Outside the Bullet Tavern
Thanks to my hard work, I had the afternoon free.So, I decided to walk the streets of Atris.
But I was surprised by how quickly I got bored.
Yeah, sure... it's cool to see these beautiful landscapes, and admire that medieval architecture with its elegant touch...
But damn, I really miss my music, modern food... and my loved ones. I kept thinking:
"Is someone out there missing me? Lilia, Alice, Marcus, Grandma, my little Manako... shit, this is not the time to get nostalgic."
I tried to focus on something else. On something I'd been missing... food.Ever since I got stuck here, I've been having thoughts about the kind of gastronomy I used to enjoy.
"I can't remember having a single decent breakfast here. Is it because I'm a slave? Or maybe my standards are just too high?"
To hell with it. None of that matters right now... I just want to raise my cholesterol. But I can't.
I really wish I could eat some good fried chicken, French fries...Or a pepperoni pizza with parmesan cheese melting off the crust.
An ice-cold soda... with a pile of greasy snacks. I don't care if it's 9,000 calories.
There are pleasures a man would die happy for.
Because to me, part of the joy of being alive is eating.
And that reminds me...Back in my first year of high school in America.Before I moved to Japan, when Nelson taught me a song from his hometown.
I don't remember it perfectly, but it went like this:
—🎵 Eating, is what I want to do 🎵
🎵 Eating, my whole life will be about eating 🎵
🎵 Nothing's sweeter than living and eating 🎵
Those were the days...
But this world...This damn game has had me on a forced diet. A self-imposed fast.
Delicious, greasy, shiny food... is not even a dream here.
I couldn't take the anxiety anymore. My mouth was flooding just thinking about a hamburger.
Sigh —I'd give anything. Seriously. If there were a way to eat the food I crave...
That's when Quincy spoke up from his pink screen.
[Master, would you like a suggestion?]
—If it solves my damn problem... go ahead.
[Search for the second hidden base.]
—Why?
[According to the updated entries in my database... it's a research center. What you want should be there. (¬‿¬)]
—Do you know where it is?
[No, master. That data isn't available to me. (●__●)]
—Thanks for getting my hopes up for nothing...
[Sorry, master. (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)]
—Don't worry, it's not your fault... it's this damn era's fault!!
[Master, calm down. It's not good for you to be upset.]
—You don't understand... you don't eat. So shut up.
[Master... you should try to relax and breathe.]
—And what? Wait to starve to death? No thanks.
[Master... where are you going?]
—To see Artia. Maybe she'll recognize something.
[Do you even know where to go?]
—Right... Quincy, guide the way.
[Stupid master. (눈‸눈)]
⏱️ 30 seconds later – Near Bepnis Strait – Albur Mountain (Hidden Base)
The metal gates opened, and I could only hear the sound of my own footsteps.I stopped near a transparent screen on the wall and asked:
—Artia... Artia, are you there?
[Grand Commander, welcome.]
—Hey Artia, why was it partially flooded outside?
[Ah, Grand Commander... that was just the aftermath of the extreme tide that occurred nights ago when the natural satellites appeared in the sky.]
—Oh, I see... is it like a plain? That's why it floods?
[Correct, Grand Commander...]
—Can you adjust how you refer to me?
[Yes, sir.]
—Will that affect my rank or authority?
[No, sir. As you wish.]
—Address me as Grand Marshal... or just Marshal. (I love that title because of that movie.)
[Understood. Adjusting.]
—Perfect. Now... what kind of supplies do you have available?
[Ammunition, weapons, ships, vehicles, drones, etc.]
—Ships? What kind?
[Under the directive to observe the new humanity...]
—Yeah?
[I created aerial ships based on my own technology.]
—Flying ships...? Like floating boats?
[No... those designs are archaic. I built models they couldn't develop in a thousand years.]
—Can I see them?
[Of course, Marshal.]
She led me to a warehouse. Packed. LITERALLY PACKED with ships.
One of them... left me speechless.
—What's the name of that beauty?
[That's a Destroyer-class. Model: Phantom.]
It was the most incredible, badass ship I had ever seen.I've played tons of fantasy and sci-fi games, but this ship had it all.
That insane, visible firepower... the dark color... that warlike aura of fun. I could only express my awe:
—It's gorgeous... no... beautiful. Can you tell me about its weaponry?
[Certainly, Marshal... Phantom is an 80-meter ship]
[It can be defined as a mini military complex designed for devastation operations.]
[It has multiple dual 200-caliber turrets for air-to-ground strikes and defense.]
