The President's Gift
"Ah, I'm screwed, totally screwed."
"A… Dad?"
"Why the hell would I be your dad, you little punk!!"
"Kiiing… Woruk!"
A massive hyena the size of a small hill kept trotting after me.
It wasn't a real hyena, of course.
It walked on two legs, waddling awkwardly.
Seeing a two-meter-tall creature wagging its tail while following me was so ridiculous I could barely stand it.
"You can't talk properly, but you understand what I'm saying, right?"
"Hek hek."
It stuck out its tongue and nodded furiously.
Once Goblins reached Intelligence 15, they could handle most basic communication. Gob had been exceptional from the start, and Goblins were naturally smarter than most monsters anyway.
Kobolds were monsters specialized in agility.
Too specialized.
They traded intelligence for speed, but what good was that? It helped when they were just hunting humans on instinct, but as subordinates they were useless. Changing their class didn't help either. Their habits and appearance might shift, but their low intelligence stayed the same.
"Gob."
"Kerk?"
"What should we do with the Kobolds…?"
"Kerrrk… They have a great sense of smell! If you tell them to fetch items, they'll bring them back!"
"I already have Golden Goblins for that."
"…Hmm. How about pulling carts, kerk?"
"They're already doing that. What do you think?"
"Honestly, it's pointless. Our Goblins don't have anything to do either… The Golden Goblins handle everything, kerk."
"Exactly."
If I didn't have the Golden Goblins, I might have thought, "Well, at least we can loot the first floor!" But that wasn't the case.
"Ehehehe! Ehee! Ehehehe!"
"…"
The Golden Goblin was already sprinting around with nothing left to do after stripping the first floor bare.
My entire farming operation had been reduced to the Golden Goblins.
"Gob, take Bolt and try a few things anyway, just in case."
"Kerrk, understood, boss! Bolt!! Follow me!!"
"Woroo! Woroo!"
At least Gob still listened well as the eldest. After watching Bolt shuffle after him, I left the Labyrinth.
I had no immediate solution. It felt like I'd only be able to make use of the Kobolds once I got the ten-thousand-familiar achievement, just like with the Goblins.
I needed to raise my Domination Power by another nine thousand, which meant eating forty-five more Ether.
"Ugh, this is so annoying. Where the hell am I supposed to find more Ether… Huh?"
"Ah, yes, yes. Of course. We're the ones who should be grateful. We're doing our absolute best as well."
Mongmo was in human form, talking on the phone for once. The Association had given him a phone because he said he needed it for work.
Who was he talking to so seriously?
The Association President?
Mongmo spotted me and walked over while still on the call.
"He just came out. Shall I hand it over?"
"Huh? Mongmo, who is it?"
"Yes, I'll pass it to him now."
Mongmo casually handed me the phone.
"What? Who is it? Hello."
- Good afternoon, Mr. Park Hyun-gi.
"Yeah, it's the President. Take the call."
"Ah, Mr. President… What?"
- This is President Park Jung-ang.
"Excuse me? Eeeh?? Th-the President?!"
- Hahaha, feel free to speak casually. Being President isn't such a big deal. Just think of me as an older acquaintance.
"…?"
How could I possibly do that? He was the highest-ranking person in South Korea…
Cold sweat started pouring down my back.
Why? The President? How?
- Haha. You've been through quite an ordeal. Still, your decision to stay for the sake of Korea despite America's offer of money… no, Ether, was truly admirable. Korea's future looks very bright because of you.
"M-my decision?"
- That's right. You turned down America's temptation and chose to remain for your country. Haha!
"Ah, yes…"
That was all Mongmo's doing. I'd actually been seriously considering going to America for just 0.4 garlic.
- After something like that, how could we just sit still? A true hero of Korea has been born!
"No, I'm not really a hero…"
- Of course you are! Deaths in the lower floors have plummeted, and equipment prices have stabilized, raising the floor for all Awakeners. All of this is thanks to you, Mr. Park Hyun-gi!
"Th-thank you."
The President sounded far more energetic than he did on TV. He didn't seem like he was about to arrest me or expose my identity, at least.
Still, I couldn't let my guard down completely. This was the peak of the political world, after all.
- I'm the one who should be thanking you! Thanks to you, I finally got a good night's sleep. Hahaha!
"…?"
He was surprisingly down-to-earth. Maybe he wasn't so scary after all.
- That said, we can't just let this go without doing something, can we?
"Pardon?"
- Since you're keeping your identity hidden, we'll deliver it through Association President Kim Min-woo.
"Deliver what, exactly?"
- A medal. The highest honor we can bestow at this time.
"A… medal?"
When I stood there stunned, Mongmo nodded at me.
