Chapter 35: Getting a Car
When Akira left Shril's base, his mood was strange… as if he had completely forgotten what had happened just hours ago.
Even Alice noticed the change:
"Are you happy because a girl hugged you?"
"Stop teasing me. I'm just excited about the car."
"I didn't know you liked cars."
"Didn't you say before that I should have one to move to better hunting areas?"
"…Did I say that?"
"Yes. If I get a car, it means I can travel farther from the city, and our search area will expand. Maybe we'll even find an unexplored dungeon."
"I get it now… you're not excited about the car, but about the money you'll make using it."
He arrived at Lilia's store after a while. She was talking to a hunter, and even though she noticed him, she didn't look back. He sat quietly on a chair, waiting for her to finish.
Under Alice's guidance, he activated his communication device and began searching the network.
The network was like a small virtual city… full of everything: guilds, merchants, news, requests, offers, almost everything.
One title caught his attention:
"Selling a Rank 4 Skill for 500 Billion in the Global Auction."
"Five hundred billion…?!" Akira's eyes widened.
"The price depends on the type of skill. Some don't reach this number, and some far exceed it."
"It must be an extraordinary skill."
"You can check its description… just click the title."
He clicked on the news.
"Its name is 'Lightning Charge,' a rare skill that can only be learned by those with the Lightning attribute… it surrounds the body with lightning energy, making attacks carry its effect."
"So it's not suitable for mages."
"Correct, it's better for close combat."
"Still… is it worth half a trillion?!"
"If you like it, I can teach it to you. Just bring the Lightning element."
Akira froze for a moment. His eyes widened, and his body trembled:
"…Are you joking?"
"Not at all. Get the element, and I'll show you what it feels like to wield power worth half a trillion."
He took a deep breath and turned:
"By the way, how much is the Shadow Manipulation skill worth?"
"Since it's a Rank 2 skill and considered a Forbidden Era skill, it can't be sold publicly. But my estimate… about 150 million."
"Only 150? I expected something bigger… a billion, maybe something shocking."
Alice didn't answer but thought about it quietly.
This skill had been sold in the past for more than 2 billion… before the ban.
But what's the point in telling him now?
At that moment, Lilia finished talking to the customer and then turned to him with a smile:
"Welcome, your order has arrived."
She came from behind the counter and gestured for him to follow:
"Come… your car is in the back parking lot."
"Is it safe for you to leave the store?"
"It's fine; the inside is for display only."
"And the safe?"
"Locked. If anyone tries to force it open, I'll notice immediately."
"But…"
"If you're worried, consider this an investment in a good customer."
Akira followed her silently until they reached the lot. She pointed toward a corner:
"Here it is."
The car was massive, rectangular, full of solid edges, with a pale sandy color. It stood there like a silent iron block, conveying power and functionality more than beauty.
He approached slowly, his eyes filled with curiosity:
"…Is this really mine?"
"Yes."
"I installed an autonomous driving system for you; get in and I'll explain."
He got into the driver's seat while she sat beside him. She pointed to a long tablet next to her, surrounded by buttons:
"This is it. I preset it; it only needs coordinates. I uploaded the city map into it. You can choose the area, and the car will move automatically."
She pointed to the other parts:
"This is the accelerator, and this is the brake. This is the gear lever, and this is for changing speeds, and the emergency brake is here. The screen in front of you shows the car's data."
He began driving, following her instructions. Despite his hesitation, the system intervened several times and corrected his mistakes automatically.
"Not as difficult as I expected…"
When he returned to the lot, he stopped the car.
"And that completes your order. I hope you're satisfied with the service."
"…Thank you."
"Remember, inside the city, use autonomous or semi-autonomous driving only. Don't try manual driving unless you're in the wastelands."
Lilia got out of the car after stopping in a side lot and waved before disappearing into the alleys.
Akira drove his car back to the inn. He wasn't completely confident yet, but the feeling of control began to seep in with every kilometer he covered.
The next morning, he set off across the wastelands to train. Nothing surrounded him but dust and gravel, and no law dictated what he could do here. A perfect opportunity to try everything without worry.
"Not as difficult as I thought…"
Alice's voice rose in his ears:
"Cars have evolved a lot from the past. They're easy to drive now, even without formal training."
"Still… I need to learn how to drive under pressure. What if I'm attacked while driving? Or need to attack while moving?"
"Then driving becomes a combat skill… not just transportation."
He spent a full week moving around the city and its outskirts. He trained in empty squares, on heights, among ruins, and on deserted roads. He got used to the car, to its responses, engine sounds, and even the subtle vibrations.
But today, he did not leave.