Chapter 35

On their way to the search, they discovered a bunker. Borrowing the words of Her Majesty, "they needed a little rest from their travels in another world."

Moore didn't feel that tired, but he couldn't help but follow her as she silently invited him into the bunker, her blonde hair swaying.

Nikke, a teenager girl in her appearance - Alice, seemed to be on guard in the surroundings. Six wolves waited obediently outside.

"...Hmm. It's quite nice, isn't it? Why don't you take a seat?"

Despite being in a bunker, Moore entered a room with two worn-out sofas facing each other. Her Majesty the Queen adjusted her slightly wavy blonde hair behind her ear and gestured to Moore who removed his sunglasses.

He placed his backpack on the floor, unhooked the sling belt holding his assault rifle from around his neck and under his arm, and held the barrel towards the ceiling. As he sat down on the sofa, his left leg crossed over his right leg, covered by an exoskeleton.

On the facing sofa, Her Majesty the Queen sat down and also lowered her submachine gun, crossing her long legs.

"Well then, let me introduce myself again. I'm Ludmila from the Unlimited Squad. The girl earlier is Alice."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lieutenant Show Moore, assigned as the commander of the Counter Squad."

It was a reintroduction, but Moore had a feeling that Ludmila would continue to address him as "servant."

"Nice to meet you. We're on a mission to rescue lost individuals on the surface and safely deliver them to the Ark."

Moore wondered, if they would use aircraft or if it was a mission closer to combat search and rescue (CSAR) or search and rescue (SAR), as he took out cigarettes and an oil lighter from his body armor pouch.

He raised the soft pack and silently asked if it was okay to smoke, to which Ludmila nodded slightly.

With a cigarette in his mouth, Moore lit it with the oil lighter and began to smoke. Ludmila, watching him smoke, spoke again.

"Have you ever heard that if Nikkes get lost on the surface, you should head north?"

"No, unfortunately, I haven't."

"That's right. 'Head north' is because we, the Unlimited, are there. Well, it's the first time we've helped a human, though."

"It's an honor to be the first person Her Majesty has helped."

It was a brief rest, but Moore's sense of humor seemed to be returning, a sign that the rest was taking effect. However, he wouldn't use his humor on someone he had just met immediately.

He took out a portable ashtray, opened it, and tapped the accumulated ash out. While Moore exhaled purple smoke to his side, Ludmila, sitting opposite him, asked him a question.

"By the way, you said that you want to go to the research base? I don't know the purpose of your mission, but... currently, that's impossible."

"...What? Has the base been buried in an avalanche or something like that?"

Moore gave a puzzled expression upon hearing Ludmila's words and asked back, as if he didn't understand, furrowing his brow. However, she shook her head left and right.

"No, it's not that. I mean it literally. It fell into Rapture's hands. Everything, both outside and inside. Thanks to that, we've lost our home, and we're wandering like this."

It was vexing. She spat out the words as if she were eating lemon.

Moore wanted to show concern, but upon hearing information that could cast a shadow on their mission, he sighed with his exhalation mixing with the purple smoke.

"Occupied... No, taken over?"

"No, not occupied. It's different. I mean it as it is. It became something else entirely under Rapture's control."

So, did that mean the research base itself had become Rapture? He couldn't know for sure without seeing the actual scale of the base, but the image of heavily armed defensive weapons pointing at them came to his mind.

In that case, it might have been a good idea to bring a portable multi-purpose recoilless launcher or high-performance explosive C-5 before boarding the elevator. Of course, it wouldn't make much difference in the end, but fortunately, there were alternatives in his backpack.

Moore sent his gaze to the backpack where it was stored on the floor and then turned his face towards Ludmila.

"Even in the worst-case scenario, I have to go to the research base."

"Why is that?"

"I have to 'thank' the unknown creature basta*d who gave me my new right leg and right eye, and I have to meet Pilgrim. In the end, I need the information badly."

