The pickup truck veered off the road, entering the edge of the wilderness.
Far from the safety zone, Rosco finally felt relieved enough to stop the vehicle and hurriedly began organizing his belongings. He rummaged through the backpack wedged between the seats, pulling out various items: cigarettes, alcohol, more cigarettes, a lighter, and more alcohol.
"Are you trying to shorten your lifespan on purpose?" Kim Ihyeon asked, eyeing the collection incredulously. He then abruptly questioned, "Was it okay to leave?"
"Shouldn't you have asked that an hour ago?" Rosco retorted.
"Honestly, I needed the vehicle," Kim Ihyeon admitted.
Having someone who knew the way was an added bonus. Rosco's unexpected arrival had solved several of Kim Ihyeon's dilemmas, making it a stroke of luck for him.
"Hmph, I figured as much," Rosco grumbled, understanding that their current arrangement was a kind of unspoken trade: transportation in exchange for protection. The agreement would last as long as both parties found each other useful.
"Actually, I'm somewhat relieved," Rosco continued. "I was sticking around out of sheer habit and a reluctance to give up what I'd built, but I was fed up with that place."
Rosco gazed out at the barren landscape beyond the windshield. A desolate expanse with not a single blade of grass in sight, a testament to the devastation left by the "Calamities."
Tropical regions battered by snowstorms, deserts deluged by month-long downpours—these inexplicable natural disasters were ravaging the world, toppling countless nations and ruining millions of lives. Yet, the vast emptiness of this place brought Rosco a sense of liberation.
"Living in Ulanche, you develop a longing for the city. Knowing that others are aware of your every move is incredibly unsettling."
"Isn't that a strange thing for an information broker to say?"
"I left behind that title when I left Ulanche. It felt invasive, like someone was always watching me," Rosco explained.
"I get it," Kim Ihyeon nodded, feeling a fresh wave of realization.
In the game, Rosco had never left Ulanche. He was the broker whom Aster entrusted with the quest to find the lost family sword, despite the troubles he caused.
'But now things have changed.'
The reality of his actions influencing the story was sinking in. The game-like mindset he had been maintaining was gradually fading, replaced by a stronger sense of realism.
"Where exactly are we headed?" Rosco asked. "To Babenburg, I suppose? I'd always wanted to visit."
The capital of Cadillac. Rosco envisioned the cityscape he'd only seen in pictures, but Kim Ihyeon quickly dashed his hopes.
"You think three suspicious individuals of different races can just stroll into the city without attracting attention? We'd be lucky not to get arrested by the guards."
In the backseat lay 'her,' a Pecatum with horns. Kim Ihyeon himself was a typical Asian, and Rosco looked like a gangster, making them a conspicuous trio.
Considering this, their options were limited. Ulanche might be unique in its diversity, but Cadillac wasn't a welcoming place for immigrants.
"Ah, right. So what do you suggest?" Rosco asked, now worried.
"We're crossing the border."
"Crossing the border… what?" Rosco's expression turned bizarre, his initial relief and anticipation morphing into suspicion.
"Aren't you a mafia member from the city?" he asked, confused.
"Do I look like a criminal?" Kim Ihyeon replied.
"Well… I thought you were," Rosco stammered, realizing his mistake.
"Did I ever say that?" Kim Ihyeon retorted.
Memories clicked into place in Rosco's mind. He had never gotten a clear answer.
"…Damn it!"
He had simply assumed it.
"So what are you? A special agent from the Shiran Empire? An undercover guard from Harrenhal? Or maybe an assassin from the underworld?" Rosco speculated wildly.
"None of the above. Just a homeless guy."
A brief silence followed.
Rosco chuckled weakly, but his face soon fell as he realized the gravity of his situation. His eyes betrayed his deep concern.
"I can hear your brain working overtime. Missing home already?" Kim Ihyeon teased.
"No, it's just that I forgot… my medicine," Rosco tried to cover up, hyperventilating exaggeratedly.
"Leaving the car behind, then?" Kim Ihyeon suggested, unimpressed.
"…Are you really not a mafia member?" Rosco asked, his suspicion evident.
"Living on the streets has hardened me," Kim Ihyeon replied, half-jokingly.
Rosco grimaced, but Kim Ihyeon felt a strange sense of nostalgia. His friend's expression was exactly like when he had mistakenly chugged concentrated plum juice.
"But once we get there, you'll be glad you came. Kilicia has plenty of sights, and all the booze and cigarettes you could want."
"Kilicia?" Rosco perked up, his demeanor calming rapidly. He glanced at his homeless companions, then nodded.
"If it's as they say, it might not be bad."
The city-state of Kilicia: a city of freedom and opportunity. Unlike Cadillac, it actively welcomed immigrants and was deeply rooted in meritocracy.
"From what I saw, you're quite skilled. And that Pecatum lady is even more impressive," Rosco remarked.
"Anything's better than Cadillac," Kim Ihyeon replied. In a city that offered equal opportunities to all, he planned to establish a solid foundation.
