Rooftop Infiltration (1)
A woman's shopping never ends with just one purchase. 'If you've bought clothes, you obviously need accessories to match, and if you've bought accessories, you need makeup to complete the look.' Apply that logic to weapons, and my conclusion is simple: once you've picked your main armament, you naturally need a sidearm too.
This time, I studied the employee's future posture as she held the pistol toward empty air instead of his throat. It looked a little awkward compared to the rifle, but at least she didn't seem so nervous she'd accidentally put a hole in the back of my head.
"Seventeen-round magazine for plenty of ammo, lightweight materials and grip designed for smaller hands, and the option to attach lights or lasers as needed. It's the pinnacle of practicality."
When the employee launched into his sales pitch like a traveling medicine man, I folded my arms and asked skeptically, "From the way you talk, this thing could take down every monster out there?"
"There's actually a record of a hunter who loves German-made weapons using a pair of these to take down a high-grade monster."
"Yeah, yeah... You never miss a beat with the sales talk. Future, what do you think? Are you going with this like the man says?"
At my question, Future gripped and released the pistol's handle a few times before nodding with a satisfied expression. "Yes! It feels great in my hand~ Perfect for beginners like me."
"Indeed... Boldly abandoning the flashiest option in favor of practicality. That's an excellent attitude for a beginner."
The employee glanced at me with a slight smile, clearly signaling it was time to pay. I let out a long sigh, fished my card from my pocket, and handed it over.
"Put it on six-month installments."
"Oh... I thought you preferred paying in full, Charon?"
When the employee raised an eyebrow in surprise, I replied casually, "The bank keeps nagging me that full payments don't build credit points."
"Pfft... Understood. Six-month installments it is."
The employee chuckled as he swiped my card. Future, who had been watching, widened her eyes until they were the size of dinner plates and started stammering. "Th-that... um... I-I'll pay for it myself..."
"Ah, that? Don't worry about it. It's standard procedure. Team leaders are supposed to outfit new members."
"B-but spending that much money? I feel bad accepting it..."
When she looked completely lost, I lightly flicked her forehead. "This way you'll listen to me better. And if you show up later with some weird gun that doesn't take standard ammo, resupplying you will be a headache. Just take it and stop arguing."
"Ah...!"
Future finally seemed to understand my deeper meaning. With a moved expression, she clutched the pistol with both hands and carefully tucked it into her pocket as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. Watching her, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch upward despite myself.
'Not bad at all.'
Even though next month's me would have to pay off the installments, seeing her so happy made the expense feel worthwhile.
Carrying the heavy rifle case the employee had carefully wrapped and the pistol case Future had claimed, we left the store. Like young women who'd just finished shopping at a department store, we began scanning our surroundings with hawk-like eyes, wondering if there might be any other new items worth checking out.
"Um... Next would be uniforms, right? The mobile team's combat uniforms looked really cool earlier... Hehe..."
"Combat uniforms are custom-fitted. The staff will take your measurements later and issue one. It'll take a few days."
"What if an emergency happens before then? I won't have anything to wear..."
At her worried question, I approached Future—who was struggling with the gear—and playfully pressed my index finger against the bridge of her nose while grinning. "Then... you'll have to borrow my spare clothes or go in your birthday suit."
"Huh? Really? I... I haven't even finished proper training yet..."
"Train like it's real combat. And fight like it's real combat."
"Ugh... Something about that sounds off..."
When Future made a sulky face, I laughed and released her nose. "Just kidding. We might get deployed right away, but don't worry too much. Our main mission isn't fighting massive monsters that hunters risk their lives against."
"Then what do we deal with?"
"Hmm... At minimum, creatures that can actually get injured by regular bullets?"
"Ehehe... That actually makes me feel a little better!"
Future smiled brightly even though she clearly didn't realize that wasn't much reassurance. I started walking again, but as they say, the mouth is a source of trouble. A sudden ominous feeling brushed down my spine.
'Every time I say something like that, my phone starts vibrating and calling us in.'
Vrrr~ Vrrr~
The familiar, ominous vibration came from my pocket.
"Ah... Damn it. Why did I have to open my mouth..."
And my gloomy premonition was never wrong. I frowned as I checked the screen, and the message was enough to make anyone sigh—or curse.
[Rampage incident in Hwahap-gu District 2.]
"Ha... We're being called in."
"Huh? Called in?"
Future asked with wide eyes.
"Run, rookie."
"Yes! Understood!"
