Jinn introduced himself with a firm, confident voice as he extended his hand toward Helena.

  "I’m Jinn, leader of the Black Hawk Adventurer Clan," he said. "I’m also an A-Rank adventurer myself. I don’t know if Miss Helena has heard of us, but we’re a well-known clan in the capital city."

  Helena took his hand and shook it politely.

  "As I told you before," she replied with a warm smile, "Helena Hale. A wandering traveler. I’ll be in your care."

  After the introductions, Helena looked around curiously and asked,

  "Mr. Jinn, where can I park my mount?"

  "Just Jinn is fine," he corrected her gently. "And since that thing is not alive or dangerous, you can park it anywhere you like."

  Helena nodded, walked back to her chopper, and without starting it, simply rolled it toward the row of carriages.

  But then she felt it.

  Dozens of eyes drilling into her back.

  She turned and almost burst into laughter. A swarm of male adventurers and merchants stood frozen, staring at her chopper with extreme fascination. Some leaned forward. Some squinted. Some looked like they were about to drool.

  Maybe… a little too curious.

  Helena gave them an awkward smile and asked,

  "Do you want to take a look?"

  She barely finished the sentence before they rushed toward her like a stampede.

  They surrounded the chopper in a heartbeat.

  "Now that I’m really looking at it… this thing is amazing!"

  "Is this truly made by human hands?"

  "What is its power source? Magic stones? Something else?"

  "How much would it cost to build one of these?"

  "I want a mount like this so badly!"

  "How does it balance on two wheels?"

  "What metal is this? This silver-gray shine is beautiful!"

  They overwhelmed Helena with question after question, some of them practically examining the bike with their eyes like they wanted to dismantle it on the spot.

  Helena raised both hands quickly.

  "Wait a moment! Wait a moment! I can’t answer all of you at the same time!"

  Everyone paused, then looked at each other, awkward smiles forming as they realized how childish their excitement must have seemed.

  Then Jinn appeared behind them, walking over with Rob and a few other important-looking people. Unlike the younger adventurers, these men still held onto their dignity.

  Jinn barked,

  "Hey! You idiots! Mind your manners and don’t touch other people’s property!"

  Only then did the excited group finally calm down.

  Helena thought to herself,

  Men really are the same in every world. They love things like this. Even Joseph loved riding bikes. We used to race together all the time… though by the end of the ride, we always had a whole tsunami of mutants chasing us.

  She giggled softly at the memory.

  Jinn cleared his throat.

  "This is our client, Mr. Rob. He’s a merchant from the capital."

  Helena turned to Rob politely.

  "Hello. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Rob, and thank you for allowing me to stay with your group for the night."

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  Rob gave a practiced merchant’s smile.

  "Don’t worry, Miss Helena. It’s nothing worth mentioning and…"

  Helena tilted her head.

  "And?"

  Rob coughed lightly and looked a little embarrassed.

  "I also want to see that iron mount."

  Helena’s smile brightened.

  "Of course. Please take a look."

  Rob stepped closer and examined the chopper with intense focus. His gaze traced every curve of the metal and every detail of the engine. His voice was filled with genuine awe.

  "Who made this?"

  "A friend of mine," Helena answered softly.

  Jinn also leaned slightly to get a better look, curiosity clear on his face.

  Rob hesitated, then asked,

  "If you do not mind… may I touch it?"

  "Sure," Helena said.

  Rob placed his hand on the engine, then the tank, sliding his palm across the smooth surface like he was absorbing every detail. His voice slipped out in admiration.

  "It is beautiful. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to shape metal like this."

  He crouched down to peer at the engine more closely.

  "To create something like this, you would have to be at least a Master. No… even a master smith would struggle with craftsmanship of this level. And it is not only the metal. The structure, the alignment, the balance… all of this requires extraordinary skill."

  He looked up at Helena.

  "Is your friend a Master Blacksmith? Did he perhaps work with Dwarfs? Only Dwarfs could craft something like this."

  Helena giggled quietly. She remembered teasing her friend about his height, calling him “Dwarf” just to annoy him.

  "Well… he was something like that," Helena replied.

  Rob noticed her tone.

  "Was? Is your friend…?"

  Helena’s smile dimmed slightly.

  "Yes. He passed away a long time ago."

  Rob took off his hat and held it respectfully to his chest.

  "I extend my deepest sympathy."

  Helena nodded.

  Before Rob could continue, a loud voice suddenly echoed across the camp.

  A short figure waddled toward them, scratching his backside as he walked. He removed his helmet, exposing a huge orange beard. A genuine Dwarf.

  The moment he looked at the chopper, he froze.

  His eyes widened. His mouth fell open. Then—

  "By the God of Smithing, what in the world is this?!"

  His scream startled half the camp.

  Then he exploded into motion, sprinting toward the chopper at terrifying speed. Rob had to leap aside to avoid being run over.

  The Dwarf’s eyes glowed with the wild obsession of a true craftsman.

  Jinn and others shouted,

  "Jeji! What are you doing?! Are you crazy?! You almost ran into our client!"

  But Jeji didn’t hear a word. His entire existence was now focused on the chopper.

  Jinn grabbed him by the back of his collar and lifted him off the ground like a misbehaving dog.

