However, I draw a line.But how far should it go?How far will I help these people?It was necessary to decide that boundary —and I intend to keep it.The same boundaries I’ve set and followed until now.It might sound cruel.Right now, my focus has to be the extermination of individual entities.I’ll secure the area while clearing out the nearby ones.And beyond that, I’ll get these people out of their eggs.That’s where it ends.Anything more would mean crossing the line.Winter’s coming soon.For them, winter is almost a blessing.Once the entities go into hibernation, at least they won’t be dying to those things anymore.As time passes, their strength will return,and even their damaged cognition will recover.When that moment comes,it’ll be up to them to decide —how they’ll survive.So my role is just to buy them time until then.This is a residential sector,so it might be hard to source other supplies,but food and water should be sufficient.It’s time to plan for this place to become a blank zone — an entity void.And at the same time...There’s something I need to check.There’s still something off about ending things here.I look around, trying to recall from memory.The Encounter.Was it really an event that appeared just to make me rescue survivors?Or was there more to it?It feels too deliberate to dismiss as a random encounter.When an Encounter appears, you always have to look into its core —that’s how it’s always been, and how it’ll continue to be.If this Encounter appeared not only because of the survivors,but for another underlying reason...Matrix System Computer.It’s probably tied to the Egg’s [Matrix Computer].I’ve never seen a fully functioning one,but I’ve heard the stories.The key.The so-called key that leads to the first clueto uncovering this world’s secrets.A small, bitter laugh escapes me.There’s no such thing.There are no “secrets of this world.”I’ve searched everywhere and found nothing.But the Matrix Computer itself still carries meaning.It’s one of the essential components for the vaccine,and also one of the prerequisites for creating human clones.Also —the only machine capable of hacking the nuclear weapon protocols.If it’s still operational,then it’s worth checking at least once.Every Egg housing complex should have a Matrix Computer linked to it.I’ll move on once I’ve put out the urgent problems.“Sir, what are you thinking about?”Maybe I’d stayed lost in thought too long.The child’s voice snapped me back.“It’s dangerous. Step back a little.”“Huh?”The child blinked at me quietly,then retreated a few steps.My eyes shifted back to the capsule in front of me.The most urgent task —getting these people out of their Eggs.Inspecting the capsule’s exterior,I could see the marks of multiple failed attempts to break it open.A blunt object?Probably a hammer, or an iron bar.But only scratches marred the surface —the shell wasn’t dented at all.It wouldn’t break with brute force alone.Still, it didn’t seem all that hard.And that impression became certainty when—Shhk——the old man’s Egg split open beneath my blade.“...!?”It happened so fast.I hadn’t even taken a stance;I drew and cleaved in one motion,and all that remained was the result.Clang!The sharp noise of the hinge giving wayrang through the once-silent chamber,drawing everyone’s attention.“Wh-what’s happening?”All wore dazed, vacant expressions —but the old man’s confusion was the greatest.“Huh? Huh...? A dream? Am I dreaming? Log out! Log out!? It’s not working!?”Who could imagine what he felt —one moment sealed inside,the next, suddenly free.Only my detached, calm voice described the scene.“Can you stand?”“Wh— how...?”Maybe I was too hasty.The old man looked too bewildered to speak coherently.So, even if it meant being a bit forceful,I decided to pull him out myself.“Hup!”Light as a ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) rag doll.His frailty spoke for itself —malnutrition. Barely alive.No doubt he’d survived thanks to outside help.“Kid.”“Y-yes!?”“You can go now. As promised, I’ll come by with food once I’m done here.”The boy’s expression tightened,but he shook his head and stayed put.“I’ll stay a little longer.”Maybe he wanted to help more.I couldn’t tell —and didn’t try to guess.For now, I just focused on the task.“Old sir.”“...?”He blinked up at me blankly.My gaze fell on the emaciated fingersprotruding from the filth-covered sleeves.“Did they tell you the Ark Unit would come to rescue you?”I didn’t reveal that I was the Ark’s commander.“Huh?”But I could at least mention I was from Ark —to ease their wary hearts.“Would you believe me if I said I came from the Ark Unit?”At that moment,tears welled in the old man’s eyes —eyes that were, unmistakably, alive.The same kind of eyes that once gleamedas he listened to Zhenya’s broadcast with joy.The old man whispered as if spellbound.“They said... they’d come... didn’t I tell you...?”I couldn’t tell who was alive and who wasn’t.So I made up my mind —to break them all open.Shhk!Clang!“W-wait!”One by one,I smashed the Eggs and dragged out those inside,whether living or dead.Filth coated my hands;the stench was suffocating —but it didn’t matter.What did matterwere the reactions I saw with each one freed.