Drinking Party

That evening.

I spent 500,000 points to make the entire Hero Party sub-managers.

It was points I'd worked hard(?) to collect, but I invested them boldly, thinking, 'If not now, when would I use them?'

'I'm still earning points steadily anyway.'

However, thinking about points made me think of Channel 4 and Channel 6.

'Come to think of it, how do Channel 4 and Channel 6 earn points?'

I know Channel 3 earns points by catching the zombies that spawn every month.

Conversely, Channel 4 used to earn points by selling scrap weapons to Channel 3, but that was a thing of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the past.

'Are they earning points by selling existing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠products?'

Since Channel 4 products involved significant technology, it was highly likely they fetched a high price.

This is a fact that's easy to understand, considering the Taehwa Type 9 I currently have costs a whopping 450,000 points.

'Compared to that, I have absolutely no idea about Channel 6.'

Should I ask Noxir, a member of the Resistance, later?

"Castaway-nim. Should I press this [Enter Meeting Shelter] button in the Gallery window?"

"Yes. If you press it, you'll be moved to the Meeting Shelter immediately."

As I answered, Rubyel, who was next to me, also asked.

"Are we moving right now?"

"We have to. Though I'll need to find a way to take Veronica-ssi with us first."

I answered like that, but in reality, there was only one way.

It was to put her in my inventory and take her out in the Meeting Shelter.

'If she says no, I can't help it, though.'

I wondered if I would have to leave her here alone if Veronica refused.

"Veronica-ssi. I'm thinking of using my inventory to move to the Meeting Shelter, how does that sound?"

"It wouldn't be right for me to be left behind alone, so I shall follow."

"But I'm not sure if it's okay to put you in my inventory."

When I first received Veronica from Channel 5, her soul orb was missing.

So I wondered if I had to do that again, but Veronica told me about what happened in Channel 5.

"I have been inside when the witches were trading in Channel 5, and there were no problems."

"Ah. I guess you experimented with that too."

"Literally, I experimented with all sorts of things."

"But at first, you came with your soul orb separated."

Veronica answered that nonchalantly as well.

"I only separated it temporarily for the adjustment of my body and equipment. That's how important protecting you is."

So it seemed she meant she separated it to upgrade her body and equipment to protect me.

'Then Veronica might be on the stronger side even among Semi-Transcenders.'

Of course, having met Transcenders in various channels, Semi-Transcenders didn't feel all that impressive.

However, the fact that this Semi-Transcender was the strongest among the Hero Party here remained unchanged.

'Thinking about it, Channel 2 really is poor.'

With that thought, I approached Veronica, picked her up, and tried putting her in my inventory.

Perhaps because undead are treated as objects rather than living beings, Veronica went inside very naturally.

'I don't know about other things, but at least Veronica will be free to move between dimensions.'

It was effectively the same as being able to go to any place among Channels 1-7.

"I'm moving."

Anyway, having solved the Veronica issue, I moved to the Meeting Shelter first.

Pop—

As soon as I pressed the [Enter Meeting Shelter] button, my body was moved to a wide green meadow.

Seeing the place with only a green meadow and a large 180-pyeong, two-story mansion sitting there, I thought it looked quite empty.

'Since they said terrain, environment, and such can be adjusted.'

I thought about making a wide lake or sea later.

Pop—

Following that, the entire Hero Party also crossed over here, and everyone was busy looking around the Meeting Shelter.

"Is this the place called the Meeting Shelter?"

"Yes. As you can see, there's only that house for now."

"The house is much bigger than I thought."

I built the mansion big on purpose, under the premise that all sub-managers of Channels 1-7 would use it.

Besides, since I had made the entire Hero Party sub-managers, I thought it was the right decision.

"I built it big in case other people might use it too."

"Wouldn't it have been better to build multiple mansions instead?"

"Multiple?"

I wouldn't have thought of it originally, but seeing the Heavenly Demon today, I thought separating them wouldn't be bad.

'Should I build a few more houses?'

Fortunately, if I build them as Meeting Shelter-bound, they are discounted to 1/10th of the price, so the burden was less.

"I'll have to think about it. Ah, Rubyel-ssi. How is the mana recovery?"

After answering, I next asked how the mana recovery was in this Meeting Shelter.

I had invested points to apply a 100% energy recovery speed effect, so I wanted to check it.

"Mana? It's enough that it recovers rapidly even if I just stay still. At this rate, wouldn't it fill up completely after just one night of sleep even if I used it all up?"

