TAKE ON ME [Survival LITRPG Apocalypse]

The Booth continued to sink.

"Gotta go."

Bo stepped back inside.

"Oh no, you're—"Hana's voice cut out.

The walls were made of jagged and uneven sticks, just like the outside.

The room was huge. In the center was an older White man in a black business suit. The frown lines on his forehead and the streaks of black and gray through his hair made him seem like a cantankerous badger. He sat behind a large wooden executive desk with a closed laptop in front of him.

The man looked up, and his golden eyes flashed. He sighed, and gestured to the shoddy, disintegrating walls. "This is a pathetic consultation office. I expect better next time."

Heat flowed through Bo. "I didn't expect to find a magical room and a strange man inside it. I built it based off the blueprint specs, exactly as it was shown, so maybe take up your issue with whomever designed it."

The man gazed levelly at him, and didn't respond.

"Do you need help getting out of here?" Bo said.

"No."

Bo crossed his arms. "Why is the room so big?"

"Is the room big, or are you small, Mr. Robinson?"

Bo gestured toward the laptop. "Does that work? Can you help us contact someone for help?"

"There is no one to contact for help," the man replied, his tone serious. "I am here to offer you a job, Mr. Robinson. I am Caretaker Job, and I will assess your skills and interests to help determine your profession."

Job opened his laptop and typed something, his lips pursed together. He paused, apparently in deep thought, then typed something else. He hit enter with a loud click of the key.

Bo received a flashing prompt in the corner of his vision, and he accessed the message. There were updated sections at the bottom of the tutorial prompt.

[Currently Available Public Information: Earth has entered an apocalyptic era of monsters and magic. Survive to be one of the last 100 million individuals and obtain immortality! Survivors are permitted to bring two people back to life. Explore and utilize your new classes and abilities. Caretaker System.]

[I enjoyed meeting all of you. Best of Luck! Caretaker Balance.]

[Caretakers are the creators of the universe, and are here to support you through this apocalypse. Caretaker Job.]

[All humans will have access to a main profession and a specialization. These may be chosen by entering the Profession Booth and discussing your options. Caretaker Job.]

Bo mentally dismissed the tutorial panel and turned to Caretaker Job. "So . . . creator of the universe . . . can we open with that one?"

"I cannot and will not engage on that topic, Mr. Robinson. I am a very busy man. Are you interested in obtaining your profession, or not? You will be allowed to remember this unlike your class choosing."

Fuck it.

"For the sake of a sinking Booth and all, let's do it. What's the process?"

A plastic chair appeared in front of Job's desk. It was smaller than Job's office chair, and far less ergonomic in appearance.

Bo took a seat. His spine confirmed his initial suspicions.

Job extended his hand, and a glowing blue parchment floated out from Bo's chest. Job caught it and began to read its contents.

"What is that?" Bo patted his chest, then peered behind his chair.

"This is your true resume. All your stats, work experience, hobbies, interests. Sometimes, even your combat class information is relevant." Job looked up. "Yours isn't. Unless you want to be a performer?"

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Bo quickly shook his head.

"I thought not. That would have been too easy."

Job continued reading the—literally—glowing report, his eyebrows raised. He grudgingly praised Mr. Robinson's exceptional skills in construction and logistics. He mentioned the applicant's impressive memory. He also noted that Mr. Robinson's dedication and strong work ethic were rare qualities in today's world.

Bo could have sworn he caught a mumbled 'no one wants to work anymore'.

However, Job also pointed out that there were some areas for improvement, particularly around stress management.

"While I love hard workers, Mr. Robinson, you do yourself, myself, and your community no favors by burning out early."

I just like things to be done properly. Not half-assed.

Bo couldn't think of anything 'corporate' to say, so he just nodded.

"What if we stick with construction, but on a larger scale. A citywide scale . . . " Job waved his hand, and an information panel appeared. It displayed a job posting.

[Position Available: City Planner]

Overview:

Are you a visionary planner with a passion for creating thriving mystical settlements? Caretaker Job is seeking a skilled City Planner to shape the destiny of our fantastical realm through strategic development.

Responsibilities:

· Design and optimize housing structures that blend seamlessly with the fantastical landscape.

· Plan and oversee the construction of crafting buildings, ensuring the efficiency of resource production and utilization.

· Manage intricate road networks, connecting key areas of the settlement for smooth navigation and trade.

· Prioritize building projects based on the needs of the community and strategic development goals.

· Boost and uphold town morale through thoughtful planning and design.

· Coordinate and motivate the workforce, considering the number and type of workers needed for each task.

· Implement effective food storage solutions to safeguard against famine.

Perks:

· Collaborate with other specialized professions by sharing your meticulously crafted blueprints.

· Influence not only the physical landscape, but also the essence of how the town functions.

· Play a pivotal role in the cooperative endeavor to build a thriving and enchanting settlement.

· Enjoy the satisfaction of seeing your visionary plans come to life in the fantastical realm.

