Chapter 10: Request Unlocked

Labor Management Office Head, Yoon Hajun.

Specialty.

Making use of workers through Automatic Hunting.

‘Doing it myself?’

This is a first.

[Labyrinth of Chaos conquest completed.]

[Moving outside the Dungeon Gate.]

Oh.

This is the first time I’ve seen a message like this.

[F-class, Labyrinth of Chaos conquered!]

[Clear Time – 00:03:12]

[Conquest Reward – F-rank Chaos Box]

‘Should I check the reward first?’

F-rank Chaos Box.

Not sure what it is, but swoosh.

Into the inventory it goes.

The Gate….

It’s already disappeared?

Ha.

Now there’s no way out of this.

“No, what on earth just happened….”

“Hmm….”

‘How did this happen?’

Even I don’t know.

Arthur did it all.

[Key of Chaos, confirmed]

[Moving to the Labyrinth of Chaos.]

F-class Dungeon, I said “Bring it on!” but out of nowhere, the Labyrinth of Chaos welcomes me with this bizarre situation.

And Yoon Hajun?

Immediately used the cheat key.

[Fixed Team Summon]

[Arthur (High-Grade)]

“Boss?”

Called Arthur right away.

[Manual Mode] → [Auto Mode]

Clicked Automatic Mode on instinct.

The result?

A cheat key is called a cheat key for a reason.

Just perfect.

Absolutely flawless.

“I’ll protect you, boss! Coming! Let’s go!”

“Screeech!”

[Starting Automatic Hunting.]

No delay—running and turning on Automatic Hunting.

“Screech! Screeech!”

***

The Orcs closed in around me.

Once it was safe, I cautiously looked around.

A dark maze.

Monster sounds echoing from every direction.

Even the chilly, eerie air.

I thought I was used to it from monitoring on screen.

But seeing it in person—it was different.

“Hunters really do live dangerously….”

At the same time, one thought.

From now on, I’m only doing Automatic Hunting.

It’s too dangerous inside the dungeon….

“Phew.”

I had planned to adjust the time.

Even in the Labyrinth of Chaos, the thought crossed my mind.

But what can you do.

Roooar~!

“Screech!”

Monsters kept coming at me.

First priority—survive.

I stuck it out without ever switching back to Manual Mode.

[Labyrinth of Chaos conquest completed.]

[Automatic Hunting has ended.]

[Clear Time – 00:03:12]

Conquered it without a scratch!

That’s the beginning and end of my first and last dungeon experience.

From now on?

Never setting foot in one again.

Never. Ever.

***

“Guro F-rank Dungeon, clear confirmed. Yes, I confirmed it myself.”

He looked busy, probably with a phone call….

‘Should I try to slip away?’

Sigh.

Not happening.

“Heh—”

F-class Dungeon.

Average clear time is about two hours.

I was planning to match that and clear it casually….

But the result?

[Clear Time – 00:03:12]

Wow.

That’s fast.

Arthur, as expected.

“Yes, thank you. Please send the results by email once you’ve confirmed. Yes, yes. Bye—.”

Ah, call’s over.

Good.

There’s no hiding it, so I’ll just act confident.

Cleared it with Orcs.

My Orcs?

Three minutes is a stretch, but seven is doable.

“Um—”

“Sorry. There was an issue with the Awakening report process on our side.”

“Excuse me?”

Suddenly?

“We’ve had complaints. Like today—dungeons being cleared even though no one’s seen going in, that sort of thing.”

“Ah.”

“This must be some Hunter’s skill, but if we can’t confirm it, then….”

Uh…..

That’s probably me.

I’ve messed up more than one dungeon with Dispatch Worker….

“Anyway, we apologize again.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine, really.”

I cleared that too.

The other dungeons, also me.

But I’m the one getting apologized to?

My conscience feels a little guilty.

Okay, decided.

This stays a secret.

But why does this conversation feel like….

“So, what we’re saying is…. If it’s not too much trouble, could you head to another nearby F-class Dungeon and try again?”

Nice.

Thanks to Dispatch Worker, I won’t get caught.

It was a good move to have them run around clearing dungeons.

“I’m fine with that—.”

“Thank you so much!”

Not getting caught?

Absolutely a yes.

The problem is—

“Today’s a bit tough.”

“Sorry? Is there an issue?”

“My summon attempts are used up.”

“Oh no….”

Today’s Orcs are done.

‘If I summon lower-grade workers with normal summon?’

The Orc summoner concept is ruined.

That would be a problem for me.

Let’s meet again next time.

As soon as I got home, I opened up my inventory.

[F-rank Chaos Box]

“Wonder what’ll come out.”

Well, only one way to find out.

I opened it right away.

[Ability Unleashing Elixir]

A pill…, huh.

‘Ability unleashing?’

‘Does it mean Awakening, or skills?’

Hard to tell just from the name—.

Guess I’ll just take it.

Gulp.

Swallowed it.

And immediately, the result came.

***

[Labor Management Office (Temporary) – ‘Request’ Function Unlocked.]

Huh?

Oh, right.

That was one of my abilities too.

I’d been using it so naturally I forgot.

But, ‘Request’ Function?

What is it?

[Request – From now on, you can receive Requests in the name of the Labor Management Office.]

I can receive Requests.

Fits the Labor Management Office perfectly, but….

“Is this even necessary?”

I could just take personal requests from people.

Tilting my head in confusion.

“Oh?”

A corner of the Request tab started to shine.

Last time something shined like that, it was a hint. What now?

[Request Point Shop]

A shop, huh.

‘Maybe they sell something good?’

Let’s check.

