I Am Not a Robot. Beep-bop

Chapter 33: The Failed Party 3

Near the outer walls of Ark, numerous monsters and dungeons were scattered.

While Gates and dungeons that appeared within Ark were eradicated by Overseers and Executors who risked their lives, those outside were left untouched.

This was because each dungeon served as a resource, and the meat and byproducts of monsters became daily provisions and gifts for Ark’s citizens.

With Ark’s large population, resource consumption was enormous, and some wealthy households or strata intentionally maintained dungeons under the supervision of Overseers to extract resources.

Dungeons were another ecosystem separate from reality, a parallel dimension where, in theory, infinite resources and byproducts could be harvested.

The task chosen by Alice and Jinhyung was the [Black Liquid Retrieval].

Black liquid was a substance contaminated by mana, leaking from Ark’s foundation and flowing into dungeons where it mutated.

By now, it should be obvious—the black liquid was a mix of various properties resembling LPG, diesel, waste oil, or petroleum.

Naturally, having the properties of oil, the black liquid could also be used as a resource in Ark.

Despite being a low-grade energy source that was difficult to process and cost-inefficient, it was still considered essential in energy-scarce strata.

Thus, the Barrier Agency and the Energy Management Corporation even established contracts to guarantee priority ownership of black liquid.

However, there was a problem.

When combined with the flesh of monsters born outside the normal ecosystem, black liquid granted such viscosity that knives couldn’t penetrate their skin.

This applied not only to physical-bodied monsters but also to entities like banshees, tooth fairies, and even liches.

If these beings were eroded by black liquid, their summoned skeletons and magic would also inherit its properties.

In short, monsters essentially received free enhancements, becoming named mobs.

Additionally, prolonged exposure to the smell of black liquid caused headaches and skin diseases.

Even a small spark could ignite a massive explosion, turning the area into a hellscape.

For hunters tasked with retrieving black liquid, it was maddening.

If this were an Awakener Academy somewhere, one might start with the weakest goblins or slimes. However, the dungeons outside Ark’s walls were off-limits to Overseers, leaving formidable monsters that couldn’t break through the walls but could crush humans with ease.

While certain species had collective habitats, one never knew what might jump out from where.

And it wasn’t just weak goblins near the outer walls.

If an earthworm smeared in black liquid suddenly emerged from the ground, it would spell calamity.

“Here we are.”

Jinhyung and Alice arrived at the dungeon’s entrance, surrounded by barbed wire and automated turrets.

Considering Ark’s technological prowess and magic-engineering, barriers could have been set up at dungeon entrances to prevent monsters from escaping.

However, creating barriers or entrances also consumed resources. And resources inevitably cost money.

In a resource-sensitive place like Ark, maintaining barriers 24/7 at dungeon entrances would quickly drain finances.

Thus, Executors were stationed around dungeons to kill monsters crawling out, and for dungeons of relatively low difficulty, automated turrets or mines often replaced stationed Executors.

“Since we’re already outside the outer wall, taking on a high-level task might be better for efficiency. But for someone who just registered as a hunter today, this level should be just right.”

Perhaps wanting to play the role of a senior or look impressive, Jinhyung kept talking as they entered the dungeon.

The objective was simple.

Handle approaching monsters, collect black liquid from the dungeon’s depths in the provided storage container, and deliver it to the Exploration Agency.

The container, leased from the Agency, used spatial compression technology, allowing it to store over ten barrels of liquid despite its small suitcase-like size.

Of course, the number of monsters in a dungeon contaminated by black liquid, along with the potential appearance of mutated or aberrant creatures drenched in black liquid, meant the task was far from easy.

“Oh, right! Come to think of it, Alice, what’s your weapon? You don’t seem to have a sword or other equipment—are you a mage or a psychic, perhaps?”

A weapon?

Why was he asking that now?

Instead of answering, Alice tilted her head slightly.

-Click!

“…!?”

Alice’s spinal parts opened, and mechanical tendrils emerged.

Her suit had a zipper at the waist, which the mechanical tendrils pushed through.

They transformed into claw-like fingers and blade-like spikes.

“Wow, whoa… What is this… octopus arms? Mechanical tendrils?”

Heh, impressive, isn’t it?

No boy his age could resist such a sight.

Jinhyung stared at Alice’s tendrils with wide eyes, almost drooling with awe.

“That’s… incredible. Can you move all of them as you wish?! How strong are they? Where’d you get them? How much do they cost? Are you willing to sell them to me…?”

As Jinhyung’s eyes gleamed with envy and greed, he approached Alice, causing her to take a small step back.

Not because she was scared, but because it felt disgusting.

“Ah, sorry…”

Realizing he had almost shown an incredibly rude and disgraceful side to Alice—though he already had—Jinhyung cleared his throat and adjusted his posture.

