It seems the one-on-one duel between Kanata, also known as Pumpkin Man, and the former army unit’s “War Elephant” has begun.
D.D. dashed in a straight line and unleashed a wild swing. I ducked under the greeting blow and aimed for his shins with my first sword technique, Hiragumo. D.D. blocked it with greaves made of thick Magnum Steel and swung his war hammer back. I jumped away to create distance. The missed war hammer gouged the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand.
“Hmph, you’re good at dodging and weaving. But no matter how a mouse struggles, it can’t defeat an elephant.”
“Only if you were actually an elephant. I’ll admit your face is uglier than an elephant’s, though.”
“I’ll kill you!”
D.D.’s veins bulged on his temples as he flew into a rage. However, contrary to his blustering words, he shortened his grip on his war hammer to keep up with my speed. Then, he unleashed a flurry of rapid attacks, a stark contrast to his previous swings. As expected, veteran soldiers are troublesome.
“Don’t get angry, ugliness is a fact, right? If you’re an elephant, why don’t you bark like one?”
While dodging the barrage of attacks, I taunted him.
“I won’t let you die easily! After I’ve tortured you to death, I’ll grind you into mince!”
“That’s a good idea. Though I doubt you’ll be able to achieve it.”
As I parried his continuous attacks, I sent a Telepathic Communication.
(Tonkachi, watch this. His fighting style will be a good reference for you.)
(Roger that! You’re taking it easy, big brother.)
I’m not as relaxed as I seem. However, I’ve already experienced attacks that are more powerful and faster than these. How can I fear attacks that are inferior to those of Abby-anēsan?
With my fifth sword technique, Woodpecker, I deflected his attack and delivered a counter-slash. The shallow cut split D.D.’s chest, making blood spurt out. D.D. retreated, creating distance.
“…You’re not bad. I’ll get serious now.”
D.D. threw a throwing hammer he had on his waist. I twisted to dodge it and closed the distance, but he blocked my slash with his war hammer.
!! …The sound of cutting wind! I hastily backflipped away from D.D. The throwing hammer, which had drawn an arc, returned to D.D.’s glove-like hand.
“…A brainwave-guided weapon. Incredible accuracy, and to be able to do that with such a heavy war hammer.”
It’s a throwing hammer with a jet propulsion function. It was bad that I used it to kill an officer who was trying to surrender. I should have seen it earlier.
“You managed to dodge one, but what about two?”
D.D. threw two throwing hammers and then charged at me! D.D. from the front, and the throwing hammers from the sides, a pincer attack! Is this his sure-kill pattern? Retreating to dodge is the standard move, but he’s aiming for that. He probably wants to corner me against the wall.
In that case! …I’ll block the left hammer with my wakizashi and pretend to block the right hammer with my sword… and then use the throwing hammer to immobilize both my arms so you can finish me off, that’s your sure-kill pattern, right? So, I won’t block the right hammer! Bite down on that!
The moment the war hammer hit my side, I converted the impact into heat with my Heat Convert system! However, I couldn’t completely nullify the impact, and a dull pain struck my side. Immediately, I suppressed the pain with adrenaline control and activated Overdrive! You probably didn’t expect me to counter-attack at super speed even after being hit in the right side, did you? My Housen Gessou, swung with all my might, had severed D.D.’s log-like right arm.
“Guaaah! You bastard!”
He tried to choke me with his remaining left arm, but I stabbed him with my wakizashi and forcibly pulled him off. In my Overdrive state, my power surpasses yours! You probably never imagined losing in strength, and D.D., flustered, reacted slowly. I’m not so kind a person as to let that opening go. Before D.D. could deploy his Psyche-Barrier, my sword had pierced his thick chest.
The man called War Elephant looked on in disbelief, spitting blood as he uttered his dying words.
“…Im…impossible…I…I lost…to…such…a…shrimp…”
As I kicked his gut and pulled out my sword, a large amount of fresh blood splattered, and the giant body of War Elephant collapsed to its knees.
“Your first defeat is your last. It happens often on the battlefield. Farewell, D.D.”
…I guess he can’t hear me anymore.
The remaining soldiers, who relied on the Aces as their source of fighting spirit, lost their anchor and surrendered to the surrender demand. We apprehended the remaining soldiers, threw them into the hangar of the helicopter that arrived as scheduled, and then carried out our work. Using the right arm I cut off from War Elephant as a brush, Rasen-san, who enjoys calligraphy, left a message on the barrack walls. “Waiting for you, Grim Reaper.”
As I was about to board the helicopter after the mission, Marika-san called out to me.
“Good work. Kanata is the MVP this time.”
“You’re the MVP, Marika-san. You destroyed the communication facility with a solo infiltration and took down the base commander.”
