Lieutenant Lucy, You Like This, Don't You?
Lieutenant Lucy, You Like This, Don't You?
After telling Lucy where the dessert shop was and leaving the command post, I climbed into the jeep and headed toward the munitions factory Lieutenant Mekkel had mentioned.
After about thirty minutes of driving, the driver smoothly applied the brakes.
The jeep gradually decelerated and came to a complete stop at the entrance of the ruined munitions factory.
"We've arrived, Commander."
I gave the driver a nod, opened the door, and stepped outside.
When I entered through the half-destroyed main gate, I could see patrol personnel gathered not far away.
The soldiers, who had been chatting among themselves, and Lieutenant Mekkel turned their heads at the sound of my approach.
Upon spotting me, they hurriedly saluted.
"Commander! We've been waiting for you!"
I returned the salute half-heartedly and walked closer.
"Where is the research facility?"
"Ah. This way."
Lieutenant Mekkel pointed at the floor.
When I turned my head, I saw a staircase leading underground beyond the wide-open iron door.
"An underground base. The Kingdom bastards really do have a disgusting fondness for building things underground."
"Yes, sir. Allied with the Allied Nations, it seems their behavior mimics that of rats exactly."
At Lieutenant Mekkel's joke, the soldiers nearby let out dry chuckles.
I also gave a faint smile and then turned back to Lieutenant Mekkel.
"Your jokes have improved. More importantly, how far did the search go?"
"We stopped after a rough assessment of the situation. It doesn't seem like any traps have been set, so you should be able to look around comfortably. If it's all right with you, I'll accompany you, Commander."
"No. I'll go alone. You guard the entrance with the soldiers."
"Yes. Understood!"
After hearing his response, I descended the stairs into the underground.
As I went down, the surroundings grew dim, so I took out the flashlight I had with me and pressed the power button.
Dalkak─
The light from the flashlight brightly illuminated the path ahead.
There was another iron door at the bottom of the stairs, and it was open, likely left that way by Lieutenant Mekkel.
When I cautiously stepped inside, a floor coated in epoxy stretched out before me.
On the floor, which was clean enough to be glossy, long desks and various experimental tools were lined up.
Things like flasks and microscopes.
Some of the apparatuses had such strange shapes that even I had no idea what they were used for.
'What the hell were they doing here.......'
I wanted to grasp the situation, but aside from the various tools, nothing remained—samples obtained during the research had all been cleared out.
While observing the interior, where dust floated thickly in the air, I discovered an open automatic sliding door.
When I stepped through it, a wide corridor stretched out.
Iron bars lined both sides of the corridor, and each room-like section contained a bed and tableware.
The structure was like a prison, but there were no people.
Judging by the fact that all the doors were open, it seemed they had been moved out.
Taking a deep breath, I kept walking.
There was another iron door at the far end of the corridor.
After walking to the end of the corridor, I grabbed the handle of the iron door and pulled.
Kkik─
The door stopped, refusing to open.
Steadying my breath, I yanked the handle with all my strength.
Then the iron door swung wide open, and ash scattered into the air.
'......Ash?'
Puzzled, I examined the interior and found the floor completely covered in ash.
'They burned something. In large quantities too.'
If something was burned here in such large quantities, it was probably paper.
Documents containing the research facility's records.
'But it's sloppy. Traces of a hasty escape are visible everywhere.'
They would have built the underground base because they were conducting research that must not be known to the world.
If so, common sense dictated that when withdrawing, they would properly dispose of the experimental apparatuses, the tableware inside the iron bars, and the beds.
The fact that they couldn't meant they lacked the time due to a hurried evacuation.
'Those bastards probably didn't expect the Imperial Army to enter the city overnight through the supply route.'
The burning of the valuable research materials was also likely due to the pressing time constraints.
They probably set the fire and fled without even checking whether the documents had been properly incinerated.
After a quick look around, I had no trouble finding unburned paper.
Of course, it wasn't in perfect condition.
About half of the top or bottom parts were burned away.
Still, there was enough to ascertain the full story.
I picked up several sheets of paper from the floor and brushed the ash off their surfaces.
Then the letters on the paper became visible.
『......The ultimate goal is to develop a state-of-the-art combat weapon capable of creating a turning point in the war. If humans can be made into weapons through the fusion of magic and science, then not only can the Empire's ambitions be crushed, but it is not impossible for the Kingdom to emerge as a great power......』
Many parts were scorched by fire, making the rest illegible.
I turned the page.
