Ch.144

"Ha ha ha! HERO! Makes an entrance!!"

Noisy.

The newly acquired noise-canceling headset delivers Laplace's laughter clearly to Moore without leaving anything to spare. The headset he had been using until now was Elysion's, but it seems that the performance of the newly acquired Misirlis model is also impeccable.

It was four hours ago that he reunited with the Metis squad at the Misillis headquarters. And now, on the elevator that just reached the ground, not even half a day has passed, and he and the counters are already going back.

"Commander. Are you feeling okay?"

"...Yeah, I'm fine. There's no problem with my right leg either."

"Really, Master? Please don't push yourself too hard."

"I won't push myself or do anything reckless. I promise."

Anis and Neon, who express concern, intuitively sense that this promise will never be kept. Similar situations have occurred many times, but in the end, the promise was never kept.

"Now! Let's depart for our splendid comeback!!"

<You seem lively, more than anything.>

Suddenly, the CEO of Misirlis, through the machinery of the housing, sent vibrations to the eardrums. The slightly exasperated voice, currently a target of criticism, is directed towards the carefree Laplace.

<By the way. Do you remember <em>why you came up to the surface today?>

"Of course! To annihilate the approaching Rapture horde in Ark and boldly return as heroes!"

The lively and bright voice, even with the housing covering both ears, is heard clearly. Moore inadvertently let out a small, almost unnoticed, delicate sigh.

"Now, I'm excited to become a hero again!"

<Yes, yes. It's good to see you in high spirits after a long time.>

Moore wondered where she was watching from, but probably Maxwell's drone footage sent immediately after getting off the elevator was reaching her.

While thinking about deploying it for the squad as reconnaissance, he pulled out the magazine from the assault rifle he was carrying, checked the ammunition, and inserted it back.

<Let's quickly show results and return as heroes. ── Do you remember the coordinates I told you?>

"Yeah. I've grasped the route."

<──Good. I'll prepare for editing and broadcasting, so contact me when you get near the coordinates.>

When the faint sound of communication being cut off echoed in the depths of the housing, Anis, standing beside him, let out a grand sigh.

"...Ugh... Seriously... Just hearing her voice is annoying."

" "──Anis." "

Moore and Rapi, in unison, admonished Anis. They understand her mood, but the Metis squad is also here.

Making thoughtless remarks that disrupt teamwork is not something he, and the squad leader Laplace, desire.

"...Sorry. Ah, don't mind me; just talking to myself."

He thought he muttered it quietly, but surprisingly, the voice seemed to have reached others. Not only Laplace but also Drake turned their gazes, and Maxwell shrugged her shoulders as if to say it couldn't be helped.

"Oh! So, you're shouting your soliloquy that loudly!!"

"...Drake. I apologize for my subordinate's rudeness, but..."

A subordinate's mistake is the responsibility of the superior. While Moore, hiding Anis behind him as if protecting her, stepped forward, Drake widened his long, narrow eyes.

"Then I won't be outdone! I'll also shout my soliloquy louder!"

Trying to understand what she's saying, he tries to speak, but she quickly takes a deep breath.

"Alone... in... my... thoughts!"

It's painful. Not in the sense of idiomatic expression, but in the sense of eardrums.

It seems the noise-canceling didn't process it as an explosive sound. The headset, delivering Drake's soliloquy to Moore's ears without missing a beat, must be excellent. It feels like returning the provided item right away, as it's too excellent for practical use.

"Squad, gather!"

Raising his left hand above his shoulder, making a circular motion with his index finger, the squad members gather around Moore in a familiar manner.

As Rapi's sigh is heard for a moment, she directs her red eyes to Moore, who has deep vertical wrinkles on his forehead.

"Commander. It seems better if we follow a bit away. We need rear support, and..."

"...I might die of loneliness."

Whether it's serious or a joke, or perhaps half serious, Rapi gives a slightly bitter smile to his murmured words.

From the newly acquired body armor, Moore takes out a soft pack. As he puts a cigarette in his mouth, Rapi, who walks up, pulls out a turbo lighter from her pocket and holds it in front of his eyes.

"Thank you."

"No problem. If any issues arise, feel free to signal with a flare or send a message."

Covering the turbo lighter in her right hand with his left hand, Moore ignites the tip of the cigarette while creating a windbreak. When the purple smoke rises, he turns his face away, and Rap puts the lighter back in her pocket.

Next, she hands Moore a pair of belts hanging from both hips. From the pouches, just below his chest, he takes out signal flares with red-painted warheads and hands them to Moore.

Gratefully accepting it, he stored it in one of the pouches.

"...Sorry about earlier. It just shows on my face."

"It's unavoidable if you're not in the mood. Don't worry about it."

"...Thanks. Well then, Commander, see you later."

"Alright, Master. See you later!"

"Yeah. ── Rapi, I entrust the command to you."

"Roger."

Leading the squad, Rapi moves towards the rear. Watching her go, and now that he thinks about it, he directs his gaze to the pair of belts she had just received, containing signal flares.

──I hope it's not dangerous.

He would consider the risk of accidental discharge and wouldn't carry it openly, but it's too late to think about such things now.

"...There's a strange atmosphere. Baby, did something happen with Shuen?"

"...It's always something with her."

Left alone, though it's a strange way to put it, Maxwell asks Moore, who has temporarily become the commander of the squad with the strongest Misillis lineup. She asked, or rather, she probed.

In response to her question, he shrugs lightly while still holding the cigarette in his mouth. Then, adjusting the chin strap of the helmet, which he recently acquired and still doesn't feel comfortable with, with the tip of his left finger.

"Ah... I see. Can't say, huh? Well, considering it's Shuen ── well, whatever. Anyway, as long as we can make a comeback, that's all that matters. Baby, I'm counting on you."

"...Yeah. If there's anything I can do, feel free to rely on me."

Maxwell must be sensing something. Of course, not everything, but to some extent.

"──Advance. I'll be in the lead, followed by Maxwell, Laplace, and Drake. Any questions?"

"Can I take the lead?"

"...Maxwell probably hasn't been on the surface for a long time. Let her prioritize getting used to the sensation. Anything else? ── Alright, advance. Keep sufficient distance between each other."

Acknowledging that there are no specific questions, he begins to move.

While feeling the nostalgic scent of tobacco after a long time, Maxwell follows behind.