The Future Drawn by the Money Compass
"The combat capabilities of the ECHOs from Ark 69 are decent. However, we are far too outnumbered. In fact, it is bordering on being hopeless for us."
Lena spoke in a clear voice.
And I had to admit she was right. Arva, Moi, Pomen, and others—Ark 69 had plenty of capable girls.
If I had posted this on the ECHO community site, the takeoff authorization order would have been issued immediately, right?
But this wasn't a world inside a game.
Unlike the game, Original Squads alone couldn't handle everything.
"If a single Troller-class unit appears like this time, we should be able to hold them off somehow through your command, Commander, and the ECHOs' struggle. But if two or three swarm us at once..."
She paused for a moment and gazed at me.
Beneath her beautiful sapphire-blue eyes, a deep sense of concern began to settle.
"It would be a certain defeat. And that's not the only problem. Currently, all of our Ark's forces are concentrated in Hongwei-7, meaning our main base, the Ark, is completely empty, which is also a critical issue."
Elite small groups are important, but in the end, no one can stand against overwhelming numbers.
In truth, this victory was close to a miracle.
It was a result achieved through the hard carry of Moi, who had obtained her Exclusive Weapon, the Tier 1 anti-Astral Deck capabilities of Arva, and my own game knowledge.
What if even one of those factors had failed?
My isekai life would have ended yesterday.
I shuddered involuntarily at the chilling thought.
There were still mountains of ECHOs I had to fu—no, I mean, increase my affection with—and I didn't want to die like that.
Furthermore, I had to find Isol, wherever she was, who had thrown me here for some reason.
If nothing else, I absolutely wanted to hear the reason why I was dragged to this place.
"They'll come back, won't they?"
"I cannot say for certain, but I believe there is a very high probability they will return, Commander."
"Sigh..."
At Lena's words, I rested my chin on my hand with a serious expression.
The Astral bastards' goal wasn't me or our Ark 69.
They were targeting the resident of Hongwei-7 and the Anomaly, the Hachishakusama, Podic.
And based on the ECHOs' accounts, it seemed the Astrals grew their power by absorbing high-level Anomalies like Podic.
Then they won't give up easily.
No hunter retreats with delicious prey right in front of them.
In other words, it was as clear as day that they would swarm back in the near future.
And when that time came, it would be impossible to stop them with just a single Bastion defense platform and a handful of ECHOs.
"I'll have to prepare to activate the mass-produced ECHO production line immediately."
"What? But Commander."
Lena frowned, looking troubled.
"Activating the ECHO production line currently requires immense resources and facilities. Furthermore, the northern mines needed for platform construction lack safety and mining facilities."
I nodded and smiled at Lena's realistic concerns.
"Don't worry, Lena."
I had a whopping 840,000 Cash in my hand.
If I just scrimped, saved, and budgeted somehow... wouldn't it be enough?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I returned to the Ark.
Arclight and the Cerberus squad remained in Hongwei-7 to establish a defensive line, but there was no telling when the Astrals might provoke them.
Before they stormed in, I had to produce mass-produced ECHOs through the production line as quickly as possible to prepare for their invasion.
[Welcome back, Commander]
As I entered the headquarters, the voice of Wanderer, the Ark's Central AI, echoed in my ears.
"Nothing happened, right?"
[No. There were 7 attempted intrusions by zombies, but they were repelled by the Ark's automatic defense facilities without the need for ECHO deployment. Additionally, new crops have begun to grow in the indoor farm.]
"That's a relief."
Seven zombie intrusions.
In the past, that would have been a disaster, but now it had reached a level where it wasn't even a big deal.
Anyway, since they were handled without the ECHOs' deployment, it seemed some lost bastards had crawled into the warehouse disguised as the Ark's entrance and been turned into Swiss cheese.
While receiving Wanderer's report, I called up the Money Compass interface.
💰 Money Compass 💰
Owned Cash: 847200C
On one side of the screen, a dazzlingly beautiful number remained.
It was a number that made the corners of my mouth curl up every time I saw it.
"Now then, shall we do some shopping?"
First, I added the parts Lena had requested to the list.
They were essential for the Ark's future, but were items that couldn't be obtained immediately without the power of the Money Compass.
"C-008 Dedicated Frame, general-grade universal core, high-output energy converter, ultra-compact Arc Reactor..."
[You may exclude the ultra-compact Arc Reactor, Commander.]
"Huh...?"
[The items you are currently attempting to purchase all appear to be parts related to the construction of the C-008.]
"That's right."
[In that case, the ultra-compact Arc Reactor can be sufficiently replaced by dismantling and modifying spares available in the Ark. It should be possible with Karen's skills.]
"...Right."
That worked out well.
Even if it was ultra-compact, the Arc Reactor—which was essentially a generator—cost a whopping 25,000C for ten units.
Once everything was sorted and I pressed the purchase button, the Cash decreased, and giant boxes began to thud down relentlessly into the empty space of the Commander's office.
It was as if a delivery driver had leaped through space to throw the packages and leave.
[It is a marvelous sight no matter how many times I see it.]
"What is?"
[The act of creating something from nothing. An Artifact that ignores the laws of physics, like your compass, Commander, does not exist in my database.]
"Is that so?"
Actually, I found it marvelous too.
And every time I looked at the compass, I felt incredibly lucky.
If I didn't have the Money Compass... just imagining it was horrific.
I probably would have been chewed up and torn apart by zombie hordes or Astral bastards and turned into fertilizer long ago.
