Chapter 63

AUthor Notes: Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support this year.

-----

"─ Don't falter, keep moving!! Follow me!! We'll push them back!!"

"─ Let's go, you bastards!! Follow the lieutenant!!"

"─ Charge!! It's an assault!!"

"─ Corporal's been hit!! Medic!! Medic!!"

.

.

── What's this... ──

.

.

"─ First Squad, keep firing!! Second and Third Squads, flank around the sides!!"

"─ Lieutenant! The girls have arrived!!"

"─ Beautiful Lads are here! You idiots, don't show them any uncool sides!! We won't have a tombstone if we die!! If we're going to die, let's die looking cool!"

.

.

── That's...──

.

.

===

The group, having repelled attacks from the Road Class and ground-type Raptures, finally set foot in the munitions factory.

The First Rapture Invasion - that's what the series of battles fought around the world more than half a century ago was famously called. This facility, as Exia explained, had operated until the final days of that conflict.

In a rush, they had abandoned the factory, likely due to the Raptures closing in. Some production lines still held rusted weapons and firearms, abandoned where they were.

This factory had been manufacturing personal portable firearms, tanks, and armored vehicles, among other things.

[─ It's larger than I thought.]

[─ Ever since we started fighting Raptures... the firearms just kept getting... bigger. It's general knowledge, but... Shifty was... asleep during... educational times... so my head... isn't... good, you see...]

The radio transmissions they receive are filled with relentless, harsh words being thrown at them.

Anis glanced briefly towards the production line. She casually picked up a rusty firearm that lay there, unsure if it would even function after being restored.

These firearms had been designed to be barely usable even by ordinary humans back in the day. However, the weapons meant for combating Raptures now, especially those made for Nikke, were beyond the reach of an average person, except for a very few.

Thinking about the individuals who fell into this exceptional category, she couldn't help but smile faintly. She realized that it was oddly quiet. Though she sensed a presence behind her, she didn't turn her face to acknowledge it.

"Hey, Commander. Why don't we take a few of these firearms back with us? We could arm other commanders and let them fight the Raptures..."

There was no response.

It was a light-hearted remark, but had it offended him?

"I was just kidding. Seriously, I'm── Commander?"

Come to think of it, something was off. For a joke like this, he would usually respond with sarcasm or another playful remark. The fact that there was no response bothered her. Anxious, she turned around, tossing the firearm aside.

.

.

──While holding his head protected by the helmet with his left hand, his eyes wide open, he gritted his teeth, beads of sweat streaming down his face.

.

.

"Commander!? Rapi, Neon!!"

Witnessing the obvious distress, Anis rushed towards him, calling out to the squad leader and her friend, with whom she had just reconciled.

It seemed like his knees were about to give way. He clung to the edge of the large conveyor belt on the production line, repeatedly panting heavily. Anis tried to support him, but he shook off her hand, pressing his hand against his mouth as he hurriedly moved towards the shadow of a container that had been abandoned for decades.

──The acrid stench pierced their noses along with the sound of vomiting. Anis and the others, who arrived belatedly, could smell it too.

It seemed like an agonizing retching that one couldn't control, and it felt like it lasted for an eternity. Eventually, the sound of water being rinsed, presumably from a water bottle, and the sound of spat-out water hitting the ground echoed in the air.

With unsteady steps, Moore emerged from behind the container, wiping his mouth with his sleeve as he approached them. Anis cautiously spoke up, her voice filled with concern.

"Commander... are you okay?"

"I'm... fine."

"But your face is pale..."

"I must have had a bad breakfast."

──What a terrible liar.

Though they were used to his stubbornness by now, they couldn't help but wish he would be more open with them, more willing to rely on them.

Avoiding the three pairs of concerned eyes, Moore adjusted his headset's microphone and inquired about the details of their destination.

"...Where is the scanning device?"

[Please wait a moment... The Ebra particles are too dense... Shiftee, start the purification sequence...]

[Yes, understood!]

[...Once it's done, check from the high-density area... and confirm around the central region...]

