The decisive battle with the LeBron Division begins on Beta Street.
The decisive battle on Beta Street commences.
As usual, with Ace Marika-san leading the way, we advanced onto the battlefield.
“Kanata, the diversion was successful. LeBron retreated his flagship and escort units. It seems the Natto Bacteria did good work.”
It seems I’ve become the guy who cultivates Natto Bacteria in his mind.
“What about the three decoy land battleships?”
“After confirming LeBron’s flagship retreated, they immediately U-turned and hid. Axel’s famed running speed seems to be in good shape. At this point, LeBron must have realized it was a bluff.”
“It was already certain he’d realize it when seven Asura units appeared on the battlefield, so it’s not a problem. The only uncertainty is whether LeBron, having noticed the bluff, will U-turn back to the battlefield.”
“My reading is that he won’t. He’ll give orders from a safe distance; if the situation is favorable, he’ll U-turn, and if not, he’ll retreat. He’ll definitely take the safe option.”
Marika-san, you really love Mahjong. I wonder if she’d play strip Mahjong with me.
“That’s half-hearted. This is a situation that calls for a decisive move.”
“Ah, it’s the kind of situation where a half-hearted response can lead to a major burn. For LeBron, the best move was to retreat quickly as the Grim Reaper advised. The next best would have been to retreat when the division’s vanguard was defeated on Alpha Street.”
“It seems he tried to take that second-best option. However, Major General Hinckley interfered, and his retreat wasn’t as smooth.”
“That’s where he was weak. Even if he sustained damage from the Hinckley Division’s pursuit, he should have fled. It’s a matter of what’s better: damage or utter destruction.”
“It was supposed to be a rescue mission for the Hinckley Division, but it turned into a counterattack.”
“Hinckley got lucky in that regard, and LeBron didn’t. Tozen, Curtis, and Todd’s missions on other battlefields were completed earlier than expected, and they were within reinforcement distance. If that happens, Iska will change her strategy. Now, listen up, men! This is an order from Iska! Go all out and settle this within the first hour! That’s what she said.”
The thugs of the first unit cheered loudly in response to Marika-san.
Rasen, whose narrow eyes opened slightly, wore a cruel smile.
“In that case, it’s my turn.”
Marika-san nodded and gave her order.
“Indeed. Blast them from the very start, Rasen.”
Then, taking Marika-san’s place, the first unit, led by Rasen, closed in on the LeBron Division.
This was a larger engagement than the battles on Alpha Street, with a combined force of around 5,000 on both sides.
The fuse of that decisive battle was lit. Lit by a fearsome inferno.
Rasen didn’t draw his sword. Instead, he spread his arms wide, flames enveloping his hands.
As he swung his arms in a circle, a vortex of flames appeared. Pushing the vortex forward with his arms, the flames surged with even greater momentum and assaulted the enemy’s vanguard.
Instantly, a horrifying scene of scorching hell materialized before our eyes.
An inferno that could burn even heat-resistant aramid coats. And it attacked a wide range of enemies.
In Japan’s Edo period, there was a brutal execution method where peasants who revolted were made to wear straw raincoats and then set on fire.
It was just like that execution, known as the Minodori. The soldiers of the LeBron Division desperately tried to remove their burning uniforms, writhing and dying in the flames.
There was no trace of the cunning Rasen with the sly smile.
What stood there was the terrifying figure of the first unit’s副長 (vice-commander), “Rasen of the Inferno,” who commanded the flames of hell.
With the enemy soldiers faltering, Rasen closed in, unleashing his flame vortex two or three more times, creating mounds of charred corpses.
Perhaps those soldiers who were directly hit by Rasen’s flames were fortunate.
They became charcoal in an instant, thus escaping the hell of being burned alive.
The enemy soldiers couldn’t even approach us due to the sheer might of Rasen’s assault. Therefore, we were free to observe.
Shuri, standing next to me, provided an explanation.
“This is why Rasen is called ‘Rasen of the Inferno.’ His pyrokinesis, which was already excellent in his living days, was further enhanced by his Bio-Metalization. The Spiral Inferno Formation is a lethal art that exhibits its maximum power in situations like this.”
He is the man with the highest pyrokinesis ability in the Alliance Army. That’s our副長 (vice-commander), “Rasen of the Firefly Spiral.”
“Rasen, who is as cunning as he is fond of curry, becomes a Rakshasa on the battlefield. That’s natural, though; we’re soldiers.”
“Yes, that unparalleled power of flame is the true form of a ninja from the village of Hidden Flames. I wish I could be like that too.”
For Shuri, whose pyrokinesis only generates heat comparable to drinking coffee, Rasen’s transformation into a fire demon must be an object of envy.
With a *clink*, Gen-san mutated his body hair into blades.
“Youngsters, it’s about time we got to work too. Rasen has burned away the weaklings, but not all of them are weak.”
Some strong individuals managed to endure the Spiral Inferno Formation by erecting Psyche-Barriers.
Rasen is prioritizing the annihilation of a wider range of weaklings over finishing off the survivors.
That’s because we’re a team. It’s our role to give the survivors a one-way ticket to hell.
Here we go!
I clashed swords with the surviving soldiers. They were the ones who barely withstood Rasen’s inferno. High Nenshin Strength is a condition for being strong, so I won’t be careless.
