Chapter 14

Author Notes:I've been struggling a bit with my mental state in real life, so I couldn't write as I wanted to, but I'd like to go ahead and submit it.

Volume 1, Episode 5

It used to be a paved and well-maintained road. An armed vehicle races through the cracked asphalt , leading to the coastal city. The large 37-inch off-road tires, resilient against debris occasionally stepped on, show no signs of being affected. However, impacts that the suspension couldn't fully absorb shake the interior and the body of the vehicle.

"Hey, Commander! Careful with your driving!"

Anis, who was humming and singing along to music from her mobile device in the passenger seat, scolds Moore, who holds the steering wheel, on the left side.

"If you want to provide a comfortable drive, let me smoke. I'm tired of chewing caffeine gum."

Moore, repeatedly chomping on something inside his mouth while he speaks, brushes off the complaints coming from the adjacent seat.

After the elevator reaches the surface and they set off again, they encounter six Rapture entities. It's been 30 minutes since they defeated them. Also, It's been over an hour since they left the Arc.

To be honest, he's missing his dear cigarettes VERY dearly . However, Anise, sitting in the passenger seat, won't allow smoking, so he's been trying to suppress his urges by chewing gum with highly stimulating components, including caffeine.

The gum, which other commanders tend to avoid, has a warning label that says "Do not chew more than 5 pieces within 24 hours." It must contain quite stimulating ingredients, including caffeine.

Despite chewing such a highly stimulating gum, he can't suppress his urge to smoke.

Probably, this is how it would have been for smokers in the old days.

They say that consuming caffeine and alcohol makes you want to smoke, too.

(Tl notes: As one of the Asian, I can say this is statement is TRULY accurate.)

----

Arriving at the coastal city, the road conditions within the city are far from good. As a result, they have to disembark and proceed on foot. Neon, however, seems fascinated by everything she sees, looking around with shining eyes while walking.

Even after they surfaced in the elevator, she took a seat on the roof-mounted gun seat during the drive, claiming she wanted to "feel the wind." She basks in the wind blowing from the front.

She's really feels happy for such small things. Moore thinks as he finally gets his hands on a cigarette.

Could Anise be a smoker hater? As he speculates, he receives a call from the operator, Shifty, while walking around the city.

[── Scanning the road leading to the target power plant, it's necessary to move along the ground coil track of the unmanned levitating railway. However... high-voltage current runs through the entire track... It's okay for a Nikke to take damage, but the problem is...]

"It means I can't endure it. Shifty, send the map data to my terminal. I want to check it."

"Understood. Sending it to you now."

Adjusting the position of the backpack that digs into his shoulder, Moore faces the microphone of his headset and prompts Shifty to send him the map and surrounding terrain data. Being a fast-working operator, information is quickly sent to his terminal. Opening the data and following the arrow drawn on the map, he sighs.

"If we're to take the shortest route, as Shifty said, we'll have to cross the river..."

The track in question was originally a railway bridge crossing the river. Due to its collapse, it's now at the perfect height, directly connecting one bank to the other. This would make it easy for humans and vehicles to pass. If it weren't for the electric current, that is.

"...I'm not keen on dying like a roast turkey."

"Shifty, what's causing the high-voltage current?"

[Searching the history log... Five years ago, during the urban lockdown to prevent Rapture entities from moving outside, it seems they deliberately flowed the current through the overhead coil tracks. The tracks were of high quality for that time, and the power is supplied by self-generation.]

"Then..."

To cross the railway bridge, they either need to disable the current or find a way to control it externally.

"Is there a way to control it from the outside?"

[There is. I'll mark the control center's location on the map for you.]

Shortly after Lapi inquired, his terminal received the location information once again. Moore took in the route mentally, stowing away his terminal and tossing the cigarette butt into a portable ashtray.

"Commander, we're ready."

"Good. Let's move out, squad, forward—"

.

.

"Ah."

.

.

Just as he was about to issue the order to move, Neon unexpectedly muttered a casual word.

That casual "ah" was more than enough to put them all on high alert.

Naturally, Moore disengaged the safety of the assault rifle hanging from his sling. He aimed the barrel toward the location where Neon was standing, his right shoulder braced against the stock.

"──Rapi!"

"──Commander!"

Rapi and Anis also went on high alert, aiming the barrels of their firearms in the same direction as Moore. But—

"Hmm?"

