I Am Not a Robot. Beep-bop

Chapter 17: The Righteous Electricity Thief(?) 2

Heat surged through my pupils.

My vision turned red.

Everything in the dim alley came into sharp focus.

【Arraying Points】

【Combat Intent Concentration】

【Synapse Connection: OFF】

【Combat Data Loss Rate Check: Normal】

【Magic Neuron Loss Rate Check: Normal】

【Full Body Energy Charge Check: 68.3%】

Before I fell asleep, my energy level was around 73%, but by the time I woke up, it had already dropped by 5%.

As Theresa had said, this body seemed to be a black hole when it came to energy consumption and efficiency.

‘And to solve that, I’ll need constant upgrades and energy recharges.’

Apparently, I required a new energy source or material absorption, like when I absorbed tons of Rust Rain at once after being hit by the Scrap Breath.

Come to think of it, I absorbed all that Rust Rain, but the level of upgrades I received was barely noticeable.

Where did all that mass go?

Did I even consume or absorb it properly?

Even though it’s my body, I had no idea how it worked.

‘Well, no point in trying to understand it.’

For now, I needed to focus on the outlets in front of me.

They say people lose their sight or black out when they’re angry or lose rationality, but my situation was different.

I wasn’t angry or mentally unstable, yet everything in my vision was painted a vivid red.

Could it be because of combat intent?

That hadn’t happened when I faced the Gas Mask Guys or the Scrap Dragon.

It seemed my body had been self-modified or upgraded after absorbing the massive amount of molten metal and electricity here.

The possibility was more than plausible.

Even the Scrap Breath had physically enhanced my body.

“Hey, did you get permission to do business here?”

Men approached me with cocky attitudes, subtly pulling knives out of their pockets.

Their attire was peculiar.

They wore heavily modified black leather coats, but their rugged appearances and swagger made them look less like leather-clad figures and more like rag-covered street thugs.

“Permission?”

“Yeah, permission.”

“Do I need to get permission? From whom?”

When I asked out of genuine curiosity, they exchanged glances and smirked as though they’d realized something.

The atmosphere shifted slightly.

Initially, there had been a subtle wariness about a trespasser in their territory, but now, they looked like they had found a toy to play with.

“Ah, kiddo. Did you just come down to the Magrid Steps?”

“The Magrid Steps?”

So, this place was called the Magrid Steps.

It was far below the level where Oriana lived.

Not only was the atmosphere different, but it felt like a whole other country altogether.

“Yeah, it’s my first time here.”

It wasn’t a lie.

It was true that I had never been here before.

I was also curious about what this place called the Magrid Street was, and the ecosystem and atmosphere here.

“Ha-ha.”

“Heh, I see.”

Hearing my words, the men’s sly grins grew wider as they crept closer.

They had gotten so close that they could now see my face clearly.

One man whistled.

Another licked his lips.

One even swallowed audibly.

I wasn’t so naïve as to not understand what their behavior meant.

“Ah, so it’s your first time, huh?”

“Well, a newcomer wouldn’t know the rules of this street.”

They nodded.

The men moved closer.

“You see, the Magrid Street is different from the upper steps of Kowloon. Here, if you want something, you have to pay the proper price, kid.”

“Proper price?”

“That’s right. A price. When you use electricity at home, you pay taxes to the plant, don’t you? On Magrid Street, you pay us. For food, for money, for water, even just to walk these streets safely.”

“Why?”

I asked purely out of curiosity.

“Because we protect this street, of course.”

“Yeah, unlike other scumbags, we keep it safe. So, naturally, anyone living here owes us money.”

“Protection money, you could call it.”

“And kid, if you want to make money on this street, you need our permission. And once you do, you’ll hand over a cut of your earnings to us, understand?”

I could see now that they were just trash who extorted the weak for a living.

At first, I thought they might be part of some grand criminal organization, but they were nothing more than thugs.

The world had changed, but people hadn’t.

“Ah, I see.”

As I nodded obediently, they exchanged looks and blocked every possible escape route, closing in on me.

“Hey, kid. Don’t tell me you don’t have any money.”

“If you don’t, you can pay us in other ways.”

“Other ways?”

As they crept closer, they surrounded me completely.

“Damn, tilting your head like that is such a turn-on. You must really be new here. With a face that pretty, we’d definitely know if you’d been around before.”

All I did was tilt my head and stare at them blankly, but they seemed to find it alluring.

