Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint -
Chapter 258: The Country of Steel and The Faceless Men (7)
｢Ah what a twist, you’ve done it now. What a good play.｣
‘Kerapald’ reverted to Zigrund.
Although she would have liked to stay on this stage a little longer, unlike ‘Kerapald’, Zigrund had a mission.
｢If the refinery is destroyed… it would spell a disaster and the operation would fail. They won’t stay still.｣
This was not part of her original plan.
There was a trap set in the middle of the control room.
Hastily made but effective.
The lever with the striking red handle was the trigger for that trap.
The original plan was for the Regressor and Historia to argue and eventually activate the trap, falling into the Military State’s prepared snare.
But I, having read Zigrund’s mind, bypassed the trap and activated the real annihilation device.
｢I should have disabled the annihilation device in advance… No, there wasn’t enough time. While traps can be set up hastily, the annihilation device was designed into this refinery from its inception.｣
Thinking this, Zigrund looked at me with suspicion.
｢But how did the Pied Piper know that was the annihilation device? He even toyed with the red handle as if mocking it.｣
While Zigrund lamented and broke out of her immersion, the Regressor, realizing my transgression, shouted in urgency.
“You lunatic! What the hell are you doing?!”
“Can’t you see? I turned the wheel of fate!”
“Turn it back now!”
“I can’t. It’s like dropping something teetering on the edge of a cliff—once it’s triggered, there’s no turning it back.”
“Then what are we going to do?!”
“Why should I be the one to figure that out?”
The Regressor was dumbfounded by my response, but I was serious.
“It’s the Military State that made the laws, the Military State that enforces forced labor for breaking those laws, and the Military State that created the refinery and installed the annihilation device! All I did was press the button that was right in front of me. How is that my fault?”
“That’s absurd! These people will die, and even if their deaths temporarily delay the Military State’s plans, it won’t lead to a better outcome!”
“Do you want to save them? Then go ahead and save them. Rescue them yourself before the refinery leads them to their deaths!”
“What?”
[Enough.]
Tyr interrupted the Regressor.
After taking a deep breath and looking at the Regressor, Tyr turned to me with a warm gaze and walked over.
[Hu assumed the role of the villain for your sake. Instead of thanking him, you reproach him. Shame on you.]
“How can I thank him for this?!”
[This matter would not have been easily resolved. Before wasting energy on a futile argument, Hu shouldered all the blame and acted in your stead. Shei, instead of blaming him, you should think about what to do next and act accordingly.]
Reprimanding the Regressor sternly, Tyr approached me and took my hand with her cold one, offering comfort.
[It is alright. None of us are disappointed in you. Do not blame yourself. No matter what Shei says, it is merely an expression of regret, not a condemnation of you and your actions.]
“Huh? I don’t feel guilty at all.”
[Good. Let us leave it at that.]
Tyr smiled and maintained her comforting stance.
It wasn’t about letting it be.
I genuinely felt no guilt.
Why should I take responsibility for a device made by the Military State?
Still, it wasn’t bad to be comforted by an older figure who was kind only to me.
Even if she was a bit too old.
“There was no need for you to take it on yourself.”
Although the strategic objective had been achieved, Historia still seemed unsettled, grumbling at me.
“I should have done it. I never intended to leave it to someone else...”
“No need to thank me. I just turned the gear.”
“I’m a Star General. I have the authority to operate Military State facilities based on my judgment.”
“Who grants that authority? Whether or not you have the right, it’s my will that moves my body in the end.”
“Even so...”
Ah, it would have been a better picture if Historia, with her granted authority from the Military State, had operated the device.
But Historia didn’t know which device was the annihilation device, so it couldn’t be helped.
“But Huey, how did you find the annihilation device….”
Historia didn’t finish her sentence.
She saw someone moving forward ahead of her.
“Kerapald?”
It wasn’t Kerapald.
Zigrund had already stepped out of character.
Zigrund walked briskly to the lever with the red handle and stood before it.
Her expression was complex—a mix of regret and detachment, with a multi-dimensional smile as she grabbed the handle tightly.
As everyone turned their curious gazes toward her, standing in the center of the stage, she let out a deep sigh and lamented.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.”
