Chapter 9: Chapter 8
-Quest Accomplished
Oh, right I forgot about this. I wonder what wonderful things I'll receive from completing this random quest.
Emergency Quest: Survive The Rathounds Encounter Without Leaving The Vicinity
Status: Complete
Reward: Feat: Identification, Exp: 0
Seriously? How cruel is this thing? It didn't even give me a single exp from all of that.
-Sigh
Let's try checking the Feat that I received at least.
-Identification: Allows the user to receive a description of anything that the user try to analyze. (The detail of the description given is based on the user's Mechanics, Electronics, Chemistry, Biology, and Tailoring)
Huh... that's neat. But for a single Feat as a reward for that hardship. It's a very cruel reward, if I say so myself...
Somewhat pissed about the total rip off that I received, I was reminded about the points system of the Character Building Tool.
Oh right! I killed a bunch of rats just now. I wonder what my level is and how many points I received. It has to be a lot considering the number of rats, I killed.
Opening the Character Building Tool, I tried checking the total points that I received and my current level.
Base
Name: Lawrence Craft
Level: 3
Status:
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Agility: 6
Constitution: 5
Perception: 7
Intelligence: 5
Will: 7
Available Points: 3
Exp: 22/200
Jesus... I only received 3 points from all of that... what a fucking rip off. I started with 5 points and I thought that I'll received another 5 every time I level up. But only receiving 1 for every level up. Who designed this shitty level up system? Cause I have a lot of complains right now.
-Sigh
Maybe checking the others might bloom with good results.
Skills
Combat
Guns: 0 +
Bows: 0 +
Melee: 0 +
Throwing: 0 +
Defense
Dodge: 0 +
Evasion: 0 +
Subterfuge
Stealth: 0 +
Hacking: 0 +
Lockpicking: 0 +
Pickpocketing: 0 +
Traps: 0 +
Science
Mechanics: 0 +
Electronics: 0 +
Chemistry: 0 +
Biology: 0 +
Tailoring: 0 +
Psionics
Enhancement: 0 +
Elemental: 0 +
Thought Control: 0 +
####### #######: Locked
Social
Persuasion: 0 +
Intimidation: 0 +
Mercantile: 0 +
Available Points: 230
Huh... not bad. I started with 140 and now it's 230. I'm now glad that there's at least one thing that has a good result from all of this. I wonder how many points I received in Feats?
Feats
-Psionic Empathy
-Total Concentration
-Aimed Shot
-Identification
Available Points: 1
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Are you kidding me? Only 1 point!!! 1 bloody point!!! Dark Souls is more generous when it comes to leveling than this thing... I survived from almost getting killed and my reward are these...
-Sigh
"At least I'm not dead"
"... A-ahhhh.. Are you okay master?"
"Don't mind me, I'm just tired. Let's get out of this place, the smell is killing me"
"R-right!"
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Leaving the abandoned facility, we return our way to where the camps were. While walking back, I again was in deep thought about the Character Building Tool. What I have just experienced earlier was a very close call to death and if weren't for our luck, I would never again see the light of the day. Quite Ironic to say considering that I'm currently underground. But with that said, if don't make up my mind about the Character Building Tool now. My luck would probably won't save me in my next encounter.
What the hell do I do...
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"... Ummmmm... I-I know that you're probably tired of hearing it, but I do genuinely want to thank you for saving me master. Without you, I most likely would have died back there"
"You're making it sound like I personally went out of my way to save you... Don't take it personally, I most likely was just trying to save myself from getting killed"
"Ummm.. I-I don't think what master is true"
What is this guy saying.
"I genuinely think that master is a good person who tried to save me. C-cause if master was truly trying to save himself... t-then you probably would have just closed the door of the building when I was shocked at the Rathounds being near to us. You could have left me alone outside and act as bait for the Rathounds, but you went out of your way to call me and let me inside"
"Jeez... you acting all grateful and stuff just because of that?"
"Y-yes. Because nobody I ever know, treated me nicely or even tried saving me when I'm in trouble. They all just laugh at me whenever I'm in danger. Yet Master who's a stranger, saved me. S-so I-I'm grateful..."
Hearing what Melvin is saying, I can't help but be embarrassed. Melvin's situation is somewhat similar to mine back in my normal world, so I can really relate to his struggles. But hearing a heartfelt gratification toward to me, is a foreign experience. So, I don't really don't really know what the proper way to react.
