Novel Catchup
Chapter 134 [Border Settlement!]
[Julia's POV Continued!]
As we entered the Border Settlement, the first thing that I saw was… a forest? Or was it a city?
Those trees stretched up to at least 100 meters or above, layered into 4 floors, with us being at the ground floor. The sky above was partially covered with stairs that started from the 3rd floor and connected one side to another, while there were 4 paths that stretched away from the teleportation platform.
One of those paths took us outside the city as the sign floating in the air denoted. Another one guided us to the next teleportation circle that would take us to the border settlement on the first floor of the tutorial. That should be our next destination yet…
I looked in the third direction which took us to the [Town Center], and the last that took us to another teleportation circle that took us to [Biblia City, Dark Continent!].
Other than the 4 main roads there were many interconnecting small alleyways that spread out throughout the city. And before I could even take a step, I heard Samantha speaking,
"Guys. Check this out."
She then began walking towards a board outside the intersection between the way that took us to the town center and that took us to the first floor. Following behind her, I was curious why she took us to that board, though as I reached closer, I understood.
It was a map.
It was the map of the entire settlement.
And looking at the precise layering and the way it functioned-
[Map of the Border Settlement (Twin Planets) has been registered! You can use the feature through your own system!]
"Huh?" I spoke out in surprise as I looked at the system message before a [Map] automatically opened up in front of me.
It was a 4D map, showing my position on it, and all the other facilities of the city with respect to my position. The colors were vibrant, almost life-like, as I saw some of the features of the facilities in this town.
"The heck! It's a Graded water?!!" A manly voice came from a distance as I saw that white haired guy trying to drink the water from the public tap water. His eyes were shocked as they tried to analyze the water in their hands.
And as our curiosity peaked, we switched the map off before moving towards the source as well.
[Item: Healing Water
Grade: F
Effects: Increases the healing regeneration of the user by 5% for 2 hours! Restores 10 HP for every liter of water drunk by the user!
Restrictions: Can be only used in the Border Settlement!]
And yeah, even my eyes were widened as I looked at the properties of the water. Normally something like this would cost a 100 points or something in the safe city. And here it was free…
"Hey Samantha," Flare spoke out as she looked at the city, to be precise, at the town center of the settlement before speaking," can we… check the settlement out first? There is even a beauty parlor here."
My ears perked as I immediately opened the [Map] again. And yeah, there was one about 300 meters away from here. And with a newfound shine entering my eyes, I looked at that beauty parlor. It was the same for the other girls in our group, it was the same for the girls in other groups.
"I guess… we can… take a short break?" Samantha spoke as her steps hurried towards that beauty shop, while the rest of us followed behind as well.
And when we reached that shop…
"Wow!"
"Beautiful!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"It's not going to be costly, is it? I don't have many points saved up."
"It's all right. You can take some from me."
"Heheheheh…"
Different girls had different reactions to this shop. It was big, much bigger than in the safe city. There was a huge banner with lit colors that seemed alive. Even the elf lady picture seemed to be moving around happily. There were ladies changing the color of their hair, and the tone of their skin in that holographic banner of the shop.
Apart from that, there were robots that were doing the job asking the users to choose their own manual make up set ups, or if one were too confused, they could use a specialized menu that had limited but great options.
This was all one could understand just by taking a single look at the shop.
"Let's check it out," Samantha gulped before taking a step inside the shop. And following behind her, we too entered there as we saw a bunch of robots of different shapes, waiting for us.
"Welcome. What would you like to do? If you are visiting for the first time, you can check the menu for the various services provided, along with their prices and other facilities.
The robot spoke in an AI manner, while we excitedly nodded before picking up a digital device each as we checked the menu.
There were many things available with everything neatly arranged in the menu. No problem in navigation whatsoever, while a smile formed on my face as I checked at some of the beauty features.
Though the main thing that caught my attention was… the price…
"It's cheap… too cheap… just 100 points for all this?" My eyes widened as I looked at the prices of the products that would cost a fortune back on earth. Each of them were too cheap, making us wonder if there was anything wrong with the product itself.
"Excuse me… but can you tell me why the prices are so low?" Olivia asked what was on our mind, to which that robot girl answered with a smile,
"Most of the things in this entire city are made from [Energy Matter creation]. It involves taking the natural energy present in the air, and converting it into real matter. Since we can create anything F-Grade or below with it with ease, the only cost that involves is regarding the minor functioning of us robots. Thus, because of zero manufacturing cost, the prices listed are rather lower on the cost side."
And once again, we were surprised to hear that. No wonder they even had graded water free for drinking.
The fact that they can create anything from energy alone… just who is the lord of this city.
I wondered as I looked at the [Map] again, especially at the town center.
"I guess… it must be from someone higher up in the tower," I mumbled in slight curiosity before moving towards the robot girl asking her if she could help me with a certain makeover I once saw on the TV.