Chapter 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Barrier?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A barrier?
My head was a total mess because of my friend, but I shook it off.
Right now, no matter what I thought about, it wouldn't help the current situation at all.
'Yeah, my friend sent me here. I can't even remember his name. So what the hell am I supposed to do about it.'
In the end, there was nothing I could do.
All I could manage was the usual—uploading items to the gallery exchange.
'......Let's just upload some items.'
The moment I bought a new item with [Modern Item Purchase] this time...
Congratulations.
The ability 'Modern Item Purchase' has leveled up.
'Huh?'
An alarm rang out of nowhere, followed by a message saying my level had gone up.
'Modern Item Purchase. This thing levels up too?'
'Resource Recharge' has been added to the Modern Item Purchase list.
Anyway, with Modern Item Purchase leveling up, something called [Resource Recharge] appeared.
Of course, I had no idea what it was, so I tilted my head and scrolled through the Modern Item Purchase menu.
[Resource Recharge]
'It's definitely there.'
It was at the very bottom of the purchase list.
But I had no clue how to use it.
'Resource Recharge. What resource does it recharge?'
So I tapped it, and the gallery window switched to camera mode, like a targeting system.
Please select a location to recharge resources.
'Recharge......'
Just then, I spotted Rover through the camera-mode gallery window.
For reference, Rover had only moved its head a few times while lying prone this whole time.
'Probably because I haven't given it any commands.'
Anyway, I selected Rover in camera mode, and new messages appeared.
Target designated.
Resource recharge element confirmed.
Recharge 2% battery?
Recharge cost: 1 point.
'2% battery?'
Surprisingly, Resource Recharge could charge Rover's battery.
Separately, it was also surprising that after a few days, the battery had only drained to 2%.
'It said it could run fine for 3-4 months.'
But how do I actually recharge it?
"Uh, um. Recharge?"
1 point recharge cost used.
2% battery recharged.
Rover lifted its head and stared right at me.
It was probably wondering why its battery had been recharged and looking at me out of curiosity.
"I recharged you."
At my response, Rover nodded as if it understood, then lay back down comfortably.
'More importantly, this means I don't need to feed it those charging batteries or whatever anymore.'
Plus, the Plasma Pistol I got this time might be rechargeable too.
'If it is, I could keep firing it indefinitely, right?'
I made a mental note to check later, then returned to the gallery to finish registering the items.
With registration done and nothing else to do, I wandered the gallery collecting various info.
'The gallery goes up to channels 1 through 7.'
There seemed to be more channels, but it only cycled through up to 7.
From a quick scan, channels 1 and 6 appeared inactive.
No new posts, in other words.
'Channel 1......'
The few posts on channel 1 were like this.
O Ancient God! Remember me, Duggo Cheon! One day, I will sever your neck!
Is this the Ancient God's doing? I don't get the intent.
Probably to find the hidden humans. Yeah, that'd be dangerous.
Is this an illusion from the Ancient God? Everyone, snap out of it quick!
Hm. So if I post, others can see it?
Something weird popped up in front of me!
What's the Doom Salvation Gallery?
......
For some reason, channel 1 folks seemed to see the gallery as a trap and weren't using it.
On the flip side, channel 6 was actively using it at first, but then new posts just stopped.
See you all in the next life.
Ah...... So it's finally over.
Actually, this is for the best. I'm tired of wandering anyway.
↓ No other survivors apparently.
Anyone still alive?
......
Judging by the last posts, it seemed like everyone left on channel 6 had died.
And that wasn't something I could just brush off—my channel 2 might follow the same path.
'No, maybe it's fine now that I'm here.'
Everyone had entered the labyrinth, ensuring at least minimal safety.
With me supplying modern items on top, we might be okay.
'But channel 7 has posts coming in.'
Unlike 1 and 6, channel 7 was in a weird spot.
Haa...... This goddamn world.
Someone, anyone, leave a comment.
Is no one here? For real? Everyone dead?
Posted something good in the exchange. Take it.
......
Checking it out, channel 7 had only posts from one person.
I kinda wanted to comment too, but as a channel 2 guy, it'd probably disappoint them, so I hesitated.
That's when.
"Oh, the Hero's coming up soon, right?"
"The Hero's coming because of the castaway, yeah?"
"Probably a safe bet."
Voices drifted over from beyond the wall.
The stone-stacked house offered zero soundproofing.
'The Hero's already here?'
I knew the Hero was coming up eventually, but this was faster than expected.
On top of that, I only had telekinesis and a few weapons so far.
"If we follow the Hero, we might see the castaway too?"
"We might. But the Hero's probably got it all figured out."
If the Hero was looking for me, my location would leak to everyone else.
That's when I realized even the Hero searching for me was a problem in itself.
