We walked.
The ruins around us felt quieter than before.
Our footsteps echoed clearly.
Vela and Anna were behind me.
They kept glancing left and right.
Their rifles pointed in every direction.
Awkward.
Too tense.
Vela looked like she was trembling.
Meanwhile, Anna… was more composed. Her gaze sharp. Her movements controlled.
I said nothing.
In my hand—
The long-barrel rifle from the hunter earlier.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
But better than having nothing.
"Reina," I said quietly.
"I'm monitoring," she replied quickly.
"Keep scanning the area. We avoid all contact."
"I know," she said. "You only have a long-range weapon now. And one arm you can actually use."
I clicked my tongue softly.
"Even if I control your body," Reina continued, "the recoil from that rifle won't be manageable in your current condition."
"So don't fire recklessly."
"Right."
We kept walking.
Reina floated around me, her eyes glowing.
"Distance to Firmament: decreasing. No significant heat signatures nearby. Area relatively safe."
Silent.
Too silent.
No monsters.
No sound.
Only the wind slipping through the gaps of broken buildings.
"…strange," I muttered.
"It is," Reina replied. "Usually there's at least some minor activity."
We kept moving.
Until finally—
We exited the ruins.
The main road stretched out ahead.
Connecting Sector F-02 to the city of Firmament.
Cracked asphalt. Old vehicle tracks. But still passable.
I stopped for a moment.
Staring at the road.
"…we're almost there."
Reina didn't answer immediately.
A few seconds of silence.
Then—
"Arche."
"Mm?"
"I'm detecting something."
I narrowed my eyes.
"What?"
Reina's voice turned serious.
"There are many heat signatures… coming from the direction of the city."
I immediately tensed.
"How many?"
"A lot. Organized. Tight formation."
I squinted toward the main road.
Dust began to rise.
A faint vibration spread through the ground.
"…that's not ordinary scavengers," I muttered.
"Correct," Reina replied. "Heavy vehicles. Large unit… and—"
She paused.
"…robots."
From the distance—
They appeared.
A line of fully armed soldiers.
Uniform armor.
Closed helmets.
Heavy weapons in their hands.
Behind them—
Large robots walked.
Metal creaking.
And further back—
Tanks.
Moving slowly along the cracked road.
I held my breath.
"Reina… who are they?"
Reina focused, reading data from their helmets.
Digital text flashed across my vision.
"O.W.N Military Forces."
"…official troops," I muttered.
"Yes," Reina replied. "Full military-class unit specializing in eliminating mechanical monsters from the Old World Network."
They passed in front of us.
Without stopping.
Without hesitation.
Like a different world entirely.
Until—
One of them stopped.
He turned.
His gaze locked onto us.
I tensed.
His helmet glowed.
Scanning.
"…A.R.M detected," Reina murmured.
In an instant—
Our information was read.
The man stepped slightly closer.
"Beginner scavengers?" he said flatly.
I didn't answer.
"Be careful," he continued. "I've heard there are many Rookie Hunters around F-02."
Vela answered nervously.
"U-um… where are you heading?"
The man glanced slightly.
"Shift change at the border."
Short.
Then he left.
The unit continued moving.
Leaving us at the roadside.
I watched them disappear.
"…the border?"
Reina answered quietly.
"The border between the continents of Olfein and Fertissio."
I fell silent.
"Over there… is the largest nest of mechanical monsters," she continued. "O.W.N forces and Olfein's forces are conducting joint operations."
"…Olfein," I muttered.
That name… felt distant.
It had been a long time since I last heard it.
Reina went quiet for a moment.
Her expression changed.
Slightly somber.
"…yes," she said softly. "The continent of Olfein. Where the Kingdom of Evernoir stands."
I looked ahead at the empty road.
"…for now," I said quietly, "going there… is suicide."
Reina nodded.
"With your current equipment? Impossible."
I took a breath.
Tightened my grip on the rifle.
"Focus on surviving first."
"Right," Reina replied. "Gather equipment. Grow stronger."
She looked at me.
"Someday… you can return to Olfein."
I didn't answer.
I just kept walking.
Toward Firmament.
We finally reached the gates of Firmament.
Guards stood watch.
More than usual.
Weapons ready.
Sharp gazes.
"A.R.M verification," one of the guards said.
I raised my hand.
My device lit up.
Quick scan.
"…valid. Enter."
We passed through the gate.
The moment we stepped inside—
The sound of the city hit us.
Crowded.
People walking.
Sounds of transactions.
Metal clashing.
A noisy life.
I hadn't gone far—
"hah… hah…"
A voice from behind.
I turned.
Vela.
She… collapsed to the ground.
Right in the middle of the road.
"f… finally…"
Her voice trembled.
"I… made it back…"
She covered her face.
"…alive…"
Her sobs broke out.
"Huaaaah…!"
People started to look.
Some glanced.
Some just passed by.
Anna panicked.
"Hey—Vela! Get up! Not here!"
She looked around.
Anxious.
Trying to pull Vela up.
"It's okay… we're safe now…"
I let out a long breath.
"…I don't have time for this."
Both of them looked at me.
"Pay the rest," I said flatly. "As agreed. 1000 Nexbit."
Vela quickly wiped her face.
"I-I'm sorry…"
She hurriedly took out her A.R.M.
Her hands still trembling.
She brought it close to mine.
The transfer processed.
Reina spoke immediately.
"It's in. 1000 Nexbit."
I nodded slightly.
Anna helped Vela stand.
They both still looked shaken.
I turned around.
Started walking.
"Wait!"
Vela's voice stopped me.
I paused.
Turned slightly.
"Do you… have time… another day?"
I stayed silent.
"We could… hunt scrap together," she continued. "I think… more people… is safer…"
Anna immediately cut in.
"Wait, Vela."
Her tone firm.
"We don't know who he is."
She stared at me sharply.
"The way he fights… isn't beginner level."
"…he can't be a beginner."
She shook her head.
"I don't want to take that risk."
I looked at both of them.
Then answered briefly.
"…I am a beginner."
Anna didn't look convinced.
Vela looked at me.
A little hesitant.
A little hopeful.
"I'll… consider it," I added. "If it benefits me."
Vela nodded quickly.
"Yes! Alright!"
She smiled.
Tired.
But genuine.
I turned again.
Started walking away.
My steps blended into the crowd of the city.
"Arche," Reina's voice was soft.
"Mm?"
"Now… we have 2008 Nexbit."
I smirked faintly.
"…finally."
For the first time—
I wasn't truly poor anymore.