I'm Not Crazy, Idiot? (3)
Strange.
The Obelisk, the David-class assault destroyer, captain's quarters.
Ever since Elia had become captain, this place had never had the lights turned off. Yet for some reason, a sinister darkness had descended upon it.
“...Are you sleeping?”
“I don't know. Why is it so quiet?”
Erica took a deep breath and looked down the long corridor. The air was cool. There was no feeling of presence at all. At the end of the corridor, in the pitch-black darkness, it felt like some monster might burst out at any moment.
“Everyone, move out.”
As she walked down the corridor, she kept turning over thoughts about Elia.
Thinking about it now, Ria said she had been feeling unwell lately, didn't she?
Laura's words brushed past her mind.
“Even on the day everyone was cheering, the captain was alone. She was alone in the room, enduring the pain of seizures. She's so lonely. Too lonely—”
A surge of deep sadness hit her. She had loyal crew members who would immediately jump in to help her if she was in pain or struggling. But for Elia? Who was there for Elia? No matter how she thought, no one came to mind that was appropriate.
Hmm, have I been too indifferent up until now?
But Elia's lofty and arrogant personality meant that finding someone to stand shoulder to shoulder with her might not be easy.
ⴕ
In front of the door to the captain's office.
Ivan manipulated the F.A.C.T.S hacking tool to open the door.
With a smooth “shick” sound, the door opened.
They quietly entered the interior of the captain's office.
......
The air in the captain's office was as cold as ice. Ivan gestured at something rolling around on the floor. It was the garbage from the combat rations that had been eaten.
How much did she eat...
Erica couldn't finish her thought. The garbage from the combat rations filled the floor. Soon, the overall appearance of the captain's office came into her eyes.
What is this...?
[Special Operations Officer Erica, how is the situation?]
At that moment, Chloe's communication came through. Instead of answering, Erica quietly activated the field of view sharing function of the F.A.C.T.S system.
[......]
Chloe seemed shocked by the interior of the captain's office. For several seconds, she didn't say a word. A space without any traces of normal life. Emptiness like staring at a bombed-out ruin. A broken priestess's den. A completely destroyed world. How had she been living in a place like this until now? Since when? Since when had she been trapped in this dark world?
[Is, is this the captain's office?]
“I can't believe it either, so please be quiet.”
Erica bit her lip and whispered softly. She was unusually angry. The living room of the captain's office, which was emitting a sinister aura. This place, where no warmth could be felt, was definitely the captain's office she knew.
......Damn it.
The crew members looked unwell. Perhaps the crew members might be thinking the same thing as her. At that moment, Ivan sent a signal from the bathroom side. Red liquid staining the floor of the bathroom.
Blood?
A flood of blood splattered on the floor of the bathroom. Black dead blood and freshly spilled red blood mixed together and stuck stickily to the floor.
Whose blood is this? Could it be Ria's?
The broken mirror fragments.
Blood stuck to the fragments and hardened.
Obvious signs of self-harm.
The scattered puzzle pieces came together.
Prohibition of entry to the captain's quarters.
Seizure symptoms that come without warning.
And the tragic scene in the captain's office.
An uneasy silence hung in the air. Erica forced her panicked mind and hurried with the crew towards Elia's room. Except for their own and the crew's faint footsteps and breathing, no other sounds could be heard.
Please, just stay safe, Ria Ria.
The closer they got to Elia's room, the higher the mountain of combat ration garbage on the floor piled up. Clear bloodstains started from the bathroom and continued all the way to Elia's door, and around the door, bloody handprints were smeared here and there.
Damn it, how did no one know about this until now?
Erica's heart plummeted straight into the abyss. It had been neglected. Neglected to a degree where the extent couldn't even be imagined. While emotions were being dominated by gloomy thoughts, a rumbling sound came from far away. The thunder of a space storm. Looking out the window of the captain's office living room, a few streaks of red radioactive lightning flashed from far beyond the galaxy.
