Chapter 23
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Cassiopeia Arsenal
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I'd already picked out the building in the factory district that would serve as my base. There weren't many places equipped with the basic facilities needed to build an android robot, even in this industrial zone.
And among those, there was only one I could reach right now.
Cassiopeia Corporation's munitions factory.
The entire structure was laced with mithril, making it an impregnable fortress that not even regular zombies, let alone variant zombies, would dare enter.
It was tough enough that even a Tyrant from the mid-to-late game would take time to break through. If I reinforced it with more mithril, nothing short of elite-grade monsters would ever get inside.
Unfortunately, there were already squatters occupying the interior: survivors would have been preferable, but no—they were variant zombies.
A Destroyer—just like the one I'd encountered at the military base, though a different individual—was among them. And not just one, but three of them.
Even with my Aegis suit and 12-gauge shotgun, taking on a single Destroyer might be manageable, but three at once? That was suicide.
To make matters worse, these Destroyers were armed with Cassiopeia's powerful weapons, making them even stronger than the one I'd faced at the base.
Of course, that only applied to a frontal assault. I had no reason—or need—to face them head-on.
By game lore, Cassiopeia had installed a comprehensive defense system throughout the munitions factory to guard against spies from rival companies. And if certain conditions were met, that system would activate.
My plan was to trigger the defense system and let it eliminate the Destroyers for me. The problem? It could target me too.
'I believe in you, Queen.'
I intended to use Queen, the AI mounted on my Sentry Gun, to hijack the factory's defense system. As long as I had the power to run her, it was entirely feasible.
No, it *had* to be. If it failed, I'd end up just like the Destroyers—scrap metal courtesy of the defense system.
'The first thing I need is…'
The buildings in the factory district all looked pretty similar. But I had no trouble spotting Cassiopeia Corporation's munitions factory among them. How? I'm a Veteran. After seeing the same scenery hundreds, thousands of times, you could find a needle in a sand dune. Finding one building in a factory zone? Child's play.
Zixuan spread her arms wide. Glancing back, I saw her smiling brightly, clearly taken with the factory district's vibe.
"My heart's pounding. It smells like adventure…"
Did her words jinx it? No sooner had she spoken than a round shot came flying from the distance—probably from the Cassiopeia munitions factory.
I whipped my head forward and hastily reversed the truck.
The shot landed, followed by a deafening explosion that shook my eardrums.
Seemed like some kind of anti-tank round. No human would spot a truck and immediately fire an anti-tank gun, so it had to be the Destroyers.
I'd taken warning shots in the game before, but… this felt even more intense than that.
"Kyaaah!"
The truck lurched violently. Luckily, it wasn't a direct hit, so the damage didn't transfer fully.
"It really does smell like adventure."
I muttered that while reversing farther away, ignoring Zixuan who was screaming nonstop like she was on a roller coaster. Until our original position was out of sight.
Not that I was scared… but I didn't fancy getting shelled halfway through.
The Destroyers clearly didn't want us getting close. And I had no desire to ignore their warning and end up Swiss cheese.
"W-What was that?"
Even after some time had passed, Zixuan asked with a dazed look.
"Destroyers. Think of them as zombies that use guns."
I gave her the simple explanation.
"No way, how can zombies…"
I shrugged. This was the woman who'd seen a Devourer, and she's surprised by this?
Later on, zombies even drive tanks. I parked the truck inside a nearby factory.
Zombies swarming inside heard the noise—or maybe smelled us—and started crawling out. Some variants were mixed in.
Like Jumpers that could leap over 3 meters like frogs, or Champions bigger than a regular zombie's head.
Of course, the 12-gauge shotgun had more than enough power to punch through their tough hides. Jumpers, Champions—they all dropped with holes riddled through them.
One broke through the bullet curtain and got close, but piercing Aegis's defenses was impossible. *Clang.* Was that blank zombie face showing surprise? Nah, probably my imagination.
As it froze, I swung my metal sword, severing its head clean off.
