life.

And finally—

[You have entered Hephaestus’ Mine.]

Time to test my assistants’ strength.

Whoosh—

With Ember on my shoulder, I entered the Mine.

I worried the assistants couldn’t pass the entrance, but all three did so naturally.

“Alright, Miner 1! Let’s start!”

“Understood!”

Influenced by my abilities, perhaps?

Miner 1 naturally found a vein and swung the pickaxe.

Thwack!

A powerful swing.

The pickaxe, crafted with my refined skills, had higher attack power than my previous ones.

Miner 1’s work clothes were tailored for mining.

As such, its mining skill surpassed mine.

As it swung enthusiastically—

[Iron Ore]

[Tin]

[Iron Ore]

Veins appeared, and ores rolled out.

Better mining skills than I expected.

“Good job!”

“Thank you.”

Miner 1 bowed, then glanced aside.

Following its gaze, I saw an Ore Golem approaching, as usual.

“Can you take it down? I mean, mine it?”

“If it’s mining, leave it to me.”

Miner 1 calmly approached the Ore Golem.

Its first battle.

How would it fight an Ore Golem?

I was a bit excited.

Dash!

Miner 1’s combat style was simple.

Honestly, it was just like me.

It charged at the Ore Golem and—

Clang!

Swung the pickaxe.

That’s it.

Thanks to reaching Area 3, Area 1’s Ore Golems had gotten stronger, requiring multiple hits from me.

Crash!

Miner 1’s single swing shattered it.