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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 19: Dongdaemun Labor Market (4)
It seemed like Yoon Seo-Jin had been waiting for me to say that, as his eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"I was actually about to ask you first..."
"Does it really matter who says it?"
In the Masok labor market, the basic rule was two people working as a pair. Even if it wasn't Yoon Seo-Jin, I’d still need to go in with someone else.
I’d rather work with someone I’d exchanged a few words with than a complete stranger. Before the boss called us, I had a brief conversation with Yoon Seo-Jin.
We weren’t that different in age, so we spoke informally.
"Wow, bro, you did archery?"
"Yeah, though I didn't make it to the national team."
"But still, that's not easy to achieve."
The world knew that Korean archery was elite. People even said that joining the national team was tougher than winning an Olympic gold medal.
People only remember the top spot, thinking those who didn’t make it are failures—but that’s just wrong.
Even if someone didn’t make it, just reaching that level of competition was praiseworthy.
If I picked up a bow now, even a local archery contest would be a stretch for me.
"Do you still do archery?"
"I quit; it ended up costing more money than I expected."
According to Yoon Seo-Jin, every arrow shot was money spent. He’d been searching for other work when he Awakened and thought it was a good time for a career change.
He’d finished his Awakening training but hadn’t figured out what to do yet, so he was wandering around the labor market.
As expected, he was a ranged dealer. He said he’d become an Awakened hoping he could still shoot arrows, even if it wasn’t practical to become a professional archer. Not that it’s unheard of—there are indeed some ranged dealers who use bows.
'But the role is pretty rare. Is he going to be okay?'
I was a bit concerned, but he was older than me, so I figured he’d handle things just fine. I also shared a quick summary of my own profile with him.
"So, you started working right when you turned 20?"
"Yeah, that’s how it went. I graduated from Dongdaemun, but I’m just here today to take care of something."
"Heh, so I’m just hopping on the bandwagon with a veteran?"
"Bandwagon? Masok’s your responsibility. I’m not here to help."
"Even just letting me tag along is a big help. I heard Dongdaemun doesn’t play around with people's pay."
Other areas had improved in recent years, but there were still con artists trying to scam newcomers.
In Dongdaemun, though, things were solid under Boss Park Dae-Sik’s watchful eye.
"I saw you walking in with Boss Park and thought, ‘That’s the one.’"
"For someone so sure, you hesitated quite a bit at first. You could’ve just asked if there was an open spot."
Yoon Seo-Jin’s face flushed slightly at my joke. My master, who was perched on my head, chimed in.
[Such a greenhorn. Chose to be a bow-wielding dealer just because he likes archery? Tell him to drop it.]
'Why, what’s wrong? Fresh blood isn’t so bad.'
Although he was older, as an Awakened, I was his senior. Yoon Seo-Jin’s level was barely around 6.
[Fresh blood? You’re a rookie yourself.]
'Have you ever seen a rookie as well-seasoned as me?'
In my repeated regressions, I barely survived against Nyarlathotep and its underling monsters, struggling with every ounce of strength. Thanks to that, most monsters didn’t scare me.
[Nope. Never have, and I probably never will.]
'Right? I’d better keep it that way. Who knows when I’ll get another shot if I die.'
I chuckled to myself, playfully bantering with my master in my head. When I laughed alone out of nowhere, Yoon Seo-Jin looked at me a bit strangely.
It seemed I’d need to start managing my expressions when talking to my master.
Having someone to talk to made time fly by. The work supervisor called me, and I went over with Yoon Seo-Jin.
"And who’s this next to you?"
"This is my bro. We agreed to work together today, so please let him join."
"Alright."
After a bit of hesitation, Park Dae-Sik reluctantly gave his approval. We signed a single-page contract for day labor and then headed to Gimpo.
Near Gimpo, there was a low-tier Otherworld Gate Zone.
In Korea, there are five low-tier Gate Zones, with the Gimpo Gate Zone being the third largest.
The locations of the gates were fixed, and in front of each gate stood a stone marker engraved with a number.
"D-7, looks like it’s here. Wow, it’ll open soon."
The scouting team, chosen to go in first, would enter the gate, clear out the monsters, and then return so the rest of us could go in and start mining masok stones. The catch was the order of entry—those assigned to a gate that had already been cleared by the scouting team had a huge advantage.
After all, we’re just regular workers, and who wouldn’t want to start early, finish early, and go home?
That’s why the earlier spots were highly competitive. Usually, rookies didn’t get them, but I could tell that Park Dae-Sik was looking out for us.
"What are you doing?"
"Making ramen. Want some? Five thousand won."
I sat down on the ground, took out a camping mini gas burner and a pot from my bag, and started boiling water. I shook a cup of ramen in his direction.
"Who’s gonna pay five thousand won for cup ramen? That’s a rip-off!"
"Then don’t have any."
I poured the hot water into my own cup of ramen. Yoon Seo-Jin glanced around and quickly realized why I was charging that price.
A passing vendor was selling a single cup of ramen for fifteen thousand won and a bottle of orange juice for seven thousand won.
"Hey, it’s your first time in Gimpo, right?"