"I'm glad it's effective."

It was hard for me to feel things like energy recovery.

Besides, the energy recovery was applied for the Hero Party anyway.

"Yeah. It's much better than I thought. With this, conquering the labyrinth will become much easier."

Hearing that, it was worth applying it.

Either way, since I'm in Channel 2, in a way, I had to pay the most attention.

'If I were to raise the recovery speed to, say, 1,000% like Hyun-min hyung said...'

Wouldn't it be possible to deploy full power after resting for just an hour or two?

【Friend, 'WantToRegress☆' has requested a 1:1 trade.】

'Hm?'

Just then, a 1:1 trade request came in from Yoo Hyun-min hyung in Channel 7.

〈WantToRegress☆*(7ch): Use this trade window to move Yeo-eun over.〉

Seeing the android placed in the trade window along with the name Yeo-eun, I understood immediately.

The only way for Hyun-min hyung to move the android to the Meeting Shelter was a 1:1 trade like this.

'I have no choice but to move Veronica in a similar way.'

Thinking that, I received the android and immediately opened my inventory to take out Veronica and the android.

As soon as I took both of them out of the inventory, they came to their senses and turned their heads to look around the Meeting Shelter.

"It's been a while since I've seen a meadow."

Veronica said she hadn't seen a green meadow like this in a long time.

"Are you Kim Min-ho?"

The android scanned the surroundings for a moment and confirmed who I was.

"Yes. That's right. But for now, the name Castaway is more familiar, so please call me that."

"Understood. Castaway. I have heard much about you."

"From Hyun-min hyung?"

When I asked, the android nodded.

"Yes. Because he would grab me every day and talk for an average of 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 35 seconds, I had no choice but to hear a lot."

"......."

Hearing that, I recalled that the only person Hyun-min hyung had to talk to in Channel 7 was the android.

Strictly speaking, there was me, but since I had to focus on the labyrinth progression as well as other channels, it seemed he was being considerate on purpose.

Pop—

Meanwhile, I could see Hyun-min hyung appearing in an instant, as if he had entered from one side.

"Wow. It's been a while since this many people gathered."

Hyun-min hyung's face bloomed with a smile, as if he was happy just to see people.

"If you mean people, you saw the Heavenly Demon today, didn't you?"

"I didn't like that bitch's look."

When I mentioned the Heavenly Demon, Hyun-min hyung bluntly said he didn't like her look.

"Her look?"

"It was a look that peered down at people."

Was it?

I don't know, but since it was Hyun-min hyung, he wouldn't have said it for no reason.

"Anyway, it's nice to see people like this. Ah, I'm Yoo Hyun-min. Call me comfortably."

Anyway, unlike the Heavenly Demon, Hyun-min hyung spoke to the Hero Party with a reasonably good-natured face.

"I'm Elisicia. You're from Channel 7, right?"

"That's right. By the way, to be with such beauties."

Hyun-min hyung said that and looked at Sirien, the Beastkin chief, Tipina, the Fox-kin Beastkin, and finally, Veronica.

'Ah. He must be seeing those three for the first time.'

I had shown him the Hero Party in photos before.

But since he was seeing Sirien, Tipina, and Veronica, who joined after that, for the first time, it seemed his gaze lingered a bit longer.

"This is Rubyel. And this is......"

Following that, Elisicia briefly introduced the party members and then expressed her gratitude to Hyun-min hyung.

"Aside from the introductions, thank you for supporting 'our' Castaway-nim with various items, including elixirs."

"Support? Ah, ah. Don't worry about it. It's nothing special for me."

Hyun-min hyung answered as if it was really nothing, and added more.

"Besides, it's also for my younger brother."

"......That's true."

Elisicia answered as if her voice tone had dropped slightly.

"You guys aren't just receiving from my brother either. It's only natural to help."

"Th......that's right."

Elisicia answered somewhat arduously.

At that, the other party members also shut their mouths as if they had nothing to say.

"Ah, hyung."

I spoke to Hyun-min hyung to prevent the atmosphere from becoming any more awkward.

"Instead of standing here like this, let's go inside. We should eat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dinner."

"Dinner sounds good. Actually, since we met for the first time today, how about a drink?"

"Alcohol?"

When Hyun-min hyung mentioned alcohol, I pondered for a moment.

I hadn't even touched alcohol since I crossed over to this world, but.......

"Let's drink."

As Hyun-min hyung said, since we met for the first time today, it wouldn't be right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to let him drink alone, so I decided to drink with him.

