Tove

Let's see...

All right! A multi-purpose tool for all occasions.

It certainly beats hauling around multiple tools.

It is a bit small though, so it may not be the best for heavy-duty tasks.

Still, it'll be good enough for the simple stuff.

Nice! No issues detected.

Next up...

The no muss, no fuss camping stove that I pieced together before.

The only issue is that the flame would sometimes extinguish on its own, so I couldn't really depend on it.

Having said that, it's a good thing Survivalist picked it up after I threw it away. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to boil water.

Hehe.

I've gotta make some adjustments so it's more dependable.

Reinforcements required... check!

Next up... it should be somewhere around here...

Whoops!

Oh no! It spilled everywhere...

*Sigh*... I'll have to check later if it's still usable.

I don't think it's totally broken though... I think.

Found it!

A fire starter that I picked up on the surface.

And it showed up just in the nick of time too, precisely when I needed to make a fire during a mission.

It's saved my hide more than once since then.

More reliable than flint, and more durable than a lighter.

It's no wonder it's a time-tested survival essential that pops up all the time in those old reality programs.

... I still remember what a close call that was.

I needed to make a signal fire,

but all my ignition tools were either soaked or broken.

If I hadn't stumbled upon this fire starter inside the blanket, I wouldn't have been able to make a fire.

It's been good to me many times since then.

...

This must've been a precious item for the others as well.

All right, time to check if it works.

Let's see...

Take the scraper, put it against the rod, and...

Scrrrrrape!

Huh?

I should be getting some sparks.

It was working fine last time...

Is... is it broken?

That's why I came to see you, Survivalist.

Exactly.

It's incredibly important to me.

I searched the entire Ark up and down before coming here,

and to no one's surprise, nobody there could help me.

Hmm...

No businesses in the Ark produce survival equipment.

Nobody in the Ark needs it anymore.

Having said that, you can find stuff that's similar.

Plenty of stores have outdoor gear in stock.

If you're in the market for casual camping gear, you're set.

Basic things like matches, lighters, or flashlights are easy enough to find.

But serious survival gear like this fire starter?

Nowhere to be found.

The actual repairs won't be that difficult.

When you scratch this rod with the scraper, it'll create sparks. Unfortunately, the surface of the rod has been worn down.

Here, touch it. Notice how it's all smooth?

The principle of the fire starter is simple: You scrape the rod with this metal scraper to produce fine flecks of metal.

When that makes contact with the air, it oxidizes and... poof!

Sparks fly.

If the rod's surface is smooth, it means there's no more metal left to scrape.

That's why it doesn't produce sparks anymore.

... Probably.

Well, there was a... minor incident recently

that may have damaged it somewhat.

But it shouldn't be ruined to the point of being unusable!

If Guy vs. Wild says it's fine, it shouldn't be an issue.

That host, Grizzly Grills, is never wrong!

Hehe, so you know about him too?

It'll be fine... I think.

Half the knowledge I've accrued has been from old reality shows.

I picked up a ton of survival know-how for when you're stranded in the wild.

There's one show by this guy named Ed Caneford. His specialty is surviving in the middle of nowhere.

He and Grizzly Grills have different approaches, so watching them both covers all your bases.

If you watch an episode of one show, it's good to follow it up with an episode from the other show.

For example, the first episode of Guy vs. Wild, season 2, is about escaping from a desert.

And then in Stranded, season...

Oh... yes, that's right.

I thought if anyone would know how, it'd be you.

You have so much experience on the surface, and tons of survival knowledge.

Even if you didn't know, I figured you might introduce me to someone who does.

So,

could you help me out?

Uh-huh...

Woohoo!

I knew I could count on you!

That's why I respect you so much!

Yeah! Let's go right away!

Hey, Boss.

I see you brought Tove with you.

Hello, Centi! How've you been?

I've been great.

What about you, Tove?

I haven't seen you

since Liter banned you from coming after you made some strange gadgets in the workshop.

Ah... haha... y-yeah, about that...

That was meant to be a minimalist survival tool.

When Liter stormed in and started screaming at you,

I was afraid for my own life, too!

Yeah, it was quite a scene!

Ever since then, whenever I see Tove, I always make sure Liter isn't nearby.

But don't worry, Liter's out on a business trip, so you're safe.

Hehe... good to know.

Anyway, seeing as the Boss is with you, I assume you're here on important business?

If you need me to make or fix anything, just say the word!

Okay,

how about this?

Do you think it'd be possible to fix this?

What's this?

Hmm... ah, I see...

Ah hah!

Did you find something?

I certainly did.

Judging by the residual metal on this rod here,

I'd say this is a tool for starting fires!

Its composition isn't terribly complicated.

In fact, it's a rather simple setup: an alloy rod and a scraper. That's it.

