First Night
As the sun set over the wasteland shrouded in red dust, pitch-black darkness descended, accompanied by biting night air that chilled to the bone.
Unlike inside the Ark, the outside world—uninhabited by any living soul—featured only the skeletal silhouettes of barren buildings standing eerily in the distance. It was truly a land of death.
"Analysis complete. The concrete building 200 meters ahead is the optimal campsite, Commander. It's suitable for concealment and defense, with structural stability rated at over 87%."
"...It would be best to stay there, Commander."
"Yeah. Let's do that."
The spot Arva pointed out was a concrete building ideal for defense.
Zombies or anomalies could strike even in the dead of night, so resting in a secure location was only natural.
As we approached the building, Helena and Silva moved silently ahead.
[1st floor secured. Silva, head to the 2nd floor.]
[Confirmed.]
A brief exchange crackled over comms, followed by a moment of silence.
Soon, Helena's voice came through.
[Building interior clear. No anomalies. It's safe, Commander.]
Having cleared zombie hordes multiple times while traversing the district called Hongwei-7, the interior was mercifully free of any undead.
That didn't mean the place was pristine, though.
"I'll start a fire."
Arva held out her palm, and a flame flickered to life from her core, tinged with a blue glow.
I had no idea how it worked, but it was a flame perfectly adapted to this world—softly illuminating the surroundings without a trace of smoke.
Thanks to that, even if we lit a fire inside the light-tight concrete structure, zombies or mechanical monsters wouldn't spot our position.
"May we eat now?"
"...Yeah."
At my approval, all three ECHOs pulled out their concentrated nutrient packs simultaneously.
Arva finished hers neatly and turned her gaze toward me.
"Aren't you eating, Commander?"
"I'll eat later."
Was it due to the Mito Drive's influence?
I was really hungry right now.
But... I was done with those nutrient packs. If I had to eat one, I wanted to do it where the ECHOs couldn't see.
I didn't want them feeling bad, watching me grimace while they ate it like it was nothing.
Real combat rations would be a godsend.
I wished the farm would finish building even one day sooner.
Arva glanced at me briefly after my response, then bowed shortly and stood.
"I'll go on a quick patrol."
"Ah, then I'll—"
Silva stood as well.
Grabbing her rifle, she was probably checking sniper positions in case of trouble.
I don't remember perfectly, but that's her personality.
Silva Ren.
An extremely taciturn sniper ECHO who responded only to Helena's orders.
Outside of combat, she barely moved, always scouting optimal sniper spots. In the game Echoes of Humanity — ECHO, there were even events where Silva, mid-conversation with the Commander, would spot a good vantage and slip away quietly.
After the two ECHOs left, I stared into the core's flickering light and reaffirmed the purpose of this expedition.
Karen and Luna are clearing the farm site, and Pomen's handling external defenses and repairs, right?
The Ark was showing signs of progress, bit by bit.
But it wasn't enough.
Ark 69 needed a constant influx of external resources to protect my kingdom—like worker ants expanding their colony.
That's why I'd formed this mixed squad of Arva, Helena, and Silva and led the scouting myself.
The primary goal was to recover resources left behind by the old Ark 69 main force in Hongwei-7, where we'd been wiped out before.
Zombie traffic was heavy there, but they couldn't use human resources, so nothing would go to waste.
Last time, there'd been a substantial amount.
But if we use it all up...
We had to gradually expand our scouting radius around the Ark.
Which meant maxing out the Ark's and expedition squads' combat power first.
That's partly why I'd come personally.
First, to test my Mito Drive-enhanced physical abilities.
Second, to farm cash for the Money Compass.
Producing original ECHOs and key facilities for the Ark's situation requires more than just external resources.
The core materials for original ECHOs were beyond Ark 69's tech level—impossible to produce even in our dreams.
Those rare materials and resources could only be obtained via the Money Compass's cash.
So I had no choice but to go out myself...
As I organized my thoughts, I felt someone's gaze on me.
"—!"
Turning my head, I saw Helena beside me jolt in surprise and bow her head.
I couldn't pinpoint why, but her stare held awe, desire, lingering fear—and more.
"Why were you staring like that?"
"Sorry."
"So, what's the answer?"
Helena hesitated at my question before speaking cautiously.
"I was wondering... why you'd come to a dangerous place like this yourself, Commander."
"Isn't it obvious? I’m the squad leader, after all."
"That's true, but... we have ECHOs like Arva who can lead squads. You could delegate that duty to combat types like me, but you came personally..."