'More than that, if I get drunk and pass out here.......'

Would I go back to my original world?

"......."

There's no way.

"Kyahaha! Drink up!"

Yoo Hyun-min drank various foods and alcohol that Castaway had purchased in the Meeting Shelter mansion.

Then, he looked at Sirien, the Beastkin woman drinking as much as he was across from him, and thought.

'For now, it seems like they're getting along comfortably.'

Sirien was drinking food and alcohol like water, but there was no discomfort on Castaway's expression.

Not only that, but the other party members also tasted some of the food and nonchalantly talked to Castaway, saying it was delicious.

"Wow. This is super delicious?"

"It's called Dongpo pork. I'll buy a few more for you."

Castaway nonchalantly purchased a few more servings of Dongpo pork and placed them on the table.

'It seems he's close with the Hero Party, too.'

Actually, there was a separate reason why Yoo Hyun-min suggested eating dinner.

It was partly because he missed people, but also to gauge the atmosphere between Castaway and the party members.

"Rubyel-ssi. You have something on your mouth."

"Is that so? Wipe it off for me."

"Um. Yes."

Of course, it's not just that they're close, but it seems they're extremely close.

'What is this? Are the two of them dating?'

Yoo Hyun-min thought while watching Castaway take out a wet wipe and wipe Rubyel's mouth.

Clack—

Meanwhile, Elisicia, who had gone into the first-floor shower room, came out in comfortable pajamas.

She had just finished showering, and Elisicia said as if it was quite fascinating.

"It's fascinating that warm water comes out."

"If you count things like that, the Meeting Shelter itself is fascinating."

"That's true."

Elisicia naturally sat next to Castaway.

"Come to think of it, are you not opening the Arena today?"

"Yes. I told them in advance."

Yoo Hyun-min asked after hearing the word Arena.

"I know about the Arena because you told me before, but were you opening it every day?"

"Yes. The Arena itself is a Gallery function. It's a function that unlocks when you use the Gallery a lot. I can use all of those functions."

"That means other channels can't use it. My channel goes without saying. But what do you mean by opening it every day?"

"I open it every day for the people of Channel 1 to use for practical sparring."

Yoo Hyun-min thought of the Heavenly Demon he saw today at the mention of Channel 1.

"If it's Channel 1, the channel where the Heavenly Demon was? She certainly wasn't an ordinary bitch."

Since Yoo Hyun-min was also a Transcender, he could feel the aura the Heavenly Demon possessed.

She was someone who possessed an aura that was, if anything, similar to his, and certainly not inferior.

"You're not opening the Arena because of the Heavenly Demon, are you?"

"It's not for the Heavenly Demon, but for other people. It's for skill improvement. While I'm at it, I'm also learning swordsmanship."

"Swordsmanship?"

"You know the monster claws you gave me. I'm learning it to use those properly."

Yoo Hyun-min nodded.

It wasn't that he didn't have anything to point out, but he just let it slide because he liked having this conversation itself.

"Castaway-nim. Are we sleeping here starting today?"

Just then, Elisicia asked Castaway.

"Wouldn't that be better? If we sleep here, we don't have to worry about monster attacks."

"Then we'll have to decide on the rooms."

"Since the house itself is big, you won't have to worry about rooms."

Yoo Hyun-min nodded inwardly while listening to Castaway's words.

This was because he had scanned the entire mansion with his energy sense as soon as he entered.

'Even just the first floor has six large rooms.'

Moreover, the second floor had a small living room, and instead of a kitchen, it had many rooms.

Meanwhile, Aila, who had sky-blue hair and squinty eyes, said as if it was a good thing.

"If we're going to live here from now on, we might as well sleep together."

"......?"

For a moment, Yoo Hyun-min thought he had heard things because he was drunk.

Anyway, at Aila's words, Rubyel, who was sitting next to Castaway, asked Castaway.

"Sleep together? Hmm. Castaway, what do you think?"

"Huh? Uh. Wouldn't it be better to just sleep like we do now?"

"Do you like sleeping in shifts?"

Yoo Hyun-min listened to the conversation blankly, forgetting the glass in his hand.

"If that's what you like, it can't be helped. Was it my and Eli's turn today?"

"Yeah. That's right."

"I should wash up too."

Yoo Hyun-min looked at Rubyel going into the shower room and turned his head back to Castaway.

It was like that when they first met, but he couldn't help but think that the more he worried, the more his younger brother only made him feel at a loss.