Chapter 3: Arthur, the Coffee Fiend

“Um….”

What did I say before I opened the trial ticket.

Right.

If I hear something other than chwiik! kieek!, that was it.

“Sajang?”

No way.

No matter what, still.

‘Why on earth would you bring Pokkulrom here.’

‘Who is that, you ask?’

There was a foreign uncle I used to see at the old site.

For reference, he’d only been in Korea for a year.

“Sajang? Your face is strange. Why not say hello.”

‘His way of speaking?’

Exactly like that.

“I work well. Give mana stones, many many.”

Sigh, forget it.

Still, unlike the monsters, at least we can communicate.

“Um, hello.”

But I’m not a boss.

I’m the Labor Management Office Head….

Whew.

‘Is it because the other party is a person?’

For some reason, it feels weird to talk down to him, unlike with Orcs and Goblins.

‘But am I the only one being cautious?’

“Sajang-nim? I want to drink. Coffee? Dul-dul-set? Give that.”

This guy is just trying to get me to fetch coffee?

‘And speaking informally, at that?’

‘Wait, am I not the boss here?’

Also.

“No coffee. We’re on the rooftop, remember.”

“Rooftop? What is rooftop? Don’t know. Korean hard….”

Yeah, right.

Don’t lie.

You were speaking just fine a second ago.

You know the magic ratio of coffee, creamer, and sugar—dul-dul-set—and now suddenly Korean is hard?

Okay.

Got it.

Then I’ll change the subject too.

“But I guess you still don’t know. In Korea, it’s polite to say your name first when greeting.”

“Name? Name…. I know name. Waso? Waso, my name.”

“Pokkulrom?”

“Pokkulrom? What is that.”

“No….”

‘Waso?’

That’s a cute name.

But is that really right?

‘How can someone’s name be Waso.’

And then.

Ting!

A status window-like screen popped up.

[Worker Resume]

[Name: Arthur / High-grade]

[Specialty: Sword]

[Daily Wage: 4 Lower-grade Magic Stones]

What the—

‘He was high-grade?’

No wonder.

He didn’t seem transcendent, but still.

Not because he reminded me of the Pokkulrom uncle, of course….

But.

“Not Waso, it’s Arthur.”

“Oh! Sajang right. That right. Waso?”

“Yeah….”

Anyway.

‘If he’s high-grade, how strong is he?’

Obviously stronger than the Orcs, probably.

Curious, I glanced over.

[Manual Mode] [Auto Mode]

I changed the setting.

“Kieek!” “Kieeek!”

The ones who had been quietly observing started to stretch out.

Then, what about our Pokkulrom—

No, Arthur?

“Sajang-nim? Want to give me work?”

Of course.

I want to give you work, that’s why I switched to auto mode.

I nodded, but instead of moving out, he asked another question.

“Tower? What is Tower? I don’t know. Hard. Coffee! If drink coffee, can know.”

This guy.

I didn’t even say anything about the Tower yet.

“Um….”

As I suspected.

Now I’m sure.

He’s just Pokkulrom through and through.

Foreign workers at sites, special move: pretend not to understand when things get inconvenient.

Arthur?

No, even blond Pokkulrom is the same.

Well….

“Sajang?”

He’s fidgeting, so I guess he’ll get going on his own anyway.

Still, it’s better if we’re both satisfied.

‘How?’

‘Easy.’

“Finish quickly and I’ll give you a bonus.”

“Bonus? I know bonus. Get many mana stones. Right?”

“That’s right. But you only get it if you finish the Tower quickly. Deal?”

“Good! Waso, finish quick and come back.”

Bonus.

“Since it’s yarikiri, if you come back fast, you get to leave early too.”

And a promise of early clock-out.

Per-fect.

With this—

No way he’d slack off.

Labor slang, yarikiri.

Meaning: when everything’s done, you get to leave right on time.

And a bonus on top?

That’s an irresistible sweet deal.

The effect was amazing!

“Alright! Assemble!”

Just a moment ago, Arthur, who was dragging his feet pretending to not know anything, suddenly clapped his hands!

And the Goblins?

“Kieek!”

