Chapter 13 – Upgrade Meta

I explained to Sua and Deokchan a series of rules they had to follow if they wanted to stay with me.

I started with the obvious requirements, such as not betraying me or humanity, and promising to maintain strict confidentiality.

I also included matters regarding daily life, such as helping out whenever possible and using resources discreetly, though they were to ask for permission before using certain rare items.

These were partially modified versions of the rules that existed in the Last City of my previous life; I had adjusted them to be more convenient for me, but if they couldn’t follow them, they were free to leave.

Since I was providing everything—resources, shelter, and safety—leaving would be their own loss.

‘Of course, I won’t engage in any deal where I’m the one losing out.’

In exchange, they were expected to work for me.

* * *

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

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

“The armor wasn’t everything!”

Deokchan looked a bit bitter, his face twisted in shock.

He seemed to be comparing them to his own ability. However, since the world was unfair anyway, he needed to get used to it quickly.

I explained the tasks the Worker Bugs could do and what they had already accomplished, emphasizing their importance.

“I see… To think such small things could do that. That’s amazing.”

“Well, look at ’em, they look like pill bugs. Creepy little things.”

“I think they’re just cute.”

Sua was beaming, finding the creatures adorable.

“Tdiriring?”

The Worker Bugs only tilted their heads, looking puzzled.

Meanwhile, I decided not to bother explaining the Observation Probes, which were the core of my information warfare capability. I simply told them they were mine and warned them not to attack them.

After explaining the Worker Bugs, I gave the two of them one more reason why they could never betray me.

“Well… I suppose showing you is faster than telling you, right?”

“Ah, are you going to make them do something?”

“No, there’s a better way than that.”

“Huh?”

Sua tilted her head.

I gave her a meaningful smile.

“You two will be the ones giving them orders. I’ll lend you eight each. As long as you follow the rules, you can make them do whatever you want.”

My Worker Bugs were convenient.

So convenient that in my previous life, there were people who had never used them…

But there was no one who didn’t want to keep using them once they did.

They would lose any desire to betray me. Furthermore, since these Worker Bugs shared information with me, I would be able to tell immediately if they harbored any ulterior motives.

“Then, shall we start by moving your luggage from your original place?”

I grinned and designated a total of 16 Worker Bugs.

* * *

A few hours later.

“Oh, look at you go! Good boy! That’s it!”

Deokchan, who had previously called them pill bugs and said he hated them, had suddenly become a proponent of the Worker Bugs. It was only natural.

They moved all the heavy luggage, handled all the tedious chores, didn’t get dirty, and followed every order without a word of complaint.

“Good heavens, I wouldn’t trade these for a daughter.”

“Father!”

“Hahaha, I’m joking, I’m joking.”

Before long, they had moved all their belongings from their original residence. I assigned them their own rooms on the Shopping Mall 6th Floor, in a location reasonably close to me.

I also filled their rooms with furniture brought from a furniture store and shared clothing and other essentials.

Everything was brand new, some not even unpacked. Sua was marvelling at the fact that she was receiving such things for free.

“Wow… I feel like I’ve become a princess.”

“Sua, your father noticed that young man has a handsome face; why don’t you just snatch him up?”

“Ah, seriously, Father, again!”

Deokchan continued to add his unsolicited comments, not knowing if I could hear him.

* * *

After they finished unpacking, the two of them enthusiastically asked if there was anything they could help with, so I decided to give them their first mission.

It was a joint project for father and daughter, and it wasn’t a difficult task.

“The defense here is good and the space is wide, but it’s inconvenient because we don’t have water or electricity yet.”

“I suppose that’s true…?”

“So, there’s something I’d like you two to do together.”

“Just say the word! I’ll burn my whole body to—”

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

“Oh, uh. Right, I guess so…”

Deokchan scratched his ear, looking embarrassed.

Of course, it meant he was willing to put in that much passion, but my hope was for the two of them to become even more accustomed to using the Worker Bugs.

That way, they would feel a void if they were ever gone.

I continued speaking.

“What I want you to do is… a makeshift shower facility.”

“A makeshift shower facility?”

Sua tilted her head, looking confused.

“Yes. Until now, I’ve had to struggle a bit to wash up. But there’s no need for that anymore, right? Especially now that Ms. Sua is here.”

“Um… then should I spray the water for you?”

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

Of course, this was also intended as mana quantity training for Sua. After assigning her role, I turned to Deokchan.

“Elder, you can work with the Worker Bugs to create the actual showerhead part. So that showering is possible from the water tank Ms. Sua fills. The materials and tools should all be on the 5th Floor. If anything is missing, let me know and I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

“Hmm, sounds good. I’ll get it done as quickly as possible.”

