Ch.3131. Gift.

# 31. The Gift

“The writing on the wall, the gift… it feels like someone knew I would come here. What do you think?”

My voice trembled and my eyes darted around nervously.

Visibly flustered, I began to slowly examine the gift that someone had prepared for me.

A snowmobile with a Caterpillar track that allowed for stable and fast travel across snow, along with a driver’s seat that protected the rider from cold winds and snow.

The cargo sled attached to the back of the snowmobile contained oil containers—extremely difficult to find in this world—along with thick blankets and what looked like winter hats.

“Each item is exactly what I desperately needed right now… it’s actually overwhelming.”

I silently repeated the words written boldly on the wall—’A gift for the last wanderer’—several times as I opened the door to the driver’s seat and got in.

“Wow, it’s so warm just being inside! How is this possible when it must have been abandoned for so long?”

The snowmobile, which I was riding for the first time in my life, felt very unfamiliar yet simultaneously warm.

To be precise, it wasn’t cold.

The space seemed to have excellent insulation, making it warm enough that my clothes felt a bit stuffy. It was also more spacious than it appeared—if I reclined the seat, there was enough room to lie down comfortably.

There were many other fascinating features like storage compartments for small food items and helmets, but the most eye-catching thing was definitely the control panel.

“The dashboard and handlebars… I’ll need to check what these buttons do, but overall, the layout isn’t much different from a motorcycle.”

Before my body changed, I was always complaining about aches and pains, and I had never actually driven anything in my life.

…Well, there was no need to drive when we had artificial intelligence that would automatically drive after being told the destination. My parents probably didn’t know how to drive either.

“I told you before, right? I was originally just a very ordinary person who enjoyed virtual reality games.”

Still, having explored many game genres through virtual reality since I couldn’t go outside, this control panel felt quite familiar to me.

Of course, games and reality are completely different, so I shouldn’t be overconfident, but knowing something is better than knowing nothing at all.

“From my perspective as a bedroom gamer… this button must be the engine button!”

I turned the grip and pressed various colorful buttons.

Then I discovered a red button located slightly below the handlebar.

Instinctively knowing this would start the engine, I pressed it without a moment’s hesitation.

Click!

“Eek!”

Drrr, as soon as I pressed the red button, the engine started with vibrations just as I expected.

I knew it would happen, but the sound and vibration were louder than I thought, startling me.

To put it somewhat extremely, having lived in a world of my own, I’ve become more vulnerable to external stimuli.

“Ha. The vehicles in the city couldn’t even be checked if they worked unless you were the owner… seeing this one move feels like it’s alive. It’s touching.”

I turned off the engine and stepped outside.

Now that I’d confirmed it worked properly, I needed to find a way to safely get this gift outside.

Even with my gaming experience, it would be realistically impossible for a novice driver like me to ride this on sloped rails or pipes.

I can already see the future where I boldly try and end up slipping, crashing down with the vehicle.

“But really, who left this gift? It’s like they knew the world would end up like this… like they knew I would come here.”

I chatter away while wandering around this space gleaming under artificial lights I never thought I’d see again.

Everything is suspicious—the items, the writing—but what bothers me most is this place itself.

On my way here, I encountered countless forks in the road and passed through various spaces.

At each fork, I made impulsive, spontaneous decisions about which pipes and rails to follow.

Those diverging pipes and rails never converged again, so…

How could someone prepare a button I would likely press and leave this gift at the exact place where I, a wanderer, would arrive?

Even if someone else had come to this factory, would they have been able to find this space?

“No matter how I think about it, this can’t be… coincidence.”

Was someone watching me?

If so, the most suspicious thing would be this drone.

Did someone who saw my footage prepare this gift to surprise me?

“…No, that doesn’t make sense.”

There were absolutely no traces of people in this factory. If it weren’t for the notebook mentioning Paradise on the pillar, I wouldn’t have thought anyone had ever been here.

Besides, how long has it been since we met?

There wouldn’t have been enough time to prepare such a hidden place and wonderful gift.

“…This is truly too strange to be coincidence. I really wonder what the answer is.”

In fact, there’s no such thing as complete coincidence.

I simply can’t observe the causality behind what has happened.

Looking at this objectively, beyond my thoughts and experiences.

If all of this is inevitable and connected in a single line.

When was this gift planned?

Before the world ended?

