Absolute Dweller - Chapter 24: Construction (2)

[Episode 06] Construction (2)

“Construction?”

The moment I uttered that.

Zzzing—

When the homebound area expanded, the entire apartment building came into view along with a unique sensation.

‘Huh. Again?’

I instinctively prepared for the impending pain.

‘…?’

Rather than pain, a new system window appeared.

 

[Current Constructable Facilities]

 

– Solar Power Generator (133,000,000 won)

– Convenience Store (219,900,000 won)

– Gym (300,000,000 won)

[Support Funds: 1,000,000,000 won]

Each facility’s price echoed with the sound of zeros, leaving me unable to help but gape.

The least expensive was the 130 million won solar power generator.

‘Solar Power Generator.’

Upon choosing it, a translucent solar power facility appeared on the rooftop of the apartment.

It looked like the ones installed on roofs of houses.

A brief explanation came with it, stating that any surplus electricity generated per day would be converted into money and deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.

Furthermore, it showed the efficiency value converted into money.

‘Only 30 million won per year?’

Considering the installation price was 130 million, the amount it produced annually was a mere 30 million won.

In other words, to break even, it had to be maintained for at least five years.

[Are you sure you want to install it?]

[Yes / No]

‘No.’

It felt like a waste of money.

‘There are so many other places to spend money right now.’

As the population of citizens reached hundreds, the electricity consumption had increased, but it wasn’t necessary to use a solar power generator yet.

‘It’d be better to invest this money in raising Ha Dong-geon’s level.’

Just as my interest in the construction feature was fading, the support funds at the bottom of the construction list caught my attention.

One billion.

It was the funds earned through conquering an entire apartment building.

However, something seemed a bit off.

‘Could it be?’

※Support Funds: A sum of money that can only be used for construction purposes.

‘Ah…!’

This changed everything.

Although it was a billion won, it was completely separate from the wallet.

It was money exclusively reserved for construction.

‘Well, in that case, let’s spend it all.’

Spending the 10 billion that seemed like a windfall, and in turn saving my existing cash, required no further deliberation.

[Are you sure you want to install it?]

[Yes / No]

‘Yes.’

[Remaining time until completion of the Solar Power Generator Facility]

-23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

In an instant, the digits of the support funds changed.

[Support Funds: 867,000,000 won]

‘Sigh. Still feels wasteful.’

Although it was practically game points and could only be used for construction, watching a sum of 1 billion vanish was a bit painful.

I hadn’t spent such a large amount before.

‘Can I install one more, by any chance?’

It was mentioned that any surplus electricity generated and not used by the citizens would be converted to money.

With increased electricity production, maybe more money would flow into the wallet.

However, it wasn’t as straightforward as I hoped.

[Solar power generator facilities can be installed up to one per apartment building.]

‘Tsk.’

Unfortunately, to increase the number of solar power generator facilities, I needed to raise the level of the Absolute Dweller’s Declaration, conquering the surrounding apartments.

‘What about the convenience store?’

It was priced over 200 million won, but that didn’t matter since I planned to spend all the support funds.

‘Hmm?’

The convenience store turned out to be more innovative than expected.

It was a facility that worked in conjunction with the Absolute Dweller’s Shop skill, allowing me to sell items I personally registered.

However, the unique aspect was that it didn’t require a cashier.

It was a system that produced goods in real-time upon paying in front of the translucent items.

‘Not bad, hm?’

Until now, creating relief supplies and sending them down was also a task.

However, installing a store would allow citizens to purchase the necessary items on their own, eliminating the need for me to worry about it.

‘Prices can also be set by me.’

The current shop items were available for purchase at a 20% discount, but by displaying them in the store at the regular price, a profit of 20% could be made.

Moreover, once this was installed, citizens would inevitably need to be distributed settlement funds, and in that case, the tax collection skill could also be conveniently utilized.

‘With this, I can increase the ratio of settlement funds distributed to citizens.’

Now that there was a way to recover funds, it didn’t feel too regrettable to distribute settlement funds to citizens.

If necessary, I could bring in as much as needed.

Even though it might be a bit cunning, raising the prices of essential items like water or rice made it easier to recover money.

‘Of course, there might be no need to go that far.’

The advantages of the store were not limited to this.

‘Install it right away.’

Ding!

[Please choose a location to install the store.]

Unlike the solar power generators that could only be installed on the roof, the store involved renovating an entire (apartment) unit¹Can be room/unit/household. One rented area within the apartment building.. Fortunately, there was a suitable place.

‘Unit 101.’

The units on the first and second floors, which had been devastated by goblins.

Installing the store would instantly renovate the area without the need to clean up.

Broken glass and goblin excrement would be cleared away in an instant.

[Remaining time until completion of the Convenience Store Facility]

-47 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

‘Last one is… a gym?’

At first glance, I wondered why there would be such a useless facility.

Although a gym was included among the apartment community facilities, I had never visited it even once because I wasn’t interested in exercise.

However, the gym produced by the construction system had a slightly different meaning.

《Gym》

A basic training ground for citizens.

Strength and endurance can be increased, and efficiency will double when training at the gym. Citizens below level 15 will receive an additional buff of 300%.

‘Wow.’

I already knew that leveling up through exercise was possible, even if it wasn’t a quest reward.

On average, citizens who exercised diligently tended to have higher levels.

The fact that Kim Min-ho, a former bodybuilder, was at level 15 demonstrated this.

According to the gym’s description, one could grow to Kim Min-ho’s level almost five times faster.

