“Ugh... my head...”
Bill clutched his head and rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, glaring at Anis with a disgruntled expression.
The blow hadn’t been enough to actually hurt, but the impact against his skin had been real enough.
And no matter how much he rinsed it out, he could still taste dirt.
He wanted to let it go quietly, but he couldn’t shake the unpleasant, gritty feeling.
“I said I was sorry, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it...”
Still, he didn’t want to drag it out any longer.
He waved her off to show he was fine, then lay down and used a protruding stone on the ground as a pillow.
Despite the fact that he’d been shouting just moments ago, what came out of his mouth was a huge yawn.
But it wasn’t physical fatigue.
It was mental. His heart was tired.
That made sense.
He’d thought they were just at the start of the mission, but in reality they were practically at a standstill.
And that wasn’t all.
Actually, calling it a standstill would have been generous.
At least that would have meant there was still a path forward.
—Stealth, huh... That’s just cruel...
Nikke and Rapture.
The difference in power between the two sides was obvious.
If Raptures were 90, the Ark was 10, or less.
The fact that a direct confrontation was nearly impossible to win was proven by the simple reality that humanity still hadn’t reclaimed the surface.
Ask any Nikke and they’d agree without hesitation.
The Ark’s key advantage against the Raptures, the crucial factor that let them achieve meaningful results and maintain some edge in battle, was information.
Raptures wandered the surface mindlessly, destroying everything in their path, and when they encountered Nikkes, they fought using only the functions they possessed.
The Ark, on the other hand, used operator analysis to determine the Raptures’ locations and numbers, then built tactics around that information.
If the enemy was stronger, they fought. If the enemy was weaker, they avoided them.
They could even use strategy to pressure stronger enemies.
But that balance had nearly been shattered by that “thing” from earlier.
A technique that overturned everything they’d known so far, a system that destroyed the balance far beyond reason.
A technique that directly undermined the very reason humanity had been able to hold the advantage in battle.
Calling it dangerous didn’t even begin to cover it.
The only saving grace was that this was the first time they’d ever seen a Rapture with stealth capabilities.
Especially since a squad like Absolute, which was frequently deployed to the surface, didn’t know about it, that meant it probably wasn’t a technique widespread across the current Rapture line.
So they had to decide.
Take the risk and destroy the source of the technology’s development?
Or prioritize their allies’ safety and pull out?
—Charge in... or retreat...
If he thought about the future, the answer was obviously to move forward.
If that technology were installed in most Raptures, the gap in combat attrition that humanity had somehow managed to keep within a workable range would likely widen drastically.
For mass-produced Nikkes, who could barely maintain parity with operator support, it would be far too cruel. And in a mission like this, where they had to break into an interior space, even high-level Nikkes like Absolute could be put in danger.
There was already one successful case, and no telling when the technology might spread. It was basically a race against time.
If this failed, humanity’s chances of ever stepping outside the Ark again would become far slimmer.
The moment that technology spread, entering urban areas—especially the city center where humanity’s treasures slept—would become extremely difficult.
Who would willingly take on that job while living with the fear that a Rapture could burst out from anywhere, at any time?
Humanity would likely be unable to bear the cost in resources and give up on reclaiming the surface.
And on the other hand—
If they went into that area and were wiped out, there was no way to predict how that outcome would affect the Ark.
The unnamed Commander had worked with Rapi, raised the Ark’s combat strength, and achieved the first successful reclamation of surface land.
He’d also established a connection with Eden and gathered quite a bit of Rapture intelligence.
Bill didn’t think he was overestimating himself, but so many things had changed from the original story because of just one Commander.
Since he had taken on that role himself, he couldn’t allow himself to die from a bad decision.
Even if they survived the raid and returned to the Ark—
If everything here wasn’t intact,
what would any of it even mean?
“Haa...”
“Commander. What’s wrong?”
Rapi’s voice, genuinely worried about him, sounded especially lovely today.
He wasn’t making excuses, but maybe that was why.
He was even more careful because he didn’t know what result this choice would bring.
Bill, lost in complicated thoughts, looked back and forth between the two squad leaders.
Rapi’s face seemed to be a little red for some reason.
