Chapter 20: Recruit!!

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About five hours earlier.

"Red Shoes, you (severe profanity)!!!"

-"Awoooooook!!! You crazy psycho!!! You red-shoed bastard!!!"

-Bang bang bang bang bang fucking bang!!!

"Quiet!! Keep that up and I'll throw you out!!"

"Hansel and Gretel think Rukh has lost his mind."

"Uuuugh...."

When I slammed the armrest like a chimpanzee trying to escape its cage, Abe, who was at the controls, scolded me.

"Then aren't you pissed off too, Abe?!!"

"Does that matter?! Of course I'm pissed! But this is a transport aircraft!!"

It's starting to tilt because you're pounding on it like a lunatic!! Well, terribly sorry about that!!

"Huff... huff...."

Clutching my throbbing head, I looked up at the ceiling. To explain what had happened, I need to rewind time.

After I pierced Red Shoes's core and freed the NIKKEs in her laboratory from Corruption, we had gathered to make plans for what came next.

'Heh... hehehehe. Just as I thought, Samael, you're the greatest Rapture.'

'What the...?!'

Red Shoes, whom we'd thought was dead, twisted her body and rose to her feet.

-Baaaang!!

She brought her fist down on the laptop behind her—

-Wheeeeeee!!

—and activated a calling signal. We wrapped up the battle in response, but fine, things were still okay up to that point, right? Yeah?

After dealing with the Raptures that swarmed into the lab, we were about to finish this bitch off too, when—

'Hahaha, do you think... you can win just because of this? Humanity is going to lose.'

'Yeah, yeah, I've heard all about your ideology...'

'Because I sent everything to the Queen...'

'What?'

But this insane (severe profanity) had sent the Goddess Squad's plan—the operation to assault the Orbital Elevator—at the same time she sent out that calling signal.

You piece of shit!! Why does this world hate happy endings so much?! Why?!!

And now, we were taking the transport from the laboratory to the Orbital Elevator to help Goddess.

(For the record, Abe was piloting.)

"Prince? Everyone's ready."

"....Understood."

At Cinderella's call, I forced down my anger and rose from my seat.

To my left stood Mori, Janghwa, and Siren. On my right stood Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, waiting for my response. Right. Let's end this long-standing evil tie once and for all.

I brought up a holographic map and began to speak.

-Ding~☆

"I'll begin the operational briefing. Victory's Wings is currently surrounded by Raptures and unable to charge the Orbital Elevator here.

"Cinderella and Siren, who excel at extermination battles, will clear out these gnats, the [Selfless], surrounding Victory's Wings.

"Janghwa, Hansel, and Gretel, please hold back the ones gathering on the deck."

All right, any questions? Um... excuse me...

At the young voice, everyone looked in its direction.

"S-So... when... does the operation begin? And what is my role?"

"Ah, Mori."

Raising her hand and glancing nervously at the others, Mori continued.

"I-I'm not that outstanding in combat to begin with. I'm not good with a sword like Janghwa, and I'm not suited for extermination battles like Cinderella. In this operation, I'm just..."

"Mori."

-Step, step. Tap.

I went down on one knee until I was at her eye level.

"Did Mori start out already knowing how to walk?"

"Pardon?"

"At first, a jewel is nothing more than a stone. But by being heated in intense fire and rolled about, it forms a beautiful shape."

"Ah...."

"Do you understand?"

No one is capable and beautiful from the start. They simply need time and effort.

Hearing my words, Mori nodded and lowered her gaze.

"Um... but...."

"Oh, Siren?"

"Um... when... are we starting the operation? It feels like it's been a while?"

Our sweet airhead and princess, Siren, spoke for the first time!! Ah!! She's so adorable!! She's totally different from the screen, isn't she?!

Forcing my heart to cool down, I cleared my throat and smiled.

"Right now."

"Ah~ right now... huh?!"

"Princesses!! It's time for your debut!!"

-Baaang!!!

-Beep, beep, beep.

