Chapter 1: The Construction Site Awakening

Construction site.

In plain terms, the labor site.

“Hey, Kim! Come hold this drywall for a second.”

“Yes, Foreman.”

The young man called Kim quickly picked up the drywall.

Yoon Hajun.

On-site, his nickname is Kim.

His job?

Support Laborer.

Like now, he does what he’s told and helps the Skilled Workers.

“Aigoo, look at you, holding it with both hands and still shaking. Why are you so weak for a young guy? Back in my day, I could lift this with just one finger, you know?!”

Ah.

Listening to “Back in my day” stories might be part of the job, too.

“Don’t be so hard on him. For kids these days, Kim’s got his head on straight.”

“True. At least he’s not acting all high and mighty just because he’s a Hunter or whatever. That’s first class, first class.”

“Exactly! A man should learn a trade!”

‘Come on, Foremen…’

‘If you’re going to compliment me, at least remember my name properly.’

‘Why do you all call me Kim when I’m Yoon Hajun?’

I tried to hint at it.

“There was this guy who used to work really well. Kim, we called him. You look just like he did when he was young. He went off to be a Hunter, right? But you—don’t you dare leave. Learn a trade, that’s your future.”

That’s all I get.

Still, so the old Kim became a Hunter.

That’s news to me.

‘What’s a Hunter, you ask?’

About thirty years ago.

When the Tower and dungeons popped up, Hunters appeared with them.

To put it simply, they’re awakened superhumans.

Their job is simple.

Climb the Tower and clear dungeons.

If they don’t?

All hell breaks loose.

If they aren’t cleared regularly, Monsters will come pouring out—or so they say.

“Come to think of it, that Kim guy was bragging about buying a building recently….”

“Wow… he’s loaded. I’m jealous.”

“But those guys risk their lives. It’s not as safe as our work.”

That’s true.

No matter how much money you make, what’s the point?

Your life could be on the line any second.

Yoon Hajun, twenty-three, a young man with burning blood.

Once, he dreamed of becoming a Hunter.

But?

After watching a few dungeon raid videos, he gave up immediately.

Skills flying around like in movies, blood splattering everywhere. Yikes, that’s brutal.

Not for me.

I shook my head, then paused.

But still…

If you can buy a building, honestly, that’s tempting.

“I’m actually kind of jealous.”

“So what? Who’s going to make you a Hunter, huh?”

“Well, yeah. You have to awaken first, otherwise there’s nothing you can do.”

“Exactly. A pine caterpillar lives long by eating pine needles. Don’t get greedy and just learn a trade, got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

[Congratulations.]

[You have become an Awakened.]

‘Huh?’

‘Wait, what is this…’

I awakened.

Just like that.

Foreman, I don’t think I can eat pine needles anymore.

I set aside my pointless thoughts for now.

First, let’s check what I’ve awakened as.

I pictured it in my mind.

A strange window appeared before my eyes.

[Name: Yoon Hajun (Lv. 1) / Republic of Korea]

[Job: Labor Management Office Head]

[Unique Skill: Worker Summon (Grade – Iron)]

‘That’s simple.’

‘But, Labor Management Office Head?’

‘Um…’

‘Is this a job tailored for laborers?’

‘No, wait.’

***

A Support Laborer becomes a Labor Management Office Head overnight, so maybe that’s a promotion.

‘Anyway, what’s Worker Summon?’

I’m curious…

“Kim! What are you doing? I told you to hand me the screws!”

“Ah! Yes, here you go!”

I held back for now.

It’s too soon to brag about this to everyone.

Instead, I carefully asked, “Minwook Foreman, what would you do if you awakened? Would you run off to become a Hunter like that Kim who bought a building?”

“Awakened? Kid, I’m fifty-three this year. What Hunter? I’ll just keep living like I am.”

“Huh? But if you got a high-grade job, you could rake in the cash.”

Awakening is like the lottery.

Once you awaken?

You’ve won for sure.

The only question is, how big is the prize?

And it’s easy to check.

First, You go to the Awakening Management Bureau and say, ‘I’ve awakened!’

After that?

They measure the strength of your abilities.

By the Bureau’s standards.

If you get a high grade there?

Jackpot. Mega jackpot.

High-grade Hunters are top-tier talent.

The Bureau does everything it can to help you safely level up in easy dungeons most of the time.

All you have to do is tackle dangerous dungeons or the upper floors of the Tower at key moments.

“Money? That’s nice. But is that better than being alive?”

“Ah…”

He’s right.

Now that I think about it, yeah.

Suppose you get a high grade.

Then you only have to clear dangerous dungeons or the Tower’s upper floors at crucial times?

But who’s going to do the clearing?

My ancestors?

No.

In the end, you have to do it yourself.

“Me, clear a dungeon?”

I get the shakes just watching dungeon raid videos.

That’s ridiculous.

“So stop talking nonsense and just hand me that M-bar.”

Yeah.

A pine caterpillar should eat pine needles.

Let’s just work.

“Yes, here it is!”

“Good work today!”

“Thanks, everyone.”

“Kim, let’s get going.”

Yoon Hajun, twenty-three, a hungry young man.

Still doesn’t have a car.

***

No money, either.

For commuting, I usually hitch a ride with the Foremen on their way.

But today?

“Foreman, I have an appointment nearby today, so I’ll go separately!”

“Hey, don’t drink too much. If you call in sick again tomorrow morning, you’re out, got it?”

“Yes! Loyalty!”