At first Eunhwa had seemed fine, but maybe eye contact was more embarrassing than she’d expected, because she looked away for a moment.
—Cute...
Suppressing the laugh that almost escaped and ruined the mood, Bill spoke quietly.
“Eunhwa, Rapi. What do you think? Advance or retreat. Pick one.”
The moment he asked, it seemed like they both started thinking to themselves.
More accurately, they were probably already deciding on a conclusion.
Now that some time had passed since they’d seen the anomaly, they must have already thought about what they wanted to do.
They were leaders, after all.
On the battlefield, the judgment that leads a team has to be fast.
And accurate.
That was the shortest path to survival, and if you weren’t lucky, basically the only path.
Would they understand his intent?
Or would they offer their own opinions?
Bill waited with excitement, and at last the two of them opened their closed mouths.
“Commander, I recommend retreat.”
“Advance.”
Rapi said retreat. Eunhwa said advance.
Their opinions split cleanly.
Usually, he would have asked the question expecting their answers to align, but it seemed they were considering different things.
If this were normal, he would have asked for their reasons too... but human thoughts were what they were.
“The reason is... Rapi is thinking about the present, and Eunhwa is thinking about the future, right?”
“I’m glad I don’t need to explain it at length.”
“Yes. Considering the lack of information and the enemy’s expected combat strength, I judged that advancing would be unreasonable.”
—As expected.
Both choices were right.
Neither could be prioritized over the other, and neither could be dismissed.
The present and the future were equal.
But in the end, they still had to choose.
And Bill had already decided on the answer a long time ago.
He had been ready to follow them if the two of them gave a different answer.
If the two leaders who had run through countless battlefields chose differently from him, how could that not be the correct answer?
But Eunhwa had chosen the same path he had already decided on.
There was no need to hide it.
“Let’s go.”
Bill said briefly as he sat up.
At the sudden words, Rapi looked troubled and asked, “Where to... Commander?”
“Where else? The power plant.”
“But Commander... that would be...”
“I know what you’re worried about. But if we drag this out, we don’t know what’ll happen to the future either. You understand that, right?”
Rapi thought for a moment, then answered, “Yes...”
“Then... Eunhwa, I’m going to make one quick call. Rapi, come with me.”
“Understood.”
Bill led Rapi to a spot a fair distance away from the others, then gestured for her to wait and took out his phone.
There weren’t many numbers saved in his contacts.
So it didn’t take long to find the one he needed.
The ringing lasted about five seconds, and soon after, he heard the other side pick up.
“Well? Is the mission going smoothly?”
It was a tone that was obviously teasing Bill.
He was about to ask his business, but this time the other side was faster.
“Going smoothly? I wish... We haven’t even started yet...”
Bill sighed and let his complaint spill out.
After adding a few more words, he got to the point.
“By the way, you saw what Shifty sent over, right?”
“Of course. I’ve already read it twice.”
Normally his tone would have carried a small laugh, but this time Bill could feel the bitterness in his mood.
Even if it was Andersen, he apparently couldn’t lie to himself about this matter.
“Tell me what you think too.”
“A Rapture with stealth capabilities... Honestly, I don’t want to say this even as a joke, but... if that’s real, then this is a serious matter indeed.”
“Well... as long as you got the message clearly, that’s enough. That’s the only reason I called.”
“Is something the matter?”
“Yeah. From here on, I’m going into the power plant. If we waste time and that technology’s blueprint gets out of the plant, then it’s over.”
“I see... So you’ve made up your mind.”
Andersen didn’t say anything for a moment on the other end of the line.
He was surely worried about him for the same reason Rapi was.
Thinking about it again, that worry was definitely not misplaced.
It was justified. It was right.
Step.
—Hm?
While he waited for Andersen’s reply, he heard someone step on the ground behind him.
Bill turned around instantly, but there was no one there.
It wasn’t Rapi.
She wasn’t the type to ignore his orders and come closer.
And when he thought about it again, the sound had been so faint it could have come from a small animal like a puppy.
But there was no way such an animal existed in a place like this, which meant it had to be a careful step meant to hide the person making it.