When Abe struck the switch beside her, a powerful gust rushed in and whipped everyone's hair about like Senbonzakura. Pfft.

"We are currently above Victory's Wings! There's only one thing I want!!"

-Flash.

"Smash every last one of them to pieces!!!"

Drawing out my words, I immediately went bungee jumping without a cord. One after another, white, blue, and black lights fell from the transport behind me.

. . . . . . . .. .

"C-Commander!! Something is moving toward us at high speed on the radar!!"

"What... tch, move us to the rear first!!"

"Y-Yes, sir!!"

-Bang! Bang!!

Inside Victory's Wings, which the Raptures had nearly taken over, the personnel were barely holding out.

Most of all, the control room—with its wide-open view outside—was where the monsters had begun gathering.

The noncombat personnel had already evacuated. They had to hold the line!!

-Kiiiiik!!

-Bang! Bang!

"Huff, huff... Do you bastards like my bullets that much?!"

"Commander!! In front of you!!"

-Kieeeeeek!!!

A Rapture glowing blood-red charged straight at the Goddess Squad Commander, who had been sending the creatures one by one down the road to the underworld with his pistol.

"God... damn it...!"

-Kiiiik!!

-Bang! Bang!

He barely dodged its sharp leg, but its arm came flying at him next, and the Commander finally—

"Stop."

-K... kiiiii!!

"What...?!"

The Rapture twisted its arm grotesquely.

"Burst."

-Pooom!!

A moment later, its shattered remains lodged themselves in the wall.

"Uh... and who might you be?"

"Ah... auuuuh??!!"

Then a NIKKE came into view.... Could she not speak?

"Auuuuh... au!!"

Perhaps flustered, the NIKKE stammered incoherently, her face turning red.

(Bow!)

"Huh? No, wait—"

-Crash!!

She gave a perfect ninety-degree bow, smashed through the window, and went back outside.

"Honestly... but who was that NIKKE? Does anyone know her?!"

"W-Well... C-Commander!! Outside!!"

"What, more Raptures?"

"No!! Reinforcements!! Reinforcements have arrived!!"

At his adjutant's words, the Commander immediately ran toward the bullet-riddled window. There—

"H-Hahahahahaha!!! ...Everyone!! Get Victory's Wings near H Point, no matter what!! The Goddesses of Victory are with us!! We will not die!!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

With the Commander's order, the personnel returned to their respective positions and began working the control panels again.

And as he loaded his pistol, the Commander looked outside once more and grinned.

"Haha!! Samael, you sly bastard!! So you've charmed all these women!!"

On the deck and in the sky, unfamiliar NIKKEs aside from the Goddess Squad were fighting alongside Samael.

"Antimatter rounds! Bang!!"

The twins blew holes through Tyrant-class Raptures with their enormous gun.

"Our Mori has gotten so strong?!"

"Let's go!! Bippy-nante!! With this gun, we'll finish off those festering, rotten Raptures!!"

-Slash!

A swordswoman resembling Scarlet and a young NIKKE.

"Glass Slipper, deploy!"

"Auuuuh...!!!"

Two princesses who created a waltz of light and bubbles.

"It can't be helped, Sicarius. This time only, we're temporary allies!"

"Likewise!"

Liliweiss and Sica—no, Samael, striking bizarre☆ poses as they turned Raptures into rapt/ures.

"Hahahahahahaha!!!"

The Commander could only laugh as loudly as he pleased.

. . . . . . .

-Poom! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!

"Sicariu—no, Medic Samael, have your memories returned? Is that why you're helping us?!"

"My memories aren't fully intact yet, but I was always—hup!—on your side, you know?!"

That's why I hunted Raptures too, right? Yeah, that explains it.

At the rear of the aircraft carrier, where I was handing out doughnuts to the Raptures, Liliweiss spoke first.

When I first tried to help, Liliweiss freaked out and nearly threw a serious punch at me, though;;

"I find it sooo~ fascinating too. That a mere medic... hup!!"

-Baaaang!!

"Could become a Rapture, really."

