'Home'
It had been a two-day expedition, but it was incredibly fruitful. Returning to the Research Bunker after my journey to the village, nothing had changed; it remained exactly as I had left it.
“I’m home….”
Having been away, the bunker suddenly felt like a real home. It hadn’t even been ten days since I arrived in this world, yet it felt like I had been here for quite a long time.
As soon as I stepped into the central lobby with Eve, my vision was flooded with flashing system notification windows.
“Oh, a hidden achievement?”
It was an unexpected harvest. I hadn’t even realized there was an achievement system. In games, achievements were always a good thing. I had just gone to the village, gotten a meal, and persuaded a boy to come outside, yet I’d received such a meaningful reward.
The moment I saw the phrase "2 free points," the fatigue from the village trip felt like it had been washed away. I immediately activated the Factory System.
Above the screen, the research technology tree, now far more expansive than before, branched out in every direction. It looked just like unlocking skills in an RPG.
“Let’s see.”
I examined the sprawling tech tree in detail. There was 'Industry' for processing minerals like iron and copper into precision materials, 'Agriculture' which finally allowed for plant cultivation, 'Biotechnology' for human enhancement and chemicals, and a 'Weaponry' tree containing defensive systems like automated turrets. Everything looked attractive, but my deliberation didn't last long.
That rabbit soup I’d had in the village—though thin and meager, the saltiness of that single spoonful had completely awakened my dormant sense of taste. Chewing on dirt-flavored energy bars had reached its limit.
“It’s definitely Agriculture. I can’t survive anymore without real food.”
I used my first point to unlock the Agriculture tree. Simultaneously, two blueprints appeared in the facility tab: a Seed Generator that extracted seeds from fully grown plants, and a High-Efficiency Cultivator that enabled high-speed growth using light and nutrient solution.
I pondered where to use the remaining point, then spotted an eye-catching item in the 'Misc' tree.
“Terminal Shop? What’s this?”
Out of curiosity, I invested the second point to unlock the Terminal Shop. A holographic kiosk rose up in one corner of the bunker. However, contrary to my expectations, a hollow laugh escaped my lips after scanning the list.
“…What is this? Why is it like this?”
The shop required a currency called 'Money,' and the only way to charge it was by grinding up massive amounts of metal materials or junk produced in the factory. Furthermore, the items for sale were a joke. It was just old wooden chairs, plain-designed clothes, shovels, pickaxes, and flint. They weren't exactly essential for immediate survival, but they weren't exactly trash either... in short, it was full of "chicken ribs"—useless but hard to throw away. Most importantly, the 'Food' tab I so desperately wanted didn't even exist.
“What kind of shop doesn't even sell food? I’ll just have to use this later when I have resources to spare.”
I pushed my disappointment aside and focused back on the agricultural facilities. If I could mass-produce food with this, would it help the villagers? A vague thought crossed my mind that it would be nice to do something for them, but I had my own problems to worry about right now. I needed delicious food in my mouth immediately. I could just share the surplus once the factory grew ridiculously large and resources were overflowing.
“Eve, let’s start the Seed Generator right away.”
I went outside the bunker, built the Seed Generator near the entrance, and tried putting in the potatoes and some vegetables I’d received from the village.
…….
Contrary to the description, it didn't work even after putting in the potatoes and vegetables.
“What! Why isn't this working?! It described it like it would!”
After experimenting with this and that, I eventually realized that seeds couldn't be made from the vegetables I’d brought from the village. Then, I noticed a 'Potato Seed' I’d never seen before in my inventory. I took it out to examine it, but I had no memory of getting it from the village.
“What is this? Did I receive a seed like this?”
Just in case, I put the potato seed into the High-Efficiency Cultivator.
Vrrr-vrrr-vrrr.
The cultivator whirred to life as power flowed into the facility.
“Oh, weren't potatoes supposed to be grown with 'seed potatoes'? So potatoes have seeds too? I wouldn't know since I have no interest in plants.”
I put in all ten seed potatoes and tried adding every vegetable or seed-like thing I’d received from the village, but nothing from the village reacted at all.
“Hmm…. Does the game system only allow the cultivation of specific items?”
It seemed that vegetables brought from the outside couldn't be cultivated. This meant I would have to unlock other vegetables through the research system to grow a variety of crops.
“Tsk, that’s a shame. Still, it’s better than nothing that I can grow potatoes.”
I consoled myself and checked the cultivation completion time on the device.
Cultivation Started: Potato
Estimated Harvest Time: 47 hours, 58 minutes, 12 seconds (approx. 2 days)
“Two days….”
If I were farming outside, it would take at least several months, but to me, who was starving right now, even two days felt like an eternity.
Vrrr-vrrr-vrrr. Click. Whirrr.
Complex processes were taking place inside the machine. I couldn't see anything, but in my mind, I could visualize the potatoes taking root, and I was already imagining the golden, boiled potatoes entering my mouth.
‘Just hold on for two days. In two days, I’ll be free from that dreadful dirt taste.’
However, not long after starting the facility, a warning window popped up indicating a power shortage.
Warning: Power shortage. Current output may cause multiple facilities to cease operation.
Current Power Facility: Generator (Lv.1) x1
“Damn it, I’m short on electricity.”
The cultivator's power consumption was immense. My plan to build dozens of cultivators and seed generators to create a massive potato factory once a few potatoes came out had collapsed from the very start.
If it came to this, I needed to add more generators to increase power supply, but the speed at which the power was consumed was faster than I could gather fuel (wood) for the generators, so it was pointless.
