Chapter 16: The Birth of Fire Burst

‘What Happens When Your Unique Skill Rank Increases?’

A lot changes.

First, the skill’s performance.

[Summon Worker (Grade – Silver)]

[The entities that can be summoned at the current rank are all those classified as Advanced and Intermediate.]

When it was Bronze, the summon range was:

Advanced, Intermediate, and Basic.

No, actually, Basic was practically everything.

Advanced was only twice.

‘Intermediate was… at best, about six times?’

The rest were all Basic.

“Hmm… no Supreme grade in the range.”

Then, what about Robin’s summon restriction?

[Fixed Team Summon]

[Arthur (Advanced)]

[Robin (Supreme): Available to summon in 05 days 17 hours 27 minutes]

[Orc Horde (Basic)]

[Rani (Advanced): Currently summoning]

[Empty slot]

Still a full week wait.

Too bad.

‘Maybe I need to raise the rank one more time.’

“Orcs were pre-assigned to the fixed team, so I guess I can summon them anytime.”

That’s good news.

Those orcs?

Thanks to training effects, they were stronger than Intermediate ones.

I’ll summon them often and put them to good use.

Looking forward to working with you guys.

What else changed?

The number of summons.

[Daily Summon Count 4 → 5]

It increased to five.

Now, even with a full fixed team, I can summon everyone at least once.

And finally, the big one:

[New Feature Unlocked: Worker Training Center Accessible]

***

Worker Training Center.

The name alone gives a strong impression.

Let’s take a look.

[Worker Training Center – A place dedicated to enhancing workers’ abilities. High-rank workers or the Labor Management Office Head can participate as trainers.]

‘Me?’

I’m not really suited for that…

Instead, I’ll send Arthur.

He’ll like that.

He already enjoys training Basic workers.

But is this different from before?

[Training in the Worker Training Center increases efficiency.]

Ah.

Reading further, it is different.

Nice!

It’s something I’ve done every time, but now efficiency improves as well?

Like a fish in water.

The problem is…

Ding!

[Insufficient space to open Worker Training Center.]

I’m crying in my semi-basement one-room apartment.

This is just too much.

It’s painful enough having a cramped room!

No choice.

“This means I have to move.”

“Move?”

“To a bigger place.”

“Bigger place, nice!”

‘Money?’

Enough.

I’ve been exchanging some mana stones little by little, just in case.

[Balance: 67,230,000 won]

That should cover a two-room monthly rent.

‘If I sell even the Advanced mana stones I just got today?’

I can afford to buy a place outright.

But no.

I want to be more careful with buying my own home.

For now, two-room rent it is.

I have a place in mind.

I’ll go check that out first.

***

In front of the Hwarang Guild building in Seoul.

Usually, only guild members come and go here, but today it was bustling and noisy.

“They say they’re definitely clearing the 53rd floor today. Do you think it’s possible?”

“Do you? Must be just talk.”

“I bet they’ll fail the raid and then say they fought well.”

Reporters from countless broadcasters like KBC, SBC, MBS gathered.

‘Why were they all here?’

Because the Hwarang Guildmaster, Baek Hwarang, announced the 53rd-floor raid.

“If they clear the 53rd floor, won’t I Bojun still be ahead?”

“Hey, man. As a reporter, is that something you should say? If I Bojun’s been slumping and Baek Hwarang clears it, the whole picture changes.”

“Well, they have to clear it first.”

“That’s true…”

‘Baek Hwarang’s announcement?’

I’m not really convinced.

‘If they could clear it now, why would they have been stuck for six months?’

They’re stuck because they can’t climb further.

“Oh! Did they manage to get the materials they were looking for?”

“They say they didn’t.”

“Hmm… Then there’s no way.”

What?

‘No new gear acquired?’

Then there really is no chance…

The possibility is almost zero now.

Still, what can you do?

If you want to write even one article, you have to wait.

“Has it been about four hours since they went in?”

“Now exactly 4 hours and 31 minutes.”