"I don't think so, tch..."

"....Excuse me?"

Liliweiss kicked another Rapture's head like a soccer ball and continued. I saw your records.

"You, the medic of the White Skull Unit, called the Saint of the Front Lines, are a mere medic?"

"Wow... that's a seriously awful title..."

Saint of the Front Li—blegh... Just hearing it made my stomach churn from the cheesiness. Did you know that, owner of this body?

"More than that... do you remember, by any chance?"

"Huff... huff... remember what?"

With the Raptures mostly dealt with, we finally caught our breath and faced each other.

"Azalea, Fenrir, Riat, and Jungle."

"....?"

Who are those...? I froze for a moment at the names, which sounded like new playable characters. But Ms. Liliweiss? Why are you looking at me so sadly?

".....They were...."

"Ah, stop stop stop stop, don't set up a cliché."

Whenever someone says something like that, something bad always happens.

W-What?!

"More importantly...."

-Streeetch.

"H Point is over there, right?"

I asked as I stretched one leg far behind me like a track athlete.

"No, what are you—don't tell me..."

"Yep~ correct~"

Realizing what I intended to do, Liliweiss's eyes widened, and she placed a hand on my shoulder.

".....I'm counting on you for those two."

"Leave it to me."

-Pooom!!

Before my words had even ended, the sound of air tearing apart swept across the battlefield. As though all strength had finally left her, Liliweiss sank to the ground.

"Huff... huff..."

"Liliweiss!! Are you all right?!"

"I'm fine... I'm fine... haa... haa..."

As the commotion subsided, the Commander hurried over and eased Liliweiss onto her back.

Because of her core's nature, she could wield destructive power, but at the risk of shortening her own lifespan, so she had to regulate that power carefully. But the battle just now had left her head spinning.

"May I... take a look?"

A long shadow appeared between them and saluted.

"You are..."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Abe, a researcher from V.T.C."

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And so, back to the present.

"So~ that's why we're here. So..."

-Click.

-Whirr.

"Could everyone please lower their weapons?"

"Shut your mouth!!"

Old Tales and Goddess had both reached the Orbital Elevator safely. And... Scarlet and Dorothy were still aiming weapons at me.

"Even if you brought my sister back to life, how can we trust you?"

"I agree. You could betray us without warning."

Of course, I understood their position, but... this was a little much...

"Both of you, stop."

Two voices rose behind me as they stepped in front of the pair.

"S-Sister?"

"Scarlet? You can trust Rukh."

"But...!"

"If he intended to betray us, he would have already killed us."

Exactly, right? Red Hood nodded in agreement.

-Swoosh.

"Wha—?!"

"You see, Samael here? Hm? He never thinks about himself, whether he's awake or asleep~"

"R-Red Hood... y-you're touching..."

"Shhh."

Stay still, my little kitten.

She hugged me.

"So don't worry, miss. He's absolutely not the kind of guy who'd do that."

I told you not to call me miss... sigh...

Heh heh.

-Click.

-Shing.

Only then did the two put their weapons away and step back. Thank you, Janghwa, Red Hood!

"All right, then. Once Abe finishes repairing Snow White and Rapunzel, we'll depart immediately—"

-Swish.

The Goddess Squad Commander, who had been watching from beside us, extended a hand to me. Wait, is this??!!!

"From this moment onward, you are also a member of Goddess Squad. I'm counting on you."

Woooooooooah!!! I screamed like mad inside while barely restraining my instincts. The cool-as-hell Goddess Squad Commander!! Was offering me!! A handshake first!!!

I extended my trembling hand and took his.

"The honor is mine, Commander."

I'd like it even more if you were my adjutant, haha!! What a shame.

After the handshake, he adjusted his cap again and issued an order.

"All right, we'll begin maintenance time now! Preparation comes first!!"

"Roger!!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone, including Goddess Squad, went off to perform their respective duties. Some connected themselves to computers, while others set up machinery.

....Huh?

"Where did she go?"

"Prince? Looking for someone?"

