[51] Elaine Valburn (2/3)

⌈Jun⌋

Elaine had dealt with the infected outside the mall, putting an end to the commotion they'd caused. At the very least, the surrounding shelters wouldn't have to worry about another wave of infected being drawn to their doorstep.

The group seemed a little more at ease now that the immediate danger had passed. I found myself relaxing a little as well. Looking after everyone had kept me more on edge than I'd realised.

It was easy to forget that places like this hadn't always been the desolate shells we now wandered through. Selborne Square was much like the other malls I'd been to, though that was hardly a compliment.

Malls were expensive to maintain for good reason, taking an entire network of people to keep one running smoothly. From maintenance crews and cleaners to security personnel and the countless others working behind the scenes, each had their own responsibilities, and the absence of even a few could cause problems to pile up. When every cog in that machinery stopped turning... what was left was hardly surprising.

Much like the rest of society, a hub of commerce and daily activity was bound to deteriorate when the people who sustained it were no longer around. And when everything fell apart at once, it rarely did so gracefully.

Hot, damp, and foul-smelling. This was hardly a place fit for habitation. Even the strongest-willed survivors would have a hard time enduring the stench of decomposing corpses, with the oppressive humidity only making the stench worse. Mould had begun creeping across damp walls and ceiling panels, while water stains and peeling surfaces betrayed months of neglect. Some of the carpeting had even begun to rot from prolonged exposure to moisture.

That's not all, because abandoned food and rubbish had also attracted all manner of pests. Cockroaches skittered beneath the food court tables and disappeared into the gaps between floor tiles, while rats rummaged through the discarded packaging behind the shuttered fast-food counters. Flies congregated around the remnants of meals left on the dining tables, swarming over half-eaten food and overflowing rubbish bins. Near the closed bakery, maggots writhed in the remains of something that had been left to rot.

A dark, flat-bodied insect suddenly scuttled out from beneath one of the cushioned benches.

"Eek! Cockroach!" Nadia recoiled, quickly retreating a step.

"It's just a bug. What's there to be scared of?" Teucer chuckled.

Before either girl could respond, he brought his foot down on the insect, crushing it beneath his shoe with a wet "Squelch!" A small spatter of yellowish fluid spread across the floor. He then tilted his foot towards them, showing off the flattened remains with a cheeky grin.

"See? Nothing to worry about."

"Ugh! Keep that away from me!" Nadia immediately backed off, with Maki following suit.

"Disgusting! Go away! Hey, don't come close, you shithead!"

I caught Elaine watching their little exchange with an equally amused expression, the faintest smile playing on her lips. This woman seemed to be enjoying the spectacle as much as Teucer was. Ramesh, too, seemed a little less weary as he watched them.

Well, if there was one thing I could say about this place... it certainly wasn't somewhere you'd want to settle down if you cared about hygiene.

The pests and rotting refuse alone were enough to foul the air, never mind the decomposing corpses and stagnant water. The latter had collected in various corners of the mall, where rainwater had seeped through damaged roofing and ceiling joints, pooling beneath leaks that nobody had bothered to repair. Some of it had trickled down the walls, leaving dark, damp streaks in its wake, while clogged drains did little to keep the accumulating water at bay. The plumbing was another headache altogether. Several ceiling panels had begun to sag, their surfaces mottled with moisture and mould. And with the glass ceiling above the central atrium now shattered, the next rainfall would only add to the damage.

The little commotion seemed to have drawn their attention to their surroundings. Now that we weren't in such a hurry, the others began taking in more of the mall. There was certainly no shortage of unpleasant sights. Yet, as unpleasant as the visible filth was, it wasn't necessarily what concerned me most.

In a world like this, the things you couldn't see were often the most dangerous.

There was an entire attribute built around that very concept in-game: Nano. Originating from Entar, Cyverse's final region, Nano was developed through the integration of highly advanced implants. It was also the frontier of scientific advancement that gave rise to Cybergenes, pushing implant technology beyond what had once been thought possible. The attribute featured prominently in both the gameplay and story, with mechanics and enemies that operated on a microscopic level. Many of them were easy to overlook precisely because they were too small to see, yet their effects could be devastating.

I vaguely recalled watching a few urban exploration videos online. In one of them, the explorers had stumbled upon an abandoned swimming pool and were joking about taking a dip. It was only when I scrolled through the comments that I realised how bad an idea that was. People were warning them about parasites in stagnant water, including something called Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba. Curious enough to look it up myself, I was rather glad those commenters had talked them out of it.

