Ch 115

Author's Note:

Hello everyone, it's been a while. I apologize for the delayed update; it's because of work!

Anyway, the April Fool's event was fun, wasn't it?

Personally, my highlight was Vice Commander Anderson's thing, but... what was that? Taking off the belt and zipper, looking all relaxed... Are you trying to seduce us!?

Well, that's a joke, but... I never expected Vice Commander Anderson to have that device on the left side of his abdomen... or whatever that thing is.

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... Finger... Captain... here...

The sinister crimson eyes stare vacantly.

Click. The .45 caliber pistol's hammer is raised, aimed at her.

The barrel probably looks perfectly round. The gun's muzzle is pressed against the forehead, and he/she looks at it with a dazed expression.

Gripping the pistol's handle tightly, the squeezed trigger drops the hammer--

... Master... here... is... Master...

The earnest disciple Leaf Green's eyes, also dyed in a sinister red.

The color of the eyes shining through the broken glasses──is beyond salvation.

There's no other choice, can't be helped.

Making excuses to oneself, a .45 caliber automatic pistol is pointed with practiced hands.

As a master, this is the last──

... Signal... Commander... here...

The leader of the squad with red eyes──wait, no.

──She shouldn't be corrupted.

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"──Ah!!"

The tall young man's upper body springs up as if repelled. Perhaps the momentum was too strong. The impact, like a creak, resonates through the bed, echoing in the room.

"──Ha... Ha..."

The synthetic fiber blanket falls to the floor under the bed at the moment of getting up. Without even the time to pick it up──the room's owner repeats rough breaths with beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"...Damn..."

──Had another terrible dream.

It's often said that dreams occur during REM sleep. The room's owner, Moore, is generally a light sleeper. However, he rarely dreams, but for the past few days, he has been having frequent nightmares.

Maybe he's tired.

With a click of his tongue, he puts on the boots he had taken off, not bothering to tie the shoelaces. Walking to the coffee table in a loose posture, he picks up the soft pack he left on the desk and bites one.

The flame of the oil lighter illuminates the dim commander's office, and soon, purple smoke rises from the smoldering cigarette.

The burning tobacco leaves, the faint tingling sensation in the brain with each inhale. This definitely assures him that this is reality, whether he likes it or not. It's incredibly calming.

"...Water..."

Breathing and mood settle, and he naturally feels the dryness in his throat. He opens the door of the provided refrigerator, which he has finally managed to replace, and peeks inside.

More than the drinks prepared by the room's owner, there are bottles of carbonated water lined up in the refrigerator.

"...Hehe."

The sight is enough to let a smile of relief escape from him.

Moore's mornings are early. It's usual, but he didn't feel drowsy after waking up in the middle of the night for some reason. With time on his hands, he calculates the expenses for the upcoming needs.

The profits, distributed 50:50 due to the contract with the Merchant Union Talent, amount to a total of 195 million credits. After splitting, the squad's share is 97.5 million credits.

Moreover, the information about the cigars Moore brought back with a premium attached seems to be true. Although one was damaged, it was still auctioned for 85.8 million credits.

The share was transferred three days ago. Immediately, he started the repairs that had been stalled, and today, the sounds of construction will begin early in the morning all over the forward base.

Moore, with a crackling stiff neck, finishes his calculations and stands up. After tightening the boot's shoelaces once firmly, he glances at the small whiteboard newly attached to the side of the door as he leaves the commander's office.

Various colors of markers write a roundish script in Anise's handwriting. An illustration drawn by her, whether it's a cat or not, also exudes a presence.

[Commander's Destinations]

- In Room ●

- Quick Run・Physical Training

- Shooting Range

- Mission

- Ark

After firmly acknowledging the movement of the red magnet downward, he heads to the front of the command headquarters.

"Let's keep it light, about 10 km this morning," he thinks while starting warm-up exercises in the parking lot in front of the quarters, and just as he does, Moore catches sight of a figure coming out of the front entrance of the adjacent dormitory.

"──Good morning, Commander."

"──Good morning. How early. It's only 4 o'clock."

While tying her long light brown hair into a ponytail with a hair tie, Moore exchanges greetings with Rapi. Unlike usual, she is wearing women's running wear, giving off a refreshing feel.

Black with a touch of red running tights, the upper body also seems to have acquired a similar design sports bra set. Since it has the Elysion logo, there's a possibility it was issued.

"...I thought I'd change my mood a bit..."

"I see. ...Want to run together?"

The shoes she's wearing are also running shoes with a different color from usual. In that case, Rapi's purpose is probably the same.

When he tries inviting her, she nods slightly in response.

As Moore, who has finished the warm-up, kicks the paved road with the soles of his boots and starts running, Lapi begins to run alongside him.

"But it's an unusual outfit, isn't it?"

"Doesn't it suit me?"

"No, it suits you well. It's refreshing."

Except for the sports bra that supports and hides her ample chest, the upper body exposes her skin. Running alongside, shaking her chest up and down, Rapi tilts her head, but Moore gives an honest impression.

"──Thank you."

Rapi smiles faintly, just faintly enough for him not to notice. However, she quickly withdraws the smile she had on her face.

The cause is Moore's face, running beside her.

"──Good morning, Commander, Miss Rapi!"

"──Good morning. Let's have a good day today."

"...Good morning."

