Chapter 33: Civilization
[Edited By: Arthur300000 and ArchmageNaoki]
"Oooh~" A voice slipped out of my mouth. Right now I'm looking at a cool three-meter tall robot. It looked strong and menacing. Well, technically it's power armor but seeing it up close it gave me a feeling of a war robot.
"It's cool, right? Sadly it doesn't work." said Peter, a lanky man of Marcus team who was giving me a tour of his team's workshop.
"So this robot build type is from that fake blueprint? It doesn't look fake to me." I remembered Peter mentioned something about Marcus deceived by the dwarf people.
"It's legit on the outside, the mechanisms inside that are wrong.” He shook his head. ”That's how Marcus got tricked. Even with his terrible money sense, he isn't an idiot." Peter whispered to me.
"You can't put all the blame on me. The powdered monster core engine seemed to make sense to me at the time. You know, to reduce the size of large monster core engines why not pulverized it and feed them to the smaller engine." Marcus interjected as he was working on my accessories nearby.
"Yeah, and its sheer power tore the engine to pieces. You could have replaced it with a medium core engine." Peter rebuke.
"Even so, a medium core engine won't have enough burst output." Marcus said exasperatedly.
"But we could compensate that with energy from the driver!" Peter argued.
"Look, even if it were possible for a grand magus to drive this thing, it would be more efficient for him to spam his spells rather than use his energy on just moving this thing slowly. And please don't even mention adding the second seats because as I said before, there's no more space."
"Aww, come on man, It doesn't have to be combat worthy. Just seeing it move I'm satisfied. Don't you have romance in your heart?" Peter complained.
"Just ignore him Kuro, this guy is a robot maniac." Marcus told me. However I somewhat sympathize with Peter, I also want to see it move even if it isn’t combat worthy. Sadly, it's a long way to go before that could happen.
I arrived at Marcus's workshop half an hour early to ask him to make a fluffy pillow case for my PC. He said it would be finished at the same time as my combat device belt and attachments, the belt being under operation by some kind of machine on Marcus's workbench.
With the extra money I gave him, he bought a new kind of material that caused the current problem. Marcus explained that the entire belt is going to be made from a single strand of enchanted carbon nanofiber. The material is strong enough to hang an adult dragon with it, provided that the dragon in question allows me to do it. However, to form it into the shape of my belt he couldn't cut and sew it together like a normal fabric because the auto repair enchantment would kick in and cause the whole thing to turn into a black ball of tangled fabric. Thus, he needs to knit it together from the start which takes a lot of time.
The workshop is a dome-shaped warehouse. A big suit of power armor was standing grandiosely at the center of it while machines and mountains of materials lay disorderly all over the place. If I dig here and there, I might find some treasure lying around. However, the power armor is the coolest thing in here. I took a picture with it before rolling around on a sofa in the workshop's living area.
"Here you are." Rebecca, the flat chested short hair girl in Marcus' team served me a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits. She called it "Earl Grey" which I have no idea what it is, but I could smell the citrus scent. The tea set looked high class, contrasting starkly with the surroundings. I don't mind much because the caramel biscuits are yummy.
I chatted with her for a short while before she excused herself to go back to programming her new drone. I looked around for someone else to play with, but Marcus and Peter are still working on my orders. There is another member inside the workshop. A freckled boy who is currently working on something. I wanted to greet him, but he looked really busy. So I leave him alone and began to explore around the place by myself.
I gathered several comic books and magazines lying around the living area. Some were under the seats, A few of them contained half-naked macho men in military uniforms which I quickly put away. Though, most of the books must belong to Peter because they're about robots. There is a comedic story about the triangular love between two robots and a girl. A tear-jerking drama story about a robot who grew tentacles. There is also a book called “Fantastic robots and where to find them”... It’s a different world, so anything is fine, I think. And isn't this robot porn!? After I had finished reading the last book, I looked at Peter in a new light, and my horizon broadened. A human's fetish knows no bound. I nodded sagely.
"*Ahem*, your order is complete." Peter informed me. I believe he was blushing because his face looked redder than normal.
I followed Peter to the testing area while avoiding stepping on pieces of unknown junk and material. I saw a cockroach-sized duck run quickly from pile to pile of items, but no one seemed to care about it when I pointed it out. Peter just said they'd call a pest exterminator soon, so I let it go. However, that mini duck was interesting. It reminds me again that I’m living in a different world. I will search about it on the internet later. I don't ask them outright because I might be laughed at. It seems like a common sense thing to know about this pest. While I think about those mini ducks, we reached the testing area. The testing area is a clear space with stripe marking tape on the floor.
