Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Bahara Mine
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"Decoding the treasure map will take up to 13 hours."
It was taking longer than expected. In the game, it finished in about five seconds with a satisfying whoosh... I spaced out for a moment before my thoughts turned to the Sci-Fi Notebook.
The Sci-Fi Notebook I'd obtained after defeating the Tyrant. I pulled it out and examined its contents. Sketches of medieval armor and Da Vinci's anatomical drawings. It was a Power Suit.
Not some mass-produced model, but a rare item.
Not a total dud, at least... I could make it and give it to Zixuan.
'Making it can wait...'
So, what now... As I spaced out again, a message popped up.
"Master's to-do list: Fabricate work android robot."
That snapped me back to reality.
Of course. What was the point of just sitting around? Time to build that work android robot. I thanked Queen and immediately got started fabricating it.
I'd begin with the half-finished M02.
At Level 10 Metal Transformation, the success rate was 30%. That meant three successes out of ten attempts. Or, put another way, seven failures out of ten...
But luckily, I nailed M02 on the first try.
"Using Metal Transformation (Lv.10), synthesized mithril exoskeleton x1, high-capacity battery x4, copied data module x1, ..., high-performance camera x1 to fabricate work android robot - M02."
"Work Android Robot - M02"
Durability: 180/180
Mounted Firearm: None
Mounted Tool: None
Connected AI: Queen
Description: A work android robot fabricated by Mechanic Park Si-hyun, who possesses advanced knowledge of android robots. Loaded with diverse knowledge from the copied data module, it can substitute for most human labor. It could be used in combat if armed with firearms, but its efficiency would be severely lacking since it was designed for work.
Made later and lavished with mithril, its durability surpassed M01's. Its work capabilities were probably superior too.
With that in mind, I moved on to fabricating M03 and M04.
"Using Metal Transformation (Lv.10), synthesized mithril exoskeleton x1, high-capacity battery x4, copied data module x1, ..., high-performance camera x1 to fabricate work android robot - M03."
As if proving that M02's success was pure luck, it took a whopping five tries this time. Even at 30%, five attempts felt unlucky...
"Using Metal Transformation (Lv.10), synthesized mithril exoskeleton x1, high-capacity battery x4, copied data module x1, ..., high-performance camera x1 to fabricate work android robot - M04."
M04 succeeded on the third try, at least. I connected the completed android robots to Queen. M02, M03, and M04 swiftly rolled out of the workshop on their wheels.
I watched them go with a satisfied smile when Queen appeared beside me.
"Decoding complete."
"Already 13 hours?"
"Precisely 11 hours and 48 minutes."
I'd been so absorbed in the work that I lost track of time. I chuckled. If I'd lived this diligently in reality, I would've broken down the front door sobbing...
"But I discovered something intriguing. The location of the Bahara Mine on the treasure map..."
"It's within this industrial complex."
What?
"More precisely..."
Queen mimed poking the floor with her slender finger.
"Under here?"
"More precisely, in the sewer beneath this."
A mine runs through our house sewer.
What kind of scenario is this?
Even if mine locations are random, this is way too lucky.
Once the portal opens, I can't close it at will. That means survivors and zombies alike could enter through it.
If it had spawned in the middle of the city, I'd have needed defensive structures. But in the sewer under a munitions factory? No need.
With that thought, I headed straight to the sewer. I placed the treasure map at the spot Queen indicated, and with a soft whoosh, a portal appeared.
A warp device to another dimension.
Without hesitation, I stepped through. Beyond lay a beautiful mountain dense with unidentified trees.
Soon, a cave midway up the mountain came into view. That was the Bahara Mine. "Bahara Mine"
Current Development Progress: 1 (Max 15)
Development Difficulty: 20 (Max 20)
Discovered Minerals: None
Discovered Herbs: None
Discovered Animals: None
I stepped inside. A single beam of light filtered in, enough to see clearly. Small lumps clung to the cave walls.
"Discovered copper ore in Bahara Mine."
"You may mine the ore."
At development progress 1, only copper comes out. The more you develop the mine, the more mithril and even trace amounts of adamantium will drop.
'Was wondering where to put the work android robots.'
These idle ones would be perfect here. I stepped out and surveyed the surrounding forest.