Sister, hacking the security door of the office succeeded.
[From now on, I will execute the captain's restraint order.]
Five people enter, prioritize target suppression, and restrain.
Erica sent a signal to the crew with this content, and the crew who confirmed the signal followed her quietly to carry out the order.
......?
When the door opened, Elia sitting in the large chair of the office was revealed. She sat motionless in her seat. Her eyes closed, it looked like she was sleeping. She was firmly holding her position as if she would sit there forever, no matter who tried to pull her down.
What is this?
After sending a signal to the crew to be on guard, Erica slowly approached the chair to surprise-restrain her. Elia was sitting in her usual uniform, not a single wrinkle. The angle of her sitting posture was so precise that it gave goosebumps.
......Is, is she sitting and sleeping?
One step,
Another step.
Approaching secretly and cautiously.
At the moment she was about to put handcuffs on her secretly.
“-Dead.”
She suddenly lifted her head.
“...!”
A killing intent that seemed like she would suffocate and die at any moment.
“-Dead, and dead again.”
Pure white eyes with no pupils visible.
“I am-”
Tears of blood red blood flowed down her cheeks.
A horrific fear like a nightmare spread through her body.
Is it the manifestation of a ghost burning in the hellfire of hell?
“-When will I be able to follow them.”
Fear momentarily appeared in Erica's eyes.
Elia staggered and stood up from the chair.
[Special Operations Officer Erica!]
Chloe, watching the situation through the field of view sharing system, shouted urgently. Erica, who had regained her senses, rushed towards Elia. Since it had come to this, quick suppression was the answer.
“Groan?!”
But Elia instantly kicked powerfully, and startled, she quickly raised both hands to guard against the kick. Her hands went numb from the tremendous impact.
Damn it!
Erica, who blocked Elia's kick with the Dark Elf's martial arts 'Krib Maga', sweated profusely and cursed inwardly. Even though she had successfully deflected it with mana, the power was this much. If it hit directly, her arm bones might be shattered to pieces.
“Sister! It's dangerous!”
With a sharp sound that tore the air, Elia's kick flew again. The wrist guard with barrier magic was simply torn like paper by the two kicks, and startled, she swallowed her breath and distanced herself far away.
“Groan, Ria Ria! This is too much, isn't it?”
No answer came back.
She seemed to be in a state where she couldn't distinguish between friend and foe.
“Captain seems to be unconscious!”
“Damn it! I know that too! What kind of monster has she become?!”
Mana explosion.
Consciousness damage seizure state.
The phenomenon where the unconscious awakens as the consciousness is destroyed.
A kind of self-protection mechanism.
But it was strange. Normally, even if awakened, the unconscious's processing speed couldn't keep up with the body, so it moved very slowly. But this monster-like speed. The burden on both body and mind would be significant. For her sake, they had to suppress her quickly.
“Everyone, stay alert! If you mess up, you'll die!”
“Understood, sister!”
Five crew members surrounded Elia. In the moment Elia's gaze focused on Erica, Ivan made a surprise attack. He successfully grabbed her from behind and shouted.
“Elia Captain! Please come to your senses!”
“-Ah, Eve, Eve, Eve, Eve.”
Erica tried to knock her out by taking advantage of the gap when Elia was grabbed by Ivan. But she grabbed Ivan's arm with unbelievable strength and slammed it onto the desk in the office.
“Ivan!”
“Cr- groan!”
The office desk crashed and Ivan fell to the floor. At the same moment, without missing the chance, Elia jumped into the air and raised her hand blade towards the fallen Ivan. No time to hesitate.
“Shit!”
A gunshot rang out, and Elia was flung far away as if hit by a large hammer.
[Special Operations Officer Erica! I clearly said not to use weapons—!]
“Non-lethal 'Leafke' bullets, don't worry. And...”
