[51] Elaine Valburn (3/3)

I hadn't realised how much I'd missed something as mundane as shopping.

Though, given the state of the world, this was anything but.

Everything here was on sale for the low, low price of free!

A digital camera, some electronic components, and a handful of other odds and ends.

I started with a few smaller items, slipping them into my bag as I went.

Charlotte would probably enjoy having the camera, if only out of antiquarian interest. And when she eventually grows bored of it, it wouldn't surprise me if it ended up being taken apart and remade into something else entirely.

The occasional rustle of packaging and soft footsteps echoed through the otherwise quiet floors, mingling with the faint sounds of the others eating nearby.

Picking out little things for everyone like this brought back memories of the gifting system in Cyber World Online: Giving Operators presents was one way to raise their Affinity. Of course, these weren't the usual gifts from the game's item pool; they were things from Earth, a world entirely foreign to them. But I was sure that only made them all the more valuable.

Like these blind boxes I'd picked up. Frost would definitely appreciate these.

The series title, "Starbound Buddies", was printed in a cute font across the packaging. The side of each box showed the six regular designs, featuring a cast of chibi animals dressed as adventurers, along with a seventh, secret plushie that had only a small chance of appearing in any given box.

Truly comical.

Here I was, buying blind boxes for the very characters I'd brought to life through my own gacha.

...I guess life really did have a way of coming full circle.

I ended up picking up two of them.

One for Frost, and another for Briar. I'd heard the two had been spending some time together, which reminded me that they shared a bit of history in-game too. Nothing particularly noteworthy, however. Plenty of Operators were familiar with one another through events or the main story, though such connections were more common among those released from the same region.

Still, it was nice to see the two getting along in this world, too.

Perhaps she'd find herself taking an interest in something a little more carefree. That girl wasn't in Cyverse anymore, after all. There were no more wars she had to fight.

Transporter had recently become quite interested in F1 history, so I picked out a couple of team shirts for him. Yubel might appreciate a deck of tarot cards, if only for the novelty. As for Millie, some branded perfume seemed like a safe choice. Even if she wasn't particularly interested in the fragrance itself, I figured she'd be curious about the different ingredients used in its formulation, perhaps even find some inspiration for her own potions.

I vaguely remembered a documentary about the perfume industry. Some fragrances required hundreds of kilograms of flowers to produce just a small amount of essential oil. Rose petals, for instance, had to be harvested at just the right time, often before sunrise, when their fragrance was at its strongest. The petals would then undergo extraction, with the resulting oils carefully separated and refined. After that came the blending, where perfumers combined dozens of different ingredients in precise proportions, sometimes leaving their mixtures to mature for months before arriving at the final scent. It was quite a bit of work for something that came in such a small bottle.

But what did I know? I just watched a FouTube video.

Though if it really did help Millie in some way, perhaps she could eventually come up with a concoction that could heal my injuries and still be safe for me to ingest.

No matter what game I played, I had never underestimated characters whose strengths lay outside combat. Supporters like Charlotte were often the ones carrying entire accounts, and it turned out that the same held true in reality. Even abilities that might once have seemed rather niche could find their place in this world.

Back to the gifts.

The sisters were the last ones.

My thoughts drifted back to an ongoing expedition I'd assigned to three of my Operators. Transporter, Yoru, and... Evelin. It hadn't even been a week since they'd left, and it would still be some time before they returned from Mayana and I could give them their presents in person.

All three had been specifically chosen for their mobility and ability to cover ground efficiently, so I didn't expect the expedition to run into too much trouble.

I supposed I'd hold onto these until they returned.

With that in mind, I picked out matching accessories for Yoru and Evelin. Two necklaces that joined to form a Taijitu, the symbol of yin and yang.

As for Yoru and myself, I had a feeling she'd appreciate something a little more practical than these. While Elaine was busy trying on a few pieces at an open jewellery display outside a boutique, I discreetly slipped a certain bottle of capsules from a nearby health supplement shop into my bag.

As for Elaine herself...

I watched her from the side, briefly distracted by how naturally she seemed to carry herself as she tried on the various pieces of jewellery that caught her eye. ...I suppose there wasn't much point in choosing something on her behalf when she seemed perfectly capable of finding what she liked herself.

