Chapter 10: Hidden Rewards are Secretive

[Try installing a Portal in the Mana Stone Mine.]

[Just stand in your desired location and say ‘Create Portal’ out loud.]

I didn’t have any particular spot in mind, so I just shouted it right where I stood.

“Create Portal.”

Wooong!

A golden spiral appeared before my eyes. It looked almost identical to a Dungeon entrance. As I stared at it, it felt like I’d get sucked in at any moment.

[A Portal connecting the Dragon Lair and the Mana Stone Mine has been created.]

[Try moving freely using the Portal.]

A means of travel connecting two places, huh.

Should I test it out?

“…Wait here.”

I stepped forward and plunged myself into the golden Portal. The moment I stretched out my foot, it landed firmly on the ground.

At the same time, my field of vision changed in an instant.

The scenery I always saw upon arriving at the Dragon Lair unfolded before me. An empty cave. In one corner, Mana Stones were stacked up.

To make sure, I stepped outside the cave, and it was definitely the Dragon Lair.

A cool breeze made the corners of my mouth curl upward.

“Not bad.”

In the distance, I could see the Mana Stone Mine.

Looking from here, it seemed close, but if I actually tried walking, it would take over an hour.

‘A round trip is two hours.’

If I factored in the time to mine Mana Stones, it would take about three to four hours for a single collection run.

But now, with the Portal, all those limitations vanished.

I could move the Mana Stones to the Dragon Lair as I mined them, and since travel time disappeared, I had that much more time to mine.

‘There are even more advantages than that.’

As I descend deeper into the Labyrinth, the area I can move within the Dragon Lair will expand.

With a Portal, travel distance is reduced, saving stamina, and with the energy saved, I can explore even more places.

Not just for me.

The Guardians’ stamina isn’t infinite either.

Proper stamina management is essential to get more work done.

“Should I head back now?”

Before returning, there was something I needed to take care of.

When I bought equipment for the Goblin and Orc, I also purchased a pickaxe for Mana Stone mining.

The same series commonly used by Dungeon Workers.

I grabbed the pickaxe and used the Portal to move to the Mana Stone Mine. I handed the pickaxe to the Orc and Goblin, who were waiting quietly.

“Here. I’ll show you how it’s done. Watch carefully and follow along.”

I walked up to a wall embedded with Mana Stones.

I got into position and lifted the pickaxe with all my strength.

Using gravity, I swung down with as much force as I could muster.

Kang!

With a single swing, the wall broke apart and a Mana Stone tumbled to the ground.

“Easy, right?”

The Orc, watching from the side, lifted the pickaxe with one hand and swung it at the wall with all his might.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

He swung the pickaxe like a fly swatter, shattering the wall. The Mana Stones got smashed up with it.

“Stop. Stop! You’re smashing all the valuable Mana Stones!”

[You stupid pig. Brainless fool who thinks everything can be solved with strength. Useless idiot smashing up all the precious Mana Stones!]

The Goblin poured out every insult he could think of, then turned to me with a sly grin.

[I can do it well. Watch me.]

He walked up to the wall and lifted the pickaxe with all his strength.

Whoosh!

But he couldn’t handle the weight.

Thunk!

The pickaxe fell behind the Goblin’s head. Clutching the handle tightly, the Goblin’s body bent backward.

【Pfft. Here’s a useless fool who can’t even lift a pickaxe.】

[Shut up!]

The Goblin tried to lift the pickaxe again, but he couldn’t even pull it out of the ground.

[Nngh! Owner, please make me as strong as that pig. I can do it well.]

Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.

The Goblin’s detailed stats didn’t even include Strength.

“That’s enough. Orc, you carefully mine the Mana Stones, and Goblin, you scout around this area.”

Everyone has their own role.

I guess I was trying to make things too easy for myself.

‘Now that I can appoint more Guardians…’

I should appoint a new one who’s good at mining.

“Well then, good wor……”

Grrrgle.

That sound didn’t come from me.

Grrrrgle.

A deep rumble echoed from the Orc’s belly, spreading through the cave. The Goblin shook his head and took something out of his pocket.

A fruit that looked like an apple.

