Absolute Dweller - Chapter 64: Vampire (1)

[Episode 14] Vampire (1)

The crown was as effective as it was dazzling in appearance.

<Absolute Dweller’s Crown>

When worn, effects on citizens are doubled.

Currently, there were six effects:

-Experience points and settlement fees are doubled.

-Power of Trust.

-Tax Collection.

-Basic Salary.

-Economic Activity Population Support Fund.

-Jobs.

All these effects would be doubled.

‘…I guess I have to keep wearing it?’

Although it felt a bit cumbersome, the effects when worn were so good that I couldn’t not use it.

‘Since I don’t have much reason to leave the house anyway, I might as well wear it all the time.’

Just then, there was a system notification that had been ringing since earlier.

[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 7).]

[You have gained experience points.]

[18,011 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s wallet.]

It was because Kang Deok-su was hunting goblins in the goblin lair.

‘Let’s see.’

I carefully placed the crown on my head.

Suddenly, I felt a refreshing sensation.

And as soon as I put on the crown, there was a change in the notification window.

[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 7).]

[You have gained experience points.]

[28,670 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.]

‘A goblin is worth almost 30,000 won.’

The first digit had changed.

Compared to when I hunted goblins myself in the past, which was only worth 3,000 won, it was almost ten times more efficient.

The efficiency had increased not only for goblins but for all future hunts. So, if possible, it seemed that I should wear the crown even while sleeping.

‘Come to think of it, it should be time to collect taxes.’

I had been so busy that I had forgotten about using the tax collection skill and left it idle.

When I used the tax collection skill a month ago, the amount wasn’t significant. But now, it would be different.

I knew that each member of Ha Dong-geon’s party now possessed tens of millions, thanks to the rapid growth of their party.

With a bit of anticipation, I used the skill.

‘Tax Collection.’

If this was also doubled by the crown’s effect, it meant I would receive 20% instead of 10%.

So, I expected to receive at least a few billion.

However…

[A total of 15,674,528,243 won from Tax Collection has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s wallet.]

‘Oh?’

The amount was different from what I expected.

’15 billion?’

That meant citizens collectively possessed around 750 billion.

‘I see. Beyond hunting, the money earned from the economic activity population support fund must be quite substantial.’

The daily earnings of citizens employed in the economic activity population support fund when added together would easily amount to billions.

‘It seems people have more money than I thought?’

No wonder the store sales have been unusual these days.

Citizens had more purchasing power.

‘I should start selling cars at the store soon!’

As road maintenance was being completed, there was a gradual increase in demand for vehicles.

Even if it wasn’t for hunting, having a car made life more convenient in various ways, so there were many people who wanted one.

‘I could set up a separate store selling cars in the underground parking lot so people can drive it immediately.’

Or, I could set up a store where car dealerships were originally located.

However, it was still in the planning stage.

‘I need to reach level 25 quickly to level up the shop skill and expand the slots!’

All the slots in the shop were currently filled.

While it was possible to maximize the efficiency of one slot through itemization, there was a limit.

Medical supplies accounted for a significant portion.

There were so many types of medications that even with itemization, there was a limit, and the slots were quickly filled.

Currently, only medications that the medical team consumed the most were registered and used.

That alone filled 500 slots, and there were no slots left to register cars.

In other words, in order to sell vehicles, I would need to level up the shop skill.

‘But, I’m almost at level 25.’

I had steadily leveled up and expanded the area.

Now, level 25 was within reach.

I even got a crown that would accelerate the rate of experience points, so I should reach level 25 in no time.

‘As the area expands in the future, the demand for cars will increase even more.’

Presently, it was only a few kilometers from the center of the area to the outside. There was no need to buy a car that cost tens of millions of won, and only hunting teams were able to afford it.

And even then, only the top hunting teams would have tens of millions of won on hand.

‘Anyway, it’s a good thing. The fact that citizens are growing wealthy means that tax collection would be better in the future.’

I was increasingly pleased with the crown on my head.

‘Basic Salary has also doubled, so those who have been making a living by hunting will be in better situations.’

Most citizens had a settlement fee of 0%.

Nevertheless, they were able to earn money through Basic Salary, guaranteed to receive 100% of experience points and settlement fees that I couldn’t touch.

Now that it had doubled,the growth of citizens would be faster, and their earnings would improve as well.

‘I’m so lucky this item appeared just as instant dungeons came out!’

Now, even those who did nothing besides goblin hunting wouldn’t have trouble making ends meet.

‘Moreover, the economically active population has increased significantly.’

Instead of doubling the support fund, the population limit had doubled.

With the limit doubling at once, there was plenty of room to accept new people.

‘Great.’

It was uncomfortable that there were not enough positions compared to the people working.

I had no choice but to pay in the form of quest assignment, but now I didn’t have to do that.

Just as I was checking the positive effects of the crown one by one…

The doorbell rang.

“Absolute Dweller’s Eyes.”

When I checked, Jang Sung-jun, who had recently asked me to lend him firearms to save his family, was standing at the door.

I could tell the result just by looking at his face.

Click.

