Chapter 231: The Resistance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: The Resistance
I was wondering why the Regressor was so quiet; it seemed she was reading the subtle currents flowing through the ground. Perhaps thanks to the power of Jizan, she instinctively realized we had reached a terminal.
“This must be the Northeast Terminal. Everyone, quiet.”
The Regressor, focusing with every sense in her body, put a finger to her lips. I relayed her words.
“That’s an order from Shei-ssi. Everyone be quiet. Mopping doesn’t make noise, so keep at it.”
“…You’re the one who needs to be quiet.”
The Northeast Terminal was a cacophony of noise. The aftermath of the chase on the other side hadn’t reached this far, it seemed, as we could feel the bustling presence of laborers engrossed in their work. Clang, clang. The harsh, metallic screech of a massive crane grabbing a container was loud enough to pierce through the walls of our own.
Amidst the clamor, a very faint presence headed our way. The Regressor was the first to detect it.
“Wait, someone’s coming this way.”
Tyr, who possessed only fragmented knowledge of the laborers and the terminal, asked with a puzzled expression.
“I was told this is a place for transferring large parcels. Could it not be a worker coming to collect cargo?”
“No. The container we’re in is destined for the south, so they wouldn’t give it a second glance in the northeast.”
“Then who are they? Are they not coming this way?”
“It’s one of two things. Either it’s the Military State coming to inspect us, or… it’s the Resistance, looking for us for other reasons.”
With a grim look, the Regressor placed her fingers on the hilt of Chun-aeng, ready to neutralize them instantly if they proved to be enemies.
Now, were they Resistance or Military State? While the Regressor waited, I, with my mind-reading ability, read their thoughts a beat ahead of her.
‘Ah, shit, why the hell are we stuck doing manual labor here?’
‘I know, right? We should be doing something more productive with this opportunity.’
The saying that life is interesting because you never know what will happen is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to claim at least a mental victory.
Because for me, the one who reads minds, it’s never boring.
‘Why would the Tantalus escapees who are stirring up the Military State be here? That’s ridiculous.’
‘Rumor has it the Progenitor is with them. There’s no way a primordial vampire would help us, right? If she wanted to fight the Military State, she’d call on the covens of the Duchy. Or just turn us all into her Kindred and use us.’
‘If it weren’t for the princess’s orders.’
I, the mind reader, can guarantee it: knowing the answer in advance and watching it play out is plenty of fun, too. If you want to argue, try reading my mind first.
Their grumbling thoughts drifted over to me. Hmm, no room for error here. By all accounts, they seemed to be the Resistance.
The Regressor was right. The Resistance—or at least, someone in a considerably high position—was extending their reach here and there, trying to seize an opportunity. To think we’d meet like this, so soon after our conflict with the Military State.
It was a common trait of the Resistance, but they, who for all their ambition had a weak sense of purpose, were now just a stone’s throw away.
“Hey, you there! You’re supposed to be doing a security check! Get it done, now!”
A loud voice berating them echoed from the other side of the terminal. It was an overseer.
At the word “inspection,” the Regressor’s expression hardened. At the same time, her grip on Chun-aeng tightened.
‘An inspection? Tch, if we’re discovered here, things will get complicated. If the Far East forces head for headquarters now, we’ll run into them. Should we make a run for it?’
Ah, crap. This is dangerous.
In truth, this wasn’t an inspection targeting us specifically. It was a routine check that always occurred when the state was on a semi-war footing. If they knew we were on the Meta Conveyor Belt, the superintendent himself would have come to search the container, not some laborers.
But the Regressor didn’t know if the people outside were soldiers under the superintendent’s command or Resistance members disguised as laborers. She might just swing Chun-aeng the moment she saw them.
“Y-Yes, sir! We’ll check it right away!”
“On our way!”
A reply came from outside the container. They were close. They approached the container, grumbling inwardly in a way only I could hear.
‘Security check, my ass! We’re the Resistance!’
‘It’ll be empty anyway! Who rides in a container?’
‘Tch! Just wait until the uprising. All you Military State pigs will be dead meat, dead meat!’
Looks like you’re about to be made into dead meat first, I thought. By a very tense Regressor.
This wouldn’t do. I had to step in.
Clank. The sound of the container’s lock being undone. As the mass of metal disengaged, a taut tension filled the air inside.
The Regressor took a step forward, Chun-aeng in hand. But I had already moved closer to the door. I raised my fingers and gently tapped on the container wall.
Tap. Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat. Tap-tap.
One, six, two. Seemingly meaningless, but for the Resistance, these numbers served as a secret code.
A flinch from the other side told me they’d heard the sound from within.
‘Huh? Someone’s signaling?’
‘Wait, are they really…?’
Common sense dictated that if they sensed someone inside, they should either run or report it to the overseer. But instead of retreating, they approached, looking around nervously. A trembling hand undid the container’s lock. Then, creak—the doors swung open to reveal two grimy-looking laborers.
They were clearly Resistance, but… other than that, they looked no different from ordinary workers.
We came into their view. The two of them stared at our faces with trembling eyes, then jumped in fright when the impatient voice called out again from a distance.
“Is the inspection finished!”
My decision to go out and meet them was an excellent one. If I hadn’t cushioned the blow beforehand, they might have screamed in shock.
One of the laborers stammered a reply.
“Uh, h-here…. All clear!”
“Then hurry up and close it! The next container is coming!”
“Yes, sir!”
While one of them shouted back in a slightly trembling voice, the other fumbled inside his clothes and held out a neatly folded piece of paper. As I took it, he gave a small nod and then closed the container door with extreme deference.
