Laborer Mr. Kim Reaps Sweet Rewards with Auto-Hunting - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 22

Our Arthur.
Rank, Upper.
Usually he’s weak against Robin, who’s the highest rank….
But there’s one moment when he becomes oddly strong.
When?

Clap-clap!

“Arthur, front and center! Everyone gather up!”

Bingo.
Right before a dispatch mission, when we all gather for warm-ups.
Maybe it’s because he hates being bothered otherwise.
Robin’s always quiet at these times, at least.
So what then.
Can’t have Lani lead them, so Arthur has to.

“Alright, let’s go! Begin!”

And that guy?
He actually loves it.
When you watch him, seems like he enjoys it second only to coffee, maybe?

“One! Two! Three!”

Look, see?
His voice is already brimming with excitement.
But he seems even more fired up than usual today….

“Today we can run as hard as we want! Really go all out! That’s right, boss?”
“Then go ahead, the Training Ground’s soundproof is perfect, so let loose.”
“Yes! Perfect!”

Ah, I see.
The place where they were running until yesterday?
The rooftop of their old home.
They managed their training and warm-ups somehow….
But honestly, it couldn’t have been comfortable.
Now that they can shout and run all they want, let them have at it.

“Squee! Squeeee!”

What’s this.
What’s got into them now.
Weren’t you just training a moment ago?
And you’re still brimming with energy….

“Squee! Squeak!”
“Yeah! The orc gentlemen really love the thwack! The boom! The bang! Love it!”

Thwack, boom, bang.
Oh.
The weapons Lani made?
New gear is definitely nice.
Just holding them seems to pump them up.
So then….
A new weapon and all—what about Robin?

“…….”

Same situation for her.
You could tell she was thrilled.
Watching someone who normally wore boredom like a second skin now sweat through a sprint said everything.
When everyone else is excited, you don’t want to be left behind.

“One! Two!”

Lani joined in with a broad grin plastered across her face.
But Lani—
That doesn’t look like warm-up exercises so much as choreography….

“It’s fun!”

Yeah.
I guess it is.
Anyway.
Once the exercises are done?
Time to chant the safety call.

“Weapons check! Good!”
“Whee-hoo!”
“Helmets check! Good!”
“Whee-hoo-hoo!”
“Safety, good! Good! Good!”
“Yee-haw!”
“You doing the safety call too?”

Me?
Annoying, really.
But everyone’s pumped, so I might as well play along.

“Good! Good! Good!”

What even is this?
The rhythm of the workplace, apparently.
Now that we’ve chanted the safety call, we’re ready.
Time to move out, then?

“…….”
“Whee-hoo.”

Robin and the Orcs—
They’re all glancing at each other.
Eager to test their new weapons, are they?
Hmm….
Who should I send first?
A moment’s thought, then I decide.

“Orcs, you’re up first.”
“Whee-hoo-hoo!”
“…….”

Robin’s giving me that look—a question mark written across her face.
But I’m never telling her the real reason.
The simple truth is, fights between the weaker ones are more entertaining to watch….
You’ll wrap yours up too fast, Robin.
So, orcs it is.

“Let’s pick a difficulty. How about we go with the usual?”

Normally, orcs.
We’d send them to F-rank or D-rank dungeons.
Since it’s a test, should we do the same this time?
I asked casually enough.

“Squeee-eek!”

They jumped three feet in the air, crossing their arms into an X.
A firm refusal—message received.

“What about a C-rank dungeon then?”
“Squeak!”

Their enthusiasm was genuine.
But would they actually pull it off…?
If I asked Arthur—

“Let’s do it!”

There we go. Just like that.
Okay.
No point second-guessing it then.

[Dispatch Worker]
– Dungeon

“Squeak!”

They’re the ones with no doubts at all.
The way they bolted through the gate the moment it opened…
They must be dying to test out those weapons.
Anyway.
Come back safe, all of you.
We’ve got a celebration tonight—don’t get hurt on me.

* * *

[C-rank Dungeon: Forest of Ash-maned Wolves]

The monsters that spawned were naturally ash-maned wolves.
Massive things, each the size of a bull—one, two, three…
How many were there, anyway?

“No problem! We’ve got this, you bastards!”
“Yeah?”

Fair point.
They wouldn’t have come if they weren’t confident.
These workers.
Their self-assessment is scarily accurate.
So I decided to trust them.
But this…
This exceeded expectations.