We abandoned any trace of our earlier shopping leisure and sprinted through the confused regular hunters toward the staff-only elevator. But the elevator stopped at every floor, taking its sweet time delivering passengers.
"Tch. That's why you can't trust elevators."
We had no choice but to throw open the emergency stairwell door and race up the stairs like mad toward the deployment staging area.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
I was taking the stairs two or three at a time, gripping the handrail, when I heard ragged breathing behind me.
'Sorry, but I don't have time to look after you...'
Even as an awakened, her stamina was probably better than a regular person's, but I didn't have the luxury of checking whether the brand-new rookie Future was keeping up. Still, the sound of her footsteps chasing after me never stopped, so at least her endurance passed the test.
Crash!
Panting heavily, I kicked open the door to Team 1's ready room.
"Huff... Huff..."
While Future followed me in and bent over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath, the ready room was already a battlefield.
"What's the status of the other teams?"
I shouted the moment I entered.
"Team 2, which was on standby today, deployed five minutes ago!"
Belpe was calmly briefing us while hurriedly pulling on combat pants over his underwear, but his bushy tail was busy wriggling through the hole in the pants. Beside him, the dog-eared Sirius had flipped open a weapon case and was releasing safeties and loading magazines.
"Magazine distribution complete!"
And Felis, true to her feline nature, moved the fastest—she had already finished donning her armor and was tightening the laces on her boots. Despite the urgency, everyone moved with the efficient precision of veterans.
"Good. Let's change and get ready to move out immediately."
"Yes, Mama!"
With the team's resounding reply, the air in the ready room began moving even faster. I pointed at Future, who was standing there dazed.
"Felis! Take care of the rookie! Put her in my spare combat uniform!"
"Yep!"
The moment my order dropped, Felis shot forward like an arrow, grabbed the bewildered Future's arm, and dragged her into a corner.
"Alright, rookie! Arms up! Arms up!"
"Huh? Huh?!"
"Hurry up! If you don't change now, you'll have to go out in your birthday suit!"
"Kyaaah!"
With Felis's swift hands, Future's clothes were stripped off before she knew what was happening, and she was forced into my spare combat uniform.
"How's the fit?"
I asked while tossing off my top. Felis called out as she zipped up the back of Future's uniform.
"It fits pretty well! But there's some extra room in the chest area?"
"I've got more volume than her! It might be a little loose, so tighten the straps!"
"Yes! Understood!"
"Ugh... Isn't this too tight?"
Future groaned, but we didn't have time to accommodate her. I shrugged off my tracksuit like shedding a husk and started putting on my own combat gear. The cool touch of the special fiber against my skin sharpened my previously relaxed mind.
Once I'd roughly pulled everything on and added the tactical vest with its ballistic plates, my head finally felt a little clearer.
"Ha... Which pretty girl brought my combat uniform from the private room?"
"That was me~ Mama!"
Felis, who had been tightening Future's gear straps, flicked her long tail toward me.
"I knew it. Cats have the best sense."
"Eh? That's totally species discrimination!"
Sirius, who had been struggling to hand over my personal shield, cried out with wide eyes. His ears perked up in shock before flattening again.
"What's wrong with calling my kid my kid? If you don't like it, try being more perceptive yourself."
"Ugh... But still..."
When Sirius's ears drooped, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Dog demi-humans really did swing between heaven and hell on a single word from their owner. I accepted the shield with one hand and ruffled the cute dog's head with the other.
"Good job. You're the one who brought the shield, after all."
Sirius still looked wronged, but his tail wagged like a propeller. As expected, demi-human bodies couldn't lie.
"Alright, playtime's over. Belpe? What's the situation?"
I hardened my expression and turned to Belpe.
"Yes. The advance team, Team 2, has sealed the entrance to the rampage zone. The civilians trapped in the affected area... are residents who refused to evacuate from the mana reaction warning zone."
"Ha."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"We told them weeks ago to evacuate or they might get shot. Are they that desperate to die?"
"Well... They said if they leave their homes empty, thieves will definitely target them... So they decided to stay and guard their houses."
"Unlucky bastards... They value their house deeds more than their own lives."
I clicked my tongue and put on my goggles.
"Report that we're ready to deploy."
"Yes, Mama."
Since Belpe had started reporting to the situation room via radio, we had a brief moment of respite until the helicopter arrived. I habitually glanced at the clock on the wall—only about five minutes had passed since we'd arrived here. That was how long it had taken us to change and finish preparing amid all the chaos.