Chapter 14 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Giant Sweet Potato (1)
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Inside Bokbok Interiors.
It was a leisurely day with nothing much going on.
The Heavenly Demon was reading a magazine titled [Breakfast in the Dungeon] at the reception table, while Nameless perched on the table beside him, nagging nonstop.
Jang Chaewon was chatting with an employee from a 7th Grade Territory miscellaneous goods agency who had just delivered a batch of turf.
"Huh?"
But midway through their conversation, Jang Chaewon's eyes widened.
"Suddenly the turf supply's going to run short? Why?"
"Well..."
The employee scratched his head and let out a sigh.
"Apparently some unregistered Awakener cleared a D-Grade Dungeon at the entrance to XX District. That was the only place to get Giant Sweet Potatoes in bulk..."
"You don't mean the farm dungeon where Crab Feet live, do you?"
"Yeah. Because of that, the Giant Sweet Potato shortage keeps dragging on... The turf factories are in an uproar."
Giant Sweet Potatoes were enormous tubers that grew inside the dungeon where Crab Feet lived.
They tasted awful and had poor nutrition, so they weren't used for food, but they made high-quality, non-toxic eco-friendly turf material.
"No way. What lunatic took down Crab Feet that even 9th Grade Awakeners won't touch? All you get is stuff like Golden Jade Pills for stomachaches."
"Cough, cough."
At that moment, the lunatic in question—no, the Heavenly Demon—sitting at the reception table choked and coughed repeatedly.
"Drink some water, water."
Jang Chaewon turned and scolded him, and the Heavenly Demon cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem."
He adjusted the magazine and fell silent like a dead mouse.
Not only that, but Nameless, who had been nagging from atop the Heavenly Demon's shoulder, suddenly froze and held its breath.
"So what do we do? I've got some Divine Requests lined up this month that need eco-friendly turf installation."
"Well, you'll have to push back the schedule until the dungeon regenerates, or switch to regular turf."
"That won't work. These Divine Requests can't be delayed. They're installations before move-ins."
"Sorry. We're short on supply too... Please understand."
The miscellaneous goods agency employee bowed repeatedly with an apologetic look before leaving.
Jang Chaewon bit her lip as she glanced at the contracts piled on her computer desk.
"This is really bad... We need at least fifteen more batches of eco-friendly turf minimum."
Sitting down, Jang Chaewon picked up her phone from the desk.
"Hello? This is Bokbok Interiors. Yeah, do you have any eco-friendly turf stock made from Giant Sweet Potatoes?"
"Boss, long time no see. Hope you've been well. Thing is, we're a bit short on eco-friendly turf at the shop..."
While Jang Chaewon made calls everywhere, pleading her case, the Heavenly Demon watched and muttered softly.
"So those things filling that dungeon back then were Giant Sweet Potatoes."
[That's why I advised you not to kill so many monsters. Stabilized low-grade dungeons are for resource supply.]
The tone was downright insolent, but he had no grounds to get angry.
After pondering deeply, the Heavenly Demon spoke lowly.
"Is Giant Sweet Potato only available there?"
[Not exactly, but the quantities elsewhere are tiny. Only Crab Feet dungeons produce them in bulk.]
Nameless's eyes flashed for a moment before it continued.
[Are you thinking of procuring Giant Sweet Potatoes yourself?]
"It's not just anything—it's Divine Requests. It's directly tied to my internal energy. Come up with a solution."
Whirr. Whirr whirr.
Suddenly, mechanical whirs emanated from Nameless's body in rapid succession. The high-tech nanobot was diving into complex calculations worthy of its capabilities.
[Heavenly Demon.]
Nameless's eyes gleamed with brilliant white light once the computations finished.
[There is one way.]
* * *
A short while later.
"You're going into a dungeon?"
Jang Chaewon set down her phone, looking puzzled.
The Heavenly Demon, with Nameless on his shoulder and a massive bundle strapped to his back, had suddenly announced he was heading to a dungeon.
"You, who lounges around reading books every day when there's no work—what's this sudden change?"
"That's inconsistent talk. How is reading a book lounging?"
"Reading books during work hours isn't normal."
"It was an interior design book. Call it cultivating knowledge for the job."
"What? An inn boy doesn't play just because there are no guests."
The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue and shook his head. It wasn't wrong, but some things needed addressing.
