EP.259 The Nation of Steel and the Faceless Humans - 8
A trap must conceal its danger until the moment someone falls into it. A trap reveals its cruel fangs only after the prey is caught.
Because of that, Zigkhrlund's trap required a few things.
The lights filling the control room were the finest trap to bind the progenitor of vampires, but they possessed no physical force in themselves. If anything, it was the flimsiest, most loosely woven net in the world. Tir wasn't the only one in our party; if any of us responded, we could tear through it in an instant.
Therefore, Zigkhrlund had prepared two things to perfectly subdue us.
One was Cheontong Aimeder. The artificial angel guarding the military nation. The incarnation of light that grows strongest under brilliant illumination.
The other was the troops hidden throughout the labor camp.
The fact that it was a trap must not be revealed. Thus, troops couldn't be placed outside. If the refinery were treated as enemy territory where troops could spring out at any moment, it would be difficult to lure them into the trap.
So Zigkhrlund hid elite troops inside the refinery, where the laborers were confined. Hiding them was easy. They just had to slacken their strength and pretend to be laborers.
The operation succeeded. The trap was triggered, and they immediately rushed in. For us, it was quite troublesome timing.
However, just as we fell into the trap, they were equally troubled now.
"The annihilation sequence has been activated?! This wasn't in the plan...!"
Left alone, the entire refinery would evaporate.
But the opportunity to defeat the enemy was only now.
If they let the refinery evaporate, they would fail their strategic objective, and if they went to stop the annihilation device, the forces to deal with us would be depleted.
The military nation's dilemma.
Aim for tactical victory, or achieve the strategic objective.
When they fell into confusion, forced to choose between the two, Historia stepped in front of them with firm resolve, as if to add to their confusion. The troops' advance halted.
"Director Historia...!"
When the Six-star General blocked the narrow passage, murmurs spread through the center of the troops.
Those troops were a direct unit dispatched from headquarters. The appearance of the military nation's daughter, the idol of the generals, Historia, was common knowledge.
But the agitation was momentary; they too were elites. They quickly reformed their ranks and faced Historia.
The commander leading the troops, Captain Toruk, stepped forward with his fists clenched tightly.
"I see. Director Historia. I didn't expect you to betray the military nation."
"...Step aside. I don't want to hurt you."
"Targeting the refinery. Treason and now terrorism. Just like Rancart, you're desperate to go to Tantalus. Are you out of your mind?"
"It was to minimize combat. If we hadn't attacked the refinery, a full-scale battle would have erupted. Then."
"You believe we would be defeated? The military nation's army!"
Historia fell silent. The riled-up Captain Toruk took several deep breaths to calm himself.
"Disobeying orders, desertion, and treason. Summary execution would be appropriate, but given the urgent situation, I'll make you an offer."
Captain Toruk raised his chin as if they held an overwhelming advantage and proposed.
"Surrender immediately and subdue the enemies of the military nation. Then I'll spare your lives. Not just yours, but the lives of those you wish to save as well."
To choose the most efficient method at the most critical timing. As expected of the military nation.
Right now, the regressor was tied down by Aimeder. Under the pouring light, even Tir's power would weaken and her range of activity would shrink significantly. If Historia sided with them at this very moment, the tide would instantly turn.
But not a chance. Historia wouldn't betray us...
"Is that your unilateral decision, Captain, or the headquarters' judgment?"
Hey. Historia. Why are you hesitating? Why are you asking that?
"It's the headquarters' judgment. I oppose it, but if it's the headquarters' order, I'll follow it. Because I'm a soldier of the military nation."
"...."
Historia slowly turned her gaze toward me and Siati. Cold calculation was contained in that look.
No, no way. You're not actually considering betrayal in that short time, are you?
"Nonsense! I'd rather die than surrender!"
Siati's cry was desperate but lacked real force. And it was completely contrary to my opinion. I'd surrender rather than die. Even if you roll in a dung heap, life is precious.
Ah, of course not right now. It's not dangerous enough to die. Though it would get a bit dangerous if Historia sided with them...
"Ria."
"Huey. I'm just considering..."
"Are you planning to take our corpses this time too?"
One word was enough to turn her inclining heart back.
As if struck by lightning, Historia's body trembled violently. Her eyes, which had always been calm whether languid or sharp, glared wide open. Her tightly clenched hands shook pitifully.
