Kagashi had the materials, the Tier 2 Train Blueprint, and that critical Zombie Crystal.
He stood before the main control computer and lightly tapped the screen.
[Ding!]
[Detected Tier 2 Train Blueprint ×1, Stone ×500, Iron Ore ×500, Wood ×500, Zombie Crystal ×1.]
[Upgrade conditions met.]
[Upgrade train to Level 2 immediately?]
“Yes.”
The blueprint, materials, and crystal simultaneously transformed into a silver-white stream of light, even more dazzling than before, and merged into the screen.
The entire train vibrated violently.
It wasn’t a slight tremor like before, but a real vibration that resonated from its very core.
Then.
The transformation began.
First was the shell of the carriage.
The silver-gray metal surface began to flow and restructure, as a brand-new layer of armor grew from the inside, covering the original shell.
The armor’s surface had a dull luster and felt cold and hard to the touch, like some kind of alloy material.
A system notification flashed by.
Kagashi nodded with satisfaction.
Then, the interior of the carriage also began to change.
Near the front of the train, which was originally the front part of the old carriage.
At this moment, a new metal wall grew from the floor and ceiling simultaneously, dividing the old carriage into two parts.
The area near the main control computer became an independent room.
[Ding!
Train Conductor’s Cabin has been generated.]
Kagashi pushed the door open and walked in.
The room wasn’t large, about ten square meters, but it was laid out very practically.
A large bed was placed against the wall, much better than the single beds made by the Construction System.
Opposite the bed was a desk and a chair; a small control screen was embedded in the desk, networked with the main control computer.
There was a wardrobe in the corner.
“Not bad.” He stood up and walked out of the Train Conductor’s Cabin.
The remaining space, the rest of the old carriage, was empty.
Kagashi stood in the center of this empty space, looked around, and then opened the Construction System.
The screen popped up, and a dense array of options met his eyes.
He directly selected [Long Table] and [Chairs].
[Long Table (Large)]
[Materials: Wood ×20, Iron Ore ×10]
[Capacity: 8-10 people]
[Chair (with backrest) ×8]
[Materials: Wood ×16, Iron Ore ×8]
Kagashi clicked construct.
Faint blue light rose from the floor, as if an invisible hand was sketching the outlines of the furniture in the void.
The whole process took less than ten seconds.
A large Long Table capable of seating eight or nine people appeared in the center of the carriage.
This space would be the place for eating and discussing matters from now on.
He stood up and walked toward the carriage behind.
The rear carriage, the new carriage, was still empty for now.
But Kagashi already had a plan.
He stood in the aisle area of the carriage, looked left and right, and then selected [Compartment] in the Construction System.
The compartment options in the Construction System were richer than he had imagined.
[Standard Compartment]
[Materials: Wood ×30, Stone ×10, Iron Ore ×20]
[Includes: Single Bed ×1, Bedside Table ×1, Wall-mounted Storage Cabinet ×1, Independent Bathroom (Sink, Toilet, Showerhead)]
[Area: Approx.
6 square meters]
It was similar to the basic configuration of the Train Conductor’s Cabin, just with a smaller bed and no desk or wardrobe.
Kagashi calculated that for the length of this carriage, he could build four compartments on each side, totaling eight.
That was enough.
He selected the compartment, set the quantity to 8, and placed them sequentially along both sides of the aisle.
The faint blue light lit up again.
This time was more spectacular than any previous time.
Eight blue lights lit up simultaneously on both sides of the carriage, and metal partitions grew from the floor and ceiling at the same time.
The sink, toilet, and showerhead emerged one by one.
Except they were made of stone and iron pipes.
Kagashi pushed open the door of the nearest compartment.
The room wasn’t large, just over six square meters, but though the sparrow was small, it had all its vital organs.
However, there was no bedding set, because cotton was needed, and Kagashi hadn’t found anyone selling it.
Kagashi could only lay out the previous hay bedding.
Kagashi turned the faucet of the showerhead.
No water.
Nothing could be done; he could only wait until he found a large water source later, or perhaps the girls could solve it—who knows.
He closed the door, walked to the meeting and dining area, and sat at the head of the Long Table.
On the system panel, the private message icon was flashing.
Kagashi clicked it open; it was from Lisa.
The announcement was seen in the whole region.
You’re already at Level 2?”
Kagashi replied: “Yeah, just upgraded.”
Just as the message was sent, the chat box was already exploding beyond recognition.
The effect of the regional announcement was much more intense than he had imagined.
“Kagashi again???
It’s only been how long???”
“Upgrading from Level 1 to Level 2?
We haven’t even upgraded from Level 0 yet!”
“What kind of monster is this person?
He must be hacking, right?”
“No, where did he get so many materials?
He could save enough materials to upgrade to Level 2 on the first stop?”
“Big boss, I beg you, take me with you!
I can work like an ox or a horse for you!”
“Um, I can give you photos, hairless ones!”
“Save it, the big boss’s private messages have probably collapsed by now.”
The clamor in the chat box continued, but he had already turned off the screen.
He opened the system inventory.
In the most prominent position, a treasure chest glowing with golden light lay there quietly.
[Gold Treasure Chest]
[Quality: Legendary]
[Description: Exclusive reward for the first regional upgrade (Level 1 → Level 2).
Contains rare supplies; grants high-quality items randomly upon opening.]
Kagashi stared at that treasure chest for a few seconds and didn’t open it.
He then took out the Iron Box he had picked up around the train earlier from the warehouse and placed it on the Long Table alongside the Gold Treasure Chest.
One glowed with golden light, while the other was covered in rust, forming a sharp contrast.
Kagashi pushed the two treasure chests to the other end of the Long Table, then stood up and walked toward the old spot.