"Here you are." Marcus handed me my new belt. It looked just like an ordinary belt made of black cloth, but then Marcus challenged me to rip it, I tried and failed, and I even used my teeth. Of course, I could cut it with a very sharp blade or magic, but it could repair itself given a bit of time and magical energy. Moreover, it fit me perfectly. There are also several sheaths and holsters for my combat devices to attach wherever I want. I tried to attach multiple of my combat devices on it, and I found no problems. They were really well made, easy and comfortable to use. However, my PC pillow case is a bit too cute for my liking. It looked like a big ball of white fur monster and came with a long tail and rabbit ears. It was also wearing a red bow tie and white tuxedo. I should have been more specific than "A white one." Though after the auto repair enchantment was done, it was too late to change anything.
The pillow case also has two straps to use as a backpack, so I could wear it outside and use my PC at the same time. The nerve link thing made it more comfortable than typing on my phone while walking. However, it made me look like a girl with a cute fluffy doll on her back. Well, it doesn't matter to me much anymore. My sense of shame has already desensitized from this and that event since coming to this world. I blushed when I remembered about what happened when I was just starting to adapt as a girl. Anyway, I must not forget to put it away when I'm in combat because the PC isn't that durable. If it broke, my entire porn stash would disappear into thin air. Maybe I should put it in online servers, like Dragon Drive or something.
Anyways, before I left, I asked Marcus for the price of this white alien, but he said it’s free because he used the leftover material from his last project. I looked at Peter for confirmation, and he just shrugged in return. I wonder what his last project is...
As I exit the workshop, I wear my Int€l off$ide white alien on my back. The case feels soft and warm. To try it out I sent a message to my hardworking, still studying siblings, that I’m going to the department store.
The workshop is at the far end of the school grounds, so I have to walk past a lot of buildings to get to the bus stop. As I walk, I look up for bus table from here to the department store. It seems there is a direct bus from here to the shopping mall that arrives 10 minutes from now. That means I need to hurry.
A sudden violent gust blew past me, and I saw quite a few teenagers girls holding their skirt when that happened. Luckily I wore the cloth for combat today, so I don't have to worry about having a fluttering skirt. Well, it's still a skirt, but at least it's not fluttering. Hmm, having mentioned it let's add some pants to my shopping list, and comfortable boots would be nice. I add them in my organizer program, below the massage chair, bras, and panties.
Along the way, I open a porno and move its window to a corner of my vision. It was quite a bit disappointing when I realized I couldn’t feel what the pornstar feel in the movies. It's nerve link technology for Pete's sake! But all it can show me is just vision and sound, not even smell. I looked this up on the internet and found that it’s not the technology limitation, but the law prohibits it. There was a device that gave people the full virtual experience in the past, but there were several cases of people using it and forgot about their real body and died. Those devices even have safeguards to disengage when the user’s body approach the limit. However, no matter how safe it is, some genius or idiot always find a way to override it and a tragedy happens.
There was even the case where people got murdered by a hacker who hacked into the victim's devices. So, right now, the nerve link devices are only capable to interface with user vision and hearing sense. And even that there is some limitation, for example, all image the device display are hardwired to have a virtual window around it so the user would know which one is generated by the device and which one is real.
With the monotonous sound of snow crunching and women moaning, I arrived at the bus station. It's quite cold and windy this afternoon, even with my high cold resistance my face still began to feel numb. I already tried the personal climate control bracelet I bought yesterday, but I didn't like it. It felt too stuffy, like wearing a stocking over my body. Right now is a bit cold, but not too cold. I only need to wait at the almost empty bus stop for a little while before the bus comes. The warm air inside the bus warmed me up a bit. I felt my face flush a little.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"It's cold, right, darling?" A female bus driver said to me as I used my ID card to pay the fee. It took me quite a while to understand what it was she said. Maybe it was because of her way of talking, calling everyone "darling" and her revealing bus driver attire which I believe isn't the standard one made me stop in my tracks. I still successfully made a polite nod and moved further inside the bus.
The bus wasn't crowded, but there were no empty seats either. It was quite a surprise for me because normally there would be some seats available, and it's not even rush hour. Two holding rails are hanging from the ceiling, but I couldn't reach it. It was so frustrating that even when I was tiptoeing, I could barely touch it with my fingertips. I could just jump and grab it, but if I did that, I would just swing uncontrollably when the bus moves. The seats don't have any handholds on them. Would it be acceptable to grab someone else's seat?
