Chapter 27: The Resistance - 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27: The Resistance - 2
Steeling himself, Kanysen whipped his head around and shouted.
“If you've recovered, get out here. We need to hurry. We don't have much time!”
It seemed Alpha and Beta weren't the only ones who had snuck in through the supply box. From deep inside, a reply came as a mix of several voices. Immediately after, with a flurry of movement, two people emerged from the supply box, grunting as they carried a square metal case.
Kanysen glanced at them, then strode over to me.
“Comrade.”
Like hell I'm your comrade, you bastard. I cursed inwardly, forcing a smile on my face. With a solemn expression, Kanysen gripped my shoulder tightly.
“We need your help, comrade. If you help us, then we will help you escape this place.”
“Escape? Really?”
“Of course. Unlike the Military State, the resistance does not lie to its citizens.”
Haha. Right. I guess that's one way to escape. A grand escape to the heavens, leaving the body behind.
Look at him, not a single change in his expression. If I weren't a mind reader, I would have just stood there blankly watching them set up the bombs, and I would've been blown to bits.
Still, I couldn't let on that I knew. He was a knight-level combatant. With no equipment, I was no match for him. I had to follow his orders without giving him any reason for suspicion.
Smiling bitterly, I feigned ignorance and gave him the reaction he was looking for.
“Escape? You're really getting me out of this goddamn place where the sun never shines? You promise?”
“Of course. I keep my promises.”
“Just leave it to me! How can I help you, comrade!”
Kanysen glanced around, lost in thought.
The prison is larger than I thought. We brought a considerable amount of explosives, but it's not enough to completely destroy Tantalus. If we stick to the original plan and blow up the cliff, only the rock face will collapse, leaving the main facilities intact. What we need now is a point where we can cause the most damage with the least amount of explosives. Since we've come all the way into the Abyss, I want to strike at the very foundation.
Having calmly formulated a plan, Kanysen spoke to me.
“You said you've been here for a few days. Then you must have a rough idea of this oppressor's prison's layout.”
“Not everything, but I've had a look around. Besides the other prisoners here, I probably know it best.”
“Good. Were there any places that seemed important? I mean, a place with something noteworthy.”
“Hmm. An important place, you say.”
There is. A very nice place I've prepared just for you.
I quickly raised a finger and pointed.
“Over there, the underground armory. There's a huge steel door that's shut tight, but it opens by itself every now and then. I peeked inside once, and it looked like there was a lot of stuff in there.”
A thousand-year-old vampire is waiting in there. A delivery of a living bento box of blood. Enjoy your meal, vampire. Oh, and the packaging isn't recyclable, so you'll have to dispose of it yourself.
“And in the surveillance room on the prison's first floor, I think there were some weapons? Equipment? Something like that for controlling the vicious prisoners.”
On the first floor is Tantalus's ultimate weapon, a Regressor who'll try to cut off your arm as a friendly greeting. If she hears you're planning to destroy Tantalus, she'll go for your neck, too. Next time we meet, I hope to see your head and body separately.
“What about that place over there?”
Kanysen was pointing at the control room, which was separate from the main prison building. A half-destroyed building with a broken fence and collapsed roof, leaving only rubble behind.
Hmm. They can't go there. There's nothing there that can kill them.
I spoke with as much disinterest as I could muster.
“I went there once, but there was nothing special. Just a bunch of rubble, nothing to salvage.”
“Rubble, you say.”
The other buildings are intact, but that one place is full of signs of destruction. Someone must have destroyed it on purpose. If so, that means there's something inside that they didn't want falling into anyone else's hands. Or there might be discarded equipment. In any case, since our resources are limited, if we're going to search anywhere, we should start there.
But it seemed my words had only piqued Kanysen's interest.
Tch, he's certainly sharp.
But he's still playing right into my hands.
“I've made my decision! Everyone, listen closely.”
Kanysen called the other resistance members. The resistance members, who had been nervously looking around, quickly gathered before Kanysen. Their stiff bodies hadn't loosened up yet; one of them even stumbled after misplacing a foot. Regardless, they gathered in one place with tense faces.
Kanysen pointed to each resistance member as he spoke.
“Alpha, you head to the underground armory. If there are any explosives or weapons, secure them. We're short on weapons.”
“Understood!”
Kanysen turned his head. The woman who had shot at Azzy earlier yelped and hugged her gun tightly.
“Beta. You head to the first floor of the prison. There might be weapons for controlling the prisoners. If you encounter any, avoid combat as much as possible and make up some excuse while you search.”
“Y-Yes? I have to face the prisoners of Tantalus?”
Beta shook her head, her expression full of doubt. Kanysen let out a small, yet clearly audible sigh and said to her.
“You're the most cautious one here, Beta. And you're the best shot. You're the right person for a reconnaissance mission that avoids combat.”
“B-But, Captain. You just saw it. The prisoners here are monsters who can catch bullets. G-Guns won't work on them.”
“We've already put our lives on the line. Coming down here is the same as being dead. Are you going to tremble in fear after coming all this way?”
Kanysen glared at Beta as if scolding her, but she still looked terrified. Kanysen, who had been glaring at her, soon sighed.
I can't change her personality right now. Her confidence has plummeted, probably because the shot she fired so confidently was stopped by teeth. In times like this, even if it's not the best fit…
“Haaah. Alpha, we're switching roles. You go to the first floor. I'll send Beta to the armory.”
Alpha strode forward and answered in a booming voice.
“Leave it to me. I'm not afraid!”
“Confidence is good, but don't forget the principle. The enemy is likely to be terrifyingly strong. Combat must be avoided at all costs. And Beta. Since you're going to a relatively safer place, give your military equipment to Alpha.”
