Sweet Aftereffects
The Mercury Howl, having departed from Hongwei-7, crossed the harsh wasteland and slid smoothly into the entrance of Ark 69—or more accurately, into the vast, dilapidated mega-logistics warehouse that served as its gateway.
"We should start reinforcing the defense facilities around the entrance soon."
"I agree, Commander. As the frequency of transport truck traffic increases, simply disguising it as an abandoned warehouse like before will have its limits."
"Hmm..."
I nodded in response to Helena, who was holding the steering wheel.
Our Ark was no longer that tiny place from the old days, when it consisted of only three or four ECHOs.
It was growing into a legitimate power in its own right.
Well, maybe not quite a power yet though?
"Wow—!"
"Is this Ark 69...?"
"I heard this place was crushed by a Named-grade monster called the Crawler Queen…no?"
The A-202 Raptors sitting in the back of the truck exclaimed as they looked out the window.
These were the ones who had been brought along with the girls who remained as reserve forces instead of being assigned to a squad this time.
"Huh...?"
"Wait, what?"
"I don't see any... humans?"
What unfolded before their eyes was the interior of an Ark that, while small in scale, was perfectly maintained.
Most surprising of all was that not a single human administrator could be found. Those who came out to greet the truck's arrival were all ECHOs.
"Whenever Commander Lin Ao went on an expedition..."
"Even for an operational mission that took only an hour, half of the Ark's ECHOs had to be waiting outside upon his return."
This wasn't even just any Commander, but the return of the Ark’s one and only Fleet Commander, yet the number of ECHOs who showed themselves seemed to be fewer than ten.
"Welcome back, Fleet Commander."
"Ah, Madeline."
As I opened the door and stepped out, Madeline, dressed in an elegant maid outfit, bowed her head to greet me with elegant movements.
Beside her, Lena and Karen were also standing, having appeared at some point.
"Commander, I hope you were able to return safe and sound, right?"
"Ah, yeah. Lena. Everything's been okay here, right?"
"Yes. I have a few things to report, but nothing major."
"Is that so? Then I'll hear them later in the commander's office."
Next, my eyes turned to Karen.
Unlike Madeline and Lena, she was a girl who hadn't been able to leave the Ark for a single step, spending her time busily with ECHO production, truck modification, and equipment crafting.
"Karen, you really worked hard. As expected, you're the best."
"Y-Yes?! Oh, no! I... I was just... I-It's just an honor to be of help to the Commander!"
At my praise, Karen blushed, not knowing what to do with herself.
True to her setting of being weak to compliments, even her ears had turned bright red. If this were a dating simulation game, a message saying Affection has increased significantly would likely have appeared by now.
After responding lightly to their welcome, I rubbed my aching lower back and looked at Lena again.
"How's the resource situation?"
At my question, Lena pulled out a tablet as if she had been waiting.
"The resources from Hongwei-7 have all been sorted and are being stored in the loading area of Sector D-2. Since they are high-purity resources extracted from Astral debris, they are expected to be a great help in repairing the Ark."
"Just check the rare materials separately and let me know later."
"Understood, Commander. Also, as previously reported, the expansion work on the Indoor Farm has been completed. Sowing is already finished, and the hydroponic system is operational, so the first harvest is expected in two weeks."
Two weeks...
No matter how I think about it, the technology of this world was simply astounding.
What's more astounding are the humans of this other world who were trampled by zombies or Astrals despite possessing such incredible technology.
Resources, food, maintenance systems, and there was nothing that they lacked.
Even while I was away in Hongwei-7, the Ark had not stopped working; it was breathing and growing on its own like a living entity.
This was all thanks to Original ECHOs like Lena, of course.
"Good, you've worked hard."
I looked back with a satisfied smile.
I saw the A-202 girls, their eyes darting around in the unfamiliar environment.
"You all know them, right? These are the girls who newly joined from Ark 86. They belong to us now..."
My gaze landed on the blue-haired ECHO among those who came to greet us, Alpha, who could be called the most senior among our Ark's mass-produced ECHOs.