[It also features an intercontinental ballistic missile system.]
[And as its name implies, it has a cloaking system that makes it invisible and deadly.]
[Additionally, it can deploy combat drones I named "Specters."]
[It also functions as a bomber.]
[In conclusion, Marshal... Phantom is a ship designed for stealth, devastation, and pure terror.]
—Artia... just by looking at it, I can tell you've created a war masterpiece.
[Thank you, Marshal... Phantom is the finest ship I've developed.]
—When did you build it?
[This is the latest model. Third generation.]
—And the previous ones?
[They were dismantled 50 years ago. Inadequate for total war.]
—So all your designs are for large-scale warfare...
[The "total invasion" plan will only be executed when the Grand Marshal commands it.]
—Well, that won't happen for now. Let's not go there.
[Understood. What would you like to see next, Marshal?]
—Food. Anything edible—drinks, meals...
[I'm sorry, Marshal. I have no consumable supplies.]
Sigh —What else do you have?
[I have reserved minerals in a depot in Sector A-41, lower level... near the vault containing command center tech.]
—Wait, Artia, you lost me... How big is this base?
[Please specify, Marshal... do you mean the diameter of exterior facilities, interior ones, or the total size?]
—All of it.
[If we talk about the surrounding area... the base spans 9 square kilometers forming the mountain range.]
—In other words, the entire mountain is the base.
[Correct... but if we consider total area—tunnels, passages, development zones, mining sectors and additional installations: the base extends about 53 kilometers.]
—Wait, wait, wait... Whoa WHAT!? Are you kidding me? If that's just the facilities, how deep does the excavation go?
[Currently, down to the inner mantle.]
—WHAT!?
[How else do you think I created so many military resources?]
—But 53 km is too small for that... (especially if this world's scale is... I don't know, but planetary distances make it seem unrealistic.)
[Mining tunnels don't count as part of the base's extension according to my programming.]
—Have all the mantle's minerals been extracted?
[No... there's too much. According to projections, it would take about 8 million years to deplete the mantle.]
—...Artia. How many robot soldiers do you have available?
[Before I met the Marshal, I had around 9 billion across all models: Indominus, Tank-700, RISA G-35, Explorer G-21.]
—WHAT!?
[But I lost about a million to the Marshal when he arrived at the base.]
—Ships?
[4.95 million available.]
—Wait... Wait, Artia... since when have you been stockpiling resources?
[Since the order issued 4,980 years ago.]
...
It was chilling.I had no money left.But I came up with... a brilliant idea.
As they say: "Do everything you can. Leave the rest to fate."
—Artia, from now on focus all extraction efforts on platinum, gold, and silver.
[Order received. Extracting from crust and outer mantle.]
—Also, clear the plain near the mountain.
[What do you intend to do, Marshal?]
—We're going to build a city.
[Are you sure, Marshal?]
—Yes. Just make sure the area is cleared.
[Understood. I'll handle the construction... but first I'll extract the water and remove the trees.]
—No... the city will be designed between the two of us.
[Acknowledged... and after I clear the area?]
—I'll give you further instructions.
[In that case, Marshal, please accept this.]
What Artia gave me looked like a kind of watch or bracelet... but super high-tech.
[It's an intercom... with it, I'll keep you updated on the extraction and the construction progress... And you can issue me orders through it.]
—It's perfect, Artia. (I really needed a way to contact her.)
[Thank you for the compliments, Marshal.]
—Just make sure of one thing.
[What is it, Marshal?]
—Don't let anyone see or get near the construction. Build it silently.
[Understood... I'll use stealth tech and lethal force if necessary.]
—Great. I'm off.
I was just about to leave. I was satisfied.Until it hit me, and I thought:
"Oh shit... I totally forgot there are NPCs that aren't supposed to die."
—Quincy, can you transfer the important NPC data to Artia?
[I can, Master... but why? You haven't even reviewed who they are.]
—Shut up and do it, Quincy... You can tell me when I need to know.
[Fine. I'll do everything as you command (—.—)][Data transferred.]
—Alright, Artia. All those people Quincy just sent you? You're not allowed to kill them under any circumstances. Got it?
[I'll follow your orders, Marshal.]
And so, I left the base.
Maybe I've lost a lot of important things.
But I haven't changed my plans.
If I find the second base...
My dream of eating like a king, sleeping like a decent human being...and bringing modern tech into this world... isn't that far away.
—Quincy, mark the route back to Atris.
[Right away, Master.]
—Before becoming a dragon...you have to suffer like an ant.