Chapter 22: Passengers (4)
The next morning, my mind was buzzing with tasks for the kids.
"I've fed them and put them to bed for now, but washing up and clothes are the real issues."
I sipped warm coffee in the cab of car 1 while checking the panels. Yesterday, I'd hastily folded down seats in car 3 to make makeshift beds, but that wouldn't do for long. The children needed proper beds to stretch out in and spare clothes—urgently.
"Beds can be bought with fuel, at least."
I opened the customization tab in the modification system and browsed furniture options for car 1. After consuming a bit of fuel and a low-grade mana stone, a cozy bunk bed with plush mattresses magically appeared in an empty corner of the previously bare car 1.
"Perfect, sleeping arrangements sorted. Now for clothes..."
I frowned, rummaging through the system shop. Clothes were plentiful, but anything I bought came tailored to my size.
"Guess I'll have to hunt for them myself."
I gazed out at the cityscape. Not right now, but by the end of the day, I needed to raid a big mart or department store's kids' section.
"First, let's test the kids' skills."
I stood and headed to the warehouse in car 2, grabbing three spare unopened wooden treasure boxes from the ones the drones had collected. Just then, the door to car 3 slid open, and out shuffled Jiwoo and Sua, rubbing sleepy eyes with tousled hair. Despite the bedhead, they looked much cleaner than when we'd first met—thanks to a good bath and sleep the night before.
"Awake already?"
"Yeah... Slept like a rock. What's this...?"
"Your new bed. Bunk beds—cool, right?"
"Yeah!"
Jiwoo circled the bed in awe.
"Oh, got a quick job for you guys."
"A job?"
I lined up the three weathered wooden boxes on the kitchen island counter.
"Jiwoo, can you try opening these?"
"Just open 'em?"
"Yep."
Jiwoo swallowed hard and stepped forward. Normally, when I opened these, the haul was predictable: a few cans of veggies or tuna, some lowest-grade mana stones. Rarely, if luck was on my side, a special weapon or potion slipped in.
With Jiwoo's skill at level 1, I wasn't expecting miracles. Even a slight bump—like one extra mana stone or marginally better food—would be a win.
"No need to stress."
"O-okay... Here goes."
Jiwoo unlatched the rusty iron lock on the first box with his small hands.
Click, creak.
The lid popped open with a soft glow, revealing two cans of tuna, a bottle of water, and three lowest-grade mana stones.
"H-how's that?"
"Uh... Pretty good, I guess...?"
I nodded at Jiwoo's question. Dead average, just like when I opened them. It boosted the odds of good stuff, nothing more. Exactly as expected.
Jiwoo moved to the second box.
Creak.
One can of corn, two packs of jerky, and a rusty kitchen knife with a chipped blade. An item, sort of.
"Uh... Is this good?"
"Y-yeah!"
Even Jiwoo seemed underwhelmed. I patted his shoulder. He squeezed his eyes shut and flung open the third box.
Whoosh—!
A burst of light erupted from inside.
"Huh...?"
I froze. No items or dull mana stones in sight. Instead, fresh vegetables—still earthy, like they'd been pulled from the soil—filled a third of the box.
"Wh-what the hell?"
I picked up a crisp lettuce leaf in disbelief. Veggies popped up sometimes when I opened boxes, but never this abundantly. Not top-tier loot, but a brand-new reward type I'd never seen.
Luck really makes a difference, huh.
"Nice one, Jiwoo."
"Huh? Just veggies though—is that good?"
"Absolutely."
I clapped his stunned shoulder in praise. The veggie haul mattered less than confirming his ability worked on gacha boxes. It'd apply to vending machine random skill or item boxes too.
"Gotta farm some credits."
With Jiwoo's Luck verified, I moved to phase two: testing seven-year-old Sua's Dungeon Exploration.
"To check Sua's skill, we gotta hit a dungeon entrance..."