Only one person has cleared the 53rd floor in Korea:

Rank 1, I Bojun.

‘His record?’

[6 hours 27 minutes.]

If you clear it, that’s probably the fastest time.

If you fail, it would take longer.

“So, at least two more hours to wait.”

A deep sigh—

“Ah, sorry for making you wait, everyone.”

‘Baek Hwarang appeared?’

‘Already?’

‘Did they fail?’

Doubt filled my mind.

But like true reporters, everyone’s bodies reacted instantly.

Click! Click!

They took photos first.

“Mr. Baek Hwarang, how did it go?”

“Did you fail?”

“You came out earlier than expected; is there a reason?”

Questions flooded in.

Naturally, all assuming failure…

But Baek Hwarang’s answer was:

“Fail? No, we succeeded. Didn’t I say I was going to clear the 53rd floor?”

“Excuse me?”

“You succeeded.”

‘He came out after succeeding?’

‘So they cleared the 53rd floor in just 4 hours?’

That doesn’t add up.

“Journalists, if any of you are Awakeners, check AwakenerNet. I posted the floor count.”

Right.

Baek Hwarang revealed his real name and disclosed information.

‘Could it be true?’

Some reporters waved their hands in the air.

And then:

“It’s true?”

“Baek Hwarang. Current Tower floor: 54. Confirmed clear.”

“They cleared it…?”

‘It was real?’

‘Suddenly?’

‘How?’

***

At that moment, a reporter said, “Uh? Baek Hwarang, your sword looks different. Is that right?”

“Yes, you saw correctly.”

The sword is different?

Looking at it, it really is.

‘Could it be because of that?’

Let’s ask.

“Did changing weapons affect the 53rd-floor clear?”

“Yes.”

‘It did?’

‘What kind of options does it have?’

Curious…

“May we see it?”

Asking felt rude.

I was just salivating, but…

‘He said he’d show it?’

“Yes!”

“Here, take a look.”

He really showed it?

The name…

‘Fire Burst.’

Unusual name.

But it didn’t even register in my head.

“What is this… the options…”

No.

“This is like Meteor Sword level? No, even beyond that.”

“Amazing.”

“May I ask where you got it?”

‘Clearing the 53rd floor?’

Of course, that’s big news.

‘But if the source of this sword is discovered?’

That would be an exclusive scoop.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Baek Hwarang, and he spoke:

“A noble called the Labor Management Office Head crafted it for me.”

At the same time, the Awakening Management Bureau was in chaos.

“Who the hell spread this rumor?”

“What about I Bojun? What’s he saying?”

“He’s not answering his calls.”

“Go find him and take care of him. Block reporters from accessing him.”

“I’m sending people immediately.”

I Bojun’s slump and struggles had been hidden for a while, but somehow the rumors leaked.

They couldn’t stop it from spreading all at once.

“Are you saying we can’t trace where it started?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Huff…

Tracking the source comes later.

Right now?

Fixing the problem that exploded is priority.

“What’s the U.S. side saying? Didn’t they have a weapon-specialized crafter in a major guild?”

“They refused. Already swamped with orders.”

“Ha… any other options?”

“We’re searching, but nothing yet…”

Ultimately, the only solution is one:

Give I Bojun a decent weapon.

Then make him clear the 58th floor.

But…

There’s no way to get that weapon.

Sigh…

The conference room was full of sighs.

Then…

Click!

Someone hurried in.

“Labor Management Office Head! You must entrust this to the Labor Management Office Head immediately.”

‘What nonsense is this?’

“Labor Management Office Head? What are you talking about? Did a dungeon break?”

Look at this. Baek Hwarang just cleared the 53rd floor, and the weapon was made by the Labor Management Office Head.”

He showed the phone.

“Huh?”

‘What is this…?’

‘That weapon was made by the Labor Management Office Head?’

“Isn’t that good enough to entrust I Bojun’s sword to him?”

“Looks better than the Meteor Sword.”

That’s what I’m saying.

