Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (13)

Special Management Advisor

[Spilling the tea about taking the awakener grade test with the EX-grade that the Association announced this time lol.txt]

[Author: Vegetable Song

Anyone remember me saying I was going for my 4th attempt at the awakener grade test? I posted about it before going

Anyway, I was waiting at the Association a few days ago until the examiner arrived

But the examiner came with one more person? Usually exams are done one-on-one, that’s the rule?

I didn’t know then

That person was the EX-grade awakener the Association announced this time lol

Even as I’m writing this it sounds fake but it’s real; I can’t describe his face in detail in case I get doxxed but he was pretty handsome, tall too

Honestly, I was fucking annoyed at the time because I had prepared really hard for the evaluation and then suddenly one more person was added

Still, I went with the mindset of just doing what I prepared, got my completed artifact examined and then it was the EX-grade’s turn

…Huh? The general artifact mana detector went boom and broke?

Damn lol I’m internally cracking up while waiting and suddenly this EX-rank suggests we try using a legacy artifact measuring device lmaooo

Hahaha seriously back then I was like what kind of idiot is that

But now I know I was the idiot lol

It was just legendary. Just like they said in the press conference, the message “This is a legacy artifact” actually appeared ㅇㅇ

That’s when I started shitting myself, couldn’t concentrate at all for real

So we moved on to the 2nd stage exam

This time it’s making that sniper rifle you guys said only idiots would make lol Since I saw what happened in stage 1, I thought wait, could it be?

But fuck, he finished it all in less than 10 minutes and was just resting lol

The press conference said it took about 10 minutes but I remember exactly

It was around 9 minutes, the Association President rounded up the record lol

Stage 3, well, you know without me saying, it’s exactly what was disclosed in the materials this time

All ‘out of specification’ lol Wow, it’s still ridiculous thinking about it again

Now I think of course since he’s EX-grade~ but back then I really felt the wall

I was really desperate you know, you’ll probably treat me like trash for saying this but my exam results were a failure again…

I was crying alone in a corner out of frustration

But the EX-grade approached me and started talking, I responded rudely thinking this talented bastard was mocking me

But you know what he said???

‘I hope you enjoy it’

Hahahahahahahahaha He says he’s failed a lot too, but in the end, all that’s left are the emotions

Really writing it like this makes it seem like mockery but it was pure advice itself, the person spoke so humbly it was convincing as hell;;

The strange thing is… it wasn’t really comforting words or encouragement either?

He just said ‘Why are you crying like a baby? Enjoy it, you bastard lol’ in that kind of way, but why?

It was somehow comforting… Maybe because it wasn’t those cliché words like ‘cheer up’

Hahaha the more I think about it, the more fucking cool it is… feels like I’ve realized something

Anyway I’m leaving the net now. I’ll never come to ArtiNet again

As 대황EX급 said, I’ll enjoy it and challenge again. It’s been fun so far. Let’s meet when I succeed ㅂㅂ]

[Recommendations 19375]

“Song Chae-ah?”

Lee Si-hyeok muttered after reading the entire post.

Song Chae-ah was the only person who took the grade test with him at that time. The content written in the post was exactly the same as the situation back then. The details were vividly alive.

“Oh, do you know this person?”

“…It seems so.”

He answered reluctantly to Yoon Seo-jin’s question.

It didn’t match.

The Song Chae-ah he met at the Association was, how should he put it, very hardworking and lacking in confidence. But looking at the tone of the post, she was just a community addict through and through.

Moreover, since the overall content of the post described him in a praising manner, he felt his hands and feet cringing.

“Wow. Si-hyeok, you’re cool?”

“…”

“Should I try it too? Ahem. I hope you enjoyed it.”

Yoon Seo-jin spoke with a deliberately solemn face. She said it was cool with her words, but her tone was full of playfulness.

“Kyaa! You didn’t come back from taking a grade test, you came back from filming a movie. Si-hyeok, you could be an actor.”

“…Stop…”

“Why, are you embarrassed?”

Lee Si-hyeok slowly nodded his head.

“Hehe. Now you finally seem a bit human. When I see Si-hyeok researching, he’s nothing but a pure monster. People should have human aspects too.”

“No, I gave you energy drinks and stuff last time…!”

“Oh my, are you showing off?”

“That’s not it…!”