Then it had to be someone who was aware of him.
There was only one Nikke that fit.
“Andersen.”
“What is it?”
“Anyway, that’s how it is. And if... I end up staying behind and dying there... take good care of the others.”
Half serious, half joking.
With those words, he told him that if this choice put the others in danger, he would throw his own body into the fire to save the other six.
Only then did Andersen give his usual answer, with that familiar faint smile in his voice.
“Don’t say things like that when you have no intention of dying. Still, I understand. I’ll wish you the best of luck.”
“Yeah. Let’s both live and meet again.”
Click.
The call with Andersen ended.
Bill checked once more that the connection had been cut, then turned around and called out to her.
“Eunhwa, come out.”
As soon as he called her name directly, Eunhwa, who had been hiding behind the rock, gave a small shudder.
But after that, she didn’t move at all.
She had no intention of coming out easily.
But Bill had expected that much.
The proud woman couldn’t easily admit that she’d been caught tailing him.
But his trump card was already waiting beneath her chin.
If he said that, Eunhwa would have no choice but to surrender to him, if only because of that ridiculous pride of hers.
“If you don’t come out by the time I count to three, I’ll call you ‘my baby cat’ until the day I die.”
It was an outrageous threat.
No matter how feminine Eunhwa might be, that was a nickname far too embarrassing for her to bear.
If someone called her that in front of others, she’d probably kill herself on the spot.
Proof of that came immediately after he finished speaking: a small movement from her side.
“Three.”
She tried to stay quiet, but he could hear her shifting her posture.
“Two.”
He heard footsteps on the ground. She must have moved just enough not to be seen.
“One.”
Step.
Similar to before, but this time it was a step that no longer tried to hide itself.
Its owner, Eunhwa, emerged with a flushed red face, glaring at Bill.
—Oh... this is pretty tasty in its own way...
Eunhwa’s eyes were clearly burning with anger.
She might have been cursing him in her head with every insult imaginable.
And yet she didn’t say a word, only letting her feelings show through her actions.
It was like the image of a subordinate resisting an unreasonable superior, but unable to refuse outright.
Her expression was rough, but she couldn’t quite hide what she felt.
Why?
Was she thinking of something she couldn’t bring herself to say to him?
—No.
Bill shook his head inwardly.
For a woman who lived by saying whatever she wanted, the fact that she’d gone silent meant there had to be a reason.
The reason she’d come here after being coaxed by words, despite making it obvious that she hated even facing Rapi, let alone speaking to her.
Eunhwa must have had a lot she wanted to ask him.
That was probably why she’d followed him in the first place.
Maybe that was why.
Her awkward, clumsy way of hiding her feelings, and those fierce eyes that were the only thing betraying her emotions without a word, gave her a cold but strangely alluring charm.
As with every Nikke he’d seen, it was clear they were all beautiful women with distinct personalities.
By now, the distance between them was only about ten meters.
As he felt how close she was, the suppressed emotion that had seemed vague before became perfectly clear.
That was close enough to appreciate her beauty.
Just as he was wondering whether he should get to the point, a thought suddenly flashed through Bill’s mind.
How long could Eunhwa, who was suppressing her exploding emotions, keep holding back?
It was the kind of thought only a devil would have, a desire to test her limit.
Before he knew it, a wicked smile had appeared on his lips.
Then he said quietly, but loud enough for Eunhwa to hear clearly, “Welcome, my baby cat.”
But here, Bill made one mistake.
He believed that Eunhwa, under too much repeated pressure, would keep trying to answer him with words forever.
That was a clear error.
Bang.
Contrary to his expectations, she didn’t say a single word.
Maybe she’d taken advantage of the large rock behind them, but before he even finished speaking, the bullet she fired brushed right past his head.
The tiny piece of metal skimmed through his hair and flew into the air, and the sensation was transmitted straight to Bill’s skull.
Startled, Bill rolled his eyes toward her hand, where Eunhwa’s prized black pistol was gripped tight.
The faint smoke rising from the muzzle was a clear warning.
“Holy shi—”
With a fiercer look than before, Eunhwa declared, “Say that one more time. Next time, I won’t miss.”
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