Exia's instructions flew rapidly, and from the radio, they could hear Shifty struggling to accomplish one task after another.

"It's rigorous training she's receiving."

"Well, protocols are strong in this field. Even the Central Government's Information Bureau struggles a bit compared to her."

"But it's a rare opportunity. Getting educated by Nikke, trained in real combat, isn't a bad thing, I think."

Ignoring their conversation, he placed a cigarette between his lips. He took out an oil lighter, opened the lid, and flicked the wheel to light it up...

.

.

.

.

"─ Got a light? My oil ran out."

"─ Lieutenant, you should quit smoking... especially you, sir. The girls won't like it."

"─ I don't care. I'll quit smoking when I'm dead. Besides, it's too late now. Can't expect to live long in a place like this."

.

.

.

.

"─ Commander?"

A clear voice reached his ears, making him raise his head, distracted. Three of his subordinates, the Nikke subordinates, were looking at him.

"... You don't seem fine."

"Sensei, are you feeling alright?"

"... I'm okay."

For how long had he been like this? The end of his cigarette wasn't lit. He must have been frozen for a while after lighting the oil lighter. Realizing this, he, ignoring his irregular breathing and his heart pounding violently, relit the cigarette.

"... Are you really okay?"

Approaching him, Rapi, her crimson eyes fixed on his tense right arm gripping the handle of the assault rifle, lightly touched it while inquiring. Staring back at her, Moore nodded slightly.

"... I'm fine. No issues."

"... Alright then. Please don't overexert yourself."

──You're not good at lying.

His pale complexion doesn't support your excuses. However, Moore said he was fine. They had no choice but to believe him. It was a bit sad that he didn't rely on them more.

Sensing the atmosphere becoming awkward, Anis cleared her throat and redirected the conversation towards Rapi.

"By the way, Rapi, you're going through a lot too."

"... Huh?"

"Shifty."

"Ah, yes... that's true. I'm trying to be careful with my words. Communication was difficult up north, so we didn't spend much time together, but..."

Although there were lingering worries, they couldn't afford to dwell on them too much. Withdrawing her hand from Moore's right arm, which she had been holding, Rapi nodded, and Moore took a step back, exhaling a light puff of purple smoke.

"Some people know about Rapi's condition, while others don't... it's becoming more complicated."

"How about telling Shifty about it?"

"That's not a good idea."

Neon suggested that perhaps telling Shifty, who had now joined them as an operator, about Rapi's situation might help. However, before Neon could finish her suggestion, Moore interjected.

Even though his complexion hadn't improved, Moore narrowed his eyes and dismissed Neon's suggestion.

"Se-Sensei?"

"I... I'm sorry, but I still don't fully trust her."

"Haa... Sensei... Are you becoming overly suspicious?"

"Oh dear..."

Anis intervened between Neon, who sighed in exasperation, and Moore, whose gaze sharpened naturally, trying to mediate.

"But the Commander's point is valid too. Shifty is closely related to the Central Government."

"Anis, you're quite suspicious too, huh?"

"You, really...!"

"...You fools have just reconciled. Are you planning to start again... Ah... damn... Sorry..."

His choice of words became rougher. He must have realized it immediately. Apologizing to Anis and Neon to whom he had thrown harsh words, Moore stepped back slightly, his head hanging low.

"...Commander, are you really okay?"

"Is it possible that we...are causing stress to Sensei?"

"Please, rest assured. It's not stress... Thank you, Anis."

──Is she naturally like this?

(Tl Notes: Anis is adorable. She's like porcupine.)

Approaching him, Anis rubbed his back, conveying her unconcern while showing care. At the same time, Neon, who had arrived, expressed misplaced concerns. ──Well, full denial is difficult.

Pressing the helmet with one hand, hiding his expression deeply underneath, Moore smoked his cigarette, feeling somewhat better after the back rub.

Soon after he thanked Anis, Shifty relayed the information about the scanner's location.

──Faster than I thought. With another meaning in mind, Moore tossed his cigarette into a portable ashtray.

====

.

.

.

The scanning device was located at the back of the factory where production lines were lined up.

