Day 3
The rain continues to pour outside the eco garden. Meanwhile, under the domed ceiling, a gentle simulation of dawn light falls softly around the interior.
After unlocking the residential zone necessary for survival, the air circulation system was activated. In just the span of a day, it has removed the stale odors of rust and mold throughout the eco garden.
And in their place came the fresh fragrance of soil and vegetation.
[player name], the air quality here has been restored to satisfactory levels. The stability of these old-world systems has exceeded expectations.
Kamui stands beside you, taking a deep breath. His expression is calm and relaxed as he savors the fresh air. Suddenly, something seems to cross his mind.
That reminds me... is the eco garden's power supply still sufficient?
You pull Kamui toward the vehicle you drove here. The compartment, once packed full of supplies, is now almost completely empty.
We're running out of food.
Kamui's relaxed composure from earlier instantly fades, replaced by concern etched all over his face.
We'll likely run out today. The two vehicles we were using to transport supplies were both lost while escaping from the Corrupted.
[player name], take a look at this...
The two stand grimly before the nearly empty vehicle. But then, Kamui is hit with an idea and pulls up a map on his terminal. Displayed on it is a large green area.
I downloaded a map of this area when I was surveying the eco garden earlier. Looks like that was not in vain after all. Since this is an ecological research facility, there should be some production infrastructure around.
Perhaps we can try our luck over there.
The sudden praise causes Kamui, who was plotting a route with his back turned towards you, to waver slightly.
Ahem... I've found a route, [player name]. I'll go get the butler robot and we can go check it out together.
Soon after, the two of you arrive at a massive isolation door under the guidance of the butler robot. As the door slowly opens, you're greeted by the rich aroma of damp soil and fresh vegetation.
A vast agricultural zone reveals itself to you. Under the dim ceiling, old but neatly arranged furrows lie covered in an unknown species of ferns, the result of a prolonged lack of maintenance.
An overwhelming silence blankets the entire plantation. Only the neat furrows remain, along with faint traces of the abundant crops that once flourished here.
The soil here is still in great condition. This will be perfect for growing those fast-yield crops from the Golden Age.
At the edges of the fields, several dried-up irrigation channels crisscross like veins, silently awaiting the day they'll pulse with life once more.
[player name], I have inspected everything here. The irrigation system and pipeline structure are completely intact and well-maintained. Once we get water flowing, it'll be fully operational.
You approach the edge of the furrow and step into the overgrowth of weeds, where you almost lose your footing. Fortunately, Kamui immediately pulls you to safety, preventing disaster. He looks at the weeds that reach his waist and shakes his head.
Watch your step, [player name]. There are way too many weeds around here.
You turn around to look at the butler robot that has been following the two of you.
The robot behind you seems to have picked up on some keywords and quickly moves to stand before the two of you.
Through keyword analysis, the eco garden system has detected that family members are experiencing anxiety regarding "food" and "survival".
Would you like me to gather the family members to initiate phase two of the tasks?
It appears that the butler robot has another task for us, [player name].
Butler, could you gather everyone for us, please?
The butler robot immediately connects to the eco garden's broadcast system, calling for all refugees to gather at the agricultural zone. Not long after, numerous refugees arrive in the area, confused.
Hmm...?
With everyone gathered, the butler robot changes the music genre, playing a melody reminiscent of the suspenseful buildup before a lottery drawing.
Excitement and taut suspense fill the air, spreading throughout the agricultural zone as everyone holds their breath, waiting for the mystery to unfold.
Dear family members, you have now unlocked access permissions for the residential zone, along with minimum energy usage rights required for daily living and production activities.
Now is the perfect time to initiate phase two of the Nest Building series tasks! Although the fields currently lie empty, your diligent labor will yield gifts left behind by your predecessors!
Umm... Kamui? What is it talking about? Is there food stored here?
Yes, indeed. The climate-controlled warehouse in the agricultural zone contains food reserves sufficient to sustain all family members for one month, as well as precious seeds.
You hear that, old man? I gotta tell everyone to come get the food...
The butler robot emits another shrill alarm. Its monocular eye shifts from blue to yellow as it turns toward Bernie, who stands frozen in fear and confusion.
WARNING—forcefully seizing anything within the family is prohibited. Violators will have their family member status frozen.
My guess is... we're going to have to complete a task before we can access the food supplies, just like when we unlocked the residential zone.
Bingo! Request from "parent" detected. Phase two of the Nest Building series tasks updated—agricultural zone now open to all family members...
All family members, please clean and till the soil in this area, then plant the first batch of seeds bearing hope. As a reward—
Access to the climate-controlled warehouse in the agricultural area will be granted to all family members upon completion of the task.
The butler robot announces the reward for the task, accompanied by music resembling the fanfare in a prize-drawing event.