“Wait, Kerapald! What are you…!”
Just as she finished speaking, Zigrund yanked the red handle forcefully.
The trap, hastily made, was all the more dramatic.
There was no time to react.
Not due to lack of ability, but because it was impossible.
Screeeeech.
Strange objects mounted on the walls of the control room began moving.
These ornaments, hidden until now due to the lack of lighting, sprang into action as soon as Zigrund pulled the lever.
They moved at the speed of light, leaving no time to resist.
At that moment of realization, the trap set throughout the refinery fell upon us.
But I, having anticipated his move by reading her mind, reacted a step ahead.
“Tyr! Come here!”
[Hu? Why so suddenly?]
Pulling Tyr close, I pulled out a card.
The Queen of Diamonds, the Queen of Fabric.
A primitive clothing packet compressed by an alchemist.
Combined with other cards, it could become the ‘Spirit Robe’ used by Mage Officers, but there was no time for that now.
A wide fabric, resembling both armor and silk, unfolded from the card.
Though its size was unsatisfactory, it was enough to cover Tyr.
I spread the fabric wide and wrapped it around Tyr’s body.
While it should have surprised her, Tyr calmly watched what I was doing.
Thankfully, Tyr’s personality was laid-back.
If it had been the Regressor, she would have cut me down immediately.
As the fabric enveloped Tyr’s body completely, a flash of light burst forth.
Thousands of suns blazed.
The decorations on the walls were thousands, tens of thousands of high-powered searchlights.
All at once, they emitted beams of light.
The light, bouncing off the ground and overlapping with each other, created a blinding white blaze.
The overwhelming brightness filled my vision.
Instinctively, I closed my eyes, but the explosive light pierced through my eyelids, invading my retinas.
“Ugh! Light?!”
The trap set by the Military State.
There was an overwhelming number of searchlights pre-installed in the control room, intended to trap Tyr.
The sun is so bright it illuminates the world, but to us standing on the ground, it’s just a small hole in the sky.
It’s not harmful unless directly stared at.
But the searchlights created by the Military State shone from all directions, blinding us wherever we looked.
[Though the sun has set, how can there be this much light…?!]
“They’re searchlights! Heated metal emits light! The refinery also serves as a factory for making searchlights!”
It was a desperate measure to deal with Tyr at night.
If I hadn’t been there, it would have been quite effective.
The artificial light would have exhausted the darkness.
But unlike the sun, the artificial light of searchlights was practical, emitting only visible light.
It lacked the Arcane and intense heat of the sun and couldn’t penetrate my thick fabric.
“Tyr, are you okay?”
[I-I’m fine. Being protected is not so bad… not at all.]
Feeling Tyr’s grip tighten on my fabric, she leaned her head against me.
What’s not bad?
It’s pretty bad!
You’re supposed to protect me, not the other way around!
Zigrund is moving right now!
｢First, let’s eliminate the variables.｣
Zigrund didn’t miss the moment when everyone temporarily lost their sight.
She pulled out a hidden dagger and thrust it towards me in an instant.
Though Tyr was close by, she couldn’t detect the attack amidst the flood of light.
What should I do?
Use Tyr as a shield?
No, that’s a last resort.
If the fabric covering Tyr got torn, it would immensely deplete Tyr’s darkness.
Anyway, the other side hadn’t recovered her sight either; she just remembered my position and attacked.
In that case…
“Tyr! Excuse me!”
[…Do as you wish.]
“There’s no wish!”
I grabbed Tyr and rolled immediately.
Our bodies hit the ground hard.
The pain in my back was brief, and I rolled desperately so Zigrund couldn’t pinpoint my location.
My back hurt from the hard floor, but it was better than being stabbed.
Zigrund, unable to follow my movements in the light, lost track of me.
Phew, I survived.
I’m glad I can read thoughts with my eyes closed.
Is Tyr okay?
[I-Is this the so-called wrapping custom? When I heard about it, I was speechless, but experiencing it firsthand is quite different…]
She’s talking nonsense, so she must be okay.
Tyr is fine.
After all, a vampire wouldn’t be hurt just by rolling on the ground.
