The Power of Two Apps
Congratulations. The update is finished. New features have been added.
[New Feature: Voice Recognition AI]
[New Feature: Random App Draw (2 Charges)]
A notification window popped up on the smartphone screen. Voice Recognition AI? Bukjin knew exactly what this was. It was a feature like Apple’s Siri or Galaxy’s Bixby. Voice recognition was incredibly practical, allowing him to use the smartphone hands-free. However, he wasn't sure how to summon this particular AI.
"Hey, Siri?"
There was no response.
"Hi, Bixby?"
Again, silence. Bukjin suddenly remembered that the one who had given him this smartphone was that strange Death God.
"Um... Death God... God? Sin? Sinsin?"
Ding!
"Master, how can I help you?"
A cute girl's voice chirped from the smartphone. Wait, Sinsin? As in the 'Sin' from 'Sasin' (Death God)? Hahaha! How childish. Bukjin couldn't help but think the Death God had a very peculiar sense of humor.
"Explain the 'Random App Draw' feature to me," Bukjin commanded.
"Certainly. Would you like to launch the App Store?"
"Launch App Store," Bukjin said.
"Launching App Store. Proceeding with explanation."
The App Store opened on the screen. Inside were the apps he had already downloaded, like Basic Swordsmanship: Close-body Triple Link and Intermediate Mystic Qi Condensation. In the top right corner, there was a single unread notification. Bukjin tapped the notification tab.
You have two opportunities to draw a random unknown application for free. Would you like to start the draw now?
Bukjin stroked his chin, lost in thought. Unknown applications? It seemed these were built-in system apps, different from the ones he created by photographing martial arts manuals. What kind of apps could they be? He made his decision.
"Start the draw."
A moment later, a circular icon appeared on the App Store screen. It looked like a prize wheel used for lucky draws. The wheel began to spin rapidly.
Ding!
Ding!
The two notification windows lingered for a moment before fading away. Two new icons had appeared in the App Store: [Map] and [Storage]. To Bukjin, who came from Earth, these were incredibly familiar and frequently used applications.
"This is..." Bukjin’s eyes began to sparkle.
He first turned his attention to the [Map] app. A wave of excitement washed over him. He knew the primary function of a map app on a smartphone was navigation. That meant if he used this app, he might actually find a way back to Earth.
Let's try it.
Bukjin began downloading the [Map] app, which cost him 1GB of data. His complexion paled slightly as his Hyeongi was drained once again so soon after the update. He felt as if his body were being hollowed out. Once the download finished, he tapped the icon to launch the app.
A familiar interface appeared. A map depicting the geography and environment around the training camp where he was currently staying filled the screen. In the very center was a small dot—his current location inside the tent. The map showed the plaza, the barracks, the walls surrounding the camp, the main gate, and the wilderness outside. It looked exactly like the maps he had seen on Earth.
With trembling hands, Bukjin typed into the search bar.
'Earth.'
He hit search. As the process began, he felt his Hyeongi being sucked into the smartphone. Just as data was consumed to search for a location on Earth, it seemed Hyeongi was required here. He was starting to get used to the sensation.
A moment later, Bukjin’s heart was filled with immense anticipation. It was like the feeling of confessing to a first love and waiting for an answer. Finally...
Ding!
Application is not responding. Would you like to terminate the search?
Bukjin jumped up from his seat. "What? What kind of piece of junk is this? The app crashes just from one search?"
Is it because the distance is too far, or because it's a place that can't be searched, putting too much strain on the smartphone? Bukjin tapped 'Terminate Search,' and the [Map] app closed. He reopened it and tried a different search: Unmong City.
Immediately, three routes from the camp to Unmong City appeared. The fastest route took ten minutes, and the mode of transport was listed as 'Flight.'
Flight? That’s impossible. He didn't have that kind of skill yet. He skipped that and looked at the next one. It took an hour and a half, and the mode of transport was 'Carriage.' The longest route took seven hours, and the method was 'Walking.' The time and method changed depending on the route selected.
"I can't find the way to Earth, but this is incredibly useful for navigating this world."
Bukjin closed the [Map] app. Unlike the cultivation apps, there was no need to keep this one running constantly. If left open, it would continuously track his surroundings and location, steadily draining his Hyeongi. He suspected there might be other features besides navigation, but he decided to explore them slowly over time.
He returned to the App Store and looked at the [Storage] app. Back on Earth, he had used storage to save various files. However, there might be a difference between Earth's functions and the magical smartphone functions of this world. Without hesitation, he spent another 1GB of data to download the [Storage] app.
Once installed, the icon appeared on his home screen. He launched it. The interface wasn't much different from what he remembered. The available capacity was 10GB.
"The capacity is smaller than I thought. On Earth, I could use up to 2TB."
Bukjin stared intently at the screen, wondering what the [Storage] app's true function was. If [Map] was navigation, then [Storage] should be for saving files. But in this world, there were no electronic documents or files to save. Wait, could it be...?
A sudden hypothesis formed in his mind. Bukjin held the smartphone up to his Deokhaeng Sword. In that instant, a flash of light occurred, and the sword vanished from before his eyes.
"N-No way!"
Bukjin jumped in shock. He had only tried it as a joke, but his prediction had actually come true. He looked at the [Storage] app screen. A new file had been created. When he opened it, a 3D icon of the Deokhaeng Sword was floating there.
"What happened?" Ak Hong-hyang's voice drifted from the inner part of the tent. Bukjin's startled reaction had woken the girl, who sounded worried. He quickly composed himself.
"It’s nothing. I must have disturbed your sleep. Go back to your dreams."
"Okay," she murmured softly before falling silent again.
Bukjin became much more cautious with his movements, but his heart was racing with excitement. This is amazing! This [Storage] app is basically a legendary spatial treasure!
As he examined the app in his excitement, he noticed a 'Download' button next to the Deokhaeng Sword file. He tapped it. Another faint light flashed, and the sword reappeared beside him. Like a child with a new favorite toy, he tested the [Storage] app over and over. He stored and retrieved not just the sword, but various large and small objects around the tent.
So the 10GB capacity refers to the physical space available for storage. The items being stored are likely converted into data at a specific ratio. So far, I've only tried inanimate objects... I wonder if I can store living things?
Curiosity burned within him. He looked at the shadow of the deeply sleeping Ak Hong-hyang cast by the dim light inside the tent. After a long moment of deliberation, he decided to suppress his curiosity. He wouldn't experiment on her. He had no idea what would happen to a living person inside the storage, and if she noticed something was wrong, he wouldn't be able to explain it. His greatest secret would be exposed, leading to nothing but trouble.
Be patient. I have to be careful. I must never become overconfident... Bukjin sternly warned himself.
He tinkered with the phone a bit longer before absorbing it back into his body. Obtaining two new functional apps after the system update was a massive haul. It opened up entirely new possibilities for him. As he thought about the magical functions of [Map] and [Storage], he wondered what other apps might be hidden in the store. Messenger, delivery apps, Uber, online markets, blogs, dating apps... the list went on.
He looked forward to the day when the practical apps he used on Earth would appear on his phone, modified into magical versions for this world. The mere thought of it was exhilarating.
"Sinsin, when will I get another chance to draw a free app?" he asked, calling out to the voice AI.
"I'm sorry, Master. I don't know that either!"
The girl's voice chirped back from the phone, leaving him with a lingering sense of mystery.