Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

Chapter 259: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men (8)

A trap must conceal its danger until the moment it springs.

A trap should only reveal its brutal nature only after the prey is caught.

Because of this, Zigrund’s trap required a few key elements.

The lights filling the control room were the perfect trap to restrain the Progenitor, but they had no physical power themselves.

They were, in essence, the weakest and most porous net in the world.

Our party wasn’t composed solely of Tyr, so if anyone else responded to the trap, they would tear through it instantly.

Therefore, to ensure we were thoroughly subdued, Zigrund had prepared two additional measures.

One was the Envoy, Eimeder, the artificial angel protecting the Military State, the avatar of light that became stronger under dazzling lights.

The other was the hidden soldiers stationed throughout the labor camp.

The trap couldn’t be revealed prematurely, so the soldiers couldn’t be placed outside.

If the refinery were treated as an enemy stronghold where soldiers could appear at any moment, it would be hard to spring the trap.

Thus, Zigrund hid elite soldiers inside the refinery, where the laborers were held.

Hiding them was easy—they simply had to pretend to be laborers.

The plan succeeded.

The trap was sprung, and they rushed in at the most inconvenient time for us.

However, just as we were in a bind, so were they now that the trap was sprung.

“The annihilation sequence has been activated?! That wasn’t part of the plan…!”

If they didn’t do anything, the entire refinery would be obliterated.

But this was their only chance to defeat us.

They would fail to achieve their strategic objective if they allowed the refinery to be destroyed.

If they chose to stop the annihilation device, they would leave themselves vulnerable.

The Military State’s dilemma was whether to aim for tactical victory or strategic success.

As they were thrown into confusion, Historia stepped forward with resolute determination, blocking their path.

The soldiers halted.

“Major General Historia…!”

When one of the Six Star Generals blocked the narrow passage, murmurs spread among the soldiers.

These were troops directly dispatched by Command, and Historia, being the Daughter of the Military State and the Idol of Generals, was well-known to them.

But the disturbance was brief; they were elite troops after all.

They quickly reorganized and faced Historia.

The commander of the troop, General Toruk, clenched his fist and stepped forward.

“So, Major General Historia. I never expected you to betray the Military State.”

“…Stand down. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Targeting the refinery? From treason to terrorism. Both you and Lankart seem desperate to reach Tantalus. Are you out of your mind?”

“We aimed to reduce the scope of the conflict. Had we not attacked the refinery, a full-scale war would have broken out.”

“Did you believe we would lose? The Military State’s army?!”

Historia remained silent.

The enraged General Toruk took several deep breaths to calm himself.

“Mutiny, desertion, and treason. You deserve summary execution, but given the current emergency, I have a proposal for you.”

General Toruk, assuming they had the upper hand, lifted his chin arrogantly and offered his proposal.

“Surrender immediately and suppress the enemies of the Military State. Then we will spare your life and the lives of those you wish to protect.”

Opting for the most efficient solution at the most critical time—indeed, it’s what the Military State would do.

The Regressor was tied up with Eimeder.

In the flood of light, Tyr’s power was weakened, and her range of activity was greatly reduced.

If Historia were to join them now, the tide would turn drastically.

But that’s not going to happen.

Historia would never betray us…

“Is this your personal decision, or is it Command’s judgment?”

Hey, Historia.

Why are you hesitating?

Why are you asking that?

“It is Command’s judgment. I disagree, but I follow the orders because I am a soldier of the Military State.”

“…”

Historia slowly turned her gaze from me to Shiati.

Cold calculation filled her eyes.

N-No way? She isn’t considering betrayal in this short time, is she?

“Stop talking nonsense! I’d rather die than surrender!”

Shiati’s cry was desperate but lacked conviction.

It also completely contradicted my own stance.

I’d surrender rather than die.

After all, life is precious, even if you must roll in the mud.

Ah, but not now.

It’s not dangerous enough to die yet.

If Historia sides with them, though, it might get risky….

“Ria.”

“Huey. I need to think–"

“Are you planning to take our bodies back this time?”

One sentence was enough to sway her wavering heart.