“Sneaking into a base with a security net like a sieve and killing a commander with no combat capability is hardly an achievement. Is your rib okay?”
“It hurts a little, but it’s not broken. It’ll heal soon.”
“Then don’t act so proud. In this operation, Kanata took down the Ace “War Elephant” and recorded the highest kill count. You’ll be promoted when we return to Garden.”
Huh? Promoted again?
“It’s too soon. How much faster do you intend to make me climb the ladder!”
“It’s for Shion. Give up.”
“…Ah, I see. If I don’t become a Lieutenant, Vice-Commander Shion can’t be promoted to Warrant Officer.”
“That’s right. It would be a shame, wouldn’t it, after you passed the Officer Curriculum?”
“…I have no choice then.”
“Don’t make such a gloomy face. You’re getting promoted, so you should look happy!”
Easy for you to say, criticizing me while doing the same thing yourself.
“I heard some people are refusing promotions because they don’t want to attend the officer-level meetings, is that true?”
“Everyone’s on the helicopter! We’re heading to the relay base!”
Marika-san cut off the conversation with her authority. That’s unfair.
A few hours later, we arrived at Blossomberry, the relay base, and took a rest. We moved the captured prisoners to the brig and ate a meal in the cafeteria that was incomparably worse than Garden’s. Everyone silently shoveled down oatmeal. The bad food seemed to dull their taste buds, and conversation didn’t flow. The girl with the God-like tongue, whose life’s work is complaining, voiced her indignation in a foul mood.
“…This is so disgusting. If I had to describe it, it’s like ditchwater…”
“You don’t have to say it. Everyone else is enduring it.”
For Shion, who needs more calories than anyone else due to her weight, replenishing her energy with such bad food must be tough. Her harsher tone than usual proved it.
“Kanata, I heard from Ane-san that you’re getting promoted?”
“Yeah. How about you taking the Officer Curriculum too, Natsume? Otherwise, you’ll always be a Staff Sergeant.”
“I don’t want to be promoted, so it’s fine.”
Natsume is an excellent soldier, but she’s not the commanding type, so it’s fine. Her best position is definitely being a one-man army like Rambo.
“Oh, really? Then, this will finally be the moment of truth.”
Lilith, you always make jokes about my promotions, don’t you?
“Are you trying to burn me to death! I’m a Lieutenant, a Lieutenant!”
“You might die from the flames of my love. If you cheat, I’ll burn you to death with the flames of my jealousy.”
Either way, I’m fated to be burned to death! …Give me a break.
“Lilith is always the same, wherever she is.” “Kanata, you have it tough.”
Hotaru and Shuri, the lovey-dovey couple, arrived with their trays of oatmeal.
“Listen to my troubles…”
“Marika-sama told us. You’re getting promoted, right? We’re finally on the same rank level.”
“Not only that, but you’re also going to be appointed Company Captain.”
“…I hadn’t heard that.”
Hotaru took a bite of oatmeal and grimaced. It seems it doesn’t suit her palate either.
“Marika-sama just gave the mission report to the Commander a moment ago. If you have no issues with command aptitude, the Commander said to let Kanata command a company, so it’s decided, isn’t it?”
“…Where does my will come into this?”
“If you’re dissatisfied, why don’t you challenge the Commander?”
How could I do something so terrifying! And Hotaru, why do you look so happy!
“Does this mean Kanata will be appointed as the Company Captain of a different unit?”
In response to Shuri’s question, Hotaru shook her head.
“The Commander intends to make the Comma One Company an independent operational unit (Bouncer Company). Marika-sama, who doesn’t want to send them out from the First Unit, is arguing with the Commander on the radio.”
So that’s why you ran away.
“It’s an insult to be treated as a convenient helper or a jack-of-all-trades for the support unit.”
Lilith threw down her spoon and sprawled back in her chair.
“…Kanata is a good man, so it can’t be helped.”
Oh, Natsume-san. You say such nice things!
“…Natsume, a good man doesn’t say ‘boobs boobs’ like that.”
Well, Hotaru’s boyfriend (Shuri) probably wouldn’t say that, but!
“…Kanata is a good man!”
To be defended so strongly by Natsume! What a wonderful day this is!
“…It’s a ‘doesn’t matter’ kind of good man, though…”
…A ‘doesn’t matter’ good man? You mean I’m a ‘doesn’t matter’ kind of man!
“Natsume! Give me back my emotional moment! You thief of emotions!”
Natsume grinned mischievously, stuck out her tongue, and fled like a rabbit.
“Hehehe, try and catch me~?”
“Wait there! You mischievous angel!”
No matter how cute you are, I won’t forgive you! Capture and spank!