The four girls were still deep in sleep in their sleeping bags.
Kagashi crouched down and looked at Furina first.
He reached out and lightly touched her shoulder.
“Furina.”
No reaction.
He gave her another gentle push.
“Furina, wake up.”
Furina’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyelids moved a few times, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
Those heterochromatic pupils shimmered with a dazed light under the lamps; she blinked, seemingly not yet realizing where she was.
Then she saw Kagashi.
“Mmh~” She let out a vague nasal sound, her eyes closed again, and she rolled over, burying her face in the sleeping bag, “Five more minutes…”
Misaka Mikoto’s reaction was much faster than Furina’s.
As soon as Kagashi touched her shoulder, her eyes snapped open, and she sat up like a spring.
“It’s me.” Kagashi took half a step back.
Seeing clearly that it was Kagashi, Misaka Mikoto’s tense body slowly relaxed.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice was a bit raspy.
“Nothing much,” Kagashi said.
“Just waking you guys up.”
Misaka Mikoto frowned and glanced at him, then looked around, her gaze sweeping over the completely renovated carriage, the Long Table in the distance, and the unfamiliar compartment doors.
Her eyes slowly widened.
“This…
what is this?”
Kagashi didn’t answer and turned toward Yoshino.
“Yoshino.”
Yoshino was sleeping very soundly, a slight smile still on her little face.
Kagashi gently patted her arm and called her several times before she slowly woke up.
“Kagashi…
Brother?” Yoshino rubbed her eyes and looked at Kagashi dizzily, her voice soft and sweet like it had just been fished out of a honey jar.
“You—you’re okay?
Where are we?”
“I’m fine now.” Kagashi smiled.
“Take a look at where we are.”
Yoshino sniffled and tilted her head up to look at him.
Last was Roxy.
Before Kagashi even reached her side, Roxy’s eyes had already opened.
She woke up very quietly, without lingering in bed like Furina.
“Mr.
Kagashi.” She glanced at Kagashi, then looked around, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
“The train…
has changed?”
“Upgraded,” Kagashi said.
“Is everyone awake?”
“Mmh~” Furina gave a vague response.
“Awake,” Misaka Mikoto said.
“Awake, Brother Kagashi,” Yoshino said, looking up at him.
“Awake,” Roxy said gently.
Kagashi nodded, then stepped aside so they could see the full view of the entire carriage.
“Then take a look, what are these?”
The four girls’ gazes simultaneously turned toward the carriage.
The Long Table, chairs, compartment doors, aisle, brand-new metal walls, bright lights…
Furina sat up from her sleeping bag, her eyes wide and round.
Misaka Mikoto stood up, not even bothering to fix her hair, her mouth slightly agape.
Yoshino let go of Kagashi’s arm, walked small steps to the Long Table, and reached out to touch the tabletop.
Roxy followed behind her, her gaze moving from the Long Table to the compartment doors.
“This,” Furina opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
“Generated along with the upgrade,” Kagashi said.
“There’s more in the back.”
He led them toward the rear carriage.
On both sides of the aisle, eight compartment doors were neatly arranged, each with a small nameplate marking its number.
Kagashi pushed open the nearest one.
“These are standard compartments, one for each person.”
The four girls entered one after another.
“Mr.
Kagashi,” Roxy said softly, “all of these, you made them?”
“Construction System,” Kagashi said.
“Exchanged with materials.”
“Where did the materials come from?” Misaka Mikoto asked.
“Exchanged for instant noodles,” Kagashi said.
“I listed instant noodles, one pack for 10 materials, and also did some business with other trains.”
Misaka Mikoto looked at him with a complex expression.
“You alone, while we were sleeping, upgraded the train, renovated the carriage, and even did a big business deal with other trains?”
Kagashi thought for a moment.
“Pretty much.”
Misaka Mikoto was silent for a few seconds, then took a deep breath.
“You,” she gritted her teeth, her tone awkward, “how can you be so capable?”
Kagashi was stunned for a moment.
“Aren’t we companions?” Misaka Mikoto looked at him, the tips of her ears slightly red.
“You did everything by yourself, so what about us?
Doesn’t it make us seem very useless…
although it really is quite impressive.”
After she finished, she added in a small voice: “…Thanks.”
The carriage was silent for a moment.
Furina looked at this scene with a smile, saying nothing.
Yoshino looked up and said softly, “Mr.
Kagashi is so reliable.”
Roxy also nodded with a smile.
Kagashi was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.
“The blueprint was fought for by everyone, and the materials were dug by everyone.
How could you be useless!” he said.
“I just clicked a few buttons.”
“And it was also to snatch the first upgrade.
It would be such a loss if we didn’t take this reward, right?”
Misaka Mikoto stared at him for a few seconds, then huffed and turned her face away.
“Fine then.” The corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
“I’ll count you as impressive.”
“Haha, look at this,” Kagashi said.
He turned and walked out of the compartment, returning to the front carriage.
The four girls followed him out.
On the Long Table, the two treasure chests sat side by side.
One rusty Iron Box, and one legendary treasure chest glowing with golden light.
Kagashi pointed at the two treasure chests.
“This Iron Box is one I picked up around the train.
This Gold Treasure Chest is a system reward.”
“Neither has been opened yet.”
He looked at the four girls.
“Open them together?”
Furina’s eyes lit up instantly.
The corners of Misaka Mikoto’s mouth curled up slightly.
“Yeah, let’s open them together!”
Yoshino ran small steps to the Long Table and stood on her tiptoes, looking at the two treasure chests.
Roxy also walked over, standing behind Yoshino.
Kagashi pushed the Iron Box in front of them.
“Open this one first.”