“Then, what about the next level generator…?”
I opened the research system and looked at the unlock conditions for 'Generator Lv.2'. Scanning through the research tree, it required going through several more stages in the 'Industry' tree. It seemed there was no way to increase power right now.
I eventually pushed my disappointment aside and, as a stopgap measure, cut the power to the existing iron and copper production lines, leaving only the cultivator running.
“Sigh~ Eve, we need to hurry with the generator upgrade. But since we can't add or upgrade generators right now, let's stop the iron and copper lines for a moment and only run the agriculture facilities.”
“Understood.”
Listening to Eve’s response, I stretched. My body felt heavy as lead. The tension from the unfamiliar village and the non-stop work after returning to the bunker seemed to have drained my stamina.
Still, I had to finish my work before resting. I stopped the iron and copper production lines and returned to the bunker. To wash away the grime and relieve the accumulated fatigue, I headed to the washroom.
As the cold water flowed over my overheated skin, my mind finally cleared. Imagining the taste of the boiled potatoes I would eat in two days, I finished my shower and went to the terminal I had installed in the bunker lobby.
I had only scanned it roughly earlier and felt disappointed, but I needed to confirm exactly how it worked.
“Let’s see, how does this money charging method work….”
When I touched the kiosk screen, a complex resource exchange rate table appeared. This shop was literally a system that converted 'matter' into data-fied 'money.' But the efficiency was truly bizarre.
“My god, I have to grind up 10 iron ingots just for 1 money?”
A hollow laugh escaped my lips. However, looking closely, I saw the terminal's exchange structure. In my factory's production line, processing one iron rod popped out 4 screws. In other words, if I put in 5 iron rods as they were, I got 1 money, but if I processed them into 20 screws and put those in, I got 5 money.
‘Is it a structure where higher processing stages yield better money efficiency?’
I decided to test it by dumping 500 iron rods from my inventory into it. I didn't actually shove the rods into the entrance, but with a mechanical sound like grinding, the number [Balance: 100 Money] appeared at the top of the terminal.
“Now, let’s see what I can buy with 100 money.”
The sales list was still pathetic. Even the cheapest furniture like wooden chairs or storage cabinets required at least 200 money. 100 money wasn't enough to buy even one piece of furniture. I scrolled for a long time before finding somewhat realistic items in the tool tab.
“A shovel and a sickle….”
Actually, I was fine because I could pull out various tools from the tool system, but others couldn't use it. Besides, since I couldn't make tools in the factory, I figured I could just buy these and give them to Eve.
“I’ll buy them and give them to Eve.”
I emptied my 100 money and bought one shovel and one sickle. A shovel and sickle with a gleaming silver coating dropped out of the terminal's discharge port. To think these two items were worth 500 iron rods.
“They won't break after using them for a few days, will they?”
I tucked them safely into my inventory.
After roughly checking the terminal, I suddenly felt hungry. At that moment, I thought of the potatoes, so I opened my inventory and took out the potatoes I’d received from the village. I went to the supply room intending to pick out the well-ripened ones to boil, but—
“Ah… right.”
Thinking about it, there were absolutely no 'cooking facilities' inside this bunker. I had no fire or pot to boil these potatoes right now. It wasn't like I could shove potatoes into the industrial foundry. The only thing that came to mind immediately was gathering wood to start a fire, but I didn't even have a lighter.
“Damn it, I have no luck with food. I’ll just sleep.”
I put the potatoes back into my inventory and headed to the bedroom. As I threw myself onto the bed, the soft touch of leather enveloped my whole body. Staring at the ceiling, I reflected on my day.
‘Anyway, I’m really glad I went on that exploration.’
If I had just been running the factory, I would have been like a frog in a well, cowering in the forest, terrified of the crystallized deer. The fact that humanity hadn't completely perished and was huddled together somewhere living gave me great comfort. And if possible, I hoped the things I made could one day help them. Thinking that, life in this world didn't seem so bad after all.
“I’m so relieved….”
A sense of relief washed over me, and my consciousness slowly faded. Just as I was about to fall into the pleasant swamp of sleep, overlapping the fatigue from the village and the lethargy after my shower—
Click—
The sound of the bedroom door opening broke the silence.
“Jaero, are you not asleep yet?”
The voice I heard in my drowsiness was much softer and lower than usual. I barely opened my eyes and looked toward the door. Eve stood there, having just finished her shower.
Water droplets falling from the tips of her silver hair trickled down her thin gown. Eve’s rich scent, mixed with the smell of damp moisture, stimulated the tip of my nose. Her skin, standing under the light, was flushed much redder than usual, and her eyes looking at me held an indescribable heat.
Eve slowly approached the bedside. With every step she took, her shadow covered my vision.
“Tonight… we can sleep together comfortably. Jaero.”
She slowly approached the bed and sat on the edge next to me. Seeing that, I swallowed hard. Smiling seductively, Eve placed her soft hand on my chest without a word and slowly leaned her body down.
“Jaero♥, your heart rate is accelerating again. Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
Eve’s wet hair touched my cheek. The Eve who had been as businesslike and rigid as a secretary when we returned to the bunker had transformed into a sultry Eve.
“Tonight… I want to rest comfortably by your side.”
Her tone had changed to something flirtatious before I knew it. I could feel her breath right in front of my nose. Her breath was hotter than ever. Eve’s blue eyes stared intently at me, brimming with heat.
Just as I was hesitating, dazed, and about to answer late, she overlapped her lips with mine, blocking my mouth.