Chapter 34: Rani’s Shield, DdanDdani!

“Shield, good! Shield, good! Please give me a shield~!”

Rani was excited.

Humming a tune while holding a fragment of Friedwen.

Oh dear.

Now she was even bouncing around.

‘How excited must she be?’

Anyway, you have to give credit to Rani’s love for crafting materials.

Still, I slyly asked one last time.

“Rani, you’re really going to make a shield, right?”

Arthur.

He’d only used a sword up to now…

And even now, he was just spacing out, staring at Hwalhwal…

“Yeah!”

Wow.

Look at that innocent answer.

Her eyes sparkling.

“Why?”

“Nothing, I just like it.”

“Right! Rani likes shields too!”

“Yeah.”

“If Rani’s sure about it, then I have to believe her.”

“But… Rani wants to start making it right now! Is that okay?!”

Making a good item with good materials.

‘How could Rani possibly hold back?’

Even now, she was stamping her feet and going crazy.

“Of course. We have plenty of materials, so take as much as you want and make something great.”

“Kya! Yay! Thank you!”

She nodded, bowed politely, and started preparing for work with a bright smile.

“Because the materials are good, Rani’s going to make it beautifully! Rani, please give me the materials!”

“Ugh—!”

“Rani, you have to say it out loud.”

Todd, don’t keep poking his stomach like that…

“Bear Dori! Lots of materials!”

Guess he can’t hear her.

She hurried over, poked the bear plush’s belly, asked it to open the inventory, then picked out the necessary materials.

Then?

She ran back to the training ground.

“Wasseo, holding a shield…?”

“Yeah, I guess so?”

“Sajang…”

‘Why, dude?’

I’ve done my part…

And now it’s getting familiar.

“Rani usually doesn’t care about customers’ tastes…”

“Wasseo knows…”

Yeah.

You can tell just from the weapon names.

Hwarhwuruk this, Ttakgeumi that…

“But the results are good.”

‘Lee Bojun, Baek Hwarang?’

They’re 100% satisfied.

They’re still commenting on my posts right now.

They say to contact them when I make other gear.

Robin too.

If even that gruff guy called Rani a “Bokdeongi” (lucky charm), you know she’s doing something right.

“Arthur, you were complaining about Hwalhwal’s name at first, but you were satisfied once you got it.”

“Hwarhwar, I like it.”

“See? This time, you never know.”

“Really…?”

“Sajangnim, this gas…”

“Ahem.”

‘Todd?’

‘Why all of a sudden?’

Arthur was almost on board.

Keep this up and I’ll have Rani poke you in the stomach again.

“Hehe, I don’t know anything.”

Good.

Be tactful.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

While chatting with the workers, a lively sound started to echo.

***

Looks like it’s started.

I glanced over.

“Whew—!”

Hammering in the corner of the training ground.

[Training Ground ON/OFF]

Just in case, I switched it ON.

Let’s check the other rewards.

First, log into AwakenerNet.

When I press Request Complete.

Ah…

Look at the stuff filling the inventory.

Todd’s Bundle, which shares and expands my inventory?

“Rani’s workers took materials recently, so it was a bit empty, but it’s already filled up again.”

No big items though.

Still, there’s a lot.

Sigh…

‘When will I ever organize all this?’

“Don’t worry. I’ll sort it by category later.”

“Ah, thank you. As expected, Todd.”

Suddenly feeling reassured.

I’ll leave the organizing to you then.

Finally, I opened the Labor Management Office and completed the request.

[Request Complete!]

[S-grade Dungeon, Golden Temple of Death Cleared]

[Additional Bonus]

Ah.

[Request points 10,000.]

[Used double, so 20,000.]

Even considering the expansion ticket, I earned 10,000 points.

When tackling other S-grade dungeons, it feels like going once for free.

“I think Egypt also fell like India did. I should check it out later.”

For now, that’s all the rewards.

Alright, let’s take a little break.

“One! Two! Three!”

“I said rest…”

Even though it was break time…

Arthur was deep in training again.

No matter how much I stopped him, he wouldn’t listen.

“Wasseo, it’s okay!”

Okay…

If he wants to do it himself, I can’t stop him.

Instead.

“I’ll make some coffee outside and add ice. Drink it when you’re done.”

“Ah! Nice! Sajang, you’re the best!”

