NOVEL NEXT chapter 16
16 – Only I Couldn’t See the Spirits
While drinking the milk, I realized that another shelter had taken the place of the arrogant student who self-destructed.
Come to think of it, the shelters around are all filled. Is it a system that fills vacancies immediately?
…Key… Boom…
Occasional monster and explosion sounds stimulated my ears.
Is there an end to this death game? Stage 100? Or will we continue until we all die?
“They called it a slave planet…”
We won’t care about our lives at all.
Still, I have to find a way to live, somehow, here and there.
That’s the only thing I can do.
And I’m in a position where I’m quite enjoying it···
Ah, now that my level has gone up, let’s try something.
Concrete upgrade.
Gray Sphere
– Would you like to upgrade? Y/N (Cost: 120P)
Isn’t the price suddenly too high? Inflation is hitting hard.
Let’s upgrade just one for now.
-120P
Zzzz-
Oh, Wilson, your head!
The concrete upgrade is complete.
Gray Sphere+
– Attack Speed, Attack Power +30%, Explosion Range +10%
Ooooh! It’s expensive, but worth it! It’s a good deal, actually.
But Wilson, your head remains the same.
Doesn’t the direction feel like something is being reborn?
In the end, all 36 spheres were upgraded.
The sight of all 35 Wilsons being reborn was truly spectacular.
Ohhh!
-4200P
Not a single bit feels regrettable.
“Will the next round be relaxed too?”
“I don’t remember anyone dying on Stage 8, right?”
“Oh! Right, Eunchae. I remember too.”
Wow, zero deaths. Can that be possible?
We’ll have to see if it’s the same this time, but it seemed certain that there wouldn’t be any particularly dangerous situations.
Contributions:
Shin Gahee (Lv2)
Na Eunchae (Lv2)
Jeong Suhak (Lv1)
Yoo Insun (Lv1)
Kang Haeun (Lv1)
Kim Hyuna (Lv1)
Everyone’s contributions have increased, and it doesn’t seem like there’s a noticeable difference in levels yet. Everyone seems to be progressing similarly.
They all gather on the sofa.
“Feel free to use points according to your contributions. Well done on clearing.”
– hahahaha, let’s check what I got, muggle, heh-
– Yeah, my mom will buy it for me. Just wait a bit longer –
“Sir, I have a suggestion.”
“Go ahead.”
“Would it be possible to buy one more sofa?”
– Page 348
I was already considering it, but it’s good that she mentioned it.
Zoom-
“Oh, that one is mine now!”
“…The sofas are for everyone to use, Gahee.”
“Oh, come on, don’t talk like that, sis! Are you still like that?”
Hmm, is Hyuna playing the role of Gahee’s inhibitor? Thank goodness.
“Ahem… Mr. Eun-geun?”
“Just call me the captain.”
“Uh, well, okay. Can we drink alcohol in the room?”
“We allow it after all the performances are over for the day. As long as it doesn’t affect your abilities, it’s fine.”
“Oh… You’re good at controlling yourself. I’m just… hehehehe.”
I see my uncle buying soju and neatly arranging it in the fridge.
“You need to have some fun with alcohol… We shouldn’t restrict only those who act so uptight.”
＜Stage 7 has come to an end! This stage was a bit boring ㅠ^ㅠ If it weren’t for the Red Fist, the audience might have all fled! So, I’ve decided to put in more effort! Please look forward to the next stage ^ㅠ^＞
＜Stage 7 fatalities: 2888＞
What do you mean, put in more effort! Don’t do anything!
Anxiety creeps in… What’s up with the red fist again?
＜01:29:57＞
That jerk even shortened our break time…
Looks like it’s another 4 rounds today.
Shouldn’t they give us 1.5 times the points if we play this at night?
Out with black companies that don’t even pay overtime bonuses!!
With time running out, we all gathered on the sofa to discuss the recent battle.
The sofa was arranged facing each other.
