An unfamiliar ceiling.
When I came to, the first things to greet me were the steady rhythm of mechanical beeps and the sharp scent of disinfectant.
How the hell did I end up like this?
I’d been enjoying the third anniversary festival for Humanity’s Echo – ECHO when I ran into some crazy cosplayer bitch…
✪ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ✪ [You must survive no matter what, Commander.] “Ha…
huh?” I lowered my gaze, and what came into view was a matte black metal prosthetic arm occupying the space where my real arm should have been.
“This is nuts…” It was really cut off.
I willed my brain to move my fingers, and I could see the mechanical arm respond.
Which meant I was actually infected with the Z Virus…
“…This sucks.” The zombie virus from the game lore.
The nameless mass-produced ECHO that saved my life at the cost of her own.
Relief at having survived.
Despair at being dropped into an unknown world.
A jumble of thoughts crowded my mind, making it a tangled mess.
But wasn’t I way too calm about all this?
Unnaturally so?
Was it because of the nanomachines all humans in the ECHO world had?
Just then, the hospital room door slid open silently, and two ECHO units stepped inside.
They weren’t human.
No human could walk around armed like that.
“Uh…?” The coral-haired bob-cut ECHO who met my eyes froze in surprise.
“You’re awake!
No way-!” She immediately lit up with joy and strode right over.
‘Pomen?’ It was a familiar face-an ECHO.
She’d first appeared not in the 2.5 anniversary main story, but in a side story on the site.
Among players, she was rated SS-tier, a must-have character.
As a veteran, I’d used her plenty in my first and second squads for solid results.
“Hello, Commander!
How’s your body feeling?
We fitted you with the latest prosthetic arm from our ark-is it okay?” She came right up to the bedside and bombarded me with questions, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Her chatty personality from the game was on full display.
She even poked at my mechanical arm like it was some shiny new toy.
“Pomen.
The Commander just regained consciousness.
Be quiet.” A thoroughly businesslike, emotionless voice reined her in.
It was Arva, the ECHO with her thick silver hair tied up in a perfect, flawless bun.
“And…
do not touch the Commander’s body without permission.” “Why not?
Human skin is all soft and squishy, right?
Well, this part’s hard…
but I like hard things too.” —— “There’s a 92% chance humans dislike contact with ECHO units.” “Then that means our Commander is in that 8%, right?” “What?” “See?
He’s not pulling away when I touch him.
Oh, it feels even harder than before?” “The ark’s latest prosthetic doesn’t have that function, Pomen.” Arva let out a short sigh and kept her eyes fixed on the pad in her hand, not sparing me a glance.
“Ugh, she’s always so stiff.
That’s just how she is, Commander.” Pomen whispered right in my ear.
“But…
you don’t mind me touching you like this, do you?” What was I supposed to say to that?
In the game lore, humans hated contact with ECHO units.
They were androids and combat weapons modeled after humans, plus all the contamination issues.
But I was a little different.
Characters I’d only seen in the game were alive and moving right in front of me.
Maybe that’s why.
Instead, I wanted to touch them-like petting a novel animal.
I reached out and felt Pomen, curiosity getting the better of me.
‘Softer than I thought.’ I’d figured humanoid androids would feel rigid, but it was just like touching a human.
The armored parts screamed machine, though.
The seams gave it away.
I was busy satisfying my curiosity, groping Pomen all over, when- “Our Commander’s awfully hands-on.” “…Ah.” “Hee hee hee.
First time being touched by a human instead of a machine…
It’s way better than I imagined?” Pomen’s sultry voice wormed into my ear.
Had I been too bold?
I tried to pull my hand back, but she grabbed it and tugged instead.
“Want to feel somewhere else…?
There’s a spot that’s even softer—something you’ll love.” She winked as she added that.
Right then— “Pomen.” “Just kidding, kidding.
So, all checks done?
How’s the Commander?” “Vitals are stable.
Prosthetic sync rate with the central nervous system is at 88%…
Recovery is much faster than we projected.” “Whoa!
This Commander’s super healthy, huh?
What a relief—!” Pomen pumped her fist in celebration, then leaned in even closer to my face.
“It’d be even better if you’re sturdy at night too…
right, Commander?” “Pomen.” Arva’s voice dropped a tone.
But that was it—her gaze stayed glued to the data pad.
I stared blankly at this surreal scene.
Not my top favorites, but ECHO units I’d raised in my first and second squads.
And here they were, bantering right in front of me.
It felt like playing through a side story in real life.
‘But Fleet Commander?’ Wasn’t the player originally just a Commander?
Similar words, but totally different vibes.
In the game, Fleet Commander and Commander weredistinct roles.
As if reading my mind, Arva lowered her pad and spoke.
