CH 49

Commence Battle

“<Extremism> seems to have properly done its job.”

Chris said as the carriage swayed, looking at the landscape around her.

And beside her, 02 let out a sigh, looking bored.

“Why did you even come on this trip; you’re supposed to be working at your desk… Are you that worried about 28? Could you not play favourites like this?”

“I’m not worried; I’m being cautious. Unlike you, that child has a good head on his shoulders, and won’t hesitate to use cunning tricks… Since I know him well, it would be better for me to be here.”

“After all, I’m an idiot-”

Oz says with a pout.

“Now, now, you two. If you keep on quarrelling here, we won’t be able to carry out the operation well.”

Someone called out to the two of them while laughing.

The man standing on the other side of the carriage donned a silver-coloured knight’s armour. Although the armour looked heavy, it was made from a very light material, so it did not burden the carriage.

This man was a knight from the Kingdom of Arcadia, who was accompanying them on this operation.

Like his muscular appearance would suggest, he had an overly familiar, rough personality… He was a person who lacked delicacy.

“Don’t worry about it. Exchanges of this level occur between us every day.”

“Excuse my discourtesy… I see that this is the Kingdom of Terraria’s way of boosting morale.”

It’s nothing like that.

Oz looks at the knight, whose thoughts were slightly off.

“You know, is the Kingdom of Arcadia really motivated for this?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We’ve said that the enemy is the Organization’s strongest agent. I’m also pretty sure that we asked for your support in order to defeat him and recapture Her Royal Highness… Is it really alright to send just one person? This isn’t the time to be stingy with capable people.”

“Don’t worry about that. I am one of the 3 most powerful people in the Kingdom of Arcadia.”

The knight says while holding up 3 fingers.

“And if that’s the case, I would also like to know the intentions of the Kingdom of Terraria. 02-sama is the only one sent out to fight, isn’t that right? So, I beg your pardon, if the enemy really is the strongest agent, then why have they only sent you to defeat him?”

It was a slightly aggravating remark, but 02 calmed herself down.

Sure enough, the knight didn’t understand just how many knights it would take to match a single 02 in battle. It’s questionable if he really is one of the 3 most powerful people.

“28 may be the strongest, but he isn’t all-purpose.”

The knight’s eyes widen at Oz’s statement.

“28’s real worth is seen in assassinations and ambushing. In a head-to-head battle, I’m stronger… Each member of the Organization specializes in their own fields. As for the curriculum, let’s see… there’s assassination, kidnapping, espionage, escorting, torture, and assault, I think. And my specialty as an agent is in assault. In these conditions, I’m better–”

“– 02.”

Chris interrupts 02’s explanation.

You’ve said too much— In response to Chris’ accusatory glare, Oz pursed her lips together and nodded.

The knight in front of them thinks that Chris and 02 are just ordinary military personnel.

Or more precisely, he at least sees that they have a special position among military personnel. The Holy Kingdom of Arcadia also has an intelligence organization, so they should be prepared for the fact that this knight may have contacts who gave him information.

“Assassination and ambushing, is it… Honestly, I don’t see much of a threat in that.”

The knight says while crossing his arms.

“In the end, assassinations and ambushes are just measures of the weak. Though I may seem like this, I’ve fought on the frontlines of the Fourth Great Hero-Demon War… and almost no one defeated an enemy by taking those measures.”

That’s– the official story.

This knight probably doesn’t know the true situation behind the recent Great War. In order to use the Hero as a poster boy, the Kingdom of Terraria focused its efforts on supporting him on the battlefield, at least on the surface. But in reality, behind the scenes, there were more sophisticated battles unfolding, though only a limited number of people knew about it.

“I don’t really care about that, but you shouldn’t stick your face out of the carriage too often.”

02 says to the knight, who was gazing at the landscape outside.

“Why?”

“You might get sniped.”

“Do you mean, through this tiny gap?”

Knock, knock. The knight hits the wall of the carriage with the back of his hand.

The carriage that 02 and the others were using now was custom-made by the Bureau. Not only were the horses performing well, the back of the carriage itself had a sturdy wall to prevent being sniped. During the Great War, agents of the Organization would often use these carriages.

However, there is a tiny gap in the wall for ventilation and visibility.

It was as the knight said, if the people riding in the back of the carriage were to get sniped, the shot would have to pass through this tiny gap.

“… If it’s 28, he would easily be able to shoot through that gap.”

“Hahahaha! As expected, that’s being too cautious! Even the best snipers in our country would need to be within 500 metres to shoot through this tiny gap! I don’t see what there is to fear!”

At the knight, who had casually revealed the extent of his own country’s war potential, 02 and Chris had complicated expressions.

“I don’t see anyone around the vicinity at the moment… I don’t know what feelings you may have for your former colleague, but why don’t you relax a bit more? If you overestimate the enemy too much, you’d be disqualified from being a pro—-”

Bang. Together with that short sound, a hole appeared on the knight’s forehead.

The knight, who was clad in armour, fell to the back of the carriage with a loud thud. Blood started to gush from his forehead, quickly spreading across the floor.

“I just told you so… ugh, it’s dirty.”

02 moves in order to avoid the pool of blood.

“Chris. 28’s longest recorded sniper shot was 3700 metres, right?”

“Yes… that brings me back. On his first solo mission, he broke the record of the longest sniper shot in the Kingdom of Terraria by a wide margin… I shuddered at the time.”

Chris says, while remembering what happened many years ago.

As they calculated backwards from the angle of 28’s snipe to find his location, the carriage stopped at a safe position.

While 28’s sniping is certainly miraculous, after a shot, there will be an interval before the next snipe.

The first shot is the most difficult to avoid, but the knight from the Kingdom of Arcadia dealt with it at the cost of his own life. With 02’s abilities, she was able approach 28 within the span of that single interval.

“Yahoo, 28! Are you doing well?”

Oz, in her usual, bright voice, speaks to the boy, who is as indifferent as ever.

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I was able to go on a pleasant journey.”

“Yup, yup. Good for you.”

While nodding her head, 02 looked around the vicinity.

28 had already prepared for close-quarters combat, having miniaturized BF28. The carriage that they had used was parked behind him.

“So, where’s Mize?”

“In the carriage behind me.”

“Hm-mm.”

In an instant, 02 released a large amount of magic power from her fingertips, destroying the carriage.

Amidst the thunderous roar, 28 didn’t lift an eyebrow.

“You lied.”

“Obviously.”

If Mize really was in the carriage, 28 would immediately have moved to protect her.

It appears that Mize had already escaped somewhere beforehand.

“Well, you were acting together until a few days ago, so she shouldn’t be too far away.”

02 took a stance with one TD02 (Tyrant Dragon O-Two) in each hand.

In order to pursue Mize from here on out– she has no choice but to overcome the obstacle before her.

“As you may know, 28, I’m not very good at holding back… So don’t blame me if you die, ‘kay?”

“The feeling’s mutual… No one from the Organization is good at holding back.”

They unhesitatingly bared their bloodthirst at each other.