Chapter 101: Stars of the Military State
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: Stars of the Military State
The two of them exuded an extraordinary aura.
One was a burly officer who seemed to be a prime example of the benefits of Clothing Packets. Without them, he would have had to get clothes custom-made to fit his massive frame.
Walking half a step ahead of him was a tall officer with a ramrod-straight posture. Even as he descended the stairs, his upper body remained perfectly still.
What was unusual was that the officer’s uniform he wore was not the standard issue, but a luxurious dark blue. On his chest, instead of medals, sat two shining stars.
As if that alone was enough to explain who he was.
And in truth, it was.
“A general officer…”
Those who brought down sovereigns.
Walking wars.
The Stars of the Military State.
In the history of the Military State, built on blood and iron, that was what the stars on one's chest signified. Intimidated, Callis instinctively moved to salute.
“Repor—”
“Wait. I am first.”
Stopping Callis with one hand, he stood straight and declared solemnly, “I report. In conjunction with the investigation of the current situation, I am Lieutenant General Ebon Crimsonwilde, assigned as the commanding warden of Tantalus. As of this moment, I am taking control of this facility.”
It was a formal report.
But his words carried weight. As much weight as the authority he possessed.
With just a few words, it felt as if Tantalus itself had fallen into his grasp. The power he held, the authority of the Military State, settled heavily upon the space.
While everyone was focused on him, Nabi, who had somehow reached his side, began to pester him.
“Nyaaa! You're late!”
Ebon chided her in a much more mature and quiet tone than hers.
“Nabi. Unlike you, we cannot land so lightly. From such a height, we must rely on the aid of parachutes.”
“Nya! Enough! Just give me my tribute, nya!”
“Huu. The intervals at which you pester me are getting shorter…”
“Nyan-nyat!”
With a sigh, Lieutenant General Ebon glanced at the officer following him and gave an order.
“Colonel. That.”
“Yes, sir!”
The man, addressed as Colonel, took out a paper-wrapped stick from a square paper packet. I recognized it immediately. It was a mana herb cigar.
The moment it was halfway revealed, Nabi snatched the mana herb like a bolt of lightning.
As if possessed, she sliced the paper with her claws, shoved her nose into the stick, and began to sniff. Her breaths were rapid and ragged, as if she were hyperventilating.
After inhaling the scent for a long moment, Nabi smiled in ecstasy.
“Nyahak! Nahyaaa—. Nya—.”
Her pupils dilated. Nabi swayed, a melted moan escaping from between her teeth.
A mana herb cigar made from processed catnip and World Tree leaves, crafted solely for the Cat King.
It was a tribute combining feline tastes, human technology, and the essence of the World Tree. It was also… a means to control the Cat King.
“Nya, hah, heek, nyaha—.”
Drool trickled from Nabi’s mouth. Her flexible body twisted and contorted. Her entire body twitched as she madly indulged in the scent.
Lieutenant General Ebon asked, “Are you satisfied, Nabi?”
Though his words were polite, there wasn't a shred of reverence in his eyes as he looked at Nabi. He simply gazed down at the Cat King coldly, as if looking at a tool.
Nabi, who had been rolling around on her own, held out the mana herb and shouted.
“Nyahah—! Fiiire! Light it for me, nya!”
“Nabi, did I not tell you? This is a contract. I provide the tribute, and you catch the rat. Is that not our agreement?”
“Nya! Exactly! So tell me quickly, nya! What do I have to do?”
“Please wait a moment. It will arrive soon.”
Just as he muttered those words, a fierce wind blew, and the Regressor, who had been racing through the air, landed at the end of the hallway. She began to shout with a serious expression.
“A moment ago, something fell on the rooftop—!”
The Regressor couldn't finish her sentence.
Because Nabi, thoroughly worked up, lunged at her in an instant.
“It's you, nya!”
“Hmph?!”
Though not as fast as Azzy, a stealth that seemed to swallow sound concealed Nabi's movements. Reaching the Regressor in the blink of an eye, Nabi menacingly raised her front paw.