“I’m joking. Of course I’m grateful for that. But even that was somehow inhuman. People should be appropriately sensible, don’t you think?”

Was this a compliment or an insult? Lee Si-hyeok was momentarily confused but decided to take it as a compliment. Good things are good things.

“By the way, the comments are going crazy too.”

Lee Si-hyeok leaned in to check Yoon Seo-jin’s screen together.

[Anonymous: That’s like the 1,249,814th time saying you’re leaving the site lol when are you actually gonna get lost?]

[Producer Joa: Wow EX Ham is so freaking cool ㄷㄷ]

[KoreanArtifactsWillAmazeTheWorld: With the birth of this EX-grade awakener, the whole world will be turned upside down. Korea’s artifacts were always great but with this opportunity…]

[ㅇㅇ: EX hyung, spread some burgers for us poor folks]

Most were positive evaluations. Occasionally there were comments criticizing Song Chae-ah, the author, but fortunately they weren’t outright profanity.

While Lee Si-hyeok was swallowing hard at the spicy comments he was experiencing for the first time, Yoon Seo-jin quickly turned off the screen.

“…?”

“Stop looking. This place is where all kinds of weirdos gather, so looking at it doesn’t help at all. You’ll be in big trouble if you get addicted.”

“But you said you look at it often too, Department Head.”

“…I have no choice but to look. Si-hyeok doesn’t need to look at it, right?”

“That’s true.”

Lee Si-hyeok was someone who didn’t look at communities and only got refined information from academic paper sites.

Unverified tip posts or crap posts would only have a negative influence. Yoon Seo-jin cutting it off at an appropriate point was a good judgment.

She suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Instead of doing this, let’s go eat dinner.”

“Dinner?”

“Yes. Si-hyeok, you’re treating. How much money has already accumulated from royalties? Tens, no, hundreds of billions? That’s enough to treat us, right?”

“That won’t do.”

Before Lee Si-hyeok could even open his mouth, Han Da-hee answered first. Yoon Seo-jin’s gaze quickly turned.

“It won’t do? Who are you to…”

“I must protect Lee Si-hyeok as safely as possible. If you go to a restaurant now, attention could be focused on him and it could be dangerous.”

Eyes that showed she wouldn’t back down.

At Han Da-hee’s firm voice, Yoon Seo-jin shrank her shoulders with a ‘gasp’. It seemed she had momentarily forgotten what situation Lee Si-hyeok was in due to her elevated mood.

“Let’s have a meal next time, Department Head. I’ll treat then.”

“Well, fine.”

“Team Leader Han Da-hee too. When Termion Security’s reorganization is finished, let’s have a comfortable company dinner then.”

“Yes.”

A meal promise was made, though when it would be was unknown. Lee Si-hyeok immediately threw that promise to the back of his memory.

‘Let’s think about that when the time comes.’

Even at this moment, he was pondering what artifact to make next.

Human relationships might be important, but in front of magical engineering, they were nothing more than a piece of paper. Lee Si-hyeok’s head was filled with only two things: development and research.

* * *

After the press conference, I decided to take a break from transport work for the time being.

I wanted to continue it alongside my research, but the situation left me with no choice.

Driving the truck back and forth between Gates and the company was too dangerous. Of course, Han Da-hee said she would accompany me, but it’s better to reduce variables when possible.

And one more thing.

There were more than just one or two matters that needed immediate attention.

Even if I could work on artifact development in my personal research lab whenever I had spare time, there was a newly added schedule this time.

―14th Floor.

Termion Security’s building.

At his usual work time, Lee Si-hyeok came here instead of driving the transport truck.

He was here to meet with the CEO of Security.

Chairman Lee Young-hoon, after confirming the skyrocketing sales that were breaking through the ceiling, had given Lee Si-hyeok the position of ‘Special Management Consultant’ at Termion Security.

Since they were reviving a subsidiary company that had been in the red to protect Lee Si-hyeok’s safety, he judged that Si-hyeok’s opinion was most important.

‘He seems to think quite well of me too.’

No matter what, giving him a position that was almost equivalent to a CEO showed that he was quite pleased with Lee Si-hyeok.

Lee Si-hyeok crossed the corridor and headed to the CEO office.

A 14-story building.

Even though this was the top floor corridor where the CEO stayed, it wasn’t as fancy as expected. Dust had accumulated on the window frames, and there wasn’t even a single picture frame to be found.

