I opened my eyes.

  The same tent ceiling. The tear in the corner was still there, swaying gently in the morning breeze.

  Reina floated above my head, sitting as if gravity still applied to her. “Good morning, Arche.”

  I didn’t answer.

  I swallowed the soreness from sleeping on ragged fabric, sat up slowly, and grabbed my jacket hanging from the support pole. Stepping out of the tent, the morning light hit me hard.

  The air was still cold. The smell of metal waste and dust lingered.

  I walked to the old faucet at the end of the tent row and washed my face. The water was cold and rusty, but refreshing enough.

  Reina followed behind. “So, what’s the plan this morning? The wound’s stitched up, money’s running low. What now?”

  “Breakfast first. Then to the scrap collection office.”

  “Checking missions?”

  “If there’s one that pays well, I’ll take it.”

  Reina stared at me for a while. “…Okay.”

  Breakfast today: moldy bread filled with synthetic bean paste. Price: 20 Nexbit.

  Remaining funds: 100 Nexbit.

  I sat next to the old food stall, nibbling slowly while thinking about what little money I had left.

  “With 100 Nexbit,” I muttered, “I can’t even buy bullets.”

  Reina floated beside me, calm. “Then we have to move carefully today. Or find a high-paying mission.”

  “If missions like that existed, I would’ve taken them already.”

  Breakfast was done. I got up and headed to the scrap collection office. The streets were still quiet, but activity had begun. Some collectors carried large bags, others just came to check the new missions on the digital board.

  We arrived.

  The mission board was clearly visible in the center of the room. The screen was lit up, the list of missions changing every second.

  “Mechanical Behemoth extermination. Sector F-12. Reward: 1800 Nexbit.”

  “Collect 20 Core-Type-C units from Eastern Wreckfield. Reward: 600 Nexbit.”

  “Map a new zone near the Black Wall ruins. Reward: 700 Nexbit.”

  “Item extraction from inside a class-B nest. Reward: 1500 Nexbit.”

  I read them all from top to bottom. My face remained blank.

  Reina read along. “So… no missions that are easy, cheap, and safe, huh?”

  “There’s no such thing in this world.”

  “Then?”

  “There’s only one option.”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  I turned and walked out of the office.

  “We collect scrap first. Light stuff. In a safe area.”

  “To buy bullets?”

  “And other supplies. Before we take on any real missions.”

  Reina gave a small nod. “Alright. Classic strategy: be poor, then work slowly until you become poor with weapons.”

  I didn’t respond. But my steps grew firmer as I headed for the city gates.

  I opened the digital map on my A.R.M.

  The nearest spot safe enough for unarmed collection: Breile Zone, Sector F-02.

  Reina looked at the map beside me. “F-02, huh? A classic spot. Close to the main route to the Firmament. Any newbie stepping into the field goes there first.”

  “And because of that, the monsters are nearly wiped out.”

  “And so is the scrap,” Reina added. “But… at least it’s safe. You don’t have extra bullets. And your wound hasn’t fully healed. Going to F-02 is the most logical decision right now.”

  I nodded. “The most logical decision. Also the only option.”

  We left through the eastern gate of the Firmament.

  A path of old metal and hardened soil stretched straight toward F-02.

  Other collectors were also walking in the same direction. Most carried light equipment and empty bags.

  F-02 didn’t offer much. But even cheap scrap could be sold.

  As long as you were patient and didn’t hope for too much.

  Breile Zone, Sector F-02.

  As usual, a ruin of a once-great city. Tall buildings reduced to bare frames. Some still stood, though they looked like they’d collapse with a single strong gust. Dust and sand swirled through the cracks between structures. The air was dry, and the scent of rust hung heavy.

  Reina floated above, her glowing blue eyes scanning rapidly. “I’ve scanned three times. No sign of scrap in this area yet.”

  “Expected,” I said. “We’re still on the main path. Everyone passes through here. Nothing’s left.”

  “So we’re heading deeper in?”

  I nodded. “If we want something untouched, we have to go further into the ruins.”

  “Alright. But be careful.”

  We started walking.

  Past chunks of steel plating, fallen bridges, and the bones of old war machines.

  A half-collapsed building loomed like a ghost, and wind howled through cracked concrete.

  Then I saw it.

  A mechanical wolf.

  Just like yesterday. But this time, it was alone. Sleeping on a pile of metal debris, breathing steadily, eyes dark.

  My hand instinctively reached for my weapon.

  Reina spoke immediately. “Hold on.”

  “What?”

  “How many bullets do you have left?”

  I checked the magazine. “One round.”

  “Then make it count. If you miss, we’re in trouble.”

  I nodded. Took a breath. Aimed.

  Pulled the trigger.

  Bang!

  The wolf snapped awake.

  Its eyes glowed red. Machinery hummed inside its body. It lunged at me.

  Reina sighed long. “You just wasted our only bullet.”

  “…Sorry.”

  “If you’d asked me from the start, I could’ve handled it without any trouble.”

  “I’m asking now. Please.”

  “Ugh. Fine. Hand over control.”

  I let my mind blank for a moment, and my body immediately went stiff. Reina took over.

  Target locked.

  Her digital eyes flared. Aim shifted to just below the right ear—its weak point. The main control unit.

  Bang!

  One shot. Direct hit.

  The wolf dropped without a sound.

  Reina chuckled. “See? Next time, don’t hesitate to ask me, Arche.”

  I exhaled deeply.

  “That shot was… precise,” I muttered, looking down.

  Reina floated slowly, wearing a smug smile. “Of course. I’m Reina, remember?”

  I tried to defend myself. “Don’t forget I’ve only been using ranged weapons for less than a month. I used to only train with magic—and even then, I wasn’t as good as Sis Ellora.”

  “Well,” Reina said quickly, “compared to Ellora, the gap is like… the sky and a septic tank.”

  “…Thanks for that painful comparison.”

  I looked at my weapon—my modified M4. Still unfamiliar in my hands. The aim often drifted if my stance wasn’t perfect.

  “This gun’s still new to me too. Gonna take time to get used to. Meanwhile, you… you’re basically a cheat code.”

  Reina suddenly stopped floating and spun to face me. “Cheat?!”

  “You can lock targets, calculate angles, even predict movement. That’s not human.”

  “Well duh! I’m an AI! A magitech AI! That’s literally my main function! Don’t compare me to a rookie who just learned to shoot two bullets!”

  She laughed softly. Arrogant. Very arrogant.

  I sighed again, even deeper this time.

  I opened the magazine. Remaining bullets: twelve. After one missed, and one hit.

  I walked toward the fallen mechanical wolf.

  A faint wisp of smoke still rose from its metal head.

  I took out a small knife and began dismantling the back of its skull.

  The core was still intact.

  Light blue, still pulsing faintly. I transferred it to the scrap pouch at my waist.

  One core. Not bad.

  I stood up again and continued walking deeper into the ruins.

  Weaving through narrow corridors between cracked buildings and debris-filled roads.

  Today’s goal remained unchanged: find more mechanical monsters.

  And gather any scrap worth selling.

  As long as I had bullets left and my legs could carry me…

  I’d keep finding ways to survive.