Chapter 3

A puddle of stagnant water; beside it, three figures faced each other.

“So, your names are-”

“Sita.”

“M, Mili….”

While answering curtly and scratching at her spiky black hair, Sita, with a fierce expression, and Mili, hesitantly trying to gauge the situation and responding nervously, stood in contrast.

Sita, with a somewhat slim build and a menacing presence, was the opposite of Mili, who, despite being wrapped in rags, had a strangely plump curve visible.

To put it simply, one could say that Sita resembled a wolf and Mili, a goat.

As they stared intently at the two of them, thoughts crossed my mind. Perhaps sensing the gaze, Sita glared at me and warned, “Let me tell you now, if you try anything with Mili, I won’t let you off easy!”

“Sita…!”

That’s how Sita gestured with her hands while intimidating, and Mili, trying awkwardly to calm her down. That series of actions painted a clear picture of their relationship.

Mili, likely due to her pleasant personality, was being protected by Sita. Even within the confines of Fangju, the area outside the walls, survival was an individual matter.

The occasional guild distributions or academy volunteers weren’t enough to help or rescue everyone here.

Naturally, each day was directly tied to survival, so I understood why Sita would react so sharply towards me.

But if we keep this up, we’ll just waste time. It was time to ease their suspicion.

“You don’t need to be so cautious. In a way, I might just be an opportunity for you.”

“Ha, everyone who says that turns out to be a scammer.”

While snickering at my words, Sita received a reprimand from Mili.

“Sita…”

“It’s not wrong, so stop clinging to me, Mili.”

“That’s not…”

Thus speaking, Mili turned her gaze toward me, cautiously checking my reaction. With a soft chuckle, I reassured her, alleviating the uneasiness in her eyes.

“It’s alright, Mili. I understand that Sita is just cautious, and I know that well.”

“S-Sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing, Mili!”

“That’s…”

Their bickering made them appear closer than before.

The setting was familiar to me, like a game, where people who would have been mere NPCs in that world now came alive in ways I had never experienced before, making it fascinating.

But this wasn’t the time to linger.

“Hem, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Edu, Edu Numbersday.”

“E…du Ni-imbers, de det?”

“Wow, what a name.”

While muttering my name alone, Mili and grumbling Sita caught my attention. Then, Sita’s gaze turned directly toward me, likely having made a decision.

“Whatever, what’s your real intention?”

“Real intention?”

“That’s right. Someone with an ID, an insider, wouldn’t just be here without a reason.”

“Hmm…”

It was a question posed with certainty.

She was right. Citizens with IDs rarely leave outside Fangju, and even if they do, there’s no reason to come here except for distributions or volunteering.

Out Wall, or Out Land.

It represents the land beyond the huge protective walls surrounding Fangju, where the unchosen live in harsh conditions.

Just as people with wealth don’t generally step foot in areas where commoners reside, neither do they here.

“There were personal reasons.”

“Personal reasons?”

“Yes, it’s difficult to elaborate further.”

“Suspicious…”

Though she was openly sending suspicious looks, there was nothing I could do. Explaining the truth would be impossible for anyone to believe.

While working part-time in another world, I happened to glimpse a game update notification while checking a message from a friend, and here I was, possessed by the character I had created in that game!

Hmm, that’s absurd. Even I admit it’s crazy talk.

If I told my close friend such a story, it would create a strange atmosphere, and they’d give me a sympathetic look. How could I expect to convince strangers with such a tale? It was impossible, plain and simple.

So, let’s go with an easier and more reliable method to gain their trust.

“You don’t need to be so suspicious… But instead of just talking, it’s better to show you results.”

“…By results?”

While muttering, Sita still seemed attentive. Mili, glancing at me with curiosity in her eyes, waited anxiously.

“Right, you guys survive by scavenging trash and selling what you find, don’t you?”

“That’s right. So what’s the problem?”

