The war of conquest begins, switching back to Kanata’s point of view. The battle for Kanata among the women has now commenced.
I walk across the barren, reddish-brown wasteland. There is no one walking with me.
Although the land is desolate, it’s like heaven compared to the Witch’s Forest. At least there are no mutant creatures here.
Instead, there might be some punks with tattoos and mohawks, but I’ve been waiting for them.
It’s a given that Road Gangs ride motorcycles, so I want to defeat them and get my legs back.
I found a small hill and decided to climb it. It’s not like I’m trying to enjoy the view.
It’s better to be in a higher place to use the radio.
I’m ready, so I guess I’ll give it my third try.
There was a saying in my old world, “third time’s the charm”… No, there was also a saying, “what happens twice will happen thrice.”
Which one is it, dammit! This is so frustrating!
I’ll take out my pent-up anger on a rock. After giving it a good kick, I operate the radio.
“…This is Tarantula, Spider’s Nest, do you read? This is Tarantula, Spider’s Nest, do you read…”
…It seems like “what happens twice will happen thrice” is the one. I’m really unlucky.
“…Tara…ntula… Can you hear me…”
I did it! My body trembles with joy as I fine-tune the frequency.
“This is Tarantula! Spider’s Nest, do you read me!”
“This is Spider’s Nest! Are you okay, Kanata!”
Marika-san, code name! You’re not supposed to call out my name!
“I’m fine! I’m alive!”
“If you’re using the radio, you must be outside the forest! Just give me your general location!”
“About two hours on foot from the forest, there’s a river to the northwest and a pond about a kilometer long. I’m on a hill overlooking the pond!”
“Got it! I’ll be there at breakneck speed, so don’t move!”
Hooray, I don’t have to walk all the way to the city. I can go back to the Garden!
After waiting for 30 minutes on the hill with a flare lit, I finally saw the distant shape of a helicopter, which quickly approached.
It’s over here! Over here!
I jumped up and down, waving my hands wildly towards the helicopter.
The helicopter landed gracefully, and a bullet in a red military uniform jumped out!
Although she was a bullet, her boss, who had a rocket for breasts, hugged me and ruffled my hair.
“So you’re alive, you bastard! You’re not the type to go down easily! You’re my subordinate, after all!”
I’m being squeezed with incredible strength, and it’s painful, but if I’m going to die, it might as well be in her embrace.
“Hey! I said I’d be the first to hug him! Move aside, I’m hugging the warrant officer!”
Lilith-san, who was sitting on Yukikaze, has arrived. I knew you wouldn’t miss out.
“Mmm, sorry, sorry. Seeing that carefree, annoying face of yours makes me want to put you in a headlock.”
Don’t you feel like showing a little more compassion to a subordinate who just cheated death?
“Warrant Officer, say sorry first!”
Why are you picking on me when I’m exhausted? Bullying is uncool!
“I apologize for making you worry. It was unavoidable.”
Lilith, who got off Yukikaze with a “sutcha-“, fixed me with a pointed finger and began her interrogation.
“That’s not what I’m asking. What did you think when the helicopter crashed?”
“…Uh, well… that it was a good thing Lilith wasn’t with me…”
“You thought it was good you didn’t involve me! Didn’t you?”
I can’t win against this genius brat.
Does she have a precognitive ability, but only for me? Isn’t that too much of an intellectual cheat?
“…Yeah, I thought something like that.”
“That’s unforgivable! If I had been with you, we would have gotten back much more easily! Understood? If you understand, then… say ‘I’m sorry’ loudly!”
“I’m sorry! Tehe~♪”
“…I was really worried, you know!… Really… Stupid!”
Ah, ah, don’t cry. Your tears are the hardest to bear.
As if to comfort Lilith, Yukikaze licked the tears from her cheek and greeted me.
“Bow! (Welcome back!)” “She says welcome back.”
“I’m back, Yukikaze-senpai. Thanks for your hard work!”
“Bow-wow! Bow! (I didn’t get to do anything. Too bad!)” “She says she’s sad she didn’t get to do anything.”
“That’s not true. I believed Yukikaze would definitely find me if I just held on in the forest. Being able to have hope gives me great strength, you know?”
“Bow! Bow-bow! (Yeah! Let’s go back to the Garden!)” “She says ‘Go die, you slut!'”
“Don’t lie!” “Growl! (That’s right!)”
She completely ignored the protests from me and Yukikaze with her nonchalant expression. That little girl has mastered the Rasen style’s ultimate technique!
“Hahaha. You guys are as amusing as a married couple’s banter, but shouldn’t we be heading back soon?”
Comrade Axel poked his head out of the helicopter window and laughed.
“Breasts, breasts, thank you for your overtime, comrade.”
“Can I send the bill for overtime pay to Kanata?”
“Please send it to Brigadier General Hinkley. It was an accident during a task he entrusted me with.”
Marika-san, seeing the communicator I used, seemed curious and asked for an explanation.
“Kanata, this looks like a communicator from the Mechanist Army. Did you steal it?”
“I was given it. I’ll explain the details in the helicopter. It’s a tale of hardship that would bring tears to your eyes.”
