Chapter 33

The emergency alarm continued to blare, and Boss and Shido walked calmly within the base.

While Shido, whistling, took control of the internal defense forces, and Boss walked as if he were in his own home, my tension had yet to ease.

I looked at my wristwatch.

The time was 3:55 PM. It had been 20 minutes since we infiltrated the defense base.

The ability user in the control room was neutralized before we moved.

And our infiltration was discovered quickly. It couldn't be helped since we were eliminating them one by one.

The personnel inside the base were running around, trying to find us.

I was guiding Boss and Shido, avoiding detection, and my nerves were frayed from the constant vigilance.

I, the scout, led the way, with Boss in the middle and Shido at the rear.

Honestly, with these two, even if we were outnumbered, we could still turn the tide.

But my role was support. It was about how much I could make it easier for these two.

I listened to the sounds of the air and had a complete grasp of the base's internal structure.

We had already made it quite far inside, but we hadn't been detected yet. We were taking the initiative and eliminating them one by one.

So far, my perception was perfect.

The enemy had no idea of our position and was running around the base sparsely.

It seemed that taking out the control room first was a good move, making it easier to move around.

"There are five enemies coming from ahead. Please handle it."

When I said that, Shido moved.

She first used her ability to draw the enemies closer, then slit their throats one by one from behind.

Her movements were flawless. She scattered fresh blood in a fluid motion, and after slitting the throat of the fifth enemy, she wiped the blood off her knife with a flick.

I moved forward, avoiding the pools of blood on the floor.

There were about 1,000 personnel in the base.

At this rate, we could finish by 6 PM.

While I was thinking this, I noticed the sound of someone approaching.

And it was coming at a considerable speed. This speed indicated that they had definitely detected our presence.

"Enemies are approaching... Fast...!"

When I pointed out the direction, Boss stepped forward to protect me.

Then, the enemy appeared from the corner ahead with a burst of speed.

It was a beast with white fur, likely an enhanced ability user.

"Roar!!!"

The moment he saw us, he let out a roar and charged at us with incredible speed.

The momentum and the killing intent made me step back involuntarily.

However, the enemy never reached us.

Despite the speed, the distance didn't close.

This... was Shido's ability.

I see. If I can perceive accurately, even if we are detected, we can handle it before they get close.

"Enhanced ability user, Knight Dog. It's fine now, Shido."

"Understood."

When Shido responded, the enemy, who had been unable to close the distance while running at full speed, suddenly approached.

However, blood spurted from his neck.

"Ugh...!"

A small scream was heard, and he tumbled forward, hitting the wall.

He then lay still, his heartbeat gradually weakening and stopping.

The ability must have cut off upon death, revealing a small man in a defense force uniform with a one-star badge on his chest.

"Brigadier General. Not bad killing intent.

But I think we could have taken him down with a death sound."

"Still not possible for me..."

If I could eliminate them before they got close, it would be ideal, but my "limited sound" still lacks precision.

I think I could manage if there were no allies around.

"The enhanced ability users seem to have started detecting us."

"Yes, the enemy's movements have changed. They are gathering in various places.

It seems they are forming teams led by enhanced ability users who can detect by smell."

"Good for hunting."

"Yes."

"Let's eliminate them one by one. Guide us to isolated teams, Death Sound."

Just as I was about to respond to Boss, my phone in my pocket vibrated.

It was a call.

"Who is it?"

When Shido asked, I took out my phone. The caller ID read "Roll."

"Roll."

"It's fine to answer."

"Understood."

I pressed the call button and answered.

"Hello, Roll?"

"Really sorry, Death Sound. I just woke up."

"Good morning. Were you sleeping this whole time?"

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I tried, but you didn't wake up."

"Where are you now?"

"It's hard to say, but we're at the defense base."

"Huh? Who with?"

I could tell Roll's tone had changed.

I sighed inwardly.

"Boss and Shido."

"Oh, those two. I feel reassured.

So, you're enjoying yourself without me?"

"No, it's your fault for not waking up. I wanted to go shopping too."

It's impossible for me to be enjoying myself.

"We had a deal, so you should have woken me up!"

"I did. You woke up once and went back to sleep."

"Hmm. If you were a man, you could have woken me up with a kiss, you know?"

"Sure, I'll do that from now on. Don't regret it, okay?"

"No, no, not that.

Just come back quickly. We can still make it for dinner."

"I can't. I'm in the middle of a mission, and it doesn't look like it's ending soon."

At that moment, I noticed Boss and Shido looking at me.

They were wearing masks, so I couldn't see their expressions, but they seemed to be looking at me with a smile.

"I'm hanging up now."

Embarrassed, I tried to end the call, but Roll's voice was still coming from the phone.

If I hang up now, she'll be angry later...

Just as I was thinking this, Shido took the phone from my hand and put it to her ear.