"Yeah. I usually work around Pyeongchon."
"Look around. What do you see? Nothing. That’s why they jack up the prices. If you wanted ramen, you should’ve brought some with you."
Pyeongchon might be a small worksite, but out here, there really was nothing. Even if it’s just a low-tier gate, there are so many that it’s impossible to develop anything nearby.
When my ramen finished cooking, the aroma got to Yoon Seo-Jin. He squatted down next to me, dug into his pockets, and pulled out five thousand won.
"It’s gone up by a thousand now."
"This markup's worse than a festival. How much are you actually pocketing here?"
"Bro, what are you talking about? Festival prices here would be twenty thousand won for a cup."
You’re underestimating a Korean festival. This land, where even our legendary forefather Dangun got scammed in real estate, is a place where only the strong survive.
I tossed the ramen to Yoon Seo-Jin. When he tried to hand me money, I waved him off.
"Just kidding. It’s on me."
"Thanks."
"Though, boiling water costs ten thousand won..."
"You little—"
"Alright, alright, it’s a joke!"
I poured the boiling water into his cup of ramen. We sat on the ground, eating ramen like homeless people as the morning sun rose.
Ramen always tastes special when you eat it here. Funny how people are, really. At the time, working out here was exhausting and I cursed at the world—but looking back, it’s all memories now.
Even the emotions from back then get polished with time, turning into experiences. Maybe the greatest gift humans have is the ability to forget.
We finished off the ramen with a container of instant rice I’d brought along. After that, Yoon Seo-Jin and I didn’t say much.
Since it was our first time meeting, there wasn’t much common ground to keep talking, but I didn’t mind the silence at all.
Thanks to this break, I was able to check over my plans with Master once more. While it wasn’t some grand dungeon, this was still the first dungeon I was entering since meeting him.
Plus, this wasn’t just any task—there was the Quantum Tower and the Otherworld to deal with, a weighty mission in its own right.
This was something unimaginable for me before I was trapped in this cycle of endless returns.
Repeating time over and over makes people stronger! …Or so they say. Truth is, it’s just a matter of flailing desperately to survive.
Oh Yeon-Su was right. Whether it’s me, Master, or even Kim Do-Jin’s students, we’re all just struggling to survive in our own ways.
That’s why all we can do is give our best while we’re still able.
[Got it? Until you defeat the Winter Witch, Yo-Hwa, you absolutely must not awaken. Don’t go recklessly killing monsters.]
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You said this was a one-time hidden piece, right?”
Upon reaching Level 20 and three stars, one could gain an awakening talent through supernatural enlightenment. What mattered most was the first awakening; depending on what you did or which monster you defeated right before leveling up, your abilities could vary.
That’s why groups like the Elden Clan gather up rookies before their enlightenment and train them.
The hidden piece Kim Do-Jin taught me about from the Quantum Tower was a “Mirror of Karma.”
The Winter Witch, Yo-Hwa, appears as the boss in the hidden dungeon known as the Winter Forest.
To even enter the Winter Forest, you need an item called the Mirror of Karma.
There’s another catch: only those below Level 20 can enter the Winter Forest. I was pushing that limit, which was why Kim Do-Jin was always nagging me not to level up by accident.
“But isn’t it kind of unfair that only those below two stars can enter, but the recommended level is 40?”
[That’s what makes it a raid dungeon.]
The maximum group size in the Winter Forest was twenty people. To stand a chance, you’d need a large raid party with at least ten or so people in their late-teens levels.
I didn’t know much about the climbers in the Quantum Tower, but I understood how awakened individuals operated.
“Absolutely impossible!”
If you’re talking about a raid in that level range, the maximum group size should be three to five people. Raids are all about adaptability to constantly changing situations.
Even if you gathered a party, there wouldn’t be enough experience or skill to cover any shortcomings. And any talented individuals would have long since out-leveled their teens.
They call it a beginner raid, but it’s really a hidden piece that’s nearly impossible to beat.
“Is it normal for you to work people this hard, Master?”
[Just noticing that now?]
He could’ve denied it just to spare my pride.
But soloing wasn’t completely out of the question. The only Level 40 entity was the Winter Witch Yo-Hwa herself; the other monsters, as far as I’d heard, were manageable.
More importantly, I had time. According to my plan, I’d be able to enter the Winter Forest within a week and, over the next two and a half months, clear the dungeon at my own pace.
“Are you really sure no one else will enter?”
[Yeah.]
“Not exactly reassuring.”
[The Yo-Hwa on the first floor is just a remnant of her thoughts, not the real one. To really understand her, you’d need to reach at least the fifth floor.]
Any climbers who could reach the fifth floor wouldn’t be able to access the Winter Forest. Few climbers knew about the Winter Forest at all, and even fewer understood its intricacies, according to Master.
Plus, the method Master shared guaranteed the drop of Yo-Hwa’s essence.
“You’re telling me that if I awaken while killing Yo-Hwa, her essence will drop for sure. Where did you even get that kind of information?”
[Focus on staying alive. It’s doable, but it won’t be easy.]
“Just curious, Master… what do you think my chances of survival are?”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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