A gloomy atmosphere was already emanating from the place.

Creak!

When he opened the door to the executive office and entered, the CEO was already waiting inside.

Lee Si-hyeok sat across from him.

“Hello, CEO. I’m Lee Si-hyeok, who will be joining as a special management consultant.”

“I’m Hwang Eun-ho.”

While taking the tea cup that was offered, Lee Si-hyeok observed the CEO’s appearance.

His under-eyes were sunken and darkly shadowed. A face that hadn’t rested properly for days. His roughly grown beard and pale complexion were pitiful to see.

Was it from fatigue?

He’d heard that the failing company was now truly on the verge of bankruptcy, so the stress he’d received seemed considerable.

Thinking that things wouldn’t be resolved easily, Lee Si-hyeok spoke up.

“CEO, what do you think about Termion Security’s current situation?”

“…What do I think? It’s ruined, well…”

A completely lifeless voice. CEO Hwang Eun-ho answered without much thought.

“Then what do you think is the reason? The reason for this ruin, I mean.”

“We misread the market… Hunters don’t need security at all, so what kind of security company are we…”

“Instead of necessarily targeting hunters, isn’t there a way to target non-combat types like crafting-type awakeners?”

At those words, Hwang Eun-ho let out a bitter laugh.

“Do you think I didn’t consider that…? I tried everything I could. Do you know how many ads I put out…”

“But it still failed?”

“Yes… We did manage to secure customers to some extent… but we couldn’t arrange the security guards…”

“Ah.”

Lee Si-hyeok let out a sigh.

So, they had secured customers who needed security through marketing.

But they couldn’t hire the security guards to protect those customers.

He could understand the reason without even asking.

To protect someone in this era, you’d need at least hunters who had awakened combat skills, but there was no way such hunters would apply to this Termion Security.

Because the income from clearing a Gate once would be incomparably more lucrative than the monthly salary here.

“Then how do you plan to resolve this situation, CEO? Do you have any prepared countermeasures?”

“Hah… If I had such countermeasures, would the company be in this state?”

“But you could at least try, couldn’t you?”

“As if I haven’t tried… Of course I tried… I even went directly to those hunter lords and got on my knees… begging them to please come to our company…”

Hwang Eun-ho’s face contorted with anger.

“…Damn it. Do you know what happened? I got slapped. I heard every curse word imaginable, told to stop bothering them and get lost.”

His voice deflated again.

“Anyway… I’ve tried everything I could… I won’t interfere with whatever you do from now on, so handle it yourself…”

“Excuse me?”

“Handle it yourself… If you bring me documents, I’ll just sign them carelessly…”

Lee Si-hyeok looked at Hwang Eun-ho with furrowed brows.

He had completely given up.

He’d definitely heard that this man was once an ace who achieved tremendous results at other subsidiary companies. Thanks to that, he was selected by the Chairman and rose to the CEO position of this company.

But why had he become like this now?

“I’ll take my leave for today.”

“Yes…”

Lee Si-hyeok let out a small sigh and left the executive office.

He had planned to learn about the company’s situation in detail, but continuing the conversation seemed pointless.

He needed to devise other methods.

* * *

A nearby cafe.

Lee Si-hyeok sipped his iced Americano while looking up at the building through the window.

A few seats away, Team Leader Han Da-hee was wearing sunglasses and keeping watch of the surroundings. She said she’d provide inconspicuous security, but she looked extremely suspicious.

‘What should I do?’

The meeting had come to nothing.

He had already thought of ways to grow the company again and attract hunters, but it would be a bit difficult like this.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

No matter how much he planned, if he didn’t know how the company actually operated, it would all be useless.

‘It would be nice if there was someone who could inform me.’

If Lee Si-hyeok investigated by running around himself, he could figure it out alone, but that would consume too much time.

The Association’s security also had limits. Before that, he needed to grow Termion Security and complete Lee Si-hyeok’s own ‘reliable backing.’

When his coffee was nearly finished, someone entered the cafe.

But that person slowly walked over and plopped down across from Lee Si-hyeok.

As Lee Si-hyeok watched warily, the other person spoke first.

“Are you Lee Si-hyeok? The one who came as a special management consultant?”

“…Yes, that’s right. But who are you?”

“I’m Lim A-yeon, Deputy CEO of Termion Security. I came because I have something to discuss with you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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