"Take my seat, kid." While I considering to pull my skirt up and bend my leg like a surfer, a grumpy looking man sat three rows away gave me his seat. With a mixed feeling, I walked past the rows of seats filled with several people, a woman who is holding her newborn baby, a few elderly people, and a pregnant woman, to reach him. I thanked the man and took the seat.
"What a cute doll, where did you buy it?" A good-natured woman next to me pointed at the PC that I was hugging. She sat on the window seat so I couldn't help looking at her to see the scenery outside the moving bus.
"My friend made it for me." I told her the truth. Well, I tried to buy it, but he wouldn't accept my money.
"That's too bad. My daughter would absolutely love to have one. I hope they have something like this at the mall's Founding Days Grand Sale." Oh, the grand sale was today? That explains why a lot of people are on the bus.
The woman beside me is very talkative. I had to close the porn window because it was too distracting. While we talked, the bus picked up more and more people along the way. It seems no one was going to exit the bus before we arrived at the shopping mall so right now the bus was packed to the brim with shoppers. I thanked the man again for his seat with my thought. The woman next to me also keeps complimenting my white alien backpack again and again, so I gave her Marcus's contact address. I didn't ask his permission first, but I hope he doesn't mind because I'm giving him a customer, right?
"Do you have any plans for the holiday yet?" Ms. Chatter Box beside me moves on to the next topic.
"I'm going to visit my grandparents in Hvarnes." I gave her the town name because I also want to know what kind of place it is. I already tried to search it on the internet, but there's nothing much besides it's a little town near the southeast magical forest.
"Hmm, Hvarnes, Hvarness..." She tilted her head cutely. The town might be too insignificant that not many people know about it.
"It's down there, a bit further south from Arase, a very nice and quiet place." Mr. Grumpy-but-perhaps-friendly-gentlemen interjected.
"Oh thanks, dear. I remember the Arase. The last time I visited that place we didn't have enough money and couldn't buy the statue I wanted." She puffed her cheek and glared at the man. Is the guy her husband?
"Hmm? What is it?" She noticed my reaction.
"Oh, can't I use the money on the ID card on the main continent?" I switched my train of thought quickly.
"It’s technically the same currency, Human Empire Crowns, but you will need to exchange it for physical coins to purchase anything in the less developed regions. There's also a money exchange shop in the department store that gives a better rate than at the sky ship port." We continue the talk about other things before the bus arrived at the mall. I got off the bus, along with almost everyone else. The cold air outside made me shiver a bit. Somehow, staying in a warm place for an extended period of time made the cold air outside feel colder than before. The temperature display on top of the department store indicated that it's -14 Celsius now.
It was only a short walk with the crowd over the bare asphalt of the parking lot to get to the mall entrance. I saw the couple I talked to on the bus holding each other's hands sweetly. The wife keeps talking while the husband is very taciturn. Ok, maybe not so sweetly.
The entrance of the department store is as vivid as I remembered. A man in a white security uniform opened the door for people to enter, a large hall at the entrance filled with food stalls and restaurants. And that unique scent of Jororo Burger, which wasn't discounted anymore, filled the air.
"I hope the massage chair has a discount." I mumble, walking through the sea of people that slowed down to watch a dance parade pass by.
Along the way, I spotted the money exchange shop. According to what the talkative woman on the bus said maybe I should exchange my money here, so I looked at the sign.
Currency
We buy
We sell
Human Empire Crowns
0.98
1.02
Dwarf State Chronos Silver
2.43
2.52
Elf Republic Condensed Ether
3.93
4.04
Beastmen Kingdom Gems
0.50
0.55
Union Dimes:100
1.37
1.50
Android Federation Ex-cube
7.55
8.30
"Can I exchange for Human Empire Crowns here?" I asked the only person working there behind the counter, a sharp looking man.
"How much will you be exchanging, young lady?" He smiled warmly and asked back. It felt strange to be called "young lady" but I understand the circumstances, so let's not mind that.
"Uhm, one thousand Crowns, and some small change." I don't know how much is necessary but about 100 panties for four days should be more than enough. He nodded politely then began to count shiny silver and gold coins with his practiced white-gloved hands. It was like seeing a magician at work. His finger speed was as fast as the sword of the Junior champion that I sparred with this morning. The crystal clear clicking sound from the coins was pleasing to my ears.
