Wings for Your Labyrinth Life

"Oh my, where is this place?"

"This looks like a nice place to live. My old nest was ruined by the biting winds."

"Oh my, is that gentleman our new leader?"

"···."

New species kept slipping into our territory, one after another, fleeing from the goblins and kobolds whose sweat still lingered in the air.

"Kerrk, Captain, something feels different over there, kerrk."

"Nuuu, what is it?"

Gob and Bolt blinked in confusion beside me as they watched the newcomers.

The harpies clustered together, glancing around curiously at the territory.

Unlike the goblins and kobolds, these harpies had perfectly feminine forms. From mid-thigh down they were avian, with wings instead of arms, yet their bodies and faces were indistinguishable from humans. Thankfully, the important parts were all covered in feathers. If they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hadn't been, I would have had to dress every last one of them.

"Gob, take them to the training grounds and education center. Put them wherever seems fitting."

"Kerrk? What kind of work are you giving them, Captain? Training should match their abilities!"

"Hmm···."

Goblins had high intelligence while kobolds ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠excelled in agility. I could already picture how to use their titles and rewards, but the harpies were different. Their stats were perfectly balanced across the board.

They were slightly less clever than goblins boosted by the "Cunning" trait and slightly slower than kobolds enhanced by titles. Being able to fly was a major advantage, though···.

"Start them on odd jobs on the first floor. Once we hit the ten-thousand mark next week, something will come to mind."

"Understood, kerrk."

The harpy titles had an absurd option attached: "Becomes more beautiful." Thanks to that, their faces had definitely shifted closer to the beautiful side.

Wow. Could I even show these girls to regular people? Their faces were stunning, but their bodies were avian. The dissonance was intense, yet it confirmed one thing.

"My type is still human after all."

I liked humans. No matter how beautiful the face, it stirred nothing in me.

Thank goodness.

"Gob, and make sure the kids turn any harpy queen they find into a subordinate."

"Keruruk. Got it, Captain. But, uh···"

"Yeah···?"

"Can we really work these guys hard?"

"?"

Gob pointed at the harpies with an awkward expression. The flock kept chattering in girlish voices while looking around.

"Work them."

"K-Kerrk··· You're a cruel captain!"

"Remember this, Gob. In our territory···"

I placed a hand on Gob's shoulder.

"There is no discrimination between male and female."

"Kerrk···!"

Get it together. Your own species isn't exactly uniform either.

***

After leaving the rest to Gob, I returned to reality. He would handle things fine.

Now it was time to eat pizza at home and watch my subordinates in third-person view.

"Ah, I'm really craving garlic dipping sauce."

I used to love dipping not just the crust but the whole slice. Now I couldn't even eat it. I should just be grateful I could still have pizza at all.

I ordered a pepperoni pizza from a nearby shop and headed upstairs. The security guard would have to bring it to the door, but there was no helping it. What else could I do if I wanted delivery?

The meals the chefs prepared were delicious and high-class, with no garlic, but they lacked that certain flavor. Hard to put into words—maybe that rough, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unrefined feeling? That was what made it good.

Click.

"Master, you're back?"

When I opened the door, Mongmo was already back from the association and working in the room.

"Did everything go well?"

As usual, I sat at my desk without much fuss.

"All taken care of. And about that business you wanted to spend money on···"

"Yeah, got any good ideas?"

"I thought of something perfect. A business that helps the underprivileged."

"The underprivileged? That's a good cause. Let's do something like that. We've got money rotting away."

The golden goblins had entered the third floor and were generating 150 billion won a month just from magic stones. Adding all Bloodma affiliate businesses pushed monthly revenue close to another 100 billion. That was only one month's sales. The Bloodma Group was approaching 3 trillion won in annual revenue.

Yet there were hardly any places to spend it. Even after bonuses, performance pay, and welfare for employees at the Bloodma Building headquarters, we couldn't burn through 10 billion a month. Thanks to that, the headquarters was being called the best workplace in the country lately.

"Right, right. Knowing your intentions, I've already recruited some poor souls who were neglected in the Korean labyrinths."

"There are neglected classes in the labyrinths too? What do you mean?"

Maybe weak, non-mainstream ability users who couldn't leave the first floor?

"They're truly pitiful. There are those who can't receive most of the benefits our Bloodma Group provides!"

"···I don't know what you're talking about, but take care of them. It'll improve our image too."

"Our image can't get much better, but leave it to me! I'll handle everything!"