"You, how..."
The military nation's taboo. Historia's nightmare. That incident in Hamelin had meaning. At the very least, it left an indelible mark on those who witnessed the scene.
"Salvaging them from the river solves nothing. Historia, what sank to the riverbed wasn't their bodies, but their hearts."
And one of those people had now become a Six-star General, a person who held the military nation's fate in her hands. The deaths of those children only changed Historia and me a little, but it ultimately changed the military nation.
Would the children who died be satisfied with that fact...? I don't know.
"...Stay back. If you die, I won't let it go."
"Then, good luck."
Historia, who had looked at me with terrible eyes, or perhaps eyes filled with fear, sharply averted her gaze. Ultimately, driven into a corner, Historia stepped forward. It felt less like charging at the enemy and more like fleeing from me and Siati.
'Tch. This is getting troublesome.'
Captain Toruk, clicking his tongue inwardly, spoke to Historia one last time.
"For someone like you to be swept up in petty sentiment and make a foolish choice. Are you confident you won't regret your decision?"
It's not a choice. The world doesn't call a path taken out of desperation a choice.
Being strong doesn't mean your emotions become equally hardened. Historia was so strong that she was lonely. The world looked like a handful of soft clay. In a daily life where everything seemed like it would crumble if she gripped it tightly, she had to regulate her strength every moment. She wanted her friends to reach her side.
But no one answered her wish. The girl back then didn't know that to get close, she had to approach first.
"...Among my regrets, there is no room for new ones."
Now only all-out war remained. Captain Toruk realized that fact.
However, even facing the military nation's Six-star General, he did not tremble with fear. That was partly because he was a soldier, but largely because there was no reason to fear.
'The plan went awry, but this is within expectations. The Progenitor has been neutralized. Once Cheontong slashes the boy and the Ark binds the General. The rest can be easily subdued. If we subdue them, both the Progenitor and the General will surrender.'
"When the scales are this tilted, there's no need for negotiation. That was your last chance. It's a pity, Director Historia. Everyone, attack...!"
"Excuse me, Generals. It seems you're misunderstanding something."
Crash—the sound of something collapsing was heard.
The sound wasn't very loud. It only stood out slightly in the noise-filled control room. However, the visual effect was tremendous.
The light was tilting in one direction.
The color that the setting sun displayed was being reproduced indoors. The gradually slanting light dimmed as if night had fallen.
"What...!"
"The scales are tilted, that's true, but they didn't tilt in your direction!"
Even if I was confused about what the annihilation device was, I had read from Zigkhrlund's thoughts that the trap was light. And that Cheontong would come.
Then there was no way I wouldn't prepare. Just remove the lights.
The principle of the lights was simple. Draw alchemy steel thin, heat it, and light would emanate from it. Most officers knew combat alchemy, so producing lights in an alchemy steel refinery would have been easy.
But was that sufficient? Not quite.
"Improvising the lights was a brilliant move. But still, seriously, why would you attach them to barbed wire in such a hurry?"
Right after my words ended, Azi dashed from the left side of my vision to the right.
Behind us, the regressor and Aimeder were fighting fiercely, and on this side, Historia was facing off against numerous humans. But with a calm movement as if that had nothing to do with her, Azi walked as if taking a stroll. The humans were momentarily speechless at that absurd sight.
"Arf, arf! Arf, arf!"
In Azi's mouth as she walked were dozens of strands of barbed wire.
"What if a dog passing by bit into it?"
Crunch, rip.
A mere dog was tearing off barbed wire. The size of the barbed wire Azi was dragging was absurd compared to Azi's size. It was an irrational scene, like a single fish swimming while dragging an entire net.
With every step, the building rumbled, and the lights attached to the barbed wire burst one after another. Whenever the tautly pulled barbed wire caught her steps, Azi shook her head irritably. The torn barbed wire shook violently and dropped the lights to the floor. Lights fell in all directions and exploded.
Behind such Azi, the princess carrying tools in her hands came trotting out, covered in black soot.
Walking along, the princess saw the troops and stopped in surprise. Only then did the stopped time flow again. Captain Toruk alternated looking at Azi and the princess, then extended his longsword toward Azi, who had the barbed wire in her mouth.
"Stop that thing right now!"
Captain Toruk shouted. He and the other generals and officers took the lead and charged at Historia.
