The Old-Timer of Hongwei-7
[Po—?]
At Lena's remark, Podic only tilted her head as if she didn't understand what was being said.
The way she made strange sounds like po-po made her look so innocent that it was hard to believe she was the target of the Astral forces that had just torn through Hongwei-7.
Lena crossed her arms and scanned Podic, speaking like an expert appraising a costly raw diamond.
"She's likely a Quasi-Named Grade Hachishakusama with an alias we aren't aware of, Commander."
"If that's the case... then there was a reason those Astral bastards were after her."
"Exactly. The essence held by a Quasi-Named Grade Anomaly is a treasure of immense value to them."
"……Eh?"
Listening to the ECHOs' conversation, I let out a dumb sound without realizing it.
Podic's Quasi-Named Grade?
This expressionless, big-breasted woman who goes po-po and is obsessed with dicks? For real?
[Po—?]
Meeting my bewildered gaze, Podic simply tilted her head again.
"You were that strong?"
At my mutter, Pomen, who was standing beside me, curled the corners of her lips with interest.
"My, Commander. Are you now seducing anomalies on top of us?"
"……."
"Truly a beast. I suppose anything is great as long as it's pretty, right?"
It was the truth, so I didn't really have a comeback...
But could you please refrain from saying things like that in front of so many ECHOs, Pomen? It's embarrassing.
Regardless, now that I knew Podic was a Quasi-Named Grade Anomaly, I didn't think the Astral bastards would give up so easily.
"They'll come back, right?"
Helena answered my question with a grim expression.
"The probability is over 99%, Commander."
"Furthermore... they even lost a Skiff-class Assault Boat. Though small, an assault boat is, after all, a platform for deploying their forces. If that's the case, there's a possibility that a Troller-class Mobile Aircraft Carrier will move next time."
I fell silent at the pessimistic predictions of Helena and Lena.
A Troller-class...
Are they talking about a Mobile Aircraft Carrier roughly 100 meters in size?
I had seen it briefly in the game's animations, but I never imagined I'd see its majesty with my own eyes. And this quickly, at that.
"Then how about using the Ark's defense facilities?"
Luna of the Cerberus Squad, who had been listening to our conversation, asked in a voice filled with genuine curiosity.
"We can't fight in the Ark. Our current defense facilities cannot stop the full assault of an Astral fleet out for blood."
"B-But didn't we restore the defense facilities recently?"
"We might be able to hold off zombie hordes somehow. But that level of firepower cannot stop the Astral's mechanical drones. As you know, their Energy Shields boast incredible defensive power against gun-based attacks."
"Ah…."
It was exactly as Lena said.
Ordinary zombies could be held back to some extent with just a single heavy machine gun, but the mechanical drones' Energy Shields didn't even flinch at heavy machine gun rounds.
At the very least, multiple lasers—that is, energy-based beam weapons—were required to shoot down the Specters floating in the sky.
"Moreover, if the facilities within the Ark are damaged, I cannot guarantee how long it will take to repair them. In the worst-case scenario... we might have to abandon the Ark."
"That's true."
The Ark was our only home and our final bastion. I couldn't let it become a battlefield.
"Then there's only one way. We'll have to establish a new defensive line in Hongwei-7, centered around the Bastion."
This seemed like a much better choice, even considering the future.
A defensive line in Hongwei-7 would be a great help later when we extract the abundant metal resources from the northern mountains.
"First, what they're after is Podic. I think it's best to use that to build the defensive line."
[Po-oh?]
At my words, Podic, who was behind me, tilted her head.
“In that case... we need to fix the Anomaly's location, Commander.”
Arva informed me, glancing at the Hachishakusama with eyes that still hadn't let down their guard.
"Right. It'll make it easier to build the defensive line and easier to protect her."
But is protecting the right word?
Actually, she's Quasi-Named Grade, so she's monstrously strong.
Then, Lena joined the conversation with a troubled look on her face.
"If so, we need to find the Anomaly's medium. As the Commander said, if this girl is the old-timer of Hongwei-7, there's a high possibility that the medium is somewhere in this sector."
"I suppose so."
"…Are there Anomalies without a medium?"
"You know, like the Crimson Witch of Fury? I heard that Anomalies who wander the world like Wanderers don't have a medium."
"The Crimson Witch of Fury...?"
"A Named-grade Anomaly who had a massive clash with the Named-grade Astral codenamed Grinder, eleven years ago. I heard an entire city evaporated as a result of that battle."
I blinked as I listened to the ECHOs' conversation.
Fresh information that I hadn't heard in the mobile game—and couldn't have known—was flowing straight into my ears.
In the first place, the Crimson Witch of Fury was a Named character who only appeared in a rare illustration and a few lines of dialogue attached to the bottom of it; she had never actually appeared in the game.
Anyway, Podic's medium.
I searched my memories carefully.
Then, a memory suddenly flashed through my mind.
The dreadfully old and gloomy motel I was dragged to when I was captured by Podic. And in the corner of that room, there was an old TV that was turned off.
