Chapter 12

Chapter 12

[Episode 03] Bus (2)

High-end building.

Literally a building where the word high-end was not wasteful.

The sense of oppression felt as soon as entering the lobby.

The marble floor was shining smoothly, and office workers wearing neat suits moved busily.

I heard on the news that bonuses alone were in the hundreds of millions or something.

Thinking that everyone here were people equipped with that much wealth, it seemed somewhat overwhelming.

‘Large corporations are large corporations.’

A large corporation that all Republic of Korea citizens know just by the name, Hyeseong Group.

A guild directly operated by that large corporation.

‘Then the me who was suspicious looks like a fool.’

No one knows what happens inside the dungeon.

Isn’t there a lot when looking at novels or webtoons.

The development where the protagonist who was solo playing gets backstabbed as soon as starting party play.

The development of trying to kill and silence inside the dungeon aiming for the expensive items the protagonist possesses.

I had thought of such possibilities, but it didn’t look like a place where such a thing would happen at all.

‘Still, let’s not let our guard down.’

Currently, my attire was shabby.

All items received from the Explorer Management Center.

As a weapon, I brought the steaming hot Tutorial [Wand] obtained this afternoon.

No matter how one looked, it was the attire of a person with nothing to strip.

While blankly sightseeing people, soon one man neatly dressed in a suit approached me and said.

“Nice to meet you! Are you Explorer Kim Jaehyun-nim?” “Yes, that’s right.” “Honored to meet you. I am Jang Young-cheol, team leader of the Dungeon Clear Support Department.”

Was he in his early 30s?

A person who seemed to have embodied a capable salesman as is.

“This way please!”

The place we headed was a cafe on the 1st floor.

Surprisingly, everything was free.

Holding the ordered drink, we took seats in a private room in the corner of the cafe.

‘Is this large corporation employee welfare?’

I ordered a strawberry latte, and it was delicious to the level of overwhelming famous brand cafes.

The person in charge took out a tablet and started flipping the screen with familiar hand movements.

“You said you wanted the bus up to the 20th Floor, right? After the contract, if you deposit the down payment of 10 million won, which is 10% of the total amount, it is possible to proceed even today right away. After that, every time a clear is completed, settle 5 million won each as post-payment. You can quit anytime in the middle if you wish, and pay the remaining balance after the 20th Floor clear. Please check the contract first here.”

Since the amount was the amount, it seemed they were writing a contract as well.

While carefully examining the contract handed over by the person in charge, at that time.

“If it is not rude, may I ask Explorer-nim’s class?”

I answered while showing the [Wand].

“I am a Mage.” “Ah, as expected.”

One could tell just by looking, so what was he trying to say by dragging it out like this.

“I will propose directly. If you make a direct contract with us, we will provide the climbing bus up to the 30th Floor all for free.” “...Free?”

Bus up to the 30th Floor.

That price alone was 1 billion.

That meant, in other words, the same as saying they would give 1 billion.

“Yes, instead there is one condition.”

As expected.

There is no free lunch in the world.

Give and take is basic.

Giving 1 billion meant they were hoping for something of that value.

“What condition is it?”

To my question, he answered while showing a good-person smile.

“I think there would be Explorer-nim’s own reason for choosing a private company like us rather than Management Bureau exclusive.” “!”

For a moment, I tensed.

This person.

Does he know something about my ability?

Fortunately, that tension did not last long.

“It’s because of the [Single-Person Survival Right], right?” “······.”

[Single-Person Survival Right]

Only then did I roughly understand the situation.

This person seemed to think that I did not choose the Management Bureau’s bus for the purpose of purchasing the [Single-Person Survival Right].

“Contract period 2 years. Contract money 100 million separate, and for 2 years, we give an annual salary of 300 million under the name of consulting. With this contract, what we hope for from Explorer-nim is only one thing. When you need money, just sell the [Single-Person Survival Right] to our company side.”

To think they would openly mention purchasing the [Single-Person Survival Right].

“We separately pay an amount of 100 million won per sheet of [Single-Person Survival Right]. In cleanly processed ‘cash’.” “...How many sheets or more do I have to sell per year as a condition?” “There is none.” “Yes?” “Even if you do not sell even one sheet during the contract period, it is fine. However, when you wish to sell the [Single-Person Survival Right], we just hope you find our company side first.”

Because I really did not understand, I asked once more.

“...Does it mean there is no problem even if I leave without selling even one sheet of [Single-Person Survival Right] for 2 years?” “Exactly right.”

The person in charge said while showing the tablet screen.

“Anyway, there is no mention of the [Single-Person Survival Right] at all in the consulting contract. Bluntly speaking, even if Explorer-nim says he will sell the [Single-Person Survival Right] somewhere else rather than our company, there is nothing we can do.”

“Can I check the contract a bit?” “Of course.”

It was true.

On the contract, there was not even one condition disadvantageous to me.

Bus fee 1 billion and contract money 100 million and annual salary 300 million for 2 years.

Just by signing the contract, one could earn 1.7 billion without doing anything.

As a bonus, a sales outlet where the [Single-Person Survival Right] could be disposed of was created as well.

A proposal with no reason to refuse.

But.

“Why go this far?”

It was pure curiosity.

“Because the [Single-Person Survival Right] has that much value.”

Immediate answer.

As if it was not something heard once or twice, his answer was overflowing with confidence.

“But isn’t it an item with no meaning at all unless Salvation Points are insufficient?” “Instead, if Salvation Points are insufficient, that value will have no choice but to skyrocket.” “······.” “It is a kind of insurance.”

***

In the end, I contracted.

And currently, I was wearing a [Rare] grade armor set, not the cheap items received from the Center.

Moreover, I also received a [Rare] grade weapon.