Before the task officially begins, the system plays a recording from the original owner. This one appears to be about cultivating land.
The refugees gather around with keen interest, joining Kamui and you to watch the recording projected by the butler robot.
I've been thinking since way back then—if we ever got a place of our own, we need to own a field like this one.
This time, the butler robot projects an image not of the dignified former mistress, but of a man in work clothes with fresh soil clinging to the edges of his garments. Despite his slightly breathless tone, his words radiate with vitality like the sun.
Though his face remains blurred in the recording, his laughing and cheerful words make it clear that the one gazing at him through the lens, as well as the one capturing in this moment, is none other than the gentle-eyed woman from the previous recording.
We used to think soil was just dirt, but look—life itself springs from this very earth... Just like our relationship, with careful cultivation, there will always come a time of harvest.
The projection ends, and the butler robot speaks once again.
All family members, please check your tasks carefully. Temporary access to all farming tools has been granted. Do your best, everyone.
The rotund butler robot plays another cheerful tune as it waddles away from the agricultural zone in that same comical fashion.
As if sensing that everyone has accepted the task, the zone's lighting system gradually activates. Under the bright lights, the entire plantation finally comes into view.
Judging by the size of the area, it seems we won't be taking it easy today.
Don't worry, Kamui, [player name]. We can't possibly let you two do all the work. After all, this is about food for all of us here.
The old yet sprightly voice behind them belongs to none other than Luke. Kamui turns to see several young, able-bodied refugees led by Bernie already rolling up their sleeves.
When it comes to farming, we know our stuff! C'mon guys—for food!
No worries! We've got this covered!
After dividing up the tasks, the refugees collect their tools before heading towards their assigned areas. Silence returns as they leave one by one, leaving only Kamui and you behind.
You hand a hoe to Kamui, then walk toward the area assigned to the two of you.
The workers are placed in different areas, working enthusiastically. Their calls echo back and forth throughout the vast agricultural zone.
In a plot of land a little deeper into the zone, Kamui grips his hoe, earnestly inspecting the ground before him.
...This should be good.
After hesitating briefly, Kamui solemnly raises the hoe
and swings it down at the ground with all his might.
CRACK—
With a crisp snap, the old wooden handle breaks in two. The hoe head roots itself firmly into the ground, and the powerful impact sends a clod of soil flying straight into Kamui's face.
Tsk...
Kamui clicks his tongue in embarrassment, then stares intently at the hoe head stuck in the ground, contemplating exactly what went wrong.
Seeing Kamui's face completely covered in dirt, you give a wry smile and walk over to him.
I can figure it out myself...
Before Kamui can refuse, you reach out to wipe away the dirt from his face, carefully removing the soil caught in his hair as well.
You hand Kamui a new hoe and casually step beside him.
You reach out and place your hand over Kamui's to help adjust his posture, leading Kamui to relax his tensed muscles.
Umm... [player name]?
Your warm touch comes without warning. Kamui tenses up, his breathing skips a beat.
You keep Kamui steady, supporting his movements to help him apply force correctly. You patiently guide his hands, and before long, the hoe is lifted effortlessly before being lowered with precision.
The hoe smoothly cuts into the soil, turning over moist, loose earth in a motion that's fluid and natural.
Kamui looks down at the hands overlapping with his own. Despite the other person doing most of the work, his heart races uncontrollably. Though he appears to be calm and composed, his face, in reality, is burning intensely. This strange feeling leaves him flustered and unsure what to do once again.
I think so...
Kamui speaks in a strained voice. Your breath and voice are right by his ear, and in that moment, it is as if that is the only sound that remains in the world to him, accompanied by your warmth.
[player name], I've got the hang of it now. Let me... try by myself.
You notice that something's off about Kamui.
I-I'm fine...
He turns his body away, trying to hide the emotions he can't quite put into words.
I've got it now. That said, we're moving way too slow overall. We need to pick up the pace.
Kamui lets out a sigh of relief in secret the moment he escapes from your touch.
Yet, at the same time, disappointment flashes through his otherwise calm eyes.
He remains uncharacteristically silent as he continues working, wielding his hoe with mechanical efficiency as if letting out his frustrations.
The two of you grow more skilled as you work away in your own little corner of the field. Before long, the entire agricultural zone has been tilled and sown with seeds of tomorrow.
As the last seed falls into the soil's embrace, cheers erupt throughout the vast plantation.
In that same moment, the broadcast system chimes and joins in on the celebration.
That familiar, cheerful music plays again as the rotund butler robot appears before everyone once more.
Congratulations once again, family members! Through perfect cooperation and teamwork, you have completed the designated task seamlessly. System evaluation—excellent.
Excellent, huh... then I suppose... we can access the food supplies now, right?