Uh huh…

Fighting.

I went to the living room to see what the other workers were doing.

“1”

Robin was still staring up at the sky, almost glued to that spot.

[Ah! Han River view! Seeing this scenery every day, worries and troubles…]

Bear Plush Todd was watching TV.

“Definitely, Sajangnim’s world has houses of an extraordinary size. I wonder how much those houses cost…”

“What kind of house?”

Basically, it’s a house with a view of the Han River.

And a huge one at that.

Han River view…

Nice, yeah…

Never lived in one, though…

“Hmm…”

The field seniors often say,

“Han River view houses?

They’re meaningless.

Money waste.”

Still, honestly, I’m curious.

In the first place…

“You can probably buy a small Han River view place even now.”

“Oh, really? Well, just organizing what we got from China alone…”

“Eh, no need to go that far.”

‘How many magic stones have our workers earned?’

No, not even combining them all.

Just what Bokdeongi earned easily exceeds several hundred million won.

Plus selling off the other magic stones…

A Han River view house would be doable.

Of course, not a penthouse like the one Todd’s looking at.

Places like that would be tough.

The problem is…

“To do that, we’d have to sell all the magic stones, but I’m a little too cautious about that right now.”

‘Money?’

That’s not the problem.

Since I was preparing to move to a two-room place, I’ve had more magic stones than I can carry.

If not, Rani could just make a few weapons and sell them.

But what’s the point of having magic stones if…

“If I just sell them off and blow all the money, it’d be like advertising myself as the Labor Management Office Head.”

“Ah… definitely…”

Hunters make a lot of money.

That’s the common perception.

True.

They do make a lot.

‘But to what extent?’

Someone like me who scoops up all the money?

There’s no one like that domestically.

No, maybe not even worldwide…?

“When I registered with the Awakening Management Bureau, my rank was D-class. A D-class hunter suddenly having so much money to buy a house worth tens of billions?”

“That’s very suspicious.”

“So the first thing is to find a safe way to convert and use the money.”

“That’s right.”

It’s always been that way.

If you earn a big sum easily, be cautious.

“Why do you think there are articles on what to do if you win the lottery jackpot?”

Even Yoon Hajun?

He’s barely the lottery jackpot.

He brought all the cherished materials gathered in China.

Even big powers are searching for them.

So.

“For now, you have to stay here. Is that okay?”

“Yes, I like it here.”

Good to hear.

Let’s get some rest then.

“Heh~! It’s all done!”

Complete.

***

This time it took exactly a week again.

During that time, how focused she was…

She only chewed the candy I gave her while working.

The result?

“It’s a shield…”

“Yeah! It’s a shield! The name is, DdanDdani!”

DdanDdani…

This time, I don’t even need to ask.

It’s a shield, so DdanDdani it is.

“Because it’s solid!”

“….”

“Sajang…”

Arthur already had a resigned expression.

But honestly, the name sounds good this time.

“Sajang?”

“Ah, isn’t it?”

Alright.

Let’s check the options quickly.

The name is DdanDdani.

Options?

[DdanDdani]

[A masterpiece by a highly skilled artisan.]

[Contains the power of a legendary figure.]

[Has a chance to reflect received attacks.]

[Special skill ‘Light’s Veil’ usable.]

[Special skill ‘Holy Protection’ usable.]

[Increased resistance to darkness and curse attributes.]

“Oh….”

See?

This is a legit DdanDdani.

“Still dissatisfied?”

“Show it to Arthur quickly.”

“In fact, Wasseo, I was reluctant to use a shield.”

That…

His attitude changed way too quickly.

“DdanDdani is right.”

“Yeah, I said so, right?”

Try it out first.

He nodded and accepted it, then—

Flash!

Just like with Robin, the moment he received it, light flashed.

But…

It lasted a little longer than usual…?

[Equipment linked to a soul bond obtained.]
[Current accumulated experience has reached its limit.]
[Conditions met.]
[Worker’s rank is rising.]
[Arthur (Advanced) -> Arthur (Top-tier)]

‘Huh?’

‘Suddenly…?’

‘No.’

***

I wondered how to rank up from Advanced to Top-tier…

And suddenly like this?

Amazing.

“Our Bokdeongi did it again?”

“Right! Rani’s a Bokdeongi! She made the shield!”

“Right. Well done.”

