Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: A Packed Schedule
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My daily routine is pretty packed.
From 3 a.m. to 9 a.m., I work the convenience store part-time shift, then head straight to the factory. It's Ungnyeo Steel, a subcontractor for Hwanung Company, famous for manufacturing Giggas.
'The name's really something.'
Anyway, at the factory, I handle relatively simple, heavy labor until 7:30 p.m. Most people clock out around 5, but I negotiated extra pay to handle cleanup duties and boosted my monthly wage that way.
Then, at 8 p.m., I head to my third job.
"Hey~ You the new bouncer?"
"I'm Han Jaeyeon."
"Yeah, yeah. Ex-military, so you'll do fine. But screw up even once on the bouncer bike, and you're out. Pay's strictly daily, handed out at the end of the shift. Bail midway, and you get zilch."
"Of course."
Dressed in the uniform from the mid-sized Gangnam club, Star Gate, I started the job.
Bouncer. Or "bouncer," as they're called—a sort of doorman. Private security for bars, gambling dens, and other nightlife spots.
'I figured my discharge papers were worthless, but here they come in handy.'
It's a job that might require throwing punches in a pinch, so they want confirmed identity and some expectation of fighting ability.
Normally, a novice Ability User like me couldn't touch it, but the military discharge got me in no problem. Nightlife joints don't demand corporate-level background checks.
'Still, it's probationary. They'll cut me anytime if I seem off.'
I'm starting the job, but not solo—a trainer's glued to my side. Only after full handover and proving I can handle bouncer duties alone does the trainer back off. Basically, the whole process is the senior scouting and grooming the rookie.
"Oho, this rookie's got some real spirit. Ex-military makes a difference, alright."
My trainer's Al Lundgren. The foreign-sounding name fits—impressive old man with snow-white hair swept back.
'Whoa. How's he look that ancient? Drunks see this face and sober right up.'
Makes sense. Start trouble, and if he's just a bored retiree moonlighting, you're in deep shit.
'But he's not.'
His stance, stride, breathing—he's no ordinary senior. Ability: internal energy, level roughly skilled to expert.
Breath suggests a demonic sect martial art, likely causing premature aging as a side effect. Or maybe an immigrant from another planet.
'Give or take... Hamrom level.'
Reminded me of that orc warrior I took down recently. Instinct said their combat power matched. Maybe he's a Hard Qi Gong practitioner too.
"Good work."
"You too, sir."
Shift handover went smooth. Wrapped up all tasks and left the club at 2:30 a.m.
Straight to the convenience store. I'd planned routes when lining up jobs, so it's close.
"Huh? You're early."
"Shift ended quick. I'll tidy up and head out."
"Thanks, oppa! Score!"
Sent off the previous shift, settled at the counter. First convenience store shift in exactly 24 hours.
'One full cycle complete.'
Six hours store. Ten at factory. Six-and-a-half at club. Scrap time in between: hour-thirty.
'This is my daily grind from here on.'
Anyone seeing it'd freak: 'No sleep? You're insane!' But not my problem.
'Log in.'
Sleep in Ardenia, done.
Logged in, slept plenty, ran auto-hunt all day on wild boar meat to feed territory folk, sorted and trained new recruits by specialty.
In Ardenia, I just showered them with meat and gear, kept sleeping. Meanwhile, civilians and soldiers ate well, slept sound, took in refugees, grew steadily.
Goblin raids hit goblin-proof defenses from entrenched civilians—took heavy losses, retreated.
Smart goblins knew tactics, encircled from afar, waited for supplies to run dry...
But they never did. As long as Revenge characters kept hunting, boar haunches flowed eternal.
Log in.
Log out.
Four days Ardenia, one week reality passed.
Confirmed boar meat piling up, moved lowest-level Killians4 to new hunt spot first.
Hunt spot criteria:
1. Drops high-grade items.
2. Players discard lots of items.
3. Discards are useful.
Result: my new haunt.
"Heh. Figures it'd be here."
Killians Mountains.
[Vulcan Orc Shock Trooper (High) Drop Items.]