Her voice trembled faintly.
It wasn't mere curiosity.
It was pure anxiety over the Ark's sole human survivor—the Commander—facing risks.
Commanders in Ark 74 always issued orders safely from the rear.
"Well... that could work. But I have things to verify."
"Verify...?"
"Mm. Plus, we need resources for object production."
Helena tilted her head at my words.
Unlike Arclight Squad, they hadn't seen me use the Money Compass.
So I reached toward the blazing core flame for warmth and gave a simple rundown of the OOPArt I possessed.
"Th-That...!"
"The downside? I have to take down zombies and threats myself."
"...I see."
"Not bad, though."
"Why... is that?"
"I can't run the Ark alone. I'm the Commander, but you're the ones living in it. Gaining your trust matters to me. To do that, don't I need to roll in the dirt with you?"
"..."
Helena's eyes widened.
The ECHOs' trust—words she'd never heard in her life.
ECHOs were just tools that followed orders.
Yet he wanted to win those tools' hearts.
"I... I just follow your orders, Commander. That's how I'm designed."
"I know. But following sincerely versus by force? There’s a big difference, right?"
"..."
Was it that shocking?
Feeling her shaken gaze, I beckoned her closer.
Like metal to a magnet, Helena approached cautiously.
I draped an arm over her shoulder, kneading her ample breasts over what looked like a garter belt-modified combat suit, and asked in a low voice.
"So, what does the Cerberus' leader think?"
"I... am yours, Commander. Heart and all."
She whispered like confessing faith, voice trembling. She really liked me that much.
"Cerberus Squad's great. Useful enough, and pretty too?"
"...Thank you, Commaaaander...! Hnngh!"
While praising her, I slyly slipped my hand inside her suit and pinched a nipple.
Her battle-hardened body shuddered, a choked moan escaping.
Her body—which had already experienced humans and, more importantly, the warmth of a man—did not avoid my touch. Rather, as if craving more, Helena leaned her body toward me.
"Haa, haa—! C-Commander..."
Her hot breath tickled my ear.
Smiling in satisfaction, I stroked her cheek, trailing fingers to her nape, then collarbone.
"Hnngh! Ah! Uuuh!"
Her skin flushed wherever I touched.
Enjoying her body, I undid my belt buckle. My hardened length throbbed imposingly even in the dark.
"Helena."
"...Yes."
"You know what to do, right?"
She nodded, knelt, and took me into her mouth.
Her clumsy but earnest tongue work brought a primal conquest unlike Pomen or Noah.
Stroking her hair gently, I thought this barren wasteland night wasn't half bad.
Besides, alongside Helena, I had two more ECHOs here that I could enjoy...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After securing high ground around tonight's makeshift camp and scouting several efficient sniper points, Silva slung her sniper rifle over her shoulder and moved stealthily back.
Then, a sharp gaze swept over her.
"...Arva."
"Silva, it's you."
"......"
Silva nodded lightly at Arva's words.
Arva, leader of Ark 69's mainline squad.
Fitting her role, her skills were exceptional.
Silva had witnessed them firsthand in today's battles alongside the Commander.
Against single targets, Arva outclassed even the Cerberus’ leader Helena with overwhelming power.
Silva quietly raised a finger, pointing toward the Commander—asking if she was heading back.
"No. I'll hold this area a bit longer. An anomaly targeting the Commander has appeared nearby."
Anomaly?
"......Need any help?"
Silva unslung her rifle smoothly.
Even though she was from another squad, they were Ark 69 allies now—better to team up.
"No need. I can handle it alone. Silva... please guard the Commander."
"......"
Silva nodded.
Whatever the anomaly was, she and Helena could evacuate the Commander in the worst-case scenario.
"See you."
Returning to the Commander, Silva spotted the faintly glowing core light and tilted her head.
The Commander was asleep, Helena lying right beside him.
Guarding him up close. The scene was quite unexpected.
Humans... don't like that.
Humans routinely hit or kicked ECHOs for getting too close.
But Ark 69's Commander tolerated—perhaps even welcomed?—it. It was quite strange.
Confirming that the entrance was secure again, Silva set her rifle within reach and headed to her sleeping bag in the corner.
ㅡㅡ!
Then, a faint sound reached her ears.
Fabric rustling, thin breaths held back...
Her gaze shifted there naturally, and she tilted her head again.
Was she hallucinating?
It felt like they'd drawn even closer together than before.