The alloy rod wears down the more you use it,

so it's somewhat akin to the lead in a pencil.

As long as you replace the rod, you'll be able to use this fire starter in no time.

I knew it! My hunch was spot on!

You see? Those reality shows never lie!

Unfortunately, you can't find something like this in the Ark anymore.

There's nowhere that carries a part like this these days.

I figured as much. Everyone I asked had no idea where to get one either.

That's precisely right! Mighty Tools can create any tool you need! We're practically omnipotent!

To make this rod, we'll need the proper equipment to smelt metal,

mix it in precise proportions, then cast and cool the alloy.

We'll also need the manpower to carry out the entire process.

Fortunately, Mighty Tools has all of that!

As long as we have the right materials, making a replacement alloy rod won't be a problem at all.

So does that mean...

That's right!

We can't make it.

Wh-what?!

The actual process of making it isn't the issue.

Then what is it?

Isn't this the part where you tell us how you'll be able to get started right away?

I'd love to say that to you, trust me.

However, there's one fatal problem that's stopping us.

What's that?

It's simple.

We don't have the materials.

... Oh.

To make the alloy rod, we need what are called rare-earth elements.

They're not commonly used materials, so we only bring them in when we need them.

Missilis has a monopoly over all the rare-earth elements that are inside the Ark.

So if we're not able to get the materials that we need from them,

it'll be impossible for us to craft the alloy required for a new rod.

So we have to procure it from Missilis HQ?

Is that even possible?

I highly doubt they'll be willing to part with it.

I'm sure they'd be willing to sell it to you for the right price.

And what would that be?

Liter handles all of our orders,

so I wouldn't know.

Yeah, seems like our only option.

Thanks for the help, Centi.

No problem!

Once Liter lifts your ban, feel free to drop by anytime!

Uh... sure... hehe.

Oh man, I'm so nervous.

Why does my heart start racing every time I come here?

I feel like hapless prey standing before an apex predator.

Wow, so you feel the same way too sometimes?

It's the exact same feeling whenever I showcase my latest handmade tools to everyone else in Unlimited.

As for why I'm so nervous right now,

could it be because I pestered Missilis so much to put me in Unlimited,

and I ended up in a squad I wasn't originally assigned to as a result?

Hehe... yeah, maybe.

Oh, hey, Cutey. Hey, Tove.

Fancy running into you guys here.

Howdy, Maxwell!

Me?

Oh, just cleaning up another mess those ignoramuses made.

Ouch. I hope it wasn't anything dangerous.

Nah, it's nothing serious.

Just them getting up to their usual antics.

Those guys never learn.

I'm glad it wasn't anything major.

I was worried that someone had gotten hurt, or a room collapsed.

...

...

Those knuckleheads did get hurt, and our dorm room is no longer standing.

But if you ask me, that's nothing compared to the mental damage I've suffered.

Wait, is everything all right?

It's fine. This isn't the first time, and it certainly won't be the last.

Those goobers are tough as nails. A little scrape won't faze them.

No, I meant you, Maxwell. Are you okay?

It sounds like you've been through a lot.

... If only my squad members were half as considerate as you, Tove.

So, what did you come here for?

Oh, right! I got sidetracked!

Could you take a look at this?

A fire starter?

Wow, you recognized it right away!

We find them occasionally during missions on the surface,

especially in places formerly inhabited by humans.

I even examined the alloy on the rod once because it seemed unique.

Then you must know what it's made of.

Of course.

Um, if that's the case...

Is there anyway we could buy some materials from you?

Sure. That's doable.

... Survivalist.

There's this feeling in my chest, like it's about to burst... is this joy I feel?

After searching high and low all through the Ark and the Outpost,

I've finally found a way to fix my precious fire starter!

Hehe, I couldn't have done it without your help.

I hate to spoil the mood...

but do you have enough credits?

Uh...

How much do I need?

Well.

The alloy needed for this rod contains rare-earth elements,

and to produce a rod of this size...

I'd say it'll set you back about this much.

!!

As serious as a heart attack.

That's more credits than I've spent on every survival tool in my life combined!

They're called rare-earth elements, not find-them-anywhere elements.

The mines near the Ark dried up long ago, so now we have to send resource-gathering squads to far-off locations to excavate for them.

On top of that, rare-earth elements are a strategic resource, therefore the Central Government entrusts Missilis with its strict oversight.

As a result, it's priced accordingly, and is hardly something the average person can afford.

Oh man...

I'm guessing you don't have enough credits.

If that's the case, I'd suggest giving up the notion of making the alloy yourself.

But I... I have to fix this fire starter!

It holds so many important memories for me.

But why go through the trouble of making the alloy?

All you have to do is replace the rod, right?

Yeah, but if I want a replacement rod, I need the alloy...

No no, you're not following. What you need isn't the alloy, but another rod altogether.

