The heart of the dungeon. The vast cavern was filled with nothing but the whirring of machinery and ragged breaths.
‘Hoo.’
I took a short, deep breath. To be honest, I was nervous too. Even with my Cosmic Sense and E-Rank Dungeon Comprehension, there's no such thing as a 100% guaranteed bet in this world.
If I failed? The money I'd invested, the equipment I'd taken on debt to acquire, and the new family who had put their faith in me... It would all vanish in an instant. This was a gamble on the edge of a cliff, one that could send me plummeting back to rock bottom.
But,
‘That's what makes my blood boil.’
The moment a mom-and-pop shop becomes a small business, and a small business leaps to become a major corporation, always comes after overcoming a crisis like this. You can never become great by only taking the safe path. A great company isn't built on luck. It's born when you turn a crisis into an opportunity with skill you've proven yourself.
‘It begins now.’
This isn't just another job. This is the first step for us, The Cleaners, to leave our rock-bottom lives behind and become a real company.
‘Let's show them.’
That we're not just cleaners who pick up trash others have thrown away, but a team of top experts who can bring even the dead back to life. I adjusted my red rubber gloves, my eyes flashing open. The time for resolve was over. Now, it was time to prove myself.
“Team Leader Kang, is Precision Injector 2 set up?”
“Yes! Pressure valve is normal, nozzle angle fixed at 45 degrees!”
“Foreman Park, what about Injector 1?”
“This side's ready too! Just give the word!”
The atmosphere was tense. This was on a whole different level from the F-Rank core. Back then, I handled it myself with a single hose, but an E-Rank Core wasn't something I could manage alone. It was like handling the heart of a giant, living beast; mana had to be supplied from multiple directions simultaneously and with precision.
“Hyunsoo, raise the mixer truck's output to 30%.”
“Got it! Ahh, my hands are shaking.”
From the truck's driver's seat, Hyunsoo grabbed the lever with a pale face. In my hands was the master controller that regulated the output of Injectors 1 and 2, as well as the truck, all at once.
Ssk—
I closed my eyes.
[Trait Activated: Dungeon (Dimension) Comprehension (E)]
Fwaaa—!
The world turned black and white, and only the Core, radiating red and blue light, came into view. Its mana circuits were incomparably more complex than the dying F-Rank Core's. They were broken and blocked in many places, but a faint pulse was still beating.
‘I can see the path.’
My eyes snapped open.
“Going in! Injector 1, Injector 2, simultaneous injection!”
Wheeeeing—! Pshhhhhh!
From the precision injectors held by Kang Cheolmin and Foreman Park, a transparent mana solution sprayed out. Two streams of the solution shot out, precisely piercing the most vulnerable cracks on either side of the Core.
Woooong—!
The Core vibrated. It sounded like a great beast growling as it woke from its slumber. The entire cave began to tremble slightly.
“P-President! The vibrations are too strong!”
“It's fine! Hold on!”
Kang Cheolmin staggered, but I shouted resolutely. This wasn't a rejection. It's a natural phenomenon that occurs when blood starts flowing through dried-up veins.
“Hyunsoo! Increase output! 50%!”
“Doing it!”
Vroooom—!
The truck's engine roared louder. A greater amount of mana poured through the hoses. But the E-Rank Core was greedy. It seemed to devour the mana as soon as it entered, screaming for more.
[Warning: Core internal pressure imbalance detected]
[Risk of overload in the left circuit!]
A red warning light flashed in my mind. If this continued, one side would swell up and burst.
“Foreman Park! Close the valve on Injector 1! Right now!”
“What? Now?”
“Hurry!”
Foreman Park hurriedly turned the valve. The flow of mana to the left side was cut off. The Core tilted and shuddered violently.
Rumble—!
Dust and dirt fell from the ceiling, and the steel plates we'd laid on the floor rattled. A terrifying vibration. A wave of anxiety washed over me—the fear that the cave might collapse.
“P-President! What should we do?”
“Hold on! Team Leader Kang, open Injector 2 all the way! Push it in at 100%!”
At my shout, Kang Cheolmin gritted his teeth. To hell with it. He pulled the lever all the way.
Whoooooosh—!
