Overgeared - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

There was an uproar in Satisfy .

Famous guilds were in motion to find the mysterious blacksmith . In various media and the Internet, the epic-rated arrows appeared as a hot issue .  Who was the craftsman with great skills and potential but lacking experience and reputation?

Many people were searching for the blacksmith's whereabouts .

'It is a harder path than others . I always did my best . Nonetheless, there is a better blacksmith than me?'

Panmir had only experienced making an epic-rated item twice . He had the title of the first epic-rated item maker .  However, there was no mention of 'craftsman' in his epic item description .  Who was the person given the title of craftsman, which wasn't even allowed for the number one ranking blacksmith?

Ttang! Ttang!

Panmir was spurred by a sense of competitiveness towards the unknown blacksmith .

Meanwhile, Shin Youngwoo, the person who was receiving everyone's attention, was eating cup noodles at a convenience store before going to work .

"What a jerk, charging 1,000 won for a cup of noodles? Does he want people like me to starve to death? Sigh, people really can't live without acting dirty . "

I grumbled as I ate .

* * *

5 . 30 a . m .

It might be Sunday, but the office of labor was always busy . The days when students came on a daily basis to find work had disappeared .  These days, young people turned away from labor jobs! Foreign workers had long taken over, making the future of South Korea seem bleak .

'I have a headache . '

I still hadn't adapted to the smell of cigarettes and alcohol early in the morning .

'I want to finish the work quickly so I can go home and rest . '

As I sat there, a young man in a construction worker's uniform cried out .

"Looking for four workers for the Shinwoo Building's construction site!"

Construction site workers did things like clean, move bricks and wood, and shovel sand .  The physical labor was harsh, and I would eat a lot of dirt, but I had done it often . Therefore, I didn't hesitate to raise my hand .

"Here! Over here… cough!"

An alcohol drinker or heavy smoker punched me in the belly! I was pushed into a corner and missed the chance to be employed by the construction site .

"Those guys are heartless! You should send the pitiful young people first!"

While I was complaining with irritation, a middle-aged man in a short-sleeved shirt spoke, "I need three tilers with strength . You should have experience . " 

A tiles assistant would follow the main tiler and assist in the transfer of materials such as tiles, cement, and sand .  It was annoying to carry the tiles if I met a bad tiler and I had to be careful not to break the tiles, but it was decent work .

I raised my hand . "Here! I have carried tiles more than 10 times… Ugh!"

I was once again pushed back into a corner by the older men and lost the chance to be hired because there were three people more experienced than me .

"Anyone else?"

"Here! I do… Ack!"

There were several companies looking for laborers, but I wasn't hired due to the continuous interference .

"Ah, you! You will regret not seeing my value!"

The older men in the workforce were hindering me . It seemed that they didn't like me snatching away their spots .

"Who could come here because they like it? Don't you think I want to work part-time like other young people? I'm making a living just like you! Let me get something as well!"

The mere sight of them was enough to make me angry, like seeing a barking dog .  However, my opponents were adults . So, I couldn't say anything bad and sat down again .  

"Kukuk . " The chief, who had been reading his newspaper on his desk, looked at me .

Was he around his early 30s? He was a person who inherited this office from his father .  For every 10 times I came here looking for a job, I'd gone home three times in vain .  The chief was watching me when another person arrived .

"Who can do electric pulling work? No experience is needed . I will pay 110,000 won a day, so come quickly . "

It was 20,000 won more than the usual pay .  However, I didn't move . Of course, there was a reason for offering more money .  

'I can't forget how awful it was . '

I'd tried electrical cable pulling only once .  

It was just pulling a huge electrical cable, so it was a very simple task . However, it consumed a tremendous amount of stamina . I couldn't let the cable hit my wrist . Moreover, the cables were very thick and the weight was heavy .  

It was just pulling, but… I would get blisters on my hands even while wearing gloves, and I would suffer from muscle aches for at least two days .  

'It was an oasis in winter…'

I still remembered the nightmare from last winter . The other men present looked into the distance, whistled or went out to smoke .

"No one?" The man asked again with an awkward expression .

Then one of the middle-aged men pointed towards me .  "This young man can do it very well . "

"Really . He is very active and has amazing stamina . "

"Hasn't he done a lot of electrical cable pulling? An expert, expert . "

'These insane humans!'

I glared at them to stop, but the other men continued to recommend me . Then the person offering the job pointed to me . "Excuse me, young man . Shall we go together? You look very good . "

If I followed the atmosphere, today I would enter hell .  I glanced towards the chief, but he just smiled .  In the end, I raise my phone to my ear, like I had received an incoming call .

"Yes, this is Shin Youngwoo . Ah, there was a spot? Yes, right away…"

Ddiririring ~ ddiririring~

"……"

The default S Corporation's ringtone was heard from the phone at my ear .  In the end, the other workers there laughed until tears emerged from their eyes .  The employer also laughed . "Then let's go . "

Who would call me this early in the morning? Moreover, I barely ever received phone calls . So, how did I receive a call at this exact timing? Then I belatedly saw the caller ID and hurriedly picked up the phone .  It was an unforgettable voice .