"Insolent words. How dare you compare me to an inn boy."
Jang Chaewon's eyebrows shot up.
Conversations with the Heavenly Demon were always like this. They started rationally but always ended in pompous nonsense.
"Oh, is that so?"
Annoyed, Jang Chaewon pouted and bobbed her head mockingly.
"Then, does Heavenly Demon think reading books during work hours is proper?"
"Strange way of speaking. Don't do it."
"Why, surprised?"
"A little."
Feeling secretly triumphant, Jang Chaewon giggled and teased him.
"Even Heavenly Demon gets surprised?"
"Indeed. I never imagined someone would stick out their lips like a duck and mock me to my face."
"Ha."
So he wasn't offended—he was just shocked because it was a first. Teasing this earnest Heavenly Demon was premature. Or maybe she just wasn't skilled enough yet.
Swallowing her irritation, Jang Chaewon clenched her fists.
"Why go to a dungeon?"
"To snag a few relics. If I bring back something pricey, it'll help the boss run the shop."
"Oh, that's what it was? How thoughtful. Worrying about me and all."
She clasped her hands with a bright smile, then shook her head firmly.
"But no. Absolutely not. You can't go."
"Why not?"
"It's fine to enter for materials for Divine Requests. But you can't go into dungeons for personal profit."
A solemn light shone in Jang Chaewon's eyes, one he hadn't seen before.
"People like us who fulfill the gods' requests and get paid can't take gains from dungeons for selfish reasons. Get it?"
"I see. Because of divine power."
"Yeah. That power could shake or interfere with the human world. The dungeons rooted here are already part of human territory."
"So that's how it is."
The Heavenly Demon nodded as he mulled over Jang Chaewon's words.
"Then I must enter the dungeon even more."
"What?"
Grinning, the Heavenly Demon hefted his huge sack like a giant balloon.
"It's for the public good."
The Heavenly Demon passed through the secret passage behind the shop and entered the dungeon area.
As he emerged onto the rooftop of an abandoned building, Nameless, who had been silent as a mouse, spoke in a bright voice.
[I was nervous earlier.]
"What are you talking about."
[I thought you were about to confess to Jang Chaewon that you were the one who wrecked the D-Grade Dungeon.]
"Why would that worry you?"
[It'd be my fault for not stopping your rampage.]
"Nonsense."
At the Heavenly Demon's question, Nameless stroked its round, ball-like body with its slender mechanical arm and said.
[This industry is narrower than you think. If word spreads that I didn't properly support my user, that's it. No one will want me.]
The Heavenly Demon furrowed his brows.
"You mean there are other users besides me and the boss?"
[None now. But there might be in the distant future.]
After nonstop nonsense, Nameless looked around. The Heavenly Demon's gaze followed.
"Anyway. You said there's a way. Did you find Giant Sweet Potatoes in another dungeon?"
[No. Among known dungeons, none produce them in bulk.]
"What?"
[Among known dungeons, that is.]
Nameless turned, pointing not at the ruined building forest but toward the distant sky.
[Beyond the Safe Dungeon zone lies the Variable Dungeon area, where maps don't even have precise geography. Those dungeons aren't stabilized, have no assigned grades, and monsters roam endlessly.]
"You mean find a new dungeon."
[Yes. According to posts on the 'black market' where unregistered Awakeners share info these past few years, many claim to have seen Crab Feet near the Variable Dungeon entrance.]
"Hm."
[Combining online rumors, the odds of a Crab Feet dungeon near the Variable Dungeon entrance are very high.]
"Good."
With Nameless on his shoulder, the Heavenly Demon swiftly left the Safe Dungeon zone.
Just as he leaped between buildings and neared the boundary—
Rowdy voices echoed from afar.
[Heavenly Demon.]
"I hear it too."
[I recommend hiding for now so no Awakeners spot you.]
"Why?"
[You're an unregistered Awakener. Sneaking into the Variable Dungeon zone without permission. If others report you, it'll be a headache.]
The Heavenly Demon grunted and reluctantly halted, crouching low.
Under a crumbled building opposite were eight elderly men—seemingly a team—leaning against the ground to rest.
"Hm?"
Staring at them, the Heavenly Demon narrowed his eyes.
One was the old man he'd met before when registering as an Awakener, now sitting with a mountain of gear on his back.
