His shoulder felt like it would dislocate. He said he wouldn't overdo it, but it ended up like this. If he hadn't been hit by that damn sniper shot, it probably wouldn't have been this bad. Anyway, the problem was those bastards who only knew how to make cheap surprise attacks. Kenji roughly grabbed and rubbed his throbbing shoulder as he stomped on the head of one crawling on the ground, crushing it.
"This damn... Phew, damn bastards."
He muttered softly and looked at the passage leading into the PMC garrison. The passage, which should have been packed with automatons, no longer held anyone. Only automaton bodies were embedded in the walls, ceiling, and floor. Kenji let out a long sigh and roughly threw off the mask covering his face. Then he took a cigarette from his coat and put it in his mouth.
The scent of peach spread through his nostrils, filled with the smells of oil and iron. Kenji exhaled pungent smoke and plopped down on the back of a headless automaton.
His body wasn't particularly tired. He hadn't sustained any serious injuries either. He was still fine. Honestly, he felt like he could take down the PMC alone. His shoulder might shatter, but he could give that up. His recovery was fast anyway, so minor injuries didn't need much attention. If he were bleeding heavily, that would be different, but it's just bone. Sure, it hurt like hell, but it was better than bleeding profusely and worrying about excessive blood loss.
And Kaiser PMC didn't have that strong of military power either. They were just PMC in name, bugs that even high school girls could beat. There was no need to call in the kids who were resting to reinforce their strength. Because of the atrocities they committed against Abydos, he had overestimated them.
"......"
Kenji turned his head to look at the massive, firmly shut door. A steel door. Opening it wouldn't be hard. He could bend it himself, or use the key card one of the thugs he beat up was carrying. But Kenji had no intention of doing either.
Going in and wiping out the PMC. Not difficult. Yeah, it's not difficult, but. Unfortunately, he wasn't the main character of this rescue operation. He was merely an assistant. The main characters were elsewhere. Kenji watched the Abydos group, who had just entered the passageway in the distance, and waved.
"You're late."
At that, Hayool, standing at the back of the group, pushed past everyone and ran toward Kenji. Breathing heavily, she grabbed Kenji's hand with a worried expression.
"Are you okay?! Are you hurt anywhere?!"
"I'm fine. I'm okay. My shoulder aches a bit, but this much is nothing."
Hearing that, Hayool sounded relieved but also slightly agitated.
"That's why you shouldn't have suddenly rushed ahead alone! I was worried!"
"......Well, I thought I could handle it alone."
Kenji muttered awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.
The path clearing had progressed smoothly. It was thanks to the cult members led by Kenji doing their part excellently. But from the middle, perhaps because their strength was failing, they started dropping out one by one, and soon even Setsuka withdrew due to exhaustion, leaving only Kenji at the end.
But far from being discouraged, he only rampaged more fiercely. Because now that he was alone, he no longer needed to worry about his surroundings.
What if a wide-range attack swept up his allies? Especially since they were the ones he called to come help.
So he was semi-forced to hold back a bit. But since that was no longer necessary, he intended to go ahead and clear the path in advance. So that the three Abydos members or Hayool wouldn't get hurt while moving together.
"But since the result is good, it's fortunate, isn't it?"
Kenji chuckled and spat that out. Hayool let out a deep sigh and gently held Kenji's hand.
"If you had been seriously injured, I was planning not to talk to you anymore. Or do anything together."
"Gasp. Didn't we promise to go buy the limited edition transforming robot coming out next month together?"
Kenji said with a straight face. Hayool smiled wryly as if she couldn't handle him, then carefully hugged Kenji.
It was sudden. Kenji's eyes widened at the sweet milk scent that rushed into his nostrils. The three people standing beyond Hayool's shoulder had similar expressions. Ayane's sharp inhale came through the earphones. Regardless, Hayool whispered sincerely into Kenji's ear.
"Don't make me worry so much. You're one of my students too, so I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Ah, yes, yes. I get it, so just let go of this......"
"Let's visit a hospital together later, okay? Promise?"
"No, I mean, just let go of my arm for a second... They're watching and laughing."
"Ah, ah! A-, ahem! Hmm, hmm!"
At Kenji's words, Hayool cleared her throat and stood up.
"Anyway! Now we just need to go inside, right? The surroundings are safe?"
"......Probably. For the method to enter, using the key card in the suit-wearing guy's pocket over there should work. I'll block anyone coming here, so you take the kids and go in."
"Will you be okay alone? You said your shoulder hurts."
"I can't let that interfere with the emotional reunion. I know the feeling of wanting to see someone who disappeared again, so I don't want to get in the way."
Kenji said with a bitter smile. Sensing there might be a story, Hayool didn't press him further. Instead, leaving a word of thanks, she took the key card and entered the garrison. Kenji watched their hurriedly running backs until they were out of sight, then took out another cigarette and put it in his mouth.
That's when it happened. The presence of four people was felt from the passage. Kenji narrowed his eyes sharply and exhaled pungent smoke.
"Aru-chan, is this the right way? It doesn't look like it no matter how I see it?"
"Hmph. I definitely saw them go this way. But it's surprising. To move this fast even with so many troops......"
Voices were heard. That meant they weren't automatons.
Then who are they? To confirm their appearance, Kenji narrowed his eyes slightly and clenched the cigarette tightly between his front teeth. The approaching people seemed to have noticed Kenji too, as they stopped walking and tilted their heads.
"Huh? Who's that?"
"Is, is that an enemy? Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them?"
"Ahaha~ Haruka-chan, wait a second."
It was a lively girl's voice. A girl with white hair tied in side tails, holding a machine gun in one hand and a huge bag in the other, stepped forward. Her appearance was like what's commonly called a little devil. Her tone and voice matched that image.
