Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 56

Chapter 56

The items Rani made, Director’s.

Now that I got them, I gotta check the performance first.

Normally, I’d head straight into a dungeon.

Today?

“Arthur is here! Heading to the maze!”

Spot on.

[Key of Chaos]

– Rank A Key of Chaos. Can open something.

Because I gotta use this.

“Phew….”

Hajun Yoon, 23 years old.

Occupation: Hunter.

I even quit the construction field to focus on this full-time, but….

Running the field myself is still pretty scary.

Then again.

Usually, auto-hunting took care of everything for me.

“Boss? Nervous?”

“Yeah…. Even though it’s already my 6th time going, I get cold feet every single time.”

“All good! Arthur protects Boss with Sturdiness!”

“Heh.”

So reassuring.

Yeah.

This is the way.

What’s there to worry about when I have top-tier laborers?

“Alright, let’s not shrink back and just go.”

“Good!”

This key is Rank A.

Checking the list for Rank A Dungeons….

Oh, there’s One.

What if I open the door and step right in?

Ding!

[Key of Chaos, confirmed.]

[Moving to the Maze of Chaos.]

We get transferred to the maze.

All of us together.

“Boss, arrived?”

“Come over this way, Director.”

“Chwiik! The laborers will protect you!”

Damn.

This is it.

As soon as we enter, a rock-solid defense posture is complete.

And if Arthur slams down his shield?

[Holy energy provides protection.]

Preparations complete.

Now, let’s move out.

“Since it’s a Rank A maze, the difficulty should be around a Rank S dungeon.”

“It seems that way.”

Our laborers are razor-sharp when measuring combat power.

Watching the last Maze of Chaos, they said so.

That it felt about One rank higher.

Since this maze is Rank A, in dungeon terms it’d be around Rank S….

What about the spawning monsters?

Gwoooooh—!

“Cow on head?!”

“What a peculiar monster.”

Seriously.

It really is bizarre.

A cow head with horns on both sides.

A colossal build.

Even holding a giant axe in One hand.

That’s….

“A Minotaur?”

Feels like something I saw in a movie, and it clearly looks tough at a glance.

There isn’t just One or two of them, either.

Roughly glancing, there are dozens?

Since the maze just started, even more will show up.

Rank S difficulty, as expected.

Still….

So what if a bunch of them show up?

Our laborers?

They’re folks who can’t clear Rank S only because there aren’t enough of them around.

Go ahead and bring it on.

Pew—, crunch!

As always, it starts with Robin’s rain of arrows.

Every shot pierces right between the eyes.

With mind-blowing accuracy.

And she doesn’t just shoot One arrow at a time, either.

“To shoot five such arrows all at once, your archery is truly peerless.”

Of course.

She’s a top-tier laborer, after all.

Gwoooo—!!!

Naturally, the opponents are brute cow monsters.

Instead of dropping all at once, they keep charging in—.

“Arthur blocks!”

From the front, Arthur.

“Haha, looking at those beasts reminds me of the beef the Director bought us last time.”

“Shall we buy some to eat after we finish and go back today?”

“That sounds splendid.”

Guarding the other direction is Lord Guan.

What about the orcs?

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Chwiik! Magic stones over there!”

“Mithril spotted over this way, chwiik!”

Right….

What else would you guys do.

Let’s just farm some materials.

Rank A Maze of Chaos.

Estimated grade per the laborers: Rank S dungeon.

Yet it’s this peaceful?

As expected….

I’m feeling it all over again.

Long live auto-hunting.

* * *

Pew—!

“Haha…. Those damned cows, there is simply no end to where they emerge from.”

“Right….”

An estimated Rank S difficulty is definitely built different.

It’s not that this is hard, but….

Why the hell are there endless cows coming out?

“Robin, you okay?”

“……Fine….”

Her answer says she’s fine.

Yet her expression looks exhausted.

I mean.

She’s been drawing and releasing her bow for almost 20 minutes straight.

Her arm might pop out of its socket at this rate.

“Boss, start soon?”

“Okay.”

Two purposes for coming to the Maze of Chaos.

1. Farm rewards.

2. Test out the equipment given by Rani.

Originally, I would have tried out the gear right away, but….

Our teddy bear.

Chimed in with an opinion.

‘If you use it from the very beginning, you won’t feel the difference, so why not try using it after progressing to a certain extent?’

