Chapter 36
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Android Purchase
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Haah. Still, I'm envious. Even if you're nothing to each other now, it won't stay that way later, right?
What do you mean "later"?
It just means you'll have plenty of chances to get close. And once you do, who knows what might happen.
I wanted to ask what he meant by "what might happen," but I doubted I'd get a normal answer.
'Maybe it's because he hasn't seen another person in so long.'
As I pondered that for a moment, 4 Channel came to mind.
'With 4 Channel's level of technology, they might even have androids.'
If it's alright with you, would you like me to look into getting you an android?
Android?
A humanoid robot. With 4 Channel's tech level, they probably have them.
But right after I posted it, I realized I'd made a mistake.
It felt wrong to offer a robot as a substitute for human companionship to someone who was longing for people.
An android...
Ah, sorry. Pretend I didn't say that.
Huh? Why? Was it a lie?
I just feel like a robot might not cut it.
I apologized honestly, but Yoo Hyun-min responded as if it was nonsense.
Hey! Who cares if it's a person or a robot! I'm the only one left, and I'm going insane here!
Pardon? Ah... Is it that bad?
You wouldn't get it since you're surrounded by beauties, but I am!
His desperate cry made me realize I'd messed up again.
When someone reaches that extreme point, it really doesn't matter if it's a person or a robot.
Alright, I'll look into it for you.
If possible, find me a pretty one that's good at conversation. Tell me right away if you need anything.
Got it. And just in case, try not to get your hopes up too much.
You got me all excited already and now you say that?
4 Channel's situation isn't great either.
Still, they've got to have at least one. They definitely do.
From the way he was talking, it felt like if I couldn't find an android, things would go south in multiple ways.
Anyway, I leave it to you. Bro.
"...".
A dying comrade on the battlefield probably wouldn't beg this desperately.
In any case, if I wanted to live up to his expectations, I needed to get moving now. I decided to end the conversation there.
I'll look into it and get back to you.
If you need anything, tell me right away.
Got it.
With that reply, I immediately requested a 1:1 chat with 4 Channel's Quick Fix Doctor.
Requesting 1:1 chat with friend, 'Quick Fix Doctor☆'.
Opponent has accepted the 1:1 chat.
Aren't you calling me a bit too often lately?
Sorry. But you're the only one on 4 Channel I can talk to.
Not complaining or anything. So, what's up?
Does 4 Channel have any androids by any chance?
?
Quick Fix Doctor posted a question mark, clearly puzzled by my asking about androids.
To answer: yeah, we do have some.
Oh! Really?
But why are you asking? Can't control your rising urges, so turning to androids?
I had no idea why he'd jump to that conclusion, but I denied it for now.
No. It's for someone else who's missing human contact.
Tell me more.
There's someone left alone on 7 Channel, and I thought an android might help.
After I gave a brief explanation, Quick Fix Doctor seemed to get the gist.
But separately, he had a new question.
Got it. What's 7 Channel's world like?
Similar to 2 Channel—a world overrun by monsters.
Nothing else special?
Among the monster byproducts, there's something like an elixir.
Only then did Quick Fix Doctor seem to understand why I was helping, and he got straight to the point.
The issue is, having androids and acquiring one are two different things.
Is it because of the bugs?
Right. The bug infections mean hardly any androids are left intact.
In short, the bugs made it hard to obtain androids.
Couldn't you just box it up like Rover?
That requires a special box. But there are androids boxed up like that.
Fortunately, I heard there were androids available.
But from what he said, Quick Fix Doctor didn't have one.
Someone else has it, huh.
Exactly. And they're a cranky one—hard to persuade.
Sounds like you're saying I have to persuade them myself... right?
You catch on quick. All I can do is introduce you.
He'd introduce me to the person with the android, but the persuading was on me.
I wondered if it was worth going this far, but thinking of Yoo Hyun-min alone on 7 Channel left me no choice.
Okay. Please introduce me.
Hold on a sec.
Quick Fix Doctor told me to wait and then went silent.
Thanks to that, I finished lunch with the Hero Party and started walking the 10th floor again.
"Castaway, when are you taking that elixir?"
"Oh, the elixir? They say it causes a high fever for half a day, so I was planning to take it later when I have time."
"Then tonight at dinner would work."
As Elisicia said, taking it at dinner might delay our departure the next day a bit, but it shouldn't be a big issue.
"Yeah, I'll take it tonight."
"Good thinking."
The moment I heard Elisicia's response...
Done. Told them you'd like to talk.
Uh... does that take so long?
I said they were cranky, didn't I? Took a while.
Quick Fix Doctor said even just arranging a talk took a long time.
That made me doubt myself, but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway.
Who's this person?
Golden King. Think of them as someone obsessed with money and rare stuff.
If they like special things, there's potential then.
Like you said, there's potential. But be careful not to get ripped off.
1:1 chat has ended.
Quick Fix Doctor ended the 1:1 chat with that.
'Just telling me the nickname—what am I supposed to do with that?'
I checked 4 Channel's posts, and right on cue, there was a post by Golden King.
[Castaway? Shall I grant you the honor of speaking with me.] [54]
'There it is.'
It was in the latest posts, so I requested a 1:1 chat using the nickname from that post.
Opponent has accepted the 1:1 chat.
Hello. I'm Castaway. Quick Fix Doctor introduced...
I tried to send the current post next, but the other side posted first.
Sorry, but I don't prefer this kind of chat.
Pardon?
Proper conversation requires facing each other.
"...?"
What did that mean?
Taken literally, it seemed she wanted to talk face-to-face.
'Is that even possible?'
Nickname 'Golden King' has requested a 1:1 video call.
'Video call?'
I wondered if the gallery even had that feature and asked Elisicia.
"Hero, does the gallery have video calls?"
"What's a video call?"
"No, nothing."
Confirming Elisicia didn't know either, I accepted Golden King's 1:1 video call for now.
Once accepted, the gallery screen showed someone leaning back in a luxurious chair.
"Pardon? Yes. That's me."
The person on screen was a woman with flawless beauty that seemed almost unreal.
Her deep golden blonde hair looked vibrant strand by strand, and her features were perfectly sculpted.
"...".
Even examining each eye, nose, and mouth separately, she was stunning—but her perfection gave off an uncanny vibe.
She'd even adjusted the gallery screen angle to look down at me, which gave an odd feeling.
"I heard you have an android."
The Hero Party members started glancing at me one by one.
"Castaway? What are you talking about?"
"I'm in a 1:1 video call right..."
As I started to answer, I noticed something strange.
"Did you only hear my voice?"
"Yes. We can't see your gallery."
Rubyel chimed in next.
"If you share your gallery, maybe we can hear too?"
It made sense.
But I wondered if her words would translate even if shared.
'I'm curious, so let's try.'
I shared my gallery window.
The Hero Party gathered around out of curiosity to look at the screen.
Rubyel, hearing Golden King's voice, said in surprise.
"Whoa. Someone from another channel, but I can understand them."
Apparently, text or chat through my gallery window was translated for others too.
Aside from that, I wondered if Golden King knew about this and still chose video call with me.
"Did you know we could communicate via video call?"
"...".
In other words, she called as usual, regardless of whether it worked.
The word "payment" immediately brought 7 Channel's elixir to mind.
"How about an elixir? It boosts physical abilities and toughens the skin."
50 million credits? A million jellies?
I recalled the elixir price Yoo Hyun-min mentioned and did some math.
"The elixir once traded for 80-90 billion. That's enough for at least 16 million jellies."
"...".
As I stated the elixir's value, Golden King's lips on screen twitched ever so slightly.