“I’m bothered by what the host said. Shouldn’t we pull the shield guy from the 9th stage and not let him summon it?”
So, there are guys coming out with shields too… It’s not just monsters that come out all the time.
“Ugh, do we have to beat those guys for a long time to break them?”
“…Yes, Uncle…”
Seems like he’s a guy with good defense.
“Even if we could only buy the new sword at the store…”
Yoo In-soon expressed rare disappointment.
“Have you ever used that sword?”
I was curious, so tell me about that sword quickly.
“Basically, all the swords that appear in the store can hold magic, and attacks imbued with magic are extremely powerful. Just like the shield guy I mentioned earlier, he can be taken down in one go.”
Hmm, I see. It seems similar to putting magic in my fist.
“Does it only function to hold magic, nothing else?”
“··· The very essence of being a conduit that allows magic to be infused into weapons gives it value, Master.”
“Hmm? Is that so?”
Whether it’s difficult to load magic onto it or challenging to withstand the containment of magic, I’m not sure.
“··· In the last session, I tried a 7000-point sword.”
Oh, indeed suitable for a peerless warrior, is it not?
“It had a function to inflict abnormal states. Occasionally, when I struck them, it caused paralysis.”
“Ohh, indeed.”
Well then, that’s expected! It must have features befitting its expensive price, right?
As we talk about the sword, a flush appears on Kim Hyeona’s face.
‘Even so, emotions exist in people.’
Rosheredine Shieldy Sword
Price: 45,000P
The price is staggering, and there’s no explanation, but um-
I’ll have to consider it later, maybe?
“Well, it’s a bit early to discuss, but considering the duel requests that might come after Stage 10, you should have a magical sword.”
“··· Ah··· a duel···”
“Damn it, are there big shots who went to the 1st shelter for a rematch?”
“As for one-on-one duels, I’m not sure. If there’s someone specialized in that area···”
‘What duel? What’s that? Tell me too.’
I raise a question mark, and Eunchae cautiously approaches and explains.
Eun-chae, there’s only you. Sob. Can we just forget about what happened earlier?
“Shelter Daegwon is coming soon… There are two ways. One is a time-based competition on who defeats the boss monster first, and the other is each representative coming out from the shelter and having a 1:1 match.”
“What do you gain from winning?”
“Usually, points are at stake. Like gambling. Sometimes they set other conditions, though…”
I see…
“And rejection is not allowed?”
“…If you refuse, you lose a certain amount of points, as far as I know.”
Well… The more you know.
“But we have Hye-na unnie! She even raised her special grade after regressing! It’s amazing!”
“…Unnecessary talk.”
– hehehe, unnie, fighting!
Gae-hee seems to be having fun teasing Hye-na.
More importantly, it seems not only those who regress gain new abilities. Interesting.
“…Or maybe… it’s a long-range attack…”
“That could be… It’s tiring, though. But since we upgraded it concretely, it should be okay, right?”
“…Oh, sir, normal ma-sus might spit attacks with their mouths later on. That vomiting thing…”
“Oh… that’s a bit…”
In our Love House?! Unacceptable!
…What do we do about long-range attacks, really.
“What’s the plan?”
“The attack power isn’t that strong, so you don’t need to worry too much, sir…”
“Hmm…”
“Eunchae!”
Gahee calls Eunchae while tapping the sofa beside her.
Then she looks at me sharply… Why is she looking at me like that?
I haven’t done anything!
“Well, I want to talk about something else.”
As I start speaking, I see people leaning forward as if I said something unnecessary.
“Well… It’s Ha Eun’s ability. I was thinking of investing in it.”
ㅡ!!!
People’s eyes widen as they stare at me intently.
“Why? You’ve probably heard a rough explanation, right?”
Unexpectedly, Teacher Musang speaks up first.
“It’s a feeling, you know. It’s going to work out.”
“Eeh? Sir, even your head has turned into muscles – eub eub.”
