EP.204 Land Flowing Like a River - 6
Projectile weapons are trash weapons that don't even seem like weapons. This has been a widely known fact and common sense since ancient times.
Air imbued with mana and floating basically repels everything it collides with. Even an arrow trying to squeeze through a gap is incredibly noisy compared to its slow speed. Those with good sensory perception can easily detect it, and if they react in time, they can easily deflect it.
It's the same for bullets. That weapon, second to none in being noisy, has always been criticized for its pathetic lethality. Unless fired at point-blank range, it's nothing more than an annoying swarm of buzzing flies that can't even kill an ordinary person.
However, the Military Nation came up with a slightly different idea.
If mere ordinary soldiers can buzz annoyingly near absolute powerhouses, isn't that a tremendous advantage?
While the Military Nation was reaping significant benefits from this, the being who appeared like a comet was Commander Historia.
Bang, bang.
Since we were hiding inside the container, the bullets flew in intermittently, as if reminding us of their existence just as we were about to forget them.
Of course, the bullets couldn't even pierce the outer wall of the container. However, we couldn't just let our guard down. Just when our minds relaxed, the container dented inward with an enormous roar. It was Historia's bullet.
"An annoying swarm of flies. And a wasp hiding among them... you said. Hmm. That title is quite fitting."
As Tyr clenched her hand, the darkness flowing along the floor brought the dented bullet inside the container. Tyr evaluated the flying bullet in a leisurely tone.
"Even though the sun is shining, to dent steel clad in my stigma. And from that distance, no less."
"Right. It's the perfected version of the Military Nation's tactics. She's not called the Daughter of the Military Nation for nothing."
The regressor grumbled while simultaneously glaring at me sideways.
"At this point, I'm curious if something strange happened in Hameln. What kind of grudge did you incur? Just a few days ago, she simply told us to get lost and let us pass, but now a General is holding onto us with her life on the line?"
"I told you, it's a personal matter. She's probably the only one who wants to catch me, right?"
"What did you do?"
"Ah, well. It's a long story. I was around sixteen. In the Military Nation's military middle school, where the bloom of youth is scraped away to forge weapons, we..."
I took a seat and recalled my past memories. Tyr had somehow started listening and prepared to hear me out.
The radiant memories of my school days. Hameln on the low hill, and the river trickling beneath it. The memories and dreams that lingered there...
"Just give me the short version."
"Tch. No fun."
"Is this about fun? The enemy is right on our doorstep!"
"Alright, alright."
I shrugged my shoulders and explained.
"Hameln tried to use the students somewhat like bullet shells, you see? Because of that, the students got furious and used the tactics and combat skills they learned from the Military Nation against the Military Nation. They organized raids, the base burned, they held out, and after occupying the training camp like that, they tried to execute the top of the class as an example."
The regressor, who had been listening quietly, flinched when he realized that was my story.
'Wait. If it's the top of the class, that's him, right? He had a past where he was almost executed by his friends?'
Exactly. That's why I said it wasn't something to say briefly.
The regressor asked with a noticeably cautious expression.
"...Tried to, but?"
"Thinking about it, killing a fellow student doesn't look good. A fight against the Military Nation is a struggle, but an attack against the top of the class is just rage steeped in inferiority, right? It means the message doesn't land. The message. At the last moment, realizing that, my classmates chose to take their own lives instead of fighting back."
"..."
"And in the middle of all that, they told me to join them in suicide? A crisis of life and death. Wow, but displaying my resourcefulness at the last moment, I played dead and slipped out."
'He's been a crazy bastard since his student days. Well, considering his other aspects, it's not like only this guy would be normal.'
What a disappointing thing to say. Isn't it unfair? The 2nd and 3rd ranked students in Hameln were so strong that no one dared to touch them. It was just that the 1st ranked, weak me was the easy target.
At this point, aren't I the victim? Is being weak a crime?
"I barely survived and was trying to return, but the Military Nation, not wanting to take responsibility, pointed at me as the culprit, you know? It was utterly unfair. I only had a whistle in my mouth instead of a gag, but it made it seem like I led everyone with that whistle."
"I roughly get it. Anyway, it means the Military Nation is the bad one."
