Dungeon Cleaning — Part 3
—
[Acquired the trait: Endurance.]
In the game, it was a simple ability that reduced all damage.
It seems to work similarly in this world.
The nauseating stench of drugs and the groaning sounds around me felt significantly weaker now.
To be precise, it wasn’t that they were weaker, but I was perceiving them less intensely.
“Finally, some relief.”
I stuffed the rest of the kimbap into my mouth.
It was a good mix—packed with tuna and mayo, wrapped in thin rice with a variety of vegetables. Surprisingly tasty.
And all for just 1,500 won.
In the world I came from, a solid tuna kimbap like this would have cost around 4,000 won. The price here was ridiculously cheap.
‘The economy here is strange.’
Real estate prices were two to three times higher, but living costs were less than half.
Of course, that made sense.
There’s no minimum wage in this world.
Hourly pay is usually around 4,000 won, and if someone gets 5,000 won, people consider that generous.
If it weren’t for the advancements in magical science boosting the production of food and essential goods, this society would’ve already collapsed.
Instead, South Korea’s population has long passed the 100 million mark due to a population explosion.
One hundred million people crammed into the tiny space of South Korea. It’s no wonder society’s problems are boiling over.
No wonder drugs are everywhere.
‘Whatever, I just need to sleep.’
I didn’t care where this bizarre version of Korea was headed.
I just needed to look out for myself.
I pulled out a cheap sleeping bag from my backpack and covered myself up to my head.
The groaning of the men was still irritating, but I forced myself to sleep.
—
The next day.
Everyone trudged like zombies toward the concrete structure.
“I’m dead tired…”
“Park, stay away from me. You reek of rotting flesh.”
“Haven’t you seen a zombie before?”
“You sure you’re feeling alright inside?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“If you’re going to mutate, give us a heads-up. It’s hard to tell with you—your skin’s already rotting off.”
“I said I’m fine.”
Most of the guys looked pretty much the same as they did yesterday when we started.
Except for one.
“Ugh…”
Hedgehog Head staggered as he walked.
Everyone’s gaze turned cautious.
“Kim, are you okay?”
“If you give up now, Kim, we’re all screwed.”
“But if you mutate, it’ll be even worse.”
“If you’re going to mutate, do it while absorbing mana at least. And don’t forget to let us know if it’s happening.”
“Haha… Don’t worry. Remember last week? I was like this then too.”
“It was risky last time too…”
The suppressant hadn’t completely reversed Hedgehog Head’s mutation.
Even last night, his hand had sprouted small spikes where there had been soft fuzz before.
And now, his hair had definitely grown longer, with a metallic sheen to it. At least the tips weren’t sharp yet, but in my eyes, it was only a matter of time.
There were even small spikes on his face that hadn’t been there before.
“I think you should stop here, sir.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and voiced my concern. The air instantly grew cold.
Roe Deer, with a disgruntled look on his face, snapped at me.
“Hey. Do you know what happens when eight people start a job and only seven finish it?”
“I know, but…”
“There’s no turning back. Kim insisted on coming yesterday, so he has to see it through. If we don’t purify all five zones, they won’t open the gate for us. Maybe you and I could hold out, but if Kim drops out now, two or three of these guys will drop dead.”
The other men nodded their heads vigorously in agreement.
Hedgehog Head swallowed dryly and spoke up.
“I’m fine. Let’s keep going.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Like I said yesterday, I’m more afraid of the debt collectors than dying. If I quit now, I won’t even get paid for yesterday. I’d rather risk dying here than have them crack open my skull.”
His fists clenched tightly as he spoke, but his eyes wavered.
That face… It reminded me of Mister Lee, the guy with the steel jaw from the boarding house. The one I had seen on that dark street a few nights ago.
My chest ached slightly, and I instinctively turned my head away.
Yeah.
I’ve done enough.
Anything beyond this would be meddling. It’s Hedgehog Head’s choice, his fate.
If he insists on stepping into hell, who am I to stop him?
“Let’s go.”
Roe Deer, curt as ever, headed into the concrete structure.
Hedgehog Head was the first to follow, putting on a forced smile and trying to chat, but he couldn’t hide his trembling hands or shaking eyes.
“After this, how about a drink?”
“Sounds good!”
“Are you buying?”
“I don’t have any money! We’ll split it evenly.”
“I’m in!”
“Kim, make sure you get properly purified.”
“If you skip again, you’re done next time. A hundred percent!”
—
The cleaning proceeded much like yesterday.
Roe Deer and I took the lead, digging into the slimes. Once we cleared them out, the men collected the mana cores and sat back to absorb the contaminated mana.