Eunchae blocks Gahee’s mouth, and Ha Eun’s mom anxiously observes the reactions of the people around.
“La-la! Lulu! I want to show it!”
After a long time, Ha Eun’s spirit livens up, and she clenches her fist, shouting.
hehehe, how cute. Naming the spirits just like herself. hehehe.
“Just deciding based on intuition isn’t the issue, Room Master.”
That’s true. But calling it a spirit, a spirit! You guys saw it! I didn’t see it! I want to see it too! I want to take a nap on a spirit ship on the rooftop! But it must be pretty big, right? Like a sleeping card?
Muttering to herself, she continued speaking.
“I think we need cards to prepare for the latter part. I don’t know how much it absorbs points, but I judge it to be at a manageable level…”
All I have is money. Huh.
“Of course, it has changed gradually while absorbing points…”
Is that so, Gahee? But how did it change? Can you draw a picture for me?
“…Since there’s no clear evidence, I disagree.”
Hyuna disagrees.
“…I agree…”
Oh, Eunchae, what’s going on?
“Ahem, I disagree.”
Uncle disagrees.
“If Eunchae agrees, then I agree too. And honestly, I’m curious about what will happen later. It grew a lot at Stage 25, didn’t it?”
Oh oh oh! It grew a lot? How much?
“…It just grew in size. Gahee.”
“Sis, you’re not a soldier anymore, please.”
Oh, you were a soldier… But it’s not because you’re a female soldier, it seems like you always spoke like that…
“Then, excluding the involved party, Haeun, it’s a tie at 2:2.”
Yoo In-soon was tightly holding onto Haeun and seemed to be closing her eyes as if following the decision.
“Hmm! Well, I agree too!”
“Um… Mister Jung Soo?”
“Wouldn’t it be noticeable that the young one spends the whole day without saying a word? I really don’t understand!”
“······”
Kim Hyun Ah’s forehead furrowed deeply at the situation.
Can’t satisfy everything 100% one by one.
And I truly believe that the spirit will play a significant role later on.
Shelter upgrade.
Upgrade Shelter? Y/N (Cost: 9500P)
Yes.
Wheee~
Rumble rumble rumble rumble~
“Uh, what did you buy again, sir?”
“Advanced Shelter.”
Ah…
After making a loud noise for a while, the vibration subsided, soon becoming quiet.
Shelter upgrade is complete.
Shelter (Advanced)
– Durability: 8500/8500
– Area: 850m²
– Concrete Slot 36/58
– Large Beast Sphere Slot 1/1
– Bathroom Slot 1/6
– Practice Room 0/1
– Toilet Slot 1/5
– Bedroom Slot 6/20
– Kitchen Slot 1/3
– Resident Population 6/295
Oh my, check out the durability, hahahahaha.
A practice room and a slot for the large beast sphere have been newly added.
Thankfully, the slot for the large beast sphere is installed. But where is it? I can’t see it.
“Is the 10th stage boss a large beast?”
I asked those still bewildered, looking around.
“Y-yes, sir.”
“···Oh, I see!”
“Where is the slot for the large beast sphere?”
“···It’s installed on the rooftop.”
Ah, I see.
A rooftop has been added.
Let’s install all the spheres.
Installed simultaneously in the 22nd generation.
Zzing—pouring down—jjeojeojeojeok!
-3630P
Points held: 779,323
“Wow, after 7th stage, having this level of shelter defense is legendary.”
“…Pfhihi”
Eunchae and Gahee laugh together, lounging on the sofa.
What’s so good about it? Well, back then, just looking at falling leaves made you smile.
Hyuna and Uncle, who were slightly dissatisfied before, now seem satisfied, wandering around the upgraded shelter.
Hyuna, you look funny too.
A slight smile was quite charming.
“Haeun and Insun for a moment.”
Dodo-dodo-dodo, Haeun runs over and stands in front of me.
Whew, cute. hehehehe.
Oh, am I laughing too much like a kidnapper right now?