"Alpha."
"Y-Yes! Commander."
"Take good care of them. Assign them quarters and guide them to places like the cafeteria or the Fountain of Eden. Also, let them know the rules they need to follow in our Ark."
"Yes! Commander."
At my instruction, Alpha's eyes widened as she looked at the newcomers, then she gave a bright smile and nodded vigorously.
By the way, since she was the first mass-produced ECHO of our Ark, I had named her Alpha, but since the Alpha Squad had been formed, I felt like I should give her a new name.
I wish I could upgrade her to the Original level instead...
I really felt like looking for a way to do something like that for Alpha.
If this were the mobile game Echoes of Humanity — ECHO, it would be impossible, but this isn't a game.
Cores, data chips, Arc Reactors, and so on.
If I strengthened an ECHO with various high-quality materials, there might be a way to raise a mass-produced one to the Original level.
"Hi, I'm Alpha."
"A-202, Raptor. Serial number 3892."
"Number 4221."
"Number 8809."
"Uh, serial numbers... Ahaha. Then I'll just call you the Raptor girls. Follow me for now. I'll guide you to your new quarters first."
Alpha grabbed the hands of the Raptors, who were nervous in the unfamiliar environment, and led them away. Watching that heartwarming scene with a smile, I turned and headed toward the headquarters.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Fleet Commander’s Office of the Ark.
As I sank deep into the familiar leather chair, I finally felt like I had returned home.
It feels like only yesterday that I took a photo with my favorite character, Wanderer of the Ashes - Isol, at the 3rd anniversary event and was dragged into this world...
About three or four months had passed since that life changing event.
It was a short time, but the things I had experienced in that timespan made me feel like a decade had passed since then.
Having my arm cut off as soon as I opened my eyes, the ECHOs' humiliation show, the fight against the Carapace Lord and Astrals, and so on.
I felt like I had been through everything.
"Haa— to think I'd catch that Leviathan here too."
In the game, it was a thing I hunted mechanically every day to farm equipment.
I never imagined I would actually catch it in reality.
No, since I had fallen into this world, I had vaguely imagined that such a thing would happen eventually.
But I didn't know I would encounter a Quasi-Named-grade Astral so quickly.
[You've worked hard, Commander.]
Wanderer's voice echoed along with a message in the air.
It was a tone slightly different from the usual stiff system alerts, with a strange ECHO-like scent to it. I grinned and interlaced my fingers.
"I did, didn't I? I took down a Troller-class Mobile Aircraft Carrier and even a Leviathan."
[I heard. It is a truly magnificent achievement. If the Supreme Commadner had known, he would have awarded you a medal and more.]
"Supreme Commander?"
[A term referring to the commanders of the higher-numbered Arks. Ark 69 follows Ark 6 in the hierarchy.]
"Hmm..."
Was there such a setting?
I had played the game enough to be called a veteran, but since I had just played diligently, I hadn't mastered the lore.
Moreover, the timeline was 30 years before the setting I knew.
Perhaps that's why?
Living in reality in this world, there are many things I'm hearing for the first time.
Anyway, it meant that if Ark 6 was the central government, the 60-series Arks like 69 were something like local governments.
"Well, I guess there's no need to worry about it?"
[That is correct. Communication with Ark 6 was completely severed after the second Deep Impact. That was over ten years ago.]
Wanderer said with a short sigh.
While talking, I felt a throb in my lower back and tapped it with my fist.
"By the way, recommend some physical enhancement items to me. Something related to combat ability."
[...Are you injured?]
"Not exactly. But there were a few times I almost died."
If Noah hadn't been there to shield me, taking the place of Podic, there were several experiences where I might have been crushed to death or seriously injured by buildings collapsing during the Leviathan's bombardment.
If I, the Fleet Commander, fell, it would be the end for the Ark and the ECHOs.
For survival, spec-ing up was essential.
"Even if I can't become like Superman, there are one or two things that are problematic with my current body."
[In that case, should I recommend physical enhancers related to strength and agility?]
"Hmm... and maybe some vitality?"
