Chapter 190: Chapter 112: Who Understands the Joy of Being a Boss Like This?
’Tsk, I have no idea where to find that Lilith. I almost forgot she has a Mind Reading Skill. I need to get out of here, fast...’
After getting the white-haired girl settled, Wei’en returned to his workshop.
He knew he had no choice but to build the sniper rifle.
Without a weapon that could instantly pierce the defenses of an Abyssal Creature, he would always be forced to flee, just as he had been with the Skeleton Strangler.
And if he ran into the Clown on one of its rampages, he wouldn’t even know what hit him.
’I’d better hurry up and build this sniper rifle. I can’t rest easy otherwise.’
Wei’en started the drill press again, even though he was in poor shape, both mentally and physically.
But when his life was on the line, a little pain and exhaustion were nothing.
Then, following the blueprints for the Rune Sniper Rifle, he carefully used the drill press to craft one small, intricate part after another.
The rifle’s frame was dozens of times smaller than the torso of a Mechanical Puppet, which made crafting the parts significantly more difficult.
This was especially true for the second step, integrating the Sarr metal, where Wei’en had to spend several times longer polishing the channel grooves to a smooth, delicate finish.
The entire preparation process lasted a full four hours before he finally finished making the parts, and he still had to engrave the runes.
’God, this is fucking exhausting...’
Wei’en looked at the nearly 70 parts on the workbench. Exhausted, he pulled out a bottle of Enlightenment Potion and downed it, then leaned back in his chair to rest for a moment until some of his mental energy returned.
He checked the parts one more time to confirm there were no issues, then took out a carving knife and began etching the patterns of the Rune Array into the Sarr metal channels.
Engrave, engrave... assemble!
[You have successfully created a Mechanical Sniper Rifle. Evaluation: Immense power! Huge, huge, HUGE! An incredible invention! Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Toughness Level +1, Spirit Level +1.]
’Incredible?’
Wei’en noted the system’s evaluation, thinking in surprise, ’This is the first time the system has ever expressed something like admiration.’
’Mm, a good start.’
He looked at the silver-white, metallic sniper rifle before him, picked it up, and went through the motions of aiming and firing.
"Mmm, feels just right!"
From its weight to the feel of it in his hands as he aimed, everything about the sniper rifle felt completely natural.
He even felt that if the Skeleton Strangler were to appear again, he would have the confidence to take it on!
Wei’en caressed the rifle’s frame. He’d added some decorative gears to make it look less conspicuous.
But looking at it now, with its long, slender frame, it would be impossible for the sniper rifle *not* to attract attention...
Wei’en summoned the Mechanical Box and placed the sniper rifle inside. Once the Box bestowed its death characteristic upon the weapon, it would be ready to use.
Before that, however, he had to make bullets for it.
Wei’en glanced at the red moon outside the window, shook his head, and got back to work. ’No time to rest yet.’
Compared to making the sniper rifle, making the bullets was much easier.
With the help of the drill press, it only took a minute to make a single bullet, requiring almost no technical skill.
After making sixty bullets, an idea struck Wei’en, and he remembered Zero and Miss Zombie in the bedroom across the hall.
’Now’s the time I can put you to use...’
After he demonstrated the process a few times, Zero was already operating the drill press with surprising competence. With Miss Zombie’s help, they managed to produce a bullet in just over two minutes.
Zero held up the bullet, eager for praise. "Like this?"
Wei’en took the bullet and inspected it, then nodded. "That’s right. You did great, Zero."
"Mm-hm."
"Keep going, until all these materials are..."
Seeing that he was low on metal and gunpowder, Wei’en opened a blue and white box and bought another 20 gold pounds’ worth of materials. That should be enough for several hundred rounds.
"Finish all of this, and then you can rest."
Zero pounded on his chest, which rang out with a CLANG. "No problem."
Shawa nodded as well. "L-leave it to me."
"Alright, I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to get some rest."
Wei’en watched them for a little longer. Once he was sure they could handle it, he went straight to the loft to rest.
’Maybe I should make a few more Mechanical Puppets in the future. Or summon some Undead Creatures... It’s just so damn convenient for slacking off,’ he thought.
With that thought, he drifted into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, in the workshop on the second floor, four heads floated near the ceiling. They chanted as they performed their Meditation, their eyes wide as they watched the machine and the zombie toiling away.
"Is this right?"
"You’re doing great," Shawa said, forcing a smile onto her rigid face. "Very impressive."
As if greatly encouraged, Zero grabbed a piece of material. His hands became a blur as he worked the drill press. "I... I can go even faster."
A minute and a half per bullet, then one minute per bullet... until he was making one every thirty seconds.
"Amazing. Your father will be so happy when he finds out."
"He will, right? Heheh..."
Mechanical Life + Undead Creatures = Free Labor!
Who can possibly understand the joy of being a boss like this?
Huh?
Does anyone?!
