Revealing the Hyeolma Empire
Click!
The door swung open, and a familiar face greeted me with a bright smile.
"You're here?"
"Yes, have you been well?"
"Same as always, dear! Your son's home and you're still sprawled out on the couch?!"
Mother, Mrs. Jang Mi-yeon, shouted toward the back of the house.
"It's not like he just got discharged from the military. He was just living on his own. Why would I greet him barefoot?"
Father, Park Bok-hae, grumbled as he emerged, scratching his thigh vigorously.
That made three of us. Our little family.
"Have you been well too, Dad?"
"Yeah, come on in. But why are you bundled up so tightly? Aren't you hot?"
"Haha, it's nothing."
Once inside, I took off my hat and mask. Sunlight still streamed through the windows, but this much I could endure.
Even to my parents, I couldn't exactly say, "Mom, Dad, I became a vampire. I can't eat garlic and sunlight drains me."
"So, how's work going?"
Father flopped onto the sofa and turned on the TV. I sat beside him.
"Things have been picking up lately. It's going pretty well."
"Oh really? When you said you were doing web design or whatever, I figured you'd crash and burn just like me. Guess you're doing all right after all?"
"Oh for heaven's sake, are you trying to jinx your own son's life?"
"It was just a joke! Why are you getting so worked up?"
"Why?! Because you still haven't gone to work today!!"
When Mother snapped, Father hunched over, clutching his lower back.
"Agh, that loud voice just made my back twinge."
"Good grief… I can't live like this. Hyun-gi, you absolutely cannot start a business. Forget freelancing—go get a proper job first!"
I flinched.
I smiled awkwardly and nodded. Mom, I'm already running a business. And it's doing great.
While I sat there awkwardly, the TV news began to play.
"Today marks the additional recruitment period for Hyeolma Guard members!"
"Every time I turn on the TV these days, it's all about that," Father muttered.
I stayed silent.
"The line is easily twice as long as the planned three thousand spots."
"What the heck is this Hyeolma Guard thing causing such a fuss? Two million won a month, I heard."
I remained quiet.
"Police and Association security forces are managing the crowd to prevent any accidents!"
"Man, the Labyrinth really does make money. If I'd awakened, I'd be raking it in by now!"
"You'd be lucky not to die out there, you old fool."
"Hey, don't you remember? You married me because you fell for my manly charm!"
"If I'd known what kind of man you were, I never would've done it. Good grief."
"Heh heh. Hyun-gi, make sure you find a woman who respects you later."
"Hyun-gi, hurry up and get a job. Save diligently and don't forget to deposit money in the bank regularly."
"…"
"Why aren't you answering?"
"Y-yes…"
Good grief, this was like sitting on a bed of thorns.
Just then, I felt Mongmo squirming in my pocket, probably feeling cramped.
Even though he was a vampire bat-rat, his S-rank nature gave him some resistance to sunlight—enough to handle the light coming into the house. I loosened my pocket a little.
"If you want to come out, go ahead."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Father turned to look at me just as Mongmo poked his head out.
"Squeak!"
"Whoa? What is that?"
"This is Mongmo. My pet flying squirrel."
"You can't even take care of yourself and now you're keeping another living thing?!"
"Oh my, oh my, what is this little guy?!"
Mother rushed over and stared at Mongmo.
Mongmo looked up at me.
You know what to do, right? You're a flying squirrel.
"S-squeak!"
Mongmo scurried up onto my shoulder and began loudly munching on a pistachio for everyone to see.
"Oh my goodness, look at him!"
"Would you look at that tiny thing nibbling away!"
My parents were completely captivated.
"Mongmo, go show them some charm."
"Squeak!"
At my words, Mongmo spread his little wings and landed on Father's chest.
"Whoa, hey now!"
"I told you, he's a flying squirrel."
"Is that so? So flying squirrels actually fly?"
While they were distracted by Mongmo, I caught my breath.
Mother, looking fascinated, dashed into the kitchen.
That was when I smelled it—the scent of garlic.
Garlic?
"Uh, Mom? You heard I developed a garlic allergy last time, right?"
"What? I thought that was a joke."
"Who jokes about allergies?!"
"That doesn't make sense! You used to love garlic so much you couldn't live without it. Still, just in case, I left the garlic out of the side dishes!"
She said she'd removed the garlic, but why could I still smell it?
My nose was already tingling when she set the table and called us over.
"Leave Mongmo there and come eat first!"
"Right, Hyun-gi! He won't go crawling into any cracks, will he?"