"Hello, Roll?"

"Shido?"

"You've only known each other for two months, but you seem to be quite close."

"No, we're not that close."

"Death Sound keeps talking about you here, and I'm getting tired of it."

He doesn't.

"Really? Is that so?"

"Yes.

Anyway, we're busy now, so I'll hang up. I'll try to get Death Sound back as soon as possible."

"Understood."

"Bye."

Shido hung up and handed me the phone.

Even Roll can't argue with the master.

"I showed you a bit of a spectacle."

"Don't worry about it. It's reassuring to see you handling things well."

Am I really handling things well? This is...

But more importantly, the wasted time has caused the enemy to start organizing.

We need to break their coordination before they can work together.

Thinking about it, do I really need to be here guiding them?

"...I have a suggestion. Is it okay?"

"Hmm, go ahead."

"With my ability, I can communicate without being detected, even from a distance. If I concentrate, I can cover the entire base.

So, what if I hide somewhere and guide Boss and Shido to eliminate the enemies? If we split up, it will be more efficient."

"Interesting. Not bad.

But what if enemies come to your location?"

"I'll try to guide Boss and Shido to avoid that. If they do come, I'll handle it myself."

"Alright. Let's do it."

"Understood. I'll hide in a room without enemies.

Boss, go that way. Shido, go that way. You should encounter enemies at the end of the corridor."

They both quickly moved in the directions I indicated.

I ran down a different path.

I found an empty room and entered it.

Thanks to the emergency alarm, non-combatants had already evacuated.

Most rooms were empty.

The room I entered was large. It seemed to be a conference room.

It wasn't ideal for hiding, but it would do.

I sat down in the shadow of the central table.

"Boss, can you hear me?"

I first called out to Boss, who responded with "Yes."

Then I called out to Shido.

"Shido, can you hear me?"

"Yes."

The sound that should have indicated an encounter with Shido was already gone. She must have already taken care of them.

"Shido, can you turn back? There are five enemies heading towards the T-intersection where we split up."

"Understood."

After receiving her response, I switched to Boss, who seemed to have finished a battle and was standing still.

"Boss, keep moving forward. At the next crossroads, enemies will come from both sides. Six each."

"Understood."

I suggested this, but it's quite nerve-wracking.

To be honest, the main purpose of this plan is to get me back home faster.

I didn't expect it to be adopted so easily.

"Boss, more are coming from ahead. Reinforcements from the left, a total of 20. Can you handle it?"

"Who are you talking to?"

Ah, he already took care of them.

But Boss's ability is really unpredictable.

Sometimes he instantly kills, sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes he doesn't move but still eliminates the enemy, or the enemy runs into his knife.

It's completely unpredictable.

Maybe he has an ability to mislead perception?

It's also possible he has two abilities like Roll.

Hmm. I don't know.

"Shido, more are coming, 11 now."

"No problem."

After repeating this process for a while, the number of enemies coming towards us significantly decreased.

I also confirmed that some had fled the base.

The guidance became quite concise, with minimal information and directions, and responses from Boss and Shido became less frequent.

The time was 5:15 PM. After securing the base, the organization's demolition team would blow it up.

Just as the mission was about to end earlier than planned, something happened.

"Death Sound, can you hear me?"

"I can hear you. Is something wrong?"

The first proper conversation in a few minutes. Something must have happened.

"I let a skilled one escape.

A Major General, not from this base. He's quite capable. Death Sound, I need your support."

I immediately sharpened my senses and tried to detect the sound.

But I couldn't hear anything. If Boss had let him escape, I should have noticed before he said anything.

"I can't hear any sound..."

"What?"

"There's no one near Boss... When did you let him escape?"

"Just now. If you can't detect him, it might be a transfer ability.

He will likely retreat and attack again. Should I connect Shido as well?"

When he suggested it, I connected the sound to Shido as well, allowing the three of us to communicate.

I explained the situation to Shido.

While explaining, I thought that Boss's information might not be reliable.

Last time, he said there were only Major Generals, but there was a Lieutenant General. And now, a transfer ability user.

Since the battle with Lieutenant General Unknown, I really don't want to deal with this.

"Should we regroup?"

Shido, noticing my fear, made this suggestion.

We decided to regroup at the T-intersection where we originally split up.

Both of them seemed to have a grasp of the paths they had taken, so no guidance was needed.

After confirming that no one was around, I left the room.

At that moment.

Someone passed in front of me.

There was definitely no one there before.

I widened my eyes and immediately drew my knife.

He also noticed me, turned around, and stopped in a low stance.

"Anonymous...!"

Three stars on his chest. A Major General badge.

I swallowed hard. This must be the one Boss let escape.

Then I looked at his face.

I was shocked.

"What...!"

The young Major General in front of me was none other than my best friend, Kudo Ganki.