"Indeed. You are worthy of receiving it! Have you not toiled day and night for this nation?"
More like day and night of playing and eating.
- Along with the medal, the Presidential Office will also show a small token of appreciation…
"You really don't have to… It just kind of happened. So the medal and all that, I think I'll have to decline—"
- We would also like to provide you with one hundred Ether.
"I accept. I'll put it to good use, Mr. President!"
The President laughed heartily at my immediate answer.
- Of course, of course. It's a smaller amount compared to what America offered, but I hope you'll understand that we're doing our best as well.
"Of course. I'll work even harder."
- Yes, please do. And absolutely—no immigration, all right?"
"Y-yes…"
The word "immigration" carried an oddly prickly undertone, but I had no intention of leaving anyway. I'd already endured 0.4 garlic.
- Haha! Ah, and would it be all right if we announce this on the news?
Ah. So that was the real reason.
I finally understood why the President had made such a big investment. My current image was that of a highly capable patriot. They wanted to broadcast it to the citizens—proof that the Shut-In Blood Demon wasn't going anywhere and was on good terms with the government.
- Well, I won't take up any more of your time. The medal and Ether will be delivered by Association President Kim Min-woo shortly, so you can discuss the details with him.
"Yes! I'll do my best. Thank you!"
After confirming the call had ended, I lowered the phone.
"…Whoa."
One hundred Ether…?
While I stood there dazed, Mongmo transformed back into a flying squirrel and landed on my shoulder.
"Master, what will you do with it once you receive it?"
"…Not sure."
The Golden Goblins brought in over fifteen Ether every month, but I never dreamed I'd suddenly have over a hundred. That was basically seven months' worth in one go.
As I wondered what to do with a hundred Ether, one idea came to mind.
"…Do you think I could raise the Kobolds' intelligence too?"
"That would be a waste of Ether, Master."
Checking values.
Domination Power has increased!
Domination Power 11,200 → 20,200
Choi Kang-hyuk couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He'd been pushed down to second place?
In South Korea?
It had been a record no one could touch. And after only six weeks away, this was what happened?
It felt like the world was putting on a Truman Show just for him.
On any other day he would have gone out drinking all night to wash away the fatigue from the Labyrinth, but he wasn't in the mood. Choi Kang-hyuk, who hadn't slept a wink, drove straight to the Association the next morning.
"I need to ask them myself. Does this even make sense? It's not a joke."
Seventeen?
That number was impossible.
At the very least, when it came to Ether in South Korea, he knew more than anyone. He was certain he was the only one who had reached the central area of the fifth floor. No one else in Korea walked the center of the fifth floor.
Yet suddenly seventeen had fallen from the sky?
"This is ridiculous. There has to be something. No one in Korea can surpass me."
Ignoring speed limits, Choi Kang-hyuk raced toward the Association. When the car in front stopped at a red light, he had no choice but to slow down as well.
Then something caught his eye.
- The government has decided to award a medal to the "Shut-In Blood Demon," who has been doing his utmost for the nation.
"…?"
A news broadcast was playing on a large electronic billboard attached to a building wall. The story was about the Shut-In Blood Demon, who had been all over the news lately.
A familiar face appeared on screen.
Association President Kim Min-woo.
He was shaking hands with a man wearing a red mask and handing something over, smiling as he explained he had come in place of the President for security reasons.
- Along with this, we will also be providing one hundred Ether so that he may continue creating an even safer Labyrinth…
"…What?"
- Yes, I will do my best.
The masked Shut-In Blood Demon accepted a bottle with a smile. Anyone could see it was filled with Ether.
"…"
Waaaaang! Kigigigik! Bang!
Choi Kang-hyuk slammed the accelerator and crashed into the car in front.
"What…?"
Ignoring the driver who was trying to get out, Choi Kang-hyuk kept pushing the car forward and sped down the road. Disregarding traffic lights and speed limits, he headed straight for the Association at breakneck speed.
Bang! Crash!
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"A car just—!!"
The crumpled sports car smashed through the Association lobby's main entrance.
Choi Kang-hyuk stepped out, blood streaming from his forehead.
"Where the fuck is the Association President!!!!!!"
His roar echoed through the now-chaotic lobby.
"Come out, Association President! Kim Min-woo, get out here!!"
"P-please calm down, Mr. Choi Kang-hyuk!"
"Get lost!! Bring me Kim Min-woo!! What?! One hundred Ether?! When I asked, you wouldn't even give me one!!!!!"
Choi Kang-hyuk's furious cries rang through the wrecked lobby.
"Why!!! Why won't you give Ether to me!!!!!"
"When did you film that?"
"I shot it quickly with Mongmo whenever we had time. It didn't take long."
