23. Isn't This a Civilization in Its Own Right? (4)
Exactly three thousand. I have no idea if that was just three thousand zombies or if there were some fish-people or larvae mixed in along the way. But it stopping dead at three thousand makes me think this ultimate move has a hard limit of three thousand. Or more precisely, since it's a skill that pours all your mental energy into unleashing a barrage of whirlwinds, the coins you get should scale up as your spirit grows, right? Anyway, I bagged three thousand. Same as yesterday, netting me 3,031 coins.
...Doojae-dong feels like it'll be cleared in a few days at this rate. The zombie cleanup speed is insane.
I leveled the producer to 9 yesterday. I'd love to hit 10 and see what the ultimate is, but the problem is I don't know how much it costs. I'll try everything first, level to 10 if I can, and push it to tomorrow otherwise. If there's just a little left, the warrior can grind it out. It'll take forever and be a pain in the ass, though.
Damn it, my women are waiting, there's a pile of unopened board games, and I need to hit the bookstore for more! So much to do! Where's the time to poke around stabbing zombies?!
...Anyway. Three upgraded skills. In order.
"Fountain of Life."
The staff glowed, and a holographic image of sand appeared.
...Something like an enormous lake... no, not quite a lake... more like one of those outdoor hot spring baths you see at a fancy onsen, where even the rocky stones look beautiful. Yeah, exactly like that.
"Cancel. Can I cancel this? Cancel."
It faded away smoothly.
...It was blatantly obvious this was a massive hot spring bath that would take up my entire shrine living room. There was even a Venus-like statue spouting water.
...Gotta shelve this for now. Can't make it yet. The living room's already cluttered with the girls' stuff, no room for it, and even if I forced it, I'd have to dismantle the existing fountain. No space. The only spot big enough would be outside in the apartment complex's central parking lot, but it's full of cars. Sure, the warrior's strong enough to move them, and the residents would love a giant outdoor bath like that. But the problem is, my shrine has a little fountain, and the commoners get the huge outdoor bath? No way. My shrine comes first. I need to see my women bathing before anyone else.
Plus. I just imagined it—a vast bath filled with my women, naked, chatting and laughing happily. So, yeah, on hold for now.
Before moving on, just in case? "Can I move this? I want to relocate the fountain."
I held out the staff toward it, and suddenly the fountain blurred as sand rose up into hologram form. The fountain itself stayed put. Just the hologram separated.
"Oh... so it can be moved? Okay. Dismiss."
The sand hologram vanished. Handy abilities all around.
Anyway, next. "Primordial Harvest."
The staff glowed.
Please designate a crop.
Fuck, no need to think twice about this one. Back when we were stuck eating just rice and eggs, I wished for all sorts of shit. Lettuce, cabbage, all the wrap veggies came to mind first, plus veggies for miso stew and curry. Nah. The undisputed top two: green onions and peppers. With those, even bland egg porridge would taste amazing. Especially peppers! We need peppers!
"Peppers, possible?"
Fresh green chili peppers with some salt—crisp, spicy, delicious! Please!
Ooh! A thread of sand from the staff tip! On the glass table, next to the sand bowl piled with eggs, right beside the now-empty spot that held rice seeds—it sank in, forming a perfect shape for dipping in soy sauce.
"Deploy."
Instant deployment, and coins.
100 coins used.
Figured as much, fuck. Rice was 100 too. But we've made do with that 100 all this time.
...Ooh! White pepper seeds!
"Ushabti."
One was already beside me, hand outstretched.
"Yeah. Go plant them. Grow 'em fast."
"Ushabti."
It cupped its hands, took the seeds, and headed to the balcony. But...
...It's just standing there holding the seeds. Doing nothing.
...Why? Oh...!
No space! The balcony's all rice fields!
Ah! No room!
"Ugh...! Fuck, hey. Ushabti. Wait there a sec. First, ha...!"
This is frustrating as hell. My shrine's gotten huge, but no. Not huge enough. It needs to be way bigger!
But that's solved by leveling the builder, and wait—I paused before possessing the builder. One more left.