When I opened the front door, I saw Jang Sung-jun standing there with a smile on his face.

He held a bunch of firearms in his hand and said, “Hello, Mr. Jae-hyun. I’m here to return the items you lent me last time.”

I chuckled and replied.

“Congratulations. You’ve reunited with your family safely.”

“Yes. It’s all thanks to you, Mr. Jae-hyun. If we had been even a little late, we might not have been able to meet our families forever. But thanks to your willingness to provide guns, we were able to miraculously save our families.”

“I just offered the support I could. It was your own strength that saved your families.”

Jang Sung-jun bowed his head to express his gratitude.

“We were in desperate need of that opportunity. I want to thank you once again. You have been continuously looking over us and supplying us with the necessary resources.”

When their party arrived at the apartment complex in Yeonji-dong, the residents were engaged in a fierce battle with orcs. However, orcs were too much for ordinary people with no strength, and they were being overwhelmed.

That was when Jang Sung-jun’s party appeared.

Armed with rifles, Jang Sung-jun’s party quickly wiped out the orcs, becoming heroes of the apartment complex.

Furthermore, by distributing the supplies I provided to the people in the apartment complex, they completely won over their hearts and successfully led hundreds of survivors back to our apartment complex.

Fortunately, their families were among the survivors as well.

‘It proves that most monsters can be suppressed with guns.’

Of course, the fact that I could supply unlimited ammunition was quite crucial.

The real-time supply of ammunition made them even more powerful.

“Thanks to your continuous support, we were able to muster our courage to complete the mission. Thank you so much for trusting us and lending us the guns.”

I thought about letting Jang Sung-jun’s party keep the firearms, but I had already handed over full authority over firearms to Kang Han-gyeol.

‘I’ve already told the other hunting teams to return the guns I distributed.’

Even capable hunting teams could only receive firearms from the Dungeon Management Bureau when needed.

‘Warehouse storage.’

Zing.

After storing all the firearms Jang Sung-jun had brought in the warehouse, I asked him: “Are all your family members and colleagues staying in the common rooms right now?”

“Yes, they are.”

“I have a suggestion.”

Currently, Jang Sung-jun’s party were all under subordinate contracts.

Meaning that they had all acquired awakening abilities.

‘But they’re not good at using their abilities yet since they mainly relied on guns during their operation.’

It was certainly important to cultivate skilled marksmen.

However, I believed that people with special awakening abilities needed to be managed separately.

Just by looking at Ha Dong-geon’s party, I could see how much potential a group with awakening abilities had.

“Why don’t you create a hunting team with your colleagues?”

“A hunting team?”

“Yes, but there is a condition. I want you to go monster hunting using only your awakening abilities.”

For now, I planned to create a goblin cave exclusively for them to get used to using their abilities.

“Are you saying not to use rifles?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmm…”

The others less so, but I definitely wanted to use Jang Sung-jun as a combat force.

‘He has a Grade A telekinetic ability. If trained well, he could become comparable to Ha Dong-geon or Oh Eon-ju.’

I said to Jang Sung-jun, who was contemplating.

“If you actively participate in hunting, I’ll give you three apartment units. And I’ll provide temporary housing for the survivors who came with you.”

Most would be ordinary houses, but private houses would be much better than sharing an apartment unit with dozens of people.

When he heard that I would solve that problem for them, Jang Sung-jun nodded vigorously in response.

“I’ll do it!”

[Citizen Jang Sung-jun’s trust has increased.]

[Citizen Jang Sung-jun’s loyalty has increased.]

“Shouldn’t you ask the others too?”

“If they hear the terms, they’ll definitely accept.”

I said to Jang Sung-jun who had a determined expression.

“You don’t need to be so tense. The monsters you’ll be hunting at first will just be goblins.”

The plan was to keep cycling through the Goblin Lair instant dungeon.

“It might be difficult to fight at first without rifles, but you’ll soon get used to it.”

“I see.”

“And Jang Sung-jun, try to use telekinesis regularly. It might be annoying and difficult at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll have a much more powerful weapon than a rifle.”

“Yes, I’ll try my best.”

Jang Sung-jun would probably adapt quickly.

During the process of saving his family in Yeonji-dong, he had already grown to the early level 20s.

‘Goblins should be easy to handle!’

Since the levels of the other party members were also decent, the six of them should be able to easily handle around a hundred goblins.

‘After they get used to using their abilities, they can be sent on a real hunt.’

The detailed schedule would be set later, but as Jang Sung-jun went down with a smile on his face.

[Citizen Jang Dae-il has died.]

[Citizen Kim Nam-gi has died.]

[Citizen Lee Se-hyun has died.]

[Citizen Seo Go-eun has died.]

‘Huh?’

Suddenly, a bunch of death messages popped up.

Ten citizens had lost their lives in an instant.

‘This has never happened before?’

There was no reason for so many people to die at once unless a building collapsed or something like that.

But then, another strange notification appeared.

[You have hunted a Lesser Vampire (Lv. 18).]

[You have gained experience.]

[2,223,988 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s wallet.]

“Vampire?”