Chapter 53: The Beginning of a Legend

“Huh? You want me to drive?”
Hearing this, Eluca jumped up in surprise, her eyes wide and restless like a startled rabbit as she cautiously looked at Farren standing before her.
“Um… Commander? But I’ve never driven before…”
“If you haven’t, you can learn. Anything else?”
“This…”
Looking at Farren’s gentle, smiling face as he calmly gazed at her, Eluca was momentarily at a loss for words. Just a short while ago, she and her sisters had been led by Delin to claim their own rooms, the excitement of moving into their new home still fresh. Yet before that excitement could fade, Farren had pulled her aside for a “very important task”—to learn how to drive.
Eluca knew what a car was, but she had never imagined herself learning to drive. The Black Dog Squad had always roamed the wastelands, occasionally hitching rides with wasteland merchants, but the idea of driving herself had never crossed her mind.
“Why me…?”
Now, Eluca was thoroughly bewildered. She considered herself a competent warrior, but driving? She had no idea how to operate that giant hunk of metal. And why choose her? Wouldn’t Sister Chris be a better choice?
Farren paused for a moment at her question, then reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Eluca, do you want to become stronger?”
“Of course… Commander, but what does that have to do with driving?”
“Do you know, Eluca?”
Farren smiled at her confused gaze and began,
“In the world before the disaster, there were beings known as ‘female drivers.’”
“Female drivers?”
“That’s right. They were called RoadKillers, terrors of the highways. Many would retreat in fear at just a glimpse of them. In their hands, a vehicle was no mere means of transport—it was a weapon for destruction and slaughter. They wielded these mighty machines with ruthless skill, eliminating any who dared stand in their way. Against such formidable and dangerous opponents, people were powerless. All they could do was watch despair descend, losing their lives in unwillingness and endless terror.
You could never know what a female driver truly thought deep inside; her movements were unpredictable, her actions wild and untraceable. When she drove, racing across the land, she was the sovereign, and all must bow before her unrivaled might. No road was too narrow or perilous, no traffic too dense to hinder her; she overcame every obstacle, turning impossibility into possibility. Wherever she went, not even a blade of grass remained.
They were the most fearsome and powerful beings this world has ever known, and a precious legacy left to us.”
Farren smiled, patting Eluca’s shoulder.
“I believe you have that potential. Forge ahead, girl—you will become a legend.”
“I’ll do my best, Commander!”
By now, Eluca was filled with excitement. Though she still didn’t fully understand what Farren wanted her to do, his description had conjured vivid images of female drivers, slaughtering all in their path in the pre-disaster world, carving a bloody road through hardship and adversity.

“I will surely become a legendary female driver, please rest assured!”
“Well said.”
With Eluca’s answer, Farren released her shoulder and turned to look at Uncle Mario, who stood beside him with furrowed brows.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Mario. I trust you won’t disappoint me, right?”
“…Hey, kid, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Didn’t you just say the driving system of this car is so simple even a monkey could operate it?”
“That was just a figure of speech—a figure of speech, do you understand?”
“Besides, I’d like to see the combat capabilities of this vehicle myself. You vouched for it, so it should be fine, right?”
Mario stared at the smiling young man before him and suddenly regretted having mocked him earlier, comparing him unfavorably to a monkey. Perhaps that was a grave mistake.
But what’s done is done.
“Like this… this… then this…”
Of course, a “test” couldn’t be conducted in the workshop. For safety’s sake, Mario personally drove the Bullethead out to a clearing on the outskirts of District Nine. He didn’t forget his main job either; as he drove, Mario explained to Eluca how to operate the Bullethead. In truth, driving this car wasn’t difficult at all. In the post-apocalyptic world, there were no traffic rules: no need to signal, no need to watch for lights—just learn to start, drive, and stop.
“Got it?”
“Yes, Mr. Mario, I understand!”
Eluca nodded energetically. She had hitched rides before, but those wasteland merchants’ trucks were nothing compared to the luxury of this top-class RV. Just admiring the opulent, comfortable interior made her thrilled, and as Mario described the vehicle’s features along the way, her excitement only grew. When Mario left, Eluca eagerly jumped into the driver’s seat and gripped the steering wheel.
“Yes, that’s right, just like this… activate the electromagnetic shield… Wait! Don’t press that!”
Mario hadn’t finished speaking when Eluca, in her excitement, hit the accelerator. The Bullethead instantly shot backward at lightning speed, catching Mario completely off guard and sending him crashing headlong into the floor.
“No! No! Stop! That’s reverse! Reverse! Hit the brakes!”
Bang!
As a warrior, Eluca’s reflexes were quick. Hearing Mario’s screams, she immediately stomped on the brakes without hesitation. Mario let out another cry, tumbling forward like a ball and colliding with the sofa. He shakily raised his head, staring at Eluca in the driver’s seat as if he’d seen a mutant beast, trying to say something.
But Eluca didn’t notice Mario’s plight. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, frowned, and began recalling the driving methods Mario had taught her.

“I remember—you shift first… then press the accelerator!”
“No—!”
Mario hadn’t even managed to stand up before Eluca pressed the accelerator again. The Bullethead shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Mario, unprepared, screamed once more, tumbling backward and slamming into the nearby sofa. Thankfully, the sofa was soft, or else he might have coughed up blood right then and there.
“Stop! Stop! Quick, stop! We’re about to crash!”
Mario stared wide-eyed at the ruins ahead, feeling his blood freeze.
“Stop! Stop! We’re going to hit it!”
“Huh? Waaah!”
Hearing Mario’s shouts, Eluca froze, then looked up at the road ahead. She screamed, let go of the steering wheel, and raised her hands to shield herself.
“No—! Don’t let go of the wheel!”
Boom!
The Bullethead crashed into the ruined factory, its violent impact causing the already dilapidated building to collapse completely. Amid the dust and debris, the Bullethead shot out again, speeding toward the distant horizon, racing into the sunset.
“Looks good.”
Standing on a nearby platform, Farren watched the Bullethead disappear into the sunset and nodded in satisfaction.
“Whether in defense or offense, it’s perfect.”
“Is this really necessary, Master?”
Delin, who stood quietly behind Farren, sighed as she asked. Farren only shrugged.
“Practice is the only test of truth. I’m sure Mr. Mario will do his utmost to teach Eluca.”
He paused, a graceful and enigmatic smile appearing on his face.
“If he values his life, that is.”