"Here you are, young lady." He deducted the money from my ID card and politely handed the coins in a pouch that looked to be made of blue silk with a golden ribbon tie. I don't need to recount its content because I already did when he was working. It's 50 small silver coins, 15 big silver coins, and eight little gold coins. I guess from the number of coins I had that ten small silver equals one big silver, and ten big silver coin equals one gold coin.
"Also, you'll need to spend all the bronze coins there before coming back. We don't accept them here." He told me as I stored the coins pouch in my hair clip. I thanked him and left the shop.
As I walked past the array of stores, I sent a message to my family with the shop's exchange rate and asked them if they want me to exchange money for them or not. The massage chair shop is in the furniture area, so it's quite deep inside the department store. I cringed as I walked past the popular areas such as clothes and supermarkets, they were filled with a violent storm of shoppers competing for their bargains. Maybe I might come back later today for some clothes. I'm not that desperate, I told myself. Monsters are easier to handle than a horde of angry shoppers.
"Yup, this is the one." I located the massage chair that looks like the one in the Outsider Management Institute. It was around 8,000 credits last time I checked. A bit more expensive than the cheapest model but I know this one wouldn't disappoint me. Moreover, right now with the sale, it was only 3,999 credits. Luckily not a lot of people here are interested in the massage chairs so It would be easy to get a shopkeeper's attention.
"Can I buy the massage chair over there?" I approach a young shopkeeper.
"Certainly, right this way, miss." Oh, I thought I would found it difficult to buy something expensive due to my current appearance. The staff here, however, seems to be trained better than I thought.
"Do you want us to deliver this to your home miss?" Ms. shopkeeper asked me.
"No that's fine, can I store it in my storage device now?" I don't want to wait for them to deliver it, those kids might violate my privacy again.
"Certainly, miss." She bowed.
"Thanks." I happily store my shiny new massage chair and skipped out of the shop.
The message from my dad came shortly after that. He asked me to exchange another 1,020 credits, he already having transferred the money to my ID card. I gladly do it because I want to see that coin magician working again.
Before I go home, I looked at the clothes department again, but the shopper storm shows no sign of ending. Going through that chaotic space needs more brave points than what I currently have. Physically I would be fine. However, I don't know what I'd do if someone accused me of stealing their bargain, and if I'm going to be polite, it's better that I don't join the fray in the first place. Before I left though I saw one shop in the corner that is empty, lacking any raging shoppers. As I focus on it, I saw a big sign said that this corner is not participating in the grand sales event. I see. It might be more expensive than other products, but at least I could browse them in peace.
As I walked into the empty women's clothes store, I notice the unique fruity scent. I don't know why people tend to decorate women's clothes shop with this kind of scent, but now I could identify this kind of establishment, even with my eyes closed. I was quickly greeted by the shop staff and followed everywhere. It's kind of uncomfortable to have someone watch my back when I was enjoying the profound art of lingeries. Moreover, the screaming and yelling from the nearby area made my art viewing experience less than enjoyable.
However, I found something interesting. It's the shelf with the sign "Push-up bra" on it. Of course, I don't need them, but I found it strange that there is no silicone padding or anything on it. Why is that? Will it magically make the boobs bigger when I wear it? Will they make my head bigger if I wear them on my head? I asked Ms. Tagged-along.
"No, miss. The push-up bra is for shaping the saggy breast to make it look rounder while the padded bra is what you just said, to make your chest looked fuller." Oh, so I misunderstood it. Dear god of the bra, please forgive this ignorant child.
In the end, I couldn't find any panties my size. She suggests to me the kid's department, but there is also a storm there. I couldn't help but buy one masterpiece to add to my collection. Let's just disregard the fact that I couldn't wear it. It's the art anyway. I lied to the shop keeper that it's for my mom. On the other hand, I bought sexy bras with abandon. Last time I had to be careful with my budget, but right now it's a different matter. I also bought a nice and a comfortable pair of boots. Ms. shopkeeper said it's made from a magical fabric that keeps my feet warm and dry in the winter.
This shop is quite expensive, just a pair of panties, eight bras, and a pair of boots cost me 682 credits, though she wrapped the panties in the luxurious gift box for free. I couldn't stop her because I already said it's for my mom. Sadly there are no pants in this shop. I looked at the crowd of people in the nearby shop and sighed.