No wonder, she squinted at the scar over his right eye. An artificial eyeball—probably one repurposed for Nikake She would have to ask about the word he had mentioned, "Pilgrim."

As he repositioned his legs, she crossed her arms under her chest and looked at Moore.

"Pilgrim, you said. Is that a word a 'regular' commander would use? What's the reason for searching for them?"

"...As I mentioned earlier... it's a personal reason. This, too... in the end, it will probably come down to a personal reason..."

He flicked the cigarette he had almost smoked to the very end into the portable ashtray and exhaled all the remaining purple smoke from his lungs.

"Commander... bandage... happy... was..."

...It clung to his mind, and the echo of that day wouldn't let go, the day he heard those words.

"---My first subordinate... no, comrade... hmm can't find the word that fits. ...I want to know the truth about the death of an important friend. I want to believe that she, or they, might have some clues."

"---Nikke?"

As Moore put the spent cigarette into the portable ashtray and nodded at her.

"So, you call her Nikke your 'comrade.' There must be a clear hierarchy between the commander and Nikke. Is it to effectively manage the squad under the guise of 'comrades,' or is it a form of arrogant tolerance by someone in a higher position?"

Ludmila's words struck Moore's ears and resonated, causing his left eye's pupil to slightly dilate.

"I'm not that clever. I don't care what you think. You can interpret it however you like. I don't mind the accusations against me. I'll accept them willingly. But insults towards them... I won't tolerate. They are not the kind to be bound by someone like me."

Ludmila, sensing a subtle hint of anger in his voice and noticing his narrowed dark brown eyes, hitch her breath for a moment.

"Heheh. It seems like I've picked up a 'real' gem here."

Amused as she said it, Moore seemed a bit offended. He snorted softly, detached his water bottle from his body armor, unscrewed the cap, and took several sips of water into his mouth to quell the urge to smoke.

It had been a while since she had laughed so joyfully with such strong emotions.

Ludmila laughed for a while but eventually composed herself and turned her face back to Moore.

"Pilgrim-related documents are all in the research base. If we can retake the base after reuniting with your comrades, we can achieve your goal."

"...And you can reclaim your home."

"That's right. ...By the way, are your comrades strong?"

"They're the best, the strongest. I can say that with confidence. ...They've become a bit rebellious lately, but... that's probably because of my own shortcomings."

"Oh dear..."

The urge to smoke was returning. Moore exhaled a sigh to suppress the impulse.

Even though he had been so confident earlier, Ludmila found herself amused again. But there was one more question she needed to ask.

"And one more thing. Alice---"

"---She's a comrade who's going to help defeat the Queen of Hearts."

Moore answered immediately, causing Ludmila to hitch her breath once more.

---Oh no, this wasn't good.

It had been such a long time since she had been overcome by such joyful emotions.

"Heheh... Ahahahaha! If this is an act, you're a really a tremendous villain, servant!!"

"...Like I said before... I'm not that clever."

With a shrug of his shoulders and a theatrical gesture, he placed one hand on his chest and bowed. Ludmila burst into laughter again.

----

It had been about two hours since they left the bunker. The group, consisting of two Nikke and one human, along with six wolves, had encountered and engaged with the Rapture inhabitants several times before finally arriving at the ruins of a small village.

"---Your Majesty! There are people up on that hill!"

"Hmm... Two of them, it seems. Servant, what do you think? Are they your comrades?"

Alice and Ludmila suddenly stopped and directed their gazes in the same direction, asking Moore.

He took a pair of binoculars from one of the pouches and pointed the objective lens in the indicated direction while bringing both eyes closer to the eyepiece.

"---Sensei!!! Where are youuuuu?!"

"---Commander-samaaaa!!!"

"If you can hear us, please respond!!!"

"---Commander-samaaaa!!!"

"---Senseii!!! We're hereeee!!!"

"...Y-Yeah... I think that's them..."

"Funny comrades you have."

