Apocalypse: Transmigrated with an Overlord System
Chapter 50: Full of Memories

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Full of Memories

Liora stepped into the quiet shop, her eyes scanning the rows of odd-looking machines and unfamiliar objects. The dim lighting gave the place a slightly eerie atmosphere, and most of the items were covered in dust, as if they had been forgotten for years.

Her curiosity was piqued by these items, and she took a slow step forward, focusing on the first thing that caught her eye—a large white box with a round glass door in the front. It looked old, slightly dented, but still intact.

"System, what is this thing?" she asked in her mind.

[Scanning... Identified: Washing Machine. Used in the pre-apocalypse era for cleaning clothes automatically using water and detergent.]

Liora’s eyes widened. "Wait, clothes? It cleans them?"

[Affirmative. It spins clothes at high speed while using soap and water to remove dirt.]

Liora scoffed. "Tch, these people were really living a luxurious life." She had never thought that clothes could be washed just by a machine.

She moved further, her attention shifting to a tall, rectangular device mounted on the wall. It had a vent and some buttons on it.

"And this?"

[Scanning... Identified: Air Conditioner. It was used to regulate room temperature, cooling or heating spaces as needed.]

Liora frowned. "What a waste. People before the apocalypse had such a comfortable life. They didn’t have to deal with extreme weather, did they?"

[Correct. Technology was highly advanced before the fall of civilization.]

Her gaze swept over other strange objects—some small, some massive. There was a bulky, silver-colored box with buttons on the side.

[Identified: Microwave Oven. Used to heat or cook food using electromagnetic waves.]

She raised a brow. "So they had a box that just cooked food instantly? No fire? No wood?"

[Correct.]

Liora shook her head in disbelief. The more she explored, the more she realized how far the world had advanced. It was like two completely different worlds from hers.

Soon, her attention was drawn to the back of the shop, where several dust-covered objects rested on wooden shelves. Unlike the machines, these items looked ancient and intricately designed. She spotted a beautifully carved clock with gold-trimmed edges.

"System, what is this?"

[Identified: Antique Clock. A handcrafted timepiece from an era before digital devices. Highly valued for craftsmanship and history.]

Liora traced her fingers over the clock’s smooth surface. It felt heavy, important. She instantly fell in love with it as the sound of ticking came from it.

Her eyes then landed on a delicate porcelain vase, painted with blue patterns that seemed to tell a story of mountains and rivers.

[Identified: Ming Dynasty Vase. Originated from an ancient civilization long before modern times. Highly prized among collectors.]

Liora let out a small breath. "System, you sure know a lot about old things."

[Partial historical data retrieved. Many archives were abandoned post-apocalypse.]

That made sense. The system likely had access to knowledge from before the world collapsed, but most of it had been lost with time.

Just as she was about to pick up another artifact, a gentle voice sounded behind her.

"Did you find something you like, girl? Want to buy anything?"

Liora stiffened and abruptly turned around. She hadn’t even noticed the presence of the old man standing behind the counter. His face was wrinkled, but his eyes held a sharpness that told her he wasn’t just any ordinary person.

For a brief moment, Liora was at a loss for words. She had been so absorbed in her exploration that she hadn’t realized she wasn’t alone.

The old man chuckled at her reaction. "Take your time. Everything here has a story. You just need to listen."

"I was just looking around," she said cautiously.

The old man chuckled. "That’s what everyone says before they ask about the price." He shifted his weight slightly, resting one elbow on the counter. "Not many folks come in just to look these days."

Liora hesitated. He wasn’t wrong. After all, who would want to buy these things in an apocalyptic world when they didn’t even have enough money to spend on food? But she did not want to dampen the old man’s mood, so she changed the topic.

She turned back to the radio. "Do these still work?"

"Some do," the old man said. "Takes a little effort to fix them up. Used to be that people could listen to music, the news, even the voices of others from miles away." He sighed. "Now, it’s just silence."

Liora tried to consider that, but she did not know how it felt to be alone and in silence. She was the kind of person who was never alone from birth. There were always people flocking beside her, and if not them, her family was always there.

"You’ve been running this place for long?" she asked, glancing at him.

He smiled gently. "Longer than you’ve been alive," he said with a chuckle. He reached beneath the counter and pulled out a tarnished pocket watch, flipping it open. "This used to belong to my father. He ran a repair shop when the world was so peaceful, even before the war between countries. He taught me everything I know."

Liora eyed the watch. It was old but well cared for, the kind of thing people held onto even when they lost everything else.

"You fix things?" she asked.

"Used to," he said, snapping the watch shut. "Not much demand for repairs when people only care about survival. But I still do when I can. Old habits, you know."

Liora found herself relaxing slightly. She did not feel any bad intentions from him. He was a kind old man and someone who cherished relationships and held onto them tightly. This thought was enough to make Liora smile back at him without any reserve.

"Not many places like this still standing. People don’t prefer it now," she remarked.

"That’s true," he admitted. "People take what they need and move on. But I figure there’s still value in keeping a place like this. Even if it’s just for the stories."

Liora glanced around. The shop wasn’t just full of junk. It was full of memories.

"Got any good stories, then?" she asked, testing the waters.

Liora tried to engage the old man. There was a gut feeling inside her that this man would definitely be someone powerful and well-connected—something she needed most right now.

The old man grinned, leaning forward slightly. "Plenty. Are you in a hurry?"