Chapter 39: The Muscle Mage Appears

Top-Grade Worker One-Time Guaranteed Summon Ticket.

I boldly used it.

It came out.

But somehow, this worker seemed off.

“So, your name is—”

“My name is Woonjang.”

His name was Woonjang.

“I thought you said you were a magician…?”

“That’s right. I’m an Archmage.”

So I hadn’t heard wrong.

“A magician…”

I’d secretly hoped he might have some kind of buff-related specialty or magic skill.

Just one would be nice.

That was the thought.

“Hmm…”

A magician, huh.

He showed up all right, but maybe it was just me.

No matter how I looked at him, something felt strange.

He didn’t look like a magician…

“Hmm?”

Rani tilted her head, too.

Curious, she came running, glancing left and right before saying—

“Grandpa, a magician?”

“That’s right. Doesn’t he look exactly like an Archmage?”

No way.

He really didn’t look like a magician at all.

No, seriously.

‘What kind of magician has such a burly build?’

Anyone could tell he was a physical type.

‘Right, Rani?’

“Um… yeah! Grandpa really looks like a magician!”

Where?

“Grandpa’s got a long beard! Rani was watching the bear and saw that magicians have long beards!”

“Ah…”

Rani, not all long-bearded people are magicians.

Todd, that guy… always watching TV, what exactly was he watching?

“Excuse me? I’m innocent, Sohjang. I’ve only watched a few movies…”

“Sure, sure. Quite the clever kid.”

“Yup! My name’s Rani! Grandpa, play with me lots from now on!”

“Heh heh.”

That’s our Rani for you.

Her charm is off the charts.

And her reasoning fits her perfectly.

Having a long beard means magician, huh.

“But like Rani said, the beard is really long—almost down to his chest…”

“Todd, do you see that too?”

“Sohjang, that’s quite rude.”

“No, it’s just… really tall…”

Yoon Hajun’s height was 183 cm.

Fairly tall.

But even so, you had to tilt your head slightly up to see his face.

‘How tall was he exactly?’

He seemed well over two meters.

And then…

“Boss, the new top-grade recruit is here. He’s a magician, holding a staff.”

“Squeak! We think the same! He smells like our workers! Squeak!”

See?

That’s exactly what I mean.

He just looks like a brawler.

Look at his weapon.

‘What do you even call that?’

‘A big sword?’

‘Or a spear?’

With a long handle attached…

“That’s a staff. A very fine staff.”

“Huh? A staff?”

No way.

‘What kind of staff is that?’

I had to check the resume.

You know, for those who don’t know yet, everything’s in the Worker Resume.

[Worker Resume]

[Name: Woonjang / Top-Grade]

[Specialty: Magic(?)]

[Daily Wage: 30 Lower-grade Magic Stones]

“Huh?”

‘Why is his specialty listed as magic?’

Archmage Woonjang.

‘Is this for real?’

‘Why…?’

Tilting my head, I skimmed the resume again.

[Specialty: Magic(?)]

That question mark… what does it mean?

I’d never seen that before.

***

“Sohjang, are you still doubting? He really is an Archmage.”

“Right, he really is a magician.”

“Wow~! Grandpa really is a magician?”

“Yeah. That’s what they say.”

“Rani loves magic! Show us some magic, please!”

“Heh heh.”

No way.

There’s no way he’s a magician, right?

That physique alone…

I swear, his face looked familiar.

“Hmmm.”

Yoon Hajun, age 23.

Not exactly a bookworm.

Books? Not his thing.

History? Not interested.

But he did know some things.

That face was definitely…

“From the Three Kingdoms?”

Todd got it right.

Yeah, that was it.

A quick search confirmed it.

‘But why was his specialty magic?’

‘Was the Three Kingdoms even fantasy?’

I pushed aside that ridiculous thought.

“Welcome, Top-Grade! I trust you’re here to help!”