The scenes of Anis and Neon shouting were captured through the binoculars, but Moore couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled when he saw that one of them was indiscriminately firing her beloved shotgun into the air.

...He was genuinely happy that they were worried about him, but couldn't they do it a bit more quietly?

He placed his backpack on the snow and took out a single-shot, breach-loading grenade launcher from it, removing the foregrip that had been attached to the underside of the assault rifle so far. Quickly changing the launcher itself and its dedicated sight, he picked up a signal flare from the backpack.

It was an item he had brought to improve the squad's firepower, but he never thought he would use it for the first time in a situation like this.

Loading the signal flare, he aimed the assault rifle overhead and pulled the trigger.

With a sound like breaking the seal on a carbonated beverage, the signal flare shot into the sky, releasing a bright white light along with a strong magnesium burn at an altitude of about 200 meters. It deployed a small parachute and began to descend.

The illumination time would be about 60 seconds. After ejecting the spent cartridge, Moore held the binoculars again and looked back at the hill.

"They noticed it."

First, Anis noticed the presence of the signal flare, then tapped Neon's shoulder, and they both rushed down the hill with determination.

Thinking that they would reach their location in about five minutes, Moore put away the binoculars, but...

"Your Majesty! The Queen of Hearts has sent her minions!"

"I suppose so. ...It would be strange if they didn't show up after making so much noise."

"...They probably mean no harm..."

Moore, as their commander, briefly defended his comrades. However, he couldn't hide his sigh. But, as he noticed the red monocle peeking in and out of the ruins, he quickly rummaged through his backpack and retrieved a grenade.

He loaded the grenade into the launcher, adjusted the dedicated sight and the muzzle sight, and dropped the butt of the launcher to the ground, giving it an sharp angle.

The aiming device was set almost halfway between the markings labeled '1' and '2' in white. He aimed it at the Rapture creatures about 150 meters away, and pulled the trigger of the launcher.

With a deflating sound, the grenade was launched in a graceful arc, and soon it hit its target.

The grenade, of the same caliber as the ones Anis and Rapi used, exploded, and the Rapture creature struck directly by it was swallowed by the rubble of the collapsing ruins.

"...It looks like we're safe from any remaining enemies for now."

Ludmila engaged the safety of her submachine gun, which she had just removed, while Moore ejected the cartridge from the launcher. Meanwhile, the footsteps of the two rushing through the snow, faster than expected, could be heard.

"Sensei!"

"Commander-sama! I'm sooo~~ glad you're safe!"

If they had said something like, "We thought you were dead," Moore might have felt a little down, but when he heard the words of relief from Neon and Anis as they ran towards him, he couldn't help but feel reassured.

"I thought you'd turned into a human popsicle, Sensei!"

"...I thought Commander-sama got buried, so I was digging through all the snow to find you!"

"...I caused you trouble. I'm glad you're both safe."

"Commander-sama... We were worried about you."

"...I'll treat you both to soda when we get back. By the way... Where's Rapi? Did she go on a separate mission?"

He couldn't see the familiar figure in black attire.

He wondered if she had gone on a separate mission to search for something, but before Neon could continue, Anis, with a solemn expression, uttered a shocking report.

"Oh, Rapi..."

"...Rapi is dead."

But just as they were about to explain further, a familiar figure with long hair of a recognizable color emerged from behind the ruins, catching Moore's attention.

"She got caught in an avalanche..."

"Commander... I'm safe."

"---Oh, that's good. I almost believed it for a moment. Anyway, I'm relieved you're safe."

With a sigh of genuine relief, Moore watched as Anis sarcastically clicked her tongue in front of him. It was a common sight, and it always reassured him.

"I'm sorry. If I had arrived sooner... If I had held onto your hand at that time..."

"It's okay. You're here and alive. Don't worry about it."

"Yes..."

As Moore's concern for the safety of his subordinates continued to dissipate, his nerve begun to calm down, unconsciously yearning for another cigarette.