There was no need to ruin his first impression as a party member.

“Anyway, this should be enough, right?”

“Yeah, yeah! Still, I’ll handle the combat, so Alice, please focus on support from the rear.”

Still wanting to act cool, Jinhyung readily volunteered to lead.

Alice had no objections.

It saved her energy, and if someone else offered to handle the hassle, why refuse?

“Alright, let’s go!”

Shouting loudly right at the entrance—didn’t that basically announce to the monsters inside that humans had arrived?

Well, since he was leading, any risks would fall on him.

It wasn’t Alice’s problem.

-Drip… drip…

The interior of the dungeon was an environment difficult to describe with a single word.

It resembled a cave, yet a soft glow filled the space, making it easy to see.

At the same time, it looked like an old, rusted sewer and also a vast swamp.

No, it would be more accurate to say it was a mix of all these environments.

At the very least, stepping into that rotting water didn’t seem like a good idea.

“It’s quiet.”

“……..”

Shouldn’t one stay quiet inside a dungeon?

Alice decided to remain silent, knowing that even if she spoke, Jinhyung wouldn’t likely close his mouth.

However, Jinhyung mistook Alice’s silence for fear, resolving himself to show the dependable demeanor of a protagonist.

Actually, Jinhyung didn’t care whether Alice was scared or merely looking down on him.

Wasn’t it common in stories?

The heroine, who initially disregarded the protagonist, would face danger from a mutated monster, and the protagonist would save her like a prince, sparking a proper connection.

The heroine didn’t need a grand reason to start liking the protagonist.

She could be impressed by something as trivial as his voice, thinking, “What a voice…” and fall for him. Love often arrives suddenly, and as they party together, their bond would inevitably grow.

From that perspective, Jinhyung felt that simply forming a party with Alice meant he had already achieved half his goal.

This, of course, was entirely separate from Alice’s true feelings.

-Screech!

“Shh…! Something’s there.”

I know.

And the one who needs to stay quiet is probably you.

“Kyah, ahh…”

“Krr, urgh…”

“It’s a Spawn.”

A Spawn was the remnant of a demon.

Demons descended into reality through the sacrifice of offerings.

Spawns were the followers summoned alongside them or the remains of the sacrificed.

Once a demon manifested in reality, it had no need for Spawns, abandoning them to fend for themselves.

The leftover Spawns went feral and crept into dungeons.

Unlike the dangerous, unique demons with their varied powers, Spawns were grotesque creatures resembling humans with melted faces, driven only by their instinctual hunger for flesh.

Sometimes, a Spawn that had devoured multiple monsters grew larger, but they were typically around one meter in size.

“They usually form groups, but there’s only one here.”

Jinhyung stepped in front of Alice like a knight, while Alice crossed her arms, deciding to observe how he fought.

Jinhyung moved Alice behind him and appeared to prepare for something.

Despite his poor mana and even weaker physique, he volunteered to lead and claimed to be a Returnee.

There had to be something he relied on.

As the Spawn charged toward them, Jinhyung gestured in the air as if reciting an incantation.

“Demon Sword Summon!”

-Boom!

At Jinhyung’s words, a massive greatsword fell from above, impaling the Spawn’s head and dissolving it into a gooey mess.

It ended so easily it felt almost anticlimactic.

After confirming the Spawn was dead, Jinhyung cautiously approached and tapped the sword.

The greatsword disappeared as if it had never existed.

“…That’s it?”

“Yeah, see? It’s no big deal, right?”

To Alice’s empty muttering, Jinhyung thought she was impressed by his skill, but her reaction was slightly different.

Alice wasn’t disappointed—it was more a sense of utter disbelief.

‘This guy… don’t tell me he can’t even lift his own sword…?’

She hadn’t expected anything extraordinary.

She didn’t anticipate dazzling swordsmanship or reality-bending magic like a hero.

But this…

‘Unbelievable. That’s not psychokinesis or telekinesis—it’s just inventory management!’

Alice finally understood why Jinhyung had such a smug look on his face.

Now she understood how Jinhyung could be a hunter despite lacking both muscle and mana.

The sword itself emitted a menacing aura and seemed to crush the Spawn with sheer weight. But instead of wielding or controlling the sword, Jinhyung merely summoned it above the Spawn and let gravity do the rest.

The truth was, Jinhyung didn’t even have the strength to lift the greatsword. He simply relied on summoning and storing it repeatedly via inventory management to hunt.

“Hah…”

“How was that? Impressive, right? I call it the Invisible Sword. The Barrier Agency didn’t even acknowledge it—maybe they’re jealous.”

“……….”

This mint-chocolate bastard.

Don’t you dare act cocky with something like that.

Before I kill you.

Feeling deep disappointment, Alice inwardly cursed.