Anna and Vela walked away from the crowd.
Toward the deepest part of Firmament.
The deeper they went—
the more guards there were.
Better weapons.
Sharper gazes.
An elite apartment district.
A place where high-class scavengers lived.
Completely different from the shabby tents outside the city.
The gate opened after A.R.M verification.
They stepped inside.
Quiet.
Calm.
A stark contrast to the outside.
A few minutes later—
they arrived at their room.
The door closed.
Click.
Vela walked in without saying a word.
Dropped her bag.
Then—
she started taking off her gear.
Light armor.
Shoes.
Gloves.
One by one.
Without energy.
Anna watched her for a moment.
Then went to clean herself first.
Water flowed.
Silence.
Only the sound of water.
After a while—
Vela stepped into the bath.
Warm water.
Her body slowly sank.
"…haaah…"
A long breath.
Her body finally relaxed.
Silence again.
Then—
"I'm sorry."
Vela's voice was soft.
Anna paused for a moment.
"…for what?"
"I… forced you to come."
"I was selfish."
Anna gave a small smile.
"That's not a problem."
She rinsed her hands.
"It is my duty to protect and serve as Lady Vela's guard."
Vela immediately frowned.
"Don't say that."
She looked at Anna.
"I've never seen you as a guard."
"…you're my partner."
Anna fell silent for a moment.
Then replied quietly—
"Isn't that just… an act?"
She turned her head.
"So no one finds out you're from Olfein."
Vela let out a small laugh.
Stiff.
"…yeah."
She looked at the water's surface.
"We almost died back there."
"…I don't think about things like that anymore."
Silence.
Anna looked at her.
More serious now.
"…let's go home."
Vela froze.
"To Olfein."
Anna's tone was firm.
"This is too dangerous."
Vela started trembling.
The memories resurfaced.
Gunfire.
The chase.
Blood.
She shook her head.
Slowly.
"…no."
Anna frowned.
"Why?"
Vela clenched her hands in the water.
"…I came here… to prove something."
Her voice grew stronger.
"For my older brother."
Anna went quiet.
"I didn't come all this way… just to return empty-handed."
Vela looked at her.
Serious.
"I'll survive."
"I'll live here."
"And I'll return to Olfein… with my own strength."
Silence.
Anna lowered her head slightly.
"…but it's dangerous here."
She looked at Vela again.
"If something happens to you…"
"…all of this will mean nothing."
"…we should go back as soon as possible, milady."
Vela shook her head again.
This time more firmly.
"No."
The water rippled softly.
"No matter how many times you try to persuade me…"
"I won't go home empty-handed."
She looked at Anna.
"…please understand."
Anna didn't answer immediately.
She just stood there.
Looking at Vela.
With an expression…
a mix of worry and resignation.
Suddenly, Vela laughed softly.
Forced.
"…besides, we survived, right?"
She leaned back against the edge of the tub.
"Thanks to that boy… Arche."
Her tone changed.
More lively.
"If we could recruit him to our team…"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Do you think our chances of surviving out there would go up?"
Anna stayed silent.
Vela continued—
"You saw it yourself, right?"
"He's strong."
"And he's about our age."
She smiled.
"We could definitely become good friends."
Anna let out a long sigh.
Looking at Vela.
Serious.
"Vela."
Her tone changed.
"He's dangerous."
Vela blinked.
"Huh?"
Anna continued—
"I admit… his ability is high."
"Not like a beginner."
She crossed her arms.
"But his equipment… is beginner-level."
"Even worse than ours."
Vela frowned.
"So?"
Anna looked at her more deeply.
"That's the strange part."
Silence for a moment.
"His movements… don't match his equipment."
"He moves like a veteran."
Vela fell silent.
Anna continued—
"He fought three Beginner Hunters."
"And won."
She looked at Vela's hand.
"Yes, I fired the last shot."
"But he created the opening."
Vela remembered.
Arche's body—
turning,
using the hunter as a shield.
Anna spoke again, quietly—
"If he hadn't done that…"
"…we wouldn't know the outcome right now."
Silence.
"He made a decision… while he was about to die."
"While being strangled."
Anna looked at Vela sharply.
"That's not something a beginner can do."
Vela swallowed.
"He didn't panic."
"He didn't lose control."
"He stayed calm… the entire fight."
Anna paused.
Then added—
"He even negotiated… in the middle of the battle."
Silence again.
The water rippled softly.
Vela thought.
Then—
"…so what's the problem?"
She looked at Anna.
"He's strong, right?"
"If he joins our team… isn't that a good thing?"
Anna replied immediately—
"That doesn't make him safe."
Vela went quiet.
Anna continued—
"He's dangerous, milady."
Her voice was low.
"We don't know what he wants."
"…or why he uses beginner equipment."
Silence.
Anna's gaze didn't waver.
"People like that…"
"…are usually hiding something."
Vela looked at the water.
Her reflection wavered.
Warm steam slowly rose.
She looked at Anna.
"…then we'll just hire him."
Anna raised an eyebrow.
"Arche."
Vela nodded.
"He seems… obsessed with money."
She crossed her arms.
"Wouldn't that make things easier?"
"Like earlier… he accepted our SOS signal."
Anna replied instantly—
"People who are obsessed with money…"
She paused.
"…won't stay neutral."
Vela frowned.
"That's exactly the problem."
Anna continued—
"That's what makes them the most dangerous."
Silence.
"We can't keep him in our team permanently."
"Or entrust our safety to him."
Vela let out a long sigh.
Her head sank slightly into the water.
Bubbles rose to the surface.
"…hmmm…"
She frowned.
Then said—
"In that case… we'll just try first."
Anna looked at her.
"Hunt scrap with him."
Vela lifted her head.
Water dripped from her hair.
"We'll see how it goes."
Anna stayed silent.
"If he really is reliable… we continue."
"If not… then that's it."
Vela smiled faintly.
"Simple, right?"
Anna shook her head slowly.
"…I'd rather not get involved with him again."
Vela blinked.
"Why?"
Anna looked at her.
Serious.
"I can't read his character."
Silence.
The words hung in the air.
Vela only sighed.
"You're overthinking things that don't matter."
She leaned her head back.
"What matters is…"
"…he's strong."
"…and reliable."
She looked at Anna.
"We pay him."
"We stay safe."
Silence.
Anna only let out a long sigh.
She didn't argue anymore.