I had that old man I'd met at a shelter in Clearwater District to thank for that.

Wouldn't have given these things much thought back when I was still playing the game, but after everything I'd experienced since, his words had stuck with me. It was a habit I was trying to build. You know, to look back on the little details I'd once overlooked and consider what they might mean outside the game.

In that regard, starting a journal to record what I could remember had been the right move, knowing that the stresses of this new reality would eventually take their toll on my memory. There was only so much I could recall, and even then, my understanding of that world had always been limited by the way it was presented to me. From a player's perspective, I was more interested in the spectacle than the world itself. The battles, the characters, the major storylines... those were what drew my attention. The ordinary routines of its inhabitants and the smaller details woven into the environment rarely held the same appeal.

But for the Operators, those details had always been part of their everyday lives. They hadn't experienced their world through quests, dialogue, or gameplay mechanics. There was a life I'd never seen from the other side of a screen.

Which is to say, I wasn't exactly infallible myself. I would miss details here and there, only for Charlotte, with her analytical mind, or even Yoru, who had come a long way from the rather simple-minded girl I'd first known, to bring them to my attention during our conversations. The other Operators I'd established working relationships with over the months had their own insights to offer, too.

I wonder how everyone's doing.

It'd been a while since we'd all gathered together. A little get-together would be nice, of course, once Yoru and her sister had properly returned. There'd probably be quite a few things for us to catch up on by then.

AppraisalNivis LensEquipment · UtilityA handheld structural inspection device. Despite the modest specifications of the Nivis Lens, it remains a reliable tool for assessing the condition of buildings and other structures without requiring invasive inspection.[Structural Scan] Reveals concealed structural components through see-through imaging and overlays a colour-coded assessment of their integrity. Highlights cracks, deformations, material degradation and other structural weaknesses, with severity indicated by colour.[Operational Duration] 24 hours of continuous use per full charge from Battery items.

My gaze eventually settled on a section of the wall, where patches of orange and red stood out against the otherwise subdued structural readings. Stagnant water had pooled beneath it. Rainwater had seeped through damaged roofing and ceiling joints, while clogged drains had allowed it to accumulate in various corners. Leaking pipes had left dark, damp streaks along the walls, and several ceiling panels were already sagging beneath the weight of accumulated moisture. The glass ceiling above the central atrium had also been shattered during the recent commotion. It wasn't raining now, but the next downpour would only make matters worse.

Even after an area had been cleared of infected, there was still plenty of work to be done before it could be considered safe for people to settle in. Clearing out the dead was only the first step. There were damaged buildings to repair, rubbish to dispose of, and sanitation to restore, not to mention the constant upkeep required to keep everything from falling into disrepair again.

There were groups of survivors who'd taken it upon themselves to reclaim places like these, often through grassroots efforts outside the government's reach. It was hardly glamorous work, and could take weeks, if not months, before they had anything resembling a proper shelter. Even then, there was no guarantee they'd get to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Bandits could always come along and raid an honest shelter rather than put in the effort themselves.

...Almost as though surviving the infected was only the beginning of their troubles.

I let out a small sigh.

Months into this new reality, society had begun to regress towards something far more primitive. As the old structures and institutions fell away, strength was once again becoming the one true factor in how people lived, who held power, and who got to make the rules. Perhaps history really did have a way of repeating itself.

Cruel as it might seem, I suppose it was only human nature, given a harsher environment in which to operate. Before long, what passed for normal was simply whatever the people left standing could afford to make it.

I glanced over my shoulder at the five people following us. Two boys, two girls, and an older man. A fairly even split, if I excluded Ramesh from the count. Even then, it was an exception afforded to those who possessed special abilities, not the rule. Other groups I'd encountered tended to be rather more pragmatic in that regard.

"?"

Alan gave me a rather puzzled look, as though he'd noticed me staring. I quickly looked away.

Male or female, it made little difference when everyone needed sustenance all the same. My attention settled on the others, and their gaunt faces and shrivelled appearances were difficult to ignore. Even after seeing so many survivors in similar conditions, I still hadn't quite gotten used to the sight of children looking so malnourished.

"You guys haven't eaten shit in days, huh."

""""..."""" Their silence told me everything.

"Here, take these."

I reached into my Inventory and tossed each of them an Emergency Ration Case.

"Whuh...! This is heavy..."

"What's inside?"

