Chapter 167

Daesik.

Mili, Sita, and I met this senior explorer for the first time at the Explorers Guild when they tried to help us. Despite his intimidating appearance, he is a good person who follows Ms. Riana.

“Ah, it’s me, Daesik. What a pleasant surprise meeting you here.”

The uncle Daesik bows his head slightly.

“Hello, but what are you doing here, uncle?”

“That’s-”

Uncle Daesik stops talking and glances around, checking the surroundings.

Uncle Daesik leans closer, lowering his head slightly, and whispers in my ear.

“There are too many prying eyes here to talk. Let’s find a quieter place.”

Upon hearing those words, I look around and notice several pairs of eyes watching us from various directions.

Eyes filled with suspicion.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“Then, please follow me.”

I slowly follow Uncle Daesik, who walks ahead toward a vehicle.

“You might have noticed, but people here are quite cautious. So it’s better to move quietly rather than draw unnecessary attention.”

“I see. I thought I disguised myself pretty well.”

“Still, subtle habits and differences in behavior tend to stand out, don’t they? Plus, people who live in the wasteland seem to have a sharp instinct that’s been honed by experience.”

“Ah, that definitely makes sense.”

As we chat, we leave the main street and head toward the outskirts.

Following Uncle Daesik, a sudden curiosity arises.

“Uncle Daesik?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Where did the name ‘Daesik’ come from? It’s a bit unusual in the naming methods I’m familiar with.”

“Ah, you’re curious about that? It’s nothing special.”

Uncle Daesik turns around to look at me.

“My brothers and I are orphans. A nun at the Fangju Orphanage gave us these names.”

Taken aback by the unexpected heavy response, I quickly lower my head and apologize.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. I’ve long passed the age where I care about such things.”

Smiling gently, Uncle Daesik continues.

“The nun said she deliberately gave us humble names to avoid any issues. Thinking about it now, I guess she believed too much in superstitions.”

Uncle Daesik stops walking.

“We have arrived. This is the place.”

He points to the building in front of us.

A small garage-attached run-down mud house appears.

“Sam! Open the garage a bit.”

“Understood… Huh? Edu?”

Sam looks surprised upon seeing us.

“Hello.”

“What’s going on? I’ll open it.”

The creaking garage door slowly opens.

Once the vehicle is parked, I confirm the garage is closed and use my collection to store the vehicle we came in.

“Oh, oh?!?”

Uncle Daesik is startled.

“Little miss, what just happened…?”

“It’s my ability. Let’s talk about it inside.”

“Ah, yes. Let’s go in.”

Following the stairs at the side of the garage, we enter the building. A slightly musty smell greets us.

The room is spacious but barren, like a studio apartment. The few pieces of furniture placed around indicate no signs of regular living; it appears this building is used as a temporary base or safe house.

“Though modest, please sit.”

“Yes.”

I climb off Clarissa’s back.

Following me, my friends and Uncles Daesik and Sam sit on the mat laid out on the floor.

“I never imagined meeting you here. You were curious about what I was doing, right?”

“Yes.”

Though Junkyard is known as a gray area, it’s far from safe due to the influx of outlaws and wanderers.

In short, a massive slum.

In other words, even experienced explorers like Uncle Daesik must always be on alert.

“We were sent by our leader, and we’re currently surveying the Junkyard.”

“You mean Ms. Riana?”

“Yes. Recently, the movements of the fallen ones have been suspicious, so we came to investigate. And though it’s embarrassing to admit it…”

Uncle Daesik smiles awkwardly, trailing off.

“Isn’t our appearance quite intimidating? Thanks to that, the locals here don’t seem too wary of us. So, sometimes we visit to gather information.”

“Ah, I understand.”

As I nod agreeing, though a bit sad, Uncle Daesik speaks again.

“But, what are you doing here, little miss? You didn’t come here for leisure, did you?”

“We also came to gather information.”

“Is that so? Then you came at a good time.”

“Huh? Why?”

Uncle Daesik clears his throat before responding.

“Mr. Kai is currently meeting with a collaborator. Since we brought it up, why don’t we head there?”

…

We traverse winding back alleys, going further ahead.

Unmaintained roads are littered with all kinds of trash and debris. Rats and insects abound.

“Eugh, this is disgusting…”

Jenny wrinkles her nose in distaste.

Uncle Daesik looks at us with a wry smile upon hearing her voice.

“Please bear with it a little longer, we’ve arrived.”

Uncle Daesik quickens his pace.

Soon, we arrive in front of a building covered with various unidentified, large and small metallic devices.

On a warped sign used as a makeshift signboard, paint is applied.

“Anvil and Hammer… Is this a blacksmith’s shop?”

Just as I think this, a muffled voice can be heard from inside.

– Look, we have our own circumstances, alright?

– But we also…

The voices are quarreling.

“Hmm?”

Uncle Daesik seems to have sensed something odd too, tilting his head.

“It seems the conversation isn’t going well.”

“That’s right. Shall we go in?”

“Yes.”

Uncle Daesik carefully knocks on the door where the voices are coming from.

The muffled voices abruptly stop. After a moment, a familiar voice speaks.

– Who is it?

“It’s me, Kai.”

– Daesik? Come in.

“Yes.”

The door swings open.

At the same instant, a black gun barrel comes into view.

Though somewhat crude in appearance, with its long barrel and attached tube, it is clearly a homemade shotgun.

“Uh?”

Uncle Daesik flinches instinctively and raises his hands. The opponent with a bronze-colored skin frowns upon spotting us but relaxes when he sees my face.

“Huh? Baby…?”

“I am not a baby.”

