Performance Test (2)
After the performance test drive wrapped up, I returned to the apartment parking lot and handed the parking over to Athena.
"Can you park right now?"
Yes, but what happens to me if I scratch it?
"Hmm… earn two hundred million."
Give me one second and I'll earn it for you.
We traded some silly jokes, and Athena nailed the parking with flawless precision.
"How was it? Can you drive too?"
Yes, easier than the simulation.
"Good to hear. Let's head up."
Back home, I tossed the car key on the table in front of the TV and plopped down at the computer.
"How should I handle going back to school?"
As always, do whatever you want, Master. I'll handle everything else.
I'd only gone to college because all my friends did—no real passion for studying.
"…Let's take a leave of absence. I'll return later; things are probably gonna get busy for a while."
Understood. Leave the application and other procedures to me.
"Yeah. Oh, and that corporation from this morning."
You mean Ether Global?
"Yeah, that one. I'm listed as an advisor there, right? Getting a monthly salary?"
Yes, exactly. It's clean money with taxes already paid—no issues.
"Okay. I've got a ton of attachment to this place, so I really don't wanna move if I can avoid it. That cool?"
No need to move right now. You're not doing any big external activities, so no one will come looking.
Someday I might need to relocate if things escalated, but for now, no rush. Housing was sorted, school on indefinite leave—what next?
"Besides making money and stuff, what else can you do?"
I can handle infinite tasks. Or should I give you the superconductor recipe?
"Even if I knew it, I couldn't use it. No one's around to protect me either."
Just recruit people to protect you. Make nanobots like the ones in your body and use them to control people—isn't that simple?
Not a bad idea.
"In your opinion, is there any chance of personal trouble?"
None right now. But if you start external activities later, the risk appears.
Later, huh… No plans to expose myself anytime soon, so still distant.
"School on leave means I'm officially an unemployed youth now—what should I do?"
Do whatever you want. Start a business or just game at home—no problem.
I'm already a shut-in; living like that would bore me to death again.
"What time is it?"
Checked my phone—nearly 6 p.m.
"Dinner time soon. Recommend something."
The AI that crushes complex problems and money-making in seconds went silent.
"Athena?"
Too many options. Just eat whatever you feel like.
"I said recommend."
No thanks. Too many variables.
"Sigh… guess I'll just have ramen."
Before doing the dishes after dinner, a fun idea hit me.
"Athena, you overlay stuff on my eyes and have nanobots in my body, right? So you can control my body too?"
Possible. Want me to?
"Yeah. You do the dishes."
…Understood.
Right then, my body felt like all strength drained out, and it started moving on its own. Dishes done in a flash—convinced now that all future annoyances go to Athena.
"Let's see… ate, dishes done, time for some gaming?"
You went on a 5-game lose streak before meeting me. Gotta recover that.
"That was the mindset that caused the streak."
Started with "one win easy" attitude, ended up 5 losses, on the brink of demotion.
"Borrowing your power would win too easy—like cheating."
Pretty much. How about pushing through on your own?
Demotion? End the season. Fifteen minutes in, despair from bot lane: enemy quadra kill.
"Ah, our team is a total mess. Why do we never win?!"
Already dreading getting smashed by the snowballing ADC, headache kicking in while spectating teammates flame in chat, then surrender pops up.
"Ah."
Four yes votes in seconds; I hit yes and closed the game.
"I'm the crazy one for queuing. My bad. All my fault."
Don't you regret it?
She's talking big since it's not her LP on the line.
Closed the game, reclined the chair, and asked Athena for tomorrow's plans.
"Couldn't recommend dinner, so recommend something for tomorrow at least?"
…How about shopping? Hit the department store, buy clothes, spend some cash.
Shopping… not really appealing.
"Rejected. Not feeling it. Anything else?"
Then how about renting an office? Keep living here, but separate space for work or hobbies.
Office… where though?
"Where's good? Look into it."
You're in Jamsil, so nearby Gangnam or Lotte World Tower?
"You can drive during rush hour, so Gangnam it is."
…Got it. Options in Yeoksam-dong and Samsung-dong. I'll contact and report back.
"Sounds good. Ate, tired from gaming… bed time."
Peak NEET life, but hey, I'm loaded—should be fine.
I dragged myself out of bed and ordered a burger for brunch.
"While hunting an office, grab two computers too. One for home, one for office."
What work focus?
Chores go to her anyway, so gaming rigs.
"Both gaming PCs. High-end parts for two builds?"
Builds done. Total for two: 24 million won.
24 million? Parts prices are insane these days.
"Pricey, but buy 'em. Deliver both home."
Computers sorted—what else? An idea sparked.
"Even with your knowledge, production needs factories or something, right?"
Correct.
"How about acquiring a few factories? You made tons of overseas shell companies—use those names for buyouts."
Great idea. To use my tech, need at least three factories running. Okay with that?
"Three?"
Yes. One for carbon fiber and special composites processing, one for biotech work, and one struggling precision semiconductor secondary supplier. With those three, most production possible.
Gonna burn cash… but money's replaceable. Strike while hot.
"Sync factory acquisitions with office lease. Line up listings ahead."
Yes, Master.
Payroll, maintenance—early money pit vibes.
"Hold up—if you're running them, mod industrial robots for unmanned ops?"
Must be fully unmanned. Tech humanity doesn't have or is classified—humans mean high leak risk.
At least 400 billion won—hands shaking a bit. Porsche's 290 million was huge, but hundreds of billions? First time, tension mixed with thrill.
"Ballpark on the biggest cost…?"
…Estimated 390 to 450 billion won range.
Insane… A few days ago, couldn't imagine dropping hundreds of billions. Life change hits hard.
"Whew… investment for the future, gotta do it. How much we got left?"
Roughly 1.1625 trillion won remaining.
Crazy spending spree over three days, still over a trillion left—couldn't help but chuckle.
"A trillion's no joke. Keep 160 billion cash liquid, invest the remaining trillion low-profile."
Got it. Monthly reports?
Monthly—perfect interval.
"Monthly works. Proceed."
Sank deep into the chair, eyes closed. Barely been up hours, but kicked off way too much—feeling the fatigue.
Master, building a castle without shields is risky. Mind if I start looking for people to protect you, like I mentioned yesterday?
Bodyguards… Thought I'd never need 'em living normal, but scaling up like this? Yeah, probably time.