“As for the location… maybe over there would be best?”

I pointed to the restroom in the corner of the 6th Floor.

I didn’t say it explicitly, but this was also a test to check their abilities and see how cooperative they were. Of course, based on what I’d seen so far, I expected them to do well.

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

“Will do.”

“Yes!”

It was time to absorb the Special Entity Mana Stone I had recently acquired.

* * *

“Hmm… As expected, there’s no Essence.”

I frowned.

It wasn’t far from my expectations.

Common and mediocre abilities often had poor quality and quantity of Essence. However, that didn’t mean it was useless. That’s why it was a Special Entity Mana Stone.

At the very least, its size was sufficiently large.

“What should I try with this…?”

I pondered for a moment.

The simplest method would be for me to absorb it directly. However, the problem was the impurity. Unlike Seo Gwangjin’s Mana Stone, which had high purity, this mana stone from a low-grade monster had relatively low purity.

Furthermore, the impurity I had been forced to endure to summon the first Magitech Armor was still squirming inside my body.

Absorption was out of the question.

“But it would be a waste to just use this as fuel…”

Even without using this, the Worker Bugs were steadily collecting and bringing back mana stones 24 hours a day. Right now, they had completely filled one corner of the 5th Floor.

Moreover, the mana stones from the previous massacre included Thorn Spider Mana Stones, which were purer and larger.

I had more than enough mana stones to use as fuel.

“Then, as expected… summoning a facility?”

Summoning a facility requires a massive amount of mana. However, unlike summoning a general machine, I didn’t necessarily have to use the mana within my own body.

This was because the process was different; to summon a large facility, one must first create a small Dimensional Rift and steadily provide mana through it.

In other words, as long as I could open the initial rift, I could solve the rest by throwing mana stones at it. In particular, larger mana stones were far more efficient than small ones.

“Shall I take a look?”

I browsed the facilities I could summon.

First, the [Atmospheric Mana Refinement Facility].

This was the centerpiece of my base development, capable of absorbing mana from the air to refine and supply it.

In other words, it would create a mana supply source other than myself.

If the maintenance cost ever rose higher than the supply of mana stones, this was an essential facility to expand to secure the mana that would become increasingly scarce.

“But that’s only when I’ve run out of mana stones.”

I wasn’t lacking in mana stone supply yet.

This was partly because I had found an unexpected way to use the Magitech Armor, allowing me to clear out early-game mobs with the best cost-efficiency.

“Then how about a Production Facility…?”

A Production Facility summons machines in my stead.

Of course, it wasn’t as efficient as doing it myself.

It required mana stones for power and materials like aluminum for summoning, but once it started running, it was the optimal facility for steadily increasing quantity.

“But is it necessary…?”

At this very early stage, a Production Facility would, at most, just 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 some breathing room in terms of labor.

Of course, it would be different once I started sending out long-distance expeditions, but for that, I needed to clear the monsters in those regions. And for that, I would need even more mana and materials.

‘It’s too early.’

I was busy consolidating my internal affairs; a long-distance expedition was premature.

It wouldn’t be too late to do it later, once I had more missing items or materials and more spare troops.

‘Then, after all… a Research Facility?’

I made up my mind.

In particular, the new application of the Magitech Armor had brought me gains beyond my imagination.

Normally, I might have run out of mana stones while summoning higher-grade machines, but instead, it gave me a surplus due to high efficiency. This was all thanks to the new use of Essence.

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

Having regressed to the past, there was certainly a lot of information only I knew.

Consequently, my way of acting was clearly different.

Around this time, the past version of me would still be shut inside a studio apartment, waiting for the Police, Military, and government to quickly resolve the situation. Yes, just like the countless ordinary people who likely think the same way now.

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

I was utilizing my ability from the start—an ability whose true value I only realized after a long time—and I was releasing information to save as many people as possible, even while risking some danger.

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

It was obvious.

I wasn’t just creating a ripple like the butterfly effect; I was creating a tornado with a jet-stream level wind.

I felt that a Research Facility could serve as insurance to protect me from all of that.

‘My ability is stronger than I thought.’

I felt it clearly through this use of the Magitech Armor. Despite being an ability I had used for a long time, there were clearly still parts I didn’t know.

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

And so, standing on the 4th Floor of the shopping mall, I concentrated my mana.

Bzzt-crack!

A rift began to form.

The Research Facility began to be summoned.

“Worker Bugs. Prepare the mana stones.”

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

“Now… we’re moving into the Upgrade Meta.”

My machines will become even stronger.

“Tdiriring!”

Yes, you guys too!