Of course, diligence must always be rewarded aptly. In accordance with the plan for phase two—
Access to the climate-controlled storage in the agricultural zone has been unlocked. Please enjoy the fruits of your harvest, family members. This is your well-deserved reward.
Accompanied by a cheerful fanfare, the heavy storage doors in the distance of the agricultural zone slowly slide open.
Though no one can see inside yet, the scent of grain wafts through the air. The entire zone is immediately drowned in the deafening cheers of the refugees, with many tossing their hats into the air in celebration.
Hey! Careful there, Bernie! Handle that gently! That's our lifeline you're carrying.
Bernie, carrying a sack of grain, realizes that he was about to make a grave mistake, and carefully places the sack atop the boxes already stacked in the residential hall.
After gaining access to the climate-controlled storage, you and Kamui lead the refugees in moving the food supplies and seeds to the residential zone.
As they do, the flames of hope rekindle in the refugees' eyes. It's been far too long since they've even seen this much food.
To prevent the starving refugees from taking too much, you devised a meticulous distribution plan ahead of time, accounting for both the current supplies and any additional supplies that might arrive in the future.
And now, the time has come to execute that plan, and you start distributing food to everyone according to their room numbers.
That's the last crate. I should let [player name] know how much we've got left in storage!
Kamui sets down the last crate of supplies. He straightens his back, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. His gaze wanders around before landing on a specific person in the crowd without realizing it.
You stand there, surrounded by refugees. They've formed a circle around you, eagerly reaching out to express their gratitude, each one of them smiling with tears of joy.
Phew...
Kamui takes a step forward. It's pure instinct. He wants to stand beside you, just as he always has after every battle.
But then he falters, hovering for a moment before silently returning to his original position.
...It's too crowded.
He mutters to himself, his voice flat and emotionless. Yet his eyes fixate on the hands being held by you, on those people who are patting your shoulders...
Those physical gestures that once symbolized "friendliness" to him now appear as an eyesore.
(The population density is too high, resulting in poor air circulation.)
(This unregulated physical contact likely increases the risk of germ transmission and will severely drain [player name]'s energy.)
(Factoring in the fact that [player name] has been doing heavy physical labor for an extended period of time...)
(The most reasonable approach would be to disperse everyone, let [player name] rest, and I can personally deliver rations to each room afterward.)
His mind frantically compiles a myriad of excuses as to why he should pull [player name] away from the crowd. Yet he stands motionless, not moving an inch.
And it's all because he sees the smile on your face.
It seems that...
(It seems that... that smile isn't just for me alone...)
He feels as if a water-soaked sponge has been lodged inside his heart—it's heavy, damp, and his every breath is accompanied by an indescribable sense of sluggishness.
He even finds the scene too stimulating for him—you simply shine too brightly. He, on the other hand, has been excluded, forgotten by his source of light.
...Everyone here loves [player name]. That's a good thing.
It shows this refugee group is developing a sense of unity.
He continues making up excuses to make himself feel better, using logic and reason to force himself into thinking from your perspective, trying to be happy for you. But he fails. The corners of his mouth refuse to turn his frown upside-down.
That half-formed smile looks both awkward and ridiculous.
I can just report in later...
"It's not like the report is urgent or time-sensitive." Deep down, he knows. All of these are just desperate excuses to mask his complicated feelings—that awkward, bitter jealousy gnawing at him.
He wishes that gentle smile would be directed only at him, at least for now. He recognizes this strange, petty feeling within himself—a feeling so unfamiliar it makes him a stranger to his own heart.
They weren't exactly lining up to talk to [player name] back at the agriculture zone, were they?
He retreats from the crowd, leaning against a pillar with arms crossed, staring vacantly at the crowd inside.
Bernie, who's usually quiet, is helping you distribute food, while Luke tries to maintain order. Still, Kamui can't help but think that he should be the one standing by your side right now.
Seeing your smile barely concealing your exhaustion, his brow furrows deeper. Just as he debates whether to find an excuse to "rescue" you, the tightly packed crowd finally begins to disperse.
Alright, everyone! Now that you've all got your food, please go and rest. You've all worked hard today. It's been a long day, and [player name] needs some rest too.
You got it! We'll head back and start cooking then! Haha!
Thanks for all your hard work today, [player name].
See you, [player name]. We salute you.
...
Amid a chorus of thank-yous, most of the refugees clutch their food supplies and disperse with beaming faces, leaving only a handful of people behind. With the crowd gone, it doesn't take long before Bernie spots Kamui leaning against the doorway outside.
Kamui! I was just wondering where you'd been...
Before Bernie can finish, the socially perceptive Luke quickly cuts him off.
Bernie, we should get going too.
Huh?
Let's go!