He opened his pouch and was about to light a cigarette when Rapi pulled out a turbo lighter.

"Thank you."

Covering her hand with both of his and creating a windbreak, Moore let her light the cigarette. He exhaled a puff of purple smoke with a sense of relief.

"But as expected of you, Sensei! Surviving even after being caught in an avalanche... I really underestimated your toughness... ---By the way, who are these ladies?"

"Ah, I forgot to introduce them. They are—"

"—Unlimited. So, They are your subordinates, servant."

At the word "servant," all three of them turned to look at Moore in unison. Who could she be talking about? ---Based on the context...

With a mixture of speculation and their gazes, Moore found himself standing up, flanked by two wolves, one on each side. His face was licked by their tongues like he was an ice cream cone.

"Let's discuss the details later. We should keep moving. Thanks to someone making a big fuss, they'll probably come swarming."

"Who is it?! Who would make such a fuss in a place like this?!"

"Myyy~~They're so rude!"

"Yeah, who could it be~~~?"

".....I won't comment anymore."

His companions were all 'cheerful' individuals. With laughter echoing from Ludmila at the front, the group began to move.

After a while, hidden in a forest of conifers about 30 minutes' walk from the village ruins, Moore and Ludmila explained the situation to their newly joined allies.

"We understand the situation now."

"So, you want to recapture the research base?"

"Are we going to infiltrate it again?"

"Well... then, this time, Commander-sama should..."

Anis suddenly remembered their previous mission – when they infiltrated the base through the drainage canal connected to the power plant. It was only now that she felt embarrassed about the sight of her own behind(butt) in Moore's field of vision.

While contemplating, he stood with his arms crossed, surrounded by six wolves that had risen around him from all directions, licking his face. He had taken off his sunglasses before the lens became covered in saliva, without hesitation.

He wasn't afraid of rabies, as there was no sign of the raptures flying by, and his facial wounds had completely healed, so there didn't seem to be any problem. Nevertheless, he would need to disinfect with alcohol or something similar, just in case.

"Unfortunately, infiltration is impossible. All the routes from the outside are blocked," said Ludmilla

"Is it certain that there are documents related to Pilgrim stored inside?" Rapi inquired.

"That I can guarantee," came the reply.

As he listened to the exchange between Rapi and Ludmila, he let out a sigh. If he had known it would come to this, he would have brought some kind of weapon from the armory.

If only a grenade launcher would work, he sighed his wishful thought. Moore brushed off the wolves that had clung to him, scooped up the cold snow from the ground with his gloves, and carefully wiped his face to wash away the saliva. Then, he pulled out a cigarette, lit it with an oil lighter, and let the nicotine and tar permeate his whole body, trying to change his mood.

"Um... are you all friends of Mr. Rabbit?" Suddenly, a girl named Alice interjected into the conversation. The first to react was Rapi.

She tilted her head. Alice's mention of "Mr. Rabbit" was completely unfamiliar to her. In Rapi's mind, an image of a cute little animal came to the surface.

"Yes. He's the one who serves the Queen and will take me to a happy world!" Alice exclaimed with a radiant smile.

"A servant..."

"---And Mr. Rabbit..."

At the ruined village,the context led them to understand that when Ludmila mentioned "servant," she was referring to Moore. Given his appearance, reminiscent of a soldier, the word for a servant didn't feel out of place. In fact, if they had to describe him, an elite squad member might be the most fitting term.

However, "Mr. Rabbit" was an entirely different story.

"Um... could it be...?"

"...Sensei..?"

"Yes! Mr. Rabbit!"

Alice nodded with a cheerful smile, clapping her hands together. Her perplexed expressions mirrored those of the others.

Subsequently, Anis, Neon, and then Rapi took turns look at the mentioned "Mr. Rabbit" holding cigarettes, enjoying the purple smoke, surrounded by wolves, while comparing the image of the cute little animal that each had in their minds.