The Orc took it and popped it into his mouth in one bite.

[You pig! I told you to split it in half!]

[I’m hungry. Give me another.]

What the heck.

Had they been getting by with just that until now?

“Is that your meal?”

【Yes. It’s edible. Owner, do you want to try it too?】

“Do you like meat, by any chance?”

The moment I mentioned meat.

The Orc shook off his usual calm demeanor and snorted through his nose.

【Me, meat. Me… meat.】

[Gulp… Meat… I do like it… gulp. But I’m fine.]

“Wait here. I don’t know if you’ll like it, but I’ll make sure you get a full meal.”

I returned to the Dragon Lair and shifted back to reality.

I opened a delivery app and ordered everything from pig’s feet to fried chicken.

Anything made of meat—I ordered it all.

I brought everything back to the Dragon Lair and shared it with them.

[Wh-What is this meat?!]

“Bossam.”

[The meat… it’s so good. What’s this called?]

“Jokbal.”

Watching the Orc and Goblin happily gnaw even on the bones, I said,

“As long as you work hard like this, I’ll keep ordering for you.”

【I’ll give you my loyalty!】

[Just give us any task!]

With my own belly full, I returned home, and drowsiness washed over me. I yawned, washed up quickly, and lay down on the bed.

Just then, the next Quest appeared.

[Main Quest has arrived.]

[Main Quest 9]

• Clear the 5th floor of the Labyrinth.
• Collect five Dragon Heart Fragments.
• Reward: Blessing of Magic(???), Memory Fragment(???)

Clear the 5th floor of the Labyrinth.

Collect five Dragon Heart Fragments.

‘No way, right?’

Bzzz!

Bzzz!

The vibration of my phone echoed hollowly in my noisy room, filled with TV sounds.

Messages appeared on the screen as it flickered on and off.

[Jigwonyeok idiot: Chanseong, are you okay?]

[Jigwonyeok idiot: Why aren’t you answering?]

[Jigwonyeok idiot: I’ll drop by tomorrow morning.]

Park Chanseong stared blankly into space like a zombie, then suddenly shuddered.

Uooooooo!

Somewhere, the cry of an Orc could be heard.

With hollow eyes, he looked around, and when he saw an Orc on the TV screen, he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Uwaaaaah!”

Even now, just thinking about that moment made his whole body tremble.

The Orc who was almost dead suddenly recovered and charged at him, then climbed onto his torso and pummeled him with heavy fists.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The frenzied Orc mercilessly pounded him, and every blow to his head made his mind go blank.

When he finally came to his senses again,

He realized the fear of death.

“St-Stop… stop!”

Park Chanseong jumped up and ran toward the TV. Then he punched the TV that was playing the Orc’s cry.

Bang!

Bang!

Even though the Orc’s voice was no longer coming from the TV, Park Chanseong kept swinging his fists at it.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

He only stopped once his fists were stained with blood.

Breathing heavily, he gritted his teeth.

With the noisy TV smashed, silence filled the room.

Now that the distraction was gone,

His stray thoughts became clearer and clearer.

“…Damn it!”

With bloodshot eyes, he turned toward the kitchen.

He passed by the mess of broken liquor bottles, grabbed an intact bottle, and poured it straight into his mouth.

But the thoughts wouldn’t go away.

“Stop it! Ughhhh!”

While Park Chanseong was rampaging.

Chzzzt!

Chzzzt!

Suddenly, the light went out and the room grew dark. Then a small butterfly appeared, fluttering around Park Chanseong.

[Recall.]

A deep voice flowed from the butterfly.

At the same time, Park Chanseong’s head was forced back and his eyes rolled up.

“Ugh!”

[Realize.]

As the face of the Orc—his very embodiment of fear—rose in Park Chanseong’s mind, another face appeared.

“…Cheon Yongje.”

That annoying bastard’s words.

-Can you take responsibility for that?

With the guy’s strange smile, the Orc charged at him.

“It was that bastard’s doing…….”

He didn’t know how, but Cheon Yongje had controlled the Orc.

[If you remove the source of your fear, it will be resolved. I’ll give you the power to do so. Do you want it?]