Looking at Arthur and Robin suddenly made it all clear.

Well…

‘What did it matter?’

From watching those two, I’d realized.

If he’s a magician, then he’s a magician, period.

“Wise decision, Sohjang.”

“Yes… I agree.”

But after accepting it, curiosity struck.

That weapon.

I looked it up—it’s called a crescent blade.

‘What kind of magic would he use with that?’

‘Aren’t you all curious?’

“I’m curious too!”

“Squeak! Our thoughts are just like yours!”

“Orcs? Did you say something? No talking down!”

“What’s talking down? Squeak!”

“Again with the talking down!”

Those guys…

From the very first meeting, talking down and ordering me to make coffee.

“Heh, these are Arthur and Robin, and those are the Orc Uncles and Gomdori!”

“Rani’s worker? His name’s Todd…”

“Gomdori is Gomdori!”

“Heh heh, lively workers you have.”

Wow, get a hold of myself.

Come to think of it…

I’d been so focused on the Archmage that I forgot to greet him.

A bit late, but better than never.

“Hello, Labor Management Office Head. I’m Yoon Hajun.”

Extending my hand to greet him—

“Pleased to meet you.”

He shook my hand.

Whoa.

This wasn’t a hand—it was a tree trunk…

No wonder I doubted him.

Where else could there be a magician with calluses like that?

No, I had to know.

We’d just exchanged greetings.

I’d ask what kind of magic he used.

“Woonjang, would you be okay with tackling a dungeon?”

“Whenever you assign me, I will do my best to clear it.”

Wow.

Definitely different from the usual workers.

Even his words were impressive.

“We look forward to the power of the top-grade magician.”

“Heh heh. I shall properly show you the power of my great magic.”

“…”

Wow.

‘Raising expectations like that?’

I’d seen the strength of top-grade workers many times.

Arthur and Robin—they were both top-grade.

But a magician? First time.

I wondered what kind of magic would come out of this…

“I’m excited too! Magic? We’ll watch the top-grade new recruit’s performance closely!”

“Squeak! What about us?!”

“Orc bastards? Don’t want to go train without seeing the magic?”

“Squeak! We want to see the magic! Squeak!”

Arthur and the orcs were on board.

“Good idea, Sohjang.”

Todd agreed too.

“What about Rani?”

“Um… Rani wants to touch Grandpa’s beard! It’s so long, it dances! It’s amazing!”

No, not that.

Rani, you can’t do that on first meeting.

“Heh…”

A smile alone doesn’t make it okay.

Anyway, Rani’s out.

Robin wasn’t interested either.

Okay then, everyone gather.

Let’s see the power of the top-grade magician.

Woonjang’s first dungeon run.

Difficulty?

***

“I think top-grade is like me! A-rank is good!”

“…A-rank.”

The two top-grade workers, Arthur and Robin, were unanimous.

Right.

For a top-grade worker, it’d be a shame to enter just any dungeon.

“Okay, A-rank. Got it.”

I quickly looked over the dungeons available for dispatch.

A few A-rank dungeons showed up.

“Woonjang, are you okay with A-rank? Since you’re a magician, want me to assign anyone to assist you?”

“Heh heh, I’m fine. No worries, leave it to me.”

Wow.

‘Is it his appearance?’

‘Or maybe his tone?’

For some reason, he felt more reliable.

He’d probably clear S-rank dungeons too, no problem.

Well…

No S-ranks available anyway, so forget that.

[Worker Dispatch]

• Dungeon

I immediately chose an A-rank dungeon and opened it.

“Everyone, don’t be too surprised.”

[Worker enters the dungeon.]

[Automatic Hunting begins.]

The new top-grade worker.

The Archmage entered the dungeon gate and switched Automatic Hunting ON.

And the rest of us?

“Alright, shall we all watch?”

“I agree!”

“Squeak! Hurry, show us!”

“Rani too! Rani’s curious! Turn on monitoring!”