『......Although it is said that the majority of magic has been lost to practice, those magics whose efficacy has been proven still exist. Magic bullet infusion and temporary body strengthening can be used by most soldiers, but special techniques such as optical camouflage or gravity field formation require high talent.』
I turned the page.
『......What if talent could be artificially formed? For example, what if ordinary soldiers could possess strength equal to the Imperial Guard? This experiment, originating from that initial question, involves injecting enhancement substances into anonymous volunteers with high magic aptitude......』
I turned the page.
『......In conclusion, all resulted in failure. All of the volunteers exhibited abnormal magical reactions and suffered vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, delirium, hallucinations, and self-harm. The degree of magical enhancement was also negligible, making it considered unfit for practical combat use. Furthermore, as to whether those who endured such agony would pledge loyalty......』
I turned the page.
『......According to data recently provided by the Allied Nations, there exists a subject on which the experiment succeeded. It is currently the only one, and its magical enhancement also far transcends the expected range. Thanks to this, our research staff hereby express our respect to the Allied Nations and, naming the code of the future project after the subject in question......』
After reading the last part of the page, I narrowed my eyes sharply.
"......it is designated the Lucy Project."
The Lucy Project.
That was clearly written at the end of the report.
*
After gathering the reports, I left the research facility and informed Lieutenant Mekkel that the discovery was strictly classified, swearing him to silence.
Afterward, I spent the afternoon patrolling the vicinity to organize my thoughts, then headed to the dessert shop where I had promised to meet Lucy.
Upon entering the shop, soft classical music comforted my ears.
While I was admiring the Gothic-style interior, someone at a window table raised their hand high.
"Major! Over here!"
When I turned my head, it was Frien.
For some reason, Lucy was sitting next to Frien.
Finding that odd, I approached and asked.
"Cadet Frien? I didn't expect to find you together with my adjutant."
"I came to eat dessert and ran into Lieutenant Lucy by chance. I heard the Major was also coming, so I was waiting. Ah, right! I've already ordered the entire menu, so you can just sit down."
"The menu? You did?"
"Yes. I heard from Lieutenant Lucy that the Major was singing songs about wanting to eat éclairs. So I placed the order in advance to save you time."
I see. That was fine, so I agreed and sat down across from Frien.
As I did, I glanced at Lucy once.
'......She was a test subject? Lucy was?'
Even in the game, Lucy's past never came up, so I learned that fact just now for the first time.
Furthermore, a human weapon like Lucy would not appear until the game's end.
No, there was one more in an enemy nation, but that person was purely exceptional in talent, so they were an exception.
That meant their state-of-the-art weapon development project would continue to experience nothing but failure even into the distant future.
'That aside.......'
If Lucy was a test subject of the Allied Nations, how could she have sworn loyalty to the Allied Nations?
Was there something else I didn't know?
As I stared at her while pondering the question, my eyes met Lucy's.
Her crimson eyes, resembling the color of blood, felt slightly more chilling today.
"Major? Did you have something to say?"
Searching for an excuse, I bluffed.
"Nothing. I was just looking because your beauty seemed particularly striking today."
My answer seemed to catch her off guard; Lucy blinked a few times, then gave a slight nod.
"......Thank you."
Thinking I had successfully glossed over it, I let out a sigh of relief, only to feel Frien's gaze on me.
She was looking at me with disapproval for having complimented Lucy.
Just as I was wondering why she was acting that way, an employee approached carrying a tray.
"Sorry for the wait. Who ordered the éclair and coffee?"
"That's me."
When I raised my hand, the employee smiled and set down the éclair and coffee.
Next, they placed mint chip ice cream in front of Frien and Lucy.
Seeing it, Lucy stared blankly for a moment and then looked at the employee.
"Excuse me, just a moment. I think there's been a mistake with the order."
"What? But that can't be......."
While the employee was flustered, Frien interjected.
"It's the right order. You can go now."
Thanks to Frien's bright smile, the employee gave an awkward nod and returned to the counter.
Confirming that the employee had moved away, Frien spoke while maintaining her smile.
"Lieutenant Lucy entrusted the menu order to me, didn't she? Since you didn't mention anything specific you wanted to eat, I ordered mint chip ice cream for you. I thought you'd like it."
Still, shouldn't you at least ask the person in question first?
Feeling it was a bit too much, I turned to look at Lucy and unknowingly broke out in a cold sweat.
"......."
It was because Lucy was glaring at Frien as if she might kill her.