"As a [City Planner], you will be dealing with a lot of stress, Mr. Robinson. A lot. The issues will be constant and never-ending. However," Job leaned forward, "between you and me, there are a million ways for you and your family to profit from this." Job raised his eyebrows significantly.

Out of the gate, it did sound like something Bo would be good at, and he might even enjoy it. However, he had reservations; mainly because it required him to depend on others to physically construct the city.

And what if all the workers get eaten?

Bo asked about other professions and specialties covering construction and tinkering. He had a strong interest in the [Carpentry] profession. There were 'normal' specializations, such as [Residential Carpenter], [Furniture Maker], and [Millworker]. There were more exotic options, such as [Arcane Woodshaper].

Bo kept circling back to the role of [City Planner]. It had nothing to do with the idea of turning a profit; it just sounded like such a crucial job that he could not' imagine entrusting it to anyone else.

What if I pass on it, and the [City Planner] is a fucking idiot?

"Can we look at other professions outside the realm of construction? I'd like to explore all my options. And don't bother with performer."

"No, you may not. This is different from your class selection—"

Bo opened his mouth.

"Yes, I know you don't remember that. And no, we may not discuss it. Inside the Soul Chamber you had endless class possibilities and specializations. Your profession selection is much stricter. I assess you, and then I present options for what I am willing to offer you as a profession. If you don't succeed in your position then I have also failed in mine, because this is a permanent choice. I cannot fail in my choices, Mr. Robinson. Humankind's survival depends on it."

Bo glanced at the vibrating wooden walls sliding inexorably downward. "Fair enough. Let's go with [City Planner]."

Job nodded, then presented a few specialization options for a [City Planner]: [Resource Efficiency Guru]; [Fortification Strategist]; and [Infrastructure Specialist], which all offered perks that aligned with their names.

Bo shook his head. "I get these all sound great, but I'm looking for something more hands-on. Where I can really be part of every project, and shape this place from the ground up."

Job smirked, then presented the [Micromanager] specialization.

[Micromanager]

This City Planner thrives on micromanaging every detail of the settlement to achieve unparalleled efficiency. With a keen eye for minutiae, they focus on optimizing the tiniest aspects of the city's infrastructure and logistics. From meticulously planning the placement of individual buildings, to fine-tuning resource distribution, the Micromanager ensures that no opportunity for improvement is overlooked.

"I mean, the name's a bit . . . much, but this seems right up my alley."

"Fantastic news, Mr. Robinson! The [City Planner] position has been filled. Just keep an eye on that city morale!" Job filed the blue resume into a folder labeled 'City Planner' and stored it in his desk. "I must go. Very busy day. Is there anything else you would like to know before I leave?"

Bo stood. "If these buildings are sinking, won't it make most of our professions useless?"

"You can only build when you have claimed the territory from a Dungeon. From that point forward, the Dungeon must be maintained at Level 1 or zero for your structures to remain permanent. A weekly 'maintenance', if you will."

"Is it better to try to defeat a Dungeon ourselves, or is it safer to go find someone who has beaten a Dungeon, and see if we can live in their territory?"

"I have no advice in this regard. You can do as you please, Mr. Robinson. However, I have lots to do. And, as you so accurately pointed out, your Booth is slowly sinking." He stood, and tucked his laptop under his arm. "Before you leave, you may choose one blueprint from the table over there as part of your profession selection today. I have two tips for you. First, make sure to explore not only your city construction prompts, but also your construction zone information. The time dilation zones are some of my best work. Second, your [Micromanager] specialization allows you to work alongside the professionals within your city. Make sure to fully explore that as well."

Bo extended his hand to shake Job's; the man's golden eyes flashed, and he vanished before Bo could make contact.

Bo shrugged, and made his way to the table behind him. He was sure it hadn't been there when he stepped into the Booth.

Three blueprints lay on its surface: one for a [Simple Granary]; one for a [Simple Barn]; and one for a [Simple Cabin].

Bo thought of all the people shivering in the cold.

Easy choice.

He selected the [Simple Cabin] blueprint. The other two options vanished.

Bo chanced one last look around, and left the Booth.

A hazy second later he was standing next to Hana, who flinched at his sudden appearance.

She hugged him, and then pulled away. "Why did you go back in there?" Her voice rose. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"The tutorial prompt lit up again while you were inside," Kate said. "Did you see the new tutorial?"

"Yeah. There's someone in there who can give us professions. I got mine! I think everyone should go in and see if they can get something to help, maybe we can find some fishermen or hunters or carpenters—"

"Bo!" Hana snapped. She tilted her head at the [Profession Booth], which had partially sunk and was shaking violently. Some of its sticks had fallen away.

"The tutorial said a creator of the universe gives professions," said Hana. "That's a god, Bo. You're saying there's a god in that shitty pile of sticks, and you want everyone to go inside?" Hana's voice was loud again.

"Yes, and yes."