Inventory Firepower Unleashed

While I was back on Jin So-yul's screen, I manipulated the Observer of the 0th Dimension system interface. Since I'd just used the #Tag assignment, I figured there might be some changes.

"……The prices."

Apostle Slot Expansion had reappeared, which was good, but 50,000 CP? #Tag Slot Expansion had jumped up too.

"Five times the cost. Didn't see that coming."

It was a merciless hike. And for #Tag slots, even at 10,000 CP before, it had effectively been one-use. Now with the higher price, I was already agonizing over whether to use it on Jin So-yul or Kim Woo-jin.

Let me sort my priorities.

Apostle slots weren't urgent. According to Jin So-yul, constellation contracts let you breeze through up to floor 20. With two such powerhouses already, I could take my time finding a third.

That left #Tag Slot Expansion and Temporary #Tag Assignment. Both 50,000 CP.

Adding a slot meant permanently assigning one more high-tier #Tag to an Apostle, with combo potential for massive power boosts.

Temporary #Tags were limited to 10 minutes but perfect for turning the tide in boss fights.

For now…… prioritize Temporary #Tags.

Either way, the first hurdle was scraping together 50,000 CP.

Floors 6 and above were uncleared. Conquering them would bring new rewards, maybe even theme clear bonuses. If I hunted hidden pieces on the side, it might just work out.

Jin So-yul was walking down the street.

A sudden message. She stopped in her tracks and looked up.

"A construction site?"

"What about the construction site……?"

"……#Inventory?"

A construction site meant building materials. Was he telling her to store them in #Inventory?

Jin So-yul recalled the #Inventory description. It responded to the Apostle's will for item storage and withdrawal. Her constellation seemed focused on "withdrawal."

Of course—if you could store things, you could pull them out too. And if you could pull them out…… maybe shoot them?

"No way…… store in #Inventory and fire them out?"

"……!"

She'd fought nine years with just a one-handed sword. No ranged options ever.

But high-speed ejection of objects? That was basically a superior projectile weapon.

Max withdrawal distance scaled with mana. Her mana put her at D- to E-rank hunter level, including growth potential. Meaning it would stay viable as floors rose.

"……Constellation."

"Have you been thinking of this from the start?"

"……Impressive."

Just like her constellation. Observer of the 0th Dimension. The benefactor who saved her and Korea, the being that terrified other constellations.

"Right? Got it."

Without a word, Jin So-yul turned. Racking her brain with past memories.

Yeah, there was a redevelopment site about ten minutes' walk away.

Even as she marveled step by step, her mind raced with #Inventory possibilities.

One instinctual realization: At her current level, ejection effective up to about 10 meters. Assuming practice, of course.

"Not sure one site will cut it."

"……I'll check it out."

She arrived at a mid-sized site shrouded in gray tarps. No signs of life. Probably halted since the Tower appeared.

Peeking through a gap: Rebar bundles scattered on the ground, scaffold pipes and concrete blocks nearby. Materials left intact.

'This is theft.'

From her constellation's view, maybe this was trivial. Grumbling awkwardly, Jin So-yul muttered.

"Constellation, smiling now is a problem."

"No, you smiled. Definitely."

"……."

"Wandering Sand of Despair too."

"……I'll make sure to compensate later. Somehow…… it's theft, after all."

That constellation hasn't left yet.

Brushing off the thought, Jin So-yul squeezed through the tarp, eyes shut tight.

She crept to a rebar pile, grabbed one, and willed it away. The tactile sense vanished instantly. Nothing in her hand, but the sensation of it existing somewhere lingered clearly.

"……It really works."

The form solidified in her mind. One rebar strand, 10mm diameter, about 6m long. Stored in sub-space.

Could she withdraw? Thinking so, it reappeared in her palm.

"Store and retrieve freely, it seems."

"Seriously…… drop to vanish, will to retrieve…… amazing."

Store, retrieve, store, retrieve. Repeating, she gripped a bundle with both hands.

"This too……."

It vanished in a flash, her senses expanding. Items listed like an inventory. Six rebar strands, about 20kg.

A new sense emerged: She could store over a hundred times more.

She grabbed scaffold pipes, plywood, concrete blocks, frame materials, even scattered nails—everything in reach.

Jin So-yul's face ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flushed hot.

'Is this okay…… with other constellations watching…….'

Guilt pricked her, but she kept stuffing #Inventory.

"Really, I'll compensate later…… promise!"

"It couldn't be helped……!"

Thus, Jin So-yul bowed deeply in the empty site, swept up the remaining materials, and bolted.

"Please, be quiet……."

"……Constellation, can I head straight to floor 5? Want to test it in combat."

"……You can look forward to it."

Manipulating the air interface, her surroundings shifted. A vast circular stone chamber unfolded. Dim light beams poured from the dome ceiling, pooling on the floor. Opposite: A throne carved from stone. A familiar scene.

One difference today. Not just the one-handed sword.

"Here I go!"

Kreeee—!!

Six hobgoblins charged with iron swords, speed unchanged. She drew her one-handed sword, gauging distance. About 12 meters?

Before, she'd charge too. Today, she held ground. Focused. Withdraw.

Further—eject.

Fwaaah—!

A rebar strand materialized above her head. It instantly sniped a hobgoblin.

Bang—!!

Air tore as it pierced the upper body. It didn't stop, slamming into the back wall, embedded.

"……."

Jin So-yul stood slack-jawed.

"……What is this."

One rebar ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vaporized a hobgoblin. Even weakened on floor 5, this was absurd. Armor shredded like paper, blood and flesh scattered. The pierced corpse dangled on the rebar, pinned to the wall.

The remaining five froze momentarily. Terrified by their kin reduced to chunks.

But soon, they screamed and charged again.

She summoned the next rebar. Her process speeding up with experience.

Fwaaang—!! Fwaaaang—!

Kwaaang—!!!

Four more skewered in seconds. She didn't stop, drawing two rebars at once.

The last two hobgoblins backpedaled. She swung her sword through empty air—they ejected, heads exploding.

Her sword grip slackened.

'……It works?'

She'd pulverized them unilaterally from one spot. Experience building in real time.

Ejection direction, spawn position, imparted momentum—all adjustable by will. She sensed it intuitively.

'This is ridiculous.'

The chieftain rose. But its legs trembled, unlike its sturdy past. Advance a step, retreat a step. Back hit the wall—five rebars summoned and fired.

Kwakwakwakwaang—!!!

Too slow to react? Or too scared? The fan of rebars impaled its body.

Dust cleared to reveal the goblin chieftain pinned in a giant "大" shape. Its greatsword clattered across the floor.

"……One shot."

Even weakened, ended in one—well, five rebars.

Jin So-yul stood dazed for a while. With this power, she could delay the first boss challenge.

She'd leak info to the community en route, face some government control from contact—but she believed. Happiness awaited at this path's end.

And her constellation would walk it with her.

She retrieved the rebars and looked up at the ceiling.

"This is…… your true power, Constellation……."

"……Thank you, Constellation. I'll hone my feel for this power. But."

"Six goblins, one rebar each, chieftain five—that's eleven used. Retrievable, sure……."

"Floor 6 orcs will need more. Even using the site's leftovers…… won't it run short eventually?"

"Hunt more sites—"

Lowering her sword, she walked toward the magic circle. A message blocked her view.

"Wandering Sand of Despair……?"

A hunch hit; she straightened. Messages poured in.

Finding construction sites……?

Jin So-yul gaped.

"Huh?"