Chapter 221
Seeing Saria making her bed with a serious expression and even preparing pillows according to her habits, Nana tilted her head slightly and smiled.
"Indeed... Well then, I'll leave tonight in your care."
PS: Waaaaaaah!
PSS: It seems the tension hasn't reached the point where Nana is completely overwhelmed yet... V
But having provoked the Noble Faction, she immediately started causing trouble for Chernobog itself... From a god's-eye view, it seems that Nana's five months of stationing in Chernobog will eventually turn into a three-way free-for-all surrounding the Sarcophagus.
'Columbia cats, merciless, kill without mercy'... I feel like Nana's final public image will probably look like this (scratching head).
6th Patriot's Gun: 244 Amiya's Color I
What color is darkness?
Empty, cold, and desolate... Trapped in enemy territory, with no relatives or friends around, it seemed the entire earth was against her... Amiya spent half a year learning how to continue playing the 'well-behaved' role she had always played in the small team.
From forcing a smile at the unwelcoming nobles to calmly accepting the Ursus commoners slamming the door upon seeing her, Amiya adapted to the distressing life of Ursus the Infected in just ten days.
Ten days... ten days without Nana as her guardian, ten days during which everyone on the vehicle had to follow her orders... Amiya felt as if each day was an eternity.
That's a time when just memories can turn your entire life black. Ultimately...
It's just an illness, but in Ursus it feels like they've been deprived of their human rights... Even though they speak the same language and have the same appearance, the Infected is a taboo subject that can't be mentioned at all...
These ten days were filled with experiences of being driven away by Landship with their cannons, and being ostracized by the surrounding villagers when attempting to establish a base on the outskirts of Chernobog... Even when she tried to gain a reason to stay by offering free medical lectures, she was chased away along with her vehicle. These experiences were truly incomprehensible to Amiya.
However, it wouldn't be accurate to say that Amiya gained nothing in those ten days.
She at least learned how to be the Infected in Ursus.
First, don't let your guard down. If Originium Crystals or infected lesions are discovered on your body, it could become a reason for attack in Ursus... Even a twelve-year-old child could be inexplicably pelted with stones. Five
Fortunately, while Amiya was learning about life, Huang stayed by Little Bunny side without leaving for a moment... The stone that flew towards Amiya's head was also silently blocked by Huang using his weapon case.
Then came the second point Amiya learned... In Ursus, never abandon your armor.
Although civilian duels are no longer as prevalent in this land as they were decades ago, and local governments have imposed certain regulations on weapons in public places... when you're out and about, don't take off your bulletproof coat casually, and never let your magic unit be more than a meter away from your hand...
This was a lesson learned from being invited into a room at the second village. Because Huang hadn't obtained his attack permission in time, Amiya used her magic to actually kill a 'human' for the first time.
As a commander, lacking the courage to order an 'attack' is undoubtedly a crime against one's own people... Fortunately, Amiya's team had enough strength to salvage the situation.
The mob that simultaneously attacked the Exploration Vehicle failed to penetrate the close-in weapon system's automatic defense system, while Jessica and Mika, who were dispatched next, discovered piles of bones in a warehouse during their subsequent sweep of the village...
The village had already been overrun by bandits, and their seemingly friendly attitude towards the Infected was nothing more than a pretense by these the Infected bandits for their money... It wasn't until several hours later that this truth was discovered.
Amiya felt she was ready, but as someone determined to continue the path of that prince, before encountering the suffering of the Sarkaz, Amiya suddenly realized that the barriers between people might be something more physical or conceptual.
Amiya wrote down her 'Diary of a Scoundrel,' which she would hand to Dr. Kal'tsit as an internship record. As she chewed on her pen and stared at her diary, feeling down, the screen of her phone, which was plugged into a charging cable, suddenly lit up.
That was a coded message from Medic.
"... Um... Ursus, prices and... weather? Ah... password table, password table..."
Seemingly in a fit of pique, she painstakingly followed the PRTS's instructions to decipher the ciphertext. By the time Amiya finished reading all the messages and jogged into the bridge, the others had already finished exchanging information and begun planning their route.
"Sorry I'm late... This code... is a little difficult..."
Compared to others who would at least consider Amiya's feelings, Mika's behavior was completely natural:
"Is it difficult? Amiya just not used to it yet~ She'll get better with more practice. Nana and Seia can multitask and do calculations directly in their minds! Here~ there's black tea and cake. Eating more sweets is good for your mood. And a cute child like Amiya should smile more."
