UBM 6

 Chapter 6

**The Unlimited Germancer

#Business (1)

“Hoo.”

As soon as I got home, I didn’t even wash up and flopped onto the bed first.

But sleep just wouldn’t come, so I shot up.

Too many things had happened—so many that I could barely even process them—but one thing was clear.

My life had changed now.

I glanced at the briefcase with the RHS logo on it.

Everything stuffed inside was business cards, and from what I’d overheard, the worst condition among them was an annual salary of 100 million.

There were all sorts of strings attached, but I’d even been offered up to 500 million.

My current job’s salary was 25 million, so just receiving 500 million for one year and becoming washed up would amount to nearly 20 years’ worth of salary.

So then, was taking the 500 million offer the right move?

But thinking long-term, the 500 million offer wasn’t a particularly good choice.

The profit distribution ratio inside the gates was absurdly low, and there were extension conditions heavily favoring the company side.

Companies and guilds weren’t betting a huge sum of 500 million on a newbie because they were fools.

If my ability were truly a flash-in-the-pan power that only worked in early dungeons and I’d become washed up within a year, that’d be one thing—but considering future growth potential, the 500 million offer was closer to a foolish move.

“Should I just go to Zephyrus’s company?”

It wasn’t simply because Zephyrus had helped me briefly, or because he was a Hunter I’d admired as a child.

Objectively speaking, RHS was a top-tier company in the industry.

At the very least, it was a company whose offer I absolutely had to hear out.

“But why did he say that?”

Had he not viewed me joining his company positively?

Was it something like the self-company-loathing that office workers commonly have?

Well, if someone said they wanted to join my company, I’d pack a lunchbox and try to talk them out of it too.

But RHS isn’t a black company like mine, is it?

I became confused for no reason.

I thought about it for a moment, but I was old enough to know that stubbornly holding onto confusion doesn’t solve anything.

Let’s handle other things first.

“Alright, then… let’s check the reward first.”

The reward was definitely… a Bloodgold Golem or something, right?

But where do I claim the reward?

Oh, right. Inventory.

Only then did I remember that Awakened ones have an inventory.

I have an inventory too, so why was I struggling to carry that plastic bottle around in my arms?

“Inventory.”

I was a bit flustered opening an inventory for the first time in my life, but the usage wasn’t much different from using a bag.

Except that the bag’s opening appeared in midair, and the internal space was a bit larger.

Looking inside, there was a single ring in one corner of the empty inventory—so hard to find that you’d miss it unless you focused.

On a gold ring with a faint red glow, geometric patterns were drawn on the inside.

“Don’t tell me this is the golem? Item info.”

[Bloodgold Golem Crafted by Abisenna]

[Grade]: Legacy of a Constellation

[Description]: A guardian that faithfully served the Constellation Abisenna during his human days. After a long time has passed, the bloodgold composing its form has been lost, leaving it unable to maintain a proper shape.

[Details]: After equipping, mana can be injected to summon the golem. The constituent material has been lost and requires replenishment. <Current remaining constituent material: 0.01%>

0.01%?

“What kind of golem is this—did it scrub itself down at a bathhouse?”

It said replenishment was possible, but I didn’t even know what bloodgold was.

Seeing how it didn’t come up in internet searches, it must be a really rare material.

It was a bit disappointing, but since it was the first item I’d obtained, I wore it to commemorate it.

I agonized over which finger to put it on, but as if to assert that it was an item, the size adjusted to fit perfectly on my right index finger.

And at the same moment I equipped it.

[Great Achievement! You are the first to equip a Legacy of a Constellation!]

[As a reward, you become more familiar with the flow of mana.]

[Through the effect of the item ‘Bloodgold Golem Crafted by Abisenna,’ you can use the skill ‘Guardian Summon.’]

Messages appeared.

“So this counts as an achievement too.”

Either way, achievements are good.

It’s no different from getting a free reward.

But I can use Guardian Summon?

What on earth could a golem that’s only 0.01% be?

I can never resist curiosity.

“Guardian Summon.”

[The Bloodgold Golem is summoned.]

The moment the skill activated, the ring I was wearing melted in an instant and plopped down onto the floor.

Then it wriggled about and a human form appeared.

It wasn’t the golem appearance I’d imagined—it was a truly human form.

If there was a slight problem, it was this.

“T-tiny.”

At best, 15cm?

It was about the size of a figurine.

That was when it happened.

—Shall I increase my three sizes?

Someone’s voice echoed in my head.

A young woman’s voice so sweet it could melt you just from hearing it.

I looked around, but there was no way a woman would be in this cramped studio apartment that was barely big enough to lie down in.

My gaze naturally turned to the small human form far below.

I’d glanced casually, but looking closely, it was a woman—and completely naked at that.

She was so small that no lewd thoughts entered my mind at all, but still, she was definitely beautiful…

“Wait, don’t tell me you’re it?”

—That is correct. The appearance can be changed according to the summoner’s preference.

“No, when I said tiny, that’s not what I meant…”

—For reference, the current appearance was determined according to the Creator’s preferences, so…

“I don’t want to hear about the previous owner’s personal tastes…”

Even her appearance looks like an ex-boyfriend’s handiwork.

Hoo, I let out a sigh and grabbed an unused dishcloth from the kitchen and wrapped the figurine… no, the golem.

Even if it’s figurine-sized, nudity was a bit burdensome.

