Chapter 148
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: What Is the Role of a Doll? (2)
Rift No. 105, Zone 3, Spider Monster Habitat.
The squad leaders of Team 5 were shaking their heads in awe as they gazed up at the results of the rookie's work.
When they had been pulled from their various squads for this task, they had worn expressions like they had just tasted shit. But as time passed, their eyes had gradually filled with admiration.
And who could blame them? A massive sheer rock face towering twenty meters high.
A gentle, sturdy ramp had been carved into that sheer cliff, one safe enough for people to climb up and down—as if it had always been there from the start.
In the face of that overwhelming creation, everyone was left speechless.
The first to speak was Nick Hobbs, the vice team leader.
"This actually worked... In just one week, they carved that solid rock face so cleanly? If you'd told us to do it, it would've taken at least a month."
"Those dolls or robots or whatever work 24/7 without rest. Of course they'd be more efficient than us."
"Not to mention, none of us even have excavation skills to begin with. All we'd do is cause a landslide dumping magic at it."
Exclamations of admiration erupted from the other team members here and there.
At first, most of them had thought—even if they didn't say it aloud—that it was some pie-in-the-sky plan from a D-rank rookie. But now, their eyes held nothing but awe.
A single rookie had solved one of their problems in just a week, using only the dolls he commanded.
"This isn't porn, what is it? Damn, that rookie gacha was insane."
"...Chloe, are you drunk?"
"Why not? Gotta wet one's whistle on a good day~ Wet it~"
Despite Nick's curt response, Chloe just giggled with a slurred tongue, clearly in high spirits over something.
At that moment, Squad 4 Leader Jo Kyungin flashed a kind smile and supported Chloe's arm.
"Come on, Chloe, that's enough. Let's go rest somewhere. You know you'll get chewed out if the team leader catches you."
"Pfft, who cares what the team leader says! I'm drinking today! Kyungin oppa, drink with me! Wait, where's Kang Ihyeon? Hehe..."
"Hey, Chloe, last time you made me pay for all the drinks... You can't do that to the rookie either."
"Don't care don't care don't care!"
Jo Kyungin looked troubled but led her away anyway. Before long, he pulled catnip treats from his pocket to distract her.
He shot Nick a look that said everything was under control.
"Anyway, this is great news, Vice Team Leader."
He gazed up at the completed ramp, genuinely impressed.
"That rookie's the real deal. This bumps the value of the rift we'll hand over to the guild by at least 30%, right? They've been lowballing us on mining rights lately, but now we can demand fair value. And securing a safe route is the biggest win. The guild will probably pay top dollar to take this rift off our hands."
"Yeah... We could report it as an expansion of the magic stone mining permit zone. Play it right, and we might even get a budget increase for the team."
Nick watched Kang Ihyeon, who was awkwardly smiling amid the surrounding squad leaders and team members, with a pleased expression.
'Seriously... where did this monster come from?'
He had begged the team leader for reinforcements, but he never imagined she'd bring in a rookie this absurd.
A monstrous newcomer, through and through.
Considering that decent rookies usually excelled in combat, this was an unprecedented case even within the pioneering team.
'Now the only issue left is which squad to put this monster rookie in.'
At first, he'd naturally planned to take him into Squad 1.
A talent worthy of Squad 1, the ace squad handling the most critical missions for Team 5.
But it wasn't that simple.
The other squad leaders' eyes were already burning with greed. Chloe had even openly staked her claim with drool.
Squad assignments might spark a bloodbath within the team soon enough.
'Haa... headache.'
Nick sighed and headed toward the one with final say.
Team Leader So Yeseo's private tent.
The inside of the tent was, as always, cool and peaceful.
And in the center, oblivious to the world, the team leader was sprawled out asleep.
Drooling all over.
"Hehe... Ihyeon... good... so good..."
His name slipped from her lips like sleep-talk.
Nick watched her and let out a deep, weary sigh.
This immature team leader was dreaming of the rookie even in her sleep.
Well, could you blame her? She'd hooked a massive prize.
"Huh? Ah... Nick...? Morning or lunch? Time to eat?"
"What time do you think it is? You're still sleeping? Time to get up. We set today to handle the rookie's assignment, remember? Kang Ihyeon."
"Oh... right, yeah..."
So Yeseo yawned hugely and stretched.
Rainbow soap bubbles began bubbling up from her body again.
Nick casually waved them away, as if used to it.
"So, what's the plan? Which squad are you sending him to?"
"Hm... well... I haven't decided on one..."
So Yeseo rubbed her eyes mid-yawn.
Then, in a drowsy but firm tone, she shared her thoughts.
"I think it'd be best to keep him under me directly."
"Directly under you?"
