Reborn as an A-Rank Guide: Trapped By The Crazy Sentinels

Supply ships from Central Terra arrived once every two months, replenishing the outpost with food, clean water, ammunition, weaponry, and essential rations.

High command on Terra had no intention of shortchanging the outpost on supplies. After all, these men risked their lives on the front lines every day. If they were denied both Guides and basic material compensation, mutiny or total desertion would have broken out long ago.

Terra depended entirely on Sentinels to keep its colonial engine running.

Cyrus lounged lazily on the sofa, a cigarette held loosely between his index and middle fingers. A plume of pale smoke drifted into the air, partially obscuring his sharp, icy features.

Over in the indoor pool, Arden was finishing his morning laps, his deep wheat-colored skin gleaming beneath the early sunlight.

Aside from San and Astin, who were currently out on perimeter patrol, the rest of the squad was present. It was rare for the entire unit to deploy together like they had the previous night; standard protocol required a defense force to guard the tower at all times. They had only broken protocol because a massive alien nest had required immediate eradication.

”Have you run a background check on her?” Cyrus asked.

Xander flipped a sizzling slice of bacon with his spatula, never bothering to look up. ”What? You think the Federation had an ulterior motive for sending her here?”

Cyrus tapped a line of ash into the tray. ”Not necessarily.”

If high command were pulling a sting operation, they wouldn’t have dispatched a Guide so painfully naive and weak.

”Still, it’s been thirty years since the last Guide was posted to District 616,” Cyrus continued, his voice cold. ”I don’t buy that they suddenly decided to play generous.”

Thirty years ago, the Guide assigned to this outpost had perished under bizarre, unexplained circumstances. None of the Sentinels stationed at the base had survived the incident either. Officially, high command had logged it as an alien ambush—yet investigators hadn’t recovered a single trace of alien DNA at the scene.

After three Guides died in rapid succession across the region, Terra decided the output wasn’t worth the loss of valuable assets. Every remaining Sentinel at the outpost was executed, and assignment orders for District 616 were permanently halted.

Bunny’s sudden arrival had blindsided every one of them.

Among the current squad, Xander had been stationed here the longest: ten years.

Illai emerged from the gym, a white towel draped over his shoulder as he prepped for a shower before breakfast. He pulled off his sweat-drenched shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket, which a cleaning automaton immediately wheeled toward the wash station.

”Captain, you’re way too paranoid,” Illai said with an easy grin, his almond-shaped eyes naturally curving with charm. ”What’s wrong with having a little cute Guide around? I’ve been stuck in this wasteland so long I’m practically turning into a monk. I might as well volunteer to be her first guidance session. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Cyrus gave him a frosty glare. ”It would be nice if your mouth were half as quiet as your brother’s.”

Illai choked on his words, rolling his eyes. ”He’s mute. Of course he’s quiet.”

It was true—Orion had been born mute, making him a good subordinate but a bad conversation partner.

Meanwhile, Bunny had crept up to the archway of the living room.

She paused, hesitating at the threshold. There were far too many men inside, and her social anxiety was flaring up violently around so many strangers.

Maybe I should just go back to my room...

Decision made, she turned on her heel to retreat.

Unfortunately, her left foot caught the thick, oversized cuff of her borrowed trousers. She tripped over her own feet, her balance vanishing instantly.

She went down hard.

”Ah!”

Her forehead smacked against the polished crystal floor with a sickening thump. A tender knot began swelling on her forehead almost immediately. Bunny clutched her head, groaning in pain.

Inside the living room, the conversation died instantly.

Well. She had certainly succeeded in commanding the room’s attention. What a magnificent, dignified entrance.

Bunny wanted nothing more than to melt into the floorboards and vanish from existence.

Before she could even attempt to push herself up, a pair of strong hands scooped her off the floor.

She was suddenly lifted into a broad, scorching-hot embrace. The man’s solid chest pressed against her head as he turned her around, carefully setting her back on her feet to face him.