  Jeji flailed helplessly.

  "Boss! Let me go! I haven’t seen enough! This thing is incredible! It’s made from metal I’ve never seen before! What is it?! Who crafted it?! I must meet the creator!"

  Jinn sighed heavily and turned to Rob.

  "I apologize for my friend. He loses control when he sees things like this."

  Rob chuckled.

  "Well, he is a Dwarf. It’s natural."

  Jinn turned to Helena, intending to apologize again, but she waved her hand.

  "No, no, it’s fine. I understand. The first time I saw this chopper, I had a similar reaction."

  Behind them, Jeji kept shouting.

  "Boss! Let me go! I must examine it!"

  Jinn asked Helena, "Miss Helena, is it alright if—"

  "Yes, yes," Helena said cheerfully. "He can look."

  Jinn released Jeji immediately.

  Jeji threw himself onto the chopper like a man hugging treasure.

  "Who owns this masterpiece?!" he demanded.

  Helena raised her hand.

  "It’s mine."

  Jeji looked her up and down.

  "You made it?"

  "No. My friend did."

  Jeji burst into laughter.

  "Then he must have been a legendary blacksmith! What metal is this?"

  He ran his hand along the silver frame reverently.

  "It’s titanium," Helena said.

  "Ti-ta-nium…?" Jeji repeated slowly. "Never heard of it."

  Helena smiled slightly. Of course not. Titanium did not exist in this world.

  Jeji asked eagerly, "How does this thing work? What does it do?"

  Rob stepped forward.

  "It is something like an iron horse. A person rides it."

  Jeji inspected the tires.

  "I see… yes, wheels like a carriage."

  Then his excitement spiked again.

  "Can you show how it works? I must see it in action!"

  Helena nodded.

  "Sure."

  She hopped onto the seat and called out,

  "Everyone, step back a little."

  She kicked the starter.

  The chopper came alive with a deep metallic roar.

  Jeji squealed with joy.

  Helena gestured to the people blocking the front.

  "Please move aside."

  Once they cleared the way, she pulled the throttle. The tires spun, dust rising as she circled the camp smoothly.

  Every single person stared in awe, their mouths hanging open.

  She returned to her spot, turned off the engine, and asked casually,

  "So… how was it?"

  Jeji’s eyes sparkled.

  "This thing is incredible! The ride looks smoother than a horse! And that roaring sound… it is divine!"

  Helena nodded happily.

  "Yes. I also really like that sound."

  Jinn finally stepped forward and raised his voice.

  "Alright, everyone. Do you all remember we must leave early in the morning? If you keep fooling around, you won’t get any sleep. Leave Miss Helena alone now."

  Rob agreed and stepped back, though in his heart he was thinking,

  I also want to try riding it…

  ---

  Later, everyone settled around separate bonfires. Dinner had already passed, but the travel meal for the night was being served: soup and dry jerky. Simple food, but practical for long journeys.

  Jeji still circled the chopper like a moth drawn to a flame.

  Helena sat with the central group, the largest one, with Jinn and Rob. She happily ate her soup. The taste didn’t matter. What mattered was the atmosphere. People gathered together, talking quietly, sharing warmth. It reminded her of the campfire nights she once shared with her friends and family.

  There were several women among the caravan—female adventurers and assistant girls responsible for supplies or healing. Many of them kept glancing at Helena curiously.

  Finally, one brave girl approached. She wore simple clothes, something like a medical assistant’s uniform. She hesitated, then spoke softly.

  "Umm… Miss Helena…?"

  Helena looked up.

  "Yes?"

  "Can… can I sit beside you?"

  Helena smiled warmly.

  "Yes, yes. Sit anywhere you like."

  The girl sat beside her, glancing at her bowl.

  "Is the food… good?"

  Helena nodded.

  "Yep. It’s good. A little bland, but fine. It suits my taste."

  She had eaten far worse. Bland soup and jerky were nothing compared to the horrors of the apocalypse.

  The assistant smiled awkwardly.

  "Well… it is travel food after all."

  Then she asked, a bit nervously,

  "May I know which city or country you come from?"

  Helena froze for a brief moment.

  She searched her memories. It had been so long since she even thought of her birthplace. A century could erase many things.

  "Umm…" she mumbled, digging through her thoughts.

  Then finally—

  "I remember! Nalthis. My hometown is Nalthis."

  The assistant brightened.

  "Oh! Nalthis, the city ruled by the Winterwell family."

  The word Winterwell struck Helena hard.

  "Oh yes… that’s right," she murmured. "It was ruled by that family."

  She had once been Helena Winterwell, eldest daughter of that noble house. But that part of her life no longer mattered. After Joseph, she had changed her name. After a century… everyone she knew was likely gone.

  Out of curiosity, she asked,

  "Do you know who the current head of the Winterwell family is?"

  The assistant made a troubled expression.

  "Ah… I’ve never been to Nalthis, so I don’t know."

  Before Helena could respond, Rob spoke from nearby.

  "The current head of the Winterwell family is Lord Andrew Winterwell."

  Helena’s spoon froze in mid-air.

  Her mind stalled.

  Her thoughts rewound.

  She stared up at the night sky.

  Andrew Winterwell.

  Wasn’t that… her father’s name?