I finished reloading slowly and pulled the trigger again, shredding the zombies. The variants died first, leaving only regulars.
They were stronger than Scenario 1's normal zombies, but still within regular zombie limits—just a bit more strength, agility, and stamina.
That was enough to threaten survivors, but against two shotgun blasts? They turned to mincemeat without a trace.
The gunfire drew more zombies from outside. No need to fight them all, so I used Metal Transformation to seal the factory doors.
Couldn't block every tiny gap, but it was enough to put out the immediate fire.
"H-Here too, block it!"
Zixuan yelped in panic, pointing. A Jumper had smashed through a window. I fired, but missed.
It hesitated—wary of my weapon?—and stuck to the ceiling instead of leaping at me.
I shot at the ceiling, but it bounded away the instant I fired, clinging to some machinery. The overhead equipment shook under its weight.
We repeated this dance a few times, but nothing changed.
Against normals, I was Lu Bu with a gun, but hitting something actively dodging? Not my skill set. A Gunner could drop it with one bullet, but I'm a Mechanic.
Mechanics have their own ways, though. I set the shotgun down and touched the truck. Then activated Metal Transformation.
I wasn't manipulating the truck itself, but the Sentry Gun on top. Since it was connected by metal, touching the truck let me control the Sentry Gun.
The next moment, it dropped down. Instinct picking up on the bad vibes, maybe. Too late.
At the same instant, the Sentry Gun on the truck roared to life. The falling Jumper accelerated into a hail of bullets, turning into Swiss cheese without a trace.
「Occupation experience points increase. (2-person party bonus +160%) (Massacre bonus +150%)」
I confirmed the beehive pizza, then touched the broken window. The wall rippled, forming a new barrier over it.
I did the same for the other windows, working meticulously. No more zombies tried to enter.
If there'd been another variant, it would've gotten in while I worked, so the Jumper I killed must've been the last one.
"No more will come in, right?"
Zixuan rushed over, casting a shield as she spoke. Hey, it seems cleared—why the shield now? Use it earlier if you were gonna.
…Thought about calling her out, but let it go. If the noble Healer wants to, fine.
Snapping out of my random thoughts, I answered her.
"I blocked all the visible gaps, didn't I?"
"But if something gets inside…"
Her face was pure anxiety.
"Can't be helped."
It really couldn't. This was a plastics factory. The outer walls were reinforced concrete, but no defense system or mithril like the munitions factory.
Dozens of variants charging? It'd get breached.
'Of course, that won't happen…'
It shouldn't. Even if it did, the Sentry Gun could save our lives, but worst case, I'd lose all the massive supplies loaded on the truck.
Thinking that, I scoured the factory interior. No more coming in from outside for now, but there might still be some inside.
The plastics factory was sparse. Just plastic manufacturing equipment, as expected. Circling the whole place didn't take long.
"Ughhh."
A groan drew me over, heart pounding. Half a zombie was jammed into a machine, upper body only. Probably got infected and stuck.
Still alive in that state? Proof it was freshly turned. I eyed the maggot-ridden flesh lump and pulled my rifle's trigger.
The bullet pierced its head, and it went still.
With that, we secured the plastics factory completely. A temporary base before heading to Cassiopeia Corporation's munitions factory.
"Hey, Si-hyun, can you explain the plan in more detail? I really thought we were goners back there."
Zixuan said, sitting on the floor to rest. A hint of resentment in her eyes. Fair enough—I'd never mentioned Destroyers to her.
Well, I meant to, but the shell came first. What was I supposed to do? …Though it was still my fault for not saying earlier.
I said sincerely,
"Sorry. I'll tell you ahead of time from now on."
She didn't press further. Just crouched and started trembling. I grabbed a blanket from the truck and draped it over her.
Life-threatening danger, sudden environment shift, new zombies. Her mental state shaking was natural.
But there wasn't much I could do. Just help her rest easy.
"Get some sleep for now. You haven't rested properly."
Zixuan accepted my offer.
"…Thanks."
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