“You’re... really from the Ark Unit?”“You are, right?”“Ark! It’s Ark!”Ark.That name carried a heavy weight.I’d never once thought it as light,but this time, I could feel the weight in my bones.“The Ark Unit came here...”“C-can we see the Captain too?”“What about BJ Zhenya!?”It wasn’t hope for survival that shone in their faces —it was pure, childlike awe.They looked at me as if a herohad stepped out of their screens and into reality.I clenched my jaw, forcing calm.It wasn’t easy.They didn’t know it yet —but I did.The entities had begun to move.There’s still time.Fighting them? Not a concern.From outside, there didn’t seem to be that many nearby.I could handle it alone —I always had.But this time, I wasn’t alone.I had a truckload of wounded, helpless people.Could I really protect them all?I couldn’t be sure —and arrogance would only get them killed.So all I could dowas hope the barriers they’d have to crosswould buy me enough time.For now, I kept my focus steady.Unexpectedly, it was the crow that helped.Gaaawk!Realizing it could make noise safely again,it began crying near Eggs that still held people.Soon, even the boy joined in.“H-here! There’s someone here too!”“Good work.”Shhk!Clang!“Urghhh...”“Hang on a little longer.”Every time I set an infected, festering body on the floor,a moan of pain rose —but their eyes still shone with awe.I didn’t know how many more I cut open,but eventually,the endless work neared its end.“Haaah...”I couldn’t stay long,and impatience was creeping in.Maybe that’s why —my swings grew sharper.“Sir, w-watch out!”Shraaash!!KEEEEEEEEEEKK!!Mutants began breaking through the barricade.Thoughts scattered,and my body moved on instinct.There weren’t many of them.At this point, that could mean one of three things:First —a powerful cannibal-type entity appeared and devoured the others nearby.Second —the local group had formed a wave and migrated elsewhere.Or third —someone had already launched a sweep operation.Whatever the case,for the Egg complex, it wasn’t bad news.Though, perhaps that was just my commander’s perspective.I cut down another creature.Shraaash!!Then caught my breath.Maybe I should check —if that cannibal entity was nearby.It’d be good for growth, too.The type didn’t matter much —there weren’t many left I couldn’t handle.If a [Behemoth] had been here,this place wouldn’t even be standing.Maybe a [Beast] or a [Hog]...even one of those would be worth the challenge.No —if such a specimen was nearby,it’d be best to hunt it before it evolved further.I’ll confirm the Matrix Computer,figure out why entities have gone scarce,and then move on.No reason to drag things out.Get it done quickly — efficiently.With that, I ended my thoughts,and cut down the last entity.“Hm.”Surrounded by fallen bodies,I found myself grimacing.A relief —no one had died in the chaos.Effort had played its part,but luck had too.“Haaah...”I wasn’t even that tired.Not really.As I steadied my breath—“JEEEENYAAAAAAA!!!”Cheers erupted.“Y-you really are from the Ark!!!”“Kyaaa!! That was incredible!!!”“Did you see that?!”I turned toward them with a faint, bitter smile.People were beaming,their faces glowing with hope.“Kid.”Even the boy looked at me with sparkling eyes now.Caw! Caw!The crow flapped proudly,as if to boast about its find.But my bitter smile deepened.Because it wasn’t over.My heightened senses were still warning me.Something was approaching.Doesn’t feel hostile...A faint breath —laced with excitement, fear, and awe.No malice.If not an enemy, then...?I’d find out soon enough.Ever since the entities began gathering,I’d sensed it —those faint presences nearby.The odds of hostility were low,but I still tightened my grip on the sword.Nothing was certain.“Everyone, calm down for a moment.”“Huh...?”“You can come out now.”At my sudden words,the air in the room went tense.“What’s going on...?”A cold voice followed.“The entities are all cleared.”I pointed my blade toward the direction of the hidden presence —and the reaction came swiftly.A group emerged hesitantly.Thud!They looked flustered, restless.“We’re not enemies! W-we’re people! Not monsters!”I was just as surprised as they were.“Who are they... ah!?”“Wait! I know those people!”Some recognized their faces and broke into smiles.So they weren’t enemies. External support, then?“The entities’ movement was abnormal,so we came in a hurry — and this...”Around a dozen people stood there. Leading them was a kind-faced, middle‑aged woman who looked worn but composed. Behind her, others carried axes, sledgehammers, and even a few shotguns.“S-sorry for the late introduction! We’re with the Survival Support Agency,I’m Boris, leader of East Team 3!”Survival Support Agency?A name I’d never heard before.I studied her face,searching for deceit — but found none.“The Survival Support Agency...?”“It’s a city organization formed around Director Ken Sasaki of the Central Control Center!”...Wait.Why is that name coming up here?“Ken Sasaki...?”What the hell is going on?

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