She sighed in her seat, her shoulders drooping as though the weight of the entire KCAC branch rested on her back.
The nametag pinned neatly to the right side of her uniform…『Nami』caught a beam of fluorescent ceiling light, glinting faintly each time she exhaled in mild frustration.
"I'm your official Helper," she began, smoothing her skirt as she regained her professional tone, "and my name is Fujimoto Nami. A Helper's job is not to directly influence the decisions of the Awakened under them… but I wouldn't advise you to go alone into the Outer Zone."
She looked him dead in the eyes, utterly serious now. "Even though there are weak monsters, you are far too low ranked to try and face anything outside."
Kōya slipped his new Awakened ID card into his pocket. "How did you know I was planning to go alone?"
Nami blinked at him like he'd asked why water was wet.
"Every newbie wants to do that. And only less than sixty percent survive that initial encounter." Her tone wasn't dramatic… she was just being honest. "It might sound high, but facing a monster with zero experience, or doing it because you've watched people kill them on television and think it's easy, is just…"
Her voice trailed off.
Kōya wasn't listening anymore.
'System, create a trap that'll work for an Iron-class monster. Something suitable for me to hunt. Give me the item list too.'
He still couldn't believe he basically had a cheat-code AI. Who else got to skip all the thinking?
The screen flickered to life in front of him.
「Host, a suitable target has been identified: the Iron-Class Stoneback Gnawler. A common Outer Zone pest that lurks around the abandoned highway ruins outside the Keropolis barrier. It is physically durable but mentally slow, making it ideal prey for low-tier Awakened using traps rather than direct combat.」
'A Stoneback Gnawler, huh…?'
He remembered that one clearly. One of the first monsters introduced in the manga… pain in the ass, ugly as hell, but manageable with prep.
Current-volume Kōya could crush them with his bare hands. He, however? Absolutely not.
「Exactly. It is a turtle-rat hybrid creature with rocky plates along its spine. Very common. Very stupid. Very bitey. Its weak point is the unarmored throat, which can be exposed by overturning it. Recommended trap method:
Select a narrow alley or collapsed ruin corridor, place bait to lure the Gnawler, then use weighted wire loops to bind its limbs before pulling a trip-line that collapses rubble onto its shell. Once overturned, strike the throat to finish the monster.」
'Easier said than done…'
This would be his first face-to-face encounter with a monster. And according to the manga, looking a monster directly in the eyes for the first time hit you with a primal fear response… your body knew it wasn't the apex predator anymore.
「Required hunting items:
Iron wire loops, steel trip-line, mana-reactive bait (low-grade), two collapsible metal spikes, a handheld rubble-breaker, leather gloves, one basic monster-disposal sack.」
'And I'm guessing all of these can be found right here in the KCAC?'
「Correct. This method has a 92% success rate when executed correctly. It is the safest option for a Host with your current pathetic… correcting: beginner-level physique.」
'That was definitely a stray,' he grimaced mentally as the System screen slid aside.
Nami was staring at him.
"Eto… died, did you even hear what I was saying?" she asked, cheeks puffed in annoyance.
"I lost you at 'just'…" Kōya replied flatly. "Anyway, are you going to lead me to the Shop section? I need a bunch of items. And since you're my Helper, you get them for me as a Starter Pack."
Her eyebrows twitched.
"What even is that… ugh, fine," she huffed, arms crossing under her chest. "Let's go."
They walked toward the staircase located at the far end of the hall. An elevator stood nearby, but its lights indicated it was currently in use.
The staircase, however, led upward into a much busier, livelier part of the building.
The second floor opened into what looked like a miniature fantasy marketplace… stalls were set up in rows, filled with glittering items, glowing trinkets, monster parts, and equipment both mundane and magical.
Awakened walked around with ease, carrying bags of supplies or negotiating loudly with shop owners.
"This looks nice…" Kōya muttered. It genuinely did. Much nicer than anything back on Earth. Like someone had stuffed a whole RPG market into a government building.
"I still don't think you should attempt crossing the barrier," Nami said, hands clasped behind her back. "It's very dangerous, Kōya-kun. Several Awakened under me have died already. If you need money urgently, you can take in-city missions instead."
He wasn't listening.
A middle-aged man strolling toward them abruptly froze when he saw Nami's face. His expression twisted like he'd seen a debt collector, and he turned around immediately.
"What was his deal?" Kōya asked.
Nami sighed. "He's a scammer. He claims he'll help people buy items… and then runs away with their money."
"And he isn't kicked out why?"
"Oh, he hasn't actually scammed anyone yet," she said, eyes flat. "He's just…"
"Get your iron wire loops here! Loop monsters! Loop humans! Loop anything with limbs!!"
Nami didn't even get to finish.
Kōya was already gone.
His figure blurred past two stalls, stopping instantly before a vendor who proudly displayed iron wire loops in assorted sizes.
"Hey! Wait up!" Nami called, her heels clacking sharply against the tiled floor.
'What size and how many should I get?' he wondered.
「Get two of the biggest sizes.」
The vendor clasped his hands together. "Ahh, kind young man! Welcome to my humble stall. What size will you be looping today, eh? Human or monster?"
'Why is human even an option here…?'
"Give me two of the biggest sizes," Kōya said.
"Excellent choice!" The vendor flexed the single black-line crest on his upper arm, grabbing two massive iron loops that looked large enough to trap a small truck.
Without struggle, he expertly folded and twisted them into portable rings the size of Kōya's palm.
"Here you are, young man. Finest loops in Keropolis."
Kōya accepted them with a nod. "Thanks."
Nami finally reached them… she was slightly out of breath and her cheeks were flushed.
'How far did he run in that short time?! Awakened are seriously built different…' She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.
Kōya turned casually to her.
"She's the one paying."
He said it so calmly, so naturally, that Nami froze for a full two seconds.
"What—hey—hold on—"
But he was already walking to the next stall.
The vendor handed her the receipt with a bright grin. "That'll be 4,400 Crowns, lovely lady."
Nami stared at the total.
Then at Kōya's disappearing back.
Then at the vendor.
Then at the total again.
'Why… why did I sign up to be a Helper again?!'
With the slow, defeated movement of a woman regretting her life choices, Fujimoto Nami pulled out her KCAC employee card, authorized the payment, and handed over the funds.