Their breaths grew heavier.

“Poor kid, your parents probably racked up some debt and sent you out here to earn money.”

“If you’re so sympathetic, you can leave.”

I didn’t want to see innocent blood spilled.

I always said this—I’m a person with basic ethics and reason.

If things can be resolved through conversation, that’s always the best way.

Of course…

【The Main System has detected hostility.】

…that doesn’t apply to beasts who don’t qualify as human.

“Don’t worry, kid. We’ll teach you the rules of the Magrid Street…”

-Wham!-

“…What the? Ugh?!”

A tendril shot out and grabbed the man who had laid a hand on my shoulder, lifting him high into the air.

I didn’t pierce his heart or organs, but blood dripped down each joint of the tendril.

The tendril, as thick as a finger, was more than enough to lift an adult male effortlessly.

“Hey, what are you doing…?”

“Huh?”

The other men, still unaware of the situation, looked up blankly as droplets of blood splashed onto their faces.

Don’t worry.

I’m not a psychopathic killer who enjoys slaughter, nor am I a lunatic who lashes out at the slightest provocation.

I won’t kill you.

“You crazy bitch…!”

The man behind me, armed with a knife, reacted first.

-Clang!-

“!?”

“……”

My crimson-tinted glassy pupils deflected his knife cleanly, leaving him stunned.

If I’d used a mana barrier or a shield, he might have understood.

But having his knife bounce harmlessly off my eye left him utterly bewildered.

“H-huh…?”

His expression was priceless.

He was speechless, unable to decide whether to fight or flee.

It seemed I’d have to make the decision for him.

-Wham!-

“Gasp!!”

The second one went down.

Remaining individuals… no, remaining outlets…

One, two, three…

Seven were left.

At last, the men seemed to realize their predicament, their faces turning as pale as ghosts.

“Ahhhh!!!”

“A-a crazed Awakened… No, a monster!”

As the two men, now dangling in midair like puppets, began to sway, the rest of them scattered in all directions.

No longer needing to play the naive kid, I extended all the tendrils embedded in my spine.

-Crash!-

The tendrils stabbed into the concrete floor, lifting me up.

From this elevated vantage point, the fleeing men looked oddly like ants.

【Shall we kill them?】

“Oh, Theresa, trying to turn me into a barbarian now?”

【Please issue a proper command.】

“Then… make sure to avoid hitting any vital points or causing excessive bleeding.”

At those words, the mechanical tendrils sprouted spikes.

Some tips transformed into blades, others into pincers resembling scythes, and a few curled into hooked blades, much like fishing hooks.

【Combat Mode: Disabled】

【Butcher Mode: Partially Enabled】

【Permission Granted】

【Executing Orders.】

-Bang!-

I didn’t even need to move my arms or legs.

-Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!-

“Hi-iiiek!?”

“It’s a flying spider!!!”

“Holy shit!”

Dozens of mechanical tendrils hurled my body forward, gripping walls and alleyways like a massive spider as they began to snatch the men up one by one.

-Thwack!-

“Damn it! Run! Warn the boss… Ugh!”

“Ahhh! My leeeeg!”

“A freaking monster! A spider monster flying through the skies is… Urk!”

Was it because it was dawn?

Or was it because Magrid Street was naturally deserted?

There were almost no lit buildings, and I didn’t see a single other person.

Of course, it might also be because the men didn’t get far before my tendrils pinned them all.

From their perspective, though, it was unfortunate—there was no one around to save them.

-Thwack!-

-Stab!-

“P-please hel… Urgh!?”

Their escape speed wasn’t impressive, so this game of tag ended quickly.

“Urgh… Argh…”

“I-it hurts… it hurts so much…”

“My… my ankle…!”

“It’s tearing apart, oh god…”

【All targets captured】

【No escapees detected】

【Energy consumption check complete】

【Personality object verification complete】

【Butcher Mode: Partially Used】

Theresa, having captured all the men, naturally knew what to do next.

Since every movement I made consumed energy, and my entire existence depended on energy, her plan was obvious.

She intended to torture them, extracting mana imbued with their pain and emotions, along with their life force, to recharge me.

But…

“Theresa, hold on.”

【Pausing.】

It was true these men were irredeemable scumbags.

If I had been a powerless girl, they probably planned to ruin my life in this alley tonight.

Even though I’m someone living my third life, torturing people or others for energy is a last resort.