[Vitality?]
"Well, you know what I mean."
When I winked at Wanderer, our Central AI fell silent as if appalled, then let out a long sigh.
[...Please share the Fleet Commander's Artifact list.]
At Wanderer's request, I began to list the physical enhancement drugs available for purchase via the Money Compass one by one.
Eventually, among the numerous drugs, Wanderer mentioned two items.
[I recommend Velocity Graft and Heavy Myostatin.]
"Really?"
[Yes. Velocity Graft is a procedure for fast-twitch fiber activation and lightweighting. It maintains muscle density while reducing weight and maximizing contraction speed, so instantaneous acceleration and leaping power will increase dramatically.]
"The downside?"
[The burden on the joints increases, so if bone reinforcement like Carbon Infusion is not performed first, the risk of ligament rupture is very high.]
At Wanderer's following words, I selected both Velocity Graft and Carbon Infusion from the shop list.
"62,000 Cash? No... that's way too expensive."
Compared to the Mito Drive or Red Core Serum, the price was nearly five or six times higher.
[But the effect will be just as certain. And Heavy Myostatin is a strength enhancer. The enhancement effect you desire, Commander, will follow as a bonus.]
"Is that so? Then I have to buy it."
It was an investment in myself and a flex for the future.
Since I had gained a huge amount of Cash through the battle in Hongwei-7, I boldly purchased all the physical enhancers Wanderer mentioned.
A total of 97,000 Cash.
A heavy red medicine bottle and a black ampoule dropped onto the desk from the air.
"Do I just take these? There won't be any side effects, right?"
[Since a reconstruction of the body will occur, there will be pain. Just in case, I will call an ECHO to assist the Fleet Commander.]
While listening to Wanderer's warning, I poured all the medicine into my mouth and swallowed it with water.
[Wait, Fleet Commander! If you take them all at once...!]
"Huh? ...Ugh, ugh?!"
It wasn't like I was taking elixirs or anything, but still…as soon as the pills passed down my esophagus, a heat like boiling lava spread through my stomach.
Already, the muscles of my entire body were screaming, and my vision began to blur.
It was then.
The door to the Fleet Commander's office opened, and the sound of hurried footsteps was heard.
"Fleet Commander?"
A characteristically emotionless, dry voice. It was Silva.
[Silva the Fleet Commander is currently undergoing rapid physical enhancement. However, since he took a large amount of medicine at once, the side effects will hit him all at once.]
"...Understood."
Despite Wanderer's urgent explanation, Silva did not waver.
Approaching me without hesitation, she slid her arms under my armpits to support me and immediately laid me on the bed.
"...Thanks, Silva."
"Please save your words, Commander."
As I lay on the bed, the screams of the muscles enveloping my body felt as if they were subsiding slightly. As the tension released, an irresistible sleep began to wash over me.
"...Body temperature rise confirmed. Exceeding 39 degrees. Implementing cooling measures."
Silva began to move busily.
Quickly preparing several cold wet towels, Silva meticulously wiped the forehead, nape, and the chest—which was burning like a fireball—of the Commander, who had fallen asleep, looking as if he had fainted.
"Haa... haa..."
"......I will wipe below as well, Commander."
Next, after removing all of the Commander's underwear, Silva, with a blunt but careful touch, wiped the Commander's groin and inner thighs.
And she wiped the hot pillar that she herself had once accepted inside of her.
Having finished all the measures, she covered the naked Commander with a soft blanket.
"........."
Soon, only the Commander's soft breathing filled the room.
Silva stood by the head of the bed, looking down at the sleeping Commander with a wet towel on his head for a long time.
Time passed by hastily as she watched the lying commander.
Ssssk.
Silva silently took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed.
Then, she carefully lifted the Commander's head and moved it onto her firm, smooth thighs.
Instead of a hard pillow, her thighs, where the Commander could feel her body heat, supported his head.
"......"
After carefully checking the surroundings, Silva lightly tapped the cheek of the snoring Commander with her finger.
The corners of her mouth, which were always expressionless, curled up into a soft arc.