Chapter 13 – Upgrade Meta

Chapter 13 – Upgrade Meta

I explained a series of rules that Su-a and Deokchan had to follow if they wanted to be with me.

Starting with obvious things like not betraying me or humanity, and promising to keep secrets.

It also included daily life matters like helping out when possible, using resources wisely, and getting permission for some valuable items.

These were partly modified rules from the Last City in my previous life, with some changes to make them more convenient for me, but if they couldn’t keep them, they could just leave.

I was providing everything: resources, shelter, and safety, so it would be their loss.

‘Of course, I won’t make a losing deal either.’

They were going to work as much as he did.

***

After explaining the rules, I introduced the creatures created by my ability.

“These are Worker Bugs. They’re part of my ability.”

“So armor wasn’t all there was!”

The surprised Deokchan had a slightly bitter expression.

It seemed he was comparing it to his Loyalty ability. However, since the world was fair, The Man also had to get used to it quickly. My Fire Manipulation.

I explained to The Men what the Worker Bugs could do and had done, emphasizing the importance of The Men’s Castle.

“I see… Such small creatures. They’re amazing.”

“Well, they look like woodlice, they’re repulsive, you know.”

“They’re just cute, that’s all.”

Sua was grinning, saying they were cute.

“Chirp chirp?”

The Worker Bugs just tilted their heads in confusion.

Meanwhile, I decided not to bother explaining the Observation Probe, which was the core of my information warfare ability. I just told them not to attack it because it was mine.

After explaining about the Worker Bugs, I gave them one more reason not to betray me.

“Well… it’s probably faster to show you than to tell you, right?”

“Oh, are you going to have them do something?”

“No, I have an even better way.”

“Huh?”

Sua tilted her head.

I gave her a meaningful smile.

“You two will have them do things. I’ll lend you 8 each. You can have them do anything you want as long as you follow the rules.”

My Worker Bugs were convenient.

How convenient? In my Previous Life, there might have been people who hadn’t used them, but…

No one who used them didn’t want to keep using them.

They would not want to betray me. Furthermore, these Worker Bugs also shared information with me, so even if they had other intentions, I would quickly find out.

“Then, how about you start by moving your belongings from your original dwelling?”

I grinned and assigned a total of 16 Worker Bugs.

* * *

Hours later.

“Oh, you’re doing so well, my little sweetie! That’s right!”

Deokchan, who had initially called them pill bugs and expressed his dislike, had now become a fervent admirer of the Worker Bugs. It was only natural.

They moved all the heavy luggage, took care of all the bothersome chores, never got dirty, and did everything asked of them without complaint.

“Oh dear, I don’t even envy having a daughter, you know.”

“Father!”

“Hahahaha, just kidding, just kidding.”

Eventually, they were able to move all the belongings from their original residence. I assigned them individual rooms on the 6th Floor of the Shopping Mall, in a location somewhat close to mine, so they could unpack their belongings.

In addition to the men, I also furnished each of their rooms with furniture brought from a furniture store and shared clothes with them.

Everything was brand new, still in its original packaging. Sua was amazed to receive such items for free.

“Wow… I feel like a princess.”

“Sua, your father here just saw that young man; he’s quite handsome, so why don’t you just grab him?”

“Oh, seriously, Father, not again!”

Deokchan added another comment, unaware that I was listening.

* * *

After they had finished unpacking, I decided to give them their first mission when they eagerly asked if there was anything they could help with.

It was a joint father-daughter effort, and it wasn’t a difficult task.

“This place has good defenses and is spacious, but it’s still inconvenient without water and electricity.”

“I suppose that’s true…?”

“That’s why there’s something I’d like the two of you to do together.”

“Just say the word! I’ll even burn my entire body to do it—”

“No, um, you can just use the Worker Bugs and do it together.”

“Oh, um. Right, I guess so…”

Deokchan scratched his ear, looking embarrassed.

Of course, he meant he would approach it with that much passion, but I hoped they would quickly become even more accustomed to using the Worker Bugs.

It would be a shame not to have him, after all.

I continued to speak.

“What I’d like you to do is… make a temporary shower facility.”

“A temporary shower facility?”

Sua tilted her head, looking confused.

“Yes. Until now, it’s been a bit of a struggle to wash up. But we don’t need to do that anymore, do we? Since Ms. Sua is here too.”

“Hmm… So, should I just spray water for you?”

“No, rather than that, you can make a water tank and fill it with water every day. Your ability seems to get stronger the more you use it, so even if it’s difficult at first, if you keep trying, you’ll probably be able to do it easily soon.”

Of course, this was also a way to naturally train Sua’s mana quantity. Having assigned her role, I turned my head to Deokchan.

“Elder, you can make the actual shower part with the worker bugs. So that showering is possible from the water tank Ms. Sua fills. All the materials and tools are probably on the fifth floor. If anything is missing, just tell me and I’ll get it for you somehow.”

“Hmm, good. I’ll try my best to do it quickly.”

“For the location… would that spot be good for now?”

I pointed to the bathroom in the corner of the sixth floor.

