77. The Iridescent Shell
[Iridescent Shell]
Rank: 3
Grade: Unique
Description: A colorful iridescent shell hidden somewhere in the white sea. If used on a special item, it seems it can make one dream sweet dreams.
The information window that popped up left no room for other possibilities. Hanbit looked at Yeonwoo with a puzzled expression.
"…How do you have this?"
"It's a perk! It said it'd be given based on contribution, right? Iridescent Shell—this is it, yeah?"
"Ah."
He'd been so fixated on one thought that he'd forgotten about it. Whether it was the Goddess's will or the design of the developers carrying out her orders, it didn't matter. He'd gotten a way to find the hidden zone right in his hands.
"Don't just stand there spacing out—try using it quick!"
Yeonwoo handed the shell to Hanbit, who carefully placed it on the glass surface of the Dream Nautilus.
Shlrk—
The rippling shell vanished in an instant. And then a message appeared.
[The compass has begun dreaming happy dreams.]
[6 hours remaining until it wakes from its sleep.]
- ?
- This guy's crossing the line hard;
- Compass prick, you hear about indulgence?
- Time to school it with some heavy metal.
- For real, let's wake it up good.
As the waiting time appeared again, the viewers erupted in outrage. It struck Hanbit as a bit odd too.
'It does take time normally, but…'
Even in the isekai world, he'd had to wait for the sleeping compass to wake. But things were different now. Quests might impose wait times to advance the story, but rewards had no such need.
The perk taking a full 24 hours felt suspiciously like it was dragging out the pace. There had to be a way to deliver it instantly since it was a game, after all.
'No point overthinking it.'
No matter how much he speculated, that's all it would be—speculation. In the end, he'd have to meet someone who knew the situation, be it a developer or whoever. Otherwise, he'd find clues himself.
Either way, it was good news for Hanbit, who had planned to log off anyway.
"Sorry, but that's it for today. I'll decide what to do tomorrow after using the compass."
"Ah, Black Dragon. Could we meet offline tomorrow?"
"Offline… like, in person?"
- IRL meet ㄷㄷ
- Collab stream?
- Can we get a broadcast?
- 9pm news material lol;
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Hanbit faltered. Avant-garde chuckled and added an explanation.
"There's some streaming stuff to talk about, and I have a device that'll help with your play. Search for Core Company's RP Effector—it'll come up."
"Really?"
Hanbit opened a search window and looked up "Effector." Products in the 20-million-won range popped up one after another.
"You're giving me one of these?"
"Don't worry, it's a spare. I got it as ad swag."
From the details, it looked like a newly developed product.
There was no reason to turn down the surprise gift.
"Got it. I'll DM you my number. I should be free in the evening—how about 7? I'll check with Roper on the spot. Oh, cool if others join?"
"Of course!"
"Great. See you tomorrow then. I'm logging out first."
"Yes! See you tomorrow!"
Click—
With that, the game connection cut off. Hanbit removed his headgear and stepped out of his room.
"Done already?"
The voice came from the lit-up living room. For some reason, his mother was sorting receipts.
"Mom, why aren't you asleep?"
"I head out tomorrow afternoon. But what's this about 100 million won? You scared me."
The call from the company had left her stunned. Earning hundreds of millions was bewildering enough, but a whole billion?
Hanbit sat in the chair next to her, listening quietly before flashing a grin.
"Let's move, Mom."
***
"Kang Hanbit, you're famous now, huh?"
The next day at the office, Hanbit faced an unexpected situation. His team leader had called his name directly.
He didn't react right away, still not used to the "体験型" moniker.
"Nah, not that big a deal."
"What do you mean, not a big deal? The news is blowing up over it."
Sitting at his monitor, the team leader scrolled with his mouse wheel. Articles still buzzing from the episode reset. Next to them, a list of fabricated X-Tube videos.
"Big corps are lining up scouts, I hear. You trashed their offers? Kid already knows the taste of money."
"Not about money—I lined up a spot at a friend's company."
"Company? What about your internship?"
