Chapter 11

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 11

Chapter Title: Second Friend Added

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The moment I heard it was up, I immediately checked the exchange.

Sure enough, the first line had the words [SD-5].

[Shield Company's 5th Series Guard Dog SD-5]

Sale Price: 10,000 points.

Purchase Limit: Castaway.

Clicking on the item showed a photo of a guard dog robot inside a transparent box.

But.

'This thing is insanely cool?'

I'd initially pictured a clunky robot, but it was nothing like that.

It had a sleek, glossy metal surface with smooth, aerodynamic curves overall.

'Kinda looks like a Doberman.'

Anyway, it was a robot that struck me as ridiculously cool the instant I saw it.

Way better than I'd expected, so I bought it without a second thought.

'Purchase complete.'

Next, to fulfill my promise of cigarettes, I requested a 1:1 trade.

"......"

For a moment, I felt like this question from Quick Fix Doctor was the main point.

'No way he recommended the robot just to ask this... right?'

When I asked back, Quick Fix Doctor gave a brief explanation.

His answer made me think of items from 2-channel and 3-channel.

'2-channel had magic items.'

3-channel had Ability Awakening Stones.

Yeah, 4-channel folks might be interested in that stuff.

Friend add was unexpected, but I had no reason to refuse.

4-channel's exchange alone sold all sorts of wild stuff.

Of course, I hit [Yes] and added Quick Fix Doctor to my friends list.

SD-5 was the guard dog robot I'd just bought.

'Guess it has accessory parts too.'

The cigarettes I'd posted were traded, ending the 1:1 chat.

With that done, I headed back to the exchange and bought two [Thunder Bolts].

'Oh, gotta give one to the guy who recommended Thunder Bolt.'

I bought another pack of cigarettes and passed them along the same way.

Unlike Quick Fix Doctor, he seemed genuinely thrilled.

'Time to check out the robot.'

With eager anticipation, I opened the Gallery inventory and tapped the guard dog robot I'd just bought, hitting [Take Out].

Thud―

But.

'What? Why's it so huge?'

The guard dog robot that came out was enormous.

It looked at least twice the size of the big dogs I'd seen on walks before.

'Well, it's a guard dog, so big makes sense?'

A tiny pup threatening someone is less effective than a massive beast like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this.

Having reasoned that far, I sorta accepted its size and inspected the transparent box from all angles.

'But how do you open this?'

There was a safe-dial-looking thing in the center, but twisting it did nothing.

After fiddling with the dial a few times, I was about to ask Quick Fix Doctor when―

Perfect timing—Quick Fix Doctor initiated a 1:1 trade first.

The parts that arrived looked like a saddle.

Given the robot's size, I could guess its purpose.

'Can ride it like a horse, huh.'

Asking out of gratitude, he went oddly silent.

That wrapped up the 1:1 trade. Something felt off at the end, but I let it slide.

'Press the center of the dial, he said.'

Click―

Pressing hard as instructed popped open the transparent box's lid with a click.

Next, pressing the power button on the guard dog's nape lit up its eyes soon after.

'Blue light.'

In the darkness of this labyrinth, the blue glow was strikingly visible.

Beep―

'Now, stick my hand in the guard dog's mouth...'

For the final owner registration, I shoved my hand into the half-open maw of the guard dog robot.

Its sharp steel teeth made me shudder, but I managed to get my hand in.

Ding―

'Name?'

At the prompt, I looked at the sleek, metallic robot dog.

A normal pup might get a cute name, but this badass didn't suit one.

'Plus, it's a robot.'

Robot... robo... ro...

After some thought, one name came to mind.

"Rover."

Shh―

Once named, Rover slowly rose from the transparent box.

Standing on all fours, it reached nearly to my chest.

'Definitely rideable at this size.'

Plus, with the saddle as a gift, riding was probably intended from the start.

I pulled the saddle from the Gallery inventory and fitted it on Rover's back.

'Though I doubt I'll ever need to ride it.'

At that moment, Rover stared up at me with its glowing blue eyes.

It felt like it was awaiting orders, so I panicked briefly before issuing a non-order order.

"Rest easy. Oh, I'll handle the box, so move aside."

At my words, Rover naturally stepped aside and soon lay comfortably on the floor.

Watching that, I was inwardly amazed it understood speech, then stored the transparent box in my inventory.

'Now for the Thunder Bolt.'

The weapon was a hexagonal-headed mace.

Pulling it out, it felt hefty, as expected for a bludgeon.

'Maybe 7-8kg?'

Pretty heavy.

Good thing I had no plans to swing it myself.

'With telekinesis...'

Lifting it with telekinesis was far easier than by hand.

My telekinesis could handle 200kg per hand, so swinging a mace was no sweat.

'Perfect.'

Guard dog robot Rover and two Thunder Bolt maces.

With these, I had means to protect myself.

I checked my remaining points.

"......"

Nearly 20,000 points earned, gone in a flash.

'Can grind more tomorrow.'

Too late today, so sleep and grind fresh tomorrow.

With that thought, I finally wrote a post to probe the Hero's intentions.