Episode 7
#7
I ended the exploration function and came down to the first floor of the control room.
I looked at the points displayed before my eyes and thought,
‘Just where should I use these now……?’
[40,500 Points]
Well, that was what I said, but I already had an idea of where to use them.
I spoke to Noah.
“Noah. Generate a list of robot-related items.”
[Understood. Generating the list.]
Ding-.
Along with Noah’s words, a list of robot-related items appeared before my eyes.
{Purchase}
[Management Robot Tia 5,000 Points]
[Combat Robot Alt 20,000 Points]
[Sky Combat Robot Aria 40,000 Points]
[Sky Combat Robot Meradon 90,000 Points]
.
.
The points gathered so far were forty thousand.
No, looking again, I had just broken past fifty thousand.
At this rate of point accumulation, I should be able to comfortably purchase the robot called ‘Aria’.
Since I had already verified the robots’ performance with the previously purchased Tia and Alt, there was no need to worry further.
Without hesitation, I purchased Aria.
[Commencing production of the Sky Combat Robot Aria.]
[Production time required (07:00:00)]
[40,000 Points will be consumed.]
Tia took one hour, Alt took three hours, and Aria took a whopping seven hours.
I was curious about what she would look like, but it seemed I wouldn’t be able to see her today.
I didn’t know the exact time, but the sun had set, so would I be able to see her around tomorrow morning?
My body was tired as well, so I planned to sleep early today.
Ah, before that.
“Come to think of it, you said there was a shower room here too, right?”
[That is correct. The power is in operation, so showering is possible.]
Along with Noah’s words, the first-floor floor opened, revealing a staircase leading underground.
It seemed that was the staircase leading to the shower room.
I took the stairs and went down.
* * *
“Hm?”
The place I saw coming down the stairs was not a shower room as I had expected.
It was a room of about eight pyeong, with a square structure installed in the corner. I asked Noah.
“This is the shower room?”
[No. You may enter the shower room through the door directly in front of Master.]
“Ah, over there. Then what is this place?”
[It is a changing room and restroom. You may place your clothes in the washing machine arranged in the corner to wash them.]
“That was a washing machine?”
With a disgruntled expression, I headed toward the boxy structure called a washing machine.
As I approached, the lid of the structure began to open automatically.
I took off my clothes, put them in the washing machine, and then headed toward the shower room Noah had mentioned.
“Wow…….”
But, surprisingly, it wasn’t a shower room.
A wide, round bath installed in the center was steaming, and showerheads were arranged along the walls for a quick shower.
How could this be called a shower room?
It was like the bathhouse in my neighborhood.
I immediately immersed myself in the bath.
“Ha…… refreshing.”
The tension in my entire body was melting away.
Really…… am I dreaming?
I wondered just what kind of place this was.
Whenever I asked Noah, I only got the answer that it was my skill.
What was certain was that it was looking out for my convenience and growth.
Of course, points were necessary in that process.
‘I’ll have to gather more points, won’t I?’
I knew what would happen going forward.
The episode called ‘Sacred Fire War’ that occurs on the 6th day of the Cataclysm.
Survivors located in the vicinity are moved to one location, and the Sacred Fire War begins.
The Sacred Fire War is like a banquet where the Constellations evaluate the survivors they will contract with, and also like a tutorial held to help survivors adapt to the changed world.
Naturally, since there are many benefits to participating, I intend to join unconditionally.
Of course, I have to prepare.
‘Now then, the problem is points…….’
When the Sacred Fire War opens, many people will move to one place.
Among them are special people with S-grade skills like Yi Sina and Yi Hayun, and there will also be people already contracted with Constellations who have grown combat-capable with their help.
Or those who possess both.
If the Sacred Fire War opens, I can’t help but fall somewhat short compared to them.
Even though it is an EX-grade skill surpassing S-grade, the skill called Sky Island ultimately only provides for my growth and convenience; it isn’t very helpful in combat.
Therefore, the only way for me to grow stronger is stat growth.
I asked Noah.
“Noah.”
[Yes, Master.]
“You said I need points to raise my stats, right?”
[That is correct. Up to 50, it is calculated at 1,000 points per stat, and after that, the price increases by 1,000 points per 10 units. However, mana is different. Mana is calculated at 1,500 points up to 50.]