“What are you waiting for? Contact I Bojun quickly. No, prepare a car. We have to talk to him in person.”

Found a way to overcome the slump.

***

Labor Management Office Head — who is he?

The snowball that started from Baek Hwarang’s mention quickly grew.

[Labor Management Office Head is already famous on AwakenerNet, lolololol]

‘Famous on AwakenerNet?’

‘Why was he famous?’

Views skyrocketed in an instant.

The article was simple.

Labor Management Office Head is already famous on AwakenerNet, lolololol.

He once cleared an F-class Dungeon in 13 minutes.

‘The monster who did a 2-minute cut on the first floor of the Mixed Tower?’

That’s probably him.

Soon after that article appeared, he began AwakenerNet activities, so all hunters knew him, lolololol.

‘Wait, how can you be sure it’s the same person???’

Look at the records, lolol.

[The Labor Management Office Head finishes any dungeon within 10 minutes.]

L???????

He’s an active hunter, so it’s real.

“I saw him clear an A-rank Dungeon in 15 minutes recently. I complained how ridiculous it was, lololololol.”

“What’s that about? A-rank in 15 minutes???”

Just think of him as a monster. Lolol.

‘What is this…’

‘It’s real?’

It doesn’t make sense, but the evidence is too clear to deny.

[Hello, this is KBC. We’re investigating the Labor Management Office Head; can we get an interview?]

[MBS here.]

Starting with the internet, reporters, even the Awakening Management Bureau and the Five Great Guilds.

They began desperately searching for one man.

The person stirring up all the commotion in Korea:

Labor Management Office Head, Yoon Hajun.

‘What is he doing?’

[Fixed Team Summon]

[Arthur (Advanced)]

[Rani (Advanced)]

“Ready, ready.”

“Rani too!”

“Good evening, everyone.”

What else?

Like always, summoning workers to prepare for work.

To move, I need to earn a lot.

***

“Everyone, keep an eye on this place. You won’t see it in a few days.”

‘Moving preparations?’

Done.

The contract’s signed.

Now all that’s left is to pack and move.

But I’m not moving right away…

I have to work.

“Ready? Let’s go?”

Our Arthur.

He’s already ready to go without even drinking coffee today.

Then shall we work and drink?

I was about to nod when—

“Chief! Rani can make a sword!”

“Huh? What sword?”

“The leftover materials from last time! She’s going to make a sword for Arthur!”

Ah, right.

There were materials left.

“Ready, sword? Coming together?”

“Looks like it.”

Of course, it’s Rani.

As soon as I handed her the materials, she quickly went to the corner and started making it.

“Ta-da! Pretty, right?”

‘Whose work is it?’

But Rani…

“They want me to name it again.”

“Hmmm… ‘Fire Burst’!”

“Is that right? It’s a Wasso sword?”

Arthur looked longingly, but sorry.

Usually, the maker gets to decide the name.

Fire Burst it is.

What about the options?

[Fire Burst]

[A masterpiece from a highly skilled artisan.]

[Adds continuous fire attribute damage.]

[Strong heat reduces enemy defense.]

[Automatically counters with flames when blocking enemy attacks.]

[Special skill ‘Blazing Flame Sword (烈火劍)’ available.]

[Increases resistance to fire attribute.]

No way.

“This is better than what we made yesterday?”

“Yes! While making Fire Burst, I fixed what I felt was lacking yesterday!”

She made it just yesterday but already fixed the flaws?

‘Rani’s a genius?’

With this, Arthur can’t complain.

“Look at this.”

“Sword! Nice! Better than what Wasso used!”

“How about Fire Burst?”

“Fire Burst! Good!”

See?

I told you he’d be satisfied.

He kept fidgeting, admiring how good it was.

Watching him made me curious.

He was strong before.

‘How much stronger will he be with a better sword?’

“Arthur, you got a new sword, so you should try it out, right?”

“How about we go to the Tower for once in a while?”

“I’m curious to see how strong you’ve become.”