An immense amount of mana poured into the right side alone. Logically, it was madness. Normally, if the pressure was concentrated on one side, the balance would be broken, and it would explode. But I could see it. The path where the blocked right vessel would be cleared, and the pressure would circulate back to the left side.
[Mana Circulation Rate: 70%... 85%...]
‘It worked!’
The circuit was connected. All that was left was one final push. Like giving a heart an electric shock, it needed one powerful blast to break the critical point.
“Hyunsoo! Truck output to max! Floor it to 100%!”
“Uwaaah! Here goes nothing!”
Hyunsoo slammed the accelerator to the floor. The truck roared and shook violently. The hoses bulged as if they were about to burst.
Woooooooooo—!!!
The Core screamed. A dazzling violet light exploded, expanding as if to swallow the entire cave. Everyone instinctively squeezed their eyes shut. It's going to blow. This time, it's really going to blow. But...
Paaaaang—!
Instead of an explosion, a clear, resonant hum echoed in their eardrums. The blinding light subsided, and a warm energy touched their skin.
“Huh?”
The first to open his eyes was Kang Cheolmin. An unbelievable sight unfolded before him. The murky, dying violet light was nowhere to be seen. In its place, a massive crystal, emitting a brilliant and transparent sapphire light, rotated elegantly in the air. A regular pulse. A stable wavelength. But more than anything, the air had changed. The acrid mana miasma that had stung their nostrils was gone as if washed away. In its place was the fresh, clear scent of mana, like being in a forest.
Tiring—
[E-Rank Mana Core is reactivating.]
[Dungeon System is activating.]
[Entering stabilization phase. (Approx. 48 hours until restoration is complete)]
The numbers hadn't appeared yet. But the veterans could tell. This refreshing feeling on their skin... this wasn't a simple restoration.
“D-did we succeed?”
Foreman Park asked in a trembling voice. I set down the master controller and let out a long breath. My legs felt so weak I almost collapsed. But a smile was playing on my lips.
“Yes. It's perfect.”
That one phrase broke the silence.
“Uwaaaaaaah!!”
Kang Cheolmin and Foreman Park screamed simultaneously and collapsed to the ground. Relief! And astonishment.
“That's crazy, absolutely crazy!”
Kang Cheolmin threw off his helmet and approached me. His eyes were already looking at me as if I were something other than human.
“President! What in the world are you?”
“Pardon?”
“I've been in this business for ten years, but I've never seen or heard of anything like this! Finishing a 17,000-liter job with only 5,000, and reviving a dying core to be this vigorous? This isn't skill, it's magic! Magic!”
He rubbed his arms, genuinely creeped out.
“Wow! I always thought those old legends about heroes being born from eggs were just stories, but President, were you born in a dungeon or something? There's no other way to explain this!”
“Puhaha! Born in a dungeon!”
Hyunsoo, who was standing nearby, clutched his stomach and laughed. But beneath his laughter was a thick layer of pride. The look in the employees' eyes had changed. No one doubted me anymore. No. I could even feel their respect. To them, I was no longer just an employer, but a god of dungeon restoration.
11:30 AM. We had finished the job and even returned the equipment, and it wasn't even lunchtime yet. When you finish a manual labor job early, there's one unspoken rule.
“Imo! Everyone's having the special naejang-tang! And give us the red label soju!”
With Hyunsoo's booming order, the restaurant became lively. Bubbling hot stone pots and cold soju glasses. The drinks tasted like honey today.
“Kyah! It's so sweet!”
Team Leader Kang Cheolmin exclaimed as he downed his soju. A smile never left his face. And for good reason. This job was a jackpot like no other.
I crunched on a piece of kkakdugi while running the numbers in my head. The exact restoration rate wasn't out yet, but Hyunsoo was already getting ahead of himself, calling it a jackpot. But it didn't matter if it was a jackpot or not.
‘It was already a profitable venture.’
Normally, reviving one E-Rank dungeon yields a net profit of 1 to 1.5 billion won. But us? We cut the construction period from 15 days to one. We saved a fortune on labor, equipment rental, and lodging. On top of that, we reduced the catalyst cost to a third.
‘At worst, we'll clear 2 billion, and at best, over 3 billion won.’
