Chapter Thirty-Six: Awakening

The dazzling brilliance was like a lighthouse guiding civilization forward through the darkness. The pillar of light that soared into the sky dispelled the gloom; even the searchlights paled in comparison to its radiance. Within the area bathed in this luminescence, the mutated creatures and zombies that had been frenziedly attacking suddenly changed their nature and began to retreat rapidly. The machine gunners hadn’t even had time to reload a second magazine before those monsters, so fearless just moments ago, quietly turned and vanished swiftly into the depths of the night.

This was precisely one of the most significant effects of the coverage zone. At its core, most of the wasteland’s zombies and mutants would instinctively avoid the area, and this was one of the reasons why humanity could survive surrounded by hordes of abominations outnumbering them tens of thousands of times over.

Of course, this talisman was not entirely reliable. The node could repel most monsters and zombies, but it had no effect on familiars or humans. Furthermore, some powerful advanced mutants and zombie leaders could ignore the repelling force of a low-level core.

Nevertheless, it was a beginning, at the very least.

Ferren withdrew his gaze from the pillar of light and let out an almost imperceptible sigh. The Blackstone Group had fully activated the node. As long as nothing major went wrong, they would soon be able to use this as a center from which to formally begin exploring and rebuilding the city ruins. But this place was not like the wilderness. Lighting a fire in a forest might drive off some beasts, but it could also attract far more terrifying creatures. While the suppression and repulsion at the core zone should keep most mutated creatures at bay, who could say what the stronger beings might do?

At this thought, Ferren couldn’t help but turn his head and gaze toward the distant shadows where the city was shrouded in darkness.

What other monsters might be lurking in that darkness?

No matter—it wasn’t his concern, after all.

Thinking thus, Ferren reached up to adjust the brim of his hat and prepared to leave.

“Commander!”

At that moment, Eluca’s voice rang out again. Ferren turned to see Eluca and Chris rushing out of the tent with Korona in tow, hurrying over to him.

“I’m no longer your commander. Is there something else you need?”

“Well…”

Hearing Ferren’s words, Eluca hesitated. She glanced at Chris, then at Korona, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then, with a sudden resolve, she opened her eyes and looked straight at Ferren.

“Please allow us to continue fighting for you!”

“And your reason?”

“Huh?”

“I honestly can’t fathom why you three young women would abandon a peaceful life to risk your lives in such dangerous endeavors. You’re not like those addle-brained heiresses in District Nine, who grew up on fairy tales of princes rescuing princesses and can’t wait for a dragon to carry them off as hostages. I’ve seen your records—you were born and raised in the wilds and have survived numerous battles. In fact, you’ve already paid a price for that. So I can’t understand why you’ve chosen this path.”

Though Ferren’s face still bore his gentle smile, Eluca sensed no trace of warmth in his gaze. It was as if, before him, they were nothing but lifeless objects, unworthy of any special concern. The sense of defeat made Eluca involuntarily take a step back. Indeed, Ferren’s words made sense. They had grown up on the wasteland, yearning for a warm, comfortable, and safe home more than anyone. If things were truly as Ferren described, they should have no further desires; wasn’t such a beautiful future exactly what they longed for?

At that moment, Eluca felt Chris, standing beside her, reach out and gently squeeze her hand. She turned to look at her taciturn elder sister, then bit her lip and looked back at Ferren, determination in her eyes.

“You’re right, Commander. We do want a peaceful life, but… we also know we have no right to such a life yet. We’re still too weak—far too weak. Even if we managed to live that way, if all we could do was eke out a pitiful existence like now, our fate wouldn’t be much better than dying on the wasteland and feeding the wild dogs. We need strength—we want to become stronger, because only then can we protect what we care about and all that we wish for.”

“So you’ve come to me?”

“Yes, Commander…”

“I’m glad you recognize that. Unfortunately, your strength truly is lacking. Frankly speaking, even if I took you in, it would do me no good. And you should know that, in battle, you would only slow me down.”

Ferren’s smile remained elegant and his tone gentle, as though comforting a lover. But his sharp words were like a blade, stabbing into Eluca’s chest and twisting, leaving her cheeks alternately pale and flushed. Still, Eluca did not shrink back. She clenched her teeth and spoke again.

“…We—we will try our best!”

“Oh?”

“Not only in battle—we’ll work hard to grow stronger. And… we’re willing to follow any command you give us, whatever you ask!”

“Oh?”

At these words, Ferren’s eyes opened slightly, a strange gleam flickering within them. Seeing his expression, Delin, who had been standing silently by his side, wanted to speak, but when she saw the earnest determination on the faces of Eluca and her sisters, the cat-eared maid could only sigh helplessly without saying a word.

“Truly anything?”

“Yes, anything!”

Of course Eluca knew perfectly well what those words could mean, but she still nodded emphatically.

“Not just me, but Chris as well… As for Korona, she’s still young…”

“I—I’m fine too…!”

At that moment, Korona timidly raised her hand, looking at Ferren with pleading eyes.

“Korona can endure it—no matter how big or how rough, no matter how much it hurts, Korona can endure it…!”

“Very well.”

Hearing this, Ferren narrowed his eyes again, his smile as gentle as ever.

“Since you’re all so resolved, I have nothing more to say. Delin, bring it out.”

“Yes, Master.”

With a sigh, Delin obeyed. She reached into the Blackstone Group’s case and retrieved three items resembling test tubes, handing them to Ferren. The three sisters stared, bewildered.

“What are these…?”

“Your determination is admirable, but your abilities are still lacking. These are energy chips I requested from the Blackstone Group. You can absorb their energy to raise your capability level—at least, that will make you a bit more useful.”

“Yes, Commander!”

As ability users, Eluca and her sisters certainly knew about energy chips. As wasteland dwellers, they had even collected a few themselves, but the chips were so rare that over the years, they’d only managed to find two or three. Now, staring at the ten chips in Ferren’s hand and feeling the power emanating from them, the three were overwhelmed with excitement.

“Commander, we will do our best. We won’t let you down!”

“I hope so. By the way, I suggest you begin absorbing them now.”

“Huh?”

Eluca was caught off guard by Ferren’s words.

“Why?”

“It’s simple.”

Ferren answered, gazing once more at the small building before him and the pillar of light surging into the sky.

“I suspect we’ll be having trouble soon enough.”

With that, Ferren replied.