Screeeech───!!
A piercing sound rang in my ears.
What shot out was undoubtedly the bone tendril that had just emerged from the Bone Armor.
Kwang─!
The bone tendril slammed into a nearby boulder, embedding itself between the cracks that instantly formed.
The sight of the jagged bone tendril lodged amidst the shattered rock was nothing short of ferocious.
'Its range seems shorter than the Ark-15 automatic rifle, and even the NO-13 grenade launcher...'
However, considering it launched a massive bone tendril rather than a mere bullet, its stopping power seemed comparable to, if not greater than, the NO-13 grenade launcher.
'Not bad.'
Regardless of what it turned out to be, just gaining another means of attack was satisfying enough.
Having more ways to strike at an opponent's weakness always meant increasing my chances of exploiting gaps in their defenses.
'Can it be used this way too?'
Just to test a theory, I tried combining the two new abilities with the power I obtained from hunting Mossback Kupf.
It was an experiment.
['Hardening' activated.]
['Burrow' activated.]
['Bone Javelin' activated.]
A bone tendril shot out, drilling into the rocky layer of Noah and burrowing underground.
It stretched a considerable distance, then stopped at a certain point and snapped at the middle with a snap-.
Screeeech─!
Suddenly, the bone tendril shot up through the ground and soared skyward.
Though it seemed slightly weaker than when fired directly on the surface, the surprise factor alone made it a nearly perfect attack.
'There are other abilities, but... there's too much to do today. I'll test them later.'
Setting aside my lingering curiosity, I resumed walking.
There was still so much left to do.
*
After the fierce second wave had passed, I finally managed to get some rest after a long time.
[Heeheehee...]
[Listen...]
[Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?]
Maybe it was because my Ether Sensitivity had increased, letting me hear even more voices.
Or maybe the herbs I'd been relying on finally stopped working.
Whatever the reason, the temporary measure had hit its limit.
[You rested after intense combat. You have not fully recovered from fatigue.]
[Stamina stat increased.]
[17 -> 18]
Despite enduring an intense battle to defend against the wave, the stat growth felt sluggish.
'...This is killing me.'
It seemed it was time to teach those rowdy spirits another lesson about the terrifying power of Experimental Bullet GHOST-157.
When dealing with those creatures that specialize in one-sided communication, nothing gets the message across quite like a shotgun loaded with GHOST-157.
And then...
The cleanup began.
Most of it involved dealing with the carcasses of monsters and beasts within Mount Noah.
'Separate the valuable parts and the edible ones. Feed the rest to the bone parasite.'
Sell what I could.
Eat what I could.
Feed the rest to the Bone Parasite.
Managing resources so efficiently, the monster corpses had become one of the most valuable assets I had.
Living outside Ark meant constantly consuming resources, so the only resource I could truly gather on my own was this.
'Monster remains... I can probably sell them to Ark.'
For those sheltered within Ark's sturdy walls, constantly bombarding threats, monster corpses weren't particularly valuable.
Since they could collect corpses from their defenses when needed, they didn't find it appealing to trade for them.
However, it was a different story inside Ark, where obtaining relatively intact monster remains was significantly more difficult.
Though recovery teams would be dispatched after the wave ended, finding intact bodies was never easy.
No matter how tough a monster's hide was, it couldn't withstand the firepower Ark deployed.
It was ironic, really, how Ark was a place constantly under monster attack, yet remained so clean.
'Not that I'm complaining.'
Monster and beast remains.
Those alone would be enough leverage to negotiate with Ark.
'Time to head out.'
They say to strike while the iron's hot.
With the cleanup around my hideout mostly done, it was time to head to Ark to meet the Quartermaster that Maybell Pilgrim had mentioned.
I'd also sell off the monster remains I'd gathered.
'Looks like Ark is almost done with their own cleanup too.'
Just like after the first wave, the fires burned continuously for days on Ark's frontlines.
As a nearby resident, I felt like filing a complaint about the fine dust from the illegal burning.
Then again, considering I was surviving on volcanic ash, it seemed a bit hypocritical to complain.
'Well... whatever.'