As she spoke, Mika, completely lacking in emotional intelligence, placed the tea and snacks in front of Rabbit without considering the atmosphere. The pink-haired girl's cheerful voice warmed up the atmosphere of the Exploration Vehicle team, whose operations had been repeatedly thwarted.
Although veteran operators like Blaze and Franka wouldn't be affected by the rudeness of their disguise, everyone knew that Amiya genuinely wanted to educate the villagers about Oripathy... but the deep-seated problems of society wouldn't change because of a young girl's ideals.
Before understanding what 'relief' meant, the girl, who had grasped the concepts of 'pain' and 'violence,' shyly scooped up a spoonful of cream cake and put it in her mouth, urged on by a pink-haired girl with a similar mental age to herself...
Despite it being her own mistake in command, Amiya's companions' kindness became the catalyst for her to harden her heart.
Although Huang, whose head and arms were wrapped in bandages, was slightly worried about Amiya deliberately avoiding her gaze, she also understood that this was Amiya's first field mission, her first time facing an 'enemy' whose obedient mask was ineffective, and her first time having blood on her hands... Whether it was growth or adaptation, it would take some time, so Huang stopped putting pressure on Amiya with her gaze.
Once everyone had arrived, Huang coughed lightly to draw everyone's attention to himself.
"Medic sent a message, everyone's seen it, right?"
"Hmm~ You mean to pick us up and take us into Chernobog tonight, right... As expected of the woman Dr. Kal'tsit called Rhodes Island's last line of defense, she's taken care of Marquis Boris in less than two weeks. Although this means we've lost our neutrality as an international corporation... given the attitude of the Nobles' Army, I don't think it's a big deal to disrespect them."
Regarding Franka's statement, which was already quite 'Mercenaries' in itself, Liskarm added:
"Although Chernobog said they would provide us with a venue... I think it's still debatable whether we should leave the Exploration Vehicle under Chernobog's nose... As the second option for transferring the Doctor to the Lungmen safe zone, once the Exploration Vehicle is discovered, it's not like a lone soldier who can blend into the city with magic and skills."
"Being captured by the Nobles' Army would mean being shot to death, not to mention the possibility of the vehicle being locked in the Mobile City, requiring a breakout through two layers of defenses... we also have to consider whether it would become evidence of Columbia interference in the Ursus Civil War..."
Amiya frowned at Liskarm's reminder, her ears drooping slightly.
"Is there such a risk? Chernobog is supposed to be a trading city, where vehicles from various chambers of commerce should be commonplace..."
"The problem is the nature of Rhodes Island's work. We conduct our external communications as experts on the Infected... and using the Infected to solve the Infected is a fragmented summary of our work from the outside world."
"Although we know that Rhodes Island isn't like that, we can't resist the malicious manipulation and misrepresentation from the outside world... The main reason Medic requested a low-key operation was because they were worried that the Noble Faction, in order to alleviate internal conflicts, might use Rhodes Island as a pretext to declare war on the whole world..."
"The civil war in Ursus has undoubtedly turned those Old Nobility into mad dogs. If they are really pushed to the limit by that Wendigo and start attacking anyone they can, we can't afford to be opposed by half of Ursus."
Seeing Amiya hesitate again because of Franka's impulsive words, Typhon, who had been silent until now, looked left and right, licked his lips at the cake on Amiya's plate, and then asked helplessly:
"So, are we going to drive to the destination? Or are we going to run there ourselves...? Have we decided?"
Seeing the little hunter's drooling expression, Weedy, clad in thick protective gear, casually took out a burlap sack and wiped the cake crumbs off the table. Then, she took a nitrogen-encased cake roll from the clean tablecloth and, with obsessive-compulsive glee, placed it parallel to the edge of the table in front of Typhon:
"Isn't this a discussion...? Let me just say my personal opinion first. Even if I get stuck in traffic in Chernobog, I think it's better than finding out my car is miles away when I need it."
"Besides, if we leave the Exploration Vehicle outside the city, we might have to split up our forces again... Although I'm not the Infected, the public opinion environment in Ursus is disgustingly filthy. Just thinking about the local bandits potentially coming into contact with the Exploration Vehicle we're staying in after we split up makes me dizzy and short of breath, so please allow me and the vehicle to accompany you."
Upon hearing the only senior engineer present speak up, the previously silent Ptilopsis nodded.
Joyce agrees with Weedy's decision.
"It seems the Ptilopsis doesn't want to deal with those troublemakers anymore..."