Through the closed doors, I heard their bewildered thoughts.
‘How is this real?’
‘The princess is amazing! To have foreseen even this…! Is there really something different about noble blood?’
Thump. Clank. With the sound of the lock engaging, their presence faded away again. Darkness returned to the container as it began to pass through the clamorous heart of the terminal.
As I let out a sigh of relief, the Regressor strode over and smacked me on the shoulder. It was a friendly gesture, but it hurt a little.
Another reason why she doesn’t have friends.
“You surprised me, jumping out like that! Tell me before you do something!”
“It was urgent. Besides, could you tell me before you hit me? I was surprised, too.”
“Oh? So it’s okay if I tell you first?”
“Judging by your response, it’s a lost cause for me. Just hit me gently, please.”
“Anyway, how did you know they were the Resistance?”
I had, of course, read their minds, but the words that came out of my mouth were different.
“There wasn’t much of a choice, was there? Let’s say those people were Public Safety officers who came looking for us. We’d already be caught, so we’d have to bolt immediately. And if they were the Resistance? We’d have to try and make contact. Either way, our only option was to give a warm welcome to our visitors from the outside.”
“You think on your feet!”
Seemingly pleased, the Regressor cheerfully took the paper parcel from me. She pulled out the contents and read the words written on the paper.
“To my knight…. Hmm. A knight, she says. Did she come herself? It’s been a while since we made contact like this…”
‘They always contact me whenever I do something against the Military State. It’s not… entirely to my liking, but if they’ve set the stage this well, it might be better to just flip the whole table.’
Muttering to herself, the Regressor pulled a handkerchief from the folded paper. It was a luxurious handkerchief, the kind you’d only find at Seamless Cloths.
In the past, when this was a nation of knights, handkerchiefs were symbols of ladies and high nobility. The fact that it was also a daily necessity that anyone in the Military State could carry without suspicion made it the perfect tool for a marker.
“As soon as we’re past the terminal, hang this on top of the container. If this is here, they’ll come find us!”
While the Regressor checked the handkerchief for any further messages, Historia silently observed it, lost in thought.
‘…Is this right? To just stand by and watch as they storm the headquarters…?’
Historia had little loyalty to the Military State. She only regretted the tragedy she had failed to prevent back then.
If what we were about to do would lead to another tragedy, she would stop it, no matter the cost. Such was Historia’s resolve.
‘The Resistance is a gathering of those who hate the Military State. I know how deep their thirst for vengeance runs. If they wield this much power… even if it’s less bizarre than Hamelin, couldn’t it lead to an even greater tragedy?’
Historia glanced sideways, studying each of us. The enigmatic young swordsman, the Progenitor of Vampires Tyrkanzyaka, two Beast Kings, and me.
Her wariness skyrocketed the moment her gaze landed on me. Her suspicion of me was so intense that I almost forgot I was reading her mind and protested.
‘With Huey involved, there’s no predicting which way this will go. Maybe… I should run out right now and reveal their presence.’
What? Wait. Run out?
Historia’s thoughts flowed naturally into action. Having made her decision, she immediately rose to her feet and tried to dash outside.
Just before she could, I lunged forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. Fearing she might scream, I covered her mouth with both hands, as if pulling it shut.
“Mmph!”
No, wait a minute. Why so hasty? If I hadn’t been reading your mind, this would’ve been a disaster!
Historia was restrained, but she could shake me off whenever she pleased. For now, though, screaming was impossible. A sound, after all, is a vibration of air. If I covered her mouth and nose, she couldn’t produce a loud enough noise.
Well, she could just throw me off with a shoulder toss or something and then shout, but it was already too late. She had caught the Regressor’s attention.
Startled by the sudden commotion, the Regressor looked our way and asked.
“Hm? What are you doing?”
“Ah, no. It looked like she was craving a mana herb, so I was just giving her one!”
I offered a vague smile and removed my hands from her mouth, revealing a rolled mana herb held between Historia’s lips. The Regressor nodded as if she understood, then tilted her head.
“But do you have to give it to her like that?”
“It’s a secret world for adults that innocent kids who don’t smoke mana herbs wouldn’t understand.”
“Don’t get all high and mighty over something so trivial!”
As expected, a little teasing was the best way to change the mood. The Regressor scowled.
“This is an enclosed space, so try to hold back on the smoking! Honestly, how much do you even smoke?”
“Haha. I’ll tell her to control herself…. Ria! You need to be mindful of the time and place! Huh? After all the consideration Shei-ssi and Tyr have shown you, you’re going to act out like this!”
Don’t act so rashly based on your own assumptions when they haven’t even done anything yet. I packed that meaning into my scolding.
The trembling in Historia’s body subsided.
‘…Still as sharp as ever. He stopped me the moment I showed any sign of running. Was he… watching me? Or is he just that observant?’
Historia closed her eyes as if in surrender and shifted the mana herb with her lips.
“Huey, a light.”
“Am I your lighter? Tch, I’m only doing this because you’re tied up.”
I grumbled as I conjured a flame at my fingertip. The flame seeped into the tip of the herb, lighting its final spark.
Mana herbs had long been famous for their calming properties. The reason was simple. You were inhaling ash that had already burned; there was no way a new flame could ignite from it. What is burnt can only settle; it cannot burn again.
After taking a deep drag of the mana herb, Historia calmly collected herself.
‘That was too… emotional. There’s no point in running out now, anyway. That child is in the Resistance… Maybe I was afraid of meeting them. But… it’s better to face it than to turn away.’
I knew who “that child” was, but there was no need to dwell on it.
Because before long, they arrived with the Resistance.