Although I didn’t say it explicitly, this was also a test to confirm their abilities and see how cooperative they were. Of course, from what I had seen so far, they seemed like they would do well.

“I’ll be nearby. I have something else I need to do. It’s important, so please don’t disturb me unless it’s urgent.”

“Alright.”

“Yes!”

It was time to absorb the newly acquired special entity mana stone.

***

“Hmm… as expected, there’s no essence.”

I frowned.

It wasn’t far off from what I expected.

Because such common and mediocre abilities often had poor quality and quantity of essence. However, that didn’t mean it wasn’t necessary. It was still a special entity mana stone, after all.

Its size, however, was certainly large enough.

“What should I try to do with this…?”

I pondered for a moment.

First, the simplest method was for me to absorb it directly. However, the problem was the impurities. Unlike Seo Gwangjin’s Mana Stone, which had high purity, this Mana Stone from a low-grade monster had low purity.

Moreover, the impurities I had no choice but to endure to summon the first Magitech Armor were still festering within my body.

Absorption was out of the question.

“But then, just using this as fuel…”

Even if I didn’t go out of my way to use this as fuel, the Worker Bugs were steadily bringing in Mana Stones 24 hours a day, filling up an entire corner of the 5th Floor.

Furthermore, the Mana Stones from the recent massacre included Thorn Spider Mana Stones, which were purer and larger.

There were more than enough Mana Stones to use as fuel.

“Then, after all… is it facility summoning?”

Summoning a facility requires a massive amount of mana. However, unlike summoning regular machines, there was no need to use the mana within my body.

This was because the process was different; to summon a large facility, one first had to create a small Dimensional Rift and continuously supply mana to that location.

In other words, as long as I could open the initial Rift, I could largely solve it by brute-forcing it with Mana Stones. In particular, large Mana Stones were much more efficient than small ones.

“Shall I take a look?”

I looked at the facilities I could summon.

First, the [Atmospheric Mana Refinement Facility].

This was the core of my base development, capable of absorbing, refining, and supplying mana from the air itself.

In other words, a separate mana supply source would be created besides me.

If the maintenance cost ever far exceeded the Mana Stone supply, this facility would be essential to continuously expand to secure mana, which would become increasingly scarce.

“But that’s only when all the Mana Stones are used up.”

The Mana Stone supply wasn’t insufficient yet.

This was also because the unexpected use of the Magitech Armor allowed me to deal with the initial trash mobs with the best cost-effectiveness.

“Then what about a Production Facility…?”

A Production Facility summons machines on my behalf.

Of course, it wasn’t as efficient as me.

It needed mana supplied by Mana Stones and materials like aluminum for summoning, but once it started running, it was the optimal facility for steadily increasing output.

“But why, of all things…?”

At this very early stage, even with a Production Facility, the most I could do was increase the number of Worker Bugs or Observation Probes.

The problem was that the area around my Shopping Mall was now completely cleared, and I was starting to have a surplus of labor.

Of course, it would be different if I started sending out long-range Expeditions, but to do that, I needed to clear the Monsters in those areas. And to do that, I needed even more mana and materials.

‘It’s still too early.’

I was busy solidifying internal affairs; long-range Expeditions were out of the question.

Later, when I had more water and materials, and a surplus of troops, it wouldn’t be too late to do it.

‘Then, it’s a Research Facility, after all?’

I made up my mind.

In particular, the new application of Magitech Armor brought me benefits beyond anything I could have imagined.

Originally, I might have been severely short on Mana Stones from producing more advanced machines, but instead, the high efficiency created a surplus. It was all thanks to the new use of Essence.

‘Especially… the situation is definitely different from what I expected.’

Having Regressed to the past, I certainly had a lot of information that only I knew.

My actions were also clearly different because of that.

By now, my past self would still be holed up in a Studio Apartment room, waiting for the Police Officers, Military, and government to quickly resolve the situation. Just like countless ordinary people who would have similar thoughts to the present.

But this time, I walked a path that was too different.

I was utilizing my abilities from the start, abilities whose true value I only realized after a long time, and I was releasing information to save even a few more people, even if it meant taking a slight risk.

‘In other words… the world won’t necessarily go in the direction I know.’

It was obvious.

I wasn’t just a flapping of butterfly wings, a Butterfly Effect; I was creating a tornado with a jet stream-level wind.

I felt that a Research Facility could be the insurance that would protect me from all those things.

‘My abilities are stronger than I think.’

I definitely felt it with this Magitech Armor usage method. Even though I had used this ability for a long time, there were still parts I didn’t know.

“Alright. Let’s go with the Research Facility.”

And then, standing on the 4th Floor of the Shopping Mall, I focused my mana.

Crackling-

The Man and the Rift that is forming.

The Research Facility began to be Summoned.

“Worker Bugs. Prepare the Mana Stones.”

I commanded them and slowly began to expand The Man Rift. If I even used the Special Entity Mana Stone I had secured this time, I would be able to perfectly Summon the facility before long.

“Now… We are going to Upgrade Meta.”

My machines will become even stronger.

“Beep!”

Yes, you too!