Chapter 10. Drone (2)

"Is this... a lens?"

I appraised the item the boss had spat out in its final moments at the arsenal in car 2.

"Not bad for a boss drop..."

It seemed useful enough, but I didn't really need it right now. I considered just selling it, but then a better idea hit me.

I headed to the drone hangar in the car 2 arsenal.

"The whole dungeon was basically for this."

I dumped in all the materials I'd gathered for the combat drone. And finally, I added the lens I'd just gotten.

Whirr-click. The drone hangar hummed to life with a satisfying noise.

The scout drone hovered beside me, staring blankly like it was expectant or something. I told it to take a break.

"I've got stuff to do."

Humming a tune, I returned to the cockpit and punched in the destination on the vending machine panel.

Rumble-rumble-ruuuuumble— The train glided smoothly along the tracks.

I flopped onto the sofa with a long sigh.

"Ughhh... finally, I can breathe."

The fatigue from rolling and running through the dungeon melted into the plush cushions. Perfect temperature, smooth ride without a jolt, apocalyptic scenery flashing by outside the window. The bizarre comfort of it all was addictive.

"Mmm..."

It'd take a while to reach the vending machine anyway. I slowly closed my eyes.

Had I dozed off for a bit? The train had already stopped in front of the golden vending machine.

I gathered up the stuff to sell: junk from dungeon monsters, items Spike had harvested. And...

"This too."

I unhooked the dreamcatcher necklace hanging in one corner of the train. No real need for its subtle goblin-affinity effect anymore.

Whatever it fetched, time to test the market.

"Here you go."

I loaded the scout drone up with the bundle and sent it off. I planned to lounge on the sofa and watch via screen. Post-dungeon muscle aches left me no choice.

Ding— The drone dumped the monster junk into the vending tray. Quite a pile, so a nice payout.

"Huh? Not bad?"

Decent efficiency compared to mana stones. Then the star item: the necklace.

"...Expensive? No way that's worth..."

I was a bit shocked. 100 credits. That was the price of one random box on display.

Maybe rare since it came from the boss? Handy in a goblin dungeon, sure.

I scanned the vending display. Mana stones, or maybe—

My eyes locked on a box in the corner.

"Can't resist this."

Gamer's dream, gacha. I caved to the temptation.

After agonizing, I had the drone fetch two random boxes.

I slyly pulled out my smartphone. Opening them alone wouldn't do—the thrill needed sharing. Plus, it was valuable intel.

Reactions were lit. Tension mounting, I slowly opened one box the drone brought. Inside, an item appeared with a message.

"Please..."

"...Ah."

100 credits for squid. Way too pricey a snack.

I snapped a pic and posted it right away.

"...Call it bad luck burned off. Round two."

Clunk— This box felt heavier.

"Oh."

I bolted upright from the sofa without thinking. A repair skill—perfect for train maintenance. The train was tough, but drones breaking or worst-case scenarios could happen.

Ideal for me. Posted about it, and comments split: envy vs. "repair skill's meh?"

Notifications pouring in, I grinned, loneliness fading, dopamine surging.

"Gacha's the best."

I stashed the skillbook carefully, then chomped a squid leg from the convenience store haul. Chewy goodness. Wanted to savor the gacha squid, but 100 credits? Couldn't.

Store squid took the hit.

Then—a majestic mechanical hum from the car 2 arsenal.

No way—

"Production done?"

Chewing squid, I stood.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Whiiiirrr— Entering car 2, a heavy whir from the hangar as the combat drone deployed.

If the scout was a cute, diligent type, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this one was sleeker, more streamlined. Underside mounted a small-caliber SMG, and the boss lens gleamed on the main camera.

"Whoa..."

Intimidating look. First, I ordered it outside to hunt monsters.

Sat on the sofa, checked the cockpit panel feed.

Lucky—zombie-like stragglers shambling on a nearby ruined building roof.

"Take those out."

Tut-tut-tung—! Suppressed shots, not too loud. But dead accurate.

Splat! Thunk! Bullets from mid-range, mid-air wobble pierced heads clean. Exit wounds exploded from power. Lens correction made shots magnetic to skulls.

"Nice."

No need for me to swing the flail up close in fights. Unless boss-level, I could just watch.

Kept commanding, spotting and sniping nearby monsters. Screen-gazing felt like gaming, immersive.

Then thought: collect mana stones. Asked scout to retrieve.

They crossed paths—hilarious interaction.

Whirr. Scout picks up, combat drone just stares. Scout waves claw, urging. Combat drone finally helps.

Like senior training rookie.

After, scout scanned ahead, tagged foes; combat followed, fired. Roles divided perfectly.

Soon scout handed stones, combat tagged along picking up.

Scout gently bumped combat drone's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠body. Praise?

"Scan the area more."

High-altitude sweep caught something odd in scout's corner feed.

"Huh? What? Zoom back on that apartment."

Set squid down, leaned in.

Screen fizzed, zoomed: Incheon apartment complex not far from tracks. Most windows shattered, soot-blackened horrors. But one decent-looking building, roof 107-dong: letters.

White paint or flour? Huge, visible from sky. Beside it, red cloth flapping like a flag.

"SOS signal..."

I'd grasped the world was fucked. But seeing a fresh plea like this hit different.

"...Should check it out?"

Curiosity piqued. Before, I'd ignore it—my life first, no risks.

But now? Drones handled threats. No personal danger.

Chin in hand, pondered, then smiled at the sturdy duo onscreen.

"Alright."

Issued command.

"Head to that SOS rooftop."

Added: "Secure safe distance, observe only. Bail if risky."

Repair skill or not, total drone shutdown meant no fix.

Drones responded instantly. Scout led, combat covered rear, turning toward complex.

Shwooo— Scenery blurred by fast.

Ruined city vivid. I swallowed, face to monitor as drones closed on the roof.