Chapter 134 : Area-39

For ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍soldiers, a Hyperspace Jump was a technology that allowed a ship to move directly to the vicinity of a planet's atmosphere.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that only applied to military warships.

〔Thank ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you sincerely for choosing Sirt Galaxy Navigation Company. This vessel will remain in nearby space for approximately 10 hours before landing at Platform 7 on Planet Ju, Area-39. Passengers are requested to...〕

There ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were quite a few reasons for that.

For ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍example, passenger ships were much larger than military vessels.

There ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were also many technologies that civilian navigation companies were legally prohibited from using.

And it also served to prevent warships disguised as passenger vessels from carrying out surprise orbital bombardments.

“......”

Whichever explanation was correct, it didn't particularly matter.

Perhaps they were all correct.

Well, the important thing was simply arriving safely at the platform.

Letting the now-familiar in-flight announcement pass through one ear, Jin Crow confirmed that nearly ten hours had passed before placing the glass of liquor he had been sipping onto the table.

Then he rose from the sofa inside the suite-like cabin.

Hiss... Haa—

As he bit down on the cigarette hanging from his lips, smoke crumbled into shimmering wisps that followed in his wake.

Creeak.

He reached out and opened the cabin door.

The moment the door swung open, his eyes fell upon the defenseless—

No.

The utterly disheveled silhouette of a woman.

He let out a quiet sigh.

“...Haa.”

It was a sigh filled with indescribable exhaustion.

Naturally.

He was confident that anyone would automatically sigh upon seeing the sight before him.

Thinking that to himself, Jin Crow casually tapped the ash from his half-smoked cigarette into his portable ashtray before stepping inside.

“...Mm. Hehe.”

Lying completely defenseless across the queen-size bed was none other than Obia Timist.

The problem wasn't that she was merely sleeping peacefully.

Unlike him, who had only wetted his lips with a drink, Obia had declared that this was her first taste of freedom in a long time and had literally poured alcohol straight into her stomach.

The result now lay before his eyes.

She was sprawled out in a starfish position while hugging a half-open bottle of whiskey, apparently because her side felt cold.

Staring at her in disbelief, he chose not to wake her personally.

Instead, he sat down in the recliner.

“Is that your comfort bottle?”

Every time he saw her, he couldn't help feeling that her true ability was somehow making it impossible not to comment on everything she did.

“...Haa.”

With that meaningless thought, he stubbed out the cigarette he had finished smoking and silently operated his watch before covering his ears.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOO!

The blaring siren from his watch echoed loudly throughout the room.

“Eek!”

Naturally, it was one of those wake-up alarms specifically designed to give soldiers PTSD.

Obia Timist shot upright without even remembering to wipe the drool running down her chin.

Looking at her, Jin Crow spoke indifferently.

“Get up. We'll be landing soon.”

Obia scratched her now thoroughly disheveled crimson hair, let out a long yawn, and answered.

“Yaaawn. Okaaay.”

Humanity, as a species, had always learned through plans gone wrong and the mistakes that followed.

The Colony Planet policy was no different.

According to the original story's setting, immediately after the Singularity arrived, Earth's politicians, scientists, and even entire nations had been divided over how to deal with extraterrestrial races.

—Overwhelming violence and overwhelming force are necessary for the survival of humanity!

—I hate to admit it, but you're right. Only overwhelming military power can guarantee our survival.

Neo-Imperialism.

An ideology advocating domination through overwhelming force.

—Violence only creates more violence. Please come to your senses. Interplanetary warfare goes far beyond mere mutually assured destruction!

—We don't even know what kind of species they are, or whether they'll be hostile to us. Attacking them first would be nothing more than an atrocity without any justification!

—I agree. If we are to intervene, it should begin by offering them development and civilization.

Neo-Self-Determination.

The ideology that pursued peace and dialogue while insisting that alien races should never be forgotten as fellow sapient beings.

During the early years, supporters of both sides clashed fiercely.

But fear of the unknown ultimately produced the worst possible precedent—

Planet Aqua-0.

「There was a monster in the mirror.

I'm going to kill the monster.」

The officer who had pressed the launch button for the nuclear missiles first committed suicide, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure and public condemnation.

After learning the truth, religious leaders, scientists, and politicians alike denounced the governments responsible.

As humanity gradually came to understand the ecology of newly discovered races and confirmed that they were intelligent beings capable of communication, its direction became clear.

—Every intelligent race has the right to determine its own destiny. As the civilization that first pioneered the galaxy, humanity will help them become self-sufficient!

Imperialism wearing the mask of self-determination.

A truly grotesque hybrid had once again appeared in human history.

The so-called Humanitarian Colonialism.

In that sense, Planet Ju—

Area-39—

was the ideal example of Humanitarian Colonialism, which had continued for nearly two centuries.

〔Welcome to Area-39.〕

The announcement echoed through the platform, whose architecture reflected the Human Composite State's characteristic angular, practical design.

However, neither of them paid attention to it.

Their eyes were fixed beyond the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows that towered nearly ten stories high.