As she spoke, Folinic, having fully donned her gear, looked at the silent Little Bunny:
"Amiya, don't punish yourself for other people's mistakes. In my opinion, what you've experienced recently could be called 'naivety'... but naivety is never a bad thing. The fault lies with the Ursus people... with the public opinion environment that has turned them into this kind of 'Ursus people'..."
"The use of violence should indeed be approached with caution, after all, life is a unique thing, but I hope you can be more sensitive in making decisions when you are in danger. And you will encounter many similar situations in the future... For example, right now, if we are to respond to Medic's rescue operation, we must be preparing by midnight at the latest."
"Should we bring this valuable long-range vehicle into the city, or hide it in the treacherous wilderness...? Please make your decision."
"..."
Just as Amiya was letting her ears droop as if deep in thought, a series of dull knocking sounds suddenly came from the outside of the bridge's cockpit... The group, who had been attacked not long ago and were currently focused on Amiya, immediately sprang to their senses.
"There's something outside the bridge?! Infected creatures... or perhaps, the Ursus Nobility army?!"
"... But our engine isn't running, there's no heat source or external light, how could we have been found?! Was it the battle in the village earlier?! Were we being followed?! I knew such a large-scale bandit village couldn't have been formed by chance, it was a means for the Nobles' Army to control the rear, wasn't it?"
"Don't panic! The bridge armor isn't damaged. Activate the automatic cannons first; the Number One turret can attack the outer slope of the bridge!"
Amidst the frantic operation of a group of people, the lighting control was disrupted. The Exploration Vehicle's external self-check lights were activated, the fire control radar was turned on, the automatic cannon located at the front of the Exploration Vehicle was launched, and even the charging rail began to supply power. Suddenly, the IFF system marked the word 'Medic' close to the vehicle body on the command interface.
"Huh?"
Ignoring the temporarily stunned operators, the three people in the crowd who had a supernatural connection with Nana whispered among themselves for a while, and then Jessica they considered the most convincing, was pushed forward:
"Um, is it possible that Captain Medic has come looking for us?"
"... A solo march of thirty kilometers through the wilderness outside the city? Even for Nana, that would take a considerable amount of time. It's only been less than half a day since the captain sent the message... Anyway, let's confirm this a bit?"
After obtaining the consent of the majority of the crew, Liskarm, holding a gun in one hand and pressing the button to activate the outer armor shield of the bridge with the other.
As the louvered armor plating on the bridge slowly opened and then retracted, and as the bridge lights shone outside, everyone fell silent, staring at Nana looked completely bewildered, as if asking, "What are you doing?"
Recalling the chaotic actions of the group just now, Huang got up somewhat embarrassed and opened the direct access gate outside the bridge.
Logically, entering the bridge from the outside should require some procedures such as dust removal and Active Originium detection, but since the Exploration Vehicle should still be under blackout, everyone was busy letting Nana in and immediately began to frantically turn off the lights and close the bridge armor again... Let's just skip the procedural matters for now.
Seeing Nana pushing the bicycle across the bridge, everyone seemed to understand why Nana was able to rendezvous with their side in just five hours after the text message.
In fact, Nana had slept for three hours, and finding Rhodes Island hidden in the wild was not difficult for Nana... After all, Typhon, Jessica, and Mika was also registered with the Command System, were all guiding her.
If they can't find the place, Nana will have to question Kal'tsit about the Previous Civilization's unethical navigation... Fortunately, apart from the slightly strange atmosphere when they see themselves, everyone here doesn't seem to have encountered any major problems overall.
But what's with the bandage on Huang's forehead that looks like it's been ripped open?
"...Huang, you..."
"Ah? Oh, you mean this bandage... It's just a minor injury. After all, the goal was to fool those Nobles' Army spies. As members of the company's action team, getting beaten up by clients is an occasional occurrence... Don't worry, we've already fought them all off before we left."
Seeing Huang's bright smile and thumbs-up, Nana grasped his hand and checked it. Only after confirming that Huang wasn't forcing himself and that it was indeed just a minor injury did she feel relieved.
Then, Nana noticed that Amiya seemed to be in a bad mood.
"... Amiya, are you alright?"
"I... I'm fine..."
Whether responding to Nana or talking to herself, the Little Bunny took a deep breath and pursed her lips... then opened her eyes wide at Nana, as if as long as she clenched her little fists, no future could defeat her.
Unlike Rosemary, who, as she grew older, instinctively adapted to her environment and embraced a go-with-the-flow attitude, Amiya viewed the world as a storm and seemed ready to be caught in it at any moment.