[Request Point Shop (Rank – Bronze)]

1. Labor Management Office Head, Additional Skill

• 1,000,000P

1. Labor Management Office Expansion Plan

• 100,000P

1. High-rank Worker 1-Time Trial Ticket

• 3,000P

1. Unique Skill Rank-up Elixir

• 1,000,000P

“Insane.”

‘Wait.’

‘Is this for real?’

Additional skill, Office function expansion, Unique skill rank-up?

And that’s not even all.

Scrolling down, there’s a pile of eye-popping items….

And this is just Bronze rank….

If there’s this much good stuff already, what if the rank goes up?

“Wow….”

The problem is, I have no idea how much these points are worth.

[You have checked the ‘Request’ tab for the first time.]

[Job Perk: Awarded 10 Request Points.]

Ah.

Roughly figured it out.

It’s a perk, but only 10P?

I get it.

These points will be really hard to earn.

“Well, considering what’s in the shop….”

If points were easy to get for items like these, that would be cheating.

But still, 10P is a bit stingy.

What can I buy with that.

(Event!) Summon Quota Increase (1-time only)

-10P

‘Oh, there is something?’

And it’s marked as an event.

Basically, it’s like they’re putting a knife to my throat and telling me to buy it.

“If they want me to buy it, I’ll buy it.”

[Purchase Complete!]

[Summon Quota Increased by 1]

[Daily Summon Quota 3→4]

***

When I awakened, it was 2.

When I moved up to Bronze, it became 3 per day.

Now, another increase.

Now I can summon 4 times a day?

That’s a money-making machine.

And then.

Ding!

[New Mission]

[Complete 1 Request (0/1)]

A new mission appeared.

Good news, one after another.

To be honest, I’d been stuck on missions.

Why?

[Mission List]

1. Summon a production-related worker (0/1)

2. Complete 1 Request (0/1)

I haven’t had a production-related worker appear….

It’s been frustrating.

But now, I’ve got an extra summon slot open, so things should get a bit better.

So sweet.

“But where do I get a Request….!”

That’s a bit of a headache.

Seems like I’ll have to get them myself.

‘But where? How?’

Well, if I try something, I’ll figure it out.

Anyway, today’s gains.

“Request Function, and increased summon quota.”

Just a few hours ago, I was certain.

That I’d never step into a dungeon again.

But….

“This Chaos Box—I absolutely need more of these.”

It was only an F-rank box.

Clearly the lowest grade.

But the reward was this good.

What about the higher ones?

I can’t even imagine.

‘How am I supposed to resist?’

Gotta get them all.

The problem is, how do I get Chaos Boxes….

First, you need a key.

That’s easy—just collect 10 Key Fragments of Chaos.

After that, it’s one of two things.

1. As long as you have the key, you’re good.

2. You, personally, need to have the key.

If it’s the first, great.

Just hand the key to a worker and have them go.

But if it’s the second?

“Sheesh….”

Well, what can I do.

Even if it’s scary, I’ll have to go.

When that time comes, I’ll definitely bring Robin too.

Robin and Arthur, both?

That should be safe enough.

Still, please let it be option one.

Please.

***

The next day.

As soon as work ended, I was on the move again.

“Please enter this dungeon. Good luck!”

“Yes.”

‘Are you really a public servant?’

‘Why are you working so hard….’

Anyway.

Following the instructions, I entered the F-class dungeon.

[F-class Dungeon Conquest Success!]

[Clear Time – 01:39:42]

This time, cleared it as planned.

“Great work.”

“The Orcs did all the work, really.”

“Screech!”

***

“One hour and thirty-nine minutes. That’s super fast! If it wasn’t for the limit, you’d get a higher rank….”

“It’s fine.”

Registering is all I need anyway.

“For now, we’ll set your rank at D. If your quota goes up later, we can raise it again, so just keep that in mind.”

I expected F, but got D.

Well, close enough.

Now I roughly get it.

F is the lowest.

Barely enough to live off as a Hunter.

From D up, you can make a living as a full-time Hunter.

“If you’re ever interested in joining the Bureau as a Hunter, just contact us. Up to D rank, we’ll treat you better than most private guilds.”

“Yes, understood.”

Right.

From D-rank, you can join the Bureau as a member.

But….

They’re offering even though it’s just once a day.

To be honest, I was curious.

I got D for summoning an Orc Horde once a day.

‘If I brought out Arthur?’

‘How high would my rank go?’

Of course, there’s no way I’ll show that.

I’m happy enough with Automatic Hunting.

“Once you get home, your registration will be complete, and you’ll be able to use AwakenerNet. You can sell Magic Stones through us or go to a company.”

“Okay.”

“That’s it. Thanks for your hard work.”

“Thank you.”

They’re friendlier than yesterday, but the Bureau is still a bit much.

‘If I bring out an Intermediate Monster Stone, they’ll freak.’

Better to just pay a fee and use a company.

Anyway, let’s go home today.

***

After work tomorrow, I’ll visit a company.

100 Intermediate Monster Stones.

637 Lower-grade Magic Stones.

Sell them all and move out.

The Hunters’ community—AwakenerNet.

It’s simple to use.

First, register with the Awakening Management Bureau.

Next?

“AwakenerNet.”

Just say it quietly or think it, and a screen pops up in front of you.

Like this.

AwakenerNet

[Dungeon Information]

[Free Board]

[Guild Recruitment]

[Item Trading]

[Strategies]

[Request]

***

“Ah…. So this is how you get dungeon info.”

I was wondering how people found their way around.

Turns out there was a method like this.

This is why people need information.

Of course, I’ll just send out Dispatch Workers.

“So many cool features.”

Item Trading too.

There’s all kinds of info about combat in Strategies.

I’ll look through the details later.

But the one that really stands out, as expected.

[Request]

Request, huh….

Something about it feels promising.

‘Maybe I can make use of it.’

I clicked right away.