Basic Class Summon Scroll (No Grade). Orc Shock Trooper's Axe (High). Battle Cry Manual (High).
Healing Potion (Basic). Steel Breastplate (Basic). Steel Boots (Basic).
Yawn Iron Ingot (Material). Orc Clan Seal (Shop Sale). Gold.
Vulcan Orcs have tons of classes: warriors, scouts, shock troopers, shamans, hunters, etc.
I targeted shock troopers.
"Wriggling masses."
Customer lull at store, manipulated Killians4. Hunt spot crawling with hundreds of orcs, dozen players beating them down.
Picked densest player zone. Weaker hunt efficiency, but other gains.
Acquired Steel Breastplate (Basic)!
Acquired Steel Boots (Basic)!
Steel Breastplate (Basic)...
Snagged breastplates and boots everywhere. No complaints.
They auto here for yawn iron ingots—breastplates and boots just heavy junk.
Worthless value, heavy medium armor—literal trash!
'So they set auto-ignore.'
[Inventory weight exceeds 100%!]
[Inventory over 100% weight: movement critically slowed, stamina/HP/mana slowly drain!]
Packed till bursting, switched to Ardenia alt, equipped front-liners with medium armor.
Not all.
Broke down some breastplates, ordered iron plates riveted to leather shields.
'System-wise, pointless.'
Iron-plated leather shields show no status change. No defense boost, weight unchanged.
But physics-world different.
Clang!
"Solid."
"Plated that thick? Has to be."
"Too heavy, though. Green recruits can't even hold 'em up."
"Make 'em train with it. They'll fight in those once classed."
Watched training soldiers, nodded.
"Training's yours. I'm crashing."
"You sleep a lot lately."
"Critical phase. Thanks."
"Best we got."
Log in.
Log out.
Log in.
...Log out.
Killians3 moved spots. Killians2, finally Killians1 too.
Lowest-first rotation hit all characters level 38.
"Whoa, levels barely budge now."
Essentially stalled. Full day orc-smashing barely 10% exp.
No matter.
Unlike stagnant Revenge chars, territory folk and soldiers bloomed into elites daily.
Log in.
Log out.
Tallied during store shifts—most personal time.
'Store pay... night shift bonus hits 2.2 mil. Factory with extras: 3.8 mil.'
Decent haul already. Six mil monthly? Never pulled that before.
'Plus... club bouncer 130k daily. Even more post-probation.'
No days off, all scheduled—bouncer alone 3.9 mil monthly.
Total?
'Whoa. Nine-nine mil a month?'
Ten mil dream income!
But makes sense.
'No days off monthly... and 24/7 no sleep labor.'
Everyone says grind grind, but this ain't human.
Even me, sleeping in Ardenia, found it brutal.
Yet.
"Good work!"
"Shift done! Nice, Han—reliable. Was worried, but solo cleanup spotless."
"Impressive. Patient, good with people. Sounds funny from me, but... you're wasted minding drunks here."
Earth labor?
More fun than expected.
'Labor... this healing?'
Sturdy body eases physical work, emotional no sweat.
Dealing with people?
Compared to coaxing/threatening psycho nobles who hack legs for stepping in shadows to collect bounties as merc captain—child's play.
'Can't believe that jobless despair was me.'
Started with 100 class cards for army jobs, planned 2-mil recharge enough.
But working shifted plans.
Earns well, surprisingly.
...Feels rewarding.
"Good month. Nights hard to fill, no days off—thanks. Extra for next, keep it up."
"Kids these days flake and bolt. Appreciate you. Same next month."
"Month flew. Handle customers smooth—solo-ready. Probation off, daily now 200k."
Fierce sun cooled.
October already.
"Haha."
Grinned at counter.
Work rewarding. Tackling issues, earning nods—pure joy.
But peak satisfaction?
Payday.
Free Savings Deposit (G-Bank 1173-5511)
11,573,988 won.
"Krgh."
Grinned again, couldn't help.
Yeah. One month since starting.
Over ten mil war chest secured.