I nodded as I watched Mongmo thump his chest.

What was the point of earning money? I already had a house. As long as I had enough for tasty food, that was enough.

Beep—.

"Ah! Pizza's here!"

I dashed out, grabbed the pizza left at the door, and brought it inside. Pepperoni pizza and cola made me happy.

Only one thing was disappointing.

"Sigh, what a waste."

I had to throw away the garlic dipping sauce.

***

"Haa···. This must be the right move, right?"

Han Seol-a stood in front of a building and let out a sigh. Once the contract with Bangguseok Hyeolma's secretary was finalized, the Bloodma Group contacted her immediately. She had arrived here to do something she had never done before.

An advertising shoot studio.

"···And I worked so hard to avoid this all this time."

Han Seol-a was one of the most well-known Awakeners in Korea. She might even have higher recognition than Choi Kang-hyeok, the former rank 1. A cold-faced beauty who entered the extremely dangerous labyrinths. An Awakener with looks that could rival most idols, yet she was Korea's rank 2? She was bound to be famous. She even had a fan club.

Naturally, every company had flooded her with advertising offers. But no matter how much they offered, Han Seol-a turned them down. She already had plenty of money. Even as rank 2, she received four Ether per month. Selling just one regularly to the association brought in 10 billion won monthly. She had no need for more money.

This time, however, was different.

"You're here! This way, please!"

The moment she entered the building, people pulled her inside as if they had been waiting.

"Oh my, look at that skin. You're so pretty!"

"Th-thank you···."

"What cosmetics do you use? Does everyone's skin get this nice after entering the labyrinth? Hohoho, I'm jealous."

"No··· that's···."

Surrounded by people, she received makeup for the first time in her life and was led into the studio. It was a green-screen CG filming set.

"Welcome, Han Seol-a! Wow, you're even more beautiful in person! You've memorized the script, right?! Let's get started right away!"

"Y-yes."

As Han Seol-a stepped inside the studio, a man in a green bodysuit walked over and crouched beside her.

"That person is playing the goblin! Just act naturally!"

The man in the green bodysuit grinned and raised his hand upward. Han Seol-a squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then took his hand. She had agreed without questions because she was blinded by magic stones.

"Ready··· cue!"

"W-we'll add wings to your labyrinth life!"

Was this really the right choice?

***

Several days had passed since the Bloodma Guard entered the third floor.

The entry was successful. But it wasn't without casualties. Because the harpies had fairly high intelligence, some of them put up resistance, and the harsh rocky mountain environment was taking time for the goblins to adapt to. Unfortunately, a few goblins had died, but overall things were proceeding smoothly.

And then there was the problem of the harpy queen. They said she was somewhere, but the field was so vast that she still hadn't been found.

"Where on earth is she?"

I kept checking on the goblins who had entered the rocky mountains through third-person view of my subordinates. There were goblins wandering alone, goblins traveling with others, and goblins who had raided harpy nests for items. Each was doing their best to explore the labyrinth, but there was still no word on the harpy queen.

Of course, I could always have ordinary harpies capture the queen later and turn her into a subordinate, but that would only happen after training enough ordinary harpies to handle it. The fastest method was finding the boss and making her a subordinate right away.

While I was observing the rocky mountains from third-person view, my phone on the desk vibrated.

"Yeah, Dad?"

A call I hadn't received in a while. Lately he had been going to the company surrounded by bodyguards just like me. For safety reasons, it might be time to switch him to a professional manager.

"Hello."

-Hey, Hyun-gi. The new business we started is getting good reactions, but the guidelines are a bit vague.

"Huh? You should talk to Mongmo about the business."

-He's not picking up. We're sorting through applications for this new project, but I don't know how far to accept them.

"What kind of business is it, anyway?"

-Huh? Didn't you see the ad? Mongmo said you ordered it.

An ad?

-Just go on YouTube. It'll be right there.

Following Dad's words, I paused the third-person view and headed to the computer.

Click.

Mongmo flew in after finishing his business in the labyrinth.

"Oh, Mongmo. Dad's on the phone. He says he has questions about the new business."

"Huh? Questions?"

Mongmo flew over and took my phone.

"Master's father! We only accept rankers! Just rankers! If that's too few, then fourth floor and above!"

"···?"

Wasn't the new business supposed to be the charity project? What was this about rankers?

I went to YouTube and entered Bloodma TV. There was a video I hadn't seen before. A woman was prominently featured in the thumbnail.