A good idea unanimously adopted.

It feels like the right time has come, so I gotta test it.

Reaching up to touch my head.

Tap.

It’s sitting right there just as Rani put it on.

Now, picking up the megaphone—.

“Arthur heard!”

“This wizard heard as well.”

“…….”

“Chwiik! The laborers are listening too!”

Okay.

Confirmed that everyone can hear me.

Now then, what next?

“Hmm….”

It said granting vigor through the Director’s cheering….

Cheering.

Cheering, huh.

Something like this?

I gave it a shot, but I’m worried.

Isn’t this so lame that it’ll drain their energy instead?

“Doing best!”

“Splendid.”

“……Fighting.”

“Chwiik! Laborers will cheer up too!”

The response is good so far.

And then?

Ding!

[Laborers gain vigor from the Director’s cheering.]

“Oh?”

“Huh?! Arthur is sparkling!”

It’s not just Arthur?

Robin, Lord Guan, and even the orc uncles.

Seeing a subtle aura swirling around everyone….

That must be vigor.

“Arthur feels energized!”

“To have one’s body refreshed instantly as if waking from sleep, truly marvelous.”

Oh….

Is the effect condition recovery?

“Haha, Director. It feels as though this wizard’s speed has increased as well.”

Wait.

Maybe that’s not all.

Pew—!

Sure enough, Robin’s arrows got faster too.

“Bring it on!”

Arthur is brimming with so much strength that he’s flipping Minotaurs over.

Then, what about Lord Guan?

Slash—!

As always, he’s standing still while showing off the magic of monsters getting sliced apart.

“Chwiik! Chwiik! One strike makes magic stones pour out!”

Whoa….

Even the orc laborers are overflowing with power.

The first option of the item Rani crafted, Director’s.

Granting vigor to laborers.

So this is how it feels.

This is insane.

Then, next is—.

[Special skill ‘Leaving Work on Time Today!’ is available for use.]

I was really curious about this One.

First off, the name alone fits a manpower agency director perfectly.

To speak frankly….

[Granting vigor to laborers through the Director’s cheering.]

This.

I just saw that the effect is solid, but….

Honestly, I couldn’t relate to it.

Why?

“The director’s cheering? What kind of….”

Hajun Yoon, 23 years old.

Former construction field laborer.

When the director cheers you on?

‘When is that bastard gonna leave….’

That was the only thought in my head.

But, Leaving Work on Time Today?

I can instantly feel this One right in my bones.

Leaving on time?

There isn’t a single person who wouldn’t get energized hearing that.

So, I’m using it right away.

“Leaving work on time today.”

I used it with high hopes—.

Wee-woo, wee-woo!

The megaphone immediately starts blaring.

“Huh?”

Crazy.

In the middle of the maze…?

“Boss, doing what?”

All the laborers turn to look.

Gwoo?

Even the monsters tilt their heads.

After grabbing everyone’s attention, a mechanical voice blares out.

Mmm….

All of a sudden?

No, isn’t this drawing way too much aggro….

* * *

The item Rani crafted for the Director.

Named Director’s right from the start.

The attached skill?

[Leaving Work on Time Today!]

It was an impressive name so I had high expectations, but….

Kuwoooo—!

The aggro on this must be insane.

The Minotaurs are charging in like madmen.

Then again….

If a siren blared in the middle of a maze, I’d be pissed off too.

“Arthur saw on TV. Mad? Cow? Disease? That One!”

“Chwiik! Stupid cows!”

Agreed.

No, no matter how mad you are….

Until just a moment ago, they targeted the laborers in front first.

Now they’re charging straight at me alone.

Then would our kids just stand by?

[Leaving work early is the strongest driving force in the world!]

[The laborers’ stats temporarily increase dramatically.]

Even those guys?

Hearing that they’re leaving on time today made them even stronger….

“Boss, leaving on time means going quickly, right?!”

“…Leaving on time!”

“Chwiik! Laborers love leaving on time!”

What the.

As soon as the siren ended, they were rejoicing like that.

Though even if you guys can clock out, you don’t go back right away.

Just when I find it baffling, I suddenly understand.

Come to think of it….

On rainy days, even if we couldn’t leave right away, just resting was pure bliss.

Is it that kind of feeling?

“Chwiik! Clocking out is great! Chwiik!”