“Heh~!”

Meanwhile, the light faded and Arthur appeared.

“Wow! Arthur’s shining even brighter!”

“Arthur the worker has gotten stronger.”

Golden blonde hair, blue eyes.

Brilliant clothes.

Looks like someone I’ve seen before…

Ah.

That feeling from the first time I saw him.

‘Maybe because of the shield?’

Somehow there was even an added dignity.

“Phew…”

This suddenly feels ominous.

Suddenly bad memories…

At first, I thought Arthur’s appearance was awesome, super awesome.

But back then…

As soon as he opened his mouth, he said “Sajangnim,” and killed the mood.

This time?

Nah.

‘Could it be top-tier?’

I watched expectantly for a moment.

Arthur’s mouth opened.

“Sajangnim?”

“Hey.”

“Sajang, why are you like that?”

“It’s nothing…”

Good job…

If he had changed suddenly, it might’ve been more shocking.

Look there.

Even Rani, who was cautious at first, is now approaching him.

“That’s Arthur!”

“Right, it’s Wasseo! Thanks to Bokdeongi, he got stronger! Long live Bokdeongi!”

“Heh! Rani’s a Bokdeongi!”

Definitely a Bokdeongi.

‘How do they even find out if this has something to do with Arthur?’

I looked it up.

[Fragment of Friedwen]

Like the Robin Hood’s Bow Shard, legendary equipment.

The famous shield wielded by King Arthur.

A soul-bonded weapon…?

Then, is this the Arthur King…?

“Wasseo, it’s solid!”

Uh…

Uh…

I don’t know.

But the way he holds both sword and shield looks incredibly natural.

‘Why did he only carry a sword before?’

‘And top-tier?’

I’m looking forward to how strong he’s gotten.

“Right! Wasseo’s gotten stronger!”

“Then we should check it out, right?”

Our Arthur.

If he’s top-tier, to warm up properly, he needs to go to an S-grade dungeon at least.

So I prepared it.

Like India, a ruined country with an S-grade dungeon: Egypt.

They have a break dungeon there too.

“Arthur, what do you think? Want to go?”

Wasseo’s happy!

I figured as much, so I got ready.

Alright then.

Let’s go with Robin.

London, England.

***

Arthur Brandt, the top-ranked member of the House of Commons, raised his voice.

“What? India’s S-grade dungeon has been cleared?”

No way, who?

How?

“Well… the Labor Management Office Head recently solved the China issue…”

“No, that guy… if he just solved the China problem it’d be enough, why suddenly India?”

We got the intel.

That Labor Management Office Head guy.

How many rewards he got from China.

“Even after taking all that, he still wasn’t satisfied?”

“How greedy can he be?”

“Who even entrusted him with the request?”

Those with money or power must have been involved.

“No, didn’t we recruit them all?”

He must’ve been pretty expensive.

“The refugees entrusted him…”

“That makes no sense.”

‘Refugees?’

They probably don’t have a single penny, how could they?

“Maybe the people on our side are scheming.”

“There are already a ton of complaints from their side.”

“Complaints?”

“Yes, they keep demanding explanations. If that’s the case, why did you take the money…?”

“Hehe…”

‘Well, how much did he extort?’

I was planning to squeeze even more later…

But if this goes on, it’ll all collapse.

“Still, only the S-grade dungeon is cleared, so if we act quickly, it should be manageable.”

“Yeah.”

Exactly.

The Labor Management Office Head won’t clean up the monsters in the Tower of Chaos Break dungeon.

Surely not…

“Other countries? Those guys will take a look too.”

“The mood around Egypt is suspicious.”

“Hmm, then should we try to take a little more from Egypt?”

Egypt’s S-grade dungeon.

A bit different from India.

India’s S-grade dungeon is deep inland.

It was impossible to break through without risking everything.

But Egypt is near the sea.

If we push, it might be worth aiming for.

“Phew…!!”

Originally, like with India, I wanted to squeeze as much as possible before moving in…

But the situation changed.

‘The Labor Management Office Head?’

Before he pulls a fast one, I’ll go first.

Yeah.

‘Let’s start with Egypt.’

Just as I was making up my mind, absurd news came in.

“What? Egypt’s S-grade dungeon has also been cleared?”

‘Huh?’

No way.

‘What on earth is going on!?’