“Blast Operation was a failure, Commander.” Blast Operation…
Blast Operation…
‘Tch…
what was that again?’ Rang a bell, but I couldn’t pin it down.
Should’ve dived deeper into the ECHO lore.
Definitely not the main story.
I’d skimmed side stories, but main ones I savored slowly-I’d know if it was one.
“Casualties?” Arva answered without a flicker of expression.
“Total wipeout.
94.7% of the forces that left Ark 69 were annihilated.
All humans confirmed dead except you, Commander.” “Total…
wipeout?” “Yes.
The Crawler Queen appeared, zombie numbers exploded, and the final defensive line crumbled fast.” Ah, if she showed up, it made sense.
A disaster-class monster that wrecked multiple arks in the game.
Surprisingly, this ark survived her emergence.
“You joined Blast Operation to face the Crawler Queen but retreated.
En route, zombies swarmed you, leading to a Z Virus infection.
You should’ve turned into a zombie, but…” “That mass-produced ECHO was amazing!
Half her body was blown off, and she still protected you.” “Ah…” Pomen’s words brought back the face of the ECHO who’d shoved a saw blade at my arm.
“What about that ECHO?” “ECHO B-707 ceased function on-site.
We only recovered you, Commander.” “…Hm.” Complicated feelings welled up.
She’d told me to survive no matter what, and here I was alive while she was gone.
Arva and Pomen exchanged glances as they watched me.
Arva continued.
“By order of the ark’s Central AI, effective today, you are appointed Fleet Commander of Ark 69 and assigned as Commander of Arclight Squad.” “…Me?” My mind went blank.
I was just an ordinary office worker who played ECHO as a game.
“Oh come on!
Arva, aren’t you being too blunt?
Can’t you see the Commander’s gone pale?” Pomen shot Arva a grumpy look while checking on me.
Then she flashed me a bright smile.
“So basically, we’re all on the same team now, Commander.
Don’t worry-we’ve got your back no matter what.
Day or night!” “I’ll join you as well, Commander.” I glanced back and forth between my new mechanical arm and the two female ECHO units.
Was it the nanomachines in my body?
Or memories from the original owner?
The suffocating pressure in my chest faded remarkably fast.
“And…” Arva checked her blinking pad and spoke again.
“No humans remain on Ark 69.
If you refuse command, all ECHO units on Ark 69 must initiateself-disposal protocols.” “Hey, Arva-!” Pomen yelled.
“Threatening the Commander who just woke up?
Using our lives as leverage?” “…Just stating facts.
Emotional responses are unnecessary.
Central AI demands an answer.
The situation is dire.” Arva’s blank gaze lingered briefly on Pomen’s hand toying with my prosthetic.
In this heavy atmosphere, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Disposal protocol, huh…” Memories trickled back.
‘Side story stuff.
Prelude to the actual plot.’ Ark crushed by the Crawler Queen.
Not the only one in this hellish world, but Ark 69 was special.
Fighting forces and ECHO units intact, but commander wipeout triggered AI self-destruct.
The ark became a massive tomb.
Later, the protagonist fleeing to Ark 69 finds Arclight Squad in the ruins-that’s the site story I remembered.
Arva and Pomen’s pickup banners dropped then too.
Limited banners for powerhouse units-plenty of whales opened their wallets.
‘Haa…’ A sigh escaped me.
No escaping it.
If I refused and Ark 69 went into disposal?
ECHO deaths aside, I’d have no way to survive this brutal world.
Had to do it.
‘Don’t wanna die.’ Might as well live and pay back that crazy bitch somehow.
Whatever her deal, Wanderer of the Ashes, Isol.
Tracking her down might yield answers-baseless hunch, but it bubbled up anyway.
“Fine.
Tell Central AI: disposal protocol canceled.
I’ll take command of Ark 69 as Fleet Commander.” “Yay!
Woo-hoo!
For real?
You’re the best, Commander!” Pomen hugged my neck in glee.
‘D?
E?’ The soft sensation against my face made my hands twitch naughtily—then a weird mechanical noise blared.
A CRITICAL WARNING A [Core temperature rising critically.] [Emergency cooling activated.
Failed.
System restart initiated.
Failed…] White steam billowed from Arva’s rigidly frozen head.
“Pfft.
She’s glitching again.” Pomen burst out laughing.
“Our stiff captain can’t handle the heat.” With a mischievous grin, Pomen yanked up her top corset, baring her skin.
‘Pink!’ She smothered my face with her chest again, and Arva spewed thick smoke like a broken steam engine-psshhh!
That’s when I spotted a familiar item behind Arva.
“…Money Compass?” The thing I’d bought at the third anniversary event.