10. Gather Points

With my saved 1,139 points, I first purchased the Monster Encyclopedia.

Reading it would allow me to immediately identify the names and characteristics of mystical creatures, so I thought it’d be good to buy it in advance while I had spare points.

After all, knowing your enemy makes it easier to deal with them.

“Reset.”

The Monster Encyclopedia cost 250 points, and resetting consumed 100 points, leaving me with 789 points now. With this amount, I should be able to buy at least two or three more items.

[Available Purchases]

[1. Archangel’s Baton]

[Details: Allows slight manipulation of the trajectory of mana projectiles.]

[Price: 350P]

[2. Emergency Escape Technique Manual]

[Details: Upon reading, you can learn the ‘Demon Digestion Method,’ which allows entering a temporary death-like state.]

[Price: 200P]

“Oh…”

Finally, an item that wasn’t a book appeared. The Archangel’s Baton seemed to allow slight manipulation of the trajectory of magic spells like fireballs that normally shoot straight.

‘It’s a bit pricey though.’

Still, I had to get this. An item that could make straight-shooting magic curve or follow a parabolic trajectory was invaluable.

It would be especially useful for hitting enemies hiding behind cover. Mana manipulation was highly valued in the original work, and this item made it possible with just a gesture-definitely a god-tier item.

‘The Demon Digestion Method is a good martial art for hiding one’s presence. I should get it.’

The Demon Digestion Method, aka playing dead.

Anyone who’s read martial arts novels would recognize it immediately.

Like the forward roll (Neryeotagon), the Demon Digestion Method is a cheat-like martial art that saves the protagonist’s life at least once when they’re in dire straits.

“Buy it now.”

Now, if I encounter a troublesome or dangerous enemy, I can just hold my breath and use the Demon Digestion Method. Since my presence would almost completely disappear, the chances of being detected would drop significantly.

“Only 239 points left already…?”

If I reset now, I’d be left with only 139 points. Then, after buying just one more item, my points would be gone. I might not even be able to buy anything.

‘Today’s Wednesday… Still a long way until the automatic reset.’

Since the system resets for free every Monday, there’s no need to spend points resetting around Saturday or Sunday. Just wait, and it’ll reset on its own.

But on days like today, when the automatic reset is still far off, it’s better to reset manually and buy new items.

‘Reset!’

[Available Purchases]

[1. Inventory Expansion]

[Details: Increases the size of your inventory.]

[Price: 1,000P]

[2. Engraving – Night Vision]

[Details: Purchasing this engraves the Night Vision mark onto your pupils.]

[Price: 500P]

“Holy shit…”

Both inventory expansion and night vision were incredibly tempting items. But their prices were exorbitant.

Even the most expensive books didn’t exceed 400 points, but inventory expansion cost a whopping 1,000 points, and the engraving was 500 points.

‘But I really need these…’

My current inventory size is already quite spacious. But human greed knows no bounds-I want even more space.

Night vision is the same. It’d be incredibly useful in dark places. And who knows when these items will appear again?

‘Since it’ll reset on Monday no matter what… I need to gather 1,500 points by then…’

First, I should check my quests. Completing quests gives a decent amount of points.

[Quest: Purchase 10 or more items from the general store (7/10)]

[Reward: 500P, significant increase in credit score]

[Quest: Survive for one week (1/7)]

[Reward: 700P, credit score increase]

[Quest: Complete 3 quests within 3 days (0/3)]

[Reward: 300P, random weapon]

[Warning: Failure will decrease credit score]

This is fucked.

Earning points through quests within the time limit is hopeless.

For one, you can only accept three quests at a time. To complete the first quest, I’d need to gather points, which defeats the purpose. By the time I complete the second quest, the general store would have already reset, making it meaningless.

And the third quest requires completing other quests, so if I can’t finish the first two, it’s impossible.

This must be the heavens telling me to earn points through hunting.

‘A non-Awakened human gives 10 points, a goblin 15, an Awakened 30, and a minotaur 500…’

“So I just need to kill three minotaurs…? Holy shit.”

That’s insane difficulty. In close combat, there’s a 1,200% chance I’d get smashed to death by a club. There’s a reason minotaurs are considered the worst monsters.

Even in the original novel, they were one of the most terrifying creatures in the early to mid-game, alongside ogres.

They’re highly intelligent, reckless, and enjoy hunting humans-massive, nearly three-meter-tall monsters.

Unless I can exploit a situation like last time, a full-on fight with a minotaur is hopeless.

‘Exploiting a situation…’

If I could use the Machung to paralyze a minotaur with poison, I could easily slaughter it. But then I’d have to deal with the Machung, which is another nightmare.

The Machung are monsters that keep appearing annoyingly even in the later parts of this world. Dealing with them one by one is already a pain, but they come in swarms-really annoying.

“Sigh. Fuck. I don’t know.”

For now, I should read the books I bought.

·

·

·

“What the hell is this even saying…?”

The Monster Encyclopedia was fairly entertaining to read, like a lore book. But the Demon Digestion Method manual was incomprehensible.

It just vaguely said something about holding your breath and closing your eyes until you become one with nature-basically, until you die.