'Building living quarters here would be ideal.'
Even if the shelter falls, we could fall back here as a last resort. Constructing residences and defenses wouldn't hurt.
As I thought that, a snow-white rabbit peeked out briefly before vanishing. The forest around Bahara Mine was vast, teeming with animals.
Come to think of it, Professor Alex mentioned building a livestock pen. Catching animals here for breeding outside sounds good.
That's when it happened.
"Drshun has requested a trade."
The sudden message made me tilt my head.
With the Salvation Church bishops dead, countless zombies broke free from control. Freed, they rampaged even more wildly.
Nearby shelters took the brunt. Shelter A was among them.
Alicia pulled the trigger on her rifle at a variant zombie that had breached the walls. Her bullet pierced its head.
The variant zombie's head exploded, its brains splattering the ground. But there were more intruders.
Shelter residents joined the fight, but these variants were beyond them.
A Chaser let out a ferocious howl and charged. It grabbed a rifle-wielding male resident with its webbed hand and tore him apart.
The poor man screamed until his body split in half, dying on the spot.
"Kim Hoon!"
Alicia called out. Only the three espers in Shelter A could handle Chasers.
But Kim Hoon, hiding behind residents, just peeked out.
"Ah, sorry. I'm an AP O-ringer."
No class was as useless as AP O-ring or Psycho. She knew that too.
'Damn it.'
"Drshun!"
Finally, Alicia called the Blader fiercely battling another Chaser up front. He severed its wrist, then scowled at the direction she pointed.
"Damn it! Block them yourselves! Can't you see I'm fighting?!"
"Take this one first! Leave that one!"
Meanwhile, the Chaser slaughtered residents indiscriminately. They fled. Head-on, they were no match.
"Damn it!"
Drshun abandoned his opponent and charged the one hunting residents. He swung his sword viciously. But the Chaser dodged with astonishing reflexes.
It struck his body in turn. Pain like dozens of blades pierced him, sending him reeling.
"Urk!"
Then, his original foe pounced. He front-rolled away with reflexes of his own but didn't fully evade.
* * *
In the end, the Chaser's sharp teeth sank into his shoulder. His iron armor crumpled, fangs digging in. He tore free and stabbed its eye with his sword.
The blinded Chaser staggered toward the wall. Alicia sniped it. Bang! Bang!
After more fierce struggles, most intruding variants were slain. And... Drshun collapsed, bleeding profusely, face blank.
"Players get infected if bitten by zombies, right? Johnson said so. So he'll turn soon?"
Kim Hoon sneered, their rift from last time unhealed. Drshun snarled.
"You bastard! If I turn, you're first!"
"We'll kill you first. Better off dead before you zombify."
"Kim Hoon, shut up!"
"Why? It's true."
Alicia frowned but couldn't retort. He was right.
If the strongest Blader among them turned, it'd birth a monster beyond any Chaser.
"I..."
Drshun trailed off. Sword in hand, he eyed the residents he'd saved. They'd heard Kim Hoon and eyed him warily.
Damn this world.
"1 hour 37 minutes until zombie virus spreads."
"Fucking bastards."
He wouldn't die here. He'd choose his end. Drshun leaped beyond the wall into the city. He ended up at a nearby skyscraper.
Better to 'suicide' than turn, as Kim Hoon said. Only 24 minutes left.
Counting down silently, he rummaged his backpack. He wanted to leave some trace of his life.
Then, he found a box.
'What was this...?'
He recalled: the trade box from his deal with Park Si-hyun, unused since.
He'd kept it for possible future use. He placed his hand on it.
"All-Purpose Trade Box"
Durability: 50/50
Level: 1
Cost: 20% of current AP, 100,000 won
Max Trades: 2/2 (Resets every 24 hours)
Description: All-purpose trade box fabricated by Mechanic Park Si-hyun. Employs forbidden alien technology.
'Maybe with this...'
He checked his pocket. A crumpled 50,000-won bill. He'd kept it to wipe shit instead of tissue.
He placed the bill and yelled desperately.
"Park Si-hyun, save me!"
"Trade requested from Park Si-hyun."
And...
"Park Si-hyun has accepted the trade request."
Park Si-hyun responded.