“Trouble again? You really do cause trouble all the time…”
I hate trouble, but I’ve learned firsthand that trouble loves me.
“Hey Kanata. How unlucky are you? You should go to Terukyo and get an exorcism.”
Marika-san, after hearing my explanation in the helicopter, warned me with a pitiful look.
“Please don’t look at me like I’m a discarded puppy.”
Looking at me like I’m a pity case might even be the better option.
From the cross-eyed little girl’s gaze, I feel anger… No, murderous intent.
“Even though I was so worried, Warrant Officer, you were flirting with a princess in the forest, weren’t you! …What kind of punishment should I give you? To start, I’ll post your secret collection on the bulletin board…”
“Stop it! I’ll have to move out of the Garden if you do that!”
“Are you hiding stuff embarrassing enough to warrant moving? What a hopeless kid.”
I don’t want anyone to see my adult magazines with titles like “String Bikini Rider” or “No-Bra Denim”!
Comrade Axel in the cockpit reported to Marika-san, who had a look of exasperation.
“Marika-san, message from Vice Chief Rasen. All other units have arrived at Yukikaze.”
“Is that so? Tell them to wait until we dock.”
“You were all looking for me?”
“Of course. The First Unit is fully deployed. Other units’ thugs also volunteered, but I turned them down. When searching for someone in the Witch’s Forest, Yukikaze is our only reliable asset.”
“I gratefully accept your concern. I’ll have to thank everyone who worried about me when we get back.”
“Don’t you think your gratitude will be demanded in tangible form? It seems to be Kanata’s hobby to leave debts everywhere.”
…The liabilities section of my balance sheet must be looking terrifying.
Twenty minutes later, the helicopter docked at Yukikaze.
I descended the ladder from the heliport and entered the ship. Shuri and the others were waiting for me among the soldiers below the ladder.
“Kanata! You’re safe!”
“Shuri, my legs are still attached, aren’t they? I haven’t changed, so my socks smell terrible, though.”
Shuri didn’t reply with words but gave my shoulder a rough pat and smiled.
“Have a drink. You were abstaining in the Witch’s Forest, right?”
Vodka handed me a cold can of beer, which I gratefully downed in one go.
“This must be what they mean by ‘it soaks into your very being’! I’m glad to be alive.”
Shuri looked like she wanted to lecture me, but she seemed to hold back for now.
“…I think Kanata is more tenacious than a cockroach.”
Natsume, leaning against the door connecting the soldier’s quarters to the corridor, said with an uncharming expression, “a rather uncharming line.”
“Natsume, can’t you be more sincere at a time like this?”
“…I’m happy Kanata is alive.”
Oh! Th-that’s what I wanted to hear…
“I spent a lot of money lavishly on Ligrit, so this month is tight. I’m glad I didn’t have to spend it on incense for your wake.”
“Na-a-a-t-su-me! Isn’t that a bit much for a man returning from the brink of death with bad luck?”
Vodka looked at Natsume meaningfully and said,
“When the report came in that the helicopter Kanata was on had crashed in the Witch’s Forest, who was the first to volunteer to go rescue him?”
Natsume, blushing slightly, kicked Vodka hard in the backside and pushed open the door, disappearing into the corridor.
Vodka rubbed his backside with his right hand and patted my back with his left, urging me on.
“Ow! She really kicked me hard. Come on, let’s go to the bridge. Everyone’s waiting.”
“Yeah, I really made everyone worry.”
“…And you should thank Hotaru too.”
“Huh? Vodka, what about Hotaru?”
Shuri answered my question.
“Hotaru proposed an operation to enter the forest in a Stealth Vehicle and search for Kanata with Insect Users. I was surprised too.”
I see. I was relying solely on Yukikaze’s sense of smell, but it was possible that Hotaru, who can activate multiple Insect Users simultaneously, could have found me.
But I never thought Hotaru would try to find me.
“Shuri, that ‘I was surprised’ remark doesn’t sit well with me. Hotaru wouldn’t abandon a comrade in need, no matter what. You should know that.”
“You’re right. My apologies, Marika-sama.”
“Kanata, you should go take a shower first. You stink too much for everyone to be joyfully embracing you.”
Should I have tidied myself up like Rose?
“Yukikaze, do I really smell that bad?”
“Bow! Bow-wow! (Yeah! You stink!)” “She says you smell like shit expelled from a diarrhea-filled stomach after eating waste.”
You silver-haired brat, don’t lie!
I’ll take a shower and change first, then head to the bridge.
In the shower room of Yukikaze, as I took off my clothes, I noticed a gold pendant shining on my chest instead of dog tags.
…Damn it. I forgot to return Rose’s pendant!
This is bad. I can’t go back to return it, and sending it back isn’t an option either.
This is pure gold, isn’t it? The sword relief is intricate too, so it must be expensive.
Oh well. If I ever meet her again, I’ll return it.
…It’s probably for the best if she and I never meet again.
I know I have to kill Rose and the empire’s knights, and that I *should* kill them, for my comrades.
But if my sword leads to the death of that clumsy but devoted princess…
I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. …What’s this about not leaving anything behind in my heart?
Reality is often harsh and unpleasant.