I had a feeling she'd appreciate the simpler gestures more, anyway. 

As expected, she eventually settled on a tastefully designed diamond tennis bracelet, with a price tag that I would've never considered before the apocalypse. Aristocrats truly had expensive tastes.

"That one, then?"

"Naturally. Have it packed up."

"Certainly, madam."

I played along, taking the necklace from her and placing it into a small box before slipping it into a shopping bag. Once I handed it back, Elaine accepted it with a satisfied smile, carrying it herself as we made our way out of the boutique.

With that, our little shopping trip came to an end.

The others eventually finished eating, and we regrouped before continuing through the mall. I guided the group through the shops I'd already browsed, pointing out anything I thought might be useful while letting them decide what they wanted to take. Ramesh was a little more reserved, but even he eventually found a few things worth bringing along.

It took a while, but by the time we were done, everyone had managed to fill their bags with something or other. The teenagers seemed particularly pleased with their haul, and seeing them so content was rather satisfying in its own way.

At least we wouldn't be leaving empty-handed.

By the time we finished, the sun was already beginning to dip towards the horizon. The fading light filtering through the mall's windows cast long shadows across the floors, a quiet reminder that we couldn't afford to linger much longer.

With that taken care of, there wasn't much reason to stay. Everyone had gathered what we came for.

But of course, there was just one last thing that I wanted from them.

I glanced towards the group, then adjusted the strap of my bag.

"Well, I suppose that's enough for today. Norn and I should probably get going."

"Eh?"

Emphasising our departure.

"It's been a strange day. But it's nice to know that there are people like us."

Showing a connection, a similarity.

"I guess we'll see each other around then, if fate allows."

Making no effort to turn around as I started walking, I deliberately allowed the others to gather themselves behind Elaine and I.

"Take care everyone." She adds with a curtsy, before joining me in stride towards the mall entrance.

I kept my pace leisurely, giving the others enough time to catch up without making it obvious that I was waiting for them. There was no particular hurry, after all.

From my experience, sometimes it was better to let the other party take the initiative. I'd done enough to make myself approachable, and the afternoon we'd spent together should have helped with that.

Now, I just had to give them a reason to speak up.

"Kai, wait!"

Just as I'd expected, Alan's frantic voice came from behind me.

I turned around, naturally.

"Say... you wanna join us? Norn too."

"...Join you?"

Hey, don't start losing confidence just because I returned your words!

"I-I mean, if you don't have anywhere else to go. We could use the help."

I let the silence linger for a moment, just long enough.

Then I gave him a small smile.

"Is that the only reason?"

Alan glanced towards the others, seemingly looking for a little reassurance. Nadia gave him an encouraging nod, while Teucer and Maki exchanged a quick glance. Ramesh simply watched the exchange, almost as if he was leaving the decision to the younger ones.

"I mean... We just thought it'd be better if we stuck together, ...as you know, ability users." Alan eventually answered. "You helped us out quite a bit today, and... well, you seem like good people."

I couldn't help but smile a little more.

That was good enough for a start.

"Is that so? Well, that's certainly an interesting offer."

I turned back, leaving Elaine waiting by the mall's broken glass entrance. She didn't seem particularly bothered by the delay, merely watching us from where she stood.

"W-Wait! So your answer..."

A hand wave here without looking back.

"Joining another group is an important matter."

A pause here.

"So I'll have to discuss it with Norn. Let's see... we can give you an answer tomorrow morning."

The kids murmured between themselves.

"Then how are we supposed to find you?" Nadia retorted. "We don't even know where you'll be staying."

I smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll find you."

I let the words settle before adding, "If you're all genuinely serious about having us join you, then I'll give your offer the same consideration."

No other voice came from behind me.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, we finally exited Selborne Square, leaving the group behind as we walked off into the distance.

The Nightstride came to a stop in front of a moderately large tower. Its exterior was dark, with no lights illuminating the windows or the entrance. Above the doors, a sign bearing the words KINGSFORD TOWER, its lettering gilded in gold, remained intact.

Elaine dismounted first, removing her helmet before stepping away from the bike. I remained seated for a moment, watching her make her way inside before starting the engine again and following her through the entrance.