With the exercise buff, using it alongside quest rewards would prove to be very effective.

Ding!

[Please choose a location to install the gym.]

Unlike the store, the gym required a more spacious area.

Therefore, I converted the entire second floor into a gym.

[Remaining Time Until Completion of Gym Facility]

-71 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

After installing the gym, the remaining support funds amounted to about 350 million won.

‘Used quite well.’

Thanks to the support funds, I didn’t have to use any of my own money, which made me feel refreshed.

‘Well then.’

The suddenly acquired construction feature was nothing more than an appetizer.

‘Though it was quite a delicious appetizer with 1 billion in support funds.’

Even so, there was a separate main course.

Releasing construction mode and returning to my normal senses, I opened the skill window to check.

[Remaining Skill Points: 3]

Reaching level 10 had given me three skill points.

Moreover, other than the Invisible Hand acquired at level 8 and the Commercialization²I’m almost sure the author’s talking about ‘Commercialization’, but it’s called ‘Absolute Dweller Repair’ this time for some reason (does not appear in any of the earlier chapters). skill at level 9, all skills had the [+] button activated next to their levels.

There was no need to think.

I had already decided which skills to level up.

‘The Absolute Dweller’s Shop, Absolute Dweller’s Dignity Maintenance, Absolute Dweller’s Eye.’

First, I leveled up the Absolute Dweller’s Shop skill.

[The Absolute Dweller’s Shop is now level 5.]

[The number of items that can be registered has increased to 500.]

[Itemization function has been added.]

‘What…?’

At level 4, I could only register up to 80 items. However, at level 5, this limit suddenly increased to 500.

Additionally, a new function had been added.

〔Itemization〕

Registered items can be purchased based on capacity, and products with similar concepts will also be available for purchase.

While the shop skill was undoubtedly a great ability, there were some inconveniences.

For instance, you could only purchase items with fixed capacities.

For water, you had to buy a package of 12, each with a 2L capacity; and for oranges, you had to purchase a 3kg box.

Now, it seemed you could buy these items individually as needed.

‘I understand the explanation, but what does it mean to buy products with similar concepts?’

As a test, I turned on the shop.

“Hmm?”

However, the level 5 shop was slightly different from before.

-Water

When I selected a slot that simply said “water” instead of Jeju Samdasoo, various kinds of items appeared.

“Wow.”

Starting with the original 2L Samdasoo that was already registered, there were also smaller capacities like 500ml, and it even sold other brands such as 아이시스 (Aysis) and Sparkle.

‘Not everything is here.’

Even so, the range of choices was much broader than before.

‘How about other items?’

I immediately tried ramen.

In the process of survivors joining, I had registered various types of ramen such as Jin Ramen, Chapagetti, and Shin Ramyun. However, now they were all merged into a single slot.

-Ramen

In that slot, there were various types of ramen, including Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramyun, Neoguri, and more.

‘A lot more types than water.’

With just the itemization function, the contents of the shop had become incredibly rich.

‘The timing is perfect.’

The products had diversified as the convenience store was being constructed, making me pleased in many ways.

‘Now, let’s level up other skills.’

The Absolute Dweller’s Dignity Maintenance and the Absolute Dweller’s Eye.

As I leveled up the skills, I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my mouth at the newly emerged functions.

‘This is going to be quite useful.’

***

“Haa!”

Kang Deok-su, clad in silver armor, swung his halberd towards the orc.

The orc, in turn, thrust its glaive towards Kang Deok-su, but its attack couldn’t penetrate the silver armor and merely bounced off.

Clink!

On the other hand, Kang Deok-su’s attack was different.

Swoosh!

“Gwaaah!”

The orc’s shoulder was severed with a single stroke.

Thanks to the increased strength from daily quests, Kang Deok-su’s attacks had become quite powerful.

“Whew.”

At this moment, Ha Dong-geon talked to him.

“Deok-su ya.”

“Hm?”

“I’m just curious, but what happens if you throw that?”

Kang Deok-su looked at the halberd that Ha Dong-geon pointed at.

“This? Why all of a sudden?”

“Lend it to me for a moment. I want to try something.”

“What? No, wait…!”

No matter how diligently Kang Deok-su had exercised, Ha Dong-geon was level 33.

There was quite a significant difference in their physical specs from the beginning.

Kang Deok-su watched helplessly as Ha Dong-geon took his weapon and swung the halberd at another orc.

Swoosh! Thud!

“Gwahhh!”

“…Hah. Crazy guy.”

He watched in awe as Ha Dong-geon beheaded orcs with ease.

Then.

Shiiing!

He could only watch helplessly as his halberd soared through the air.

“Hey! You can’t really throw that!”

Ha Dong-geon was calm.

Immediately after the halberd pierced through an orc’s body, he said to Kang Deok-su.

“Now, release the summon and try summoning it again.”

“Huh?”

Only then did Kang Deok-su catch on to Ha Dong-geon’s intention, nodding and replying.

“Hold on!”

Ziing―

The halberd, which had flown far away, disappeared and reappeared in Kang Deok-su’s grasp.

“It works! Dong-geon, are you a genius?!”

“Don’t get carried away.”

At that moment.

“We need to escape! I’m running out of arrows!”

Kim Ga-yeong, along with Ha Dong-geon, could be considered one of the core players in the party.

If she ran out of arrows, even if there was plenty of time left, she had to return to the apartment.

However.

Ziing―

“Huh?”

Arrows were being generated in real-time in front of Kim Ga-yeong’s eyes.