"...The TV."
"Yes? Commander?"
"Let's go get the TV. There's an old motel on the outskirts of Hongwei-7. The TV there is her medium."
There was no chance my guess was wrong.
I had witnessed with my own two eyes Podic's white arm sliding right out of that screen, which was filled with black noise because it couldn't catch a broadcast signal.
"Are we going right now?"
"We have to. We don't know when they'll attack again."
"Me! Me—! I want to go!!"
At my words, Moi raised her hand high, her eyes sparkling like a puppy's. Pomen and Noah decided to join as well.
"The rest of you, clear the battlefield along with the Astral corpses."
"Understood. We'll sort out the useful items separately. Especially the Skiff-class assault boat; there will be many things from it that our Ark needs."
Lena licked her lips as she looked at the assault boat, whose fuselage had been split clean in half.
Leaving the cleanup to the remaining ECHOs, we began to move toward the old motel on the outskirts of Hongwei-7.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Arclight Squad Tactical Connection Link Chat - Encrypted Channel.
[Pomen: That one, she's the one, right? The one who kidnapped the Commander?]
[Arva: …Correct.]
[Pomen: Did he develop feelings for her back then? They seem incredibly close.]
[Noah: Uh, um…. From my perspective, it looks like the Commander has a puppy following him, though?]
[Pomen: Just what did he use to tame her?]
[Noah: His big sausage?]
Pomen's gaze naturally shifted toward Noah as she read the tactical message.
When Noah caught her eye and gave her a wink, Pomen shook her head.
That girl really... she couldn't understand why she was called a Saintess.
[Arva: His big sausage?]
[Pomen: It exists. Something very delicious that the Commander only gives to ECHOs he trusts.]
[Noah: It's a supreme taste that makes your whole body melt once you've had a taste of it.]
[Arva: No way?! You mean you've tried it?]
[Pomen: Of course. Actually, I was the one who pestered the Commander for his sausage. You should try pestering him too. He'll probably let you taste it right away.]
[Arva: Hmm…….]
Hearing Arva's response, Pomen let out a snicker.
She could already picture the leader's face in her mind—arms crossed, brow furrowed, contemplating with a serious expression.
[Arva: No. I will wait until the Commander gives me the big sausage of his own accord. I must strive to earn more of the Commander's trust and faith.]
[Pomen: …I think you could just take off a bit more clothing for that.]
[Arva: I do not understand what you mean.]
[Pomen: You two exercise together. At that moment, just! Pounce.]
[Noah: That's right, Arva. They say deep physical intimacy is built upon deep trust. The Commander's lips….]
[Arva: --!!]
Arva has terminated the connection.
"Ah, she ran away."
Looking at the abruptly cut communication, Pomen smacked her lips in disappointment.
"I think she blew a fuse."
"I know. To be that innocent…. I'll have to give her some active education later."
Giggling, Pomen began to imagine how she would tease Arva next.
Then, Pomen's eyes landed on the Commander, who was walking while holding Moi's hand like a father and child.
To be precise, her gaze was fixed on the Commander's very thick and sturdy sausage.
"Oh my…?"
Noticing Pomen's gaze, Noah's eyes also began to glow suggestively.
Sliding up beside the Commander, Pomen whispered while subtly rubbing her body against him.
"Commander..."
"What…?"
"My legs hurt."
"……Your legs hurt?"
I blinked at Pomen's words.
She's not even a human but an ECHO, and still her legs hurt?
Worried that she might have been injured in the previous battle, I looked at her with concerned eyes.
"Yes. So let's take a little break before we go."
But at Pomen's following answer, a hollow laugh escaped me involuntarily.
Because I could immediately guess what this slutty bitch meant by those words.
"Sigh…. We'll find a place to rest if we go just a bit further."
I pointed toward the motel visible in the distance. That was our destination, where Podic's medium was located.
"Oh? So this is…."
Entering the motel with a creaking sound, I searched for the room where I had been trapped, tracing my old memories.
"…It's clean in here?"
"Did the Anomaly do the cleaning?"
Upon entering the room with the medium, the ECHOs looked surprised by the interior, which was cleaner than expected.
I felt the same.
The bedding was much more neatly arranged than when I was here before.
Glancing back, I saw Podic letting out a long po— sound. For some reason, it felt like she wanted to be praised.
Pomen, Noah, Moi, and Podic….
All the women I had fucked.
Moreover, they were the type who wouldn't refuse even if we all had sex together in here. Not that Pomen hadn't already been tempting me.
"Oh my—?"
I grinned and slid my arm around Pomen's waist.
"Comman—der. The others are watching…!"
Then, I slid my hand deep into her chest, gripping her soft breast and gently pinching Pomen's sensitively erect nipple.
"Hieut?!"
Satisfied by Pomen's flushed moan, I spoke to Podic, who was blinking with an expressionless face.
"Sit."
Seeing Podic immediately kneel obediently at my command, I slowly loosened my belt with my other hand.
Now then….
Shall I recharge some of my Cash?