Chapter 8. Shop (2)
"Over there."
Heading to the coordinates the drone had marked, I spotted something plopped right in the middle of some half-collapsed buildings. Even from afar, it radiated an extraordinary aura.
"...A vending machine?"
It was a vending machine, but not the kind you typically imagine. This one was entirely plated in gold, and instead of sodas inside the glass front, there were books, stones, and mysterious boxes on display. Standing in front of the gleaming golden machine, I even felt a sense of intimidation.
"A skillbook... Fireball, huh."
One skillbook for $500. It was the priciest item in the machine. But that probably meant it was worth it. I swallowed hard and checked the bottom of the vending machine. No coin slot—instead, buttons labeled Exchange and Sell were blinking.
When I pressed one, a tray slid smoothly out from the bottom.
[Place items to exchange here.]
[Items will be converted to credits ($) based on value.]
"So that's how it works?"
For testing, I picked up a fist-sized chunk of concrete rolling around my feet and placed it on the tray. The tray slid back in and out, then a red message appeared on the vending machine.
Value: $0
System: We don't take trash.
"Cold-blooded."
Guess it wasn't taking just anything. What about this, then? I pulled out a low-grade health potion from the old treasure chest and carefully placed it on the tray. As the glass bottle with its sloshing red liquid settled, a chime rang out.
Ding—
Value: $50
"Oh... $50 credits?"
Better price than I'd expected. Considering the refined mana stone on display was only around $30, this one potion was worth nearly two of those. I didn't know exactly how much fuel a refined mana stone provided, but judging by its size and sheen, it looked rarer than a low-grade one. This showed just how precious recovery items were in this world.
Proceed with sale? (Y/N)
"Nah, cancel."
I hurriedly hit the [N] button and retrieved the potion. Mana stones were tempting, but I couldn't sell something as vital as a lifeline potion. Maybe later if I desperately needed that skillbook or stones, or if I got extras. I wanted to know the prices for other items too—like what a lowest-grade mana stone would fetch.
"Still, good intel."
I pulled out my smartphone and snapped photos of the vending machine, its price list, and the potion's buy price. This info was too valuable to keep to myself. Sharing it meant other survivors might spot vending machines in their areas and share locations or market rates in return.
---
(Photo) Spotted this in the Incheon industrial area.
No coin slot—put stuff on the tray to exchange or sell.
Tried a random rock, got $0 and insulted lol.
Put my low-grade potion on it, offered $50.
Sells skillbooks and mana stones too, so hunt around for vending machines!
The second I hit post, comment notifications started pinging, but I pocketed my phone without checking.
"Alright, business done—time to head home."
The sun was setting. Night was dangerous. Visibility sucked.
Hiss-clunk.
Night was scary, but my sturdy home, the train, was waiting. Boarding and sealing the door wrapped me in cozy air.
"I'm home, Donggle."
I headed to car 2 and gazed at Donggle. Hmm, still perfectly round no matter how many times I looked.
"Time to spend some cash?"
I smugly crossed my legs and eyed the pile of mana stones in the corner of car 2 with satisfaction. I'd invested mostly in auto-hunting and mods for survival till now—it was time to boost quality of life. My stomach had started hurting lately from too much instant noodles and cup ramen.
Half-curious, half-excited, I opened the train's Living/Convenience tab. I'd ignored it thinking it was a mana stone sink, but it was packed with life-improving options.
"Whew..."
As soon as the fuel oxidized into light, the train interior transformed in real time. First, the kitchen got shiny stainless pots, a sharp knife set, and a clean cutting board. But the real winner was the sound—or lack thereof. Dead silent. The drone whirs from the armory in car 2, the motor hums from the roof hangar, even the outside wind—all perfectly blocked, like noise-canceling headphones.
"Whoa... now I feel alive."
The drones were efficient money-savers, but that swarm buzzing around had been annoying. Peace at last. The windows now had special one-way tint—no one outside could peek in. No more paranoia about prying eyes. And the solo cookbook—
"Let's get cooking."
I pulled out spam and kimchi from the convenience store haul, plus onions the drone had fetched earlier. The drone had kinda inspired me to buy the cookbook.
"It even grabs veggies sometimes."
Whenever it brought produce, it was surprisingly fresh. Good enough for simple dishes. I went straight for kimchi stew.
The bubbling aroma filled the train. House-cooked smell after forever.
"Dig in."
Tasted decent. Fail-proof stuff. Stuffed and crashed in the silent, comfy bed. Woke to soft morning sun filtering through the windows. For more sun, car 2 had it.
"Refreshed."
Stretching, I grabbed my phone out of habit to lurk the Survivor Gallery overnight.
"Lemme see... monsters..."
My scrolling finger froze. Low views, but titles that nagged at me.
---
Passing Incheon tracks earlier and saw a subway? Train? Something running on the rails anyway.
Thought I hallucinated but no, a super short train-looking thing slowly chugging along.
Stared in awe, almost chased it to check, but...
It had these creepy spike things on front like a monster. Bolted outta there.
"..."
I swallowed. Duh, cruising the tracks openly—only a matter of time before spotted. And now it was pegged as military or monster-related.
"Views are low for now..."
Still at "someone saw something" level. But what if they approached the train later?
Gotta be careful.
I glanced out the window.
Whirr-clank.
A recon drone returned to the ceiling hangar. Curiosity struck— these things seemed smarter than I thought.
"C'mere."
Whirr.
It understood and approached. I pulled a lowest-grade mana stone from the cockpit side—one the drone had fetched.
"Take this to the vending machine and check its value?"
Whirr.
It bobbed affirmatively. Really understands? I handed it over with the claw, sent it out. Didn't want it too far, so I turned the train toward the vending machine. Cockpit screen showed live drone POV.
Whoosh—
Scenery blurred by fast. Drone zipped across the site to the golden machine.
But something blocked it: a snake thick as my arm with two heads, coiled in front, flicking its tongue.
"Ugh... troublesome."
As I moved to recall for safety—
The drone's under-lens glowed red. Zzzap—!
A thin red laser pierced between the heads dead-center.
"Kieeeek!"
Snake flopped without a proper scream. Screen almost carried the burning flesh smell.
"...You can fight too?"
Thought it was recon-only, but self-defense armed. That accuracy? Handles small monsters easy. No wonder the mana stones and items it'd brought—
Cleared, drone casually placed the stone on the tray.
Ding—
Item: Lowest-grade Mana Stone
Value: $2
"...$2 credits?"
I made a face. Lowest-grade mana stone: $2. Sure, pennies make a mountain, but crunch the numbers?
"250 lowest-grade mana stones for a Fireball skill?"
One as fuel? Runs this beast eight days, hot water, AC, even monster-grinding spikes.
Sell it? "Too bad."
Cost-performance was abysmal. Vending machine for junk later— not precious fuel like mana stones.
"Makes sense."
Suddenly, the outside view hit me. Other survivors out there—no train. For them, vending machine might be the only mana stone sink.
Felt grateful for the train anew. Even if it'd taken something precious from me.