Though startled, the Regressor countered with the Heavenly Counter Domain. She raised her arm to match her opponent and unfurled Chun-aeng. The compressed space unfolded, pushing them apart….
But even that wasn't enough to stop Nabi's momentum. Her paw blurred, and the Regressor instinctively twisted her head. Pssh—a trickle of blood ran down her cheek.
The Regressor cried out.
“Cat King!”
“Nyahah! Become my tribute, nya—!”
Thud! The Regressor kicked Nabi away and leaped back. Nabi landed lightly on the stair railing and then launched herself toward the Regressor.
In an instant, the two vanished into the distance. Immediately after, a roar loud enough to shatter the world echoed from afar.
Lieutenant General Ebon clicked his tongue as he watched the spot where Nabi had disappeared.
“Tsk. She'll break soon enough…. Is it because she wears a human body? She breaks just like a human.”
Only then did Lieutenant General Ebon turn his gaze to me and Callis, huddled together in a corner.
Callis, who had been tense, finally saluted once his attention was on her again.
“Reporting, Lieutenant General Ebon. It is an honor to meet you.”
“And you are?”
“I am Lieutenant Colonel Callis Kritz, isolated here while serving as the logistics overseer for Tantalus.”
Lieutenant General Ebon narrowed his brow, then sighed as if he finally recognized her.
“Ah. I didn't recognize you for a moment without your officer's uniform. So you're alive, Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Yes… I am.”
“All four of your jewels were shattered, so I was certain you were dead. It seems you're more capable than I anticipated, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Callis’s eyes widened.
“Jewels? How did you…”
Lieutenant General Ebon looked at Callis and smiled benevolently.
“Why ask what you already know, Lieutenant Colonel? Isn't it obvious? I am your ‘patron’.”
Deep down, Callis had already realized it.
Because at this particular time, the only ones who would come to the Abyss, and with the Cat King in tow… could only be the Human Regime.
It was just that, having just committed the betrayal of selling them out, she hadn't wanted to accept it.
Fortunately, Lieutenant General Ebon, unaware of her betrayal, made a friendly gesture toward her.
“We may have never met in person until now, but I knew of you, Lieutenant Colonel. I even know of every medal you've received.”
“It is an honor.”
“I may have provided the opportunity, but it would have been impossible to achieve without your abilities. You have every right to be proud.”
Callis, who had nearly been forced to commit suicide just moments before, was bewildered by his attitude. Regardless, Lieutenant General Ebon gave her a smile full of goodwill.
“I came here under the pretext of investigating the events surrounding Tantalus. Now, your evaluation will depend on my report. Of course, as long as I am your ‘patron,’ I naturally plan to clear you of all suspicion.”
“Th-thank you.”
“It’s only natural for those on the same side. Of course, we must finish the mission before that.”
His words held a depth as dark and profound as an ocean trench.
The truth was slowly revealing itself.
The golem had said that an investigation team, including a general officer, was coming to thoroughly investigate Callis’s fall into the Abyss and the series of events surrounding it.
But if Callis had successfully completed her task and lured Azzy out… who on earth would have sent Azzy to the surface? When an investigation team including a Star of the Military State was on its way?
It was simple.
The investigation team that included a general officer. They were the Human Regime.
From the very beginning, the Human Regime's plan was to push Callis into Tantalus first, then use the pretext of investigating her to come here themselves.
After all, someone of a general’s rank needed a reason to visit such a remote place.
And in this case, it was easy to deal with Callis. They could pull her out of the Abyss and recycle her, or they could bury her there for good. It gave them a wide range of options.
So you really were a sacrificial pawn from the start, Lieutenant Colonel Callis.
In that case, who betrayed whom first? It's quite an interesting thing to ponder.
Lieutenant General Ebon, still considering Callis an ally, spoke.
“It seems you didn't use the escape packet, even in a dangerous situation where you were hostile to all beings in Tantalus. The spirit of never retreating in battle? Excellent, Lieutenant Colonel.”