Wouldn't that solve your problem?

But I've searched all over the Ark, and there's none left.

Sure, that goes without saying.

Then how are we supposed to find one?

Weren't you listening to me?

On the surface.

It's all so simple when I think about it now.

I found this one on the surface before,

so it'd stand to reason that I should search for a replacement in the same place.

Feels like I had to take a pretty long detour before figuring that out, though...

Hehe, I guess you're right. Whether you take the long or short route, you still end in the same spot.

I've found a way to fix my fire starter, and that's what matters.

I figured the odds of us finding something here would be highest.

Take a look around you. This used to be a city.

Cities have infrastructure built to help people survive.

The buildings here were designed to protect the inhabitants from external threats.

More supplies are accumulated in urban areas as well,

so it's relatively easy to find what you need.

Most people don't have the knowledge required to survive in harsh environments.

If disaster were to strike, they'd be most likely to try and stay in places they find familiar.

Ergo, when the First Rapture Invasion hit, and some couldn't make it to the Ark,

people most likely ran to cities like this in order to survive.

... Sorry, did that get too heavy?

Huh? Really?

I think I used to be a bit cavalier when it came to survival.

For the longest time, it was something I only saw on TV shows or read about in books.

But after working with everyone in the Unlimited Squad to rescue survivors at the northern base,

and going through all sorts of other disasters... my outlook changed.

I started to realize that survival isn't some cool-sounding fantasy, it's reality.

Although to be honest, I still sometimes feel like I'm unqualified to talk about this stuff.

Heh, if that's what you think, maybe it really is true.

But I'm still convinced I've got a lot to learn from the other members of my squad.

Hehe, I certainly hope so.

After all, I'm surrounded by some incredible people in my squad.

They truly are amazing.

I really admire how they can handle missions in those extreme conditions at the northern base.

Whenever my tools actually help them out,

it gives me a real sense of pride.

It also makes me feel I should work harder than I do.

You think so? Hehe....

All right, let's start looking for a fire starter.

Let's check inside that building first.

It looks like someone stayed here briefly and then left.

Oh, little things.

Here, do you see this?

A fire was lit here, but there are still plenty of things around that could have been used as firewood.

That tells me they didn't stay here long.

Ah! Look at that!

It's a survival bag!

There are still plenty of consumables inside!

That means....

It's got to be here somewhere...

Ah!

I found it!

It's a fire starter!

Decoy's been set up.

Food secured.

Tent pitched.

The only thing left now is to start a fire.

Luckily, there's plenty of wood around.

We just need some tinder and kindling to get everything started.

Survivalist, could you handle that while I stack the firewood?

Thanks!

Hmm...

Oh, back already?

I'm just making some adjustments to my fire starter.

Oh, hehe... you saw that?

Oh boy, this is kinda embarrassing to explain.

I was writing the name of the person who originally owned this replacement rod that I used.

I guess it's a kind of ritual... or perhaps it's my own way of showing respect?

When I first picked up this fire starter, these names were already written like this.

To be honest, they're a bit of a mystery.

Maybe they're the names of people who previously owned this fire starter.

Or maybe a person wrote them to remember someone, just like what I'm doing now.

Regardless, the one thing I'm sure of is that whoever wrote these names,

they didn't want them to be erased.

I wanted to carry on that tradition, which is why I'm writing down this person's name.

Heh... it's a bit weird, I know.

Really? You actually think so?

Uh... er...

Th-thank you...!

Well then, let's light the fire.

I'll use the stuffing from the pillow you brought as tinder.

If I place the fire starter here, and scrape this rod with the scraper...

And voilà, it's that easy!

It's a bit more work than using a lighter or matches,

but the fact that it's sturdier is a major advantage.

Anyway, now that we've got a fire going,

what do you say we get our grub on?

Ahh, nothing beats a nice, warm meal.

Using open flame as a means of cooking is fundamental to human survival.

That's why fire-starting tools are so critical.

Hehe, I knew you'd understand, Survivalist.

The fire feels good.

Sitting like this, staring into the fire...

It warms not only my body, but my heart too.

I wonder if the previous owners of this fire starter felt that same warmth.

When I sit here like this,

it feels like I'm sharing the same experience as those people. Feeling their feelings.

You think so?

Then, the people who used this before must have really valued it.

Mmm...

My name?

... Do you think it's okay for me to write my name on it?

Of course. It's incredibly important to me.

Survivalist...

Then...

While I'm at it,

can I also write your name?

You helped me repair it,

and you're also a survival expert living on the surface, like me.

If I deserve to have my name written on this,

then you most assuredly do too.

... I also want to make sure that your name doesn't get lost with time.

Hehe, all right!

Let's make sure that the names written on this tag are never forgotten. We must survive, no matter what!