"Ah... Cinderella, it's just..."

Red Hood... was nowhere to be seen? She had been with us only moments ago.

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-Baaang!! Bang!!

"Huff... huff.... Ngh... Aaaah!!!"

In a dark warehouse, Red Hood clutched at her head and endured the pain.

It was the symptoms of Corruption. Forcing herself to withstand the agony in her head, she repeatedly slammed her head into the wall to resist it.

"We're almost there, we're almost there...! I just have to hold on... this much, I can take..!!"

He came back too! I have to finish this looking cool!!

I don't want Samael to see me... like this...

"Red Hood?"

"Wah?!"

At the sudden voice calling her, she hurriedly turned around and found Samael standing there. He can't find out..!!

"Y-You startled me, you bastard. Haha, you scared the NIKKE out of me."

"....How many days has it been... since the Corruption began?"

"....Oh, damn it."

At Samael's question, she cursed and lowered her head without meaning to. The one person she really did not want finding out had found out.

"....Who knows... it's been... over three months. I just told myself to endure it, and I got through each day by sheer grit and stubbornness."

Just recalling it made her teeth grind. The pain gnawed at her like a parasite, to the point that it made her long for death instead.

"Huff... maybe I should just stay up here on the surface?.. I don't know how much longer I can last up there... Maybe I'd be better off looking for a burial plot? Haha..."

-Baaang!!

"Don't talk bullshit."

"U-Uh???!!"

In the middle of her self-deprecating words, her view suddenly shifted—

"I said don't say shit like that."

"S-Samael..?"

He had pinned her against the wall. What are you doing right now?!

-Smack.

"Hngh?!"

In an instant, he seized her wrist and pushed her harder against the wall.

"I'll save you somehow. I won't let you die."

"U-Uhhh...?!!"

"So...."

She could no longer hear the rest of what he said. Her face grew so hot that she could feel it turning red, and eventually her thoughts stopped working. Th-This is the kind of thing I've only seen in books???!!

"Open your mouth."

And then his lips drew close, and... lips??!!!

"Y-You, you, you, what are you doing right—?"

-Chuup.

"Mmmph??!!"

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"Mmph?!! Hah... mmph!!! Mmm♡!!"

'This is driving me completely insane!!'

-"Bastard, you're a man all right."

'Would you please shut up!!'

Thinking she'd gone somewhere, I followed her and found Red Hood suffering from Corruption.

I was about to ask whether she was okay, but...

A burial plot?!!

A burial ploooooot??!!!

As a player whose favorite was Red Hood, that was dialogue I could never permit. Without thinking, I forced my tongue into her mouth, but—

"Hngh..! You crazy bas...! Mmph!! Mmm♡♡!!"

-Twitch, twitch!

This was driving me crazy. Literally.

At first, I thought it would end without much fuss, but Red Hood's fierce resistance and her mo... sounds nearly paralyzed my reason. On top of that, the feel of her body was playing tug-of-war with the last thread of my sanity.

Hold back, hormones inside me.

-"Wow... you're holding back? Hey!! You're not going to eat a meal that's been served right in front of you?! It's time to fuck her!"

"Please just stay quiet..!!"

"Hngh... I am staying still... ah..!"

When I gently looked into Red Hood's eyes, almost all the red had vanished from her pupils. Right, this should be enough.

-Pop.

"Haa..! Haa...! Haa...!"

"Gasp... gasp...!"

When I pulled away, a long silvery string stretched between her lips and mine. Her ears had reddened past crimson, becoming as red as her hair.

Whew... reason, reason.

"Is your head... all right?"

"Haa... haa...!"

"...Let's go back. Everyone's repairs should be finishe—"

-Thud!

"Urgh?!"

"You... youuu..!!"

A sudden pain flipped my perspective, and my vision was now facing the ceiling.

"Ever since we were kids, you've always gotten me so fucking horny!!!"

-Rustle,

"R-Red Hood??!!"

"It's all because of you! Because of you!!"

She was straddling me as she stripped off her clothes.

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