There was no air conditioning, either. The building was just as dark and stuffy as the rest of the abandoned structures around it.

We entered the lift lobby, where marble flooring stretched beneath our feet. I finally got off the Nightstride and pushed it towards one of the lifts, where Elaine was already waiting. It was wide enough to accommodate the bike.

I pressed the call button.

Nothing happened.

There wasn't even an indicator light to suggest the lift was receiving power. Of course, the lift wasn't operating through any conventional electrical system in the first place.

As though responding to an invisible command, the doors slid open a moment later.

"After you."

"Why, thank you."

Elaine smiled, twirling the handles of her shopping bag as she stepped inside. I followed, pushing the Nightstride into the lift before allowing the doors to close behind us.

A soft whirring sound came from somewhere above the lift shaft. The doors had already closed, but there was no indication that the lift was moving. Then, a moment later, I felt the carriage begin to descend.

It was a strange sensation, especially considering where we were.

Kingsford Tower. A thirty-storey commercial tower at the heart of Kingsford District.

And also, where I used to work.

It would've been quite a surprise to my former self to learn that there was an underground level extending beyond B1.

Yet the lift continued downwards, taking us somewhere that had never been part of the building.

A low, mechanical groan reverberated through the shaft, growing deeper as we descended. It almost sounded as though the lift were being dragged down into the depths, towards something buried far beneath the earth.

...I was exaggerating, of course.

Eventually, the lift came to a halt.

The doors slid open, revealing what appeared to be nothing more than a concrete wall.

"At last. Some proper air to breathe."

Elaine stepped out first, her body passing straight through the seemingly solid surface.

I couldn't help but smile at that surreal, yet familiar sight.

Home, at last.

Before I followed her, I lingered in the lift for a moment, my thoughts drifting back to the day's events. I'd learnt a few things today, though whether they were reassuring or troubling was something I hadn't quite figured out.

"Doctor, hurry up."

Elaine's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"..."

I pushed the Nightstride forward, letting it pass through the wall.

The moment we crossed over, the concrete wall and the darkness of the lift disappeared from view, replaced by a brightly illuminated interior of smooth, polished surfaces. Recessed lighting ran along the ceiling and walls, casting an even glow over the surroundings. A wave of cool air-conditioning washed over me, carrying the clean, filtered air of the interior. It was a far cry from the stale, stuffy atmosphere outside.

What had initially been a space designed for little more than practical living now carried a much more luxurious aesthetic. Smooth carbon-fibre panels, polished chrome trims and brushed metallic surfaces gave the interiors a sleek, refined finish, complemented by carefully chosen furnishings that made the place feel more like an upscale private residence.

"Finally. I can take this thing off. It gets in the way while I fight."

With a swift motion, Elaine disengaged the mechanical spine, Mass-Phantom, from her back while simultaneously pulling the hair clip, Null-Pigment, free from her hair. The spine hissed and clicked as its fastenings released, and she casually flung it onto a nearby couch.

Immediately, her appearance began to change. Or rather, she returned to her original form.

The white highlights in her hair gave way to their natural pinkish-red hue, the long curls extending down to her waist. Her stature gradually returned to that of a fully grown woman, her youthful disguise falling away entirely.

"Ah."

Only then did Elaine seem to notice the state of her clothing.

A glance down at the stylish school uniform she was still wearing...

A look of shame.

What had previously been a comfortable fit was now stretched taut across her figure. The buttons along her chest looked as though they were barely holding on.

Elaine stood there for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words, before letting out a small sigh.

"I'll go change."

With that, she awkwardly made her way towards one of the rooms, holding her shopping bag close as she disappeared inside.

Of course, that was her own room.

The Stronghold had come a long way since its early days. Back when it was just Yoru and me, there hadn't been much need for individual quarters. We'd shared the same communal living space, with little more than the basic facilities to get by.

Now, however, the Stronghold could accommodate Operators with rooms of their own.

It was a small but meaningful change.

I parked the Nightstride near the entrance, making sure it wasn't obstructing the way before finally settling onto the couch.