It’s definitely not because I’m forever alone.

—Thank you for the clothing, Summoner. However, if you wish, I can manifest in a clothed form as well.

“You should have told me that right away.”

—I apologize.

“No need to apologize.”

A talking figurine comes out as a guardian—what a mess.

She wriggled inside for a moment, and the golem’s form changed into armor.

Of course, since she’d used material to manifest the armor, her height had actually gotten even smaller.

“Now I have somewhere to rest my eyes. Anyway, what’s your name? I can’t just call you ‘Golem.'”

—The Creator called me Athena. Would you like to assign a different name?

“Athena? Sounds fine. I’ll call you that.”

Honestly, naming her was a hassle too.

—Yes, Summoner.

“But if you’re a guardian, what’s your role?”

—I protect the Summoner no matter what. Even if I am not summoned in doll form, in crisis situations I autonomously defend against dangers directed at the Summoner.

“You protect…?”

You? Me?

—Yes, depending on the circumstances, I may also perform preemptive defense.

“Preemptive defense?”

—If preemptively annihilating the enemy is more efficient than defending, I will act accordingly. However, fundamentally, the Summoner’s safety is the top priority.

“R-right.”

What help could something that size be, though…

Still, the fortunate thing was that this was only 0.01%.

“If bloodgold is replenished, you can get bigger, right?”

—Of course. The current state is unsuitable for properly carrying out missions.

“How do I obtain bloodgold?”

—That I cannot know. However, I am aware it is a rare magical material refined through the highest-grade alchemy.

“That’s gonna be crazy expensive.”

It certainly looked expensive at a glance.

After all, when has anything with “gold” in the name ever been cheap?

Once alchemy and magical materials are mentioned, it goes beyond just expensive.

“Alchemy” and “magic” were, so to speak, like French luxury goods from before the Awakened generation.

Among the highest-grade alchemy materials, the famous ones would be the Elixir and the completed Elixirs made from it.

“By any chance, to refill it to 100%, how much of that bloodgold would be needed?”

—In this place’s units, approximately 1 ton is required.

“… What?”

Just 1 ton of ordinary gold costs over 100 billion.

And bloodgold, whatever it is, is a magical material requiring the highest-grade alchemy.

It’s not just gold—it’s luxury gold.

If that’s 1 ton, I couldn’t even begin to guess how much that would cost.

Even if the price were just twice that of regular gold, it’d be 200 billion; at 10 times, it’d be in the trillions.

I don’t want to think about it, but at 100 times, that’s 10 trillion.

“O-okay… let’s think about that slowly later.”

Think about it? No—clean surrender.

“Then for now, can you go back to ring form?”

—Understood. Call on me anytime.

Athena melted down again and was drawn into my index finger, defying gravity as she rose and took the form of a ring.

“Phew, now I should get some rest.”

There had been so many events that my head was aching.

Now I’m really going to sleep.

It was when I was clutching my throbbing temples and laying my body back on the bed.

Brrrrrring!

A sigh came out first at the vibrating phone.

Checking the caller—Manager Choi Dongmin.

Ah, seriously. Don’t tell me. You’ve got to be kidding me.

Today’s my half-day off.

I answered the phone with a “surely not” feeling.

“Hello.”

—Hey, you little punk! Where’d you learn your manners! If you’re going to take a half-day off on your own like that, just quit!

He started cursing at me right off the bat, but why was I smiling?

“… Yes? Thank you!”

—What, punk?

“You told me to quit.”

Wow, is the manager an angel?

I’d been worrying about how to bring up quitting, and this works out perfectly.

A grin spread across my face on its own.

“Thank you for everything. If you could send this month’s salary calculated up to today, I’d appreciate it.”

—K-Kim Segyun! Are you crazy? Or… don’t tell me…!

“Yes, whatever that ‘don’t tell me’ is, that’s probably right. It was filthy being together, so let’s not see each other again.”

—N-no… that’s not it! Did you really Awaken?

“That’s how it turned out.”

There was silence on the other end for a while, then a voice that sounded like it had aged ten years spoke.

—I-I see… I understand. But really, we’re short-staffed, so quitting is…

“You told me to quit, so what’s the problem with quitting? It’s probably been recorded anyway…”

Auto-recording is essential for office workers.

Because there’s no shortage of bastards who give orders over the phone and then deny it when it becomes disadvantageous.

“Anyway, I’m hanging up.”

—W-wait wait wait wait! I’ll process your resignation, I’ll do it! But this isn’t the right way! This isn’t proper!

“Manager.”

—Hmm?

“Is it proper to call an employee on leave and call them ‘this bastard, that bastard’?”

He seemed speechless again—only the sound of huffing breath came through.

—F-fine… I’m sorry. I made it awkward.

“Anyway, it’s fine. I’m hanging up. I’ll come by tomorrow to resign.”

—No, that’s… hoo… Then can you do me just one favor?

A favor?

No, I don’t feel like doing any favors.

I was about to firmly refuse.

—The Sunggwang Research Institute you went to yesterday—something suddenly came up that needs large-scale processing. Several people are already on site, but we’re far too short-handed. Just one day, do it for me. Just one day.

“The Sunggwang Research Institute?”

The Sunggwang Research Institute, huh…

[Currently, multiple entities are too far from the caster and are in a dormant state.]

Perhaps I could recover my precious 2.8 billion-strong legion that I’d left there.