“Not really. That’s one way to live, and there aren’t great jobs in Out Wall.”

“Hmmph.”

Perhaps recognizing it as a subtle compliment, or simply agreeing, Sita nodded slightly and looked away.

“So, there’s something I want to ask. Is that okay?”

“Yes, sure.”

“…”

With a hurried reply from Mili and a slight nod from Sita, I carefully observed their actions before speaking slowly.

“What do you need most right now?”

“Need…?”

“…Need?”

They echoed, and I nodded.

“That’s right, you need.”

“Need…”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, just as Mili seemed to have an idea and was about to speak…

Gurgle…

“Huh?!”

She quickly grabbed her stomach, startled by the sound.

“Awww…”

Her ears turned red from embarrassment, which made Sita smile faintly.

“Mili, why are you embarrassed about something like that…”

Gurgle…

“!”

Sita’s words abruptly stopped. She looked at me cautiously, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“…You heard?”

“Of course, it was obvious from this distance.”

“!”

As if it were a life-threatening situation, her gaze on me was akin to a soldier captured by an orc, demanding a quick kill.

After all, it’s just a natural bodily function. Seeing her shift from prickly anger just moments ago to this bashful reaction, it was clear she was just a kid.

“Haha, you don’t need to be embarrassed about such things.”

“…”

“…”

Their silence told me everything, but since their stomachs had already answered for them, I slowly stood up.

“Right, on second thought, it’s quite natural.”

“…What is?”

“There’s nothing more important than being full and warm, isn’t there?”

“…”

Perhaps their silence meant agreement as well. Following my example, they stood up.

“Shall we go then?”

“To where?”

“To where there’s something nice! Oh, by the way, there’s one thing you need to do first…”

“What’s that?”

As they listened tensely, Sita gulped and looked at Edu slightly worried.

“Lift me up!”

“Huh?”

…

“Whoa! This is incredibly comfortable!”

Edu, looking delighted, shouted happily as they carried him on their back.

“W-Well, that’s good…”

Mili gave a faint smile while carrying Edu on her back, and from a little distance away, Sita looked at the two with slightly narrowed eyes.

“Is this really okay? Isn’t it heavy for you?”

“That’s disrespectful!”

Edu shouted loudly.

“To treat a person like an object, and how exactly am I heavy!?”

As Edu exclaimed, Sita frowned and scanned his lanky frame through his clothes.

“Well… you’re right.”

She quickly conceded, which caused Edu’s nose and shoulders to swell with pride.

“That’s right! So stop your baseless accusations!”

“So, so where are we going then? You mentioned bringing us somewhere nice.”

“Almost there. It’s… this way.”

“…Right, okay…”

Following Edu’s directions, they circled around the dump a few times, and with each turn, Sita’s patience dwindled.

“Um, what are you doing…”

Interrupting her raised voice, Edu suddenly called out.

“Alright! Here we are! Mili, can you put me down?”

“Yes, yes…”

Her voice drowned out in the conversation, Sita approached Edu, who seemed to disregard her voice entirely.

“Here?”

“Yes. There’s a bicycle there and a fridge beneath; it should be around here.”

Tap tap.

Tapping the ground, Edu spoke.

“Alright, so now we dig.”

On the contrary, upon hearing this, Sita felt a bit dizzy.

“Wait, dig? The ground?”

“That’s right, quickly!”

“But what are you-”

While about to protest, she felt something warm on her shoulder.

“Mili?”

“Here, Sita.”

Passing her a roughly bent piece of metal plate, Mili nodded. Receiving it reflexively, Mili walked over to begin digging where Edu had tapped.

“Sita, hurry!”

Mili urged her with bright eyes. Seeing her usually gloomy friend with such radiant expression, Sita couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“Alright…”

Deciding that since she had come this far, digging might as well reveal something.

Thus, the two began to dig into the soil silently.

And not long after,

Clang!

“What?”