[Wizard Wand] -Item Grade: 「Rare」 -Effect: Magic Attack Power +29 / Magic Precision +20 / All Magic Damage +10%

From the position of a Normal-grade Mage, an item one would want to purchase even if bringing tens of millions.

These were all items supported by the company.

However, the finishing touch was separate.

“Here, the [Emergency Escape Right].” “???”

[Emergency Escape Right] -Tear to escape the dungeon

An item that Explorers so-called ‘jackpot’.

A rare item that comes out from the vending machine with an extremely vicious probability.

Originally, the dungeon is either die or complete the clear once challenged, one of the two.

There is no choice itself of giving up midway.

An item that makes that possible.

Even if combining all the [Rare] grade armor set I am currently wearing, this one would be more expensive.

Of course, even if one has money, it is an item that cannot be obtained.

“Please be sure to come and rent it every time for dungeon clears and proceed with the clear.”

Is this large corporation welfare.

The chest becomes grand.

‘Can’t I receive just this one somehow.’

Even with just this, I would have thought of challenging solo.

Minimal insurance.

Greed boiled densely in my heart.

“Then let’s go.”

Following the guidance of the person in charge, the place arrived was the underground parking lot.

He got into an expensive-looking vehicle and said.

“Please get in.” “Where are we going?” “We are going to the hospital. The clear is proceeded with the medical team on standby. So that emergency situations can be dealt with anytime.” “...Do people originally receive this kind of treatment?” “Of course. Even those who only purchased the bus product, not the contracted person, can all receive this service.”

With this much, 100 million is not regrettable.

No, rather to the point of wondering if it is insufficient.

Anyway.

The place arrived by riding the car driven by the person in charge was a hospital very familiar to me.

‘I expected it though.’

Hyeseong University Hospital.

It was also the hospital I had gone in and out of all my life.

“Let’s go.”

VVIP ward.

A place I set foot in for the first time even while going in and out of this building for over 20 years.

Four people were waiting there.

Among them, a man with an intense impression of muscular build and caterpillar eyebrows greeted first.

“Nice to meet you. Party team leader Seo Tae-woong.” “Baek Ji-hoon.” “Choi Do-yoon!” “I’m Jeong Ha-eun. Nice to meet you.” “Kim Jaehyun. I look forward to working with you well.”

After briefly finishing introductions and hearing precautions, the clear was proceeded immediately.

“First, we will form a party.”

[‘Seo Tae-woong’-nim has proposed a party. Will you accept?]

“Yes.”

[5-person party has been formed.]

“We will depart right away. 11th Floor, challenge.”

With the appearance of the person in charge waving both hands as the end, the surrounding scenery changed in an instant.

“As I said just now, just follow from the very back. Ha-eun-ah, take good care of him.” “Yes.”

From then on, I watched the clear process with eyes blazing.

Because as soon as this ended, I had to turn to solo play right away.

“Three skeletons appeared in front!” “Ha-eun-ah!” “Yep! Energy Blade!”

Monsters seemed to need no worry.

Because even Jeong Ha-eun’s magic, whose Mana looked much lower than mine, was cleaning them up in one shot.

Instead, I particularly concentrated on the two most necessary pieces of information, the dungeon structure and trap locations.

“Everyone prepare! It’s the Memory Maze section!”

Memory Maze.

A trap that also comes out on the 7th Floor.

A vicious structure where one had no choice but to be hit by the trap without a strategy because one had to move stepping only on the fixed footholds.

At that time, Jeong Ha-eun explained to me.

“Jaehyun-ssi also cleared the 7th Floor, so you know what the Memory Maze is, right?”

“Yes.” “Then no need for explanation. Just look at the foot positions well and follow, and it’s the end. However—.” “Ha-eun-ah, from here I’ll explain. You go across first.” “Yep.”

It was Seo Tae-woong.

He said with a serious face.

“Here, it doesn’t end with one leg breaking like the Memory Maze of the 7th Floor. Especially in the case of Mages with low Stamina, the moment you step wrong, your life is in danger.”

A harsh warning.

Since it was a matter where life was at stake, it was natural.

“But there is no need to worry greatly. We will support front and back, so even if you step wrong, there will be no case of getting hurt. If you wish, I can even carry you on my back and jump over—.” “No. It’s fine. Please guide me.” “Understood. Let’s go.”

Baek Ji-hoon in front, Seo Tae-woong behind.

Warriors with sturdy builds supported me front and back.

‘1.4, 2.3, 3.5, 5.4...’

It was also to follow the footprints as is, but for the next clear as well, I memorized madly.

Like that, when about 30 minutes had flowed.

[You have cleared the Normal Dungeon (11th Floor).] [Level has increased.] [Salvation Points are being settled.]

‘Too easy.’

Succeeded in the clear without using a skill even once.

To think it was a clear where one just had to follow quietly from behind.

‘More than that...’

The thing I was worried about did not occur.

I thought something like taking advantage of a gap to aim for the back of the head, combat continuing, and ‘No, didn’t you say Mage? Why is a Mage’s reaction this good?’ would happen.

‘...So I even made Strength, Agility, and Stamina all 30 and came.’

It was finished so peacefully well.

“Good work. Then when shall we set the next schedule?” “Is it possible right away at 1 PM tomorrow?” “Of course. Then see you tomorrow.”

After the clear ended safely, the person in charge who had been waiting nearby approached.

“Here are Explorer-nim’s personal items. Please return the rented items to me.” “Yes... I used them well.”

Like that, returning the items and on the way back home.

“Shall I give you a ride?” “Ah, thank you.”

Receiving even the last escort, I returned home.

And.

[201,600,000 won]

The bankbook balance had doubled.

I had clearly gone to spend money, but when I came to my senses, money had been earned.

‘Is this that? Money earns money?’

© Araman#1683j