[Learned: Mystical Creature Identification.]

[Learned: Demon Digestion Method.]

At least I learned new skills. That’s good enough.

Now’s a good time to check my status window.

[Name: Elena]

[Race: Human]

[Level: 12]

[Strength: 14]

[Stamina: 7]

[Perception: 5]

[Willpower: 6]

[Mana: 650]

[Skills]

-Support: Status Check, Mystical Creature Identification

-Basic Magic: Mana Sensitivity, Mana Accumulation, Mana Emission

-Curses: Paper Shikigami Creation

-Alchemy: Low-Grade Healing Potion Crafting, Clay Golem Creation

-Pyromancy: Fireball, Flame Emission

-Martial Arts: Demon Digestion Method

[Traits]

-Defend Your Virtue

-Time Alone

-Lone Wanderer

-Reclusive Loner

My abilities have become quite impressive.

‘Come to think of it, I should make healing potions too…’

I took out the ears and gallbladders of the goblins and hobgoblins I killed earlier from my inventory.

‘Two goblin gallbladders and eight ears. One hobgoblin gallbladder and six ears.’

I decided to keep the goblin hearts for now instead of selling them. They might come in handy later.

“Wash the gallbladders thoroughly in water…”

Making one low-grade healing potion required two ears and one gallbladder. After rinsing the ingredients lightly, I tossed them into a pot, added about a cup of water, and stirred with a spoon while boiling for three minutes.

It consumed about 5 mana.

“Oh…”

The goblin ears and gallbladders had melted into a sticky red liquid. Pouring this into a container would create a potion that could heal wounds when applied or ingested.

“This is… kinda…”

Making each bottle separately was a pain. I really wish someone else could do this for me…

‘After rolling around outside like a dumbass, now I have to do all this grunt work too.’

I need a full-time housewife to handle all the chores. Or a maid. I’m dying to automate this.

“A PET bottle should work.”

The only containers I had were PET bottles. Might as well dump three doses into one bottle.

“Phew…”

I made three bottles of low-grade healing potion. The hobgoblin ears and gallbladder could make the same thing. I don’t know if they’d be more effective, but I kept them separate in a Bacchus bottle just in case mixing them would cause issues.

‘I used up all my shikigami yesterday too.’

I decided to make more in advance when I had time. The shikigami worked well today-great for blinding enemies or drawing their attention.

“About 40 should do.”

Each paper shikigami cost 2 mana, so I spent 80 mana making them. Since I can recover mana through meditation, I made plenty.

“Nice.”

That’s everything. Made healing potions, restocked shikigami, equipped the Archangel’s Baton on my belt, and wore the Multi Jump anklet on my left ankle.

I also put on sturdy work gloves, industrial goggles, and a dust mask.

‘Now just slap on a hard hat.’

Perfect. Now I’ve equipped all the gear I scavenged from the hardware store.

Now I finally look like a proper beginner apocalypse survivor. I feel like I can kill anyone I come across without hesitation.

Wait, was I always like this?

‘The sun’s up. Time to explore.’

The sun had risen about an hour ago. But I spent a lot of time reading, so time flew by. Well, now’s the perfect time to go out.

Some mysterious giant bird even cried out somewhere, announcing sunrise-definitely the right time to move.

‘Let’s go.’

For weapons, I grabbed a steel pipe. In an apocalypse, mahogany bats and steel pipes are the epitome of romance.

“Uh…”

“Ah.”

The moment I opened the front door and stepped outside, I ran into the landlord’s son sneaking down from the rooftop room.

Awkward silence.

He was dressed like a beginner survivor too, holding a hammer in one hand. Probably planning to go out and scavenge for food or something.

“Uh, hey… You know me, right?”

He awkwardly greeted me like we were acquaintances.

I stared at him silently for a moment.

Then I pulled out a kitchen knife from thin air.

“W-wait, hold on…!!!”

“Hup!!”

I don’t talk to corpses.

And from the moment he saw me, he was already as good as dead.

Time to unlock the rooftop room.

******

“Huff… huff…”

I dragged the dead landlord’s son’s corpse up to the rooftop. It was faster than dragging it downstairs.

“Wow, green waterproof paint. Haven’t seen that in ages.”

The rooftop with the rooftop room was cluttered with junk and the dead son’s laundry. Pretty messy.

“First, heave-ho.”

I dragged the corpse to the railing and casually tossed it over.

-THUD!!!

The corpse hit the ground, limbs twisted grotesquely. The smell of blood and decay would attract monsters to feast on it soon. Another small contribution to the local monster ecosystem.

“Phew.”

At least I got 15 points first thing in the morning. Can’t complain.

After killing the landlord’s son, I now have 154 points.

‘Still not enough…’

Still far from 1,500 points-almost ten times short. I need to hunt more aggressively.

‘Looks like a lot of lives will be lost today.’

I glanced at the overcast sky, then headed downstairs.

Today’s goals: gather points and find a slave-no, a companion. A fragile woman with low self-esteem who’d be easy to gaslight.

I’m itching to earn points quickly and get a maid.