I prepared myself and packed everything.
Even after stuffing my military pack to the brim, I still had to bundle up monster tendons and other remains with makeshift cords.
With a heavy load secured, I set out for Red-1 Gate.
There was no special reason for choosing it, other than it being the closest gate to where I was.
'Ideally, I'd go to Red-17 where I know some faces... but it's way too far.'
Half of the monster remains I was carrying amounted to almost everything I had gathered.
Even with my enhanced body and Bone Armor, carrying all this weight to Red-17 would have been exhausting.
Finally reaching the gate, I dropped my pack onto the ground.
Thud-!
The heavy sound echoed as a sense of freedom washed over me.
If a fight had broken out while carrying all that, it would have been a nightmare.
As I waited near the moat, a surveillance camera shifted to focus on me.
Chiiik, chhk-
["Halt. You are warned. Cease all movements and raise your hands."]
Not wanting any trouble, I complied without resistance.
["State your identity. What business do you have with Ark?"]
I skipped any pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"I'm here to meet the quartermaster. I was referred by Special Purpose Weapon Research Director, Lieutenant Colonel Maybell Pilgrim. My name is Carl Marcus."
There was a brief silence.
["...Please wait here for a moment."]
It seemed like Maybell had indeed given them a heads-up, or maybe just mentioning her name did the trick.
["Identity confirmed. Please wait while we open the gate."]
"Understood."
As expected of Ark's military efficiency.
'Then again... My data was probably registered at Red-17 Gate last time, so it's no surprise they processed it quickly.'
Although I had tried to minimize revealing my identity to Ark, that only applied to my identity as the Skull Turncoat who attacked the recovery team.
Ark had known about Carl Marcus since the day I first arrived in this world.
["Opening the gate. Please step back."]
"Alright."
Chiiik, chiiiiik─
The enormous gate slowly lowered, forming a bridge.
It was a truly imposing sight.
Chiiiiiiik─
When the bridge was fully lowered, a lone soldier stepped out, unaccompanied by any guards.
Sharp, angular features framed by a crisp uniform and rimless glasses.
Everything about him exuded precision and discipline.
I knew this man.
'Gedwin.'
There are some individuals within The Defense who possess special eyes.
Like Hildegard, the One Who Sees Through, and Ayla, the Daughter of the Sands.
Gedwin also possesses a special pair of eyes, just like them.
Eyes that can perceive the specific nature of the ether swirling around me.
In other words, he has eyes that can see Contribution Points.
Quartermaster Gedwin.
He had come to greet me.
"I am Captain Gedwin, the quartermaster. I have heard from the Director. I understand you rescued her from a difficult situation. On behalf of Ark, I extend my gratitude."
"I merely followed the voice of the souls."
"Haha, that's what the Director said as well. By the way, these things you've brought...?"
"I couldn't just come empty-handed when visiting someone's home. I brought along whatever seemed valuable."
"You intend to sell these to Ark? Is that what I should understand?"
"Quick to catch on. I like that."
As I already knew, Gedwin was a good conversationalist.
However, that didn't always mean it worked out positively.
"Then, may I take a look at the goods?"
"Go ahead."
As I untied the bundle and displayed the items, Gedwin carefully examined them, his eyes narrowing.
Assessing the value of monster and beast byproducts was an essential skill for a quartermaster.
"This is... quite impressive. Each of these items is exceptionally rare. It almost seems like you knew exactly what to bring."
"I have a decent eye for such things."
"Ah... I apologize. It seems I was rather thoughtless with my words."
Nevertheless, he didn't completely erase his doubts.
"I suppose Credits aren't what you're after. Is there something specific you're looking for? Living outside Ark must require a lot of necessities. If there's nothing in particular, I can pick out some essentials for you."
There wasn't yet enough trust built between me and Gedwin.
In other words, no matter how rare and valuable the goods I brought were, a simple transaction wouldn't yield much from him.
That's why I needed to broaden the range of items I could obtain first.
"I'll tell you everything at once later."
