I Want to Be Trusted
"That said, Commander. Could I ask for one small favor?"
Arva spoke cautiously, maintaining her usual prim and proper posture.
Unlike her normal tone, there was a hint of resolve and tension at the end of her voice.
"A favor?"
I glanced at her.
Pomen might ask me for things now and then, but it was rare for Arva to request anything from me.
"Yes, Commander. I'd like to step out of the Ark briefly with Pomen."
"With Pomen? What's the reason?"
"On our way back to the Ark, we spotted several warehouses scattered widely around the area. They might hold useful materials or supplies. I think there could be items that would greatly aid the Ark's reconstruction, so I'd like to search them myself."
"Ah..."
Listening to her, I could easily guess why she needed Pomen.
She must be planning to use Pomen's scouting skills and her capacity for labor as an ECHO.
Firepower-type ECHO units were on the stronger side anyway.
"Alright, go ahead."
It didn't seem like something I should refuse, so I nodded.
Beyond the window stretched the gray ruins.
Thinking about them made securing even a little more resources an absolute necessity.
"Then we'll head out after lunch. It should take about a day."
"A whole day? That's longer than I expected."
"It's not just gathering materials. We plan to clean up any zombies still lurking nearby. We need to make the routes into the Ark safer, after all."
"Alright. It'll be tough, but I'm counting on you."
"No, Commander. Thank you for granting my request."
Arva saluted sharply, organized her papers, and left my room.
I'd been planning to sneak a feel of Pomen's soft skin tonight...
But rebuilding the Ark took priority. Still, I'd use the extra day to recover some semen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"We'll be back—!"
Pomen gave a cheeky salute, then vanished beyond the western gate alongside Arva, who bowed her head silently in farewell.
"...This is boring."
Being alone in the empty commander's office felt awkward, the silence pressing down on me.
I stood up, grabbed my White Tiger just in case, and began wandering the wrecked Ark.
Ark 69 Commander Recruitment
Eligibility: Humans 18 years or older.
Applications & Inquiries: Ark Command Headquarters
Walking past corroded buildings and ruined streets, my foot caught on a faded scrap of paper.
It was a faint trace of the people who once lived in Ark 69.
'According to Pomen, roughly a hundred people lived in this Ark 69, right?'
Earth had about seven or eight billion people, yet only around a hundred resided in the Ark.
It was a stark reminder of how unforgiving this world was to humans— completely insane.
Master's Shopping List as Ordered
Combat rations x3, chocolate x1, high-concentration nutrients, FN Fifteen pistol.
Among the remnants weren't just human traces— there were ECHO ones too.
It looked like it had been used as a personal secretary.
Well, per the lore, ECHO units were androids used in all sorts of fields beyond combat.
The daily lives of those ECHO units, and the humans they served, were fossilized on these scraps of paper, rolling in the dust.
Lost in a daze like that for a while, I soon spotted the underground water plant in Sector D-7.
"Shall I check it out?"
Since I was here, I headed over to see how the mass-produced ECHO Alpha was doing.
Screeech! Screeeeech!
In the water supply area, I found the mass-produced ECHO diligently repairing something— the one I'd named Alpha.
"......"
Alpha's model was Defender-7.
But the massive shield that defined her identity was nowhere to be seen. Instead, someone looking like a grease-monkey was grunting with a stained wrench.
"What are you up to?"
At my voice, Alpha jumped in surprise and snapped a salute.
"Ah, Commander! On patrol, are you? The water pump's acting up."
She wiped the sweat from her forehead and pointed to the rusted pump.
"As you can see, the pipes are badly worn."
"Does that mean problems with the Ark's drinking water supply?"
"Yes. But if I check it daily, it should hold for a few months. Still, we need to replace the pipelines soon."
"...You're working hard."
"Hehe. It's my duty."
Her words made me chuckle and nod.
I wanted to give her some kind of reward...
Racking my brain for what she might need, I remembered the chocolate on the note.
I used the Money Compass to blow my remaining 200 cash on a tiny Hershey's Kisses.
It was the size of a thumbnail, and ridiculously expensive. Worth one zombie kill for me alone.
"Here."
Alpha blinked in confusion at the chocolate I held out.
"What... is this?"
"It's called chocolate. It’s sweet and gives you a boost."
"Ah!"
Alpha took it carefully, like handling a priceless relic.
She stared curiously at the wrapper for a moment, then peeled it off gingerly.
She broke off a tiny piece and hesitated before putting it in her mouth.
That was the moment.
"—!!!"