A moment to catch her breath. Ivan grabbed the debris of the broken desk and stood up, spitting out the blood in his mouth. Moreover, the killing intent from just now was real, not fake.
“-If I hadn't shot, Ivan would have died.”
[Wait, what the... impossible!]
A moment to catch breath.
Chloe's shocked exclamation.
“-Let's be together forever.”
Leafke (Mercy) suppression bullet.
The name of the bullet made to break or kill something was a very gentlemanly name, but in reality it wasn't. It was an incomplete non-lethal bullet developed for suppression purposes under the assumption that 'if a mutiny on the ship occurs'. This bullet doesn't break or penetrate, but sticks to the body and releases a powerful mana wave, causing intense pain that makes the person unconscious for about 10 minutes.
But,
She was standing up.
She who should have been unconscious for the next 10 minutes for sure,
Was standing up normally.
“-Everyone is waiting.”
Mana sparks bursting from her whole body. Weak smoke rising from her hair and torn clothes, and a faint gunpowder smell filled the room. Tears of blood flowing from eyes stained with anger never stopped.
“Eve, Eve. I want to come to your side too...”
Even in the unconscious state, the name that called out painfully.
What kind of person's name is that name.
Is it the name of a colleague who stood shoulder to shoulder with her.
Erica loaded one more Leafke bullet with a broken-hearted expression.
[Wait, using two or more is dangerous!]
“Field command is mine, Chloe.”
No time to hesitate. Now, instead of the risk of using two suppression bullets, she had to worry about her unconsciousness invading the boundary of consciousness and breaking her mind. The longer the unconsciousness continues, the more dangerous it is.
“Sorry, Ria Ria.”
The words that flowed from Erica's mouth were filled with pain.
It was painful to look at Elia in this state any longer.
Where had it gone wrong? Regret came rushing in.
“-Really sorry.”
A high and sharp firing sound like something light exploded in the air. Whether the mana shockwave stirred inside her, Elia vomited blood and fell far away.
ⴕ
This is a story from the past.
Elia had stayed up all night and arrived in front of the Sector 09 conscription command headquarters. In front of the headquarters, young 'unregistered' who had been conscripted with her were standing around, checking each other out. The snow that had fallen since yesterday continued without stopping. The cruel loneliness pushed by the stinging snowflakes, but as always, not a trace of emotion appeared on Elia's face.
“Opening the gate! Please stay away from the door!”
A loud noise rang out, and the huge door opened.
Elia glanced at the watch given to her by 'mother'.
Exactly 7 AM.
Sector 09 'Forced conscription of unregistered residents in residential areas.'
The formal conscription had begun.
“Conscripts, line up and move quickly! We don't have time!”
With the sentry's shout, the commotion grew even louder. As more personnel who couldn't say goodbye at the door started wandering around, soon a group of sentries waiting nearby began forcibly separating them.
“Ah, no! This kid really doesn't know anything! Please!”
“Release them, they are conscripts!”
A woman was hugging someone and crying.
“Even so, taking such a young child away!”
Is she the same age as me?
The woman didn't let go of the girl in her arms.
“If you keep doing this, I'll use force!”
“It's my family, my family! Just because they weren't registered...!”
“Let go. I have to go.”
The girl trapped in the woman's arms opened her mouth, sobbing.
The girl pushed the woman away with both hands.
“Everyone here has something precious to them. I'm not special.”
Tears were endlessly flowing from the woman's eyes.
The girl wiped her tears with a sad smile.
“...Stop crying. I, even if I'm in pain, I'll endure it?”
With these words, the girl hurriedly turned her body and ran towards the entrance.
“Eve! Eve! No, Eve!”
The woman collapsed, and a cry that seemed like the end of the world echoed.
Elia stared at the scene blankly.
If 'mother' had been there in this place...
What unnecessary thoughts are you having.
I already made the choice, didn't I?
“Wait a minute!”
Someone grabbed the hem of her clothes as she walked towards the entrance.