"C-could y-you please stop with t-that, saving people is only normal. Plus, I wouldn't even have known about the abandoned building without you. So, in reality we're just even"
"But still... master did save me from the Rathounds. So, I promise that I'll repay you one day and learn your ways"
"Sure, but could you please stop calling me master"
"But still thou..."
His ignoring me.
"I'm quite impressed at the plan that master have come up with. I would have never thought of that idea in my whole life even if I were given unlimited time"
"No need to be so impressed. That plan of mine was pretty simple that most people would have probably thought about it"
"Eh? I myself wouldn't have thought that, heck I would even argue that most people I know wouldn't be able to come up with that idea"
"Then I suggest you try thinking next time, then"
"Hehehehehe... that's true. But still... how do you know that your plan will work"
"What do you mean?"
"Well you see Master, a Rathound is a pretty crafty creature. Despite its looks, its smarter than you might think. That's why I'm somewhat impressed that your plan actually work"
"Well it could go either way in that time. So, we're just lucky that fate was in our side"
"That's true, but you don't look like the type of person that believes in such things. So I highly doubt you were relying on fate to save us when you came up with that plan"
"Well... you're partially right about that"
"So, I was right. Then could you please explain to me why said plan of yours worked"
"Why are you persistent about it?"
"Didn't I explain it to you earlier, master? I plan on learning your ways. As such having knowledge about your first outstanding achievement that I've personally seen might help me in my quest"
"Oh? you're on about that?"
"Please!!!"
Giving me the googly eyes. I can't help but be bewildered at what I'm seeing. Acting cute doesn't suit him at all, and being desperate about it doesn't help his case.
-Sigh
"Fine... but don't act very shocked when my explanation turns out to be not good"
"Any explanation by master is a good one by my standards"
"Sure... Anyway, I do agree about what you said earlier about the rats being bright. Trapping us in the facility was a very ingenious way of killing. But with that said they're still animals at the core"
"What do you mean by that master?"
"Basically, no matter their intellect is; they're still not as bright as humans. From the way they enter the facility through the vents, I pretty much assumed that the rats have the ability to climb"
"Rathounds do have the ability to climb. But what of it?"
"Didn't you noticed back in the camp, when they surrounded us. none of them tried climbing the fence once they figured out that the door is open. They could have saved time by having the other rats climb the fence, but what they did instead is raced their way to the door making it crammed and harder to enter"
"I see... But I still don't really get what you're trying to say"
"What I'm saying is that despite their craftiness, the rats will pursuit any given or findable solutions of dealing their problems when presented. They essentially become simple minded and ignore any possibility of dealing with their trouble
"I see, I can't believe that you manage to observe such thing even in that time. I'm quite impressed by your observation skills master. So how does that relate to the plan from earlier?"
"Well... knowing their behavior, all I did exploit it. The gap from the table wasn't just a way for me to see them and fire bullets, it has another purpose than that"
"Oh? And what's that?"
"It also acts as a false entrance"
"False entrance?"
"Basically, to prevent them from doing anything smart. I deliberately baited the rats with the table gap acting as some sort of entrance from where we were. What the rats didn't know is that the entrance is just another trap I set for them"
"How so?"
"Body size"
"Eh?"
"We may be higher than them when it comes to height and weight more but it comes to body size, they're actually larger than us. Meaning that even if they tried harder, in most cases they would just be stuck trying to enter using the table gap"
"I see now! The table is the false entrance that you are talking about"
"Exactly"
"I see- I see... but how come the Rathounds haven't noticed it. From my experience I know for a fact that they're a lot smarter than that"
"That's a good question, I think you're finally to think more better"
"Hehehehe, thank you Master"
-Sigh
"Well as for that case, that's where we come in. Firing bullets at them wasn't just a way to eliminate them, it also has the added benefit of preventing the rats from thinking logically"
"Eh?"
"Their instinct of survival and needing to eliminate their threat in that storm of bullets prevented them from figuring out that the entrance was a trap. If they were a lot smarter the logical decision would be to destroy the barricades considering their numbers. But seeing how we're still alive, I'm pretty sure you already know the answer of that"
"... I see..."