"Alright. Then could you contact Lena and Karen? Tell them to come to the Commander's office."
[Understood. I will call them immediately.]
A short while later, Lena and Karen, having received Wanderer's contact, knocked on the door of the Commander's office.
The door opened with a polite knock, and Lena, spotting me, gave a salute.
Behind her, I saw Karen in work clothes peeking her head in with a face full of curiosity.
"Commander! You called—"
Lena's words cut off abruptly.
Her eyes widened as she discovered the Money Compass deliveries that now filled one entire wall of the Commander's office.
The packages, stacked almost to the ceiling, filled half the room.
"Hieek?!"
Karen, who followed her in, also froze with her mouth wide open.
"Commander, what is this...?!"
"I borrowed the power of an Artifact."
I shrugged and tapped one of the boxes.
"With this, we should be able to produce about six C-008s, which are needed immediately, right?"
"...Please give me a moment to check."
At my words, Lena hurriedly composed her expression and began checking the boxes.
I thought she would jump for joy seeing the suddenly appeared materials, but is she similar in personality to Arva?
With a blunt expression, Lena unpacked the boxes one by one and began meticulously verifying the contents.
Karen, on the other hand, was different.
"Wow—! Waaaah! This is a universal Core! And... a latest model?! The production year is—eh?! Today?!"
She looked quite cute, screaming every time she opened a box as if she were unwrapping Christmas presents.
"Commander—! W-Where did you get these?"
"The compass."
In response to Karen's question, I flicked open the compass in my hand to show her.
"This is a high-output energy converter... I have also confirmed the C-008 Dedicated Frames."
Having finished checking the boxes, Lena dusted off her hands and lifted three of the nearest boxes simultaneously.
The weight must have been considerable, but an ECHO was indeed an ECHO.
"I will begin work immediately. If we work through the night, I estimate it will take exactly 39 hours and 15 minutes."
"Work through the night?"
"Yes, Commander. Now is not the time to waste time."
"That's right! And for gearheads, pulling an all-nighter is an indispensable element!"
At Karen's words, Lena's lips curled up slightly as she looked back.
"Karen!"
"Yes, Senior!!"
At Lena's call, Karen began lifting and moving the material boxes.
And a moment later...
"Hurry, hurry! It's overtime today—!"
Even the SCOUT-101 girl who had been on reconnaissance with Alpha was called in, and they began lifting the delivery boxes in the Commander's office and moving them to the workshop in an orderly fashion.
💰 Money Compass 💰
Owned Cash: 735800C
Even after purchasing all the materials needed for the C-008 production, 730,000 Cash still remained.
And this...
"I should use this for Exclusive Weapons and upgrades when Arva and the other girls return later."
Only then would it seem possible to stand a chance even if a Named Astral appeared.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As soon as Lena and Karen left the Commander's office, the Ark regained its vitality with a faint vibration.
"Don't you think we'll need to increase the size of the workshop soon?"
[Yes, Commander. I judge that the scale of the workshop will also need to be expanded once the mining of northern mineral resources begins in earnest.]
I nodded while listening to Wanderer's report.
"It was really an Ark with nothing in it... It's grown a lot."
The once quiet hangar was instantly transformed into a massive workshop.
Karen flew over the production line, holding a spanner as large as her own body.
"Good! Frame alignment error under 0.003%! Connect the energy lines—!"
"Yes!!"
Lena directed the entire process with cold, calculating eyes. Following her instructions, the two existing C-008s tirelessly carried parts and sent sparks of welding flying.
Clang, clang.
The sounds of hammering, tightening, and fitting metal echoed like a cheerful rhythm. In time with that sound, a bluish culture medium began to fill the transparent incubation tanks.
And finally, the first fruit was borne.
[C-008. System booting.]
Sssssss—!
Along with the sound of the culture medium draining, thick steam rose.
Through the mist, an ECHO with the same appearance as the existing C-008 slowly stood up.
"......Ah."
It was an ECHO with an active impression, her blonde hair tied in a tight ponytail, wearing a black tank top and short hot pants that revealed her thighs.
With auxiliary mechanical arms attached to her back and a giant mechanical drill equipped on one arm, she was the embodiment of a combative worker born to replace numerous tasks in the Ark.
The ECHO, who had been looking around like a newborn bird, soon seemed to realize her mission and lifted her heavy mechanical arm.
"Alright, next! Karen! Let's continue production without resting!"
"Yes, Senior!"
After confirming that the second C-008 line had begun to run, Lena departed for Hongwei-7 with a total of five mass-produced ECHOs—the two existing C-008s and the three newly completed ones.
Naturally, the Mercury Howl, with Lena at the wheel, was reliably loaded with two Arc Reactors brought from Ark 74.
And three days later...
[Commander. External communication.]
"...External communication?"
[Yes, from Hongwei-7. The communication code name is... Lena Hydros of the Ironworks Squad.]
"Ah, it's Lena? Alright. Connect it."
Along with Wanderer's report, an external screen appeared on the main monitor of the Commander's office. The familiar background seemed to be the interior of Bastion.
[Commander, reporting—]
And in the center, Lena's face appeared, dressed neatly in her uniform. At the same time...
[Po-po-po—!]
[Podic… just rubbing your face against the lens won't let you go to where the Commander is.]
Podic's face rubbing against the camera lens and Lena's flustered voice echoed through.
At that absurd sight, I let out a hollow laugh and waved my hand toward Podic.