Chapter 141

“No, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍you're the one who told me to throw a punch! This really was on my bucket list!”

“......”

Moved ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍by both the sudden punch thrown at him and the story behind it, Jin Crow briefly considered sending him on his way in a single strike.

“Vice ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Governor-General, I'd like to report on today's Dawn Church incident... Huh?”

If ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only Lang Wei hadn't walked in at that exact moment with faint claw marks somehow left across his cheek.

His ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gray ears twitched once.

Then he blinked his distinctive golden eyes before slowly looking the strange scene before him up and down.

“......Hmm.”

Still holding the documents, he folded his arms and scratched his chin with fingers whose claws protruded slightly.

He calmly assessed the surroundings.

The administrative clerks, who should have been worked to the bone under the Vice Governor-General's relentless pressure regardless of rank, were nowhere to be seen.

Standing at the center were the Vice Governor-General, whom he regularly suspected wasn't even one of his own kind, and Instructor Jin Crow, who looked like exactly the kind of superior that would make anyone want to retire if they had to serve under him.

Judging by the broken desks and the piles of paperwork scattered around them like freshly fallen snow, the two had clearly already fought once.

“It was winter......”

“Hm?”

“Ah, that's not it.”

Ignoring the poetic ending that had slipped out of his mouth, Lang Wei forced himself to face reality once more.

Forget embellishments and emotions.

Just look at the situation objectively.

For some reason, the Vice Governor-General was lying flat on his back with Jin Crow's boot planted on his solar plexus and a sword pressed against his neck.

No matter how much of an instructor he is at the Central Special-duty Academy, can something like this really be overlooked?

Of course not.

Even on a remote Colony Planet, Vice Governor-General "Dog Biscuit Ging" was still an officer of the Federal Army and one of the pillars supporting Ju Planet's Governor-General's Office.

This was insubordination.

And an unforgivable collapse of military discipline.

I can't just stand here.

An opportunity like this had finally arrived after so long.

His opponent was an instructor from the Central Special-duty Academy.

His strength was overwhelming, and his position within the military was undoubtedly solid.

Perhaps he even belonged to the famous Rosen or Kukenhauzen faction.

If it's him... perhaps he can extinguish this blazing wind.

And that wasn't all.

Perhaps everyone working under the Vice Governor-General was hoping he would do the right thing at this very moment.

As if proving it, the muscles beneath his gray fur flexed.

Recalling the ruthless law of the grasslands hidden behind his usual cheerful smile, Lang Wei stared at the tip of Jin Crow's sword before finally making his decision.

“Instructor!”

Without a moment's hesitation, Lang Wei unfolded his arms, placed the documents on a nearby desk, and declared in a spirited voice,

“Please continue what you were doing, Instructor. I didn't see a thing!”

“......Captain Lang Wei?”

“Then, Loyalty!”

Ignoring the Vice Governor-General Rekem Ging's fierce glare and anxious eyes fixed upon him, Lang Wei left the room without the slightest hesitation.

That wasn't all.

Turning away employees approaching from the far end of the hallway carrying more paperwork, he quietly muttered,

“Brothers... perhaps our overtime is finally coming to an end.”

“I-Is that really true?”

“Have you ever heard of Borrowing a Knife to Kill Someone (借刀殺人)?”

“You truly are magnificent, Master!”

Watching him disappear together with the administrative clerks, whose eyes all seemed to have lost their sanity...

The sight somehow resembled Zhuge Liang after resolving to sacrifice Ma Su.

“......”

“......”

Once Lang Wei had departed, only an awkward silence lingered between the two.

Jin Crow looked down at Rekem with a mixture of pity and disbelief.

Rekem, meanwhile, averted his gaze and broke into a cold sweat, seemingly ashamed.

“......You certainly are a well-respected superior.”

“Ahem.”

In the end, Jin Crow sighed and withdrew his sword.

There had never been any killing intent to begin with.

Truthfully, from the very moment he subdued him, he had already decided not to kill him.

“Oof.”

As soon as Jin Crow stepped aside, Rekem Ging sprang to his feet with surprising agility, retrieved a fresh shirt from the wardrobe against the wall, changed into it, and sat down on the sofa.

“This seems to happen often.”

“Hm? No. I only get off work once every quarter.”

“......Excuse me?”

Thus began a conversation suffocating in an entirely different way.

The conversation that had begun during lunch ended not long afterward.

Partly because of the difference in the information each of them possessed.

But mostly because Rekem Ging kept checking the time throughout the conversation before making a call on his watch exactly fifteen minutes after one o'clock.

“I've got one favor. If you bring me Alpha Squad Leader and every administrative clerk from my office within five minutes, everyone in Bravo Squad gets special leave.”