---Huh? ...HAH?

---The title Wolf King would suit him better.

...

The three of them exchanged glances, and he, sensing the meaning behind their gazes, narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow, noticing their toughts.

....There's no need to be THAT rude.

"No, we are the commander's..." Rapi, who had recovered from her confusion, tried to correct Alice's statement, but before she could, Moore, about to put on his sunglasses, made an eye gesture to convey a message.

---Stick to the story.

Somehow, she understood the meaning of the eye gesture he sent just before putting on his sunglasses and cleared her throat lightly.

"...Yes, we are Mr. Rabbit's companions."

"Wow...! So, do you all have legendary weapons too!?"

"...We have them, but..."

---Really?

Did she just said that? Moore was the one who had initiated this, but he seemed surprised that Rapi was playing along, and he stared at her through his sunglasses.

"Which one, which one!? Please show me!" Alice exclaimed with great interest, scanning all of them. The three who found themselves in a difficult situation under the innocent, pure gaze of Alice sighed collectively, and Moore pulled a .45 caliber automatic pistol from his leg holster.

"...It was exhilarating when I shot the Blacksmith's core with this .45. I didn't manage to hit the talkative bastard too hard, but... well, there's always a next time."

Moore spoke with a tone that mixed truth and fiction. Indeed, he had shot through the core of a Tyrant-class weapon, but it was a secret that even a whole magazine of bullets didn't have much effect on the "talkative basta*d" he mentioned.

However, it seemed that Neon had been inspired by his storytelling style and was the first to react.

"My legendary weapon is these glasses. They can shoot a beam that burns everything!"

"Wow...!"

---Does it reflect sunlight.

While Moore was pondering this, lost in thought, Alice was deeply impressed by Neon's response.

"My legendary weapon... is these gloves!" Anis continued, showing off her fingerless gloves on her right hand. "When I press seven pressure points, the opponent always falls!"

"Wow... wow...!"

----I wonder where those pressure points are on the human body.

It might be strange for the person who started this playful exchange to suddenly become serious in his mind, but that's just Moore's natural personality. There's no helping the tsukkomi.

"What about you, Mr. Rabbit's companion? What's your legendary weapon...!?"

"...I..."

Finally, it was Rapi's turn. Even though Alice's gaze was fixed on her, she seemed to feel uncomfortable now that it's her turn. Anis, playfully, started to help her out.

"Rapi's legendary weapon is so powerful that she has to seal it away!"

"...! Is it really so powerful that it needs to be sealed...!?"

"Yes, it's that powerful, so she seals it within her chest. And only Mr. Rabbit can unlock that seal!"

"Show it to me!"

....Huh? I'm the commander, but I didn't know anything about that.

Soon, Moore also became the target of playful teasing. Anis, grinning and still going strong, continued.

"Now, Mr. Rabbit, release Rapi's seal! Just press the button, and the seal will be instantly unlocked!"

....Well, first of all, where is this 'button'?

Moore, narrowing his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, sighed as he exhaled the purplish smoke from his recently finished cigarette into a portable ashtray. He shook his head from side to side.

"...It won't work here. The entire area will turn into a scorched earth."

"Yeah... It won't work here."

"Oh... Wouldn't it be nice if it weren't 'here' ?"

He realized that the teasing had subtly changed its meaning, and he let out another sigh, which he couldn't even count how many times he had done today.

While a slight blush appeared on Rapi's cheeks, she opened her mouth while trying to remain calm.

"I... can only unlock it once a day. So... it's not possible right now."

"I-is it really that amazing...!?"

"That's right..."

Unable to contain herself any longer, Ludmila, who had been observing the whole exchange, couldn't help but let out a boisterous laugh. She had been holding back, but it was just too much.

What a 'delightful' group of companions they are.

------

Author notes: At this point, many commanders would have found the "legendary weapon of Rapi" mentioned earlier quite amusing.