Red-17 Gate.
After the wave ended and everyone collapsed in relief, I immediately went to find Lieutenant Imosha.
She didn't even have a moment to rest, giving orders to reorganize the frontline and repair the collapsed walls.
"Busy?"
"Oh, it's you, Carl."
Lieutenant Imosha gave me a polite nod.
"This time... I really have to thank you. If it weren't for you, we would have suffered major losses."
"I just did what needed to be done."
"Really... Ah, and originally, you would have been given a military performance bonus, but since you're not a soldier, it will probably be credited to your ID as a reward or bounty soon."
Credits—that's the currency of Ark.
Back when I didn't have a proper Ark ID, credits were nothing more than useless scraps of paper to me. But not anymore.
Now, separate from my achievement points, I could actually utilize the income coming from Ark.
'Considering my performance... I should be getting at least ten thousand credits.'
A standard, unmodified Ark-15 automatic conversion rifle costs around 500 credits. Considering that, it would be quite a substantial income.
Of course, the Ark-15's relatively low price is partly due to it being mass-produced as basic equipment for Ark soldiers.
"Thanks for taking care of that."
"No need to thank me. It's just part of my duty. But did you come looking for me for a specific reason?"
"I'm planning to leave Ark."
Since I'm not officially part of the Ark military, there's no real need to report it to the gate officer. Still, I thought it would be better to inform Lieutenant Imosha before leaving.
Besides, I would need the gate officer's permission to pass through Red-17 Gate anyway.
"...You're leaving Ark?"
Lieutenant Imosha looked genuinely shocked.
It seemed like she misunderstood something, so I quickly corrected her.
"Not leaving for good, just stepping out for a while."
Though it might be a bit of a long outing, it was better to phrase it that way.
From my perspective, I had things to do and was moving urgently, but to others, it might look like I was running away.
"...I see."
"Yeah."
"When do you think you'll be back?"
"Hard to say. Can't give you a definite answer."
Depending on how things go, I might not make it back before the next wave.
Actually, I wasn't planning on coming back to Ark for the next wave, if possible.
'There's the whole Shadow Order issue, and I've already drawn too much attention.'
Besides, it's unlikely they'll entrust me with an entire sector or more again.
"...I understand. Please be careful. I'll issue your pass."
After a brief farewell, I walked out of the Red Line gate.
I considered stopping by to see Quartermaster Gedwin before leaving, but I decided to save up more merit points and make a bigger purchase later.
One hundred and fifty thousand achievement points isn't exactly a small amount, but if I'm going to upgrade my gear, I might as well aim for something good.
'If I go through one more wave, I should be able to afford some decent equipment.'
Back then, it would've been impossible, but now I'm an honorary citizen of Ark.
Naturally, the range of items I can purchase with achievement points has expanded significantly compared to before.
Although the Ark-15 automatic conversion rifle, which I upgraded twice, is an excellent personal weapon, it still falls short when dealing with the likes of the Shadow Order.
More importantly, the reason I was in such a hurry to leave Ark right after the wave ended was directly related to that.
'The Shadow Order has started moving.'
Much faster than expected.
The biggest reason is likely Esther's disappearance.
In other words, it's because of me.
'I can't let myself get pushed around like that again.'
The recent encounter with the Shadow Order was unexpected.
I should have predicted how Esther's disappearance would change the dynamics, but I failed to consider it thoroughly.
'No more room for variables.'
Although I now have the [Nine Lives] trait, it's more of a last resort in desperate situations rather than a direct counter to the Shadow Order.
What I need right now is a way to fight back against them—another card to play.
'The reason they backed off this time was to persuade me to join, especially with Esther by my side. But if I reject them again, it might not end so peacefully next time.'
As the Commander said before, they might just cut off a few limbs and torture me until I release Esther.
The point is, as long as I'm not dead, they'll keep trying.
That leaves me with two options:
Join the Shadow Order,
Or find a weapon to protect myself from them.
The former isn't necessarily a bad choice.
If I pretend to cooperate with the Shadow Order while subtly using them, it wouldn't be the worst plan.
However, if I exploit them for too long, they'll inevitably suspect my value and eventually try to eliminate me.
That's why I need a weapon that can protect me from them—not just a physical weapon but something that targets their weakness.
'Right now... they probably haven't secured it yet.'
To achieve their goal, the Shadow Order needs to complete several underground operations.
The reason I'm leaving Ark now is to beat them to one of those.
'Heshbon. That's where I'm going.'
Heshbon was once a small city to the east of Ark, later joining the Kronos Union.
It was one of many satellite cities within Kronos's influence.
However, when the massive wave hit recently and wiped out every human city except Ark, Heshbon fell as well.