Alpha Squad Leader, Captain Lang Wei.

Bravo Squad Leader, Captain Myo Seol-ah.

Considering the peculiar relationship between the two, it was an exceptionally malicious order.

Sensing the chaos that was about to follow, Jin Crow stood up.

Receiving no attempt to stop him from Rekem Ging, he gave a brief nod before leaving the office.

“W-WAAAAAH!”

“Get back here, you bastard!”

“I told you that didn't even hurt!”

Just then, he encountered the wolf beastman and cat beastman charging down the hallway.

Unable to help himself, he let out a quiet chuckle before walking out of the Governor-General's Office.

“Oh, Instructor.”

Waiting for him in the first-floor lobby were Obia Timist and the Military Police, Obia enthusiastically waving both hands.

Obia looked as bright and cheerful as ever.

The Military Police looked utterly exhausted.

Anyone with common sense could tell their side hadn't exactly had a smooth time either.

Perhaps because of that...

Ignoring Obia's greeting, Jin Crow silently patted the shoulder of the nearest Military Police officer.

The officer flinched.

Then, as emotion welled up inside him, tears even formed in his eyes as he spoke.

“I-Instructor...”

“Don't cry. It's pathetic.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

...That hadn't actually been what he meant.

Jin Crow briefly considered correcting himself, but seeing the officer looking nothing but deeply moved despite being insulted, he simply gave up and walked outside.

“Hm hm~.”

For some reason, Obia was even humming to herself.

Jin Crow spoke to her.

“Let's head back to the accommodations first.”

“Huh? We're not inspecting the site first?”

She looked at him in genuine surprise.

Given his personality, she had expected him to insist on conducting the field inspection before anything else.

Apparently she wasn't the only one who thought so, as the other Military Police officers also looked at him in surprise.

“The situation has changed.”

Originally...

That had indeed been his plan.

But now it was impossible.

Looking back at the Governor-General's Office building, Jin Crow recalled what Major General Rekem Ging had told him earlier.

I hate to say this, but inspecting the front line won't be possible for the time being.

“For now, we'll stay here a few more days and observe the situation.”

It was...

An entirely unexpected variable.

KWWAAAAAANG!

BOOOOOOM!

The artillery bombardment that had covered the battlefield for hours gradually subsided.

Or perhaps...

It would be more accurate to say his hearing was slowly disappearing.

Either way was fine.

Both meant he no longer had to listen to that damned roar.

“...Huff... Huff.”

Wearing a gas mask soaked in the stench of sweat, he cautiously peeked over the trench.

Blood and rainwater quickly filled the shell craters, turning the battlefield into a sea of mud.

High overhead, Imperial and Composite State Assault Ships and battleships tangled chaotically before hastily retreating toward their respective bases.

Rumble...

Despite their tremendous altitude, the wind whipped his red hair into disarray.

The sharp gusts felt ready to tear apart the skin that the gas mask failed to cover.

Goddamn Imperial bastards.

Once that final veil beyond the horizon—whether fog or dust—finally cleared...

Nothing would remain except battle.

Gripping the fingerless gloves on his hands and his entrenching shovel tightly, he looked around.

Everyone's scattered. That's not good.

The Staff Sergeant wasn't the problem.

That old man trapped in a young body who insisted on talking like an older brother despite being only a few years older would be fine.

He was worried about the rest of the squad.

The bond shared among Hound's members was something beyond family or friendship.

But he had no time to continue that train of thought.

-WAAAAAAAH!

-Kill them! Kill them all!

Whether they simply never grew tired...

Or enjoyed serving as the elves' "bootlickers" that much...

The shouts of the Empire's damned Servus soldiers filled his ears.

Ptui.

Despite wearing a gas mask, his mouth was full of dirt.

He lowered the mask slightly, spat, and held his breath.

Then he cautiously peeked above the trench.

Sssss—

The wind swept away the dust.

Soon enough...

Seeing dozens of streaks of light racing toward the trench, he gritted his teeth, ducked back down, and shouted toward the nearby machine-gun emplacement.

“Fire! I said fire, you fucking bastards!”

Perhaps they heard his desperate cry.

Ratatatatata!

The machine guns roared to life.

The enemy machine-gun barrage ceased.

Then, at that very moment, a silver flash charged straight toward the trench.

“A-A Knight!”

“AAAAAAAH!”

Despite the unmistakable screams of his allies...

He didn't move.

Instead, he dragged the corpse of an unknown soldier whose lower body had been blown away over himself, burying his lower body in the swamp of blood and filth filling the trench until he was completely concealed.

He closed his eyes.

Stopping every biological function.

Holding even the smallest breath.