Footage of receiving the medal and Ether kept playing, but it was all pre-recorded.
The real thing was here.
"Here it is. One hundred Ether. And we've been told not to collect the remaining debt either."
"…Is that really okay?"
"Of course. They originally offered three thousand."
"No, you know what that was, right? That was just—"
"It was probably half sincere."
Sincere about 0.4 garlic? Not just for show?
When I gave him an incredulous look, Association President Kim Min-woo chuckled softly.
"At first I thought America had gone mad, but recently we've concluded that you're worth that much."
"Why, exactly?"
"The biggest reason is the Hyeolma Guard."
Kim Min-woo smiled and opened a file.
"What's this?"
"It's a treaty strengthening cooperation between the U.S. and Korea inside the Labyrinth. This is what America managed to secure while losing face."
Just that?
I'd wondered why they were treating me so well. It was all for a treaty that probably wouldn't even be upheld?
I knew enough about the Labyrinth by now.
To prove a crime inside the Labyrinth, you first needed video evidence like a body cam. Second, that body cam—or the corpse—had to return to reality.
But who would bring out a body cam from a corpse to prove someone's innocence? Finding the body in the first place was already a hassle.
Because of this, no law was ever upheld inside the Labyrinth. Corpses were either dismantled by monsters or completely erased during reset.
Even with a body cam, you could just destroy it after killing someone.
If people from the same country ignored morals and law, what about foreigners? Different races?
There was no way any rules would be followed.
"…Don't tell me that's why?"
"Yes, exactly. They know it too. The only reason they signed this treaty is because of one person. They judged that as long as you, Mr. Park Hyun-gi, uphold it, that's enough."
"It doesn't mean anything, though."
"No, it does. If you enter the fourth floor, that is."
The fourth floor of the Labyrinth.
The level where populations from around the world began to meet. It was incomparably more fierce and dangerous than the first, second, or third floors.
Moreover, from the fourth floor onward, most people viewed other humans as valid targets for farming.
"When did I ever say I'd go that far?"
"Investments are made at the bottom. And there's already a country seeing clear results, isn't there?"
"Our country?"
"Yes. The announcement the National Assembly made this time wasn't a lie. Thanks to the stable equipment supply, the death rate on the first floor has dropped sharply. On the second floor, the Hyeolma Guard and the Goblins helping Awakeners have also drastically reduced fatalities."
"…That's because I'm getting paid for it. The others are just potential customers."
If my future customers were being attacked, why would I tell the Goblins to ignore it? I might as well help take down a few monsters, hand over some bread, and move on. That way, the line of potential members would form on its own.
There was no reason not to do it.
But it seemed to have brought far more side benefits than expected.
"Keep saving people like that. Of course, I'm not asking you to do it for free. Keep taking money, and from now on, don't sell your Ether to us—use it all yourself. We'll benefit from the Awakeners who survive because of it."
Weak Awakeners survived.
If they survived, they grew stronger. If they grew stronger, they could enter deeper parts of the Labyrinth.
"…Raise the floor for Awakeners?"
"Hahaha! You catch on quickly, as expected. That's right. The ceiling doesn't matter. If even one ranker dies, it's over. But if tens of thousands of Awakeners survive and grow steadily?"
Could one ranker, no matter how much they brought back, ever match ten thousand low-level Awakeners? If just ten out of ten thousand picked up one Ether each month from the first floor, it would be nationally equivalent to one Choi Kang-hyuk.
"America wants you to help from the fourth floor onward. Well, we can think about that when the time comes, can't we?"
Association President Kim Min-woo smiled and stood up.
"I'm truly glad someone like you has this kind of power. I'll take my leave now."
After the Association President left, I sat blankly in the living room.
Even though I understood it logically, knowing the process that had brought me here made it feel absurd.
I'd just wanted to eat some garlic. There was never any grand sense of duty.
"…Well, if it's good, it's good."
I might as well overcome the garlic penalty and look after the Korean people while I'm at it.
It wasn't like they were asking me to do it for free.
I used the Ether I'd absorbed.
"Use Ether. Strengthen Domination Power by 45 points."
The system notification appeared in a glowing blue window.
Domination Power had skyrocketed to twenty thousand in one go.
Originally, I would have had to wait at least four months, but thanks to the government's bold decision, I'd bought myself time.
I summoned Gob through the familiar third-person link.
"Gob."
- Kerk. You called, boss?
"Send the kids to the Black Forest. Have them bite as many Kobolds as possible and turn them all into familiars."
- How many should we bite, boss? Kerk?
The goal was already set.
"Nine thousand. Fill it up to a total of ten thousand."
- Understood, kerk!
Time to check the ten-thousand-Kobold achievement and its SS-rank reward.