And I won’t fight fairly. I’ll take them head-on, with Shuri covering my rear; we deal with one person as a pair.
I ignored an enemy soldier who was trying to mow down friend and foe alike with a Gatling gun.
We have Lilith here. Shuri and I were protected by the powerful Psyche-Barrier Lilith deployed.
Moreover, this genius little girl has already learned.
She heard Curtis-san say earlier that those who take bullets are weak, but those who deflect them are troublesome.
She’s already implementing the practice of deploying her barrier diagonally to deflect bullets. She’s reliable.
But is it okay, artillery soldier? Distracted by us.
Blood sprayed from the neck of the artillery soldier who had been firing his Gatling gun at us, and he collapsed to his knees.
It was Natsume, who had blended into the surrounding scenery with her Mirror Camouflage, raiding from behind.
The battlefield was littered with charred corpses from Rasen’s inferno, and even the scattered skeletal trees were burning.
In this situation, the detection capability of thermal sensors is significantly reduced.
We are Crystal Spiders; if there’s a situation we can use, an opening we can exploit, we’ll utilize it to the fullest, even without being ordered.
The Commander’s order is to finish this within an hour with maximum firepower.
There’s no need to hesitate to use Mirror Camouflage, which devours Nenshin Power.
“……….. I’ll take care of anyone who uses projectiles.”
“Thanks, Natsume.”
“……….. That’s my job.”
“I know Natsume’s always watching out to help everyone.”
“…………………….”
Natsume didn’t respond to Shuri’s words and moved towards her next target. Since she was blended into the scenery, her expression was unreadable.
“Natsume really cares about her comrades, doesn’t she?”
“There are many comrades who would have died if Natsume hadn’t covered for them. Natsume says it’s her job, but I don’t think that’s all there is to it. That’s why I want to do something about it.”
“I guess I’ll put my efforts towards the beautiful plate-shaped breasts too.”
“Kaaa-naaata~! At least try to stay away from breasts on the battlefield!”
“I’m a man who can’t be weaned.”
“That’s not what weaning means!”
While exchanging such foolish banter, we wielded our merciless blades of slaughter.
As per the Commander’s order, the battle concluded within an hour.
Not just the first unit, but all seven battalions of the Asura Unit unleashed their maximum firepower from the flanks.
The LeBron Division, already struggling to cope with the Hinckley Division at the front, quickly lost its ability to maintain the frontline.
The LeBron Division, though numerous, was not particularly elite, and their commander was positioned far to the rear.
A delay of even one beat in responding to the rapidly changing battlefield situation means no war can be won.
Meanwhile, our commander, the Commander, continued to lead from the front lines until her pristine white battle uniform was stained crimson with enemy blood.
We left the pursuit of the crumbling LeBron Division to the Hinckley Division and returned to Hakuren.
While the executives of the first unit, along with the bonus members Ore and Lilith, were in the cafeteria drinking sports drinks and munching on biscuits, the Commander and Lieutenant Colonel Kurando arrived.
And the Commander opened her mouth with something preposterous.
“How about Kanata’s epithet being ‘Natto Staff Officer’? He seems to cultivate good work in his head like Natto Bacteria.”
To say “Natto Staff Officer!” A Lolicon would still be better than that!
“……… Don’t you have any intention of commending your subordinates who fought hard under the Commander’s orders?”
“Hahaha, my style is to express gratitude in cash.”
That is a truly wonderful style. I hope you continue to uphold it.
“Iska, just so you know, since you abused me, a 10-year-old, on a sweaty battlefield, I expect a hefty payment!”
Lilith started rattling an abacus she produced from somewhere.
No, with your IQ of 180+, you don’t need an abacus.
Also, could you be my manager?
“Rest assured. I have many notorious reputations, but stinginess is not among them.”
So you’re aware of your bad reputation.
“Marika-san, I’ve already thought of Kanata’s epithet. It’s better than Natto Staff Officer.”
“Oh? What is it? Like ‘Breasts are Life’ or ‘Lolicon Bastard’?”
Those are insults, not epithets. And for the record, they’re already being used.
“When we get back, Kanata will have an interview with the Public Relations department, right? I’ll reveal it then.”
“Marika-san, it’s too early for me to have an epithet. Please spare me.”
“It’s like children’s clothes. At first, they might not fit, but they grow into them, right? Soldiers with epithets are targeted by those who want to make a name for themselves. But those who can fend them off are my subordinates. You can do that, right? You can do that before breakfast, right? What do you say, Ka-na-ta?”
… This is the first time in my life I’ve been threatened with a purring voice.
“I can do it! I can definitely do it! Fine, I’ll do it!”
Marika-san grinned at me, my response tinged with desperation.
Damn it, this is the first time I’ve found Marika-san’s face loathsome!
Gen-san comforts me in my dejected state.
“Having an epithet isn’t all bad. Many enemies give up and self-destruct when they’re intimidated by your name alone.”
Gen-san, known as the “Waterborne Killer,” has words of wisdom.
“And so, I will bestow upon you an epithet. Strive to live up to it.”
Becoming a soldier with an epithet was also a goal, so I guess it’s fine. And getting one from Marika-san makes it even better.
The question is whether I can become a soldier worthy of it, but that’s my problem.
The long promotional arc seems to be ending in one more episode. It might take two.