"All at once...? Ah, I almost forgot. I heard you performed outstandingly during this wave. You don't have to worry about replenishing the ammunition you used. The Director made sure to mention it."
"Do you even know how many bullets I used?"
"Would the benefactor who saved the Director lie about that? Besides, there's no need to worry about it. I have a way to find out."
As he spoke, Gedwin's blue eyes glowed while he stared at me.
Kiing─
Eyes attempting to discern something.
It was the ability of Gedwin's Demon Soul Eyes.
And then—
"...What?"
Gedwin's previously cold, ice-like expression slowly transformed into one of sheer shock.
* * *
A few days earlier, Gedwin had received a message that was hard to believe even after hearing it directly.
It was from none other than Lieutenant Colonel Maybell Pilgrim, the Director of the Special Purpose Weapons Research Institute.
The message was simple.
"If Carl Marcus comes to you, give him a fair reward. I've already taken care of all the related matters, so you don't need to worry."
Carl Marcus.
An outsider, a native from the vicinity of Kronos, who had been living in Noah after being banned from entering Ark.
The details about him were already known to Ark, thanks to a report from Lieutenant Imosha, the administrator of the Red-17 Gate.
The fact that he was still alive, despite being presumed dead long ago, was surprising enough.
But to think that he even managed to rescue Lieutenant Colonel Maybell Pilgrim when she was in danger?
It was a story that was difficult to believe even after hearing it firsthand.
'There's no need for me to dig too deep into it.'
A soldier follows orders.
Although Lieutenant Colonel Pilgrim wasn't his direct superior, she was influential enough to affect his superiors as well, so there was no point in questioning it.
When Carl Marcus finally showed up at the Red Line Gate a few days later, Gedwin couldn't hide his surprise.
It was because of the beast and monster byproducts that Karl had brought.
'This is...'
The hide and bones of a Grade-6 Named Behemoth species.
The fangs of a Grade-7 Named Beast species.
The claws of a Grade-5 Named Primate species.
And countless other byproducts.
Each and every one of them was an item of considerable value, even among beast and monster byproducts.
"This is... quite impressive. Each of these items is exceptionally rare. It almost seems like you knew exactly what to bring."
"I have a decent eye for such things."
"Ah... I apologize. It seems I was rather thoughtless with my words. I suppose Credits aren't what you're after. Is there something specific you're looking for? Living outside Ark must require a lot of necessities. If there's nothing in particular, I can pick out some essentials for you."
"I'll tell you everything at once later."
What was even more surprising was that Carl Marcus behaved like a seasoned negotiator.
It was as if he knew the exact value of the items he had brought.
'If he's living outside Ark, he must be in need of countless things, but he's unnaturally calm.'
Whatever the case, it would be best to see it for himself.
Kiing─
His Demon Soul Eyes focused on Carl Marcus.
And then, Gedwin saw it.
He witnessed Carl Marcus's true nature, as reflected through the Demon Soul Eyes.
"...What?"
[KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE─────!!!!]
For a moment, Quartermaster Gedwin felt like he was about to vomit.
He saw a truly unimaginable amount of Ether emanating from the man standing in front of him.
[Grrr...]
[Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.]
[Kyaw, Kyawoo!]
[Die... Die. Die. Die!]
Gedwin knew.
That ether wasn't of an ordinary nature—it was more akin to the lingering grudges of the beasts and monsters that had perished at this man's hands.
'My God...'
Gedwin had seen such Ether before.
The soldiers from the Black Line.
Once the frontline of Ark and a living hell, those who survived it became legends—heroes of Ark and veterans of countless battles.
But why?
Why did he sense the same aura and presence from this outsider as he did from those warriors?
"Is something wrong?"
"N-No, nothing at all."
Although he tried to maintain his composure, Gedwin's breathing had already grown rough, and his voice was trembling.
It felt like he was standing at the edge of a deep abyss.
"I'd like to get to the point now. What can you give me?"
In the end, Gedwin couldn't control the words spilling from his mouth.
At this moment, the concepts of refusal or negotiation had entirely vanished from his mind.
"...A-Anything you want..."
There was no taking those words back.
At least, not in front of this outsider.