"You'd better remember that. If there's something bizarrely bad, it's usually made by the Military Nation."
Fortunately, the regressor didn't seem too interested in this matter. Having experience overthrowing the Military Nation in his previous iteration, he seemed to just brush off minor incidents.
'It's quite a tragic past... Well, there's no one without a story. Compared to Commander Historia or Lankart, it's rather better. Because he doesn't cause much damage.'
It was partly out of consideration for me.
"Anyway, their intention is obvious."
"They're neither shooting us down nor approaching. Their intention to stall for time until they join up with the main force is quite clear."
"Break through, or wait. It's one of the two."
While the two modern people were pondering for a moment, the vampire whose warfare doctrines were stuck centuries ago confidently made a suggestion.
"Let us break through. In all warfare, the first is strength, and the second is momentum. If we only retreat, we will inevitably be driven onto the defensive."
It's not a bad method. If you have the power, crushing and smashing is always the right answer.
"Well, it's not a bad idea. Would you care to try?"
"Wait just a moment. I shall return before the tea grows cold."
Ooh, confidence. As I looked up to her, Tyr shrugged her shoulders leisurely.
'Whether it's bullets or whatever. That alone cannot stop me. Now, shoot to your heart's content.'
Without a moment's hesitation, Tyr stepped out. She was exposed alone on the flat land flowing like a river. At that moment, Tyr covered her face with her palm and frowned.
Bullets poured down on her. Even though Tyr's stature wasn't that tall, the volley of fire battered the vampire's body. Unable to react because she was covering her eyes, Tyr was tormented by the pouring bullets.
Of course, mere bullets couldn't harm her.
However, it wasn't the bullets that stopped Tyr.
"...Curse that damned sun."
Not even a few minutes had passed. Tyr, who had tried to advance holding a parasol, couldn't endure and turned back.
I handed the still-warm tea to the disheartened Tyr.
"It's still warm, indeed. Would you like a sip?"
A few dented bullets were embedded in her body. To be precise, they were embedded in the darkness shrouding her body, but anyway.
While I peeled the bullets off Tyr's body, who couldn't even open her eyes properly, Tyr muttered with a troubled expression.
"...Of all things, they are to the east, so the sunlight is harsh. Curse that damned sun."
"Isn't it too much to curse someone who diligently commutes from the east every day?"
"How dare you take the sun's side before me?"
'If it weren't for that sun, I would have taken you to where you wanted to go already. I could have brushed aside such petty hindrances!'
Right? Thinking of it that way, the sun is a bit insolent. Hey, mister. Can't you take a day off? Just fall asleep for a bit.
Wait, calm down. Without the sun, we die. Not just humans, but that sunlight is what takes care of this land.
Phew. I almost got possessed by a vampire. Let's calm down.
"If it weren't for the sunlight seeping through the gaps in my darkness, such mere scraps of iron wouldn't have even caused an itch."
"Huh? Then it's itchy now?"
Tyr, who was furious with displeasure, finally realized what the sensation she was feeling all over her body was. A stimulation infinitely small and weak to be considered pain, but because it existed, it bothered her—an incredibly minute sensation.
Ah, that is what you call itching. Tyr muttered at the unfamiliar feeling.
"...Now that I think about it, it is strangely itchy. How bizarre. Such a sensation should not exist within me."
"If it's itchy to Tyr, that means it's affecting your authority. Are these normal bullets? Hold on a second."
I carefully examined the bullet I peeled off Tyr's body. On the dented tip, pure white crystals were faintly catching the light and sparkling like stars, and even without tasting it, I could identify the familiar white powder.
Still, it's better to taste it. I brought the bullet to my mouth and licked it. The undiluted salty taste was immediately apparent.
Tyr recoiled in horror and asked.
"Hah?! How unsightly! What are you doing?"
"Ptooey. As I thought, they were salt bullets... Huh? What's so unsightly about checking a bullet?"
"No, never mind."
'To put something that touched another's body into your mouth without any hesitation... Humans these days are bold.'
Even with telepathy, I can't quite understand the vampire's mindset. Perhaps because their only joy in life is sucking blood, they care more about what touches their mouth than bearing their chest (bones).
Anyway. Salt that emits white light has been used since ancient times to ward off evil. It's only natural that there's a folk remedy saying that if you throw salt at a vampire, the vampire will hate it.
