Chapter 23

Volume 1,Episode 5

105: Syuen

Mihara.

106: Syuen

Is that guy nearby?

107: Syuen

If he is, let me know. Just like usual.

108: Mihara

Sure, got it. It's about that terrorist plan document, right?

109: Mihara

Syuen, where are you right now?

110: Mihara

Surely, you're not at the forward base?

111: Shuen

What are you talking about? There's no way I'd be in a place like that. I'm at headquarters.

112: Mihara

Listen carefully.

113: Mihara

There's a booby trap set in the commander's office.

112: Mihara

If you open the door, it will explode. Lieutenant Moore thinks you've called the explosive disposal team to deal with it, but don't enter the commander's office under any circumstances.

-----

And yet, it seems that Syuen has quite a capable explosive disposal team—Missiles, ah no, Misilis. Perhaps a bit dissatisfied, he let the purplish smoke from his cigarette linger as he aimlessly waved the tip up and down.

"...Commander, about C-5, how much did you set up?"

"About 1.8 kg."

"...Commander, that's enough to blow up a regular passenger bus."

"...But for it to be disarmed... Well, if you cut the fuse, it won't explode, but..."

"Misilis' disposal team is excellent. It's a shame for you, Commander. But is it okay? If you were planning to assassinate the CEOs of the three major corporations, wouldn't that be a problem?"

"It serves as security while I'm away. I have no intention of killing anyone. When it explodes... even though I securely attached a 'do not enter due to absence' plate to the door, it's their fault for ignoring it and entering."

Mihara received a message from Syuen on her mobile device. According to the message, Syuen had discovered something called a "terrorist plan document" in the commander's office, addressed to Moore.

Of course, he had no clue about it. If he were planning terrorism, he wouldn't leave behind information that could leak. However, Syuen claimed that even signatures from Moore and other subordinates had been included in the message—documented one after another, like a chain.

It was clearly a false accusation. However, considering the goal of blocking his escape route while expecting him to refuse the mission, framing him would be quite effective.

A mere commander versus the CEO of Misilis. Who holds more influence? Whose credibility is higher? Syuen's threat was nothing more than anticipation of these aspects.

However, Moore, who already knew that he couldn't back out of the mission, would likely not have strong feelings about this situation.

What's more concerning is the word that Rapi let slip after the battle with the Rapture, which occurred before Syuen's message reached Mihara's device.

It all began when the topic of Mihara and yuni's abilities came up. As known, Mihara could exchange senses with a target. Yuni possessed the ability to nullify specific senses of her opponent.

The discussion shifted to the use of these abilities in capturing the Raptures. It was surprising in itself that Raptures had senses, but after all, human senses are merely electrical signals. Moore speculated that these abilities might be applied to hinder or hack into the Raptures' electrical signals.

On the other hand, Rapi raised a question about the fact that the abilities developed for the Raptures also affected humans and Nikke.

──Nikke's body was constructed based on the ideal form when she was a human...

Hence, Michara says, she cannot possess any unwanted abilities.

While it appeared to be common knowledge, none of them displayed significant reactions. Yet, upon hearing this, Moore, exhaling the purple smoke of his cigarette, was internally astounded.

Even though they were constructed with artificial substances and synthetic muscles, their brains were genuine living tissue.

He had faintly suspected it. However, being told once again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment and disgust within oneself.

He understood perfectly well that he was far from being associated with humanitarianism or altruism.

However, as a single soldier and a single adult, not only in relation to himself but also towards humanity as a whole, he couldn't help but feel an ugly emotion escaping him.

.

.

.

"... Don't make me laugh... What is this about reclaiming the surface?"

.

.

.

The voice with a hint of anger was fortunately not heard by anyone. He spat the cigarette he had been holding onto the ground, crushed it under the sole of his boot, and after composing himself, picked up the cigarette butt.

"Let's make camp here for today."

"Camping?... It's 11 PM. Syuen's time limit was set for two days, 48 hours."

How many hours had passed since they began following the remaining footprints?

The sun had already sunk to the west, and in the midst of the night's curtain, Rapi's quiet suggestion echoed.

Wearing night vision goggles over his helmet, his field of view was tinged with a faint green color. Given the circumstances, it couldn't be helped, but due to the lack of any sources of light like illuminations in the surroundings, identifying shapes was nearly impossible, let alone discerning colors.

However, no one could predict what kind of capricious things that young lady might come up with, Moore indicated.

From the corner of his field of view, Rapi, with her long hair swaying down to her waist, walked toward him and looked up at Moore.

"Securing the field of view and sight is difficult, and the Commander is unlike us, needing to recover physical strength."

"...I'm fine."

"Is that so? ...Excuse me."

Suddenly, Lapi extended his right hand to Moore's left hand, which held nothing. Laying the palm of her gloved hand over the back of Moore's hand, they pressed against each other for an instant in silence.

"Condition Yellow has been determined."

"It doesn't seem like you're in the best shape. Commander, you've been busy."

...What is that function?

He was genuinely surprised. While he did sense a certain amount of physical fatigue, his statement was based on the assumption that he had plenty of stamina left. However, the function integrated into Rapi made a completely different assessment.

There are people in the world who wouldn't even realize they have terminal cancer unless it's diagnosed and disclosed. Perhaps it's common to misjudge things when relying solely on one's own judgment.

"Commander, you should be able to manage for about four hours. I understand your concern about causing delays, but... please take better care of yourself."

Her artificial eyes, made of synthetic materials, trembled slightly. Even within the pale green-tinted field of vision, Moore acknowledged it. The hands that were still overlapped exerted a slight pressure on the palm that felt smaller due to being covered. Moore had no choice but to nod.

They entered the building, likely a collapsed dwelling, and despite its disorganized state, everyone moved to a relatively spacious room.