“Kieeek!”

Immediately, they rushed over.

“Everyone heard? Get ready, quickly! One! Two! Three!”

And before I knew it, they were doing warm-ups to Arthur’s commands, with their safety helmets on.

“Okay, check your weapons! Good!”

“Kieek!”

“Check helmets! Good!” “Kieeek!”

“Safety good! Good! Good!”

Then, even a safety chant.

Preparation finished in an instant.

So?

Time to go.

“Sajang-nim! I’m off!”

“Fighting. Do well and I’ll even make you coffee.”

“Coffee? Coffee! Dul-dul-set! Waso, come back before coffee gets cold!”

“Kieeek!”

They left.

***

Leaving shouts of coffee behind until the very end.

Wait, I haven’t even made the coffee yet.

What is he, Guan Yu or something….

And then.

“Dul-dul-set is so old-fashioned. Who even makes coffee like that in a studio these days.”

Well, anyway.

[Workers are entering the Chaos Tower.]

[Auto-hunting is starting.]

The workers went in, and auto-hunting began.

Now all that’s left is to wait.

[Auto-hunting in progress]

[00:00:37]

They just went in, so it’ll take a while.

“Should I go look for the coffee pot.”

Even if he slacks off a bit, at least we can communicate.

Coffee, at least?

I can give that, coolly.

“Even if I can’t get the dul-dul-set ratio right. If I just make him some coffee mix, he’ll be satisfied.”

A coffee pot is a must-have for any student living alone.

Of course, I’ll have to find where it’s hidden.

But the room is small, so it shouldn’t take long.

Guess I’ll head down.

I turned around.

“Sajang-nim? Coffee not cold yet?”

Freeze.

Huh…..

This situation feels familiar.

[Chaos Tower, 1st floor cleared.]

[Auto-hunting ends.]

Wow.

Seriously.

“Kieek!”

[Clear Time – 00:02:17]

So….

They cleared the Chaos Tower in two minutes and came back?

“Insane.”

[Chaos Tower 1st Floor Clear Success!]

[Level Up!]

[Clear Reward – 20 Lower-grade Magic Stones]

[Clear Time – 00:02:17] [World Record Achieved!]

[Additional Reward – Key Fragment of Chaos]

No kidding.

A world record, even.

‘What was the old record?’

“1 hour 27 minutes 45 seconds….”

Now I know for sure.

‘The lottery ticket I pulled?’

It was first prize.

And not just the regular lotto, but the US Powerball first prize.

No, maybe even better than that.

“Sajang-nim, coffee, give?”

“Kieeek!”

A coffee fiend, suspiciously obsessed with coffee.

Kieek! cries from the Goblins.

Listening to the harmony of those voices, Yoon Hajun quietly commented.

“Long live auto-hunting.”

“Oh! Sajang-nim! What is that?”

“Hot water. It’s dangerous, so step aside.”

Gotta give what’s promised.

***

Leaving Arthur and the Goblins on the rooftop for a bit, I quickly boiled some water.

Want a cup too?

“Want a cup too?”

“Kieek!”

The Goblins jumped up, crossing their arms in an X.

Okay, that’s a no.

And the coffee fiend?

“Oh? Then give me more. Dul-dul-set.”

Fine, drink it all….

“First, send them off.”

[Work is finished.]

[Would you like to send the workers home?]

If the work’s done, time to go.

To send them off?

You have to pay their wages.

How much?

Let’s check.

[Worker Resume]

[Name: Goblin Group (7) / Lower-grade]

[Specialty: None]

[Daily Wage: 2 Lower-grade Magic Stones]

The Goblins, all together, get 2 magic stones.

Arthur, as I saw earlier, gets 4 magic stones.

I handed over a total of 6, plus bonuses, but—

“Sajang-nim? Too many mana stones.”

Huh?

Arthur suddenly objects.

“Kieek?!”

“How dare you mess with their rice bowl?”

The Goblins immediately glared, but—

“You guys, looking at me now?”

With just one line, he shut them up.

Wow.

He’s strong, all right.

‘But why does he say it’s too much?’

“This is the set wage, though?”