There’s no need to resort to gory, grotesque methods if there are better options.

“Urgh… Ugh… If the boss finds out about this, you’re…!”

One man, dangling upside down with his ankle impaled on a mechanical tendril, whimpered through tears and snot.

Does he not realize the situation? Even in this state, he’s putting on airs.

Well, that works for me.

“Where’s your boss, then?”

“O-our boss is…!”

* * *

“Dammit, every single time it’s, ‘I’ll pay it back by next month. Just give me one more chance. I need it for my mom’s medicine.’ Blah, blah, blah. Do they think we pull money out of thin air?!”

Dusty, the boss of the Magrid Street Hush Gang, was checking the day’s earnings and fumed when he realized today’s haul was less than usual.

“Phew, hssss…”

The gang controlling Magrid Street earned its main revenue from loan sharking, protection rackets, brothels, and drug distribution.

Even here, turf wars and conflicts over profits never ceased.

Recently, competing gangs had increased, leading to frequent clashes as territories overlapped.

Naturally, it was always ordinary, powerless residents who suffered from these gang disputes.

When did gangs ever agree to meet in a deserted lot and fight without harming others?

They’d barge into restaurants and demand protection money or spray bullets and magical attacks while the rival gang ate.

“Damn it, if the debtors in this district can’t pay up by tomorrow, I’ll have to start harvesting organs.”

The Hush Gang was already being overpowered by a new competitor, and they were on the verge of losing this district.

Their only option was to squeeze out every last drop of profit before regrouping for another shot.

“Where the hell are those bastards?”

The rest of the underlings were ready, but a few of Dusty’s closer henchmen had yet to return to the base.

There was a lot to do, and they needed to get moving by dawn.

Dusty, already annoyed by how these lackeys often slacked off or acted cocky because they were close to him, muttered to himself.

‘Once we relocate, I’ll get rid of those assholes. Just because we grew up in the same neighborhood doesn’t mean they can keep testing my patience.’

-Knock, knock, knock-

It seemed someone had finally arrived.

“Come in!”

“……”

“Hey, I said come in!”

But the door didn’t open.

There wasn’t even a clerk around to assist him, so Dusty had to open it himself.

“Damn it, are your fingers too fat to turn the knob? What the hell—?”

-Bang!-

“Hey! If you don’t quit screwing arou… What the hell?”

Dusty flung the door open, but no one was there.

Thinking it was some sort of prank, he scanned the area, but the hallway was eerily quiet.

Not even the faintest noise broke the stillness.

“…Which bastard is this?”

Dusty didn’t believe in ghosts, so he cursed angrily and slammed the door shut.

-Knock, knock, knock-

“……”

He heard it again.

He definitely heard it.

The knocking wasn’t coming from the door this time.

It was coming from the window.

“……!?”

Standing there, framed by the window, was a girl with crimson, glassy eyes glowing vividly in the dark.

“W-what the hell is this?!”

-Clack!-

Dusty stumbled back in terror, pulling out a gun.

It wasn’t just any gun; it was loaded with magical explosive rounds meant for hunting monsters.

Kept on hand in case a rival gang employed an Awakened, these rounds could kill most with a single shot.

-Crunch…-

When the window wouldn’t open, cracks began forming around the frame.

Realizing the girl was trying to break in, Dusty fired without hesitation.

-Bang!!!-

The explosive round hit the girl square in the face, detonating with a small mana wave.

There was no way she could have survived such a direct hit.

However…

-Crack! Crack!-

“…!”

The wall holding the window shattered completely as tendrils burst into the room.

Dangling from their ends, like fish on hooks, were faces Dusty recognized.

Some had their arms impaled, others their ankles or shoulders.

The tendrils deposited their captive’s limp bodies like offerings before setting their owner down—a girl with the same unscathed face Dusty had just shot.

“………”

Though undeniably pretty, her glowing crimson eyes in the dark were more terrifying than any horror movie ghost.

“W-what do you want…?! Did the Alpo Gang send you?!”

“……”

Dusty aimed the gun at her again, but his trembling hands betrayed his fear.

The men impaled on her tendrils looked like they’d been butchered, ready to be sold as meat.

And the girl—whose face hadn’t even flinched after being shot—looked around before asking calmly.

“Hey, do you have electricity here?”

“W-what…?”

What nonsense is this?

“I’m an electricity fairy. I need electricity.”

“……”

This crazy b****.