Ah.

You guys are the exception.

Anyway.

It was already just a matter of time, but since they got even stronger, well.

The outcome is set in stone.

Holding the megaphone again to add One line wraps it up.

“Alright, let’s wrap this up quickly and get going.”

* * *

[The raid on the Maze of Chaos has concluded.]

[Moving outside the dungeon.]

As expected.

The clear wrapped up in an instant.

[Rank A, Maze of Chaos Clear Successful!]

[Clear Time – 00:28:33]

[Clear Reward – Rank A Chaos Chest]

The performance is truly insane.

We definitely struggled for 20 minutes earlier….

After using the ability, they just sprinted and bulldozed through in 8 minutes?

“Well done, Director.”

“Director is back! How was Rani’s gift?! Did you use it? Like it!”

How was it?

I should answer with this.

“Lucky charm, come over here.”

“Yep!”

Grabbing her with both hands and lifting her high up?

“Heh-! Fun! Rani is flying!”

“I’m so crazy fond of our lucky charm. How did you make something like this?!”

“Rani is lucky charm! Next time, Rani will make something pretty again!”

Damn, amazing.

Just hearing that is reassuring.

She definitely said new functions unlock when other equipment gets added.

At this rate….

“Looks like I gotta gather lots of materials, huh?”

“That’s right!”

Lifting her up and down a few times.

She keeps giggling.

She loves it this much just from this, so if she rides a real airplane, she’ll faint from joy.

Rani’s bucket list.

An airplane, and an amusement park.

Okay.

Even if an airplane is tough.

Next time we move and officially upgrade the manpower agency, I should definitely take her to an amusement park.

Anyway.

My arms are getting tired now, so putting Rani down.

“Mmm, based on Laborer Guan’s assessment, you’re saying we became about 1.5 times stronger.”

“That is correct.”

“Laborer Robin, how was it for you?”

“…Similar.”

Listening to our laborers’ discussion.

They say they got about 1.3 to 1.5 times stronger.

Whoa.

A 1.5-time boost at our laborers’ level?

That’s a massive difference, isn’t it…?

“With this, whether I tag along or not makes a huge difference.”

“The issue is that if the Director accompanies us, the likelihood of becoming a target is high.”

“Hmm, that’s true, but….”

“Arthur is against it! Arthur saw. When Boss uses ability? Cow bastards’ eyes flipped!”

This is true too.

It seems to have an aggro function built in….

“Wouldn’t that be troublesome then? Even if the laborers’ abilities are sufficient for now, once we ascend above the 70th floor later, the Director might be put in danger….”

I mean.

As we climb higher, enemies will get stronger….

Hmm.

Does this mean I should just let it rot…?

That feels like a waste.

“Well, thinking about it now won’t give us answers, so let’s figure it out gradually. Still, the 60s floors should be plenty manageable with just our laborers.”

For now, let’s open the chest.

[Rank A Chaos Chest]

Last time only magic stones poured out.

Yet this is truly sweet.

“I wonder what will come out….”

Opening it with anticipation.

Wait.

There’s a pill inside.

“What’s this, an Elixir of Ability Unlocking again this time?”

[Elixir of Sub-Ability Enhancement]

Oh?

It’s a new pill.

If it’s a sub-skill….

Does it mean abilities other than Summon Laborer?

Let’s just take it for now.

Gulp.

Swallowed it.

A message popped up immediately.

[One of the following abilities will be enhanced at random.]

[List]

– Fixed Team Management (Adds One slot)

– Request (Point reward, permanent 1.2x multiplier applied)

– Monitoring (Enables communication with the interior via walkie-talkie function)

– Work Site Exploration (Daily available count, adds 1)

– Laborer Training Center (Efficiency increases by 1.5x when training in the training center)

– Mission (Adds One remaining slot)]

Whoa.

My mouth is watering.

Aren’t all of them incredible?

Still, if I had to pick One, it’d be Mission, right?

“Please be Mission. Please….”

Ding!

[Selection Complete]

[The corresponding ability is enhanced.]

[Monitoring]

Mmm.

I was craving Mission, though….

“That’s a bummer.”

Too bad.

Letting out a deep sigh, I freeze.

Wait a second.

“If it enables communication with the interior via walkie-talkie function….”

Huh?

Could this, by any chance.

Apply the buffs from the newly acquired items as well…?