“Look at ’em go! They fight like demons!”
“No, it’s not just fighting well—it’s like they’ve become a different species altogether.”
“Damn it!”

Crack!
An orc swinging a shovel smashes cleanly into the wolf’s ribs—
Home run.
The ash-maned wolf goes flying with a yelp.
So you just leave it there?
Of course not.
The orc with the pickaxe closes in and crunches down.
Then for the finishing touch.
Brings the war hammer down with a bang.
Brutal doesn’t begin to cover it, but the rhythm? Flawless.

“Arthur, listen up! These guys are getting good!”

[C-rank Dungeon conquest successful!]
[Clear time – 00:18:46]

The numbers are clean.
Over twenty kills in eighteen minutes?
And not a scratch on them.
That Rank promotion was worth it.
Going forward, the orcs?
Officially cleared for C-rank Dungeon assignments.

“Hoot!”

Good.
Now it’s Robin’s turn.

“…Ready when you are.”

Let me pull up the available dungeons—
There are a few A-rank ones.

“The Tower’s only twelve floors—might be boring. Want to hit an A-rank Dungeon instead?”
“…Yeah.”

All right.
We’ll tackle the Tower later once Arthur runs through it. For now, Robin goes first.

[Dispatching Worker]
– Dungeon

Get ready, and off you go.
I wonder what a top-tier Worker can do with a bow Lani crafted.
Let’s see what she’s really made of.

* * *

[Dungeon conquest complete.]
[Auto-hunt terminated.]
[Clear time – 00:03:41]

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

See?
I told you Robin was going to make quick work of it.

“Is this right?”

That’s what I’m saying.
I never imagined we’d clear it in three minutes.

“…It’s a matchup thing.”
“If you fill the wyvern’s forehead with arrows as it charges, matchup doesn’t matter—you’re basically invincible.”
“Whoosh! I shoot and the big bird dies!”

That’s Lani for you.
It wasn’t a bird, though….
But she does shoot well.
Every arrow landed dead center on the forehead.
And the moment they hit, it dropped.

“…Absolute Lethal Poison. Nice.”
“Right! Whoosh, excellent! Lani made it so well!”
“……Yeah.”

She doesn’t seem happy with the name.
Arthur tried it out and was over the moon about it.

“But what’s Absolute Lethal Poison anyway?”
“…A skill.”

A skill?
Let me take a look.

[Whoosh]
– A masterwork of superior craftsmanship.
– Grants powerful poison damage on hit.
– High probability of applying poisoned status to targets.
– Special skill ‘Absolute Lethal Poison’ unlocked.
– Immunity to poisons below a certain potency threshold.

Absolute Lethal Poison.
The name alone sounds lethal.
What’s the effect?

“Whoosh! When you hit, incredibly potent poison spreads out in a huge blast!”

That explains it.
Enemies drop instantly when hit by the arrows.
So that’s why.
Absolutely broken stats.

“…Now, we can… go to an S-rank Dungeon….”

Huh?
S-rank?

“An S-rank Dungeon?! Lots of good materials there?”

Our Lani.
Her eyes lit up again.
Anyway, whenever materials come up….
But Lani.
S-rank Dungeons are practically nonexistent.
They barely ever spawn in the first place.
And even if one does appear, people run themselves ragged competing for the rewards before anyone can even enter.

“Ah, I could send a Worker out for that, I suppose.”
“Mmm!”
“But we don’t have any right now….”
“Sigh….”

Can’t be helped.
We’ll just have to…
head up the Tower of Chaos and mine for materials ourselves.

“If you two dig up materials there, Lani will make you something even better.”
“That’s right! Lani will make me a prettier, nicer bow!”
“Arthur, besides slashing and crashing around—can you use a sword?”
“Yep! If you bring me materials, I can make anything!”
“Squeeee-eek?!”
“The orc gentlemen too!”

Once you level up your Ranks, they said they’d make stuff for you.
Don’t worry—just focus on training hard.

“Since we all worked hard today, how about we order some food?”
“Noodles with black bean sauce!”
“That’s right. Now that we’ve moved in, we have to have noodles with black bean sauce.”
“Squeeee-eek!”
“The orc gentlemen asked if they could eat a lot!”

Eat a lot?
Of course.
I’m ordering plenty, so don’t worry.

* * *

“Delivery!”

Ding-dong!

“Here already?”
“Of course. You know how fast delivery is in this country.”

