Afternoon tea time. An elegant moment. An adult’s time.
Even though it wasn’t yet afternoon, I spread out a lunch basket, and the scent of good tea wafted from the picnic sheet. Inside the basket, my favorite egg sandwiches shone yellow, and there was also a salad containing my least favorite food: tomatoes.
“You shouldn’t be picky about food,” she said.
The salad she served me had a large tomato, as if demanding I eat it. It’s not that I couldn’t eat it, but if I could avoid it, I would.
“Here, open wide.”
I swallowed the tomato she offered, grimacing. It was more like a late breakfast than an early afternoon meal. Sophia and I were enjoying a picnic date.
“That’s the eighteenth shot.”
“Oh, it’s only the seventeenth. Captain, you have egg on your mouth…”
The sounds of Orietta’s Railgun being fired could be heard. In the distance, where we were having tea time, Orcs and Goblins were shouting “Waaah!” and “Gaooo!”.
“Occasionally, a high-pitched sound echoes. Is that the sound of the Railgun being deflected?”
“I think so. Let’s go take a look.”
As I started to get up, my arm was suddenly grabbed and I was pulled back.
“We still have ten minutes…”
I obediently sat back down next to Sophia.
…Not really! After we confirmed the number of enemy forces, we hurried to our sniper point, and I was the first to peek over the crest of a small hill to survey the enemy.
The Demon Army had been reduced to half their number, seven Giants, by Orietta’s Railgun, which had focused on them. However, afterward, they had advanced in a prone position, as if sheltered by defensive magic, and their speed had slowed.
Because of the time gained by their prone advance, we arrived at our sniper point early. As soon as we were about to start preparing for a Platinum Laser shot, I called out to Sophia, only to find she had already spread out a picnic sheet and opened a lunch basket behind the ridge.
“…Sophia. What are you doing…?”
“As you can see. Hehehe.”
When I went over to Sophia, she was busily pouring tea into cups from a thermos, unwrapping sandwiches and serving salad from the basket.
“What are you doing?! They’ll be in range soon, food of all things…”
She must understand the situation. Sophia is a mercenary too. She knows how dire our current predicament is.
“Captain, you haven’t had breakfast, have you? I haven’t either. Let’s eat together.”
Eat breakfast in this situation?! While Orietta’s Railgun is thundering and a Giant’s head is being blown off, she wants to eat breakfast?! If the Demon Army continues to advance, she wants to eat breakfast even when the Lich hidden behind defensive magic comes into range?!
Don’t mess with me! I hate tomatoes! I wanted ham and cheese sandwiches too. Of course, I’ll eat them. Who can refuse when she asks with teary, upward-looking eyes!
“Um… We have work to do, so let’s eat quickly.”
“Captain! I managed to get some tea. It seems rare around here, so it was quite an effort.”
Why does she emphasize me? When did she have the time to get something as rare as tea? I wish she’d put that effort into something else.
“Thank you. …Ouch.”
“There, there, don’t rush. Have a sandwich too.”
“Thank you. …It’s delicious.”
“Well, praising me won’t get you anything.”
If this were just a picnic date, she’d probably tell me to “explode.” If it’s an “explosion,” the Railgun is more than enough.
“I think it’s about time…”
“Yes. Hehehe. It was fun.”
Finally, finally, Sophia seemed to get serious about work. We looked around the edge of the ridge, and there stood the Demon Army, trampling through the wheat fields in an orderly fashion.
The vanguard was Orcs, behind them stood Trolls, and further back were Sand Dragons. The Lich, whom we probably needed to target, was likely behind the Trolls and in front of the Sand Dragons.
Squinting, I saw a sinister figure clad in a jet-black cloak, spreading its arms and casting magic.
“Sophia, can you see the Lich?”
“Yes, I can. We can aim from here.”
If we defeat the Lich, the Demon Army, without its defensive magic, will be riddled with holes by the Railgun. Die, just die, for our debt.
“Can you do it? I want you to fire at a lower output than usual with the Laser. As discreetly and stealthily as possible.”
“I can do it. But it seems a bit far, so could you lend me your shoulder? I think I’ll be shaking.”
I’ve seen this in magazines before. It’s when they use someone’s shoulder as a bipod for a sniper rifle to stabilize it.
In that case, I’ll be the spotter. I’ll support the shooter and ensure the sniper shot is successful. I’ve always wanted to try this. Snipers are cool, but I also admire spotters.
“—West wind, two meters per second, one click right. Distance, eight hundred fifty. Aim, …Shoot.”
“Captain, what are you muttering about?”