"No, he'll just play on the sofa for a bit."
"Squeak!"
"My, he's so clever!"
Leaving Mongmo behind, we moved to the table.
A lavish spread had been prepared for my visit.
But…
"Eat up, Hyun-gi! Your mom went to the market this morning and caused a whole scene because you were coming!"
"…"
Kimchi jjigae and boiled pork.
"Uh, Mom, I can't eat garlic."
"Huh? There's no garlic here."
I scooped up a spoonful of the jjigae and took a bite.
Tears and snot immediately streamed down my face.
"Oh dear! Why are you crying? What's wrong?"
"Mom, this is what happens when I eat garlic. That's why I can't have it."
"Oh my goodness? How much minced garlic could possibly be in kimchi jjigae? Don't tell me a tiny bit of minced garlic did this?"
"The seasoning for kimchi has minced garlic in it too…"
"But that's only a tiny amount!"
"Even a tiny amount does this…"
I wiped my tears and picked up some pork with my chopsticks.
I had to eat something at least.
The tender pork went straight into my mouth without any ssamjang.
More tears and snot flowed.
Why…?
"Mom… did you put garlic in the pork too?"
"Just a little when boiling it to remove the smell… but that's not really garlic, is it? The water was drained too."
"Yes…"
Even the pork betrayed me.
As a Korean, what was I supposed to eat now?
A perfect meal of aged kimchi jjigae and glossy, tender boiled pork—something any Korean would applaud.
Just a few months ago, I would've danced while eating it.
"I… can't eat this anymore."
Damn system.
Denying garlic to a Korean was just too cruel.
Having traded my ethnicity for a two-hundred-billion-won body, I wiped my tears and stood up.
"Oh dear… what do we do? Then what can you eat?"
"…Do we have any jjajang ramen?"
"Yes, of course. It's what you always eat."
"I'll just boil that and eat it. You two go ahead and eat."
The vampire son would have jjajang ramen.
Enjoy your kimchi jjigae and pork.
"Sob…"
***
While my parents ate the jjigae and pork, I quietly boiled and ate jjajang ramen beside them.
This is delicious too… this is…
"Hoo— hoo— slurp."
Even jjajang ramen…
"A single lettuce leaf… two pieces of meat on top… drenched in ssamjang with garlic…"
"…"
"You idiot! Your son can't even eat a single piece of meat because of his allergy!!"
"But… we gave birth to a healthy child. How could this happen later in life?"
"I gave birth to him!!"
"I contributed too…"
"Both of you, please stop…"
In the end, I filled my stomach with ramen while only smelling the meat, and the whole family gathered in the living room.
Father patted his full belly while Mother peeled an apple.
I rolled my eyes, waiting for the right moment.
I had to tell them…
There was no one else but Dad. I couldn't ask anyone else.
A drama was playing on the TV—Mother's usual evening show.
But really, it was just background noise.
She left it on out of habit.
"What did you say?! You blew all that money?!"
"That damn bastard…"
"…"
"…"
"Do you even know what kind of money that was?! Do you know how hard I worked to save it!!"
"Anyone who earns money and wastes it on nonsense…"
"…"
"…"
At this rate, I'd just eat and leave without saying anything.
I took a deep breath, turned off the TV, and faced my parents.
"Mom, Dad, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it? Why so serious?"
"Oh my, don't tell me you have a girlfriend…"
Better to rip the bandage off quickly.
I dropped the bomb.
"I started a business."
"…"
"…"
"I just started recently, but I can't be in the spotlight. I need someone I can trust, so Dad…"
"Ah…"
"Oh, Mom!"
"Honey!"
Mother clutched the back of her neck and collapsed.
"I told you so… blood really doesn't lie… What sin did I commit in my past life…"
Tears welled in Mother's eyes.
I'd expected anger, but this reaction?
I took drastic measures.
Results first, process later.
"M-Mom, my monthly revenue is ten billion won!!!!!"
"…?"
"…??"
The tears in Mother's eyes vanished instantly.
"I achieved this in just two months!! The government is supporting me, and they're fully backing my expansion!!"
"You… are you messing with your mother?"
"Yeah. No matter how much you want to run a business, lying like that won't fly, Hyun-gi."
"It's true! The Hyeolma Guard you saw on the news earlier—that's mine!"
"That… the one that's been causing such a stir?"
"Yes! That's the one! I'm the president!"
"The one with all those people lined up?"
"Exactly! I awakened, started this business, and it blew up."
Only then did Mother sit up straight again.