So, to grow from 50 to 60, it takes 2,000, and from 60 to 70, it takes 3,000 points—well, something like that?
And unlike other stats, mana seems to be a bit more expensive.
Well, compared to other stats, mana is a power close to a supernatural ability.
It made sense that it was about 500 points more expensive.
“Then how many points do I need to raise all stats except Divine Power to 100?”
I asked while checking my stats.
Name: Gim Hancheol
Level: 1
Unique Skill: EX-grade Sky Island
Strength: 5 Agility: 5 Stamina: 7 Defense: 5
Mana: 0 Mental Strength: 5 Divine Power: 0
My current stats were hopeless.
Even though I had trained once before using the Enhancement Tower, nothing had changed other than Stamina rising by about two.
It was just my guess, but there were probably people already hunting monsters with the help of Constellations, or skillfully using their skills to kill monsters and grow stronger.
Then, to gain an advantage among people, wouldn’t I need at least around 100 stats?
To my question, Noah answered.
[1,523,000 points are required.]
1.5 million points…….
An overwhelming number.
I thought it might be better to just raise Divine Power by 1 and become a Constellation, but it was impossible from the start.
To become a Constellation, you need to have raised your base stats to around 500.
It was natural that a weak body couldn’t handle the power of a god.
“Is it possible to gather 1.5 million points in just two days?”
[With the current situation, it is nearly impossible.]
Well, even the robots—the only current means of earning points—had activity time limits.
Though I heard points could be consumed to charge their power…….
[The points required to charge Alt’s power are 1,440,000 points.]
“What!? It takes that much?”
[That is correct. Since 1,000 points are required for one minute of activity, 1,440,000 points are needed for 24 hours of activity.]
“Th-then…… Aria is more expensive, right?”
[10,000 points are required for one minute of activity.]
Sigh…… It’s better to just return them to the Sky Island to charge.
Unless I continuously hunted 6th and 7th-grade monsters, but at the current point in time, monsters of that level are rarely seen. The monsters visible on the ground are 9th-grade monsters swarming about, not even worth 1,000 points.
“Tsk— Should I just lower my standards?”
As expected, is 1.5 million impossible?
Even if I gathered points to buy more robots to earn points, it seems like there wouldn’t be enough time.
I briefly furrowed my brows in thought, then closed my eyes as if giving up and felt the warmth of the bathwater.
“Ha…… Isn’t there a good way…….”
I need to think of a method other than simply making robots earn points.
Of course, thinking normally, it’s impossible.
Three days have already passed.
No, precisely, today is almost over too, so the remaining time is two days.
What human could earn over 1.5 million points in just two days?
However, even though I thought it was impossible, I couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.
My worries deepened, and I briefly surveyed the surroundings of the bath with vacant eyes.
“It’s spacious…….”
It was something I said without much meaning.
But those words became an idea I hadn’t even expected.
“!?”
Wait? Come to think of it, why is this place unnecessarily large?
No, it’s nice that it’s spacious, but the dining room was just as spacious as this bath.
Even though it was a place only I would use, there was a dining table prepared that could seat several people for no reason.
At that moment, the conversation I had with Noah when I met Yi Sina and Yi Hayun came to mind.
‘Right! Invitations!’
Noah had said.
If they purchased invitations, I could bring them to this Sky Island.
Then, was that the purpose of this Sky Island?
I asked Noah.
“Noah.”
[Yes, Master.]
“If the other party buys an invitation, do I get those points for the invitation?”
[That is correct.]
As expected…….
It seemed this Sky Island was not simply a place that looked out for my growth and convenience.
Its true purpose was separate.
Moreover, a way to gather points even faster came to mind.
The corners of my mouth rose on their own.
* * *
Early morning of the 4th day of the Cataclysm.
I was examining items in the shop list the moment I woke up.
Then Noah opened its mouth.
[Master. Are you thinking of executing the plan you conceived yesterday?]
“No, that’s for later. I’m just planning to open a shop on the surface.”
I was talking about the method of inviting surviving survivors to this Sky Island to earn points. But that method won’t do.
There’s no reason to deliberately help my competitors in the Sacred Fire War grow stronger.
No, in the first place, they probably don’t even have enough points to purchase invitations.
It was a plan I couldn’t even attempt right now.
But opening a shop and doing business should be possible.
‘Is there anything worth using?’