"···Han Seol-a?"

Of course I recognized her. Most young men had seen her face at least once. Korea's rank 2, the woman called the Flower of the Korean Labyrinth. She was the advertising model?

When I clicked the video, a goblin appeared, hugging a pile of documents and running around.

-Awakeners who have advanced into the world labyrinths, how is your reality treating you?

It was supposed to be a charity ad, so why was it going on about high-rank Awakeners?

-Once you enter, it could be as short as four weeks or as long as six! We've prepared this to support all of you who are drifting away from reality!

"Four weeks? Four to six weeks means fourth- or fifth-floor world labyrinth users, right?"

-Equipment repairs, item sales, even handling all those trivial real-world paperwork! We'll do our best to support you in every way!

When the goblin dramatically fell over, a woman walked up with stiff steps and helped him up. Han Seol-a looked at the screen with an awkward smile.

-W-we'll add wings to your labyrinth life! Bloodma Supporters!

"···?"

Han Seol-a gave a thumbs-up alongside the goblin.

-T-try aiming for rank 2!

"···Mongmo?"

"Yeah? Did you call me, Master?"

"What exactly is this new charity business you mentioned?"

"Ah, that!"

Mongmo flew over and landed on my shoulder.

"It's a support project for rankers."

"···Rankers? You clearly said it was support for the underprivileged."

"Isn't that what rankers are? They're the neglected class who get their Ether taken by the country but receive none of the Bloodma Group's benefits!"

"···?"

"So we've decided to support whatever the rankers need. As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a way to give them some strength."

"Those people make plenty of money, don't they?"

"Even if they earn, it's only a tiny fraction compared to you, Master."

"···."

"So we've decided to help them out. We'll get them what they need and handle their real-world chores too!"

"So you're saying those people are the underprivileged?"

"Exactly! An underprivileged support project! And on the side, it promotes the Bloodma Group too!"

"···."

It seemed Mongmo had misunderstood the meaning of "underprivileged."

***

After the ad aired, the community was buzzing for the first time in a while thanks to Han Seol-a.

And Han Seol-a, who had been watching all of it.

"···."

She set her phone down and sat in the office with her face bright red.

The door opened and a man walked in.

"Greetings, Han Seol-a. I'm Park Bok-hae, CEO of the Bloodma Group."

"Ah, hello."

"Yes, haha. Nice to meet you. You're much more beautiful in person than on screen!"

Park Bok-hae smiled and sat across from her. Then he immediately held out a single document.

"This outlines the support the Bloodma Group will provide you going forward. You mentioned magic stones were the most urgent, correct?"

"Y-yes! That's right! As long as I can buy magic stones, that's enough!"

"Haha! For now, as payment for this ad and initial support, we plan to transfer 10 tons of regular magic stones to you first."

Han Seol-a's eyes widened at Park Bok-hae's words.

"Ten tons? The government usually···."

Ten tons of magic stones—worth 10 billion won. While she could buy that much with money, magic stones were almost monopolized by the state for the sake of barrier stone safety.

"It's fine. The arrangements have already been made. Also, from now on, whenever you bring equipment out of the labyrinth, we'll exchange it for magic stones of equivalent value."

"Exchange equipment for magic stones?"

"Yes, any equipment from the labyrinth is fine. You'll have to sell it anyway once you bring it out, so this should be convenient for you too, right?"

"Yes, I'd actually prefer that."

"Haha. Then I look forward to working with you! Ah, and this is something you can attach to your equipment!"

It was the blood-drop pattern symbolizing the Bloodma Group. Holding it, Han Seol-a headed to the basement of the Bloodma Building.

When she opened the warehouse door, she saw piles of materialized magic stones stacked like mountains. A magic stone warehouse prepared in advance. Ten tons to be transferred to her.

"With this···."

How passively had she explored the labyrinth all this time because of the lack of magic stones? Her ability, Magic Stone Mage (S), was nearly omnipotent, allowing her to use magic of all attributes in exchange for magic stones. But its power came with a clear limit—magic stones melted away in an instant.

Magic stones she couldn't buy with money, and what she could obtain herself was far too little. But not anymore.

Shhhhhk.

When Han Seol-a reached out, all the magic stones turned into points and were absorbed. She smiled at the massive amount of points she had never obtained while roaming the labyrinths.

"Change nickname."

She entered the labyrinth right away. With the major constraint of fuel shortage gone, she···

She broke through the wall of four per month a month later.

The end