I was about to name the last skill when Sechem Yaret opened the shrine door and slithered in.
"Oh, my lord. The people are steadily regaining their health."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Got it, busy here."
"Yes, my lord. I was just checking on the priestesses'—"
"Wait, no. Sechem, come here."
"Yes, my lord."
She slithered over, coiling gracefully.
"The Ushabti got upgraded, right? I'm using it now, so if you know what anything is, tell me."
"Oh, splendid. Of course, my lord."
"Immortal Kin."
The staff glowed. I tapped the ground lightly, and sand piled up.
1,000 coins used.
...A thousand. No joke.
There were two sand piles.
The second Ushabti has been permanently bound.
The third Ushabti has been created.
The fourth Ushabti has been created.
Whoa, fuck! Now two Ushabti are fully bound, plus two more!
"Whoa, fuck! Awesome. Ushabti for the win!"
You can designate protection zones for Ushabti.
...Huh? "Hey, Sechem."
"Yes, my lord. Congratulations, two more servants—"
"No, not that. It says I can designate protection zones for Ushabti. What's that?"
"Ah. It means you can use Ushabti as armed guards."
"...Armed guards?"
"Yes. They cannot leave the designated zone, but I recall that fine warriors always stood by the god's side. If you set a protection zone, they become armed guards, I believe."
"...Oh."
The two Ushabti crouched before me. Still just 30cm tall little guys. But size adjusts automatically.
"...You. Guard this shrine... no, the entire apartment complex."
I pointed at one. The shrine's priority, but people matter too. Can't have guards standing dumbly at the shrine while folks die.
Sand swirled around the Ushabti, clinging and growing. It expanded. Whoa... turning humanoid? Wearing a mask. Dog mask? No. Bird...? Long, pointed beak—a swift, small bird mask like a falcon, not quite eagle. Round collar ornament, naked body, fringed cloth at the waist, armed with spear and shield. But not quite human. Like a slowly rising carved stone statue. It bowed to me.
"...Ushabti."
...Still just "Ushabti," huh.
"A fine Mezai."
"...Mezai?"
"Special warrior corps appointed by the god. They operate independently. Fulfilling the king's missions, protecting people, maintaining street order—elite positions."
"Oh... got it."
The Mezai Ushabti glanced at Sechem and walked out.
"It goes to stand guard."
"Ha... fucking amazing, shit. Uh, okay. It'll guard on its own, right?"
"Of course. It doesn't sleep."
"Perfect. Tell the people so they don't freak out."
"Understood, my lord."
Sechem followed the Mezai out.
"Whew..."
Blown through 1,100 coins in one go. 1,931 left.
"Ushabti. Go work."
"Ushabti."
The other crouched one stood and waddled off, looking almost happy, wobbling with joy. They seem depressed when idle.
Anyway. Fountain, peppers—need the builder to fix this. Summoned and possessed Nepmes the builder.
Be careful with the builder. This bastard's a coin hog.
First, spend 500 coins to level up.
What was Many-Eyed again? Oh, right. The skill for breaking walls or whatever.
...Need this?
...Really?
Leveled once more. 600 coins. 831 left.
Yes. This is the key. This expanded my shrine like crazy.
"Immortal Sanctuary."
Secure territory with Many-Eyed first.
...Huh?
...Oh. Right...
My shrine expanded side to side, but front-back only to the neighbor's range. Ah... so I need to expand territory with Many-Eyed first to build the sanctuary that far. Damn.
"Ugh..."
Stepped out of the shrine. The protruding sides made it awkward looping around to the apartment entrance.
Swallowing the entrance would be nice too, but let's secure up to the second floor if possible. Second floor—right above my shrine.
"Many-Eyed."
Hammered the wall. Next door. Next-next, and the last one. Down to first floor, neighbor and next-next.
Covered the entire side of the apartment on floors 1 and 2 as my territory.
Failed to consume all 1,800 coins.
Short 969 coins.
Safety not secured.
"............"
See? Told you the builder's a coin-devouring monster.