“Thank you. It is an honor that you recognize it…”
“Your courage is what summoned us. We were waiting for you to escape with the Dog King. But when you didn't emerge, we took the risk and came ourselves to save you and complete the mission!”
It was an obvious lie.
The escape packet was for escaping this life. Seeing that Callis was alive, they mistakenly assumed she hadn't used it and were now calmly spinning their lies to motivate her after she had nearly died.
“There is no need to worry now that we are here, Lieutenant Colonel. You may now carry out your mission. Lead us to the Dog King at once. Do that, and all the credit will be yours.”
Callis’s body trembled.
The escape packet that was meant to make her kill herself. She had almost lost her life to it just a moment ago.
Yet Lieutenant General Ebon, her self-proclaimed patron, was now brazenly lying, claiming the Human Regime had come for her sake.
His tone was so accustomed to lying it was chilling. A visceral repulsion rose within her.
But.
‘There's no way… to refuse.’
Looking at the benevolently smiling Lieutenant General Ebon, Callis desperately suppressed her trembling body.
‘My opponent is a Star of the Military State, a general officer. He's also a member of the secret society, the Human Regime. He even commands the Cat King.’
To survive this moment, she had to shamelessly side with them again. She had to erase the memory of nearly dying and pledge her loyalty, blinded by the promise of glory.
That was the logical bet….
‘But… is it the right one?’
As Callis’s frown deepened and a crack was about to form in Ebon’s smile, the Undying man gripped Callis's shoulder firmly and pushed her forward.
“Why are you so dazed just because you almost died? Get a grip! You're not dead yet, Lieutenant Colonel!”
At the Undying man’s words, Callis hastily came to her senses and replied.
“It’s alright. I couldn't have accomplished anything on my own. In fact, I nearly died… I deserve no credit.”
“I never asked for such humility. Still, it is a virtue among people like us.”
Nodding, Lieutenant General Ebon looked at the smiling undying man standing behind Callis.
“The Undying one, Trainee Rasch. Is that correct?”
“That’s me!”
“Seeing you up and about, it seems the Lieutenant Colonel is indebted to you.”
“I'm the one who's indebted! She gave me a World Tree leaf when I was down!”
Since it was Lieutenant General Ebon who had given her the World Tree leaf, he didn't find the mention of it strange.
Lieutenant General Ebon nodded and said, “Hmm. I’m glad you’re an undying who knows his manners. On a side note, I must say, I still find it puzzling that you were imprisoned in Tantalus.”
“They say when in the Empire, do as the Empire does! If you commit a crime, you must be punished accordingly!”
“No, not necessarily. There are those who think the law is their personal weapon and use it to commit all sorts of disrespect. Those who think the law is their friend deserve to be torn to shreds, just as you did. It wouldn't be enough. I sometimes feel like doing the same.”
Rarely, the Undying man’s face contorted into a deep scowl. He made no effort to hide his displeasure as he spoke.
“Hmph, you have a nasty hobby of digging up people's sore spots! Don't do that. If I could go back to that time, I would have just covered my ears and run away!”
Surprised by the unexpected reaction, Lieutenant General Ebon blinked his golden eyes and then readily apologized.
“My apologies, trainee. I merely wanted to state my position. In any case, you are a good man who tried to protect even a laborer with whom you had no connection. I believed you would help the Lieutenant Colonel…”
“You say that as if you predicted everything.”
The Undying man shrugged.
“Well, whatever. Anyway, I’ll be on my way. Take good care of the Lieutenant Colonel.”
“On your way? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to where those two are fighting!”
“To do what?”
To Lieutenant General Ebon’s question, the Undying man answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“I have to stop the fight! The Regressor is strong, but she's still young. If she gets hurt, it'll be trouble later. The cat lady is acting strange, too! I have to do my best to stop their fight. Since I can't die, I'm perfect for the role!”
At that, Lieutenant General Ebon’s expression turned peculiar. He stared at the Undying man with a gaze that was a mixture of interest and displeasure, then muttered.
“You are… an even better person than I expected.”