Chapter 21: Shovel, Pick, Hammer

[The current experience points of the Lower-Grade Workers in training have reached their limit.]

[Suitable weapons are required to advance to the next rank.]

Hmm, so…

“Are we, the Orcs, finally moving up to Mid-Grade?”

“Sshh!”

“Yeah! It’s about time we did!”

They’ve been working so hard!

‘Huh?’

Before heading to the dungeon, they warm up by rolling around.

When they return, they roll again.

At some point, that became their daily routine…

“Thanks to that, as soon as the training ground opens, they can level up. Isn’t that actually a good thing?”
“Sshh…”

‘Ah, no?’

Yeah…

“Boss, what is it? What do we have?”

Still, this is good news.

I have to tell our tiger instructor right away.

“The Orcs have filled their experience and can level up to the next rank.”

“Huh? Really? Those guys are weak.”

No, human.

That’s just because you’re High-Grade.

But if you think about it, they’ve actually gotten stronger, you know?

[F-rank Dungeon cleared!]

[Clear Time – 00:06:27]

That’s their most recent report card.

Then what about the Mid-Grade Workers?

[F-rank Dungeon cleared!]

[Clear Time – 00:08:12]

‘See?’

They’re slower than the Lower-Grades.

At first, those guys took 13 minutes…

“Sshh! Sshh!”

Yeah.

Got it, calm down.

First.

“You’re saying they need weapons?”

“Sshh!”

“Okay. Now that I think about it, that makes sense.”

Applying the Item Application Method gives us the answer.

Yoon Hajun?

He’s been around the site a few times.

Worked there yesterday too.

So do they have personal tools?

Nope.

Don’t even plan to buy.

Why?

Because Team Leader Minwook provides everything.

If they gather as a fixed team…

“This is me as the team leader… that was thoughtless of me, sorry.”

“Wasseo says it’s okay!”

Human.

Of course it’s okay…

You got weapons!

“Sshh.”

“Okay, decision made.”

[Weapons for the Orcs?]

Start immediately.

Ah.

“Not right away, huh.”

Our Rani must have almost finished making them.

Thunk, bang.

“Hehe!”

Hmm…

Watching her cheerfully hammer away, fully immersed.

“Still far? Not yet.”

“Yeah. It definitely looks that way.”

Well, considering the materials and the fact that Robin, a Top-Grade Worker, is the one using them.

At worst, it’ll take about the same as ‘Ttakgeumi.’

‘Once finished?’

Of course, completely drained.

“So not today, let’s have Rani make them tomorrow. Deal?”

“Sshh!”

Okay.

Deal made.

Now that weapons will be ready…

“Weaklings! When you’re done, back to training, get ready!”

“Sshh?”

***

Back to training it is.

Arthur was just waiting for the conversation to end.

“Sshhh…”

Still, we have to do it…

Thanks to this, they’re getting stronger.

“Let’s go, fighting!”

Information.

Even Robin, who usually doesn’t care about anything, watched Rani making her weapon with interest.

Look.

She was just staring at the hammering.

Never seen her like that except when grilling meat.

Rani.

‘When will you finish?’

At this rate, Robin’s going to strain his neck waiting.

“Done!”

“I”

Fortunately, finished quickly.

Now, let’s see the weapons.

***

“Ta-da! Rani made this great bow! Pretty, right? Its name is ‘Sook!’”

Now it just comes out automatically without asking.

But…

“?”

“Yeah! It’s Sook!”

“…Huh?”

The bow’s name is ‘Sook.’

Thoughts?

Rani was true to herself.

Arthur nodded beside her.

The person herself?

“Uh uh.”

She’s glaring at it.

“…My bow.”

Reminds me of the Fire Fire moment.

Back then, Arthur also looked at it longingly…

The result?

“It’s fine… It’s good to use…!”

See?

Arthur already gave up.

And…

Check the options.

Rani really makes good weapons.

No choice.

Once I hand it over…

“…!”

Eyes wide open.

“See? I told you so.”

“How is it? Nice, right?”

She just nods silently.

‘But her hands?’

Gripping the bow tightly.

Relax…

No one’s taking it away.

“Rani’s bow is great! Shoot with ‘Sook Sook’ and you can catch them all!”

But she really doesn’t like the name.

Rani’s smiling brightly, but she lets out a small sigh.

Still.

“…”

Nods.

Right.

Honestly, it’s really good.

“Hehe~! Making weapons is fun!”

‘Is it?’

Good.

Tomorrow, she’ll have to make weapons for the Orcs too.

Ah, right.

“Rani, how many materials do you have left?”

“Materials?”

“Yeah!”

“Hmm… not many…”

Yeah, I thought so.

‘About half left?’

“Hmm… why the materials? Rani, are you making something else?”

“Yeah. I’m going to make weapons for the Orcs.”

“The Orcs? Nice! Rani will make them!”

‘Is it really that good?’

When I said we need to make weapons, her eyes lit up.

But we can’t make them without materials.

“We’ll need to gather more materials first, then make them.”

“No! I can make them!”

“Huh? How?”

“If we use weapons that are too strong, the Orcs get hurt! Weak weapons can be made with fewer materials, so it’s enough! Rani will make them!”

“That’s right! Using Hwarrhwar-like stuff would hurt those guys!”

“Ah-ha.”

So she can make all five.

Sweet deal.

“Then let’s make them tomorrow right away.”

Today, send the workers once each to the dungeon and tower, then have a meal together.

“No! I can make them now!”

Huh?

Suddenly?

Usually after making one, Rani is drained.

Next day comes, then she recovers.

That’s how it normally goes…

But now she says she can make them?