'There's a lot to do.'
Polaris was filled with numerous characters, each with their own stories.
'I know almost all the side stories, but… the problem is that it's hard for me to get involved.'
Relying solely on game knowledge had its limits. He had been lucky with Ghost; the conditions were right, which allowed him to save her.
'If my skill wasn't [Special Armament Creation]? If the recoil from creating multiple identical armaments was any stronger?'
'Then I would have failed or given up early.'
In short, he had been lucky.
Despite that, it was dangerous. Shadow's spell was a real threat, and using tricks had earned him suspicious looks from Layla and her team.
'I can't keep doing that.'
He needed a broader range of skills. Strong allies, a solid position, and his own strength.
'Asterike is still weak.'
As a 2-star agent, he could easily be killed. He had no chance in a fair fight, but battles didn't have to be fair.
Most defeats and deaths were born of treachery. Asterike needed to not only master her spells but also become a bit cunning.
He needed to choose and focus. Instead of wandering around, he needed to concentrate on growth.
Above all, a major incident would soon occur in Kilicia. He needed to prevent it somehow. He had to establish himself early and prepare for the threat.
The adaptation period was over.
* * *
The journey to Kilicia was anything but smooth.
Far from the safe zones, the pickup truck frequently became a target for monsters.
Bang!
Another shot rang out, as monotonous as the many that had come before. A raptor's body slowly toppled.
Kim Ihyeon didn't forget to fire a confirming shot. The raptor finally stopped moving.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, he muttered, "Raptors are a pain here, too."
He had used ten bullets on just two. Fast and resilient monsters, taking five or six bullets each and still advancing like zombies.
'I've been relying too much on guns lately. Maybe I should switch to melee weapons next.'
He felt he was becoming too dependent on firearms. It wasn't a good trend. In Polaris, guns were not all-powerful.
The world had a high physical capability ceiling. There were even crazy people who could throw spears hundreds of meters.
'I probably won't reach that level… but it wouldn't hurt to be proficient in a variety of weapons.'
Even Ghost had advised him. While guns were currently the most effective, practicing with other weapons might prove beneficial.
Speaking of which.
"Getting the hang of it?" Kim Ihyeon asked, glancing to his right. There, Asterike was catching her breath after another battle.
A burnt raptor corpse lay at her feet, a sign of her spell usage.
Three days had passed since they left Ulanche. Asterike, who had been asleep until yesterday, had just woken up. Kim Ihyeon explained the situation and gave her the suppressor Layla had provided.
Now, she could use her spell in a controlled manner. True to her reputation, she seemed to have quickly adapted, despite her initial hesitation.
"Yeah. I don't like it much, but… I have to do my part. I don't want to be a burden," Asterike admitted.
"You matured quickly. Yesterday, you were demanding to know where you were, complaining about hunger, and asking where your sword was," Kim Ihyeon teased.
"I didn't… do that," Asterike mumbled, her face turning sullen. It was a far cry from the composed Aster in the game.
'She looks a bit shabby. If she were even slightly cleaner, she'd look better.'
Her face was smeared with soot, and her tangled hair resembled an ash wolf's mane. Up close, she reeked of sweat, blood, and burnt flesh.
It wasn't disappointment or lost affection; Asterike was simply a different person from the Aster he once knew.
'She must have gone through a lot to develop that personality.'
If he truly wanted to meet "Aster," he could have left her to the Pav
oni family. Letting her be exploited as planned.
But Kim Ihyeon had chosen to involve Asterike, altering her life's path. He couldn't complain about the result.
He had to take some responsibility.
"Sorry about the sword. I could've kept it, but I didn't think of it," he said.
Asterike's cherished family sword had been lost, melted in the flames with Pavoni in Ulanche's warehouse.
"It's okay. It was my own doing. Who else can I blame?"
That was true.
Kim Ihyeon didn't apologize further. It was self-inflicted.
"I was really sad until yesterday. I didn't bring a single picture from home… it was the only thing left. It brought back memories, even when I didn't want to remember."
"Is this a serious talk?" Kim Ihyeon asked, not prepared for the conversation. The smell was unbearable: sweat, blood, burnt meat, and unwashed grime.
It was hard to switch gears. As he pinched his nose, Asterike continued.
"But now, I think it's for the best. I'm clumsy, so someone else would've taken it eventually. No doubt."
She nodded to herself.
"Better to destroy it myself than let it become someone else's. Don't you agree?"
"…I guess?"
"But don't worry. I'll cherish this suppressor you gave me," she said, fiddling with the bracelet suppressor, then looked at Kim Ihyeon.
"And, I should've said this earlier—"
A bright smile spread across Asterike's face.
"Thank you for finding me."
The recorded line echoed in Kim Ihyeon's mind.
―Thank you for everything, Professor.
The same but different line. The same face and smile, but unlike the desperate Aster, this Asterike's smile was pure.
Her cheeks were smeared with dirt instead of a blush… but still, it wasn't bad.