Chapter 259: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men - 8
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 259: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men - 8
A trap must hide its danger until the very last moment. It only reveals its cruel fangs after its prey is caught.
For that reason, Zigrund's trap required a few key components.
The lights filling the control room were the perfect trap to ensnare the Progenitor of vampires, but they possessed no physical force on their own. You could call it the world's most fragile and coarse net. Since Tyr wasn't the only one in our party, if anyone else had retaliated, they would have torn through it in an instant.
Therefore, to completely subdue us, Zigrund had prepared two things.
One was the Envoy, Eimeder. The artificial angel that protects the Military State. An incarnation of light who grows strongest under the brilliant illumination.
The other was the force she had hidden throughout the labor camp.
She couldn't let on that it was a trap. Thus, she couldn't station the troops outside. It would be difficult to lure us in if we saw the refinery as an enemy stronghold with soldiers ready to pop out from anywhere.
So Zigrund hid her elite troops inside the refinery, in the very places where the laborers were confined. Hiding them was easy. All they had to do was feign weakness and act like laborers.
The plan was a success. The trap was sprung, and they came running. For us, the timing was quite inconvenient.
However, they were now in just as much of a bind as we, the ones caught in the trap, were.
“The annihilation sequence has been activated?! This wasn't part of the plan…!”
If they left it alone, the entire refinery would be vaporized.
But this was their only chance to defeat their enemy.
If they let the refinery be destroyed, they would fail to achieve their strategic objective. But if they went to stop the annihilation device, they would lack the forces to deal with us.
The Military State's dilemma.
Would they aim for a tactical victory, or would they achieve their strategic objective?
As they were thrown into confusion, forced to choose between the two…
As if to add to their confusion, Historia blocked their path with firm resolve. The soldiers’ feet came to a halt.
“Major General Historia…!”
When one of the Six Generals blocked the narrow passage, a murmur spread through the middle of the troops.
These forces were a unit dispatched directly from Command. The Daughter of the Military State, the idol of the generals—Historia's appearance was common knowledge.
But their wavering was brief; these were elite soldiers, after all. They quickly reformed their ranks and faced Historia.
The commander leading the troops, General Toruk, clenched his fist and stepped forward.
“So it's true. Major General Historia. I never thought you would betray the Military State.”
“…Stand down. I don't want to hurt you.”
“Targeting the refinery. Treason and terrorism. First Lankart, and now you. You're all scrambling to get sent to Tantalus. Are you insane?”
“It was to minimize combat. If we hadn't attacked the refinery, it would have led to an all-out war. Then.”
“You believed we would lose? The army of the Military State!”
Historia fell silent. The incensed General Toruk took a few deep breaths to calm himself.
“Insubordination, desertion, and treason. Summary conviction is warranted, but given the urgency of the current situation, I will make you an offer.”
General Toruk lifted his chin as if they held the overwhelming advantage and made his proposal.
“Surrender now and help us subdue the enemies of the State. If you do, I will spare your life. Not only your life, but the lives of those you wish to save as well.”
To choose the most efficient method at the most critical time. Just what I'd expect from the Military State.
Right now, the Regressor was tied up with Eimeder. In the pouring light, Tyr's power would be weakened and her range of activity severely restricted. At this moment, if Historia were to side with them, the tables would turn in a heartbeat.
But no way. There's no way Historia would betray us…
“Is that your personal decision, General, or is it the judgment of Command?”
Hey. Historia. Why are you hesitating? Why are you asking that?
“It is the judgment of Command. I am against it, but I will follow the orders of Command. Because I am a soldier of the Military State.”
“…”
Historia slowly turned her gaze toward Shiati and me. A cold calculation filled her eyes.
No, that can't be right? You're not actually considering betrayal in this short amount of time, are you?
“Don't be ridiculous! I'd rather die than surrender!”
Shiati's cry was desperate but held little power. And it was the complete opposite of my own opinion. I'd rather surrender than die. Even if you have to roll in a field of dog shit, life is precious.
Ah, of course, not right now. It's not dangerous enough to die. It'll get a little dangerous if Historia joins their side, but…
“Ria.”
“Huey. I'm considering…”
“Are you planning on taking our corpses with you this time?”
A single sentence was all it took to turn her heart, which had been leaning toward their side.
As if struck by lightning, Historia shuddered violently. Her two eyes, which were always calm—whether languid or sharp—shot wide open. Her tightly clenched fist trembled pitifully.