Everyone fumbled to catch the packages, exchanging brief glances as they examined what they'd been given. They had grown used to me pulling things out of thin air by now. Elaine, keeping pace beside me, watched the exchange silently.

"Well. Food, of course. You guys should eat something, at least."

The four teenagers looked down at the packages in their hands, their expressions brightening as they realised what I'd given them.

Can't promise it'll taste particularly good, though.

"...Thank you, Kai. We really... appreciate it."

Alan spoke on behalf of the group, gripping the package a little tighter as his expression turned somewhat emotional.

"Just eat."

The others had already begun opening theirs, examining what they'd be having for lunch. I glanced around before we went any further. The air was noticeably less foul in this part of the mall. It wasn't exactly pleasant, but it would do for a short break.

"Let's stop here for lunch."

"Good idea."

The teenagers didn't seem to mind. Without any complaints, they found a spot on the floor and settled down, using their bags as makeshift tabletops for their food. 

"Haah. Finally."

"My legs are sore..."

Their tired voices and casual complaints seemed to make Elaine's reaction all the more pronounced. She stared at the makeshift dining arrangements with evident distaste, bringing a hand over her mouth as though the sight alone was enough to offend her. I suppose this wasn't quite the sort of place Elaine had in mind for a meal.

Fortunately, I had something else in mind for the two of us. A little time away from the others might be more to her liking than sitting around with a group of strangers she had little interest in.

"Take your time. Norn and I will have a look around in the meantime."

That seemed to be just what she'd wanted to hear.

The teenagers offered little more than a few distracted nods and murmurs of acknowledgement, already occupied with their food. Ramesh, however, hadn't moved to join the others just yet. He looked down at his opened ration case, taking in the neatly packed assortment of food and supplements inside. After a moment, he approached me separately, his expression carrying a hint of hesitation.

"Young man, this is rather a lot. Are you sure... you're giving this to us?"

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I opened my inventory and pulled out several more cases, stacking them in my arms before setting them down where he could see.

There was still plenty where those came from.

"Arey wah...!" 

Ramesh's eyes widened slightly, and a faint smile crept onto his face. He gave me a small bow.

"Thank you. Truly."

I waved him off, and the man eventually made his way back to the others. Rather than joining the teenagers directly, he settled down in a corner nearby, close enough to keep an eye on them but leaving them their space. He opened his ration case and began eating in careful, measured bites.

With everyone settled, I turned towards Norn.

"Let's go. ...Norn?"

Elaine turned towards me, fixing me with a rather pointed, almost threatening stare. ...Just to be safe, I discreetly checked her Sanity.

There was a short, exasperated sigh before she finally spoke.

"At last. Waiting around is a rather unpleasant experience. I should hope not to repeat it anytime soon."

"Onward, Doctor." 

She spoke softly, keeping her voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear, though her impatience was hardly concealed.

"I have yet to decide which of this world's fashions are worthy of my attention."

I was reminded that, beneath her youthful appearance, Elaine truly possessed a temperament I wasn't quite accustomed to dealing with. I had no intention of letting her make a habit of treating me like a subordinate, though.

"Right."

...Perhaps it was time to raise her Affinity a little further, at least until we could establish a comfortable working relationship. A master-and-servant arrangement was hardly what I had in mind.

There were still infected scattered throughout the mall, but most were trapped inside enclosed shops and other areas they couldn't easily get out of. That explained why the earlier commotion hadn't drawn them into the open, and meant the group wouldn't have to worry about running into them as we explored.

Since we still had the afternoon ahead of us, I figured we might as well make the most of it. There were a few places I'd marked out while browsing the shops earlier, and it would be a waste to leave empty-handed. It was only a matter of time before other survivors realised the mall was relatively clear and came looking for supplies. Better to get what I needed before that.

I'd have to be selective, of course. There was no point in taking more than I could reasonably carry, especially when the others might need some of the supplies themselves. None of it would fit into my Inventory, anyway.

Of course, I hadn't forgotten why I'd come here in the first place. Finding out more about the Awakened was still my main priority, but I didn't have to get everything out of them right away. Trying to question them now would probably come across as a little too deliberate.

There'd be time enough for that once we'd gotten to know each other a little better.

Once I'd finished looking around, I could bring the others along and show them what the mall had to offer. Knowing the layout beforehand would make it easier to guide them, and it wasn't a bad way to build a little trust, either.

"Are we going, or do you intend to stand there all day?"

I let out a quiet sigh. This woman certainly wasn't one to wait around.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming."

With that, I followed her towards the shops.