Suppressing every trace of flowing Psionic Energy to its absolute limit.

“A-AAAAAAAH!”

“P-Please spare me! L-Long live the Empire! Long live the Emp—AAAAAAAH!”

The brave soldier who had charged ahead was split cleanly in half.

His severed limbs struck landmines and exploded into pieces.

The advancing Tactical Golems and Battle Mages' spells would reduce the rest of him to nothing.

Instant death was a blessing on the battlefield.

A bullet through the lungs would drown a man in his own blood.

Slowly sinking into the mud was among the ugliest ways to end one's life.

How much longer do I have to keep living like this?

Since the beginning of the Third Galactic War, he had crossed hundreds of battlefields.

He had personally witnessed tens of thousands...

Millions...

Die before his eyes.

No human could endure that.

No matter how extraordinary they were...

There had to be a limit.

That was why he had closed off his heart.

No...

Not just him.

Everyone in Hound Battalion, forged solely to achieve victory in war, was exactly the same.

The only ones who matter to us... are ourselves.

Recalling the words of the Staff Sergeant who was both insufferably arrogant and yet impossible not to rely on, he held his breath.

Perhaps Pentacle's effects were finally taking hold.

As his internal Quad Gear spun violently...

He sensed the Knight drawing near.

Bursting upward from the mud—

“W-What?!”

“Die, you fucking elf!”

His entrenching shovel, infused with Psionic Energy, traced a crimson arc as it slipped between the gaps in the Knight's armor.

Faced with the killing strike, the Knight twisted his sword and blocked it.

But...

The shovel had never been the real attack.

Convinced his feint had succeeded, he reached forward and opened his mouth.

But then—

“How pitiful, inferior species.”

The Knight's earlier look of surprise disappeared completely.

Returning to an expression colder than ice...

He moved with unbelievable speed and kicked the sergeant squarely in the abdomen.

BOOOOOOOM!

A single kick produced the sound of flesh tearing apart.

Unable even to breathe...

He instinctively curled into himself.

I'm going to die!

KWWAAAAAANG!

Barely blocking the next flash of steel, blood burst from every opening in his face.

“W-What was that?!”

“A Knight! It's a Knight!”

“S-Sorry! P-Please! AAAAAAH!”

The trench he crashed into was occupied by Composite State soldiers.

Yet upon seeing the approaching Knight, not a single one dared oppose him.

Yes.

That was only natural.

Unable to suppress the bitter laugh escaping his lips, the red-haired sergeant slowly forced his battered body back to its feet and finally got a clear look at the Knight's face.

“...Ah. I picked the wrong opponent.”

It wasn't difficult to understand why his attack hadn't worked.

After all...

His opponent was the Five-Star Knight and the Grim Reaper who had recently slain one of the Composite State's Pentacle Gear users—

Adohle.

If only three more squad members had been here.

Even if they couldn't win...

They could at least have left him with scars he'd remember for the rest of his life.

Thinking that, he removed his gas mask, looked at the bastard's irritatingly cold face, and placed a cigarette between his lips.

“You know something?”

“Speak, Sergeant.”

“Our Staff Sergeant's got an even more annoying face than yours.”

“......?”

The Knight frowned as though wondering what on earth that was supposed to mean.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, the sergeant kicked off the ground and roared,

“So quit trying to look cool! I'll tear those ears right off!”

“How insignificant!”

It had been his best attack.

Yet the instant he faced the Knight's counterattack...

He instinctively realized he was going to die.

But then—

A massive chunk of iron suddenly came hurtling through the air.

“Ghk?!”

The Knight was sent flying.

At that same instant, the emotionless voice brushing past his ears had never sounded so welcome.

“Ean Yung.”

Having physically thrown a Golem's arm into the Knight's side and blasted him away, the black-haired Staff Sergeant, Jin Crow, spoke.

“We're retreating. Follow me.”

Back then...

What had he answered?

It had happened so long ago...

He could barely remember.

...Blind man.

Then—

Beyond his gradually blurring vision...

A familiar voice reached his ears together with a faint vibration.

Grabbing his throbbing head, he opened his eyes.

His quarters, converted from a cramped storage room, filled his vision.

Turning his head, he saw a woman wearing a gas-mask-shaped mask identical to his own.

With an utterly expressionless face, she saluted him and reported,

“All members of Setter Platoon are prepared.”

At her words, he adjusted the valve set to a lower concentration, increasing the concentration of whatever flowed through his mask before standing up.

“Good.”

At that moment, the emotion lingering in the eyes of the red-haired sergeant—

No.

Staff Sergeant Ean Yung—

Was difficult to describe.

“Let's go hunt our prey.”

It was hopelessly tangled...

Between love and hatred.