EP.191 Say You Want to Live - 7
Only shadows remained in the street where the light had faded. Within the undulating darkness, Ulpen removed the hand covering his eyes. His eyes were dyed in darkness that had spread like ink.
"...I realized too late, magician. I won't be fooled again."
At first, out of caution.
Then, as usual.
After that, without letting his guard down, reliably.
Finally, to avoid being deceived by the opponent.
The entire sequence—because he had been overly cautious, he ended up caught in the magician's psychological warfare. That was why he had taken a hit from the magician.
"From the start, I should have poured all my power at full force and killed him."
But now, he wouldn't be fooled. Tricks were not infinitely possible, and once he stripped away all the prepared cards, the magician was no different from a powerless naked body.
Next time they met—no, if he could just extend his senses and find him right now. He would fall beneath the blade of shadow.
'I killed my presence and hid my body, but finding him is enough.'
At that moment, a faint voice reached Ulpen's ears. From far away, the presence of people came along with the mingled voices of several individuals.
At the strange presence, Ulpen focused his mind on his hearing. And soon, he furrowed his eyes.
It was as if Amitengrad itself was speaking.
Countless voices mingled together and seeped in like fog. Bouncing off buildings, spreading from afar, echoing. A dry, articulate voice spread as if singing.
『Military Nation Signal Soldier Yuel, I warn all residents hearing this voice. As of now, Level 5 emergency, the Pentagram is in effect.』
『This is Military Nation Signal Soldier Dike. Level 5 emergency has been declared. All citizens are to cease their current actions and focus on the transmitted content.』
『This is Military Nation Signal Soldier Xien. No one will take responsibility for any disadvantages arising from failure to follow orders.』
A chorus of dry voices. It came from the rooftop of some building, from inside strangely shaped streetlamps, from clock towers and statues, from the middle of clotheslines stretched across the street.
The voices that had been dry even before being transmitted through golems, changed to an even more inorganic quality as they touched the concrete buildings and were delivered throughout the Military Nation.
『We warn all citizens hearing this voice. Those currently inside their residences must never come outside until the situation is resolved.』
『Any citizens outside are to immediately prostrate themselves on the ground with both hands raised above their heads. Do not show any will to resist. There is a risk of misfire.』
『This is an emergency. Until a situation resolution declaration is made, citizen rights will be partially restricted, and we cannot take responsibility for your life and safety if you disobey instructions.』
The Military Nation does not joke. Therefore, this voice now delivering something was conveying only the truth.
The Signal Soldiers, the voice of the Military Nation, were delivering warnings to everyone within reach of the sound.
『Tonight officially does not exist. Forget everything that has happened.』
『Stop resisting and prostrate yourself where you are. If you show any will to resist, you will be disposed of as an enemy of the Military Nation.』
『To the enemies of the Military Nation. Cease meaningless resistance and quietly allow yourselves to be shot dead.』
As if that was sufficient, the warning voices stopped.
And after that, a single clear and ringing voice was added.
『Military Nation Signal Soldier Captain Abby reporting to Director Historia. Five blocks ahead. The target has been spotted at the location where abnormal luminosity was just observed. This headquarters will guide you.』
"Confirmed."
And then followed footsteps.
Step. Step.
The sound of studded military boots rang out on the concrete floor. A regular, powerful rhythm of iron striking dry ground was added.
Long, pitch-black braided hair swayed behind her. A tall woman with a languid, exhausted expression was moving alone through the streets where everyone held their breath, stretching her long limbs.
In the night where silence had settled, only her time flowed normally, and it seemed as if this very stage had been prepared for her.
Military boots pulled up to her calves, a uniform worn as delinquently as possible, no hat visible as if she hadn't bothered with the brim, and a couple of buttons undone. If not for the uniform, she would have looked like some street thug.
However, a single star gleaming on her chest indicated her power.
Walking along like that, she suddenly, without any warning, aimed her muzzle at her own temple. And pulled the trigger without a sliver of hesitation.
Bang. A streak of noise rent the darkness. A flashing spark flared at her temple. The bullet reached her temple.
Even if it were the Bullet-Deflecting Qi, it was a technique for blocking things flying from afar; it had little effect against a bullet fired at point-blank range. Even though she had committed an act no different from suicide, the woman's attitude was so calm it appeared languid.
"Ugh... came running without even sleeping... My condition is a mess."
With a fatigue-laden voice, she swept her hair back. Her tall forehead and refreshing features were revealed. Dark circles deeply stained the skin under her eyes, and her lips were dry and chapped, but even wearing deep fatigue, her impression was far from fragile.
When she lowered her gun, with a soft clink, the bullet, having lost its force, dropped to the ground.
The bullet was perfectly intact, as if new.
The woman who had shot herself in the temple was also, appearing only a bit tired, perfectly fine not much different from the bullet.
"Oww, my head. I shouldn't have chugged beer because there was no liquor. Ouch. They just told me to stand by. I knew this would happen. But..."
Whether it was a lament or a complaint. The woman who murmured languidly narrowed her eyes.
The Military Nation's youngest Six-Star General.
With no background whatsoever, a Constellation of the Gun who rose to general solely through strength.
An incarnation of violence born under the Star of the Conqueror. Daughter of the Military Nation. Supernova.
Gunner, Director Historia.
"If the king of beasts is a beast, that's one thing, but even the progenitor stays quiet."