Of course, I had no intention of selling weapons or the like.
What would that do but make them stronger?
I was thinking of simply selling food supplies or light rest areas where survivors could relax.
Then Noah opened its mouth.
[Master, if you are thinking of selling food supplies, would it not be better to cook and sell food instead?]
“Food? I don’t know how to cook, though?”
[The management robot Tia is capable of it.]
“What, really?”
She knows how to cook?
With those hands?
No, setting aside the questions, the fact that she can cook is important.
Then rather than selling simple ready-to-eat ingredients, selling cooked food as Noah suggested would be better.
I asked Noah.
“What can she make?”
[Any dish Master desires is possible. Once you order, Tia will purchase the ingredients and prepare the food.]
“That so?”
The possibilities had widened.
Yeah, selling food would be better than selling fruits or the like.
I first checked my current points.
[95,800 Points]
It was the most I had earned so far, yet it was ambiguous.
Considering Alt’s hunting speed, I felt like I could earn more than this…….
No, am I being too greedy? Considering the monsters on the surface, 9th-grade monsters not even worth 1,000 points were swarming about, so the fact that I had gathered this much was a blessing.
Moreover, this much should be enough.
It should be fine as capital before starting a business.
Then it happened.
[Master, the production of the Sky Combat Robot Aria has been completed.]
“Ah, she’s been completed.”
At Noah’s words, I slowly rose from my seat.
Just as I was leaving the control room and heading toward the workshop—
-Kaaaaah!!
Some massive, strange cry echoed across the heavens.
My head instantly turned upward.
A gigantic form visible even from a fair distance.
A giant bird the size of at least two buses put together, reminiscent of a pelican, was flying toward the Sky Island.
I knew that bird.
It was a 7th-grade monster called Giafredon, nicknamed the Rock-Swallowing Bird.
‘No matter how I look at it, it seems to be flying this way…….’
I could roughly tell that bird’s target was the Sky Island.
Now then, what should I do with that thing…….
I didn’t particularly feel any sense of crisis.
After all, it wouldn’t be able to break the protective barrier.
However, the problem was how to deal with it.
Hadn’t points come knocking on their own?
‘Could Tia handle it?’
No, wouldn’t it be a bit difficult?
I had heard she could handle up to 8th grade.
Still, if she pounded it with shockwaves one-sidedly, wouldn’t it die?
Then it happened.
Something emerged from the workshop.
‘That’s…….’
It was a robot with a different appearance from Alt.
Its body floated in the air, and unlike Alt, its form was feminine.
Its sharp, awl-like legs did not touch the ground, and long, disc-shaped wings were attached to its back.
The Sky Combat Robot Aria.
If Alt was a heavy hammer, Aria felt like a well-forged blade.
Aria discovered me and calmly approached.
[Sky Combat Robot Aria greets Master.]
Aria floated in the air and politely knelt on one knee before me.
I smiled as I looked at Aria for a moment.
‘So this is what Sky meant?’
Unlike Alt, Aria looked capable of flying through the sky with just a glance.
She certainly deserved a price about twice that of Alt.
[Master.]
Then Aria spoke.
[A monster approaching the Sky Island has been confirmed. If you command, I will eliminate it.]
“Ah, please do.”
[Understood. Executing the command.]
With those words, a blue blade sprang forth from Aria’s hand.
Simultaneously, Aria quickly soared into the sky, passed straight through the protective barrier, and flew toward the Giafredon.
Buzz! Slice-.
-Screech!!
Of course, the situation ended anticlimactically.
Aria cut the neck of the Giafredon flying toward this place and sent it plummeting from the sky.
Well, a robot capable of single-handedly slaying 6th-grade monsters could easily handle a mere 7th grade.
Thanks to that, I simply earned more points.
[Giafredon has been slain.]
[10,000 points have been accumulated.]
[105,800 Points]
One hundred thousand points…….
The corners of my mouth rose without me realizing it.
Good, then what item should I buy with these points……?
[Master.]
“Hm?”
[The Constellations have sent messages to Alt on the surface.]
“They sent messages?”
The Constellations sent messages to Alt?
For what reason would they send messages?
[Would you like to share the messages?]
“Uh, yeah. Show me.”
Along with Noah’s words, messages from several Constellations appeared before my eyes.
The moment I saw the contents of the messages, my pupils widened greatly.