“You, wha…”
The Taboo of the Military State. Historia's nightmare. That incident at Hamelin had meaning. At the very least, it left an indelible scar on those who witnessed it.
“Just pulling them out of the river doesn't solve anything. Historia, what sank to the riverbed wasn't their bodies, but their hearts.”
And one of those people has now become one of the Six Generals, a person who holds the fate of the Military State in her hands. The deaths of those children may have only changed Historia and me a little, but in the end, it changed the Military State itself.
Would the children who died be satisfied with that fact… I don't know.
“…Stay back. If you die, I won't let you hear the end of it.”
“Alright, good luck.”
Historia, who had been looking at me with terrifying eyes, or perhaps eyes full of fear, sharply averted her gaze. In the end, the cornered Historia took a step forward. It felt less like she was charging the enemy and more like she was running away from Shiati and me.
‘Tch. This just got complicated.’
General Toruk, inwardly clicking his tongue, spoke to Historia one last time.
“To think someone like you would be swayed by petty sentiment and make such a foolish choice. Are you confident you won't regret your decision?”
It's not a choice. The world doesn't call a path you were forced down a choice.
Just because you're strong doesn't mean your heart is made of steel. Historia was so strong she was lonely. The world seemed like a handful of clay. In a daily life that felt like it could crumble at any moment if she squeezed too hard, she had to live every second controlling her strength. She wanted her friends to reach her level.
But no one granted her wish. The young girl back then didn't know that to get closer to someone, you first have to approach them.
“…When you're in the middle of regretting, there's no room for new regrets.”
All that remained now was an all-out battle. General Toruk realized this.
Yet, even facing one of the Military State's Six Generals, he did not tremble in fear. Part of it was because he was a soldier, but a larger part was that he had no reason to be afraid.
‘The plan has gone awry, but this is within acceptable parameters. The Progenitor is neutralized. Once the Envoy cuts down the boy and the Camarilla ties up the Gunmaster, the rest can be easily subdued. If we capture them, the Progenitor and the Gunmaster will surrender.’
“When the scales are tipped this far, there's no need for negotiation. That was your last chance. A pity, Major General Historia. Everyone, attack—!”
“Excuse me, Generals. It seems you're misunderstanding something.”
CRUNCH. A sound like something breaking echoed.
The sound wasn't particularly loud. Just enough to stand out in the noise-filled control room. But the visual effect was tremendous.
The light was tilting in one direction.
The colors of a sunset were being recreated indoors. The gradually slanting light grew dim, as if night had fallen.
“What…!”
“The scales have tipped, that much is true, but they haven't tipped in your favor, you see?”
I might have been confused about what the annihilation device was, but I read from Zigrund's thoughts that the trap involved light. And that the Envoy would come.
So of course I'd prepare for it. All I had to do was get rid of the lights.
The principle behind the lights was simple. If you draw alchemic steel into thin threads and heat them, they emit light. Since most officers knew how to use combat alchemy, it must have been easy to produce lighting in an alchemic steel refinery.
But to say that was enough would be an overstatement.
“It was a brilliant move to jury-rig the lighting. But still, how could you be so hasty as to hang them on barbed wire?”
Just as I finished speaking, Azzy came pattering from the left side of my vision to the right.
In the back, the Regressor and Eimeder were fighting fiercely, and over here, Historia was facing a multitude of soldiers. But Azzy walked as casually as if on a stroll, as if none of it had anything to do with her. The soldiers were momentarily struck dumb by the absurd sight.
“Woof, heave! Woof, heave!”
Dozens of strands of barbed wire were clamped in Azzy's mouth as she walked.
“What were you going to do if a passing puppy decided to chew on it?”
CRRRUNCH.
A single dog was tearing down the barbed wire. The size of the wire Azzy was dragging was absurd compared to her own size. It was an illogical sight, like a single fish swimming away with an entire net.
With every step, the building groaned, and the lights hanging from the barbed wire burst one by one. Whenever the taut wire caught her step, Azzy would shake her head in irritation. The torn barbed wire whipped around violently, sending lights crashing to the floor. Lights falling from all directions exploded.
And behind Azzy, the Princess, holding tools and smudged with black soot, came trotting out.
The Princess stopped dead in her tracks, startled by the sight of the soldiers. Only then did time, which had seemed to stop, begin to flow again. General Toruk glanced back and forth between Azzy and the Princess, then pointed his longsword at Azzy, who still had the barbed wire in her mouth.
