On the principle that since he was already here, he might as well, Chu Yunyi took the personal terminal.
He didn't know.
Old Jin and the woman who had helped him with the elevator earlier had pitied him because he was a Native Human.
What was a Native Human?
In the Upper City, being one represented absolute nobility. After all, it meant you were rich enough to live without installing cybernetics.
But in the Lower City—
Being a Native Human meant you were an orphan, the kind no one took in, with no money for cybernetics, left to grow up in a daze.
As for that—
Chu Yunyi didn't care. How other people saw him wouldn't really affect him.
It was all just idle gossip.
Not wanting to linger any longer, Chu Yunyi turned and left.
Watching him go, Old Jin sighed to himself and thought, Sigh, it's hard being a good person.
Chu Yunyi walked away.
He glanced back at the little shop with the sign reading "Old Jin's General Store," then headed toward the Laiyun Tavern Old Jin had mentioned.
As Chu Yunyi walked, he felt rather like he was playing some kind of game.
And like he was completing a side quest.
Not just any side quest, either, but one of those tedious, endless fetch quests.
Still—
Chu Yunyi could put up with all that. He was here already, after all.
If he turned around and left now, he might as well never have come to this world.
Since he was here—
He might as well experience the local customs, get a taste of this world's unique apocalypse, and see if he could raise his Control Power.
"Is that the apocalypse in this world?"
Chu Yunyi looked up at the sky.
Although the whole city was packed with towering buildings, making it look like a metallic tropical rainforest, he could still see a bit of sky.
And up above—
That enormous Flesh Planet still hung in orbit, serving as the unnatural satellite known as the Night Star.
"What's that...?"
As Chu Yunyi watched the Flesh Planet, he could just make out objects like meteors falling from it.
They were densely packed. Even though he couldn't see them clearly, they were still horrifying.
"Are those the so-called aberrants?"
Chu Yunyi clicked his tongue, feeling a chill creep over his scalp. Did he really have to fight things like that in this world?
Back on Blue Star, at least the monsters of the apocalypse were human-shaped.
On the Night Star—
The monsters of this apocalypse were pure monsters.
It was just—
Chu Yunyi wasn't sure whether his Round Table only increased his Control Power when he killed patients afflicted with the Seven Deadly Sins on Blue Star.
Or—
Whether killing monsters in any world would increase his Control Power.
If it was the former—
Chu Yunyi might set up a place to raise patients, then keep them there to steadily gain Control Power.
It was a pretty dark idea, but not beyond him.
But first, he had to find out whether killing monsters on the Night Star would increase his Control Power.
As he thought about it—
Chu Yunyi had already made his way to the Laiyun Tavern. The landmark wasn't very conspicuous, but he'd still managed to find it.
"Creak..."
Chu Yunyi slowly pushed open the old metal door.
The movement drew quite a few glances.
It gave Chu Yunyi the feeling of one of those classic scenes in a Western movie.
The protagonist, a newcomer unfamiliar with the area, walks into a tavern and draws everyone's attention.
Then came the usual routine: someone picked a fight, the protagonist shot a few people, and the whole place was cowed.
Right now—
Chu Yunyi felt just like that.
But the reality was a huge letdown. Nothing of the sort happened.
The others gave Chu Yunyi a glance, then went back to their own business. Everyone was busy; nobody had time to bother with a Native Human.
Chu Yunyi found a spot and sat down.
He didn't order anything. He was mainly here to observe.
If the differences between worlds made him lose his temper and kill a few people, that would be a real headache.
Seeing that Chu Yunyi had no intention of ordering, no one came over to bother him.
Before long—
A burst of commotion caught Chu Yunyi's attention.
"The usual!" a burly man called out.
Chu Yunyi looked over. A metal spine supported the man's back, and his limbs had been augmented with exaggerated cybernetic extensions. He looked as if he were wearing a full exoskeleton.
The bartender glanced up, evidently having received the Credit Points.
Watching from the side, Chu Yunyi felt a little curious:
What would the "usual" be?
Hard liquor? Or a woman?
He wondered what kind of thing could make this seemingly seasoned burly man ask for "the usual."
A short while later—
The bartender came out of the kitchen carrying a tray. A silver cover concealed whatever was on it, giving it an air of mystery.
The people nearby couldn't help swallowing. Their eyes were full of longing.
So what is it, exactly? Looking at the ceremonious presentation, Chu Yunyi grew even more curious.
The bartender set the tray down.
Then lifted the cover.
Inside was a neatly arranged... red velvet cake.
At the sight, Chu Yunyi blinked. He almost wondered whether the sight of that Flesh Planet had somehow contaminated his vision.
What was this eye-searing scene?
Come on.
That red velvet cake wasn't even as big as your palm. You're eating that?!
No, that wasn't the point. It wasn't about the size.
This just didn't fit your style at all! How had it come to this?!
Chu Yunyi took a moment to collect himself. He felt there had to be more to it.
Some things definitely weren't as simple as they looked.
That was right.
The bartender pulled a small, sealed packet of white powder from his jacket pocket and asked quietly,
"This stuff is addictive, sir. How many portions would you like?"
Exactly!
There was no way a cybernetic bruiser would order a delicate little red velvet cake that looked like something a young girl would eat.
The secret was right here!
Chu Yunyi watched wide-eyed as the burly man ordered ten portions, then poured the entire packet over the red velvet cake.
"That much could kill a person, couldn't it?"
"No, wait. He's got cybernetics. His endocrine system must be pretty robust."
Chu Yunyi murmured quietly. He wasn't worried about anyone understanding him. Unless he activated No. 6 [Words of All Spirits] for someone else, there was no way the natives of the Night Star could understand him.
Looking at the red velvet cake covered in white powder, the cybernetic bruiser scooped up a spoonful with a metal spoon.
Then he put it in his mouth and savored it slowly.
In an instant—
The man's eyes lit up, and he shouted,
"So sweet!"
"Just as I thought, nothing compares to the dopamine you get from sweets!"
"Those 14 Credit Points were worth it!"
Hearing this—
Chu Yunyi wondered if he'd misheard, or if No. 6 [Words of All Spirits] had gone wrong.
He thought he'd heard that the burly man wasn't using some addictive substance.
But instead—
He was simply enjoying a dessert?
Before you continue