“Y-Yes…”
Beta quickly took out the large disc she was carrying on her back. The silver disc, which looked to be cast from metal, had dozens, hundreds of letters engraved along its concentric circles, and a hole in the center just large enough for a fist. Anyone who saw it might mistake it for a weight plate used for exercise.
But its true identity was a piece of military equipment made by the Military State, the Combat Arm.
The silver disc, the base form of the Combat Arm, was the most powerful weapon they had brought, but Beta handed it to Alpha as if it were a heavy burden.
Alpha seemed pleased to have gotten his hands on the powerful weapon, but Kanysen clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.
“Tsk.”
The Combat Arm is a powerful weapon. It would be more logical for Beta, who is cautious and calm but lacks physical strength, to wear it… But it can't be helped. We've already thrown our lives away. Right now, fighting spirit is more important than talent. The kind Alpha has.
Unaware of his thoughts, Alpha happily accepted the Combat Arm and looked at Kanysen.
“Captain. Can I put it on now?”
“Of course.”
“Alright! In that case!”
As soon as Kanysen gave his permission, Alpha rolled up his sleeve to reveal his bio-receptor and thrust his arm through the hole in the silver disc.
In that moment, a flash of mana erupted.
The metal disc split into upper and lower halves. With the sound of interlocking metal, the clanking disc transformed, surging up Alpha's arm as if to devour it. Hard, crude metal enveloped Alpha's left arm. As plates wrapped around his arm, the steel wires connecting the gaps tightened, cinching down.
Clank, clank. A series of regular, perfectly interlocking sounds followed—the kind that would give someone who works with metal something akin to an orgasm. Gears turned and notches clicked into place. Piece by piece, the steel plates seamlessly covered Alpha's body.
Before long, Alpha was clad in a massive suit of steel armor. From the full-face helmet to the steel scales that filled every gap. Encased in steel without a single opening, he clenched his fist, filled with ecstasy. The sound of grinding metal came from his fist.
“Haha! Now I can die with no regrets!”
The Military State is a nation that turns everything in the world into a weapon. True to its nature, the moment Clothing Packets appeared in the world, the Military State came up with a different idea.
Clothes can be made into packets. Armor is also clothing. If so, couldn't armor also be made into a packet that can be easily equipped and unequipped?
Through this one-dimensional syllogism, the Military State began researching how to alchemize armor into packets.
The fact that the difficulty of alchemizing cloth versus iron armor was like the difference between heaven and earth was not a consideration. That was a problem for the technicians to overcome.
Regardless of the technicians' protests, the Military State poured in countless human and material resources and finally perfected the technology to turn armor into packets.
And this was the result. The Combat Arm.
The very essence of the Military State's alchemy and magical engineering.
“This power is incredible. With this, I don't think I can lose to anyone!”
Alpha shouted, drunk on the feeling of omnipotence. His confident voice echoed through the metal. Just as Kanysen had hoped, Alpha showed no signs of intimidation even after equipping the Combat Arm.
Though that was also what Kanysen disliked about him. Kanysen clicked his tongue and said.
“Nonsense. The Combat Arm only lends you its strength. Defeating the enemy depends on your own skill.”
“But with this much power!”
Alpha's heated gaze turned to Azzy. Azzy, who had been yawning out of boredom, sensed a strange killing intent and turned her head, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Wow, he's really asking for death. Doesn't know his place.
'This reckless fool doesn't know his place!'
I wasn't the only one who thought so. Kanysen's eyes widened as he shouted.
“Alpha!”
Alpha flinched at Kanysen's roar.
“Don't be rash! Stick to your mission! First, take off that visor that's blocking your entire view! Your mission right now is reconnaissance, not combat!”
“Y-Yes. I'm sorry.”
'Haaah. Nothing is ever easy.'
While Alpha hurriedly removed his helmet and visor, Kanysen turned to the remaining members. Gamma and Delta. Their combat abilities were inferior to Alpha's and Beta's, so it was best not to expect much from them in that regard.
However, Delta was a meticulous support agent, and Gamma was a talent who had once worked as a technician for the Military State. Especially now, when a planned demolition was more important than indiscriminate bombing, Gamma was the most crucial person in this party.
“Delta, you stay here and… these…”
His gaze fell on me and Azzy. More on Azzy than on me. A mix of awe and fear swirled in his eyes.
“Protect them. Keep them from approaching the control room, as it could be dangerous. If possible… yes. Play ball with them or something.”
“Under… stood.”
Wow. So meticulous. He's not letting his guard down until the very end.
He might not know about me, but Azzy is the Dog King. A being who could slaughter everyone here if she put her mind to it. It's only natural for him to be wary.
Of course, as the Dog King, she can't harm humans, so it's just an empty threat. But he wouldn't know that.
“Alright. Gamma, you're coming with me to the control room. As a technician, your presence will allow for a more thorough investigation.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Now, gather 'round.”
The tense resistance members put their hands together. They stacked their hands, but I could tell their minds were scattered in all directions.
One was terrified, another could only think of showing off. There was even one who had unthinkingly followed his friends, only to end up here by chance, and was still regretting his decision.
But their inner thoughts remained hidden. On the outside, they just looked like a slightly mismatched, motley crew of resistance fighters.
“Everyone. Let's use our lives. Let's use our lives to land a blow on the hateful Military State.”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Alright. Move out!”
Still, what had brought them this far was their hatred for the Military State and the bond they shared. They had at least that much going for them, as no one disobeyed the order or hesitated. The resistance members all began to move toward their assigned locations.