“Stop that thing, now!”
General Toruk shouted. He and the other generals and officers took the lead, charging toward Historia.
They knew their limits; they never thought they could defeat Historia with their strength alone. Instead, they threw themselves forward, planning to break through the narrow gap between Historia and the entrance.
But they didn't know their place. They thought that just because they were together, they could break past Historia unscathed.
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
“Kuaargh!”
It was a single breath. Historia stepped on the wall, the ceiling, and the floor in sequence. It was less a light step and more like a rubber ball bouncing wildly, striking everything in its path.
When Historia, who had left footprints on the walls and ceiling while emitting an explosive Qi, landed back on the floor, not a single general was left standing before her. The officers who had charged in were all sent sliding across the ground, each having taken a hit somewhere.
A general who had been knocked down by a kick to the chest gritted his teeth.
“Dammit…! We don't have time…!”
“Cut the chatter! Two of you, keep her busy!”
With every step Azzy took, digging her claws into the ground, more lights exploded. The control room grew progressively darker. No, before we knew it, it had already become as dim as a night-soaked room.
I put up an extra 10% of my shares for that. Thanks to you guys, I'm starting to consider defaulting on my debts.
“The Envoy is over there! We just need to join forces and fight!”
The same goes for us.
As the light gradually faded, Eimeder stood out even more within the control room. Eimeder, who had been relentlessly pushing the Regressor, became more distinct as the room darkened.
The shimmering light moved dazzlingly. And here, there was an animal that went crazy for such toys.
“Nyaa!”
Unable to resist any longer, Nabi leaped down onto Eimeder.
It was a stealthy and powerful ambush. The fact that it stemmed not from hostility but from pure curiosity and hunting instinct made it all the more deadly.
Nabi's front paws pressed down on Eimeder. If she had simply scratched with her claws, Eimeder, being made of light, would have taken little damage. But Nabi's goal was to catch the cluster of light, and that romantic gesture caused the light to scatter for a moment.
Thanks to Nabi, the Regressor got a moment to catch her breath.
“Alright, with this…!”
The Regressor drew Jizan. After twirling it to adjust her grip, she lifted Jizan over her shoulder and threw it with all her might. Toward the lights on the opposite side from Azzy, which hadn't fallen yet.
Even the barbed wire stretched over the hard concrete wall was no different from a flimsy spiderweb before the weight of Jizan. Jizan struck the barbed wire, and the wall of stone and steel rippled like water. Shards of stone and steel rained down, and the impact shattered or broke a significant number of the lights.
Before the Regressor could retrieve Jizan, Eimeder, having shaken off Nabi, seized the opening and thrust a blade of light.
[You have rampaged quite well. Yes, a trap using light. It has been a long time since I have experienced such unpleasantness.]
A single ray of light was sucked into the darkness. The movements that had been like a sunbeam slowed noticeably. In the space left by the vanished lights, the darkness had already taken form and caught the angel's blade.
When the outside grows dark, the vampire opens her eyes. Her senses restored, Tyr stepped in front of Eimeder. Tyr tilted her head as she looked at Eimeder, who was now much faster and stronger than before.
[But this is strange. Not even the Archangels of the Sanctum could be revived so easily. Tell me, what did you use as a sacrifice?]
Eimeder did not answer. Instead, it extended an arm.
The light flowing from the lamps was sucked into Eimeder's body. Its form, which had been blurred by Nabi's attack, was instantly reconstituted. Watching Eimeder become whole in an instant, Tyr murmured calmly.
[You are the same, even in your refusal to answer. Very well. Now, I shall ask no more.]
『Annihilation.』
“Tyr is free, and Azzy and Nabi have done their parts. Now, everyone from the Military State. Are you starting to come to your senses? This is no longer a trap. It's the grave where you will be buried.”
We already had a much greater advantage. It would be the same even if the Camarilla, who was watching for an opportunity, joined the fray. The tilted scales have now reached a point where they are rolling on their own.
As a commander, he must be feeling that fact in his bones. Though he wouldn't show weakness in front of the enemy.
“And you think we will yield!”
“No! There's no need to yield! Instead, we can all be winners! Let me make a proposal for all of you!”
I raised my hand and pointed behind him as I shouted.
“If you turn around right now and save the laborers who are still dying as we speak! We will help you out of humanitarian concern!”