“Waaah.”

Obia gasped in amazement as though she had stepped into an entirely different world.

Jin Crow, too, couldn't help but feel a strange emotion as he looked upon a landscape he had previously known only through words.

Naturally.

Floating islands drifted everywhere as though gravity simply didn't exist.

Towering trees rose to heights comparable to skyscrapers.

And nestled harmoniously among them stood the Human Composite State's modern skyline.

The contrast between civilization and nature created such dreamlike beauty that even someone with the dullest aesthetic sense couldn't help but marvel.

“Oh! Instructor!”

It wasn't just the scenery that fascinated Obia, whose eyes were already sparkling with excitement.

“Look over there! A rabbit person is wearing a Human Composite State military uniform!”

“That's rude, Obia.”

After immediately correcting her manners for pointing at strangers, he followed the direction of her finger.

Sure enough, what she had called a rabbit person entered his view.

Its long ears twitched.

So that's a Juin.

Instead of human ears, a pair of long black ears protruded from its head.

Its face was mostly human.

But thick fur covered its cheeks and body.

The very image of a beastfolk.

Or perhaps enthusiasts would insist on calling them human-beasts instead.

To those people, animal ears were merely a minor detail.

The Juin's faces were certainly almost identical to those of humans.

Of course, none of that particularly interested Jin Crow.

Rather than her appearance, his attention was drawn to the color of the military uniform she wore.

A black uniform. A Special-duty Officer of the Defense Force?

Neither Psionic Energy nor Gears belonged exclusively to humanity.

Even the Empire's Elves wielded the same fundamental power, despite calling it mana.

Likewise, it wasn't strange at all for the Juin to have their own Special-duty Officers.

Nor was she the only one.

Even outside the military, countless Juin wearing modern clothing or business suits mingled together.

Mixed among them were small numbers of humans and members of other races.

Though, thankfully, there wasn't a single Elf in sight.

“The atmosphere feels kind of like Mercato, doesn't it, Instructor?”

“It does. Naturally.”

Jin Crow couldn't help agreeing with Obia.

Since this was a Colony Planet located beyond the Human Composite State's Defensive Line, humanity itself had become the outsider here.

Only natural.

There wasn't even any need to explain it.

To those who had lived peacefully alongside nature all this time, humanity had simply barged in claiming it would bring them civilization.

If that wasn't an outsider, what was?

There's a reason people joke that every Colony Planet comes with its own terrorist organization.

Thinking that, Jin Crow glanced at Obia, who was still looking around with shining eyes, before signaling to the Military Police escort behind them.

People nearby were already beginning to notice her behavior.

Although this trip was very different from Mercato, which had been outside the Human Composite State's territory, attracting unnecessary attention still wasn't a good idea.

“Grab her.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

“Huh? H-Huh?”

Immediately, two female Military Police officers from the Martial-type division simultaneously seized both of Obia's arms.

Then they calmly continued walking behind Jin Crow.

“H-How could you betray me?!”

Obia, suddenly restrained, cried out with tears welling in her eyes as though she couldn't believe it.

Unfortunately for her, every one of the four Military Police officers accompanying them had experienced Obia firsthand back in Mercato.

In other words, there was absolutely no reason for them to fall for her crocodile tears.

I suppose everyone just gets used to it eventually.

Obia herself didn't actually seem offended.

If she had genuinely been angry, she would have unfolded Muspellheim across the platform without a moment's hesitation.

The fact that she wasn't doing so only proved she was enjoying herself.

First, we'll stop by the Governor-General's Office, then obtain authorization to enter the Creature activity zone.

The trip wasn't particularly long to begin with.

He only needed to scout an appropriate location before bringing the cadets here later.

He had just walked about halfway toward the platform exit when—

“Hm?”

Obia, who was being dragged along behind them, unconsciously let out a sound of surprise.

Almost simultaneously, Jin Crow instinctively sensed overwhelming killing intent and drew his sword.

“You there! What are you—!”

The feline Special-duty Officer, who had been quietly listening to Obia's chatter moments earlier, shouted angrily at Jin Crow for suddenly drawing his weapon.

The next instant—

His head flew cleanly through the air.

It landed at Jin Crow's feet with a dull roll.

Blood gushed from the severed neck, soaking the floor crimson.

Immediately, the Military Police drew their Special Armaments.

Obia's innocent expression also changed, her eyes filling with chilling killing intent as she stared beyond the crowd toward the source of the murderous aura.

“Aah! AAAAAAH!”

“Someone's been killed!”

Sharp screams, as piercing as shattered glass, filled the platform.

The people inside immediately stampeded toward the exits.

At that moment, what entered Jin Crow's vision were several enormous figures—

Each well over two meters tall—

Leaping past them toward the passenger ship they had just disembarked from.

“Hahoe masks?”

Every one of them wore a different variation of a traditional Hahoe mask.

Instead of Special Armaments, they extended razor-sharp claws as they roared.

“For the Dawn!”

And at that very instant—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

The passenger ship they had arrived on exploded.

The tremendous blast shook the entire interior of the platform.