Actually, not just vampires, but humans would hate getting hit with salt too, but whatever.
"To manufacture and supply special ammunition like salt bullets in such a short time. I guess it truly is the Military Nation."
"...It is fine. If the sun rises just a little higher, there will be no great difficulty in dealing with them."
"The other side probably aimed for that too. Moreover, they circled around to our front, standing with the wind and the sun at their backs. It feels like even if you threw the bullets by hand, they'd reach us, let alone shooting them."
Without shrouding herself in darkness, Tyr's marching speed is, at best, that of an infantryman. From the Military Nation's Shooter Unit's perspective, she's just a good target.
An invincible practical scarecrow that exerts tremendous psychological pressure.
For the next two or three hours, we won't be able to use the cheat tactic of a one-point breakthrough with Tyr.
"Then, is it my turn?"
A voice containing a chilling killing intent, as if pressing a blade against the skin, was heard. The regressor was glaring beyond with his entire body stiff with tension.
"I need to instill caution in them. If I can take down the Commander, I will; if not, I'll at least deal some damage and come back. That way, they won't try anything half-baked like dispatching a task force or sending scouts during the subsequent pursuit."
I understood why the regressor was feeling offended. Task forces and scouts are forces you only deploy when you're confident you won't be defeated in detail, even if you divide your forces.
I understood his feelings, but I immediately shook my head.
"Is that necessary?"
"What do you mean, necessary?"
"I mean, there's no reason to forcefully break through them in a disadvantageous situation, right? There's no tactical advantage, and it's obvious they prepared salt bullets just to stall for time."
"Then what, we just sit here and take it? Until their main force arrives?"
"No."
As if. I smirked.
"We need to take it well."
They're on the other side of the road, intending to gnaw at our nerves with volleys of fire. For the time being, we'll use that against them.
They'll shoot if someone peeks out? Sure, go ahead and shoot.
If you can find a sense of purpose in it, that is!
"Come out, Chubby!"
"Woof!"
Our team's secret weapon, finally revealed—Azi, looking plump from wearing layers of silk armor, howled. As I swung my arm widely, Azi spun his body accordingly.
It looked more like a dog rolling than an elegant turn, but thanks to the layers of silk armor, his presence was tremendous. It was as if a short-haired breed had become a long-haired breed with its fur fluffed out. If we rolled him like this, it felt like he would roll to the ends of the earth.
"These days is an era where even dogs wear clothes. If so, it's not strange for them to wear shoulder armor!"
"Woof! It's suffocating!"
"Bear with it. With this, you'll hurt less while turning that side into a mess!"
"Woof, I'll endure it! For my share!"
"Share? What share?"
Azi, tilting his head with wide, sparkling eyes, couldn't have his thoughts read through telepathy or actions.
"Anyway, you roughly get it, right? It's time to announce your noisiness to the whole world!"
"Awooooo!"
Azi bolted like lightning. Right after, bullets began firing in that direction. A sound similar to rain was heard as something brushed past behind us.
But even bare-bodied, Azi can dodge or endure mere bullets. The bullets couldn't even match Azi's footprints. The ones that occasionally hit just bounced off the armor. Azi ran in all directions, drawing closer to them.
Screams and shouts erupted. For now, making a commotion was a success.
"How noisy. It's certainly incomparable for harassing... Sigh, but even so, the King of Dogs cannot harm humans, can he?"
"Right. They'll stop firing soon enough."
Right after my words ended, the gunshots died down. A subtle stillness was felt. Azi also seemed to have nothing to do and just stared blankly, and the other side was forcibly ignoring Azi. Two groups with no intent to attack each other faced off bizarrely.
"...Then isn't it completely useless?"
"Right. Since Azi can't attack... Azi, you see."
Perhaps sensing something ominous from my words, the regressor flinched and looked around. Then, feeling something ominous, he grabbed me by the collar.
"...Wait, hey. Didn't you ask me for something like a bomb yesterday?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"Behind Azi."
As if the other side also realized something, they poured bullets as if trying to chase him away. But it was too late. Azi was already within a hair's breadth.
Kaboom.
A tremendous roar echoed from the land ahead.