Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Chapter 142 – Savior (3)

Because the productivity of the daily tasks was highly effective, he directed the maximum number of residents to undertake them.

Consequently, hundreds of bonuses flowed in every day, each prize differing based on the specific parameters of the mission.

A vast majority of these tasks required slaying beasts, meaning the standard compensation consisted of minor quantities of experience points.

Owing to the massive volume of finished assignments, massive windfalls sometimes happened.

Yet, even during those rare events, the outcome was merely a substantial influx of experience points.

But at this moment—actual skill points?

‘If that is the case, I certainly need to spend them.’

He felt intrigued by the recently unlocked utility named “Inventory” and wanted to understand its precise capabilities.

‘The uncertainty is whether this storage function will activate upon reaching Level 5.’

At present, the Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse technique remained at Level 4.

If fortune failed him, raising the skill’s level might still not trigger the activation of the inventory.

‘Even so, enhancing the warehouse’s level is by no means a loss.’

Beyond its utility in supporting his subordinates, this dimensional space served as his most formidable physical asset.

Utilizing his warehouse-powered “Meteor” strike, he was capable of wiping out the majority of beasts.

‘As the load limit of the warehouse increases, the destructive power of Meteor grows accordingly.’

Therefore, dedicating his points to this ability was entirely advantageous.

[Do you wish to upgrade the Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse skill?]

“Indeed.”

Hummmm!

[The Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse skill has advanced to Lv. 5.]

[The necessary criteria have been fulfilled.]

[‘Inventory’ has been made available.]

The instant the utility became active, comprehensive data regarding the Inventory naturally filled his consciousness.

‘Every resident is permitted to carry a maximum of 20kg.’

Unsurprisingly, since it originated from the warehouse technique, the system calculated its limits solely by weight.

The initial base allowance was set at 10kg, yet due to the influence of the Absolute Dweller’s Crown, this threshold was multiplied to 20kg.

‘Just like the warehouse and the trade market, objects placed within will not spoil.’

He had previously observed that certain traits of the Marketplace shared strong commonalities with the Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse.

‘This means specific thresholds must be met to trigger these sub-features.’

Simultaneously, a puzzling thought crossed his mind.

‘Would it not have made more sense for the inventory to precede the marketplace in unlocking?’

In truth, the Marketplace appeared far more practical than this new storage system.

The trade hub was capped at 20 slots, yet it imposed no weight limitations whatsoever.

This permitted dealings involving used automobiles and other massive cargo.

Conversely, the personal storage space was capped at a meager 20kg per individual—hardly sufficient for anything beyond basic rations and vital gear.

Yet…

‘…What is this?’

The live information detailing the mechanics of the Inventory completely shattered his expectations.

[The Absolute Dweller holds ultimate sovereignty over every Inventory.]

[The Absolute Dweller possesses the power to wield total dominance over all inventory spaces.]

Total dominance.

The implications of this clause were astounding.

He possessed the ability to inspect the contents stored by any resident, inserting or withdrawing goods whenever he pleased.

He was even empowered to revoke a person’s permission to access their personal storage space altogether.

Essentially—

‘I am capable of utilizing every single personal storage pocket as an extension of my own vault.’

At Level 5, the upper limit of his warehouse stood at 3,000kg.

Only three metric tons.

Yet with this newly activated feature, his total potential storage capacity surged to roughly 50 million kg—equivalent to 50,000 tons.

This figure represented more than three thousand times the limit of his Absolute Dweller’s Warehouse.

‘…Remarkable, though there is a catch.’

Naturally, this expanded storage carried its own set of rules.

As an illustration, no individual object exceeding 20kg in weight could be deposited.

Because every resident’s storage acted as an isolated dimension, their maximum weights could not be merged together.

One could distribute half a million objects weighing 20kg apiece, but putting away a single piece of machinery weighing several tons was out of the question.

‘Furthermore, there is another constraint.’

Goods placed in a resident’s personal storage were excluded from the preservation of kinetic energy inherent to his vault.

Consequently, any weapon or object stashed away would be stripped of its active trajectory.

For example, if he attempted to hide Ha Dong-geon’s spear or a flying projectile inside this space, it would be useless as a direct weapon.

‘Even with these caveats, it remains incredibly advantageous for the users.’

Naturally, he did not plan to extend this privilege to the entire population.

He intended to grant access to this utility only to his trusted subordinates and a select few people he had been observing closely.

To start, he adjusted the storage limits of his closest followers to the maximum 20kg and activated his Ring of Communication.

[I have an essential update to share with all of you.]

Seo Ye-jin instantly experimented with the new storage utility upon receiving the transmission from Kim Jae-hyun.

“Place in storage!”

With her spoken instruction, a ten-kilogram block of cheese dissolved into nothingness, vanishing entirely from sight.

‘It actually functioned!’

Directly after—

Plop!

The Queen Ratman, who had been salivating over the massive dairy wheel only a second prior, fell to the ground on her knees.

She gazed blankly at the empty spot where her food had just been, her face a picture of pure disbelief.

Seo Ye-jin let out a soft chuckle at her reaction.

“Merry, where do you suppose the food vanished to?”

The Queen Ratman, Merry, crawled closer to Seo Ye-jin with damp, pleading eyes, on the verge of weeping.

Seo Ye-jin gently wiped away the drool dripping from the edges of Merry’s mouth.

“Hold on.”

As soon as Seo Ye-jin shut her eyes, Merry’s expression shifted to utter hopelessness.

At that very moment, Seo Ye-jin linked her awareness to a rodent positioned three kilometers in the distance.

