Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Sentry Gun
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A red-haired woman was waving from afar. Shelter A's watchman, Emily.
How had she come to rescue me? And at this exact moment? But there was no time to think. I ran. The Destroyer. The variant zombie hadn't died yet.
I shouted as I charged through the zombies. It would have been impossible without Emily's covering fire. And finally, I succeeded in breaking out of the military base.
Zombies trailed behind me in a long line. I reinforced one of the grenades I had left with Metal Reinforcement, then hurled it back with all my strength. The grenade arced through the air and exploded with a deafening boom.
「Job experience has increased. (Solo party bonus +150%) (Massacre bonus +100%)」
The zombies were literally swept away. Thanks to the massacre bonus for taking out dozens at once, my level rose.
「Job level has risen to 10.」
Without a word, I clumsily loaded my backpack and machine gun onto the motorcycle I'd set up, then twisted the throttle hard.
A roar so loud it left my eardrums ringing filled my ears. I rode toward the building where Emily was. Emily and Shelter A's survivors came out to greet me.
They were armed with pistols or rifles.
"That was close."
"Thank you for saving me."
I bowed my head to her.
Without Emily, it would have been hard to escape the military base. Even if I had escaped, the odds were high I'd have taken serious injuries.
"Speaking of which, as expected from Team Apocalypse, you've got guts. The others too, but to think you'd go into a military base alone..."
"Yes, circumstances... Anyway, how did you end up at Emily's—"
"Oh, nothing special. Shelter A has plenty of stockpiled supplies, but to prepare for the future, we need to steadily gather more."
In short, they'd gone out scavenging and luckily spotted and rescued me. I was fortunate. I nodded.
"Why'd you bring the machine gun?"
Emily's eyes lit up at the machine gun on the motorcycle. Not that she'd do it, but if she got any ideas, it'd be trouble.
"Oh, I need it for something."
Brushing it off like that, I handed her all the rifles except for one. It hurt to part with them, but she'd saved my life and used up a good amount of ammo in the process, so it was only fair.
"You need one too, Si-hyun."
"I'm good."
Not wanting to just part ways awkwardly, I searched the building with the survivors. As a Mechanic, I actively helped with their search.
No matter how sturdy the lock, the moment it touched my hand, it was unlocked. The survivor NPCs looked at me with respect and thanked me for the help.
The sun dipped low in the sky. I parted ways with Emily and the survivor NPCs. I headed back to the large mart to finish the Sentry Gun.
AI module, machine gun, high-performance computer from the mart, infrared camera, hundreds of rounds of ammo...
All materials gathered. All that was left was fabricating the barrel. I climbed onto a bed on the third floor of the large mart and pulled up the blueprint on my laptop.
Power Suit Blueprint (31%)
*I clicked New Blueprint Creation and started modeling. Fabricating the Sentry Gun's barrel didn't take long.
It might be tough for a normal person, but I'm a 'Mechanic' who masters metal and machinery.
After repetitive grind work, I finished the blueprint. Then, using Metal Transformation, I began fabricating the barrel according to the design.
「Used Metal Transformation (Lv.2) to fabricate Steel Barrel x1.」
「Metal Transformation (Lv.2) experience has increased dramatically.」
I admired the finished barrel, then placed the AI module and machine gun on top of the steel barrel. And finally, the computer from the store.
I used Metal Transformation.
「Used Metal Transformation (Lv.2) to combine AI module, Queen(
「Metal Transformation (Lv.2) experience has increased dramatically.」
「Metal Transformation level has risen to 3.」
Metal Transformation even leveled up to 3. Well, it'd go up automatically at level 13 anyway, but I happily gazed at the completed Sentry Gun. It looked sturdy just standing there.
Then text appeared on the dashboard.
「Queen is angry. What is this place?」
Of course the AI would be pissed. It couldn't even produce voice or holograms.
I typed on the dashboard.
Sorry. But help me out for a while.
「Queen accepts the new owner's command.」
Fortunately, Queen accepted my orders. To make it easier to move the Sentry Gun, I synthesized car wheels onto its base. Mobile Sentry Gun.