***

“Aren’t you tired? You don’t have to push yourself. The Orcs can wait a day.”

“Sshh! Ching!”

“Yeah! Rani’s usually tired! But not today!”

‘Huh?’

‘What’s going on?’

Maybe because she’s used those materials before to make ‘Ttakgeumi?’

Interesting…

“Boss! Boss! Wasseo wants to tell you something!”

“Huh?”

“Wasseo’s training is the same! But those guys aren’t tired today.”

The Orcs aren’t exhausted either?

Why…?

Tilting my head in confusion, then suddenly—

[Training Ground ON/OFF]

It’s ON now.

No windows, different floor material.

‘Could it be…’

Because it’s the training ground?

I have to check.

I quietly asked Arthur.

“Wasseo’s trying to escape.”

He walked around the room once, twice.

Slipped out and stopped.

“Boss, it’s true. Wasseo escaped but isn’t tired.”

Then this must really be a training ground effect.

Wow…

‘This is seriously awesome.’

‘No, I have to tell people!’

If they just say it improves training efficiency, how would we know…

“Director! What should Rani make?”

“Hmm?”

‘What kind of weapons would suit the Orcs?’

Arthur obviously used a sword.

Robin used a bow.

It’s also in their specialties…

What about our Orcs?

[Worker Resume]

[Name: Orc Horde (5) / Lower-Grade]

[Specialty: None]

[Daily Wage: 2 Lower-Grade Magic Stones]

No specialties.

Their weapons?

They were using things like clubs.

“Ching! Sshh!”

“Huh?”

“Sshh! Sshh!”

One…

They seem passionate, but I don’t understand Orc language…

“Really? That’s it? Tell me more.”

‘Huh?’

What’s this?

Arthur, how do you understand?

“Boss, why can’t you understand?”

“Rani hears too! Orc uncles want shovels! Picks! Big hammers this size!”

Rani understands too.

‘Is there something like a common language among workers?’

But…

“What? Shovel, pick, hammer?”

Leaving the pick aside for now.

Shovel and hammer I’m familiar with.

I often see those at the site.

Oh, now that I think about it,

When I first saw them, they were holding drills and hammers…

“Was that just a concept or did they really like holding those?”

“Sshh!”

“Yes, they said yes!”

Yeah…

I understand that much.

No.

“Is that right? Maybe you guys don’t really know. The weapons Rani makes aren’t something you can just get easily.”

People line up to get them.

But still, all rejected.

Of course, I was the one rejecting…

“Rani, you’re amazing!”

“Yes! Made a Hwarrhwar too! A lucky charm!”

“Lucky charm!”

I tried to get her to stop for a moment—

“Sshh! Sshh!”

“Pick, shovel, hammer are good!”

She’s determined.

Yeah, if they like it, that’s fine.

Okay.

“Rani, let’s make those.”

“Okay!”

And naturally, those are good.

‘Who made the weapons?’

Pick, shovel, huge hammer.

Yeah…

“Rani, all done!”

‘Maybe because they’re weak weapons?’

This time it was definitely faster.

Five weapons.

Even bigger than bows or swords but took half the time.

“Ta-da!”

A quick glance at what’s laid on the floor:

Two picks.

Two shovels.

And a huge hammer called Ohamma.

‘Is this a training ground or a construction site…’

“The names, in order, are Pokpok! Pook! and Kwaang!”

“…What?”

Fantastic naming sense.

Robin, who was listening nearby, was horrified—

“Sshh!” “Sshhhh!”

But the Orcs themselves were thrilled.

They even danced on the spot.

Looks like Rani and they really click…

I have no idea.

Ding!

[Conditions met.]

[Workers’ rank is increasing.]

[Orc Horde (Lower-Grade) → Orc Horde (Mid-Grade)]

Oh.

Rank up!

What changed…

“Still the same?”

“Sshh!”

“They got stronger! Those guys.”

‘Really?’

If Arthur says so, they must be stronger.

“Shall we test immediately? Orcs, ready?”

“Sshh!”

“…Me too.”

Okay.

Robin has to go too.

New bow and all.

‘Would be a shame not to try it.’

***

“Everyone take a turn, then let’s order something delicious together.”

“Sshh?”

“Yeah. You’re coming too.”

So, work hard and come back.

“Today they reached the 60th floor. Any additional news?”

“No, nothing yet.”

Sigh

Yegor, director of the Russian Awakening Management Bureau, seems to be sighing more lately…

Can’t blame him.

“They say Korea will catch up soon.”

“Huh? Which brazen guy said that?”

“Alexei.”

Alexei, Russia’s number one ranker.

He said with those weapons, it’s impossible not to clear the 60th floor.

Still, from the 61st floor onwards, things will get stuck, so no worries.

=Ah=

‘How can that not worry us?’

We’ve already been caught up to.

If they overtake quietly, the director’s position is at risk.

No, maybe even his life.

“Director, don’t worry. I’ll handle it somehow.”

This guy’s nuts.

That parachute guy is too carefree.

Yeah.

No danger for you.

But not for me.

I have to find a way.

“The plan to steal the Korean ranker failed.”

‘What next?’

There’s only one option right now.

Get Alexei, who got stuck at the 61st floor, to move up.

How?

“The Korean creator. Find him by any means and bring back a weapon Alexei can use.”

“Director, we’ve been watching constantly, but can’t even trace him…”

“We have guys in Korea who’ve spread their reach more than us.”

“China?”

Yeah.

They’ve been quiet lately, but since we shook hands once, they might cooperate again.

“We’ll meet their demands as much as possible, just find the guy.”