From the beginning, they knew their place, so they didn't think they could defeat Historia with their strength alone. Instead, they pushed their bodies in with a plan to break through the narrow gap between Historia and the entrance.
But they didn't know their limits. They believed that with their combined numbers, they could smoothly break through Historia.
"Gah!"
"Hah!"
"Keugh!"
It was a single breath. Historia stepped on the wall, ceiling, and floor in order. It was less like lightly stepping and more like a rubber ball bouncing wildly and hitting in all directions.
Historia, who had stamped footprints on the wall and ceiling while exhaling explosive qi, settled back on the floor. By then, not a single general was standing on two feet in front of her. The officers who had jumped in were sliding across the ground, having been struck somewhere.
A general who had been kicked in the chest and sent tumbling ground his teeth.
"Damn it...! There's no time...!"
"Cut the useless talk! Two of you, tie down her feet!"
Every time Azi dug her claws into the ground and walked, lights burst. The more that happened, the darker the inside of the control room became. No, without us noticing, it had already grown dim as if night was seeping in.
I gave up an additional 10% of my shares for that. Because of you, the time is coming when I'll slowly have to worry about debt default.
"Cheontong is over there, so we just need to join forces and fight!"
The same goes for us.
As the light gradually disappeared, Aimeder stood out even more in the control room. Aimeder, who had been driving the regressor without a moment's respite, became clearer in form as it grew darker.
Now. Sparkling lights move dazzlingly. And here, there is also an animal that goes crazy when it sees such toys.
"Meow!"
Nabi, unable to hold back any longer, leaped down onto Aimeder.
It was a stealthy and powerful surprise attack. It was all the more lethal because it stemmed not from hostility but from pure curiosity and hunting instinct.
Nabi's forelegs pressed down on Aimeder. If she had raked with her claws instead, Aimeder, made of light, would not have taken much damage. But Nabi's goal was to catch the cluster of light, and because of that romantic motion, the cluster of light scattered in an instant.
Thanks to Nabi, the regressor gained a brief moment to catch his breath.
"Alright, with this...!"
The regressor drew Jizan. After spinning and readjusting his grip, the regressor heaved Jizan over his shoulder and hurled it with all his might. Toward the lights on the opposite side of Azi that had not yet fallen.
The barbed wire draped over the solid concrete wall was no different from a flimsy spiderweb before the weight of Jizan. Jizan struck the barbed wire hard, and the wall of stone and steel undulated like a wave. Stone and steel fragments rained down, and from the impact, many lights were broken or shattered.
Before the regressor could retrieve Jizan, Aimeder, having shaken off Nabi, aimed for the opening and thrust a blade of light.
[You've certainly put up quite a fuss. Yes, a trap using light. It was an unpleasantness I haven't experienced in a long time.]
A streak of light was sucked into the darkness. The movement, which had been like a ray of light, noticeably slowed. Where the lights had disappeared and darkness remained, the darkness had somehow taken form and caught the angel's blade.
When the outside grows dark, the vampire opens her eyes. Tir, having regained her senses, stood in Aimeder's path. Looking at Aimeder, who had become much faster and stronger than before, Tir tilted her head.
[However, this is strange. Even the Archangel of the Holy Emperor's Court shouldn't be able to revive so easily. Just what have you offered as a sacrifice?]
Aimeder didn't answer. Instead, it reached out its arm.
The light flowing from the lights was sucked into Aimeder's body. The form that had blurred from Nabi's attack was instantly reconstructed. Looking at Aimeder, who had become perfectly intact in an instant, Tir murmured calmly.
[Even not answering is the same. Very well. I will ask no more.]
『Obliterate.』
"Tir is free, and Azi and Nabi are playing their parts. Now, everyone of the military nation. Are you slowly coming to your senses? This place is no longer a trap. It's your grave."
We already held a much greater advantage. It would be the same even if the Ark, which was watching for an opportunity, joined in. The tilted scale had reached the point where it rolled on its own.
A commander would feel that fact to the bone. Even if they wouldn't show weakness before the enemy.
"Do you think we'll surrender because of that?!"
"No! There's no need to surrender! Instead, we can all become winners! Let me make an offer for your sake!"
I raised my hand, pointed behind him, and shouted.
"If right now you turn around and save the laborers who are dying at this very moment! On humanitarian grounds, we will help you!"