"...The price is set. No negotiations. You're not getting a single eddy more."
"Fine. Then take my tools and fix it yourself."
"No problem. Now step aside."
"…If you do that, the compressor will keep running. The car might stall."
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
The argument between a man and a woman jolted Berry awake from the back seat.
She rubbed her eyes. Her head was still fuzzy, but she forced herself upright. As she sat up, a blanket slipped off her shoulders—someone must've draped it over her while she slept.
"Hey, Berry. Sorry—did we wake you?"
Through her blurry vision, Berry saw a woman crouch beside her, voice soft and gentle.
A few blinks later, her mind cleared, and everything came back into focus.
The woman crouched in front of her had short, sky-blue hair framing small, exposed ears. Two tiny blue studs gleamed from her right earlobe.
"Berry?"
She called again, patient and warm. Berry finally snapped back to reality, meeting her eyes—deep, ocean-blue, the same color as her hair.
"I'm fine, V."
Her voice was pleasant but still thick with sleep.
"That's good." V smiled, brushing away the messy strands stuck to Berry's forehead before standing up. "Sit for a bit and wake up. We'll head out soon."
"Is this human trafficking, or do drifters just like running off with their lovers?"
The mechanic hadn't realized someone was in the back. He was surprised—and even more surprised by the contrast: the nomad who'd snarled at him moments ago was acting tender and protective toward the girl in the back seat. The difference intrigued him.
"She's my partner. And also—shut your damn mouth. Thanks."
V raised a brow, slipping effortlessly back into her fierce persona, as if the gentleness from a moment ago had been imagined.
Holding the blanket, Berry let her memories settle.
Right—she had transmigrated into this damned cyberpunk world. Now she was part of the Bakker nomad clan, raised and protected by V, eventually becoming her partner. When the clan decided to join the Snake Nation, she alone chose to leave with V, who refused to fall in line. Together, they set out for Night City.
In the rear-view mirror, Berry caught sight of her now-familiar reflection—seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a black jacket and vest. Her exposed skin was soft and pale. Her short black hair that reached just past her shoulders, and the stud on her left ear completed the matching pair.
Her dark brown eyes were glossy and still hazy with sleep.
She sighed. She still couldn't believe it—she, a grown man in her past life, had not only become a girl here, but a soft, cute one at that. Sticking to V's side made her feel like some shy little wife.
She'd tried copying V's cool tomboy look, but it was useless. She still looked helplessly adorable—more like a sweet-faced girl pretending to be tough than an actual tomboy.
No wonder the mechanic assumed V had lured her away.
V tried the ignition. The engine coughed, sputtered, then died.
She tried again. On the second attempt, the old red off-roader roared back to life.
"Well I'll be. Not bad. But how long that gonna last?" the mechanic muttered, raising a brow. He shut the hood and stepped back.
"As long as it gets us to Night City, I don't care." V shrugged. She still had a job to finish—no time to waste.
"Feeling better, Berry?" V asked, glancing at her through the mirror.
"No problem, V. I'm awake." Berry sat up straight and buckled her seatbelt obediently.
"Good. Let's go meet our client, yeah?"
"Jackie Welles," Berry murmured.
"That's him. Name alone screams 'naive rookie.' Probably thinks smuggling is some easy cash grab." V casually straightened the bobble-head on the dashboard.
Watching her, Berry almost laughed. Really? After Konpeki Plaza, in the Delamain taxi, you were the one choking back tears saying, "Jackie… you're the real MVP."
Jackie Welles.
That tragic scene from the game flashed in her mind.
It had shaken her deeply the first time. But now—now that she was a variable in this world—she wouldn't let that tragedy repeat. She promised herself.
After all, she wasn't just anyone. She was V's partner—her "sister"—someone who'd fought by her side. Cute face aside, her skills were sharp. She had every reason to believe she could rewrite fate.
V tuned the radio, trying to reach their client. Only static answered her. No signal.
"Rumble—"
The garage door was yanked open by strong hands. A man in a cowboy hat and sheriff's uniform stepped inside.
"Hey, Mike. Didn't know you had company." His words were casual, but his eyes never left V's red off-roader. His body language said everything—he was here for her.
The mechanic stiffened, raising his hands defensively. "They just got here a few hours ago. I—I thought they checked in with you."
"Them? Huh. Interesting."
"No need to panic, Mike. Let's talk."
Despite the polite tone, the sheriff planted his hands on his hips and marched straight toward V, radiating hostility.