I sat in the cab and turned the train toward Sorae Port Station in Incheon. I'd skimmed gallery posts before—a massive, ominous dungeon rift at the Sorae fish market entrance. Awakeners who'd stumbled on it didn't dare enter; no details available.
Rumble—!
As the train neared, skeletal market buildings came into view through the windows, framing a colossal crimson-black rift.
"Whoa... That's huge."
Nothing like the dungeons I'd cleared. Dark red energy poured endlessly from a gap easily over three meters wide.
"Jiwoo, stay inside and lock the doors. Sua, come out with sis for a bit."
"Got it, sis. Be careful, Sua!"
"Sis..."
"Don't worry, sis and the drones have you covered."
I gripped my toothed flail for any surprises and kept Sua glued to my side. "Guard us."
Whirr—click!
Three drones deployed weapons, forming a tight escort formation. I crept right up to the massive rift. An inexplicable pressure built, but Sua peered at the shimmering tear with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Sua, think you can use your skill?"
"Yeah... I'll try."
Sua stretched out her tiny hand and shouted at the rift.
"Explore!"
Whoosh—!
She stared into empty air, reading aloud steadily.
"Um... Dungeon name's 'Lizardmen's Settlement.' Total monsters: 34... Oh? One boss... Difficulty: mid-grade."
"Oh..."
Slow, but spot-on. I let out a quiet gasp. I'd thought it'd just lump in overall difficulty, but it nailed the name, exact count, and boss info. Better than drone scouting.
"Mid-grade dungeon, huh..."
I stroked my chin. My past clears lacked labels but felt low- or lowest-grade. What did "official" mid-grade mean?
"Test complete. Let's head back, Sua."
I stroked her cheek in approval, then hustled us to the train. Safely in car 1's cab with the kids beside me, I sent drones inside alone.
Time to gauge mid-grade criteria and skill accuracy firsthand.
Drones entered; the cab monitor lit up with Lizardmen's Settlement interiors. A humid, sticky swamp stretched out, dotted with huts of grass and wood scraps. Between them prowled bipedal reptiles slightly larger than humans, blue scales glinting—lizardmen. Unlike past foes, they wore proper armor and shields.
"Hmm..."
Didn't scream mid-grade at first glance. Lizardmen didn't look that tough.
"Engage the front lizardman."
Rat-tat-tat—boom!
The lead combat drone unleashed its usual machine-gun barrage. But my brow twitched watching the monitor.
Clang! Ping! Bang—!
"Different."
Power that would've shredded past monsters. Lizardmen screeched sharply, raising thick log shields in unison. Some bullets pierced, but not lethally—their rusty iron torso armor held.
Zzzing—!
Recon drones fired high-heat laser pointers at eyes, but thick nictitating membranes snapped shut, blocking the light effortlessly. Reptilian eyelids on steroids, I guess.
"Kieeeek—!!"
Counterattack. They moved in sync; rears hurled mud clumps, spearmen flung javelins.
Whoosh—!
One spear grazed a combat drone's propeller. A split-second late on the dodge, and it'd be down. They were adapting to drone speed in real time.
"Sniper drone."
Finally, the orbiting sniper drone fired.
Boom—!
The rifle's crack echoed; penetration ignored armor and shield alike.
Splash!
A javelin-throwing lizardman toppled into the swamp, chest blown open. Only sniper hits guaranteed damage. But each shot took ages to recharge. Drag the fight, and they'd down the drones.
"All units, retreat. Out now."
I ordered pullout without hesitation. No plans to fully clear anyway. If four trash mobs were this level, the boss was obvious. Current drones could snipe piecemeal, but boss fight? No chance.
"Sua."
"Yeah?"
Confirming drones' safe exit, I swallowed dryly and looked at her.
"Your skill was a huge help."
"Really?"
I nodded, pulling up a map on the cab monitor. Pairing their abilities would skyrocket dungeon efficiency.
Now, time to snag kids' clothes and shoes... and maybe our first real passengers.
I set course for a major department store. Kids' wear, shoes—and people worthy of boarding.