For the first time in a while, my daydream went all the way through. Sophia, thank you for waiting. I took Sophia’s right hand, sat a little closer, and placed her hand on my shoulder.
“Captain, it’s dangerous to have your face near my fingers. It’s safer if you turn your back and get closer.”
Wouldn’t that mean showing my back to the enemy? Then I wouldn’t be able to do my job as a spotter. I thought I could do it, but having my face near the Laser is also scary. I turned my back to the enemy and rested Sophia’s forearm on my shoulder.
“Captain, could you move a little closer? It’s not stable.”
“You want to get closer than this? You want to rest your elbow on me?”
“Yes, that should make it stable…”
I sat down cross-legged. Sophia sat on top of me. Her right elbow rested near my shoulder, and her waist straddled me, bringing us into close contact.
Whoa, what a heart-pounding position! And we’re so close, so close I can feel her breath. No, our noses are touching, I can feel her breath on my nose.
“Haa, haa, Captain, to stabilize it, haa, could you put your hands around my waist, haa,”
I’ll put them around you. I’ll hold you firmly, perfectly. Isn’t Sophia’s breathing getting rougher? As a sniper, I must remain calm and collected. Ah, but I can feel Sophia’s softness. This is all, all… What am I doing?
“Sophia, your face is very close, but can you see the enemy?”
“Haa, i-it’s alright. With… Mind’s Eye. Haaaa,”
She can’t possibly use Mind’s Eye. Sophia’s breaths just grew stronger.
This is bad. The roar of Orietta’s Railgun echoed, flying over our heads, and a sharp sound followed, as if to block it.
Through my back, I sensed the glow when the Sand Dragon spat out a magic rock. Ruphina’s Undead Sand Dragon must be fighting back too.
Defensive magic was used to prevent the castle walls from being destroyed, and Earth Mages reinforced any breaches. There must be damage inside the castle as well. The city was being destroyed, and people were fleeing with screams.
And I sat there, as if holding Sophia, close enough to feel her breath, just sitting close.
“C-Captain…”
“Sophia…”
These were my last words before my reason gave out. It’s impossible, isn’t it? It’s okay if it’s impossible, right? More thrilling than war is “Love and Kiss,” isn’t it?
We sought each other out, our tongues tangling fiercely as we embraced. I fought the urge to push her down, and with tightly closed eyes, I kissed her according to my desires, feeling Sophia’s warmth.
…Huh, something’s wrong. It’s warm, but is it getting hot? When I opened my eyes slightly, I saw Sophia, shining with a platinum glow, right in front of me.
This is bad. This is really bad. Is this evaporation?! Is this burning?! A low-temperature burn?!
“So-Sophia… Mghhh, Sophia…”
I can’t speak properly… I have to stop, I have to stop, or I’ll die.
“Puhaaa…”
Sophia, pulling away from my lips, fired the Platinum Laser with that momentum. That devilish light swept through the Demon Army, exploding. The path of the shot became a wall of flames, as if a napalm bomb had been dropped. Seriously, my hair almost caught fire.
Looking back, most of the monsters caught in the flames would be dead instantly. Those trying to escape were engulfed in fire, truly a scene of pandemonium.
“That was amazing, Captain. I’m completely smitten…”
I’m smitten because of the full-power magic you unleashed, and partly because of me. However, I never expected the stealth assassination plan to change so drastically.
If she could do this much, she should have aimed from the start… No, that’s impossible. If the White Lily Corps were here, they’d crack my head open.
When I’m participating, it’s fine, but when I’m excluded, they immediately get angry. Mind’s Eye and Godspeed Mode Two versus the White Lily Corps, I can’t picture us winning.
And did Sophia not understand why I wanted to take them down stealthily? If she uses magic this flashy, won’t we become conspicuous? Look, the Giants, who hate magic, are standing up and walking towards us.
“Sophia, let’s escape. Get up!”
“My… My legs are… shaky.”
That’s because your Magic Power is depleted. Using the Platinum Laser consumes physical strength unlike normal magic.
“…Carry me~”
Don’t be childish! I scooped Sophia up and ran at Godspeed towards the horses. I didn’t carry her on my back, but like a baby, and I wondered how it looked. A little embarrassing.
“Sophia, you can use the horse! Go back first. You can enter from the West Gate, run there!”
“C-Captain, what will you do~”
Are you okay? Honestly, I can’t worry about you anymore. The Giants are approaching.
“I’ll catch up later. Go, Hah!”
I patted the hindquarters of the horse Sophia was riding and sent it off. Then, I drew my Halberd from my horse and got ready.
Five Giants, over fifteen meters tall. With no shield, how many can I kill with just the Halberd borrowed from Priscilla?