Alpha's blue optical sensors dilated to record levels.
She didn't say a word, but her whole body expressed pure ecstasy.
"I-Incredible! Commander! This... this has happiness inside it!"
"Yeah, that's chocolate for you. The food that's sent countless kids to the dentist. Eat the rest. It's meant to be popped in whole and crunched."
"R-Really? But it's too precious..."
"It'll melt if you don't. Especially in this heat."
"Ah..."
At my words, Alpha crunched and swallowed the rest.
"Wow!"
She hopped around in delight.
Her innocent reaction made me burst out laughing without realizing it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Commander?"
Noah tilted her head at the empty commander's office without its occupant.
Arva and Pomen were out on a supply scouting mission today, but she'd heard the Commander was staying in the Ark.
Wanderer. Can you hear me?
Noah quietly connected to the Central AI.
Fortunately, the Commander was just taking a stroll around the Ark.
Confirming he was safe, Noah let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Lately, the Commander's light had dimmed noticeably.
The battles with the Hachishakusama and the Carapace Lord, followed by rebuilding the Ark 69.
The immense responsibility was clearly weighing him down.
And she hadn't been able to help him much.
[Arva: You need to reflect, Noah. Remember, if you hesitate, the Commander gets hurt.]
Recalling the moment before the Carapace Lord – facing the empty eyes of Karen, once a comrade, and hesitating – Noah bowed her head.
"Haa..."
Her mission was to be the Commander's shield.
But a moment of pity had nearly led to an irredeemable mistake.
Returning quietly to her room, Noah knelt on the cold floor.
"May my lord and light, the Commander, remain safe. May his blazing spear pierce the enemy and bestow seeds of grace upon the barbaric foes..."
In truth, she didn't believe in God.
Or rather, she didn't even know what God was.
Was it just instinct etched into her genes?
Somehow, this ritual – learned long ago from some human – calmed her troubled heart.
After praying for a long while, she headed back to the commander's quarters.
The Commander had returned unnoticed and was dozing lightly on the old bed.
"......"
His steady breathing carried a deep fatigue.
Noah watched him for a moment, fiddled with her fingertips, then quietly opened the door and stepped inside.
"Commander?"
"......"
No response despite several calls.
Noah approached softly, sat by his head, and gently offered her lap as a pillow.
Hoping he'd feel even a bit more at ease, even in his dreams.
Any other human might freak out at this...
[Pomen: Our Commander is a bit different. He doesn't hate ECHO units, you know?]
Those words from Pomen – her squadmate who had been with the Commander longer – gave her courage.
"......Ah."
Stroking his soft hair as he slept, Noah reflected on her actions once more.
Never again...
Nothing like with the Carapace Lord.
As the last squad of Ark 69 – the Arclight Squad – their sole mission was to protect this man.
She didn't want to be an ECHO who failed that mission over fleeting pity and hesitation.
That was when it happened.
The Commander slowly opened his eyes, still half-asleep, gazing at her with unfocused pupils.
"...Noah?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Why are you here...?"
Noah smiled faintly, placing her hand gently to keep his head on her soft thigh, stroking his hair.
"I wanted to provide some comfort. After the battles, your light feels much dimmer than before."
"...Light?"
"Yes. It was shining so brightly when we left the Ark... but now it's faded to half."
"......Is that so?"
He tried to say he was fine, but Noah knew better.
Unlike other humans, this new Commander was compassionate.
Instead of raging at an ECHO invading his bedroom, he understood her concern.
Ahh...
Someone this warm— she wanted to serve him forever.
"......"
That's when it hit her.
A message from Pomen over the Arclight Squad's tactical link chat.
She still didn't fully understand, but her heart began to race oddly.
After hesitating, Noah's eyes locked onto the Commander with resolve.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"Um... I heard something like that from Pomen. She said that if trust is built between the Commander and an Echo in both body and mind, one can see the Commander's most special weapon."
"Trust?"
"Yes. My body may be lacking... but I want to be someone you trust, too."
She wanted the deep trust Pomen had.
Her cheeks flushed for no reason, and she shyly lowered her voice.
"Trust? Special weapon? Pomen said that?"
"Yes? Yes."
"What's this weapon?"
"Its name is... Dick. I heard it's called Dick."
"......Ah."
Noah could feel the Commander's face stiffen.
If it was that serious and important a weapon, she wanted his trust even more.
"What kind of weapon is it? More special than your rifle, the White Tiger? I... I want to feel it like Pomen did!"
As the sole human in Ark 69, she wanted to prove her devotion to the Commander.