You all wait here for now.
I’ll bring it all in.
I crack open the door carefully, peering out.
No one’s around.
Twenty bowls of noodles with black bean sauce and side dishes.
All there.
Once I bring it all in quickly and set everything up—

“Wow! It smells amazing!”
“Arthur…. I need food.”

Lani and Arthur are already seated.
Robin’s quick to join too.
The orcs?

“Squeee….”
“Hey, hey, stop drooling so much and come sit down already.”

Seriously.
They’re drooling so much the floor might as well be the Han River.
But they come right over when I call.

“By the way, do you guys know how to use chopsticks?”
“Chirp?”

Never mind.
Just eat it deliciously….

“Chirp-chirp!”

Fortunately, once I handed them utensils, they grip them better than expected.
Well then, let’s dig in.

“Everyone, enjoy your meal.”
“Lani is grateful for this meal!”
“Arthur too!”
“…….”
“Chirp!”

This is my first time eating with orcs.
And yet, they handle their utensils well.
They’re remarkably neat eaters.

“Chirp!”

Even giving thumbs up.
Eating together was the right call.

“If you work hard, I’ll buy you chicken! Arthur, you should try it too!”
“Lani as well!”

You’ve only eaten it once yourself.
I remember last time I ordered it for you, and you immediately started bragging about it.
But?
That bragging actually worked.

“…Chicken? Coming out every day…….”

Robin, that one.
At first she was reluctant, eager to clock out early.
But somewhere along the way, she started really wishing for it.
Even when it’s time to leave, she lingers, staring out the window a little longer.
And now, whenever I see her, she’s envying that I come out every day.
This won’t do.
As the Personnel Management Director, I need to look after my workers’ welfare.

“Robin, just wait a bit. I’ll level up your rank quickly and call you out every day too.”

What’s my Experience Points count again.

[(8/15)]

Phew.
Not much left.
As for quests….

[Quest List]
1. Clear the Tower of Chaos Floor 20
2. Conduct Training at the Training Ground 5 times (0/5)

Still, that’s fortunate.
Right now there’s nothing but easy ones.
Let me start by breaking through this one.
Time to rank up.
Steady and solid.

“Boss, aren’t you eating?”
“If that doesn’t taste good, should I give you Lani’s? This one’s actually delicious….”
“Chirp! Chirp!”

Honestly, these meerkats.
The moment I let my mind wander, they’re only looking at me again.
Fine, let’s eat.
Eat and build strength—let’s do this.

* * *

Beijing, China.
The mood at the Central Awakener Management Bureau was grim.

“The Russians sent a support request.”
“Yes, sir. They want to catch some mysterious Korean maker who keeps slipping through their fingers. They’re asking for help and saying they’ll grant any demands within reason.”
“Refuse it.”
“Understood.”

A support request from Russia.
The target: Korea.
Normally, we would’ve accepted.
The problem is.

“Brief me on the current situation.”
“Monsters have advanced to within ten kilometers of the dungeon perimeter. We’re barely holding them back by deploying all registered Hunters, but….”
“Any progress on suppression?”
“…My apologies.”
“This… how did things escalate to this point….”

A National Disaster State.
Worse—monsters from an S-rank Dungeon are roaming freely outside. An unprecedented catastrophe.
This was China’s current situation.

“Still no location on Wei Jin?”
“Correct. Since he departed to clear the S-rank Dungeon, he remains missing to this day….”

When the S-rank Dungeon appeared so suddenly?
We weren’t alarmed.
Not even though it was near Beijing.
Why?
An S-rank Dungeon is level 60 territory.
Which means only Hunters who’ve cleared the Tower of Chaos at floor 60 or higher can tackle it.

Wei Jin—China’s number-one ranked Hunter.
Currently clearing the Tower of Chaos at floor 62.
So we sent him.
Naturally assuming he’d clear it and return.

“I never thought Wei Jin would die.”
“We can’t be certain yet….”
“While monsters from the dungeon have advanced ten kilometers and Wei Jin hasn’t sent word? You still think he’s alive?”

The outcome?

[Wei Jin, missing.]
[S-rank Dungeon, Break.]

They had lost Wei Jin, the number one ranked Hunter.
And the monsters were pouring out of the Dungeon.
There was only one way to stop them.

“If we clear the S-rank Dungeon that is the core of this Break….”

But could it even be done?
They’d have to cut through ten kilometers of monsters packed like a field.

“Sigh….”

There was no choice.

“Send a support request to the United States.”

They had to prevent the catastrophe of monsters advancing all the way to Beijing.
Yes.
No matter what price they had to pay.

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