Or just before the factory shut down?

No.

Even earlier than that.

It makes more sense to think this was planned from when the factory was first built.

“The thought that someone knew I would arrive here from long ago and prepared for this moment… is that really just my imagination?”

I feel a sense of déjà vu. Somehow, it feels like this has happened before.

If all of this really is a gift prepared for me.

Am I truly living and breathing by my own free will?

* * *

Despite encountering something deeply suspicious that complicated my thoughts, good things were still good.

“Ahh, seeing it standing proudly in the snow is even more moving. The contrast between the red and the snow, along with its magnificent appearance, stirs up the dormant boyhood dreams I thought were dead. Don’t you agree?”

I thought I could get anything else but never a functioning vehicle, yet here I was with one.

To think I’d find the ride I’d been desperately wanting in a factory! Excited, I hopped up and down in front of the snowmobile.

“It even brought us safely down to ground level. Despite being a suspicious gift in many ways, I want to express my gratitude right now!”

The way to get the snowmobile outside was also in the room.

Just like when I found the room, pressing a protruding button in the corner made the entire room move like an elevator, bringing me and the snowmobile to the surface.

“From what I know, snowmobiles can be used on surfaces other than snow. I think I’ll be able to ride it usefully even in the next city. Really, I’ve received the most incredible gift I never could have imagined.”

I hugged the red body and impressive caterpillar track tightly, shouting “Hooray!” with white breath in the air.

Expressing joy like someone who got their first car, I climbed back onto the snowmobile.

“Okay, first start the engine, then pull this grip like this… Wow! It’s moving forward! Wow!”

The dashboard with its speedometer and tachometer. The throttle and brake protruding from the handlebar.

And buttons in non-overlapping colors, perhaps designed with beginners in mind, each with different functions like headlights or emergency brakes.

I was worried, but it’s more intuitive than I expected, so I should get used to it quickly.

“Alright. From now on, your name is Alexander!”

Excited, I named my new friend Alexander while gripping the handlebars tightly.

Then I twisted my wrist ever so slightly to move the grip, making Alexander crawl forward.

“…No matter what, going fast from the start is still scary. There are many obstacles here like steel frames…”

The needle on the dashboard trembles as if finding me very frustrating.

The drone that followed me into Alexander also spins its wings as if mocking me since it can’t move them.

What can I do!

I’m still too scared to go fast!

* * *

Several days passed like that.

It wasn’t enough time to master everything about Alexander, but it was sufficient to get the basic feel.

“The tank is full… I’ve secured the bags and oil containers with cloth so they won’t fly off, and I’ve put canned food and water bottles on the shelf…”

I had finished preparing for the journey to the next city, and the weather was fantastic.

Under clear skies, after checking that I hadn’t forgotten anything, I put on my helmet with a stylish motion and got into Alexander. Perfect.

“Alright, everyone. It’s time to set off again!”

Now I fear neither the cold nor the deep snow.

With the brightest smile I’d ever worn, I turned the grip powerfully.

Vrooom! With an exhilarating sound, Alexander began cutting through the snow.

The speed was incomparably faster than walking step by step.

How satisfying it is to see the snow that had tormented me until now change with a single gesture of my hand and disappear behind me!

The movement of the needle on the dashboard seems to reflect my endlessly improving mood.

…Well, it’s only pointing to the upper part of the dial.

Still, I’ve improved a lot since the beginning.

…My courage, that is.

“I never knew crossing a snowfield could be so exciting and fun. It’s true that you never know what life has in store!”

Since I’m not walking myself, I’m still energetic even after driving for hours.

I drive swiftly at night with the lights on, and when sleepy, I recline the seat and sleep soundly under a blanket.

[Wow! What an awesome snowmobile!]

[My goodness, who gave you such a gift?]

“You find it amazing too, right? I never dreamed I’d receive a gift like this!”

The journey, which would have been enjoyable even alone, was made perfect by having friends along.

[Maybe we’re the ones who gave you the gift!]

“Pfft, I know you’re joking, but I wish that were true. That would mean you’re close enough to me to have such influence… close enough to give me a gift like this.”

We chat about various things as we drive. The pillar that seemed distant at first gradually comes closer.

By the time most of my view is blocked by the massive pillar,

We arrive at a huge train station and fence.

“…Are the lights on?”

And the newly discovered city…

Was brightly lit despite it being night.