Trouble.
V knew immediately he'd come looking for it.
He spat on the floor, glaring at her with disgust.
"Don'tcha know you owe the sheriff a word when you pay his town a visit? Tell him what you're here for—even if it's just coffee."
Just like the game—here came the troublemaker.
Berry's hand instinctively rested on the revolver at her waist. She might look soft, but her gun hand wasn't.
One flick and she could shoot his stupid hat clean off. Even if he was a good shot himself, that wouldn't matter.
"And what about the girl in the back? She with you?"
His eyes landed on Berry—clean, delicate, and cyberware-free. Not a nomad's look. His brows knit together as unpleasant assumptions formed.
"We're not looking for trouble. We're leaving," V said quickly.
"That's not what I asked." He cut her off. "Explain the girl, or I'll string you up on a power pole."
Trafficking? Smuggling? Whatever he suspected, his hand drifted toward his gun.
"Hey, I'm her partner—we're together!" Berry burst out. "Teammates, okay? Ride-or-die."
"Together, huh." He hesitated but at least didn't draw his gun—she didn't look the least bit coerced.
"What's wrong with the world now… kids barely grown, running with strays…" he grumbled.
His stare finally made Berry realize what he thought.
Her appearance was too misleading. He must've assumed she'd been sweet-talked into running off with a "punk" like V.
"Whatever." He leaned a hand on the roof and looked back at V. "Name's Andrew Jones. Maybe you've heard it. Special forces in the last war. Silver Shoguns—ring a bell?"
He looked unbearably smug. V wanted to clap back, but with Berry sitting behind her, she swallowed the urge.
"Not much for talking, huh."
He circled the car and planted a boot on the hood.
"This a nomad car? Hah. I thought—"
"I just want to fix it and go. I'm not staying," V said through clenched teeth.
"Good. Best you don't. I can't stand the sight of strays." He waved them away like bugs. "Where's your clan camp?"
"No clan. No camp. Just the two of us."
"Don't buy it. Nomads stick together."
"My clan's scattered. That's why we're heading to Night City."
Not the truth, of course.
They were heading to meet Jackie Welles and smuggle cargo into Night City.
After more tense back-and-forth, the sheriff finally snapped and told them to get out of town.
"Oh, and you—little girl," he said to Berry. "Find somewhere to get off. Don't stick with trash like her. Night City isn't heaven. She might sell you to a club for cash."
His warning shattered under the roar of the engine as V floored it.
Sunlight blazed across the desert outside. The open horizon lifted Berry's spirits, washing away the garage's tension. But V's face was tight, troubled.
"…Berry. Maybe I shouldn't have brought you with me."
So the sheriff's words weren't completely wasted—V now felt the heavy weight of responsibility.
"V…" Berry turned toward her, but V avoided her gaze in the mirror.
"What are you saying? We've always acted together… and since I was little, you've taken care of me. I'd rather follow you than the clan."
"So don't listen to him. I trust you. Always."
Her hand rested lightly on V's shoulder—warm, sincere.
On the inside, she thought:
Please. Why wouldn't I stick with you? You're my towering golden cheat code.
V wasn't ordinary. She was the infamous cyberpsycho-slayer who could storm Arasaka Tower. Even with a system, Berry wasn't sure she could beat her.
In Night City, nothing was safer than having V as your walking tank.
"Really? Berry… so that's how you feel?" V's face lit up instantly. Her grin stretched wide, unstoppable. "Haha—this feels… great!"
She laughed like a fool, eyes squinting, cheeks flushing red.
"V?"
"Yes!" V straightened up, still grinning. "What's up?"
"Didn't you say we needed to hit the relay tower to contact our client?"
"Of course!"
"…We just passed it."
The tower shrank behind them in the mirror. Berry's tone was soft but apologetic.
"—Huh!?"
V slammed the brakes. The whole car rattled violently, and she nearly slammed her face into the steering wheel.
...
[T/N] This story was originally translated by someone else on Webnovel, but they suddenly stopped and it's been a while since the last update. I really enjoyed this story, so I decided to do it myself, even though I have zero experience.
You can read the other translation which has 33 chapters if you want to get ahead. "I was in Night City and was Picked up by a Female V" is the other translation.
I did decide to change the MC's name which was originally Bai Rui, but I felt that it didn't really fit with the story since she was raised in an American nomad clan by V.
If you see any mistakes or any changes that don't fit, then let me know. I plan to update this story daily.