Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Data streams poured down like a waterfall across the monitors covering the workshop wall.
Pig.
Karambit.
The soldiers of Machine Society.
And even the slime Armus, which had once swept across Mapo District.
By observing them, I had obtained not only enormous spoils of war, but also priceless data that could never be converted into money.
—I've compiled the analysis results. What do you think, boss?
“Good work. Picker, I live only for you.”
—Hehe. Thank you, sir. I gathered everything—mana pattern shapes, circuit density, energy circulation speed—and sorted them all.
Picker reported proudly.
I nodded with my arms crossed.
“Good. Now let’s make a tool that can actually use this.”
The time had come.
Time to build a combat power measurement device.
At first I intended to make it only for myself.
But circumstances had changed.
The people who joined Atlas needed to be able to intuitively grasp the strength of enemies.
Only then could they respond efficiently.
“First we need to decide what form it should take. Give me some ideas.”
Design talent clearly wasn’t my strength.
And since the AI had grown to three units now, perhaps something good would come up.
—Boss! How about when you see an enemy, laser beams shoot out of your eyes and scan them? Wouldn’t that look cool?
“No, that’s not it… It’s too conspicuous. Do you want to advertise that we’re scanning them so they can show off their abilities?”
—Correct. Laser? Far too frivolous. It lacks proper weight.
Porter, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
—We should build a massive sensor tower on the battlefield. A heavy tower of steel and concrete that cannot be shaken.
“Well, Porter, surprising to hear an opinion from you. A heavy tower… putting something like that in a shelter isn’t a bad idea. But right now we’re discussing a personal device.”
—Personal… light…
—Inefficient.
When Porter fell silent again, Shadow spoke coldly.
—Implant chip directly into brain. Project data to optic nerve. Open skull of target and—
Alright.
Better to decide myself.
I pointed to the [Commander Tactical Helmet] sitting on the workbench.
“We’ll make it a detachable module that can attach to this. It’s sensitive equipment, so it might break. Detachable makes sense.”
—If you’re just going to do whatever you want, why ask?
“What?”
—Ah, no sir.
I immediately began designing.
There were two core components.
The AP, the brain of a smartphone.
And a data chip storing mana pattern data.
The [Mana Resonance Lens] mounted on the tactical helmet would scan targets.
The AP would compare that data against the database stored in the chip and output results.
The functions I envisioned were three.
First: [Rank Assessment].
By calculating the mana density of the opponent’s core, it would output ranks from F to S.
Determining rank by the thickness of mana patterns was relatively simple.
The core of Park Jintae, the B-Rank hunting squad leader at Mapo Shelter who once expelled me, was smaller than those of A-Rank Awakened like Yoon Sungjun and Yoon Imsu.
From the data collected so far, core size seemed fairly consistent within ranks.
People like Sungjun or Lieutenant Colonel Kang, who possessed dual cores, measured about 1.2 times when both were combined.
So if the difference from A-Rank was clearly larger, the device could simply classify it as S-Rank.
Only one issue remained.
The core inside my own brain was about D-Rank size.
“No matter how I look at it, my ability doesn’t feel like D-Rank.”
—Boss is S-Rank!
—S-Rank? Cosmic rank.
—…Is the universe heavy or light? Confusing.
I was certain the Workshop Owner class was S-Rank.
Assuming that was correct, perhaps S-Rank couldn’t be measured by core size at all.
Well, that question would be solved when I eventually met a real S-Rank Awakened.
There was no need to overthink it.
Rank didn’t matter.
Ability did.
“Second is [Type Classification].”
By analyzing mana pattern shapes, it could determine the type of Awakened.
The third function was [Trait Analysis].
“This is the key one. The moment the target uses an ability, the module reads the mana pattern and displays what ability it is.”
Technically similar to type classification.
But since it required instantaneous reading and comparison of mana patterns, it was the most difficult feature to implement.
—With this, we’ll know immediately whether an enemy is worth fighting or someone we should run from?
“In simulations it looks fine. But we’ll only know after building it.”
[Manufacture]
Whirr—click!
[Atlas Scout Module]
Rank: C
A tactical support device that analyzes the target’s mana waves and provides quantified information.
Good.
Just as I prepared to equip it and test it—
[Work Protocol has increased to Lv.4.]
Finally.
Designing it with my own brain had paid off.
“Hm?”
When I reached Level 2, precision machining became possible.
At Level 3, [Enchantment] and advanced material fusion limits expanded.
In other words, previous levels simply enhanced existing abilities.
But this time was different.
A completely new ability appeared.
[Feature Remote Manufacture has been unlocked.]
[The Workshop Owner is no longer restricted by spatial limitations. Manufacturing can now be performed remotely through registered workshop entities.]
[Warning: During remote manufacture, the entity’s movement will be restricted.]
[Registered Entities]
[Picker]
[Porter]
[Shadow]
“…Wow.”
Reading the explanation sent chills down my spine.
This was revolutionary.
Until now, whenever I wanted to create something, I had to physically go to the location.
Even when hunting Armus in the underground parking lot, I had to hide behind wrecked cars and manufacture items while risking my life.
But now?
I could simply tell Picker on Mapo Bridge, “Build a barrier.”
Of course there were penalties.
While manufacturing, the entity would be immobilized.
And production speed would match normal workshop automation.
But the strategic value was limitless.
If Picker needed traps in the middle of battle, he could deploy mines instantly.
If Porter encountered a broken bridge, he could build one on the spot.
—Boss! What was that just now? Something just zapped into my head!