Historia shuddered violently as if struck by lightning.

Her always composed, sharp eyes widened.

Her clenched hands trembled pitifully.

“You, Uh….”

The Military State’s taboo.

Historia’s nightmare.

The incident at Hamelin held significant meaning…

At least for those who witnessed it, it left an indelible mark on their soul.

“Pulling them out of the river couldn’t solve anything. Historia, it wasn’t their bodies that sank but their hearts.”

One of those children became one of the Six Star Generals, a person who could alter the fate of the Military State.

While their deaths changed Historia and me a little, it ultimately altered the Military State.

Would those children be satisfied knowing this?

I don’t know.

“...Stand back. If you die, I won’t let it go.”

“Then, do your best.”

Historia looked at me.

Her gaze was terrifying… No, it was a fearful gaze.

As soon as she gazed at me, she looked away just as quickly.

Cornered, Historia took a step forward.

It felt less like charging at the enemy and more like running away from me and Shiati.

｢Tsk, things have gotten complicated.｣

General Toruk, inwardly clicking his tongue, spoke to Historia one last time.

“It’s foolish for someone of your status to make a stupid choice based on petty emotions. Are you confident you won’t regret this?”

It’s not a choice.

Being forced into a corner and taking the only available path isn’t a choice.

Strength doesn’t necessarily come with emotional resilience.

Historia was so strong that she felt lonely.

The world seemed like a lump of clay in her hands.

In a life where everything seemed about to crumble if she squeezed too hard, she lived constantly adjusting her strength.

She hoped her friends would reach her.

But no one fulfilled her wish.

The girl didn’t know that to get closer, she had to approach first.

“…When you’re busy regretting, there is no room for new regrets.”

All that remained was an all-out war.

General Toruk realized this.

However, even facing one of the Six Star Generals of the Military State, he wasn’t afraid.

It was partly because he was a soldier, but mostly because he had no reason to fear.

｢The plan went awry, but it’s still within expectations. The Progenitor is neutralized. If the Envoy slays the boy and the Camarilla binds the Gunmaster, the rest will be easily subdued. Once they’re dealt with, the Progenitor and the Gunmaster will surrender.｣

“When the balance tips further, negotiations will no longer be necessary. That was your last chance. A pity, Major General Historia. Everyone, attack…!”

“Umm… Excuse me, Generals. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

A cracking sound was heard.

The sound wasn’t particularly loud, just noticeable amid the noise in the control room.

However, the visual effect was striking.

The light was tilting in one direction.

It was like the colors seen at sunset were being reproduced indoors.

As the light gradually slanted, it grew dim as if night was falling.

“What…!”

“The balance tipped, but not in your favor.”

Even if I was confused about the annihilation device, I read from Zigrund’s thoughts that the trap was light-based and that the Envoy would come.

So, I was prepared.

All I had to do was get rid of the lights.

The principle of lighting is simple.

Pulling thin strands of Alchemic Steel and heating them would produce light.

Most officers could use combat alchemy, so producing lights at the alchemic steel refinery would have been easy.

But was that enough?

“Improvising the lights was a brilliant move. But really? Attaching them to the barbed wire in a hurry? What were you thinking?”

As I finished speaking, Azzy trotted from my left to my right.

Behind us, the Regressor and Eimeder were engaged in fierce combat, while in front, Historia was facing off against a multitude of humans.

But Azzy moved leisurely as if this had nothing to do with her.

The absurdity of the scene left the humans momentarily speechless.

“Woof, hoo! Woof, hoo!”

Azzy walked with dozens of strands of barbed wire in her mouth.

“What would you do if a strolling dog bit the barbed wire?”

Crack.

A single dog was tearing through the barbed wire.

The size of the barbed wire Azzy was dragging was absurd compared to her size.

It was like a fish pulling an entire net while swimming, an illogical sight.

With each step, the building creaked, and the lights attached to the barbed wire burst.

Every time the taut barbed wire snagged her steps, Azzy shook her head irritably.

The shredded barbed wire shook violently, causing the lights to crash to the ground.

In turn, the lights exploded all around.