Though I admit to looking young, calling me a baby is a huge misunderstanding!

I cut off the statement with the potential for great misunderstanding, and the opponent lowers the gun and gestures us in.

“…First, come in, and don’t forget to close the door.”

“Alright. Everyone, please come in.”

Uncle Daesik enters the building after waiting for all of us and closes the door.

“But, Cat, how could you aim a gun at me even after recognizing my voice?”

“You could have been an imposter. It’s natural to be cautious.”

The one called Cat replies and places the shotgun on the desk.

“Edu?”

“Mr. Kai, it’s nice to see you here.”

“Hmm, it’s been a while. What brings you here?”

“For the same reason as Mr. Kai.”

“Ho.”

Kai shows interest.

“Wait a moment, stop whispering among yourselves.”

Cat turns to us, her voice sharp.

Her well-tanned skin evokes an image of a scorched egg. Her slightly swollen chest and silhouette reveal she is a woman.

Her melon-patterned pants and sweat-stained shirt are smeared with grime and soot.

Cat whips her head around and addresses Uncle Daesik.

“So, why are you here? Who are these kids?”

“That aside, the story of our side should come first, Cat. First, let’s get the information, and then I’ll-”

“Don’t interrupt what I was saying. The situation has changed.”

“Ah…”

Uncle Daesik is troubled.

“Why is that?”

“Hmm, Cat’s demands are excessive, so the conversation isn’t progressing.”

“Excessive demands? After all we’ve done, can’t you even help with this much?”

Cat snaps.

“I haven’t forgotten your dedication, but bringing outsiders into the ark is beyond my authority.”

“Tch, that’s why I say underground dwellers are inflexible, only rigidly stubborn.”

Cat mutters unhappily.

Looking at her, I ask Kai.

“Ms. Cat wants to enter the ark, right?”

“Yes, she wouldn’t even open her mouth until now. But why is she suddenly acting this way?”

“Because we can’t predict when the war might start?”

“But haven’t we faced the level of crisis you mentioned before?”

“That’s… Anyway! If you don’t let me in, I won’t say a single word. Think about it!”

Cat turns her head away, huffing.

From their conversation, I piece together certain important points.

Kai came to gather information.

Cat suddenly wants to enter the ark.

Mention of a war and Ms. Cat’s secretive attitude.

After combining these pieces of information, an inference forms in my mind.

“Ms. Cat.”

“What?”

At my call, Cat turns her head slightly to look at me.

“Could it be that the balance among the fallen ones has been disrupted because the Iron Legion was wiped out?”

“!!!”

Cat’s eyes widen in shock.

“How do you know that?”

How do I know? It’s because I did it.

“Hey Edu, what is all this about the Iron Legion being wiped out?”

“Ah, I hadn’t informed anyone in the ark about it. I took care of them all last time.”

“What?!”

Kai gasps in astonishment.

“Hey, you’re the one who wiped out the Iron Legion?”

“Yes…”

“…”

Cat’s eyes narrow sharply.

From the looks of it, her reaction seems more skeptical than trusting, and I sigh lightly.

“Anyway, actions speak louder than words. So Cat, you want to enter the ark because you think it’s going to become dangerous here, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you, Mr. Kai, are unable to let her in, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Slapping my hands together, I summarize the situation.

“But I do have a good solution.”

“Good solution?”

“Yes. All we need to do is make this place safe, don’t we?”

Though unintentional, by wiping out the Iron Legion, I disrupted the balance here.

So, it’s only fair to offer a solution, and this might also leave a good impression on the people.

“…”

“What exactly are you planning to do?”

“You’ll find out soon; let’s head to the center of the city.”

“???”

With confused looks from Cat, Kai, and Uncle Daesik, I head toward the center of the Junkyard.

As the name suggests, the Junkyard’s center features a massive iron dome.

Raising my hand in front of the murky-water fountain.

“Humanoth Summon! Marionettes! Armament: KUSAS-12 with rubber suppressor rounds! Infantry set!”

– The rubber suppressor rounds are not yet unlocked. Would you like to unlock it using skill points?

“Yes, unlock it!”

Mana drains from my body as the iron marionettes rapidly appear.

In their hands are automatic shotguns loaded with rubber suppressor rounds.

“Summon Little Drone! Armament: Taser gun for personnel!”

A small drone pops up on my shoulder.

On both sides of its body, two taser guns are aimed forward.

“Eh, what?”

Cat is startled, but her surprise is premature.

This is only just the beginning.

“Humanoth Summon! Marionettes! Armament: KUSAS-12 with rubber suppressor rounds! Infantry set!”

“Summon! Little Drones! Armament: Taser guns for personnel!”

Continuous summoning results in rapidly multiplying marionettes and drones.

Even the tiny drones fill the sky, creating an oppressive atmosphere. The marionettes that fill the area around the fountain are even more intimidating.

An army formed in the blink of an eye.

All marionettes and drones turn to look at me.

“Alright. Let’s clean this city up! Locate all armed individuals and neutralize them. However, nobody should die, so aim for arms and legs!”

[Confirmed.]

The marionette army nods and rushes toward the city, dispersing across the entire area like migrating birds.

Witnessing such a magnificent spectacle, my hands instinctively move toward my waist, and my chest and shoulders naturally rise with self-confidence.

This is the might of a solo army, the prowess of a robotic summoner!

“Solo Army…!”

“Hehe, isn’t it cool, Edward?”

I respond with a V gesture.

However, Edward’s next words ruin the mood.

“No, in this case, the term ‘Baby Army’ suits Edu better…”

“Hey! Are you trying to ruin the mood!?”