“Hoo… haaa…”
“Ughhh…”
“Cough, cough!”
“Uweeeek!”
“This is hell! Absolute hell!”
“I should’ve studied harder back in school!”
The second contaminated zone on the second day.
As I absorbed the mana, I suddenly felt a rush of cool air fill my lungs.
My chest felt clear, refreshed. It didn’t last long before the contaminated mana soiled the feeling again, but I immediately realized what had happened.
[Acquired the trait: Deep Breathing.]
This would speed up my mana absorption.
Not only that, but deep breathing also increased mana recovery speed in general.
A sense of relief washed over me.
‘Looks like I’ll pick up another mana-related trait at this rate.’
All the traits I’ve gained so far have been common traits, basic third-tier abilities at best.
But now I’ve met the conditions to acquire a rare first-tier trait.
Mana Core.
It’s one of the few first-tier traits among the common ones, and it dramatically increases mana usage and recovery efficiency. It’s most beneficial for mage-types, but it’s still incredibly valuable for warrior-types too.
“Grrrr!”
Just as I was grinning to myself, Hedgehog Head, who had been lying down near the tunnel entrance, suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Hey! Kim!”
“You okay?”
“Damn it! Grab the shovel!”
“Anyone got a gun?”
Roe Deer shot a cold look at Hedgehog Head.
He calmly reached into his bag and pulled out a handgun.
Click.
The sound of the gun being cocked echoed heavily.
Hedgehog Head raised both his hands in panic.
“Ugh! Uuuugh!”
He was trying to say not to shoot, but he couldn’t speak properly.
Even his tongue had started to mutate.
There was no going back now.
Roe Deer aimed the gun at Hedgehog Head, ready to pull the trigger.
But just then…
Ding!
The cheerful sound of the green light flicking on filled the air.
The heavy tension, like a weight pressing down on us, vanished in an instant.
“Hooah!”
Someone let out a long, relieved breath.
“Kim almost died there.”
“If we had been one minute later, he would’ve been dead.”
“Consider yourself reborn today.”
“Ugh, uuuuugh…”
Hedgehog Head collapsed to the ground, babbling incoherently.
The men quickly rushed to help him up.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“We can’t stay in here any longer.”
“Let’s hurry and inject the suppressant.”
Because we’d absorbed the mana contamination, there was still some residue left in our bodies. That’s why we needed to inject the suppressant outside.
We all stumbled out of the structure, barely holding it together.
Unlike yesterday, where they could afford a quick shower before injecting the suppressant, today there was no time for that.
As soon as we were outside, everyone hurried to jab their syringes into their thighs or arms.
“Hah… I feel like I’m dying…”
The suppressant didn’t work its usual miracle this time.
Especially for Hedgehog Head.
While the others mostly returned to their normal states, Hedgehog Head’s spikes still glistened sharply as he babbled incoherently.
“Kim, can you hold on?”
“One… left… only… one.”
“Yeah, just one left.”
“Tomorrow’s not two, it’s just one. Hang in there. Survive and you’ll get paid. You can head to the temple, make an offering, and get purified. You’ll live. Got it?”
“Yeah… I’ll hold on.”
—
The second night at Metropolitan Landfill No. 1.
Just like yesterday, the men were soaked in drugs, sprawled out.
Hedgehog Head, knowing this was his last shot, was pouring drugs into his system as if his life depended on it.
He wasn’t just smoking drug-laced cigarettes or using syringes. He even pulled out a green bottle and drank it straight from the neck. At first, I thought it was soju, but I soon realized it was another drug.
Every sip made Hedgehog Head visibly lose his grip on reality.
“Hrk… I’m wasted.”
Were the drugs acting as both a suppressant and a treatment?
His babbling seemed to have improved. Even the sharp tips of his spikes looked slightly duller.
But at the end of the day, drugs were just drugs. A temporary fix at best.
I glanced at his reflection in the bus window, his distorted face gleaming eerily, then drifted off to sleep.
—
Finally, the last day.
Not even an hour into absorbing mana in the fifth zone, Hedgehog Head started convulsing.
“Hrrrk!”
What spilled from his mouth wasn’t just blood.
It was a thick black liquid, full of sand-like black spikes.
His mutation had fully begun.
“Damn it! Kim! Get a grip!”
“It’s almost over! This is the last one!”
“Just a little longer!”
“Anyone have holy water? Holy water?”
The men frantically rummaged through Hedgehog Head’s belongings, but all they found was one thing.
An empty green bottle.
“Damn it!”
“Shit!”
“Anyone got holy water?”
