ATP 16

Chapter 16

When Bianca praised them, the skeletons seemed overjoyed. One of them bowed politely at the waist.

I had thought this before, but the skeleton with the pretty skull had surprisingly elegant manners.
Maybe it had been someone of high status when it was alive.

After telling them to return to their work, the skeletons headed back to their tasks.

Watering the fields, drying herbs, building fences, decorating graves…

It was the peaceful, quiet scenery of a skeleton village.

“I was a little worried at first whether the child’s plan would work,” Bianca said. “But it really turned into an amazing farm.”

“That’s thanks to the skeletons working so hard. They’ve already harvested two kinds of herbs.”

Under the shade of the pergola were baskets filled with freshly harvested herbs.

Namibiensis and Little Gem, whose leaves were plump like fruit, were key ingredients for healing potions.

“I should take these to Father and ask him to check the quality.”

I stuffed the entire baskets of herbs into the satchel bag I was carrying.

Bianca’s eyes widened when the basket—far larger than the bag—was suddenly sucked inside.

“How did you do that?”

“Oh, this? It’s an item I got after catching the Ardimang last time. It’s called the Treasure Bag of a Tomb Raider.”

<Item> ‘Treasure Bag of a Tomb Raider’

Inventory. A subspace of about 15 pyeong can be used as storage.

Note: Living humans and animals cannot be stored.

After I explained, Bianca immediately showed her practical thinking.

“If it goes into a subspace, then you don’t feel the weight either, right?”

“Right.”

“Perfect. Then we can use it to move the skeletons’ tombstones.”

At the word tombstone, the skeletons suddenly lifted their heads.

The empty eye sockets somehow looked sparkling with anticipation.

Since I had everyone’s attention, I made an announcement.

“That’s right, you guys. I’m going to order tombstones, so tell me the shape you want, your names, birth dates, death dates, and what kind of inscription—…Why did everyone suddenly get so solemn?”

The usual cheerful clattering sound had stopped, which felt suspicious.

Bianca, who was very good at understanding them, explained.

“Maybe they don’t remember.”

“Ah… that makes sense.”

Their brains had probably rotted away long ago…
Hmm. That sounded like a really harsh insult somehow.

The skeletons nodded their heads vigorously.

“Alright, alright, your necks will fall off at this rate. Then just choose the shape and inscription. I’ll give you names myself. Is that okay?”

They started dancing around with their shovels as if cheering.

Apparently that was a yes.

After settling the tombstone matter, Bianca brought up another topic.

“Looking at how things are progressing, it’s about time we organize a merchant guild to distribute the potions. Leave that to me.”

“Huh? You’re not going to take bids from existing merchant guilds?”

“After seeing the guilds that trade with the Count’s family, I think it’s better if I handle it myself.”

Come to think of it, my father was always getting called out because something had gone wrong with the herb merchants.
That sounded reasonable.

“And while we’re at it, it might be good to build an information network too.”

As expected of a capable noble lady. I was touched.

“I’m really glad you’re helping me, Bia. Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing.”

Bianca explained her plan to start by supplying potions to shops within the Gilette Territory as a trial.

Listening to her, it seemed like all I had to do was make the potions.

While discussing the supply of ingredients, the topic drifted to the advantages of the dungeon farm. Bianca spoke with renewed admiration.

“Building a farm inside a dungeon is amazing. Time flows faster here, so you can harvest quickly. And the soil seems incredibly fertile.”

“Right? The soil quality is amazing. Why does the entire ground look so rich?”

“Well… it used to be a graveyard?”

“Oh… right. The bodies probably became fertilizer.”

“……”

“……”

We were, at that very moment, drinking tea brewed from herbs grown here.

Things got a little awkward.

“Well, whatever. Every farm has a few bodies buried in it, child.”

“That’s right, Bia. Besides, the last body buried in this dungeon must’ve been over a hundred years ago. By now it’s basically just soil.”

After mutually rationalizing things, we decided to change the subject.

“The dungeon’s fast time flow also has a downside. I have to check on it often.”

The skeletons handled the manual labor, but the technical work still needed my hands.

Even if I visited once a day, that was only once every three days in dungeon time, which was a bit inconvenient.

The skeletons were learning diligently, but they were still inexperienced. I didn’t fully trust leaving the farm to them.

If only there had been a skeleton who was a farmer before dying.

I sighed in disappointment.

At that moment, a system message I had never seen before appeared.

<System> Maintenance will now begin for the ‘Possessor Support System’ update.

Ah, today was the day.

As soon as the countdown ended, the update began and finished in less than five minutes.

“Bia, give me a moment.”

“Okay.”

Pretending to write something in my notebook, I checked the update details.

<Notice> ‘Integrated Library Update’

The Integrated Library has been upgraded. From now on, books read or purchased after possession can also be stored.

Language Spirit, you’re the best!

A suggestion I made earlier had already been implemented. My desire to read books flared up instantly.