"See how simple my plan was. Anyone could figure it o-"
"Master, you're a genius!'
"Eh?"
"Finally understanding that plan of yours. I can see now why it's ingenious"
"I already said so myself. Anyone could have figure it out"
"No... I think master is just being humble. Nobody could have come up with that idea in such circumstances"
"I don't think your rig-"
"Well anyway... it seems that I could really learn a lot from you, Master"
His ignoring me again.
"From now on. I will follow any order that Master command me"
"Now that you mentioned it... I was wondering... why are you following me?"
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.
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"Ahhhhh... aren't I your student? As master's student I must follow where ever you are, to learn your ways"
"I never once said that"
"U-ummm... P-please!! Don't leave me Master!! We're both scavengers, aren't we?"
Before I can even react, Melvin suddenly started hugging me while tears fall from his eyes.
"Let go of me, will you. What I've said about me being a scavenger was a lie. I'm actually a resident of the Nadezhda South Station settlement"
"T-then!!! All I have to do is live there!!"
"I'm pretty sure that you already know how hard it is, to do that"
"B-but –sob but..."
"Jeez... don't you have a place to live or something?"
"Ummm.. Actually, I don't have a place that I can call home. I'm just a scavenger so I pretty much live everywhere"
"That's not my problem. Plus, you mentioned that you know some people. So, you at least have a place of operation that you visit to"
"Well yeah... I actually was born in the junkyards. That's the place where I mostly sell my findings and the place where I spend most my time to"
"I didn't need to know that"
"B-but m-master!!!"
"Listen Melvin, I myself also have a life that I have to live to. So, I don't have any time babysitting you"
"B-but how will I learn from you now.."
"Aren't you an adult, think for yourself. Plus if you really want to follow me, then how about you try applying for resident in the settlement"
"But-but..."
-Sigh
"Melvin... I know that you're somewhat grateful for what I did and you really want to repay me. But sticking to me isn't going to make you learn anything. Life is the one that gives people obstacles and from that obstacles we learn and grow"
"..."
"And as for the repayment part. I don't really need it but my job probably involves a lot of traveling. So, if I ever in need of help and we encounter each other. You always try and help me"
"O-okay..."
"Don't look so down will you. Having more confidence helps you face more things in life"
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.
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"..."
"... You said that you're from the Junkyards, right?"
"Yes..."
"Is there anyway of contacting you if I ever visit the place"
Hearing my words, Melvin's face now looks livelier than before.
"U-ummm... you can try and talk to the people in there they will most likely point you to the places that I visit. I'm somewhat very popular there... hahahaha"
I see...
"Anyway... I'll try looking for you if I ever visit the place. So for now, try to not get killed will you"
"Y-yes master. I will and do my best to help you if you ever visit the place"
"Please stop calling me master"
"Yes, Master"
-Sigh
And with that me and Melvin part ways for now.
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Arriving back at the camp, I'm somewhat relieved to see that place is still intact. It seems that the Rathounds from earlier didn't ransack the place, which is a relieved. Completing my task of observing the place, I then went my way back to the settlement. Having already wasted my bullets from earlier, I was even more cautious in my travel. Double looking and hiding whenever I feel a threat loomed.
Reaching my destination, I was relieved to see that I manage arrived at the settlement without trouble. Seeing a panel with a button on it, I tried pressing the thing to see if I can get inside. While waiting for an answer the 2 cameras in the place suddenly stopped and adjusted their angle to my position.
"It seems that you've finally came back, please wait for a moment for the door to open"
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Seeing the door slowly opened. I was greeted by the same guard from before.
"Please check the log room before leaving the floor"
"U-umm, thank you"
Heeding the guard's words, I came to the room where the man with the computer was sitting.
"My, look awful... and smell bad as well. I thought you were just trying to observe the camp"
"Well... I got into a little rat incident. That's all I can say"
"I see... well for now, please for a second as I again write your log"
"Thanks"
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"And done... you can now freely do your own things for now, so best of wishes"
"Thank you again"
"Your welcome"
And with that over, I again went my usual way to the facility elevator. Thinking hard about the rat incident, I still have a few questions in mind. But not wanting to experience another similar incident. I think I finally have build in mind, that might suit my need.
All I need is just a few clarifications.
-End of Chapter 8
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone