Chapter 17

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: I'll Be Your First Friend

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After receiving the points, I stared at Elisicia in disbelief.

Elisicia tilted her head curiously at my gaze and asked why.

"Castaway. What's wrong?"

"No, it's just... there are more points than I expected."

When I mentioned the points, Elisicia shook her head.

"Like I said, these are from going down the labyrinth, so it's on the lower side."

"If 60,000 points is low, how much do you usually make?"

"Usually 140,000 to 150,000 points."

140,000 to 150,000?

'If it's 150,000 points...'

I could buy up to 30,000 jelly packs from Channel 4.

Thinking about it that way, even 140,000 to 150,000 felt small.

'How many days could 30,000 jellies last?'

Assuming there were only 1,000 people in the labyrinth and they ate two each per day, it wouldn't even last two weeks.

Plus, 1,000 was just an arbitrary number for easy math, so reality was probably way off.

'It's not that much to feed everyone.'

Stockpiling food with my Modern Item Purchase might stretch it a bit further.

But that wasn't a real solution, so after some thought, I found one item.

'Good thing the price isn't too bad.'

I checked the price and said to Elisicia,

"Hero."

"Yes. What is it?"

"I don't think stockpiling food is a good idea."

All the women, including Elisicia, looked at me puzzled.

"Why not?"

I calmly explained my thinking.

"From the gallery posts, most people on the first floor mine stones for points."

"Ah. You mean have others mine stones for points too?"

"Exactly. If everyone earns points, I can keep buying and distributing food regularly."

I figured it was way better than just handing out food for free.

Elisicia got it and nodded, asking for my plan.

"So what do you want to do, Castaway?"

"Buy tools for mining stones instead of food."

With that, I looked back at the item I'd found.

-Goat Horn Large Pickaxe: 14 points

It was the cheapest large pickaxe I'd seen.

Hand these out instead of food, and everyone could earn their own points.

"I think that's a good idea. You can mine stones anywhere in the labyrinth."

At that moment, the mage Rubyel agreed with me.

I knew about mining stones for points, but not what kind.

"What stones do you mine in the labyrinth?"

"You mine the labyrinth walls."

The walls?

Pound the walls to get stones?

"Won't they collapse?"

"Collapse? You think this is a mine? It's a special space made by the Evil God."

I didn't fully get it, but at least no collapse worries.

Anyway, it was up to Hero Elisicia. She looked thoughtful and said,

"But Castaway, can you bring other things besides food?"

"Ah."

Come to think of it, I'd only stocked food in the exchange so far.

So Elisicia probably thought that's all I could do.

"Tools are fine. So you're on board?"

"People might find it tough, but... they need a way to earn points on their own."

Elisicia nodded decisively.

"Yes. Stockpile ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tools instead of food."

Hearing that, I bought the pickaxes.

'Elisicia gave me 64,391 points.'

All in on 14-point pickaxes...

'4,599.'

The number bugged me, so I dipped into my own points.

Ended up with exactly 4,600 pickaxes. I started pulling them from the warehouse corner.

Thud thud thud—

Didn't want 4,600 at once causing issues, so ten at a time.

'It'll take a bit longer than expected.'

Half an hour tops, generously.

The warehouse was huge, plenty of space.

"Whoa, pickaxes? Brand new ones. Mining should be easy with these."

"Yeah, but if there aren't enough, people might complain."

"Complain? Just reuse them."

As I stacked them neatly, I overheard Rubyel and Elisicia.

4,600 was a lot, but with unknown numbers in the labyrinth, might not be enough.

'Or buy more in real-time as points come in.'

Earn points descending, buy pickaxes, hand to warehouse guard. Done.

Thud thud thud—

After a while, all 4,600 were out. Everyone looked impressed.

"You brought a ton."

"For shortages, buy as points come in and distribute."

Elisicia nodded with a hopeful smile.

"Coming to you was the right call."

"This is nothing."

"No, no one else could do this. Not even me."

True, but I let it slide.

"When do we head down the labyrinth?"

"Now."

"...Pardon?"

Thought I misheard, but Elisicia kindly repeated.

"Everything's done, so we're going now."

Descending the labyrinth with the Hero Party, I posted, and comments poured in like they'd been waiting.

Unlike my first post on day one, now every post got this reaction.

'Kinda fun.'

Probably because there wasn't much else to do in the labyrinth.

'Not much to do here anyway...'

Especially for me, less than most.

Just gallery and earning points.

"Hey, Castaway. Why post like this?"

Rubyel, having read it, asked with a confused look.

"Expressing honest feelings indirectly."

"Honest? Just say it straight."

"That'd make the post too heavy."

Truth was, even without that, fun, self-expression, anonymity, escapism—lots of reasons.

But no single clear one, even for me, so I glossed over.

"Oh, Castaway."

As I answered Rubyel, Elisicia called.

"Forgot—we should [add friends]."

"Add friends?"

"Yeah. We're party now."

Adding friends shares locations, but Elisicia didn't care.

As 2-channel admin, she could check anyone. Casual suggestion.

"Plus, for emergencies, good if party knows your location."

...Not so casual?

Anyway, now in the party, no reason to refuse.

"Sure. How?"

"We all know your name, so we'll send requests in turn."

Then four friend requests popped in my gallery.

I accepted all four, and the friend list updated.

Just days in this world, already 6 friends.

All thanks to my Modern Item Purchase ability.

'Without it, probably zero.'

Wonder if I'd said something else, like regression or half-immortal.

'Life would've been way harder, even if combat-wise okay.'

"Ah, Castaway, I must be your first friend."

Elisicia guessed I came from another world recently, so figured first.

"No. Third."

No intent to lie to new party member, so honest.

"...Pardon?"

Hero Elisicia asked again, like she misheard.

"I'm third? First is Rubyel or Aila?"

"No. Added some prior connections."

Elisicia's face stiffened briefly, then relaxed.

"But I'm your first admin friend."

"... ."

Second, actually.

"Anyway, Castaway. Friends share locations, like I said. Lucky I came first, could've been dangerous."

Other channels, so sharing fine.

'She thinks same channel.'

Recalling her stiff face, I stayed quiet.

Thanks to that, Elisicia nagged softly about my recklessness till mealtime.