“Even the lowest-grade stuff will do! Anyone?”
No one responded.
I chuckled inwardly.
I could see the truth behind the desperate calls for holy water.
Wanna bet?
At least half the guys here probably have some holy water on them.
But they’re not giving it up.
Why would they?
Even if Kim survives today, he won’t live long. He’s either going to die soon or end up a full-blown junkie.
Who would waste expensive holy water on someone like that? Someone who’s not even family.
Roe Deer, who was unconsciously stroking his own leg, was thinking the same thing.
That’s human nature.
Honestly, if I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t offer up my holy water either.
That single bottle of holy water might be the one thing that saves my life.
‘You’re trash. I’m trash too.’
Once I accepted that, it became easier to bear.
Still, I decided to help in my own way.
Maybe he’ll survive. Maybe he won’t.
“Take him outside.”
“Huh?”
“Rookie?”
The men stared at me, confused.
I gave a small nod of my head.
“I’ll cover for him. I can hold on for a while longer. Take him out and wait. If I can’t hold out, I’ll call you in to switch.”
I was offering to absorb the contaminated mana alone.
The door would remain open, so some of the mana would leak out, but not too much.
The men’s faces lit up.
“Are you sure?”
“Will you be okay?”
“If something happens to you…”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll call for help if I can’t handle it.”
“Promise! You have to call!”
“Just say the word and we’ll be back!”
They practically sprinted outside, dragging Hedgehog Head with them.
He was flailing, his spikes growing longer and sharper.
His odds were fifty-fifty.
If he held out, he’d live. If not, he’d mutate and become a contamination creature.
Roe Deer stared hard at me.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Who knows.”
I shrugged lightly.
We’d only met recently. Whether he lived or died shouldn’t have mattered to me.
But the thought of him dying right in front of me left a sour feeling in my chest.
So, I decided to help.
I could absorb contaminated mana several times over without it affecting me.
I wouldn’t mutate or die, no matter how much I pushed myself.
I knew that for certain.
Hooooo…
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
With Deep Breathing and Mana Absorption, I could take in a massive amount of contaminated mana.
The traits I had selected at the moment were:
[Deep Breathing], [Mana Absorption], [Contamination Resistance],
[Endurance], [Vigor], [Wound Recovery].
It was surprisingly easy to handle.
I could easily purify this entire zone on my own.
Of course, I’d need some serious rest afterward, but it was manageable.
“Urrrrgghhh!”
Beside me, Roe Deer was struggling as well.
He must’ve felt the need to compete with me.
Give it up.
A crow can’t keep up with a crane. You’re going to tear yourself apart trying.
“Gaaaaah!”
And just as I expected, he did.
About halfway through absorbing the contaminated mana, Roe Deer let out a long scream.
His legs were twisting.
They were already swollen to twice their size, and now they were growing longer, snakelike, with an extra joint trying to form.
This was his limit.
Gasping for breath, Roe Deer pulled a small glass bottle from his bag.
Pop!
He bit off the cork and poured the liquid onto his legs.
The liquid was as clear as water but seemed to shimmer like starlight.
Shiiiii!
A cloud of white steam rose, and something miraculous happened.
The legs that had been lengthening and twisting suddenly snapped back to normal.
Not just normal. They reverted to the way they were before we even entered the first zone, back to how they were when I first met him at the office.
“Hah… hah…”
Roe Deer panted heavily.
He tossed the empty bottle aside and avoided meeting my eyes.
Then, silence.
Roe Deer kept his mouth shut, and I pretended not to notice, focusing on my breathing.
A while later…
Suddenly, my heart began to ache, like I’d been stabbed, but the pain melted away in an instant. My heart pounded, sending a rush of heat through my entire body.
It had finally arrived!
I clenched my fists.
[Acquired the trait: Mana Core.]
I’d now obtained everything I could from this landfill.
“It’s over…”
Roe Deer murmured, his face pale.
The green light was shining brightly again.
The ventilation system roared to life, clearing the air and sending a gentle breeze through the space.
The day’s work was done.
Unfortunately, there was no time to rest.
Grrroooar!
A monstrous roar echoed from beyond the open door.
“Ahhh!”
“Help!”
“Roe Deer! Rookie! Help us!”
Terrified screams followed.
Roe Deer’s face hardened.
“Shit!”
He bolted outside.
“Hoo.”
So, it’s come to this.
I grabbed my discarded shovel and followed him.
When I stepped out into the tunnel, I saw it.
A massive hedgehog-like creature standing under the flickering fluorescent light.
And Roe Deer flying through the air, blood spraying from his body.
–TL Notes–
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