The Irresistible Commander
Commander—bang! The air tore apart as the Erosion Species' head exploded. Ew, it splattered on my clothes. If you're going to die, at least go out cleanly.
The headless Erosion Species finally stopped moving. I stepped on its corpse, closed my eyes, and focused on the sounds around me. But from here all the way to the end of the train, there wasn't a single presence. So this must be the last one. I lowered my nailgun toward the floor.
“Haa…”
The threats should all be gone now. A complicated mix of emotions escaped me as a sigh. Scratching my head, I thought with a vague sense of disappointment.
I panicked and ran away...
Our first meeting with the commander—one I'd been looking forward to in my own way. The moment I confirmed he was safe, I bolted like a coward. And the reason? Simple. He appealed to me far more than I'd expected.
There are two main kinds of pain. One is the physical agony from bodily wounds. The other is the mental torment born from the heart. If I had to pick, I preferred the latter. I liked someone sobbing over a breakup notice from their lover more than someone wailing from a stab wound.
And reactions in suffering mattered too. Not the weak-minded who crumbled at the slightest pain, but the resilient ones who revealed their agony only at the very end. Like the difference between a gem and a pebble, I suppose.
In that sense, the commander was unmistakably resilient. Eyes unyielding even on the brink of death. How could I ever twist his face into one of torment? He was definitely worth the effort to break.
Of course, this wasn't some romantic crush. More like an actor whose films hooked me completely. I was just eager to see what he'd show next.
Still, I should've at least exchanged names. Fleeing without a word like that—pathetic. My stomach churned with self-loathing.
Can't be helped, though. Playing Leira perfectly is tough right now.
Maybe because I'd used that unfinished technique on the Erosion Species earlier. My head throbbed like it might split open. From experience, it'd fade if I waited a bit. But maintaining flawless acting in this state? Not happening.
So I'd used the excuse that threats might still lurk in the train to make my hasty exit. Good thing there actually were some Erosion Species left.
“No survivors, huh.”
I scanned the train car's wrecked interior, toppled sideways. Corpses littered the floor, rolling with the tilt. I'd never seen a dead body before. The woman who'd stabbed me in my past life killed herself after I closed my eyes. And after possessing Leira, I'd holed up at headquarters.
Seeing actual corpses for the first time, I absently rubbed my neck.
Less impact than I thought.
Even I found it odd. I'd always hated gross things. Yet these bodies stirred nothing in me. Maybe possession messed with my mind. Well, my brain had physically changed, so expecting no difference would be silly.
Curiosity struck. That last Erosion Species—it was eating someone, right? I crouched near a woman bisected at the waist, shoved her shoulder to see her face... and sighed in gloom.
...Don't ruin the face. How am I supposed to read the expression now?
I'd wanted to see the look of someone eaten alive. But its claws had shredded her face into a mess. What if I pieced the sides together...? Yeah, chunks were gone. No saving this. Regrettable, but oh well.
I stood, disappointed, and locked eyes with a man at the entrance.
Whoa. Make some noise if you're there. You scared me. I shot him a glance laced with mild reproach, and he apologized hurriedly.
“Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just worried... Unnecessary, it seems.”
“Mm, that makes sense. Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves... Ah, there don't seem to be any more Erosion Species in the train. You can relax.”
“That's... a relief.”
Truth be told, I'd let my guard down. If I'd stayed alert, I'd have noticed him sooner. Distracted by wanting to see agonized faces. Guess lust is unstoppable after all. A twinge of self-disgust hit me.
Then a doubt crept in. Is this guy really the commander? I hadn't gotten confirmation from him yet. What if I'd mistaken some stern civilian...?
The possibility made me a bit anxious. Should I ask? Yeah, better to confirm.
As I wavered inwardly, he bowed his head.
“Thank you. I really thought I was done for... You saved my life.”
“No need for thanks. It's a Valkyrie's duty to fight Erosion Species. Just doing what I should.”
Well, actually, I'd rushed here desperately to save the commander. But admitting that to a stranger would be awkward. I gave the kind of reply Leira would.
He asked politely in turn.
“May I have your name? I'm Yujin.”
“Leira. As you can see, a Valkyrie. And you...?”
“Ah, I was assigned as commander starting today, but...”
“I knew it! You had that vibe.”
Phew, relief. He really is the commander. Somewhat reassured, I eyed him from head to toe.
The commander gave a serious impression overall. Neatly trimmed black hair. Lips slightly tense. Taller than me, with an athletic build that screamed regular training. His eyes weren't that death-defying gaze from before—normal, since who'd walk around like that? Still, not bad at all.
Lucky me. The commander turned out like this.
Noticing my appraisal, perhaps? He gazed at me with a distant look and murmured.
“Miss Leira...”
“Yes?”
“No, nothing.”
Don't start if it's nothing. I barely smoothed my crumpling face into a smile. Frowning at the commander? Not good for building favor as his Valkyrie.
“Shall we head outside, then?”
“Ah, yes.”
No more Erosion Species, no reason to stay. I exited the toppled train with the commander. Outside was pure pandemonium.
Too frantic earlier to notice. There were a filthy lot of them.
Headless Erosion Species corpses slumped everywhere—over thirty, easy. The stench of rot and blood assaulted from all sides. Impressive, even if I made it.
Holding my hand as we climbed out, the commander stared wide-eyed at the scene, then at me in disbelief.
“Th-this... You did all this, Miss Leira?”
“Yes. Looks weak, but I'm B-rank. I've got some skill.”
More like they were weak, not me strong. In the original story, this was just the tutorial introducing the system. Weaklings Leira could solo from the start.
I glanced around casually and hopped down from the train. Then someone came sprinting toward us from afar—the train engineer I'd dragged here by force.
“L-Leira, ma'am...! A-are you alright...?!”
“Yes. I took out all the Erosion Species inside. No need to worry.”
“I-I thought about fleeing... Glad I didn't...!”
“Yeah. You almost got in big trouble if you had.”
“H-haha...”
Valkyries must eliminate Erosion Species, duty-bound—even retirees. If I'd ditched while alive? She'd face severe military punishment. That's why she waited, trembling, for my return. Looked older than me, yet so fidgety. I chuckled inwardly and asked her.
“Did you request backup from headquarters? If you did, no need for me to.”
“Uh, w-well...”
“Yes?”
“F-for some reason, no external contact... Like the signal's jammed...”
As expected. The culprit behind this mess was still alive. From waking in the derailed train, saved by Leira, to slaying the signal-jamming new Erosion Species—that was one episode.
A moment's thought: not a bad opportunity. Time to get closer to the commander.
I spoke to the waiting engineer with grave seriousness.
“Engineer. I have a favor to ask.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
“Please move the civilians to safety. Staying here's just dangerous. Get word out externally.”
“What about you, Leira ma'am...?”
The train had reverse functions. Head back along the tracks, retreat safely. I gave her an excuse to withdraw, feigning deduction from prior knowledge.
“I think the signal jam's the Erosion Species' doing too. Doesn't it seem off? Them appearing so close to the city.”
“Y-yeah...”
“So if the jam persists, more must be lurking. I'm going to hunt them down.”
She looked flustered—both at lingering threats and me staying to guard. But for me, it was optimal. Civilians would just be liabilities; if one died, it'd be on me. Clear the obstacles, solve the problem fast.
Not alone, of course. I approached the commander who'd climbed down.
“Commander Yujin. I have a request.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
“Sudden, I know... but please, contract with me.”
A bit fast, but let's unlock the premium content early.