The mass-produced Nikke on guard duty at the covered ammunition depot recognizes the two figures sprinting in the early morning and sends a lively greeting with a salute. Moore and Rapi respond to the greeting and run past the ammunition depot.

"...Commander. Are you getting proper rest?"

"...I'm resting."

─ He's not good at lying.

There are faint dark circles under his eyes. It's so subtle that you wouldn't notice unless it's pointed out, but Rapi had noticed it.

It's clear evidence that he's not resting properly. Or perhaps fatigue is accumulating. Or──

"...Is there something on your mind?"

"...No..."

While running without disrupting his breathing, and without directing his gaze towards him, Rapi asks.

"...Is that so? ...But if there's anything, please feel free to talk to me anytime."

"..."

"Even at midnight, or through messages. I can listen to you, too."

If it continues like this, Moore will likely decline unless I speak casually. He is stubborn. And obstinate. While Anis thinks he's somewhat similar to Rapi, it might generally be true.

Without voicing complaints and showing weakness, one must not. Does he believe that if a commanding officer expresses weakness, morale will decline—or is he consciously aware of it?

"...It hurts."

Thinking that, a twinge of pain struck Rapi's chest.

"Am I... are we really not reliable at all?"

It's difficult to pose the budding question in her heart to the one running alongside. At least for the current Rapi.

Just in case, the moment she receives a reply stating that they are not relied upon, it becomes a frightening reality.

There's no way Moore isn't relying on her, no, on them. It's rather the opposite. He relies on them completely.

It's not due to sentimental reasons, a sense of obligation, or hesitation and worry that he doesn't express. While there might be some, it's probably not the dominant reason.

Is it perhaps his inherent toughness that inhibits him from openly confessing his genuine uncertainties?

"I want to see more of your vulnerability..."

Is that being selfish? While running through the forward operating base, Rapi repeated her self-reflections. However, even after returning to the headquarters building, she still couldn't come up with an answer.

She recalls that night. The evening when she entrusted Marian to the pilgrims.

The reasons and what happened are still unknown, but on that day, Moore was undoubtedly crushed and plunged into the depths of despair.

Embraced by Rapi's arms and chest without resistance, he continued in silence, hiding his eyes. It was, frankly, a pitiful sight. She saw him as if he had been pierced by numerous invisible wounds, unable to make a single move.

Perhaps that was the utmost vulnerability and weakness he showed her.

Why does he stubbornly conceal it to that extent? The question remains unanswered.

Having finished the sprint and completed the cooldown, Moore, expressing gratitude for accompanying him, disappears into the building.

In that moment, it felt like he was disappearing to somewhere unreachable. She instinctively reaches out her arm to him and grabs the hem of his black shirt.

"──What's wrong?"

"...No, it's nothing. I apologize for detaining you."

Moore, whose hem was grabbed, turns around over his shoulder, with invisible question marks above his head, and asks Rapi. She probably acted unconsciously once she understood the situation. As soon as she comprehends the situation, she releases the hand that was grabbing and bows to him before disappearing into the dormitory.

Moore, watching her off, shifts his gaze to the transient sky and gazes at the projected morning sun with narrowed eyes.

Another day begins.

After taking a shower, changing clothes, and quickly finishing breakfast, Moore prepares to start processing miscellaneous tasks.

The Commander's office also suffered damage from the explosion, but it is now neatly organized, with new furnishings in place.

Sitting at the desk with a large desktop screen, Moore starts up the PC, and logging in is complete once the password is entered.

Thinking about starting with the processing of accumulated documents, Moore was about to begin when a news announcer on the TV screen, lit for information-gathering purposes, reported breaking news.

"─ We have breaking news in the middle of the program. Syuen, the representative of Misilis, has revealed that she will make a 'significant announcement' at 9:00."

Hearing a familiar name, Moore briefly directs his gaze, and a caption indicating an urgent press conference appears on the TV screen.

However, there are still over 40 minutes until the press conference is scheduled to begin.

Until then, let's get some work done, Moore decides, switching his focus to miscellaneous tasks.

The sounds of clattering keys and occasionally the light sound of a pen moving across paper resonate in the Commander's office.

While the TV screen displays programs and fills gaps with commercials, a sudden metallic sound echoes.

Moore opens the lid of the oil lighter and lights a cigarette with it.

The metallic sound rings again, and the lid is closed. Purple smoke swirls around the cigarette held between his fingers. Although it's not a commendable attitude, Moore, recently liberated from the days of reducing smoking, is now a heavy smoker again. Perhaps he hopes to be allowed to work with cigarettes as a substitute for coffee.

When he notices, it's already 09:10.

The press conference has apparently started a long time ago.

"This time, our Misilis research team has developed our unique technology 'Unchained.' With this alone─"

"Hah?"

Gazing at the TV screen, he felt relieved seeing the Metis squad, who should have been invaded, exposed to flashes each time the reporters took photos. However, he let out an absurd reaction because he didn't understand the meaning of Shuen's words.

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Author's note: Shiftie, what is she really? (Is she a Nikke or a human?)

And Rapi, Anis, and Neon were cute.

Oh, I pulled the new character Sakura in one go (and immediately raised her to level 10).

Moore seems to be capable of doing things in the underworld... it seems. He might even end up creating his own organization (somehow attracting people and being lifted to the top type).

Nihilis──come over here!!!