The reason I'm specifically heading there now is simple.
'One of the Shadow Order' weaknesses is in Heshbon.'
To be precise, it's not exactly a weakness but one of the items they are desperately seeking.
If I can secure it first, it will become a powerful bargaining chip against them.
No matter what it is, the important thing is that obtaining that item will give me leverage against the Shadow Order, allowing me to avert at least one potential threat from them.
You could call it a kind of hostage.
'Besides, if I have that item, it'll inevitably disrupt the Shadow Order' plans.'
In other words, it's an item that could become the ultimate shield and spear against them.
Lost in thought, I finally left Ark and turned my gaze forward.
My first destination was Mount Noah, where my hideout was located.
There were things I needed to organize there, but more importantly, I needed to meet Horus.
'Horus is already bound to me, so I could call him to Ark if I wanted... but that would be downright insane.'
No matter how strong Horus had become—nearly comparable to a first-class monster—if he showed up in the skies above Ark, it would never end well.
And if they saw me riding Horus within Ark's territory?
That would be the end of me.
'There's no need to take that kind of risk.'
Even if it meant walking a long distance, it was a hundred times better than risking my life.
Soon enough, a rather tedious journey followed.
The distance was surprisingly long.
Technically, it would've been faster to leave through the western front, but I didn't know anyone there, and dealing with unfamiliar gate officers would have been a hassle.
That's why I chose the Red-17 Gate, where Lieutenant Imosha was stationed.
Looking back, it was definitely the right choice.
It would have been a waste of time trying to make small talk with an unfamiliar officer from the western front, with little chance of it going smoothly.
Just as I was nearing Mount Noah, Esther broke the heavy silence.
["...Hey, Master."]
"What?"
["Aren't you going to ask anything? Earlier, our Commander tried to kill you. Shouldn't you at least be curious about that?"]
I hadn't bothered asking because I already knew, but it seemed odd to Esther that I wasn't reacting.
["And that thing you said earlier... About knowing things about us... What was that? You were serious, weren't you?"]
Since she was already bound to me, Esther could immediately sense that I wasn't lying.
"Do I really have to answer?"
["Of course you don't have to. You really don't... but still... I'd like you to tell me a little. We're kind of in this together now, aren't we? Do you know how hard I worked to talk the Commander out of killing you?"]
Esther lowered her head, looking genuinely downcast.
It was the kind of expression that would stir up guilt and sympathy in most people, but I wasn't falling for it.
I knew all too well how good Esther was at manipulating others.
"Later."
Of course, I didn't want to outright say that I couldn't trust her, as that would only make her sulk even more. So, I carefully diverted the topic.
["Later? When later?"]
"When we get a bit closer."
["Aren't we already close enough? I've given you my body and soul, haven't I?"]
"You know that's not what I meant."
["Can't take a joke, huh? Well... is that a promise, then? You'll tell me later?"]
"Got it."
As I indulged in more pointless conversation with Esther, we eventually reached the hideout.
So, this is what it means to lose track of time.
[Kiiik!]
Right then, Horus greeted me by rubbing his face against mine.
Honestly, I was a little worried about getting stabbed by the sharp scales and bone protrusions covering his body, but luckily, that didn't happen.
[Kiggit!]
Janus and Horus exchanged greetings by extending their bony tendrils toward each other.
It was an oddly eerie sight, but I didn't let it show on my face.
They were still young—didn't want to hurt their feelings.
"It's been a while."
["Hey there, Boney! Been doing okay?"]
"...I thought I told you not to call him that."
As if agreeing with me, Horus let out a loud screech at Esther.
[Kieeeek!]
["Whoa! Why are you yelling all of a sudden?!"]
Esther screamed back just as fiercely.
It seemed like a showdown of screeches between two first-class monsters was about to unfold, but I intervened.
"Cut the jokes. We need to move."
["Where to?"]
"Heshbon."
["...Why there?"]
Esther's voice trembled slightly.
Heshbon was one of the prime candidate locations where the Shadow Order suspected the item to be, but they hadn't found it yet because they didn't know its exact location.
'That's why, when playing the Shadow Order route, they always give players that mission.'
So, I knew very well where it was.
I'd found it myself dozens of times before.
"There's something I need to find."
["Something to find... What exactly are you—"]
I cut off Esther's questioning and climbed onto Horus's back.
In the past, just thinking about going to Heshbon would have been out of the question.
But not anymore.
With Horus, even long distances could be covered in no time.
'Flying mounts are the best.'
When I patted Horus's back, the bone tendrils behind him rose up like handlebars.
"Let's go."
[Kiiiik!]
With a fierce roar from Horus, the scenery around me blurred as we shot forward at incredible speed.