Squeak—

‘Retrieve cheese.’

She attempted to manifest a piece of the saved food at that remote location.

Then—

A low hum drifted through the air.

A tiny slice of the cheese materialised.

‘The process succeeded.’

Having previously only observed Kim Jae-hyun demonstrate his extraordinary gifts, wielding a comparable magic herself was a profound sensation.

‘I appreciate this, oppa.’

Until this point, the rodents under her dominion had to fended for themselves to survive.

As a consequence, a great number of them perished during their hunts or succumbed to hunger when provisions grew scarce.

Moving forward, however, such tragedies would be drastically minimized.

A deep, frustrated sound vibrated inside Mary’s throat.

“Understood.”

Seo Ye-jin looked down at the ground before Mary and gave the directive.

“Retrieve cheese.”

On this occasion, she recalled the entirety of the dairy products from her storage space simultaneously.

“Go ahead and eat.”

The instant Seo Ye-jin granted her approval, Mary began feeding on the food with ravenous intensity.

Watching the scene in silence, Seo Ye-jin scanned her surroundings.

The surrounding Ratmen were salivating as they watched their matriarch gorge herself.

Driven by curiosity, she targeted one of the creatures and gave the command.

“Place in storage.”

Predictably, the living Ratman remained where it stood, unaffected by the skill.

‘I see, living creatures cannot be stored.’

After buying some extra blocks of cheese from the trading platform, she gestured to the remaining beasts.

“All of you may join in the meal.”

Their ranks had thinned out considerably compared to their initial numbers.

A significant portion of them had lost their lives during the mission to purge the radiation slime.

Furthermore, owing to their monstrous appearance, they were prohibited from entering the sanctuary, forcing them to reside beyond its protective borders.

Given the great distance involved, opportunities for Seo Ye-jin to travel out here and supply them with food in person were quite uncommon.

On top of that, because she had strictly prohibited them from preying on people, their only means of survival was tracking down other beasts.

Yet, combating wild beasts was a hazardous endeavor, and the feeblest members of their pack often fell.

Thankfully, due to the effects of Seo Ye-jin’s ‘Evolution’ ability, their ranks grew stronger as they battled, raising their combat potential.

“No one under my care will suffer from starvation again.”

Leaving them with those final words, Seo Ye-jin mounted the back of the waiting Kellican.

“Take us back.”

Grasping her intent, the Kellican unfurled its massive wings.

Seo Ye-jin possessed the ability to converse, though in a basic manner, with the Kellicans.

This was made possible by her designation as a ‘Beast Tamer,’ enabling her to mount and guide them without needing Kim Jae-hyun to intervene.

Once she returned to her quarters, Seo Ye-jin rested on her bed and closed her eyes, transferring her consciousness into the minds of her city rats to survey a certain structure.

‘Which spot should I inspect this evening?’

Ever since the operation to recover Seoul commenced, a massive influx of survivors had arrived.

Seo Ye-jin took pleasure in monitoring their astonishment. Witnessing individuals who had endured endless hardships gaze in awe at this sanctuary filled her with profound gratification.

Observing refugees weep tears of relief or steadily adjust to a peaceful routine had turned into her private pastime.

While drifting between the perspectives of various rodents, she stumbled upon a fascinating gathering.

It was a weathered chapel situated in the vicinity of Seomyeon.

“…We once adhered to misguided doctrines and held onto a fraudulent belief. However, in our darkest hour, the Savior appeared and rescued us with his own hands.”

“Amen.”

“This sacred territory, guarded by our Savior, remains free from the threat of beasts. Thanks to this grace, we can carry out our lives without fear. We must remain eternally thankful.”

“Amen.”

A modest assembly had congregated to offer their devotion.

These individuals had elevated Kim Jae-hyun to the status of a deity.

‘Their congregation has expanded once again.’

Such gatherings were becoming a common sight across the territory.

They had begun multiplying rapidly following the destruction of the JHS cult, which caused its displaced members to migrate here.

While there were always individuals who treated Kim Jae-hyun with religious reverence, this structured worship and formal gathering only gained traction after that event.

‘Perhaps it stems from their previous background as cult followers?’

Even so, she found herself unable to entirely blame them for their devotion.

‘In truth, oppa is undeniably extraordinary.’

Having spent countless hours by Kim Jae-hyun’s side, she was well aware of his ordinary, human traits. Yet, if one evaluated him solely by his supernatural feats, he was an entity who utterly shattered the boundaries of logic.

‘Perhaps… “extraordinary” does not do him justice.’

She pondered this for a moment, attempting to search for a term that could adequately convey the scale of his influence, but none felt appropriate.

“Only those who are favored are permitted to tread upon this sanctified soil. We are the chosen congregation of the Savior!”

The speaker at the altar declared with immense fervor, yet his speech lacked any trace of dishonesty.

He made no demands of his audience, nor did he urge them to perform specific tasks.

He was merely exalting Kim Jae-hyun out of genuine, unadulterated reverence.

“Let us pray! Our Savior delivered us from ruin, supplied us with sustenance, and granted us shelter. We must show our gratitude for our nourishment and the secure walls that protect us from the beasts. Amen.”

Just then—

An intense vibration echoed through the room.

A magnificent radiance erupted from the speaker at the altar.

“Oooooh!”

“Look at that light…!”

“Ah!”

Seo Ye-jin watched the phenomenon, her head tilted in bewilderment.

‘Was that not the identical glow that manifests when a new subordinate is bonded?’

The speaker appeared to be a typical devotee, which made the unfolding scene all the more mysterious.

‘Does he possess some hidden quality?’