[You know him?]
"Just an old acquaintance."
Following the Heavenly Demon's gaze, Nameless recited.
[Name: Song Geun-sik. Age: 70. 8th Grade Strength Enhancement skill Awakener. Currently registered as a porter for Team Old-Timers.]
"You can access others' personal info too?"
[Just querying the Association's registered Awakener database.]
They began observing the old man's group.
"Damn. With relics like this, it's basically a total bust."
Park Mun-sik, Team Old-Timers' tank and 9th Grade Awakener, spoke to Song Geun-sik, the team's porter.
"Hey, Song. Looks like we need half a day more. You okay?"
"Of course. I'm still spry."
Song Geun-sik, resting in the corner, flexed his thick biceps.
"I can carry this load all day, so don't worry and scout around."
"Sorry. Dragging a good worker like you into this... Joining our team means no money and all hardship."
"Nonsense. Working with like-minded folks is a blessing."
Song Geun-sik had picked through rubble with his granddaughter until awakening as an 8th Grade Awakener, landing a dungeon porter job for a comfortable life.
Then he got recruited by Team Old-Timers, all elderly Awakeners.
Their skills were mediocre, so pay was less than agency porter work. But he loved working with compatible comrades.
"My granddaughter's in elementary now, so no issue, but Park's grandson's heading to college soon, right? Gotta earn big."
"My son's holding up fine. It's Son's family I worry about."
Park Mun-sik pointed to Son Jung-hak, Team Old-Timers' leader, drinking a beverage against the wall.
"Son's son's an Awakener too, but got badly hurt this time. Awakener wards cost a fortune in hospital bills. If we don't raise surgery money fast, big trouble."
"Rest's over. Let's move. Check another dungeon quick."
Son Jung-hak, wearing a gloomy expression, stood and headed deeper into the Safe Dungeon zone. The others gathered their things and followed.
"Hm."
Once they left, the stone-faced Heavenly Demon moved again.
[Entering Variable Dungeon zone entrance.]
Variable Dungeon zone.
Beyond the Safe Dungeon boundary, thick gray clouds blocked the sun, and hazy mist rose at the entrance, obscuring the interior view.
"Incomprehensible."
Gazing at the mist, the Heavenly Demon murmured lowly.
"With this world's manpower and tech, they could conquer everywhere. Why haven't they?"
[When dungeons first appeared, nations ran assault teams. But back then, they knew nothing of Awakeners or dungeon monsters.]
With a whir, intense light poured from Nameless's eyes, projecting a holographic image in the air before the Heavenly Demon.
[Humans hunted monsters with existing firearms then. But each use expanded dungeons and monster numbers. Attempts to destroy them accelerated instability, spawning more monsters outside.]
Before the Heavenly Demon's eyes unfolded footage of hundreds of missiles raining on metal-clad dungeon zones.
[The Variable Dungeon zone is a product of humanity's ignorance of dungeon traits back then. With steady Awakener emergence and systematic management now, Variable Dungeons could soon be conquered like Safe zones.]
"I see."
The Heavenly Demon finally realized how ignorant he was of this world.
And why Jang Chaewon gave him Nameless.
'Learn from this guy. Slowly...'
[Sorry for the long explanation. Shall we head out, Heavenly Demon?]
"Good."
Without delay, the Heavenly Demon strode into the hazy mist.
"Hmm."
The fog-like mist limited visibility to about nine to twelve meters.
Amid faintly visible ruins, chunks of broken cement occasionally thudded down.
The Heavenly Demon had never seen hell, but if it existed, it'd feel like this.
Then, Nameless warned.
[20 meters ahead, monsters appeared. 50 Blood Seekers.]
"I see them too."
Before the Heavenly Demon stood gray wolves—Blood Seekers—on two legs, baring sharp fangs as they approached slowly.
Odd. The Blood Seekers from before were smaller than him, but these seemed fifty centimeters taller.
[Heavenly Demon. These match Blood Seekers in appearance but are much larger. Estimated danger per one: 75.]
Normal Blood Seeker danger: 25.
But Nameless judged these three times more dangerous. To the Heavenly Demon, it was just 1 vs. 2.
Thud. Thud.
With each swing of his fists and arms, massive Blood Seekers flew off as bloody pulp.
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