Following the sharp metallic sound, they looked down into the hole and noticed a square object buried in the dirt.

After exchanging glances, they cleared the surrounding soil and found a fully exposed metal box about the size of a palm.

“…”

Sita and Mili froze, staring at the box they had just unearthed.

“Hm, so this is how items are obtained.”

As Edu’s voice echoed, analyzing their actions, both Sita and Mili turned their eyes toward him.

“Huh?”

Both now the center of their gaze, Edu smiled, nodded at them.

“It’s alright to open it without worry.”

“Yes.”

Always so confident, even Sita responded with polite words, slowly opening the case. With a metallic click, the lock released, revealing the contents within, and their expressions quickly changed.

Their faces reflected a mixture of surprise and excitement.

“Wow, this is-”

“Isn’t that a military battery? And, it’s completely new-”

Both turned to look at me, their previously skeptical and anxious eyes now glowing brightly.

With those looks on them, Edu crossed his arms, nodding satisfactorily as expected.

“Hmm, correct.”

In AOE, many expendable items or treasures like these are hidden this way. The military battery we just obtained is one of those, and although it’s just a minor consumable within the game world, outside of the Fangju’s internal dynamics, this battery would be worth its weight in gold due to its origin.

And from the reactions of these two, my guess seemed accurate.

“W-wow…”

“How did you….”

Pure astonishment radiated from Mili while Sita kept alternating her gaze between the battery and me.

Hum, it’s quite gratifying to know people look up to me with such admiration.

“That’s a secret, but now you see—it’s clear I’m no liar?”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry for doubting you.”

“Sorry…”

They apologized sincerely, bowing their heads, and their reduced suspicion toward me was evident in their actions.

“It’s alright; guarding against strangers is common sense in Out Land, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Anyway, we’ve got something to sell, so let’s go cash it in and eat something delicious. Aren’t you both hungry?”

At the suggestion, Mili’s eyes sparkled noticeably.

“But, is that okay…?”

“Yes, let’s hurry!”

“…Then, I’ll carry you this time.”

As Sita carried me out of the dump, even my stomach now felt slightly empty, and it was perfect timing to sell the item for some good food.

“Want to switch?”

As we approached a shabby street, Mili clutched the military battery tightly and asked Sita.

“No, but Mili, go ahead to the store first. I’ll follow slowly.”

“Ah…”

At Sita’s command, Mili looked at her, questioning if that was alright.

“That’s a good idea.”

“Yes, yes! Then, I’ll go first.”

With a bright smile, Mili bowed slightly and quickly ran off toward her destination.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes.”

Sita carried me through the winding streets filled with chaotic, ramshackle buildings, finally reaching a dilapidated shop. But something was off.

“That, this is ours…”

“What?! Stop babbling nonsense! How could you little street rats possibly find a brand new battery from Fangju! Especially a military-grade one!”

Holding the military battery in hand, the large bald shopkeeper roared. Although trying to look like a professional by dangling various tools around him, most were inappropriate for their intended use, making him look rather ridiculous.

“That, this is…”

“Tch, shut up! Whatever crime you street rats have done, I don’t care, but this is confiscation! Just scram now!”

As the shopkeeper tried moving away with the battery, Milly stopped him.

“No, it’s not like that! We obtained it with the help of someone else!”

“Don’t let go?!?!”

Though pulling hard, the shopkeeper seemed surprisingly still.

“Grrr, how does a street rat have this kind of strength… Let go!”

Punch!

“Aah-!”

As the shopkeeper punched Mili’s face with the opposite hand, Mili cried out but refused to let go.

“But still-”

“No, return it please-”

“Alright, let’s see how far you’re willing to go!”

Lifting his hand again, before it could strike, a chilling voice interrupted him.

“Hey, baldy.”

Before him stood Edu, who had suddenly descended from Sita’s back and was watching him coldly.

“What makes you think you can confiscate our item?”