"Wouldn't that get me disciplined for moonlighting? Felt like I was on the chopping block."
"Aish. That was just talk."
The team leader waved it off and pulled open a drawer. He fished out yesterday's apology letter and slapped it on the desk.
"I'll handle the moonlighting thing. Just do me one favor."
"Favor?"
"My son's dying to play RP. Wants to be in some pioneer squad or whatever. Can you bridge him to those big corps? Hook him up with support."
"…."
His voice heated up talking about his son—a far cry from calling Hanbit "体験型."
He was used to people flipping like pancakes, though. Listing off the trash he'd met would take forever, and getting emotional over each one was a losing game.
"Sorry, no spare time for that. Feel free to watch my channel guides. Or have him try streaming."
"You want my boy playing clown for views? You nuts?"
At the mention of streaming, the team leader's brow furrowed. That reaction said it all about his biases.
"RP skill's got talent written all over it. Stream it, and you'll get reactions. That's how I caught corps' eyes."
"Exactly—use your pull to make it happen for him. You playing dumb or just slow?"
"I get it, but I can't."
"You little shit…."
Hanbit's firm refusal made the team leader grind his teeth, face flushing as he snatched the apology letter and shoved it in his face.
"One word from me, and you're fired. Fired! Got it?"
"Moonlighting's my fault—no helping that."
"Think that's the end? Step out that door, and you won't land a gig in this industry. I'll make sure."
"That's fine. I'm going full RP anyway."
"What?"
The team leader looked baffled, then sneered patronizingly.
"Get real, kid. How long you think that flash-in-the-pan lasts? Get a stable job—got your mom to support."
"Made over 100 million yesterday alone. Should be okay, right?"
"100 million? What bullshit…."
"It'll hit the news too. If your son pioneers, he might get the same. Cheer him on for post-retirement security."
"Ha."
The team leader sighed in exasperation at Hanbit's brazen confidence. Hanbit pulled his resignation letter from his pocket and handed it over.
"I'll humbly accept the discipline, but I'm submitting this regardless. Time to tidy the meeting room anyway."
"You motherfuc…!"
Hanbit bowed lightly and headed straight to the meeting room. Profanities flew at his back, but his steps were light.
"You really okay? Team leader's got wide connections."
Sunbae Lee Minho, already cleaning up, asked worriedly.
"Yeah. Dead serious about going full RP. Suits me more than I thought, and it's fun—no regrets."
"…Can't argue that."
Lee Minho, who'd followed Black Dragon's news, nodded in agreement. Someone with that much RP talent wasting away at a semiconductor firm was a crime.
"I can still share game data after I leave."
"Ah, that project's canned. R&D's keeping it internal now."
"Oh?"
Hanbit paused at the surprise. He'd joined the gear research for Goddess clues. He'd found one lead, but he couldn't just drop it.
"You sticking around here, sunbae?"
"…Actually prepping to jump ship. Body's hitting its limit."
Lee Minho had shouldered grunt work and boss duties nonstop. No human could endure that forever.
"Got a target company in mind?"
"Kinda. Thinking of switching fields entirely…."
He'd learned plenty here and wanted out. Bad memories aside, it just didn't fit.
"Like what? No more design work?"
"Probably not. Checking RP gear broadened my horizons—always been into new tech anyway."
Lee Minho had tinkered with dev and research since kid days. Sticking to it might've changed everything. Choosing college and job practically left regrets.
"RP-related companies catch your eye?"
"Interested, yeah, but RP gear specialists demand insane specs. All the top talent flocks there."
The game's boom skyrocketed gear makers' value. Top three dominated; newcomers couldn't breach. Talent naturally went stable.
"Any must-haves?"
"Must-haves? Hm…."
Lee Minho paused while wiping the whiteboard. Pay and perks mattered, but after this place, work environment topped the list. No more bullying bosses.
"Just a chill vibe. Even remote work sounds nice."
"…Yeah, that'd ease the mind."
The chat revealed his heart. Hanbit pondered amid the settling silence as they finished tidying the room.