In the following months, I spent almost every day scavenging in the junkyard for broken parts, carefully repairing them piece by piece with my own hands. The old man who often showed up eventually grew too curious to resist and started talking to me.
"Girl, what are you doing? Why do you keep collecting this scrap metal? Can you actually fix them? That's impossible."I just smiled and brushed him off. "Nothing, I just like collecting."He always stared at me with doubtful eyes before shaking his head and walking away.
As time went on, our conversations became more frequent. He told me this was Planet 173, one of the lowest-ranked fringe planets. Among more than two hundred known planets, 173 was practically the most desolate. Those who survived here were either homeless drifters like us or wealthy hermits who chose to hide away.
He said the only way out was through school. As long as you had talent and passed the tests, you could be sent to better planets to continue studying. For me, that goal felt far out of reach. Even the old man thought I had no chance, yet he still couldn't help but tell me about it.
It was the year 1059. In two months, it would be 1060. The old man sighed, saying that it was only thanks to the nutrition packs a spaceship had dropped a few months earlier that the drifters on 173 hadn't starved to death. He even wanted to leave his last bit of money to me, hoping it might help me study.I shook my head. "No need. I can rely on myself. Look, this bicycle is already taking shape. With it, I can reach the city in half the time. With my skills, making money won't be difficult."
Two months later, I had repaired over twenty parts. That day, I rode my bicycle into the city, where the streets were lit with lanterns and crowded with people. It turned out to be New Year's Eve. The year 1060 was about to begin.
I planned to sell the parts at the weapon shop, then buy warm clothes, and finally spend a hundred hours at the underground training hall. My small body could barely resist the winter cold anymore.
The weapon shop owner's eyes lit up as soon as he saw me. He said the parts I had sold last time were extremely rare and had long been discontinued. Not even craftsmen could repair them, but merchants from other planets had bought them for a high price and even requested more of the same, offering an additional five thousand.My heart skipped a beat. In truth, I was the one who repaired them, but to avoid trouble I replied calmly, "That craftsman hides in the junkyard. He is an old man with great skill. I can pass along the request for you."
I handed over the twenty-plus parts for appraisal. Each was priced at five hundred, totaling eleven thousand. With the extra five thousand, I earned sixteen thousand in one go. Watching the payment arrive and holding the new parts the owner gave me, I felt elated. Judging by their structure, they seemed repairable. It was as if I had secured a golden opportunity. Next time, I could earn even more.
Afterward, I went to the clothing store and bought warm clothes. Just as I stepped outside, I saw a chubby boy circling around my bicycle."Hey! What are you doing?" I startled him with my voice."This bike is yours?" His eyes widened."Yeah, so what?""Sell it to me for five hundred!""Even for a thousand I wouldn't sell." I replied coldly."Then let me ride it once?""No." I mounted the bike and was about to leave, but he chased after me relentlessly.
Finally, I stopped and asked, "Why are you following me?"Panting, the boy said, "Let me ride it once. I'll pay you five hundred!"I thought for a moment, then nodded. He tried to imitate me but immediately fell off. I laughed. "That counts as once. If you want to ride more, I'll give you a discount."Embarrassed, he nodded and suddenly asked, "Where did you buy this bike? I want one too.""I didn't buy it. I built it myself.""You built it yourself?!" His eyes nearly popped out. He quickly said, "Let's exchange contacts. If you make anything good in the future, I'll buy it from you.""I don't have any contact information.""What? In this age, someone without contact details?" He looked at me suspiciously, already imagining wild stories. Someone who could build a bicycle had to come from some hidden, powerful family.
At last, he shoved a slip of paper into my hand with a number written on it. "Reach out when you can. Maybe we'll even see each other at school.""School?" I froze."Yeah, Planet 173's school. They're recruiting right now. Didn't you go? If things go well, we might even be classmates."
I lowered my gaze to the paper and quietly memorized the number."School…" I looked toward the distant streets, lit brightly with New Year's celebrations. All I had wanted was to fix broken parts and keep myself fed, yet suddenly a new path appeared.Maybe school was the only chance to leave Planet 173.
I carefully tucked the slip of paper into my pocket. For the first time, a thought arose in my heart: what if I applied?
That night, I rode my bicycle to the underground training hall. Pushing open the old door, I descended the worn staircase to the counter below.I put on a mask and handed over my identity card. It read: Apollo.After confirmation, I swiped my card and entered the lounge. Just like before, there was food and comfortable seating, but what excited me most was the Meteor Blade.
I approached the weapon shop's boss. "Is that Meteor Blade still here? I want to buy it."He looked up at me and nodded. "This blade suits you well. Small and agile, just like you. You can bring out its true power."
I paid, leaving only six thousand in my account. Between the clothes and other things, I had already spent quite a bit. But I was happy. My body, trained over the past few months, could now handle combat. Even at six years old, if anyone underestimated me, I had full confidence in landing a fatal strike.
Looking over the competition rules, I hesitated. Winning a match granted fifty hours of rest time and one thousand credits. Even if I lost, I could surrender without suffering serious injuries. Since that was the case, why not try?
I bought a cheap piece of armor and registered for my first match. Though worried about facing a strong opponent, it turned out to be someone only slightly older and taller than me.
When the bell rang, I struck. My blade moved as fast as a falling star. My opponent had no time to react before collapsing in defeat.I had won my very first underground match, earning fifty hours of rest and one thousand credits. Though my palms were sweating from nerves, my heart surged with exhilaration.
Leaving the arena, I hopped on my bicycle and rode straight toward the continent's edge. That was where Planet 173's school enrollment office was located. Amid the lively crowds celebrating the new year, a street vendor handed me a flyer. It was the school's admission notice.
Mechanics division, tuition ten thousand.Combat division, tuition three thousand.
I checked my balance. Only five thousand left.Mechanics was my specialty, but the tuition was far out of reach. The combat division was much cheaper. Without hesitation, I paid three thousand and signed up.
Riding back to the junkyard with a light heart, I had already forgotten the chubby boy's contact slip in my pocket.