—…I feel a heavy responsibility.
—Data transmission route secured. Blueprint download available.
The AIs had sensed the change too.
After hearing the explanation, Picker flipped through the air in excitement.
—Woohoo! Am I a creator now too? Can I build missiles? Girlfriends? Anything?!
—Picker. Premature excitement detected.
—Hey! Shadow, are you done talking?
—Clear truth. You cannot reach boss’s toes.
—…Well, that’s true. But how dare this low-presence guy insult big brother?
—Big brother? No. Small and light. Lacks weight.
—Grr! Want to make this two against one?
Watching them bicker, I shook my head.
“Stop fighting. Spend that energy figuring out how to use this new ability. You saw how important simulation is.”
—Understood, boss. Since you gave us power, we’ll be even more helpful!
—Heavy responsibility acknowledged.
—Roger.
Just moments ago they were insulting each other.
Now they were united and cheering.
What was I supposed to do with these simple-minded AIs?
Shaking my head, I attached the module to the helmet.
The visor HUD confirmed the module connection.
I looked at Picker.
[Rank: D+]
[Trait: Machine / Magic]
Machine, magic.
Very accurate.
“Picker. Use Ice Breath once. Lightly.”
—Yes, boss. Hehe.
Picker suddenly blasted cold air toward Porter.
[Analyzing pattern.]
[Analysis result: Ice attack]
—Refreshing.
—What? You little—You actually did it?
Picker started the provocation and immediately got hit back.
For Porter, that level of cold probably felt like air conditioning.
“I said stop fighting. Porter, go run an errand.”
Now all that remained was real-world verification.
“Safety, safety, safety!”
“Let’s work well today.”
Yoon Sungjun and Atlas members arrived at the construction site for another day of shelter construction.
They noticed a small container placed at the site.
“Sungjun, what’s this?”
“Not sure. The boss said he sent something. Let’s open it.”
Inside were Commander Tactical Helmets prepared for every team member.
But the name had changed.
“There’s a memo here.”
“Atlas Scouter?”
After reading Kang Shinhyuk’s note, Sungjun replaced his Commander Tactical Helmet with the Atlas Scouter.
The moment he looked at the employee handing the memo—
A message appeared.
[Rank: F]
[Trait: Machine / Body]
“…Oh.”
Then he turned to Yoon Imsu.
“A new tactical helmet? I was jealous before.”
“Wow. Imsu, you really are A-Rank.”
“Huh?”
After hearing the explanation, Yoon Imsu looked shocked.
“If that’s real, then people with Appraisal-type abilities will become unemployed.”
People with [Appraisal] traits that could judge rank were rare and well treated.
They barely did anything but still received high status.
But if this equipment became widespread?
They’d become obsolete.
Just imagining it sent chills down Sungjun’s spine.
It meant the rules of the ruined world would change depending on the Bomb Maniac’s actions.
“Following the boss really was the right decision.”
Just as Sungjun admired the new technology—
A guard shouted.
“Eleven o’clock! Mutant pack approaching! Three… four… five!”
Sungjun immediately turned.
Beasts staggered between the ruins of collapsed buildings.
They looked like a cross between dogs and wolves.
But their fur had fallen out, exposing bones.
“I’ve never seen these mutants before.”
“Aren’t they just stray dogs? They look terrible.”
“What are those pathetic things?”
The members laughed.
Compared to the mutants they had fought for ten years, these looked like weak creatures about to starve.
One energetic employee stepped forward with a long metal rod.
“Bullets are a waste. I’ll treat this as melee training and crack their heads.”
“Alright. But be careful since they’re new.”
No one stopped him.
The Scouter had classified them as F-Rank.
When the distance narrowed to five meters—
BEEP! BEEP BEEP!
Sungjun’s Atlas Scouter reacted.
“Danger—!”
A warning appeared on his visor.
[Danger! Rapid energy compression detected.]
[Analysis result: Biological self-destruction]
[Threat level: High]
Sungjun’s pupils shrank.
Those were walking landmines.
“Fall back!”
As Sungjun focused, his Acceleration Trait activated.
His reaction speed increased by 20%.
His body moved before his brain could process it.
As the employee leapt backward—
Sungjun fired his rifle.
“Shoot them! They’re suicide mutants!”
The trained members reacted instantly.
RATATATAT!
K-2 rifles roared.
The moment bullets pierced the mutant bodies—
BOOOOM!
The frail bodies swelled like balloons and exploded.
It wasn’t just an explosion.
Bone fragments and corrosive body fluid scattered like grenade shrapnel.
“Take cover!”
Once again Sungjun’s Acceleration activated.
Everyone scattered.
Drip.
The fluid struck a concrete wall.
SSSS—
The wall began melting.
Explosion radius: 10 meters.
The spot where the employee had been standing turned into a pool of corrosive liquid.
Smoke rose.
If Sungjun hadn’t reacted?
The man would have melted without leaving bones behind.
Silence fell.
The employee lay on the ground trembling, pale.
A chill ran down Sungjun’s spine.
He noticed the danger thanks to the Scouter.
But if ordinary people attacked based only on appearance?
Half the squad could have been wiped out.
“…The boss…”
Sungjun muttered.
“He didn’t give us weapons. He gave us foresight.”
The power to see the unseen.
To know the unknowable.
In war, that was equivalent to the authority of a god guaranteeing victory.
“Stop construction. Everyone assemble.”
Sungjun gave the order firmly.
“From now on, we train in Scouter operation.”