The reticle that appeared in Moore's sight, superimposed on the sight of the assault rifle, showed no signs of any enemies.

Likewise, Rapi and Anis scanned their surroundings, moving their gazes from one end to the other, but there were no shadows or shapes to be found.

"Uh, was there something wrong with what I said...?"

"Ah, well. Neon, there's an unspoken rule for Nikkes' on the surface."

Though nothing was there to worry about, Anis, while setting the safety of her grenade launcher, turned to face Neon. Moore and Rapi also secured the safety of their assault rifles.

" 'Ah' is forbidden for individual use. Got it? It could become like before."

" Ah, yes. I understand.....Oh, Is what I just said was okay?"

"What just happened is okay."

"So, what was that?"

If it wasn't about spotting enemies after the "ah," then what was it? Rapi inquired, and Neon continued with pride, her glasses lenses shimmering.

"I came up with a great idea! If the high-voltage current flowing through the tracks is a problem, why not wear rubber boots?"

(TL Notes: A certain hero student on MHA could use this one idea in his hero custome. Hint, the guy's name start with D.)

"..."

"..."

"Well, it's not a bad idea, right...?"

"...Are you really that determined to roast me?"

They certainly have an interesting squad member. Moore had just finished his cigarette, but he was already feeling the urge to light another one. Rapi, on the other hand, was letting out a deep sigh.

In any case, they couldn't linger here for long. Moore ordered them to advance once again, and their first objective was to reach the control center.

Fortunately, the destination wasn't too far away, but encounters with Rapture which led to battles occurred a few times along the way.

Each time, they defeated the encountered enemies and continued forward. However—

"Hey, Commander. Are you really going to push through?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Well, not really, but... You really don't get bothered easily."

When they were about to go through what seemed like a warehouse in ruins, Anise subtly suggested a change in their direction of movement to him.

The map displayed on her mobile device confirmed that this direction was indeed the shortest route. Wondering if there was an issue, he asked, and she sighed with a resigned expression.

Understanding that he had her approval, he stepped into the warehouse. Some parts of the ceiling had collapsed, making the interior surprisingly bright.

Thanks to that, he realized that what appeared to be white bones were scattered everywhere.

"... Seriously... I told you so..."

"Proceed cautiously and avoid stepping on them as much as possible."

He emphasized this to his companions and aligned his left index and middle fingers, gesturing a few times ahead. It was a signal to move forward.

Though they couldn't be sure how many people had sought refuge in this warehouse, judging by the scattered white bones and decaying clothes, Moore estimated it to be roughly several dozen.

Underneath the adult women's clothes that they might have been wearing were a few sets of children's clothing, as if they were hiding. While they hadn't witnessed their final moments, it was easy to deduce.

This warehouse—or rather, the entire seaside city—could easily be referred to as a massive tombstone.

After passing through the warehouse and resuming their walk along the streets, they finally reached the control center marked on the map.

Having confirmed the absence of Rapture entities in the vicinity, the squad entered the control center. It was also in a state of disrepair close to being a ruin, but according to Shifty, the control system was apparently still operational.

"Commander, connecting device."

"What's that?"

Not understanding what Rapi suddenly requested, Moore unconciously let out invisible question mark floated above his head.

[Are you not aware? It's a device needed for an operator to remotely control various machines on the surface. You have one sticking out of your device, don't you? If you pull it, a cable extends.]

Shifty explained instead. Following her instructions, Moore took out his mobile device from his pouch and, using the finger with the hard-knuckle glove she specified, grabbed the indicated part and pulled.

"Ah... It's out."

[Yes, that's it! Insert the cable into the port of the machine you want to control.]

"... You mean the port, right? Um..."

"Commander, it's here."

"... Ah, thank you."

"Hey, Commander. You didn't lie about graduating from officer school, did you?"

"Rapi and Anis would have confirmed that."

After their previous mission, when they had searched the database and discovered that he was a rookie, their shock was still fresh in his memory.

Pointed out by Rapi, he inserted the cable into the port she indicated, leaving the rest to the operator, Shifty.

Eventually, they received a report that the power flowing to the railway bridge had been successfully cut off. Moore ordered them to move again—

"Um... Do we really not need the rubber boots?"

"....Probably wouldn't have changed the result even if we wore them."

He returned Neon's question with a sigh, saying it now that they were safe, and once again led the squad forward.