Roughly sweeping her hair up, she glared precisely at Ulpen with cool ash-gray eyes.
"Why is some worthless piece of shit so desperate to act tough? Is it because he's not dead yet?"
And immediately after, the Gunner aimed her gun at Ulpen.
Ulpen felt something strange. The fact that a woman who was a director of the Military Nation was aiming a 'gun' at Ulpen to attack him was incomprehensible.
As long as Bullet-Deflecting Qi existed, guns were meaningless. Even powerful arrows could be blocked without any issue by surrounding armor with a single layer of Qi, so short and light bullets could never overcome the Bullet-Deflecting Qi extending from the entire body.
Perhaps that was why. In the brief moment Ulpen saw the gun and let his guard down.
A gunshot rang out, and almost at the same time, Ulpen's shoulder twisted violently. Even Ulpen, who had Qi covering his entire body, couldn't withstand the impact and stepped back two paces.
Feeling the stinging pain in his right shoulder, Ulpen exclaimed with inward admiration.
"...Strong. Impressive."
He hadn't let his guard down. Unlike with the magician, even though he was radiating Bullet-Deflecting Qi at full intensity, the impact was tremendous. He had almost dropped the short sword he was holding.
However.
"It's still just a gun."
With this power, being unilaterally shot at from a distance would be dangerous.
But what fool would maintain distance knowing it was dangerous?
He immediately spewed Black Shadow Qi and ran, sliding along the edge of the road. Toward the soldier with the gun before his eyes.
The soldier fired consecutive shots with coldly sunken eyes.
Bang.
Perhaps because he had hidden his body in darkness. The next bullet veered above Ulpen's head. Not even powerful, yet unable to guarantee accuracy. One might wonder if that was even a weapon.
Bang.
This time it glanced off at an angle against the Bullet-Deflecting Qi. Bullet-Deflecting Qi was a repelling force. Unless the bullet hit directly, most would deflect.
Bang.
This time it struck the ground in front of Ulpen. Shattered concrete fragments covered him like buckshot, but even that was insufficient to stop Ulpen's charge.
And one more shot....
Click click. A hollow sound was heard. The Gunner frowned, brought the muzzle to her eye and looked beyond it. After checking the inside, the Gunner murmured.
"Ah. Out of bullets."
How stupid it sounded. Was the Military Nation really trying to stop him with such a general?
'Let me finish this quickly and hide my body. Dealing with one or two generals is easy, but making an enemy of a nation would be troublesome. I'll teach them that attacking me is a loss.'
At that time, as darkness swept away the street's light like a wave.
As if running out of bullets was no problem at all, a calm voice came from the golem.
『Do you require supplies?』
"I'm fine. It'll be over before resupply."
Murmuring, the Gunner immediately ripped out the streetlamp next to her.
The streetlamp bent sharply. The faint light vanished in an instant, and it plunged its head into the ground as if a giant had grabbed and twisted it. Along with the sound of tearing darkness, the glass that had embraced the light shattered and scattered in all directions.
Having destroyed the streetlamp simply by grabbing it, the Gunner clenched her fist as if she had no interest in the streetlamp's miserable end.
"Combat Alchemy."
Creeeaak.
Low-grade alchemical steel crumpled like paper. The streetlamp body that had held up light and served the Military Nation for nearly 20 years was gripped in the Gunner's hand. Along with the sound of metal grinding and crumbling, the soft alchemical steel was crushed like clay.
Although it was said to be soft due to its low quality, it was still iron. When had it ever received such a miserable treatment anywhere?
It was just that the opponent was a being who made a mockery of common sense.
Crunch. When the Gunner, who had lightly kneaded the alchemical steel with her palm, opened her grip again. An unevenly compressed metal sphere appeared in her hand.
The captain pointed out.
『Question. The technique you used cannot be called alchemy.』
"Tch, so nitpicky. As long as I make bullets, who cares how I do it."
Grumbling, the Gunner forced the bullet she had created into the muzzle.
It didn't go in. Naturally so. Just because she kneaded clay with her hands didn't produce a uniformly shaped sphere, so there was no way it would fit the specifications....
Until now.
The Gunner murmured.
"If it goes inside the gun, that's a bullet."
But with enough force, specifications were meaningless.
The Gunner applied force. The parts that didn't fit the specifications screamed and ground away. The crushed parts heated red-hot, and were trimmed to a shape that fit the muzzle perfectly, rolling obediently inside.
Cut off the parts that don't fit. If it doesn't go in, force it in. If it resists, push it.
Having created a bullet in a thoroughly Military Nation fashion, the Gunner spun the gun around and aimed forward again.
"Done."
The time it took to forge the alchemical steel into a bullet was barely about 5 seconds.
During that time, Ulpen had closed the distance in an instant. Ulpen, who had hidden his body in the darkness, slid his body and took the Gunner's rear. Coldly refined, pitch-dark killing intent aimed for the Gunner's neck....
Or so he thought, when studded military boots appeared in Ulpen's field of vision. The last thing he had seen was clearly an unprotected nape, yet the military boots, who knows when they had popped out, were gradually growing larger in Ulpen's vision.
Ulpen urgently thrust his short sword. Since she had already extended her leg, he intended to split it along with the leg, but.
It didn't reach. The military boot, shot out in an instant, shattered the short sword, snapped his arm, and struck Ulpen's head, blowing him away in a single blow.