"Really… ten billion a month? Then the annual revenue…"
"Yes, a hundred billion! No, a hundred and twenty billion! And it's still growing."
Both parents stared at me with their mouths hanging open.
Then Father burst into loud laughter.
"Bwahahaha! That's my boy! Business blood really does run in the family! Look at that! Just like his old man!!"
"If he only inherited your blood, he'd have gone bankrupt already! This success is thanks to me!"
Watching my laughing parents, I took a deep breath.
That was close.
Mom almost ended up in the hospital before I even finished talking.
"So, I need to expand the business, but I can't be in the spotlight. That's why Dad—no, Father!"
I looked at Father with a serious expression.
"Please help me. It's time you started working again."
"Hyun-gi… you know what your dad's like. Can't you do it alone? Your mom is too worried."
I understood Mother's concern.
Three failed businesses.
Father had lost everything and even gone into debt, but I believed in him.
"It's true you failed before, but you tried your hardest. You did manual labor in the mornings, deliveries after, worked two jobs, and paid off all the debt yourself."
"Still…"
"I believe in you. With that level of responsibility, you'll do great even now."
Father quietly wiped the corners of his eyes.
"All right, Hyun-gi… What does your father need to do?! Just tell me what to do!"
"Yes, Father. What you'll be doing is…"
The key to this plan.
What Father would do.
"You'll be the figurehead president."
"?"
"??"
A figurehead president.
Mongmo would handle everything anyway.
"Squeak!"
***
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
In a workshop for awakened equipment in Seoul.
Kim Dan, an awakened craftsman, was hammering away at items as usual.
He hadn't always known how to be a blacksmith.
But after the tutorial, his ability had become "Iron Blacksmith."
Unlike awakened who ventured into the Labyrinth, his was a safe, lucrative "iron rice bowl" production class that could be used in reality too.
Though physically demanding from hammering weapons and armor, the rewards were unmatched.
Craftsmen like Kim Dan could name their own price.
When he stopped hammering, his waiting assistant rushed over with a towel.
After wiping his sweat, Kim Dan left the workshop.
He picked up the phone from the cabinet, checked his missed calls, and dialed.
"Hello."
"Yes, Master! This is Choi Young-bok! About the equipment I asked about last time…"
"What? I told you to come in person. And bring the materials yourself."
"Haha, well, my schedule's been too tight to come personally… I'll just send the materials, so if you could…"
"Then forget it. Find someone else. Who do you think you are, trying to get custom work without even showing your face?"
"N-no, sir! I'm sorry! I'll visit soon…!"
"No need. I'm hanging up. Go find another blacksmith."
"Master…! Master…!"
Click!
Kim Dan ended the call.
Who did they think they were, treating a master craftsman like this?
No manners at all.
Kim Dan grabbed a beer from the fridge, sat on the sofa, and turned on the TV.
The news was playing nonstop—two anchors discussing the Hyeolma Guard craze.
Gulp, gulp.
"Ah, life is good. The gods really did choose me. Out of all the abilities, I got blacksmithing."
Every awakened crawled at his feet.
For a single piece of armor or a weapon.
There were three ways for an awakened to obtain equipment:
Risk their life in the Labyrinth to find it, buy overpriced gear from the community marketplace without knowing if it would fit, or commission custom equipment from craftsmen like Kim Dan.
Of course, those with money always preferred custom gear.
While sipping his beer and watching TV, a commercial suddenly aired.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
It opened with CG goblins hammering.
"How long will you keep entering the Labyrinth empty-handed?"
"You won't. Not if you don't want to die."
"How long will you keep wearing equipment that doesn't even fit properly?"
"That won't work either. Loose armor just gets in the way during combat."
Kim Dan nodded.
"For people like you!! Normal Equipment Set!!"
"…?"
"A full set of Normal-grade armor for just 49,900 won per piece!"
"What…?"
"You think armor is expensive? Not us! Worried about repairs when it gets loose? Just throw it away and buy a new one!"
"…??"
"Affordable at only 49,900 won!! All sizes available for every body part! Buy the full set and get one weapon of your choice for free!!"
"F-free weapon?"
"For your safe Labyrinth adventures! Hyeolma Gentleman is here for you!"
The commercial ended with a goblin giving a thumbs-up, grinning widely.
"E-even for Normal grade, custom-sized armor per piece is 50,000 won? And a free weapon???"
Thud, clatter.
The beer can slipped from Kim Dan's hand and hit the floor.
"W-what about labor costs?"
A disruptive species had appeared in the equipment industry.
The End