“This kid, the way he talks…”

I sent the Foremen off.

Then, I snuck into the site’s restroom.

After a bit, I cracked the door open.

“Ugh, the smell…”

The stench of the pit toilet started to stick to me.

The site had gotten quiet.

I peeked out.

As expected, nobody was around.

Once work’s over, everyone clocks out immediately.

Those on night shift go eat.

As for Yoon Hajun?

“Guess I’ll scratch this lottery ticket.”

A pine caterpillar should eat pine needles.

I agree.

But?

Since I’ve already won the lottery, I should at least check what prize I got.

‘Who knows?’

‘Maybe it’s first place.’

‘And if it’s a dud?’

No problem.

I made sure no one was around.

There’s no CCTV.

In other words, only Yoon Hajun knows about this.

If it’s a dud, I’ll just keep my mouth shut and go back to my pine needles.

So…

“Worker Summon.”

The die is cast.

All that’s left is to check the results.

[Summoning Worker!]

[Grade – Iron]

[Summon Range: All intermediate and lower-level targets]

The result popped up right away.

Messages appeared in succession.

Pa-at!

A flash of light.

And then—

“Chwik!”

‘Huh?’

‘Did it just go ‘Chwik’?’

Worker Summon.

It worked.

Five Orcs appeared.

“Chwik!” “Chwiik!”

‘Is this right?’

“I’m supposed to be a Labor Management Office Head…”

It’s clearly written.

[Job: Labor Management Office Head]

Labor management. Human management…

But those things are—

“Chwik!”

No, wait.

***

Even if I stand tall and proud, you guys are still Monsters.

“So much for winning first prize.”

Someone once said, The surest way to check your awakening grade is to self-report to the Bureau.

But, You can usually tell without going.

How?

They say you can tell just by trying it out.

If it’s a good job or skill, you’ll notice right away.

I wondered if that was true.

Now I know.

This is a dud.

A dud times a hundred.

“Ha, damn it…”

Honestly, I was hoping.

You know, Like that Hunter who’s ranked number one in Korea?

Get some overpowered ability.

Live in a Han River-view apartment.

Drive a fancy car, live in the best neighborhood, right?

Finally escape this semi-basement one-room life?

That’s what I expected.

But when I scratched the ticket…

“Chwiik—!”

Okay, okay, stop showing off.

Put down that hammer, it’s dangerous.

“Huh? A hammer?”

Looking again, something was off.

‘Why are the Orcs wearing hard hats?’

And in their hands, they’re holding power drills and hammers and all sorts of tools.

Are they actual site workers or what?

It was weird, so I checked the messages.

But there were a lot of them.

[Worker Summon (Grade – Iron)]

[At the current grade, you can summon all beings classified as intermediate or lower.]

[You have used Worker Summon for the first time.]

[Job Perk: ‘Worker Experience Ticket’ awarded.]

[※ With the ‘Worker Experience Ticket’, there is a slim chance to summon a top-grade worker.]

“Ooh…”

‘An experience ticket?’

‘Is this like a sample spoon?’

Reading it, I started to feel a little hopeful.

Top-grade.

Just from the name, it sounded promising.

The catch is the ‘slim chance’ part.

Well, I can try that later.

“So, why are you all just standing there?”

“Chwik!”

They even brought their own tools, But all they do is react—they don’t move.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

Then, another message popped up.

[Summoned workers move according to the set mode.]

[Manual Mode] / [Automatic Mode]

Currently, it’s on Manual Mode.

‘So, that means they’re just standing still until I give an order.’

‘Maybe they’ll move if I tell them to?’

“Uh… you, the Orc on the left? Go move that.”

I pointed at a pallet stacked with drywall.

“Chwik!”

Unbelievable.

The Orc raised its right hand in a salute.

And then—

Thud!

“Oh…”

It moved it.

The whole pallet, even…

‘Wait, it just carried all that heavy stuff in one go?’

‘And so easily?’

“Maybe this isn’t a dud after all?”

Of course, I don’t plan to become a Hunter.

Even with Orcs, it’s still dangerous for me.

But, A clever idea popped into my head.

For example, What if I summoned these guys at the site to work?

The Orcs do the labor, I get the pay.

This is just a honey pot, isn’t it?

And the honey pot isn’t even fully open yet.

Manual Mode is fine.

Then, what about Automatic Mode?

Do they just work on their own?

[Manual Mode] → [Automatic Mode]

I switched the setting with anticipation.

And it was even more amazing.

“Chwik! Chwik! Chwik!”

They limbered up.

Then, they started pumping their fists and shouting slogans together.

‘Wait, is that rhythm…?’

“Safety! Good! Good! Good!”

Whoa.

I found myself joining in without thinking.

They did some light warm-ups.

And even shouted a proper worksite chant.

It was just like any morning on the labor site.

So now, are they heading off to work?

“Chwik!”

Oh, they really are.

‘But, where to?’

Just in case, I got ready to switch back to manual anytime.

I watched and followed them.

“Chwik! Chwik!”

Third floor, second floor, first floor.

I went down the stairs behind the Orcs.

***

When we reached the basement, I saw something that shouldn’t be at a construction site.

“What the… a Gate?”

A Gate—the entrance to a dungeon.

‘Why is that here?’

I need to report this, report it right now.

As I frantically searched my pockets, “Chwik!”

The Orcs went in one after another.

“Wait, why are you going in there—?”

And at that moment, A strange message appeared.

[Workers are entering the dungeon.]

[Automatic Hunting has begun.]