Bernie finally catches on, giving Kamui a quick wave before promptly leaving with Luke.
You step outside and spot Kamui still rooted beside the pillar, complicated feelings written all over his face.
I... I was on security duty. The crowd was getting pretty big, so there was a high risk of problems occurring.
I was simply monitoring the perimeter. That way, I could be first to respond if anything unexpected happened.
Kamui tries his hardest to play it cool, but his wandering gaze ultimately gives him away. You walk over and reach up to ruffle his golden hair.
[player name]... you're messing up my hair.
Kamui ducks from your hand, darting to the side and fixing his hair while feigning anger.
Your question seems to have hit the bullseye, and Kamui frantically tries to explain himself.
N-nothing's wrong! It's just that... nobody seemed to have considered your physical condition. Even I was tired after that task.
You should have been resting instead of celebrating... though I guess it's nice that everyone cares about you so much...
As Kamui's gaze darts around nervously, he catches a glimpse of Jerome nearby, eavesdropping on his conversation with [player name]. When he realizes he's been spotted, Jerome doesn't flee—instead, he pulls a face at Kamui.
Well, well, well... Kamui, are you... jealous?
A childish voice mocks Kamui from behind. The playful tone already gives away his identity—Jerome approaches with his hands clasped behind his back, once again doing that whole mature act.
No, I'm not!
The child's blunt words hit the nail on the head. Kamui's face flushes crimson as he stammers out a feeble explanation to you.
Bernie left in such a hurry that he forgot something. I'm just helping him get it back.
But this was an unexpected bonus! Could you believe it? The reason Kamui's been hanging around outside the door was to wait for [player name] to come cheer him up!
Jerome stands there, irritatingly smug. It's clear he's really looking forward to seeing you cheer Kamui up.
Jerome freezes for a moment, clearly not expecting you to respond to his teasing with such a serious answer.
It's only now that Kamui notices the weariness in your voice. He instinctively reaches out to support you, in his eyes a mixture of concern and self-reproach.
[player name]...
Tch... no fun. Well, I found what I was looking for anyway. I'm going back for dinner.
You two have fun.
He sticks out his tongue, only leaving behind those words before skipping away.
And now, it's just the two of you. Kamui's gaze falls on your weary profile, and all those barriers between you seem to evaporate in the face of your exhaustion. A dull sense of self-reproach silently washes over him.
This is my fault... I should have been there to help you.
Kamui murmurs with a trace of guilt in his voice.
Let me take you back to get some rest.
The night grows old. Thunder rumbles outside the eco garden, drawing a sharp contrast to the reigning tranquility within the building. The energy control center stands silently, its lights pulsing like breath, exhaling warm halos of light.
The first half of Kamui's shift passes almost too smoothly and quietly—not even Jerome showed up to stir trouble. Having completed his night watch duties without incident, he returns to the unnamed room with heavy eyelids and fatigue weighing him down.
Afraid of disturbing you in your rest, he tiptoes back to the door of your room, hesitating for a moment before entering.
Only to be met with bright lights instead of the darkness he expected.
Did [player name] forget to turn off the lights?
Kamui gently pushes the door open to find the lights still on. [player name] sits at the desk wearing a coat, fingers rapidly typing something on the holographic screen projected from the terminal.
Noticing Kamui's return, you switch off the terminal and turn to face him.
[player name], according to our night watch schedule, you should be resting right now. What are you writing?
If not for the slight furrow on his otherwise calm face, you wouldn't have detected the faint curiosity and gentle reproach hidden in his words.
Anything I can help with?
Classified...
He freezes for a moment, clearly not expecting that to be the reason for you to refuse his help. His mouth twitches downward slightly in a pout.
[player name], you should get some rest soon. You've already worked so hard today, so you need to stop pushing yourself. I... everyone here still needs you around.
He steps closer to you, studying your fatigued expression while hiding his personal concern behind the word "everyone."
You need to get some proper rest. How about you leave the night watch duties to me for tonight?
He suggests as you put away your terminal and prepare to head out for night watch.
You gently decline his offer with tactful kindness.
You refuse him bluntly.
Then...
He looks at you, his expression and tone brimming with concern.
[player name], make sure to stay warm. Even though we have shelter, the thunderstorm still persists, and the temperature's dropping. Who knows how long this weather will last—you need to take care of yourself and not get sick.
If anything happens, call for me right away!
You stand up, adjust your collar, and grab a flashlight before heading to the door. As you pass by Kamui, he instinctively reaches out to fix the slipping collar of your coat.
Good night, [player name]. Stay safe out there.
As the door closes, Kamui is left alone in the room. You walk to the burning campfire.
(Rumble)... The thunder growls, becoming louder and more frequent, asserting pressure from high above.