The rest were all product updates, but the first one caught my eye immediately.

<Product> ‘Genre Change Ticket’

Wait… this is…!

Was it finally time to achieve my dream of turning this story into the childcare romance fantasy I never got to finish?

But the product description immediately crushed that dream.

<Product> ‘Genre Change Ticket’

The ultimate product that allows you to change the genre of the possessed work.

Note: The new genre will be randomly selected from fantasy, romance, 19+ romance, GL/BL, etc.

Price: 10,000,000,000 cash

What? Ten billion cash?
And the result is random?

They claimed it was a public project, but this felt less like profit-seeking and more like mocking consumers.

They clearly didn’t make this to actually sell it.

Looking further, there were some surprisingly decent products.

<Product> ‘Companion Growth Package (Limited 1 Week Sale)’

A package consisting of a ‘Job Change Package’ and ‘Blessing of Rapid Growth’. Can be gifted to another person.

However, the recipient must be a newbie who has less than one year of experience in the field but possesses sufficient potential.

Note: An icon will appear above the head of a qualifying target.

You can gift the package? That’s actually pretty good.

That meant you could open the path for someone to awaken Aura, Magic, or Divine Power.

I quickly lifted my head and looked forward.

“Child?”

Bianca tilted her head at my intense gaze.

I slumped my shoulders.

Ugh… the entry requirement must be high.

Nothing appeared above Bianca’s head. If it were Bianca, the cash wouldn’t have been wasted, so it was a shame.

Then again, most job-change packages were related to combat or labor abilities.
And Bianca was more of a strategist than a physical type.

“Bia, you’re already perfect as you are. You’ll become an amazing head of the family.”

“…Suddenly?”

Though she looked puzzled, Bianca smiled faintly.

Huh?

Just then, a sky-blue icon appeared in a completely unexpected direction.

The target was…

<Target> ‘Skeleton Serf No. 1004’

Has potential in cultivation. If raised well, it may become the incarnation of a druid and revolutionize agriculture across the Serentra Continent.

The serf’s future depends on your choice!

Spend 3,000,000 cash to <Gift>.

It was the beautiful skull who had brewed our tea.

No. 1004? That’s a number for a name?

Pushing aside my pity, I gestured.

“Hey, come here for a moment.”

Cl… clack?

“Yes, you. Don’t be shy.”

I stared thoughtfully at the timid skull beauty.

Was it really worth spending three million cash?

The answer came quickly.

Select Gift!

<System> ‘Job Change Package (Non-Combat) – Farmer’s Hands That Rival a Druid’ and ‘Blessing of Rapid Growth’ have been gifted to Skeleton Serf No. 1004.

<System> Skeleton Serf No. 1004 has awakened Cultivation Lv.1.

<System> ‘Blessing of Rapid Growth’ applied. Proficiency gained is doubled.

The skull beauty suddenly straightened its spine as if struck by lightning.

“You know what you need to do, right?”

Clack-clack-clack!

With a vigorous nod, the skeleton dashed off and began making herb seedlings—the task I had originally been doing.

Bianca blinked with wide, rabbit-like eyes.

“He suddenly got good at working.”

“Maybe he’s happy about getting a tombstone.”

With this, the dungeon farm would run on its own.

From now on, I could visit only when I wanted—and even then, I wouldn’t have to get dirt on my hands.

Besides, the skeletons, including the skull beauty, obeyed me due to the Notoriety Effect, and fundamentally they couldn’t leave the dungeon.

There was no risk of losing the three million cash.

“Bia, you finished your tea, right? Let’s head out.”

“What do you want to do now? Go to the library?”

“I’d love that!”

Our Bia somehow knew exactly what I wanted—to check the upgraded Integrated Library.

After leaving the dungeon, we spent quite a long time in the library.

The upgraded Integrated Library function was incredible.

Even without reading, simply flipping through the pages slowly stored the entire book in the library.

There isn’t even a scan function.

Books were already rare in this world. It was basically like building a grand library inside my head.

Since I could read anytime, from now on whenever Bianca brought me to the library, I would focus on scanning.

I picked a random book as a cover and hugged it as we left the library.

We walked along the second-floor corridor toward Bianca’s room.

Warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the large glass windows.

My gaze drifted outside—and I suddenly stopped.

“That’s….”

“What’s wrong, Child? …Ah, it looks like Brother Romdio is having a sword lesson. A bit embarrassing, isn’t it? Calling that training.”

“Uh, yeah… I guess…”

But that wasn’t what caught my attention.

A shining sky-blue inverted triangle icon.

And the message beside it said—

<Target> ‘???’

Possesses swordsmanship potential capable of awakening Aura.

Your decision could shape the future of a Sword Master who will be revered across the continent.

A guaranteed investment for only 11,000,000 cash!

Spend 11,000,000 cash to <Gift>.

A future Sword Master was nearby.