“No. Those guys didn’t do any work at all.”

Uh…..

His pronunciation suddenly got so much better?

How did he learn Korean, to be so good at cursing.

“Waso did all the work. Those guys? Just watched.”

Well, that’s probably true.

It was over in two minutes, anyway.

‘How much could they have done?’

But….

At that speed, it’s not just that they watched—

It was over before they could do anything.

“Kieek! Kieek!”

The poor Goblins.

They keep shouting, trying to say something.

Srrng-.

What’s that.

When did he pull that out.

Arthur was already stroking his sword.

And it went quiet.

After all, what’s closer than the law….

“Sajang must make lots of money. Call us, a lot. Why don’t you know?”

Ah.

He had his own thoughts.

But.

“You gotta take what you earn.”

A few hours ago.

When a message popped up saying I could send workers home without paying wages as a job perk.

Back then and now, my thought is the same.

If you worked, you get paid.

Even if you finished quickly.

The Goblins?

They did nothing wrong.

They were just lucky.

“So, take it all.”

Gotta do the math right.

The Goblins get 2 Lower-grade Magic Stones, plus 1 as a bonus.

Arthur, who did all the work, gets 4 Lower-grade Magic Stones and 3 as a bonus.

I handed over a total of 10.

“Sajang? That’s a loss for you? If you give it all, what’s left?”

What’s left?

You guys.

No, I still have 10 Lower-grade Magic Stones left.

And even so, it’s a huge profit.

I did nothing, but got 200,000 won in two minutes?

If that’s not sweet, what is.

“So stop complaining and just take it. Next time I see you, I’ll work you twice as hard.”

Of course, I’ll just watch like now then, too.

Once again, long live auto-hunting.

“Kieek!”

“Kieeek!”

“Thank you…. Sajang.”

Fwoosh!

The Goblins vanished in a flash of light.

Off to rest after work, I bet.

Then, our Pokkulrom—

No, Arthur?

“Sajang-nim? I promised, right? Coffee, dul-dul-set? Give that.”

Uh…..

Yeah, I’ll give you some.

And if I have any left, I’ll pack it for you to go.

So calm down, you crazy coffee fiend.

***

The next day, 5 a.m.

A time when most people are still fast asleep.

But for people working at construction sites?

It’s time to wake up.

Ddiriri ddiriririri!!!

“Ugh…. Ah, why won’t it turn off…. Huh? What the— It’s not the alarm.”

I thought it was the alarm and tried to turn it off, but—

It was a call.

[Minwook hyung]

What’s up at this hour.

Ahem.

Cleared my throat.

“Yes, hyung.”

“Hey. Kim, don’t come to the site today, it’s all stopped. Take a rest.”

“What? All of a sudden?”

“Exactly. Which building was it. Anyway, I heard a Dungeon Gate opened underground at the site.”

Dungeon?

Ah, that thing.

But I cleared that already….

“I’m not sure, but the internet’s gone crazy and reporters are swarming, so nothing’s getting done.”

‘Even reporters?’

‘Is that normal for an F-class Dungeon?’

I don’t know.

I was just a regular guy until yesterday.

For now, just go with the flow.

“Oh. Then what about tomorrow? Should I go to another site?”

“Nah. Just for today, so take a good rest.”

“Yep, got it.”

“I’ll text you this evening about where to meet tomorrow, so get some rest.”

Click—

“Hmm, the internet’s gone crazy?”

It must be about the Dungeon I cleared yesterday.

But, why?

Curious, I looked it up.

And found the reason right away.

[Breaking) F-class Dungeon observed in Cheongna District, Incheon, cleared in just 13 minutes-.]

[Is it possible to clear an F-class Dungeon in 13 minutes? We asked the experts.]

[Chaos Tower 1st floor record broken. New record: “2 minutes 17 seconds”]

[Two astonishing records set overnight, could it be the same person?]

[Anonymous Awakening Management Bureau official: If it’s the same person, we promise treatment equivalent to the top-level Hunters—.]

***

Yoon Hajun, 23 years old.

Special note: 1st day of awakening.

Overnight, I became a celebrity everyone was looking for.