'The best option is if the Hero just doesn't look for me.'
Just keep living quietly like this.
But even that had issues.
'I can't live here forever.'
The gallery kept things from getting too boring, but if you asked if I could live here my whole life, no way.
Plus, since I hadn't come here by choice, I desperately wanted to return to my original world if possible.
'But how do I get back?'
In the worst case, I might have to spend my life here just stocking items.
The thought of living out my days in this labyrinth felt utterly daunting.
'One thing that comes to mind is the name of this gallery that Quick Fix Doctor mentioned.'
Doom Salvation Gallery.
It was probably related somehow.
"What do you mean, what the Hero's thinking?"
"Probably gonna recruit him into a reliable faction. Increase exchange items too."
"More items in the exchange won't help without points."
More voices from beyond the wall.
"Oh yeah, they said killing surface monsters gives 1,000 points, right?"
"Yeah, I heard that. Even the Hero goes up to the surface to hunt monsters when points run low."
1,000 points?
'Monsters give that much?'
I earned points with modern items, but that was a special case.
'In a world that's not on the brink like this, it'd be hard to earn points.'
If it wasn't a world on the verge of doom where even food was scarce, it'd definitely be tough.
Oh! It's the Hero!
Hero!
Suddenly, shouts from far away reached my ears.
'The Hero's here.'
Every shout included the word "Hero."
The Hero had likely reached the first floor of the labyrinth.
"......"
Still, it was too early to tense up.
The Hero might not be here for me.
'Could be here for something else.'
I tried thinking positively like that while mentally preparing myself.
The Hero, Elisicia, quietly surveyed the first floor after ascending for the first time in days.
Nothing should have changed in just a few days, but surprisingly, it had.
"Thrust swiftly and accurately. Fail, and the price is your life."
"Yes!"
In one spot, a middle-aged man was yelling at some kids.
The kids replied curtly, thrusting homemade spears with both hands.
"Looking for people to gather herbs on the surface!"
Some boldly wanted to head to the surface.
"Party to go down into the labyrinth! Only to the third floor!"
Others aimed to hunt remaining monsters, limiting to the third floor.
Unlike before, the first floor buzzed with energy everywhere, leaving the mage, Rubyel, to remark in wonder.
"The first floor's changed a lot."
Previously, it had been a half-dead place where hope had vanished.
The surface overrun by unknown monsters, labyrinth progress stalled—unavoidable.
"Still weird, though. Just better food changing the vibe this much?"
The core issues remained unsolved, same as always.
Rubyel voiced her confusion, and the saintess, Aila, replied.
"They've found a goal to push forward: the hope of tasty meals."
"The situation hasn't improved at all."
"Being able to live a bit more humanely is improvement enough."
Surface and labyrinth progress unchanged.
But Aila argued people's mindsets had improved.
"Well, the results speak for themselves, so yeah. But doesn't this mean we should rethink bringing that guy along?"
Rubyel nodded in agreement and asked the Hero, Elisicia.
With the mood improving, was dragging the castaway away still necessary?
"Depends on the castaway's abilities, I think."
If items were limited to the first floor, it'd complicate things.
"So you're set on meeting no matter what. Fine, where is he?"
"Luckily, close by."
The labyrinth was huge; bad luck meant walking all day.
But the castaway was nearby, so Elisicia headed straight there.
"Oh, it's the Hero."
"Came up quick this time."
"For the castaway, probably?"
People noticed the Hero's party and chattered, but none rushed recklessly.
The goddess-chosen Hero was semi-divine; no one dared approach carelessly.
"Follow the Hero and we'll see the castaway?"
"The castaway...... Wonder what he's like."
A few wanted to see the castaway themselves and quietly trailed the Hero's group.
Elisicia noticed easily but ignored them since shaking them off was impossible.
"Probably this house. Rubyel, mind helping?"
Using gallery admin privileges to pinpoint the location, Elisicia called Rubyel.
"Got it."
Fwaah!
Rubyel draped a curtain of light around the area.
No one outside could see in now.
"Thanks."
Elisicia thanked Rubyel and knocked on the wooden-plank door.
Knock knock—
"......?"
No response, so Rubyel said,
"Pretending not to be home?"
Elisicia thought it possible and slid the plank door aside.
Peering inside revealed an unexpectedly empty interior—no one there.
"......Guess it's not this house."
Gallery admin showed location as a dot but no house details.
Trusting just that, Elisicia moved to the next house over.
But.
"Huh?"
No house next door.
"Uh?"
Nor the one after.
"Elly. You sure it's here?"
"It is."
Elisicia replied uncertainly and circled back to the first house.
She checked inside again, confirmed the castaway's position once more, and pondered.
"Hmm."
A barrier?