"Until the next wave of new rifts pours in every quarter, all we do is maintain and improve old unsold rift mines like this one. With that rookie's abilities, we could boost the profitability of those old rifts by at least 20%—up to 30% max."
"...I did submit that report."
Unlike her half-asleep eyes, her gaze sharpened keenly.
"So fixing him in one squad would be a massive waste. We need to rotate him between squads as needed, using his abilities where they're most valuable. That's the best for the whole team."
"Team Leader, you're talking about him like he's a tool..."
Nick looked a bit surprised at her cold assessment.
He thought she just slept and spouted nonsense all day.
But moments like this showed why she was team leader.
"I agree to an extent. It's the most efficient approach, I'll admit."
"To an extent? Got some complaints?"
"Yes. Giving a rookie that kind of special treatment will breed resentment."
At that, So Yeseo puffed out her cheeks.
"Resentment? What are we, academy kids? They're team members, sure, but they're in the pioneering team now. We handle things based on results, separating work from personal. This isn't playground games."
"That's not it, Team Leader. It's not the team members' complaints I'm worried about. It's that the rookie himself will have issues with that setup."
"Huh?"
Nick's point was completely off from what So Yeseo expected.
"If you're really going to give him special treatment, make it absolute. Something the others wouldn't even dream of challenging. Small perks just fuel resentment, but perks so far out of reach change the conversation entirely."
"Oh... y-yeah...?"
So Yeseo caught on to what Nick meant.
Induce awe instead of jealousy.
But would things play out as they hoped?
Side effects weren't out of the question.
"Won't it burden the rookie too much? He's only been here a week. Suddenly giving him that kind of preferential treatment might overwhelm him."
"If he really feels burdened, there's one last option."
"Last option?"
"Report it up the chain. Just submit a proper report on what happened here, and HQ will welcome him with open arms. They'll reassign him to their team themselves."
"N-No way!"
At those words, So Yeseo shot up from her seat.
"Absolutely not! He's a genius we finally got! A one-man army worth a hundred—no, a thousand people's worth of results! You want me to hand him over myself?!"
"I feel the same. And the rookie's shown more interest in combat achievements over these operational ones anyway."
"Urgh..."
They sank back into deliberation over the decision.
Acknowledge the rookie's contributions with exceptional treatment.
They believed it right, but unsure of the team-wide impact, they couldn't conclude easily.
It required utmost caution.
"So, in the end..."
"Yes."
"What we need to do now is decide on special privileges worthy of direct command under you..."
That was when it happened.
A rowdy commotion erupted from outside the tent.
It was Kang Ihyeon and the other team members' voices.
"Whoa, this is amazing! So as long as it has batteries, I can just take it into battle with me?"
"Yes. Though its performance and completion are much lower than the dolls I control directly. Still, with proper magic stone batteries, it can move semi-permanently."
"Damn, that's hot."
"Pardon?"
Curious, they stepped outside to find Kang Ihyeon surrounded by team members.
In a very peaceful, friendly atmosphere.
There, Kang Ihyeon was operating a doll that resembled one of the team members.
"Hey, rookie! Mind making one that looks like me too?"
"Forget him, do mine!"
"Can we just dump all the chores on him now?"
"You think magic stone batteries grow on trees? They're crazy expensive."
"What's all this racket?"
Nick pushed through the boisterous crowd.
One excited team member spoke up to him.
"Vice Team Leader, check this out! Kang Ihyeon made me a doll!"
Beside that team member stood a doll that looked exactly like him, staring blankly.
A bit crude and rough around the edges, but unmistakably modeled after him.
The other team members eyed Kang Ihyeon with eager anticipation.
Nick stared at the scene, his expression complicated.
He had this ability too?
"So this thing moves semi-permanently? Without using skills?"
Kang Ihyeon scratched his head humbly at Nick's question.
"Ah... yeah, pretty much. But it's nothing special. Way lower performance than the ones I control directly, so it's barely usable in combat. And you have to keep swapping out the magic stone batteries."
"But it can talk."
When Nick addressed the doll, it mechanically tilted its head and replied.
"Yes. I can."
"If it can converse, you can give it orders too. That's huge value right there. You get that?"
Kang Ihyeon seemed oblivious to how valuable this doll was, even with just its rudimentary machine consciousness or AI.
Combat or not.
Chores, sentry duty, conversation partner.
The applications were endless.
Tartaros's massive rift environment was harsh on humans, but it yielded vast magic stone resources back at the mines.
Magic stone consumption burdened individuals, but if this rookie secured more investment...? Say, if the association found out?
"Hey, rookie."
"Yes?"
"...If you ever start your own company, let me know."
Nick made up his mind inwardly.
Whatever decision they made, the team would accept it gladly.