Following Azzy, the Princess, holding tools and covered in soot, hurried along.

She stopped abruptly upon seeing the soldiers, and time resumed its flow.

General Toruk, alternating his gaze between Azzy and the Princess, pointed his sword at Azzy.

“Stop that dog immediately!”

General Toruk shouted.

He and the other generals and officers charged toward Historia.

They didn’t intend to defeat her alone, but rather to force their way through the narrow gap between Historia and the entrance.

But they misjudged their capabilities.

They believed they could push past Historia.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

“Argh!”

In a single breath, Historia stepped on the walls, ceiling, and floor in quick succession.

She looked more like a rubber ball bouncing violently against all surfaces.

With such explosive Qi Art, Historia left imprints on the walls and ceiling before landing on the floor.

When she landed, not a single general was left standing on their feet.

The charging officers were thrown to the ground, each hit in some way.

A general kicked in the chest gritted his teeth.

“Damn…! We’re running out of time…!”

“Stop whining! The two of you, tie her up!”

With each step Azzy took, the lights exploded.

The control room grew progressively darker.

It was like nighttime was seeping in unnoticed.

I offered an additional 10% of my share for that.

Because of all of you, it's about time I slowly worry about defaulting on the debt.

“With the Envoy over there, we just need to fight together!”

That goes for us, too.

As the light diminished, Eimeder stood out more and more in the gradually darkening room.

The dimmer the light, the more distinct Eimeder’s form became as it fiercely battled the Regressor.

Good.

The light shone brilliantly as Eimeder moved.

And among those drawn to shiny things, there was a certain animal here that was drawn to it.

“Meow!”

Unable to hold back, Nabi leaped onto Eimeder.

It was a stealthy, powerful surprise attack.

Not driven by malice but by pure curiosity and hunting instinct, making it even more lethal.

Nabi’s paws pressed down on Eimeder.

If she had clawed instead, Eimeder, made of light, wouldn’t have been hurt.

But Nabi aimed to grab the light, and in that romantic gesture, the light dispersed momentarily.

Thanks to Nabi, the Regressor got a brief respite.

“Great, now I can…!”

The Regressor drew Jizan.

Adjusting her grip, she threw Jizan towards the remaining lights on Azzy’s opposite side.

The barbed wire strung along the concrete wall was no match for Jizan’s weight.

Jizan smashed through the barbed wire, causing the stone and steel wall to ripple.

Stone and metal shards rained down the room, breaking or shattering many lights.

Before the Regressor could retrieve Jizan, Eimeder, who had shaken off Nabi, thrust a blade of light.

[You have caused quite a commotion. Yes, a light-based trap. It has been a long time since I have experienced such unpleasantness.]

A beam of light was sucked into the darkness.

The movement of light, once swift, slowed noticeably.

The darkness where the lights used to be formed into a shape that caught the angel’s blade.

When night falls, the vampire awakens.

Regaining her senses, Tyr stood before Eimeder.

Seeing Eimeder, now much faster and stronger, Tyr tilted her head.

[But it is rather strange. Even the archangels of the Sanctum can not reform this easily. What did you sacrifice to achieve this?]

Eimeder did not respond, instead, it extended an arm.

Light from the shattered lights flowed into Eimeder’s body.

Reformed in an instant, Eimeder’s form was fully restored.

Tyr, seeing this, muttered calmly.

[No answer, typical. Very well. suit yourself.]

『Exterminate.』

“Tyr is free, and Azzy and Nabi are doing their part. Military State officers, do you get it now? This isn’t a trap anymore. It’s your grave.”

We’re already in a much better position.

Even if the Camarilla joins the fray, the scales have tipped so far that they are now rolling on their own.

A competent commander would realize this acutely.

They won’t show weakness in front of the enemy, but they must feel it.

“You think we’ll surrender?!”

“No! You don’t have to surrender! Instead, we can all be winners! I have a proposal for you!”

I raised my hand and pointed behind him.

“If you turn around right now and save the laborers who are dying as we speak, we will assist you! Based purely on humanitarian grounds, of course!”