Bending the chemiluminescent stick, the thin glass ampule inside broke, and the chemical luminescence of the mixture of diphenyl oxalate and hydrogen peroxide began to glow, enveloping the room in red fluorescence.

As Rapi rolled the stick that emitted the only light source onto the floor, they were off to spread decoys. Everyone watched this process, then settled down.

Moore opened the backpack he had been carrying, pulled out combat rations, quickly opened the package, and swiftly poured the contents into his stomach.

"...Want some?"

"Is it alright?"

"...I'm not particularly fond of it."

The vacuum-sealed pouch contained a large, single piece of cookie. He threw it to Neon, not having liked it much himself, and tidied up.

After quickly performing a simple maintenance on his assault rifle, Moore pulled back the charging handle after removing the magazine, taking out a bullet from the chamber. He returned the just-expelled bullet to the magazine, then slammed the magazine into the assault rifle's magwell.

"I'll... take a short nap. Wake me up in two hours. Even if something happens, wake me up."

"Got it. Need a lullaby~?"

"...Do you even know any?"

Moore and Anis exchanged light banter. He put on his backpack once again and leaned back against it, sitting on the floor while holding the assault rifle. As his head, still wearing the helmet and holding the assault rifle, gradually lowered towards the floor...

"...He's asleep."

"Seems so. Sensei must have been tired. Anis, do you want some?"

Was his sleep easy to fall into? As soon as Moore's dozing off was sensed, Neon opened the package containing the cookie he had just received from him. Breaking it into two halves, she handed one to Anis.

"Hey. It's about Lieutenant Moore...did he really just graduate from the academy recently?"

"That's what 'should've' written on the document."

On one side, Moore appeared to be sleeping like an exhausted corpse, and on the other side, Anis and Neon sat down facing him, with Yuni's head resting on their outstretched legs as she let out gentle snores. Mihara was seated next to Yuni, her head propped up on the crossed legs.

With a motherly and gentle touch, Mihara was caressing Yuni's peach-colored head, and while she gazed at Moore, she asked a question. Anis, who was chewing on a cookie she had just received, nodded in response.

"It's strange, isn't it? I know his background from the records, but he doesn't seem like a completely new person. I don't know many commanders, but he's different from any other. ...Yes, as if he... knows the battlefield."

"Oh, that line sounds just like the dialogue from that movie we saw the other day."

"That was from an old B-movie, right? About reviving soldiers frozen in a research facility and sending them back to the battlefield."

"Yeah, that's the one. What was it called? It had that typical feel of a B-movie, quite obscure."

Chewing on the cookie with a crackling sound, Anis and Neon began discussing their impressions of the movie screening they had organized a few days ago in the outpost base's quarters.

"Seems like you're having fun over there. Aren't you afraid of Commander... Lieutenant Moore scolding you?"

"Commander?"

"Sensei rarely gets angry. It was the first time I heard him raise his voice today."

"But wasn't it like four days ago? He suddenly handed me a mop and in a really stern voice said, 'Clean.' "

"That was Anis's fault."

Shouldn't they lower their voices a bit more? Though he wasn't even their superior officer, Moore couldn't help but be concerned about this situation. However, Moore, with his composed nature, didn't stir at all in his sleep.

----

"─... What's the situation?"

Exactly two hours after falling asleep, Moore woke up. Was his internal clock really that accurate?

When he woke up, he was sandwiched between Anis and Mihara. What on earth happened while he was asleep?

"─Commander. Have you awakened?"

"...Ah, Rapi."

On his left was Anis, on his right was Mihara, and on top of his thigh that extended carelessly were Yuni's head. ─ Why on earth was the situation like this? He had no idea whatsoever.

Just as he was hesitating whether to wake everyone up, Rapi entered the room quietly.

After spreading the decoys, he must have been on guard in the vicinity. In two hours, someone would have to take over.

"...I'll take the sentry duty next."

"No, Neon will do it. Commander, please recover your strength a bit."

"...Ngh〜〜"

Was it a mistake to try moving Yuni, who was sleeping with her head on his thigh? She seemed to twist her expression uncomfortably as she shifted her position, turning her face towards his abdomen. As soon as her face turned, she wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced him tightly.

── His body armor contained ceramic plates for bulletproofing. In other words, when Yuni, relying on her arm strength, embraced him, his abdomen was mercilessly compressed.

He was glad he had trained his abdominal muscles, but he still felt the sensation of his rations, which should have settled in his stomach, threatening to reflux due to Yuni's unconsciously strong embrace.

Suppressing a groan of discomfort, Moore fell back into a light sleep at Rapi's suggestion. However, as the eastern sky began to brighten, they all woke up. Shortly after resuming their pursuit, had Moore earned Yuni's affection? She not only walked frequently by his side but also expressed a desire to hold his hand.

"─Hey, hey, Commander! Do that thing you did earlier again!"

"...Huh? ...Ah... wait, didn't you dislike cigarettes?"

While it wasn't ideal to have both hands occupied, Moore complied with her request and lit a cigarette using an oil lighter.

Without inhaling the purple smoke into his lungs, he held it in his throat, retracted his tongue, opened his mouth in the shape of an 'O', and tilted his head upwards.

Exhaling slightly, a ring of purple smoke formed in the air.

"More, more! Spin it like you did earlier!"

Humoring the eager Uni, he exhaled purple smoke again as she requested.

Meanwhile, Neon behind them commented, "They seem just like parent and child."

Although she expressed it that way, Moore couldn't recall having such a large child in his memory and was tempted to respond aloud.

However, if he ever had a child, would it be like this? Pondering his own absurd thoughts, he lightly stroked the peach-colored head that happened to be in the perfect position.