If he just killed Cheon Yongje, he could be free of this fear?

He wanted it.

If he could just get rid of this fear, he’d do anything.

“Yes. I want it.”

[Take it.]

The light from the butterfly flowed into Park Chanseong’s body. The moment he accepted that light, his trembling body calmed down.

Flash.

A surge of power coursed through his body, and a smile crept onto his lips.

“This feels… amazing.”

With this power, he felt he could tear apart not only Cheon Yongje, but that Orc bastard in an instant.

Ding dong!

Ding dong!

The doorbell rang a few times, then the door burst open and someone entered.

“Park Chanseong! Are you okay?”

Jigwonyeok, Team Leader.

Someone who was close to Cheon Yongje.

I’ll use this guy to lure Cheon Yongje in.

“Hyung. I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Just… I’m sorry for everything. I want to pull myself together from now on. If you don’t mind, can you help me?”

“Alright. But first, let’s get you to the hospital.”

[Entering the Labyrinth of Bahart.]

[Trial of the Third Floor of the Labyrinth]

• Hunt down all monsters in the Labyrinth and find the way to the 4th floor.
• Blue Rabbit Elite Swordsman 0/10
• Blue Rabbit Elite Archer 0/17
• Time limit: 3 hours.

“Summon Orc.”

Shuaaa!

The Orc, who had been mining Mana Stones and was still holding a pickaxe, received my order.

“Clear it quickly.”

[Understood!]

While the Orc was clearing out the monsters and conquering the Trial, there was something else I wanted to try.

Earlier this morning, when I visited the Dragon Lair, I suddenly came up with a clever idea.

It’d be great if it worked, but it wouldn’t matter if it didn’t.

“Create Portal.”

Wooong!

A golden spiral Portal entrance appeared.

[A Portal connecting the Dragon Lair and the Labyrinth of Bahart has been created.]

[All Portals have been created.]

[If you need additional Portals, try raising the grade of the Dragon Lair.]

I thought it was impossible, but it really worked.

“Uooooooo!”

With the Orc’s roar, a new message appeared.

[You have completed the Trial of the Third Floor of the Labyrinth.]

[As a reward for the Trial, you receive three Mana Stones (F).]

[With the successful completion of the Labyrinth Trial, the territory of the Dragon Lair expands.]

[The Golden Dragon’s Eye has discovered something.]

Since the Hidden Piece was revealed by creating the Portal, I just needed to step outside and re-enter through the Dragon Lair to claim it.

With this, I could avoid the Association’s surveillance.

“Just wait a moment.”

I glanced at the visible Hidden Piece, then turned and left the Labyrinth.

Maybe because the Hidden Piece discovery message hadn’t appeared, the Association staff let me pass more easily than yesterday.

“Good work.”

I left the Association and moved to a quiet place.

[Moving to Dragon Lair.]

When I opened my eyes in the Dragon Lair, I saw that, in addition to the Portal to the Mana Stone Mine, another Portal had appeared.

I walked into the Portal.

The scenery of the Labyrinth’s third floor, which I had just conquered, spread out before me.

With the golden thread shown by the Golden Dragon’s Eye.

[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]

[Hidden Piece discovery achievement reward granted.]

[Dungeon conquest rewards for your Nation have increased.]

[Trial success rewards for your Nation have increased.]

I picked up the Dragon Heart Fragment and returned to the Dragon Lair.

‘That takes care of the Labyrinth.’

Now, all I needed was a Guardian to mine Mana Stones in the Mana Stone Mine, and a way to sell the steadily accumulating Mana Stones.

Hmm.

As I mulled it over, I put the Dragon Heart Fragment in my mouth.

[You have consumed a Dragon Heart Fragment.]

[The mana within the fragment merges with your Dragon Heart.]

[You have learned the magic left in the Dragon Heart Fragment.]

[Telepathy (S)]

• Allows you to communicate thoughts with a target of your choice. Consumes mana with each conversation.

The moment I saw this, my mind lit up.

“Now this could work.”

A brilliant method for legally trading Mana Stones and items, collecting all sorts of profits—without ever revealing my true identity.