"Hey there~? I haven't seen you before, are you from Kaiser PMC?"
"No."
"Then?"
"Schale."
"Schale...? Where the Teacher is?"
She muttered with wide eyes. Then she went back to her group and they started whispering amongst themselves.
"They said Schale? Doesn't seem like an enemy."
"We still need to check properly. They might stab us in the back."
"Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them? Should I kill them?"
"Hmph. I'll talk to them myself. We need to get inside quickly too."
From what they were saying, they didn't seem related to the PMC. That made it more puzzling. What kind of kids are they to come to this chaotic desert and set foot on the passage leading to the PMC garrison? Kenji inhaled the cigarette and stood up from his spot.
Simultaneously, a girl with reddish-pink hair fluttering her coat walked toward Kenji with clacking steps. But after taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped. Then she opened her mouth wide and stared at Kenji.
"Gasp...!"
"......?"
Kenji frowned at the sudden change. Regardless, she trembled with vermilion eyes and muttered softly.
"H, hardboiled...!"
"......What are you talking about. Who are you guys? You're not from Abydos. With those horns, you look like Gehenna."
Kenji flicked the cigarette he was holding to the ground. The girl, who had been blankly watching the scene, jumped in surprise and nodded her head.
"Th, that's right! We are the very famous company from Gehenna, 'Problem Solver 68'! I'm the president, Riku Hachima Aru! Here's the manager, Asagi Mutsuki! Section Chief Onikata Kayoko! Employee Igusa Haruka! Huhu, we're all people known to be very vicious and cruel in Gehenna."
"......Problem Solver 68?"
A familiar name. Wasn't that the group the Teacher mentioned, who helped Abydos repel the PMC?
'But why are they suddenly here.'
Kenji let out a deep sigh and looked at Aru with tired eyes.
"So, why are you here. PMC field trip?"
"We came to help Abydos."
Kayoko answered. She pushed aside Aru, who had started explaining how great Problem Solver 68 was, and conversed with Kenji in her place.
"We owe Abydos a debt. So we came to help them. We're hostile to Kaiser PMC. We betrayed them."
"......"
"If you don't trust us, contact the Teacher and ask. That person will give you a proper answer."
Kayoko's voice showed not a trace of wavering. Since she even brought up the Teacher, it didn't seem like she was lying.
Kenji pondered briefly, then chuckled and nodded.
"Alright, go in."
"......You're allowing it more easily than I thought."
"It's true that Abydos is short on personnel, and even if you're lying, I don't think you can harm the Teacher or Abydos. If necessary, I can go in too."
Kenji answered with a shrug. Kayoko didn't add anything more and sighed as she returned to her group.
Since Hayool had already gone inside using the key card, the door was open, not closed. Since there was no need to do anything, Kenji leaned against the passage wall and blankly stared at the flickering light. Problem Solver entered the PMC interior while watching his reaction.
"So, you."
Suddenly, Aru, standing at the very back of the group, spoke to him. Kenji glanced at her by slightly rolling his eyes.
His already fierce appearance combined with his expressionless face and a gaze that only used his eyes created an intimidating pressure. But Aru pretended as if it was nothing, drawing a smile on her face and moving her lips.
"You don't look ordinary at first glance. Any thoughts about joining our Problem Solver?"
"Not really."
An immediate answer. Aru's smile cracked slightly.
"Hm, hmph! Fine. We don't beg people who say no twice either. Then."
Swish. Aru fluttered her coat and strode through the open door. After taking a few steps like that, she stopped again. Then, mumbling her lips, she looked back at Kenji.
"B, but we- we could make an exception if you, you wanted to?"
"......"
"I, I'm serious. I could make a special exception......"
"......Go."
"......Sniff. Then at least tell me your name......"
"Sigh... Kenji."
Kenji told her his name without much thought.
"......Kenji?"
Kayoko reacted to that name.
"The person who went missing from Trinity?"
Kenji's gaze turned toward Kayoko. Kayoko met his gaze and flinched. Mutsuki pointed her gun muzzle at him, and Haruka stepped forward as if to protect Aru. Only Aru didn't understand the situation and blinked her eyes.
"Huh, huh? Guys, what's wrong......?"
"Step back. Aru-chan."
Mutsuki muttered in a serious tone. Kayoko subtly drew a pistol from her waist.
"......"
A brief standoff ensued. And the next moment, a missile fell from the sky above the PMC garrison.
-KABOOOOOOOMã…¡!
The missile exploded with an ear-splitting roar. Everyone's gaze turned in that direction. Kenji also glanced there briefly, but came to his senses at the voice coming through his earphones.
[The Teacher is safe! So you don't need to worry, Kenji!]
"......I didn't say anything."
Kenji let out a deep sigh and plopped down on a fallen automaton. Problem Solver watched him as if on guard, but soon rushed inside the garrison. Kenji watched their backs and spoke.
"Still, thanks for telling me. If you hadn't, I would have gone in too."
[Ahaha, we'll protect the Teacher properly. Because they're someone we're grateful to.]
"More importantly, what's with the sudden fire support? Did you shoot it?"
[No. Trinity provided it. I don't know the reason... but anyway, it's a good thing.]
"......Trinity?"
[Yes, yes. But why is your voice suddenly trembling......]
"......No. It's nothing. Go help the kids."
[Ah, yes. Then I'll cut the comms!]
"Yeah."
Click.
The communication cut off. Kenji tilted his head back.
His head throbbed.
"......"
The Gehenna student who recognized his name. Trinity's sudden fire support.
"......I have a bad feeling about this."
He muttered that and let out a deep sigh.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register