Inside the room with a door marked "Analysis Room" and plates, a large device reminiscent of an MRI used in medical settings was sitting in the center.

"──It's really big... this scanning device..."

〈The weapon is big, so it's natural for the scanning device to be big too... Neon lacks... Expressions...〉

Sharp words flew from Exia to Neon, who expressed her honest impression.

Nevertheless, Moore also agreed with the assessment of its size. He remembered that modified weapons for Rapture combat, based on anti-tank firearms, were left rusting in parts of the production line. Thus, a device of this size was likely necessary.

Exia urged him to place the bullet he had retrieved from his pouch onto the scanner's table. Moore complied, placing a single handgun bullet in the indicated spot.

He was then instructed to connect a connecting device to operate the equipment. He pulled out a jack protruding from his mobile device and extended the cable, plugging it into the port of the scanning device.

〈Have you connected it?... Shifty... proceed with the... operation...〉

〈Y-Yes! Please, wait a moment...!〉

〈....I'll do it. Shifty... can play... the... mine... searching... game... instead〉

Exia's implicit "you're slow" was apparent to Anis and Neon, who exchanged glances, both of them having helpless expressions.

While this was happening, the scanning device started operating. How many decades had passed since it last worked? Covered in dust, it moved without issues, and the tabletop carrying the handgun bullet entered a tunnel-like gantry for analysis.

How long would the analysis take?

Just as Moore pondered this, footsteps resonating against the walls of the corridor leading into this room caught his attention. The hard footsteps, akin to metal clanging, echoed from deeper within the factory.

Reflexively, he released the safety catch on his assault rifle.

〈R-Rapture is coming!〉

〈It will take a while for the analysis to finish... Please protect the scanning device... diligently... until then... and defeat... the Rapture...〉

"──Let's clear them out! Follow me!!"

He dashed out of the analysis room, followed closely by the others.

However, there were only a few Raptures. They quickly recognized the enemies turned into scraps on the floor of the hallway. Moore and the others all put the safety on their weapons, ready to shoot.

〈──Scanning... is complete. Please return to... the analysis room.〉

A communication from Exia confirmed the successful completion of the analysis. Despite just defeating the Raptures, Moore, keeping an eye on the surroundings, returned to the analysis room. He lifted the handgun bullet that had been placed on the scanning device's tabletop and carefully stowed it away in his pouch.

"...Did you find anything?"

〈...It's an ordinary... handgun bullet... but...〉

"...But?"

〈Something... strange... is... mixed in.〉

The analysis results, displayed on the screen in front of her, were seemingly operated by Exia. The strange substance she referred to seemed unfamiliar even to Exia. However, she relayed the spelling of the substance's name displayed on the screen as it was.

〈──Unchained.〉

A name with nuances of liberation and freedom. There was a clear reaction from someone that matched this description.

〈Unchained...?〉

〈Shifty?... Do you know anything about this...?〉

〈Ah... n-no... not at all...〉

Exia questioned Shifty about her strong reaction to the name, but she responded with vague denial. She clearly seemed to know something, yet it was unlikely she would spill the beans even under intense interrogation. Exia seemingly gave up, deciding to search for information herself.

〈I see... I've never heard of it before... Unchained... I'll search through Ark's database. The rest of you... please... return...〉

"...Huh? Is that it...?"

〈Yes... that's it...〉

It was quite anticlimactic. Although the journey had been challenging, to end it so easily was a bit disappointing.

Anis, sensing her disappointment, looked towards Moore, hoping to receive orders to return to Ark.

.

.

.

"Commander──!?"

──His eyes widened, and sweat dripped down from his face, visible even under the helmet. The moment she noticed this, Moore seemed on the verge of collapsing to his knees. She hastily caught him, and in her ear, a voice so small that it could vanish whispered.

.

.

.

.

.

"──...NIMPH... destruction..."

----

Author Notes: Oh my? It appears Captain Moore's headaches have become chronic. Is it perhaps poor blood circulation? (Speaking of which, I also suffer from headaches; without a massage, they vanish in no time...)