That's an entire year's revenue for a small company, earned in a single day. How could the drinks not go down smooth?
“President, please have a drink.”
Kang Cheolmin held the bottle politely with both hands. He looked at me as if hearts were about to pop out of his eyes.
“Thank you.”
“I really learned a lot today, sir. I'll dedicate my life to this company. If we just follow you, President, I think our company could become a true legend in this industry.”
“Oh, come on, a legend? We're just earning our keep.”
I smiled and accepted the drink. As the atmosphere warmed up, something occurred to me, and I asked Team Leader Kang.
“By the way, Team Leader Kang.”
“Yes?”
“I saw on your resume that you have a D-Rank license. Are you perhaps preparing for the C-Rank?”
The Dungeon Construction Manager license. Going from D-Rank to C-Rank doubles your annual salary. But the exam is difficult, and more importantly, the application and training fees cost nearly ten million won, so many people give up.
“Ah! Yes. I've thought about it, but I've been too busy trying to make a living to even consider it. The academy fees are no joke, either.”
Kang Cheolmin scratched his head awkwardly. I put down my chopsticks and said with a serious expression.
“Start preparing. The company will cover all the costs.”
“What?”
Kang Cheolmin's eyes widened as if they would pop out. Foreman Park, who was sipping soup beside him, choked with a gasp.
“S-support? For something that expensive?”
“For our company to advance to E-Rank, no, D-Rank dungeons, a C-Rank manager is essential. It's better to nurture one of our own than to hire an outsider. If you pass, we'll even give you a separate bonus for the certification, so don't worry and just focus on studying.”
Silence fell over the table. That's just how this industry works. Employees are expendable. Instead of training and nurturing them, it's common practice to suck them dry and throw them away. But he was offering to pay for the certification and even give a bonus?
“Wow!”
Kang Cheolmin's hands trembled. It was a thrill that went beyond mere gratitude.
“President. I'll really, truly work hard. I'll be sure to get it!”
“I'll be looking forward to it.”
Just then, Foreman Park, who was next to him, hesitantly raised his hand.
“Uh, President. It's a bit awkward for an old man like me to say this, but...”
“Go ahead, Foreman.”
“I've actually wanted to try for a D-Rank certification too. Is it impossible for an old-timer like me?”
Foreman Park, who had only ever worked F-Rank sites his whole life. There was still passion left in his eyes. I smiled brightly.
“Of course, we'll support you. You're a founding member.”
“Really? Oh my, thank you so much!”
“Foreman! I'll help you! I have all the study guides I used when I got my D-Rank!”
Kang Cheolmin stepped forward and put his arm around Foreman Park's shoulder. They look out for each other, and the company supports them. Could there be a more perfect picture?
“Alright, alright! Studying starts tomorrow, today we drink! To our company's bright future!”
“To the future!!”
The toast echoed. Outside, the warm sunlight was pouring down. A company that pays well. Treats its people right. And even has a clear vision. I'll push forward with this momentum. Until The Cleaners become the number one company in South Korea.
‘I have to succeed.’
I had only one goal.
“Everyone, get home safe!”
“Thanks for letting us leave early! You get some rest too, President!”
I put Foreman Park and Team Leader Kang in a taxi first. I could feel their sincere loyalty from the way they waved, their faces flushed in the middle of the day.
“Uheheh. Our company is the best...”
In the back seat of the car driven by a designated driver, Hyunsoo was already lost in dreamland. The sight of him, drooling and happy. A small laugh escaped me.
‘A perfect day.’
I've gained people, and I've sketched out a future. Now, I'll just go back to the office and get some rest—.
Woooong—
Suddenly, a heavy thrumming echoed from a corner of my chest. It wasn't my heart. The Subspace Inventory. That thing I had stored deep inside it was stirring.
[Nameless Star Fragment]
I had left it alone because my body still needed time to adapt, but the thing was now emitting a powerful presence on its own. As if demanding I accept it right this instant.
‘No way, already?’
Normally, it should take a few days. But this reaction was different. It wasn't a simple Mana absorption. My inner solar system! This was a sign that it was preparing for another massive expansion.
‘So you want to grow too, huh?’
A pleasant premonition ran down my spine.
End
ⓒ Hwaun#13d8r
0 Comments