｢Did he figure out what the trap was? And dodged my attack? This can’t be explained by mere intuition or knowledge.｣
Damn. I should worry about myself.
Moving first made Zigrund suspicious of me.
｢Suspicious. This needs to be confirmed, even if it means revealing my disguise.｣
Having mastered Gam Qi Art, the Regressor and Historia quickly adapted to the light.
At their level, they could channel Qi into their eyes.
As soon as they adapted to the blinding light, they quickly assessed the situation.
“If this light is a trap to deplete darkness, then it’s meant to trap Tyrkanzyaka. Then what of it?”
Realizing something, the Regressor pointed at Zigrund, who stood in ‘Kerapald’s form, holding a dagger as if to stab someone.
Historia quickly grasped the situation.
Kerapald pulled the lever, thus activating numerous searchlights.
Thus, the conclusion was evident.
“Kerapald triggered the trap.”
No doubt about it.
Despite her attachment to her comrades who survived Hameln, Historia had her limits.
Kerapald, an aspiring Mage Officer, was the most distant from her emotionally, making him the easiest to suspect.
“Betrayal? Or disguise…?”
“Either way, he’s an enemy, right? Then!”
Without hesitation, the Regressor charged at Zigrund with Chun-aeng.
Historia’s brief hesitation made the Regressor’s swift attack seem almost natural as if they had been enemies moments ago.
The transparent sword cleaved through the light, slicing Zigrund deeply.
“Gaaah!”
Zigrund staggered back, blood pouring out.
Her hand went limp, dropping the dagger.
The Regressor, who had driven her to the brink, pointed Chun-aeng and shouted.
“Stop the trap now…! Huh? He’s Dead?”
The Regressor was baffled.
She hadn’t used a killing blow, yet his body was trembling and he was dying.
“What? A puppet? No, the feeling just before…”
No, that’s acting.
Zigrund’s been perfecting this death act countless times.
Stopping her breath and disrupting her Qi flow, her performance was so realistic that the Regressor was momentarily confused.
I wanted to tell her it was a death act, but if I did, Zigrund would focus more on me.
Better to stay silent for now.
The only one not following the situation was Shiati.
She was frowning as she still hadn’t recovered her sight.
“Ugh…. Kerapald? Where are you?”
Historia clicked her tongue and grabbed Shiati, shouting.
“Shiati, listen carefully! Kerapald betrayed us, and now we’re caught in a trap!”
“Historia? Why are you suddenly trying to drive a wedge between us?”
“Just listen! I don’t have time to explain everything to make you understand!”
Snapping sharply, Historia led Shiati to a relatively shaded area.
Then Historia shouted.
“Cutie!”
The Regressor immediately reacted.
“What? And stop calling me cutie!”
“There’s no way this trap ends here. We need to get out fast! Cut the wall! If I break it, the whole building might collapse!”
“Tch…! If we leave now, this place will turn into hell…!”
“Are you planning to kill the people who followed you? Think of your comrades over the criminals trapped here!”
The Regressor agreed with that.
She would only ponder when there was time.
Faced with her comrades’ danger, she wasn’t one to prioritize abstract ideals.
Having no choice, the Regressor showed flexibility like any other normal person.
“Skyblade Art…!”
Just as the Regressor was about to cut the wall with Chun-aeng, she noticed something and changed the direction of her sword to deflect something zooming towards her.
Clang!
Swinging her sword into the air, a metallic clang resounded.
But that wasn’t the end.
The Regressor stepped forward, slashing dozens of times into the empty air.
Each swing produced a loud metallic sound.
It was blinding everywhere.
Finding an existence made of light within the glaring light was as difficult as spotting a bluebird floating in a blue sea.
The Regressor wouldn’t have found it if not for her Magic Eyes.
Seven colors flashed in turn, and the Regressor barely caught sight of the being attacking her.
Seeing it, the Regressor frowned.
“Eimeder…! Here of all places!”
『Controlled observation complete. Manifestation rate 57%. Artificial light environment. Advantageous.』
The guardian angel of the Military State, covered in light, revealed itself amidst the blazing light.
Simultaneously, loud noises came from outside.
The hidden forces of the Military State were coming to exterminate the rats caught in the trap.
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