Of course, I hadn't developed it to move on its own, so it couldn't go autonomously. I placed the Sentry Gun at the base of the large mart, in a spot with a good view of the windows.
In any game, the real appeal is macros or auto-farming.
「Queen accepts zombie extermination command.」
It'd burn through ammo, but that was fine. Now that Metal Transformation was level 3, I planned to use AP to make a bunch more.
I lay back on the bed and tried to sleep. Just as I was settling in, thump-thump-thump— the Sentry Gun started operating in earnest. The machine gun's roar was... even from far away, it sounded like thunder.
It'd draw every zombie nearby—and probably survivors too. I'd have to find a silencer and attach it.
Sighing at the chest-rattling noise, I tried to sleep again.
The next day, as soon as I woke up, I checked the messages.
「Job experience has increased. (Solo party bonus +150%) (Massacre bonus +100%)」
「Job level has risen to 11.」
「Metal Decomposition level has risen to 2.」
「Job experience has increased. (Solo party bonus +150%) (Massacre bonus +100%) (Chain kill bonus 150%)」
「Job level has risen to 12.」
「Job experience has increased. (Solo party bonus +150%) (Massacre bonus +100%) (Chain kill bonus 200%)」
「Job level has risen to 13.」
The power of auto-farming was incredible. Three levels overnight. And it hadn't been long since I'd hit 10...
I headed to the Sentry Gun. Was the power all used up? It was off, and only a few rounds of ammo left. And around the large mart...
It was a slaughterhouse. Zombies riddled like Swiss cheese everywhere. No need to doubt the performance. Watching it, I almost felt pity for the zombies.
I brought the Sentry Gun inside.
Then, as planned yesterday, I started fabricating metal bullets with Metal Transformation. Using up all my AP, I made 50 rounds.
With AP depleted, I stretched lazily, wondering what to do today, then decided to tackle the theater.
Houseplus's fourth floor, the theater, still had zombies inside. Thanks to last night's commotion, zombies were piled up at the entrance. Of course, blocked by the shutter.
I easily took them out with the Screw Gun. Piles of zombie corpses at the entrance. No good leaving them, so I'd have to clean them up soon along with the ones on floors 1, 2, and 3.
In case any played dead and attacked, I carefully checked and finished off each one.
-Well, even if they did, my high level now makes it easy to handle.
Anyway, I stepped into the theater. Hearing the shutter, zombies shuffled out from inside.
I wiped them all out and cleared the entire theater interior. There were more supplies inside than expected. The biggest haul was the still-working refrigerator.
Carbonated drinks and regular beverages inside.
I chugged a cola, then headed up to the rooftop of Houseplus. From the roof, the city sprawled out below.
After taking in the view for a moment, I dragged a ladder and tools down from the roof. They'd definitely come in handy.
'Now what's left...'
Cleaning Houseplus and converting it to a shelter. It was a bit close to Shelter A, which bothered me...
But it'd be fine for now.
* * *
Alicia's party didn't have a large truck like Johnson's, nor abundant supplies. They were quickly weeded out.
While Johnson's party members were rushing toward level 6, theirs were barely at 3—that said it all.
Realizing what fate awaited them if things continued, the party members—only two of them—began to worry. Whether to join Johnson's group now.
Alicia noticed their thoughts too. She couldn't not notice. Every time they vented dissatisfaction, Johnson's name came up more and more.
But there was 'nothing' she could do about it. She was as brave as anyone, but unfortunately, in the game, she was a newbie.
Then James, Shelter A's resource manager, visited her. He carried a ton of supplies. Holding them out, he said.
"Alicia, join hands with me and drive out Johnson."
She sensed James had shady intentions, but Alicia had no other options.
Even if James was a bad guy, she thought he was at least better than Johnson.
"What can you offer?"
"Anything you want. And I promise. If I take over as Shelter A's ruler, I'll put you in charge of supplies."
An offer too sweet to refuse. Alicia nodded.
While Park Si-hyun was cleaning zombie corpses in Houseplus, Alicia's party allied with James.
Apocalypse All-Purpose Machine