(Hello~ This is Mother's Heart is Happy Financial Services . Customer Shin Youngwoo, you do know that the deadline is tomorrow right?)

"…Already?"

(If you have forgotten, does that mean there is no money?)

"O-Of course not . Yes, I understand . I will have the amount ready for tomorrow . "

(Thank you, Debt… no, Customer . Have a happy day . Mother's Heart is Happy hopes you will smile today~)

The call ended .

"This damn…"

I'd played games and ignored reality, forgetting that I was a debtor .  I had to work hard to pay off the interest . It would be hard work, not easy work, that would get me out of this position .

"Excuse me… Will you really pay 110,000 won?"

"Yes!"

"Is it really true?"

"Of course! You will never go hungry when working for me!"

I eventually left towards hell .  That evening…

"O-Oppa?" Se-hee stammered when she saw my exhausted self return home .  I couldn't even take my shoes off before collapsing .

"Shit… The words were true, but… doing all that labor only to receive cream bread…? There wasn't even milk…! What type of people would give cream bread and no milkkkkkk?!!! U-Ughhh… I have to play the game… Arrows… sold…"

I couldn't remember anything after that . It was because I fell asleep .

* * *

When I woke up, I felt like I had been crushed by steel . My body was throbbing all over, and I barely managed to check the time .  It was 5 . 20 a . m .

"Ugh!"

This was serious . It was late when I took into consideration the distance between my house and the labor office .  I hurried to change into my work clothes while worrying about getting a good job . If I arrived late, then something like yesterday might happen again .

"Ack~! I'm going . "

After I paid the interest for the loan, I would only have 9,220 won in my hands . I needed to make money to pay the fee for the game in a week .  As I put on my shoes without washing up, my mother approached and patted my shoulder . "Come eat breakfast . "

"I can't . I'm already late," I replied hurriedly .

"Youngwoo," my mother suddenly said my name in a serious voice .  I cowered reflexively . It was obvious that her nagging would begin .  My mother knew about my debts . She wondered why I was addicted to games and was saddened by my absence from school . She mourned that I had debts and was living in this situation .

However, when I looked back, my mother's eyes were calm and welcoming .

"Come eat," she said .

"W-why? I have to go to the office quickly . "

At that moment, the door opened, and my father appeared .  My father sat at the table, opened the newspaper and said quietly, "Take a break today . "

"A break? What are you saying . "

"Cough, cough . " My father just coughed and looked at the newspapers .  

My mother whispered in my ears, "You came back really exhausted yesterday . Your father was worried since he carried you to your bedroom~"

"Huh?"

"We are your mother and father . We don't want to see our son suffer . Didn't you suffer yesterday? You should rest for today . "

"M-Mother…" I was touched by the fact that my parents were still looking after me, despite all the disappointment I'd caused them in the past year .

At that time, Sehee exited her room with a yawn and handed me something .  It was a pain relief patch .

"Paste it on . Didn't you go through a lot of trouble yesterday?"

"S-Sehee…"

'Ahh! What a beautiful family!'

I cried out as I embraced my mother and Sehee .  

I'd thought I was alone in this difficult world, but I had such warm family beside me . My family members were like angels to their disappointing son and brother . I was truly grateful to have this family .

"W-What? Who are you hugging? O-Oppa's hug is good… Ah, no . Isn't it bad?" Sehee grumbled quietly as she hugged me back, while my mother quietly stroked my head . After that, I took off my work clothes and sat at the table, feeling the taste of beef rib soup for the first time in months .

"Father, then can you pay off my debt?"

Beeok! My father, who was eating quietly, gazed at me and threw his spoon .  I shrieked as it hit me in the forehead, while my mother clicked her tongue and handed my father a new spoon .

"Haven't I already told you? We want you to be self-reliant . You are already 26 years old . You should be responsible for your own actions . "

The atmosphere had been so full of harmony that I never imagined a spoon would fly over .  As I rubbed my forehead, my father handed me an envelope .

He said, "I will give you an allowance for today . You are resting today because of us, so I can't let you make a loss . " 

"Father…" I was touched . My usually blunt father was taking care of me today . I would gladly accept the allowance .  

'Then…'

I grasped the number of bills in the envelope with my sharp fingertips, but the number seemed a little small? When I looked inside the envelope, I saw seven bills .  Feeling disappointed, I spoke carefully, "Father, the minimum payment for labor these days is at least 9…"

My father looked at me regretfully . "Huh, really? I'm sorry, but that is all the cash I have on me right now . Be satisfied with that . "

He was telling me not to ask for the missing amount later .  I had forgotten, but my father was quite restrained when it came to spending money . If he bought a chicken, he thought that the family should eat it over three meals .

I was forced to surrender at receiving an allowance of 70,000 won .  

'At least he gave it in the first place . '

OG: 

Current schedule: 16 chapters a week .