Only then did I realise how much my body was beginning to ache. Even with the Load-Assist Gloves, spending so much time handling firearms had taken its toll on my arms. That, coupled with all the walking we'd done throughout the day, left me more exhausted than I'd expected.

I leaned back and closed my eyes for a moment, hoping to ease some of the fatigue.

The cool air-conditioning washed over me, and I let myself sink into the comfortable cushions. There was also a pleasant fragrance lingering in the air, a soft blend of white tea and bergamot from the diffuser I'd picked out for the living area. It was a clean, calming scent, neither too strong nor too sweet.

Before long, my eyelids began to grow heavy.

In the back of my mind, I found myself drifting into a rather peaceful daydream. I was standing somewhere out in the countryside, surrounded by the crisp air of an autumn afternoon. A cool breeze swept across the open fields, carrying the faint rustle of fallen leaves. In the distance, a few grazing sheep wandered lazily across the pasture, seemingly without a care in the world.

One of them eventually wandered close enough for me to reach out. I could almost feel the softness of its wool beneath my fingertips as I extended a hand to give it a gentle pat.

"Falling asleep on the couch? How terribly unbecoming."

A familiar voice abruptly interrupted my little reverie.

I opened my eyes to find Elaine standing nearby, looking rather amused.

"Honestly, one would think you had no proper place to rest."

Rude. Isn't the Stronghold my house, technically?

It wasn't as though I needed her permission to sleep wherever I pleased.

I gave this woman another scrutinising look.

Her long, light pink hair fell in cascading ringlets, gradually deepening into a rich red towards the ends. Diamond earrings dangled beneath her ears, complementing the black choker around her neck, its small ring resting against her collarbone. Even in a simple red fur coat, she carried herself with the air of a wealthy aristocrat, her every movement seemingly deliberate.

Yet there was something else beneath that refined exterior. Her bright orange eyes, the faintly arrogant tilt of her head and the smirk playing across her lips gave her an almost predatory quality. It was difficult to put into words, but there was a certain rawness to her presence, much like an untamed animal that had learned to wear the trappings of nobility. Beneath all that refinement was a creature who craved violence. Someone who seemed almost born for it.

...Hold on. Why is she...

Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she began making her way towards the couch, each step measured and unhurried.

"Hey, Doctor."

She stopped just in front of the couch, then raised a finger and pointed it directly at me, a familiar, self-assured smirk curling across her lips.

This was Elaine Valburn as she truly was.

"Let's spar. Right now."

I should've known. That strange, unsettling pressure... the way she'd been keeping unusually quiet...

Having faced a swarm of zombies throughout the day, her blood must still be running hot, her fighting spirit far from sated. Even the faint wisps of steam rising from her body seemed to suggest as much.

But that didn't quite make sense. The effects of her Passive Skill: Berserker's Heart should've been short-lived, yet she was still showing clear signs of its activation.

🛡️Berserker's HeartPassive SkillThe longer Elaine remains in combat, the more her restraint begins to unravel. Every 5 seconds in combat or whenever Elaine takes damage, she gains 1 stack of Battle Frenzy, increasing her ATK and Attack Speed by 2%, stacking up to 20 times. At maximum stacks, Elaine enters the Berserk State, gaining an additional 60% Attack Speed and temporarily losing 1 Sanity every second until the end of combat.

Did facing a swarm of zombies throughout the day do this? Or perhaps... it was the effects of fighting the mutant zombies.

An anomaly.

I had no time to dwell on it, not with the woman standing before me.

Right now, the Ringborn Heiress was craving an even greater thrill, one that she could only ever find in the heat of battle.

Having seen the madness swirling in her eyes, I could only wince.

Sanity... 10.

With Elaine specifically, there was only one way out of this situation.

That was to agree to the spar.

"...On one condition."

"And what might that be?" Elaine stepped closer, raising one knee against the couch between my legs. A faint flush had crept across her cheeks, and there was an unmistakable gleam of excitement in her bright orange eyes. Her face was so close that I could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin, our noses almost brushing as she looked down at me expectantly.

"You'll go easy on me... right?"

In response, Elaine slowly ran her tongue across her lips, her gaze fixed on me with the unblinking intensity of a wolf sizing up its prey.

Her silence was answer enough.

...It was times like this that I truly wished Yoru was around.