Nana gently patted the other's head with concern. At times like this, words of comfort probably wouldn't work... Rather than offering comfort, Nana felt that the other person might need to strengthen their faith more:
"The Doctor is currently safe, but protecting her until December might be difficult given the current situation in Chernobog... Amiya, no matter the cost, no matter what you have to give up... you must have the Doctor, right?"
Amiya stared blankly at Nana, who was kneeling in front of her to comfort her, for a moment, then closed her eyes... When the girl looked directly at Nana again, the weakness in her eyes had disappeared, as if the setbacks she had suffered before had all been worthwhile.
"Yes, Rhodes Island needs the Doctor back no matter what."
"Okay, I understand... Let's go, let's protect the Doctor together, and we'll bring her home together too."
"... Um!"
A few words were enough to cheer Rabbit up again, and Medic's return seemed to give the special operations team a renewed sense of purpose... All their previous complaints and worries vanished.
With Nana's command, the Exploration Vehicle started up... There was no radar, no infrared headlights, and not even the terrain radar was turned on, as if it had returned to the dark, catastrophic Catastrophe Cloud of Ticarondo.
Following the signs along Nana way, the Exploration Vehicle proceeded towards Chernobog.
Not far ahead, the brightly lit Third Army fleet stood—
"So, next... it's a gradual infiltration mission... Jessica and I will come together, and you guys will handle the piloting... Mika and Typhon can see my 'marks'... just follow the marks."
Watching Nana lead a bewildered Jessica through the 'armory' door and retrieve the spotless WA2000, Folinic showed a hint of worry.
"Teacher Nana, what are you going to do?"
"A little bit of cover work, don't worry, I won't get out of the vehicle, it's not a troublesome task... it's just that if we don't keep the Nobles' Army busy, the chances of us being discovered are still quite high..."
Pushing open the bridge gate, Nana, holding a rifle, led Jessica into the distance, facing the night wind.
Yes, she intends to actively induce the Nobles' Army to 'ignore' the Exploration Vehicle... The assassin will no longer place her hopes on others.
"Now, let's begin the mission briefing--"
PSS: Waaaaaah, kitty!
PSSS: Let's briefly discuss Amiya's transformation... She's still a soft, innocent little girl, so it's understandable that she's at a loss when faced with malice... After all, Rosemary, who was originally responsible for decisive action, is now sidelined...
Wait a minute, it seems that placing Rosemary doesn't affect her decisiveness? And because she's afraid of trouble, either she doesn't act at all, or when she does, a whole group dies—that's probably the true nature of Rosemary's mission... (Nine)
Suddenly, I'm a little worried about Amiya's fragile heart... She and Rosemary might develop a relationship like Enka and Tohru's.
Hmm, the Rhodes Island playboy, never carries cash when shopping, always stealing food from others' bowls... Suddenly I realize that my Rosemary is only missing the eccentric, riddle-like quality of Tohru to be truly amazing.
Should I write about Rosemary's quest experiences sometime...? Anyone interested?
6th Patriot's Gun: 245 Moonlight X
"To lure the old Ursus Old Nobles' Army might discover us... with guns?"
Nodding, Nana glanced at Jessica, who, after being instructed to take the gun with the longest range, was carefully carrying a gun case almost as tall as a person out of the armory:
"Yes... Although our attempt to directly gain their cooperation failed from the very first contact, if it's just about inducing them... aside from the simple and brutal method of killing them outright, there are actually many things we can do."
As Nana sat down on the roof of the car while talking, turning to face the distant, lit-up Nobles' Army and adjusting the scope... at that moment, Jessica opened her gun case with tears in her eyes.
"... But... with Firearms Arts, even with silencers and magical aids, what if the bullets are detected..."
"By the time the bullets are found, we'll already be in Chernobog. They'll realize they've been tricked, start counting heads, examine the bullets' trajectory, and try to figure out who was trying to shoot them... But what does that have to do with the vanished 'Rhodes Island'?"
Nana's words made Jessica sob for a while. When the tearful Feline pulled out the latest precision Firearms Arts she'd bought with a month's worth of allowance in the night wind, Jessica, trembling, felt the Exploration Vehicle surging forward beneath her and said, on the verge of tears:
"In other words, we're supposed to be on a bumpy, high-speed Exploration Vehicle... monitoring the Nobles' Army's movements from a distance of over ten kilometers using Firearms Arts, while simultaneously luring them... at least to the point of being able to instantly kill those soldiers who can detect us? Isn't that too difficult for me...? This completely exceeds the effective range of conventional Firearms Arts."