It was the woman who was crying while holding the girl.
“Can you give this to the child from just now?”
Tears that hadn't yet fallen were glistening in the woman's eyes. A somewhat crumpled paper. Is she asking me to deliver this.
“......”
Elia accepted it and nodded silently.
“Thank you very much!”
Elia, who almost ignored the woman thanking her, moved her feet again.
“Please take care of Eve!”
Her stomach churned.
It kept coming to mind even though she had tried to erase it from her head. 'Mother' would be waking up now, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She always came to her at this time. Crossing the room like clouds, making a sound as her pajamas brushed against her bare skin, and coming into the blanket. In the blanket, with one arm she hugged her, and with the other hand she stroked her head. With that warm and kind touch, she sometimes fell into deeper sleep.
Would she blame her for disappearing without a word?
Would she cry like that woman, shedding tears and grieving?
And when I see her face...
Can I hold back my tears?
But I don't want to show her my crying face.
I don't want to see her sad expression.
Elia thought.
When things are bad, choose the lesser evil.
The huge steel door began to close with a loud noise again. The sentries lined up and returned to where they had come from. The steady sound of marching boots gradually faded away.
Thud-
The steel door closed completely with a final sound. For a moment, silence swept through the surroundings. At the same time, about ten trainers stood in a line, centered around a female wolf beastkin woman wearing white uniforms.
“Run.”
The silence was broken, but the white uniform gave the command, but most of the children hesitated.
“Isn't the situation clear? I said run. The goal is the building visible in front of you. I'll give you 5 seconds.”
Second. This time, it was a command with specific location added. But perhaps because the environment changed suddenly.
“You stupid trash kids! If you want to die, keep standing there stupidly!”
The suppressed tone exploded, and the white uniform raised her left hand. The waiting trainers raised their guns in response to the signal. Gunshots rang out, and some children died on the spot.
“I said it again, run.”
No time to scream.
Children starting to run with all their might.
“Ah... ah, aaaa...!”
At that moment, something caught Elia's eye.
Damn it.
It was Eve, a blonde girl. Seeing the corpses in front, her legs lost strength, and she just stared blankly at the trainer aiming a gun at her.
Just run. No need to help.
A piece of paper I was asked to deliver?
It's just a piece of paper.
It's not my business.
When I was giving legitimacy to my own actions,
A few images flashed through her mind quickly.
Dead Eve.
The woman crying while hugging the dead Eve.
And my 'mother.'
“No.”
Elia ran alone, turning her back.
“Ah... ah, aaaa.”
The sitting Eve was just waiting for the coming death with eyes full of fear. Elia shouted with all her strength.
“Stupid, wake up?!”
Bang, a gunshot rang out. By a hair's breadth, Elia hugged Eve and rolled several times on the floor as if thrown. Looking at the first point where she rolled, smoke was rising from a hole in the cement floor.
I have to wake up, if I don't, I'll die.
The trainers weren't just placed for intimidation.
The moment the rumor became true.
The 'defective' in training would be ruthlessly 'disposed of'.
If I hesitate, both will die.
After making the decision, Elia quickly lifted Eve onto her back.
“You stupid! If you care about such defects, you won't be able to avoid death either!”
From behind, the white uniform shouted at her. But there was no time to care about the shouting. She had to get out of here while the trainer was loading. Fortunately, the girl she was carrying was very small and light, so she could move at a certain speed.
“Hu... hu... huuuk...!”
Unpleasant crying.
Her head hurt.
“Stop crying. Don't drag it out.”
“Hic.”
This time, a hiccup.
Where did the girl who had been shouting loudly to endure go.
“Haa...”
It was the same for her. She had lived in the orphanage until now, and she had never been in a situation where her life was threatened. But the moment she arrived here, she had crossed the threshold of a terrifying death.
“From now on, stay alert and follow me.”
This was the first meeting with Eve.