Everyone went wild.

Whoa.

Don’t push, guys.

Robin was glancing over too.

‘Well, how could you not be curious about a magician?’

Even I was this excited.

Alright…

I’ll turn on the feed now.

[Monitoring]

“Huh…? Rani knows this place! A dungeon with a big bird flying around! She’s seen it before!”

“That’s right, seems familiar. Wasn’t it where Robin went before?”

“…Yeah.”

“A big bird! Robin shot it down quickly!”

That’s no bird.

Anyway, that’s the place.

A Wyvern flew around there.

“Robin’s worker must have caught it easily? Using a bow means long range.”

“Correct, Gomdori! When Robin shoots, that big bird drops fast!”

“Hmm… but a Wyvern might be disadvantageous for a magician.”

‘Huh?’

‘A bad matchup?’

Wyverns have high magic resistance. They even fly high above before diving down.

“When they dive, my Wyvern is—”

“Reinserting…”

“Magic? Slow!”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm…”

Makes sense.

Robin caught it easily, but that was unusual.

“Just in case, let’s have Robin on standby. If it gets dangerous, open the gate and send him in.”

“…Got it.”

“What about Woonjang?”

“Arthur has a bad matchup.”

“That’s magic.”

We made a plan for unexpected situations.

Back to watching.

A giant Wyvern began descending.

Kiiiiieee!

Despite its size, it moved with incredible speed.

One bite and it’d be over.

“Why doesn’t he dodge?”

“Nervous, newbie?”

“No way… Top-grade isn’t that shaky.”

First time nerves, maybe?

Archmage Woonjang didn’t flinch a bit.

No way, he’s getting bitten!

“Grandpa! Watch out!”

No good.

[Worker Dispatch]

Dungeon

We immediately opened the gate.

Robin was about to charge—

Suddenly, whoosh.

“Huh?”

‘What was that?’

The Wyvern had been right there.

But suddenly Woonjang appeared beside it.

‘Where was the Wyvern?’

Screech—

It was neatly sliced in half.

“Oh…”

“Heh! Grandpa used magic, and just like that moved sideways!”

Wow…

I barely saw it.

Top-grade magician indeed.

“Huh? Only you saw it? It’s not magic!”

‘What?’

‘Not magic?’

I blinked and it vanished.

The monster was cut cleanly in two.

If that’s not magic, then what is?

“Top-grade newbie, move quickly.”

‘So he dodged fast and cut the monster in two?’

No way.

“Woonjang, your eyes are sharp!”

“That’s true…”

‘Really?’

I glanced at Robin just in case.

He nodded.

Two top-grade workers’ endorsements.

Then it’s real.

“Crazy… So it’s not magic?”

“Magic! Fast worker! Maybe faster than Woonjang?”

“…Yeah!”

Watching the feed again.

Whoosh.

Screech!

No, I really didn’t get it.

‘That’s not magic?’

“It’s not magic. Woonjang, you can do that with your blade and dantani (footwork)?”

‘Huh?’

I saw it just now.

The blade moved like that.

“Gasp! Rani saw it too! Grandpa’s hands moved quickly!”

“Woonjang said so!”

But…

Suddenly, I got curious.

“Arthur, can you move that fast without showing it?”

“Hmm… Woonjang can’t.”

“Robin?”

…Nope.

‘So he’s faster than those two?’

Why…?

[Dungeon cleared.]

[Automatic Hunting ended.]

[Clear Time – 00:08:41]

The dungeon run ended, leaving only questions.

‘What did the self-proclaimed Archmage think?’

“How was it? My great magic.”

No.

You said it’s not magic!

I was about to argue but paused.

“Shh. Wait, Sohjang. I sense suspicious movement outside.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll handle it—with my great magic.”

So…

He’s not really a magician.

‘Why does he keep saying he’ll use magic?’

Still, I decided to watch.

‘What kind of great magic would he show this time?’