Chapter 74

To put it bluntly, I wonder what Professor Tease is thinking.

There's no way he would keep his promise.

I guess the professor himself thinks the same, but he has no choice because his subordinates and students are being held hostage.

I want to believe that.

Even though it's at the behest of my employer, it's unreasonable.

If I ignore it and run away, I'll be sued for breach of contract.

Moreover, with the conditions they've set, it's clear they're coming to kill me.

Now, how do I get out of this...

The enemy has two ships.

One will wait in the air, and the other will land.

Then, they'll pick up the professor and gain altitude before firing.

I won't get too far from the ship, and as soon as they ascend, I'll jump on and deploy the barrier.

If the wind gets stronger in the air, there might be a chance to escape.

As I was formulating this escape plan,

"Please, Uzosu-kun. That man might not hesitate to kill... I know it's a lot to ask, but... the lives of my subordinates and students are at stake... please..."

The professor, with a regretful expression, was prostrating himself before me.

If there were a third party here other than my acquaintance, they would immediately label me as a villain for making a beautiful scholar prostrate herself.

Well, I can appreciate that he didn't pull the drive key without permission and instead pleaded with me.

"What's going on? Follow the instructions quickly!"

On the screen, Dr. Dazbrowt was impatiently urging me, but he probably couldn't see the professor prostrating himself from this angle.

I stopped the engine, removed the drive key and the recording medium, and put both in the pocket of my pilot suit. I then handed the professor a spare drive key.

The professor took the drive key and said,

"I'm sorry. I'm grateful."

The professor held the spare drive key without suspicion and slowly went outside.

Not attaching an unnecessary keychain to the drive key might have paid off.

This way, I might be able to create an illusion of handing over the drive key and take advantage of the opportunity.

In any case, I followed the professor out of the ship.

Outside, one ship was hovering about 50 meters high, and the other had landed.

Several people who were clearly not researchers were there, holding military assault rifles.

They were probably soldiers or former mercenaries.

In the center was Dr. Dazbrowt.

"Professor! Bring your research results and the ship's drive key here! The pilot, you get away from the ship!"

As soon as he gave the order, the muzzles of the military assault rifles were all aimed at us.

There's no way I can do this!

I have no choice but to comply.

Moreover, they've moved me to a distance where I can't jump on the ship.

Eventually, Professor Tease reached Dr. Dazbrowt.

"Good. Hand over the drive key and the research data."

The professor reluctantly handed over the two items.

"Good. Get in."

The professor, Dr. Dazbrowt, and the former mercenaries boarded the ship. One of the former mercenaries left the door open and aimed his military assault rifle at us, then the ship began to ascend.

When it reached half the height of the other ship, the other ship suddenly fired a beam, destroying my ship.

They didn't stop at one shot and fired several more.

It turned out as I expected.

I ran for my life.

Toward the entrance of a cave halfway up the excavated, stepped ruins.

Heroine? Side: Florina Tease

"Good. Get in."

When I handed over the research results and Uzosu-kun's ship's drive key, Dazbrowt said with satisfaction.

"What about him?"

"We'll drop the drive key when we ascend a bit."

Dazbrowt showed the drive key with a smug smile.

The people who clearly weren't researchers kept their guns aimed at Uzosu-kun as the cargo ship began to ascend.

Then, at about 25 meters, the sound of a beam firing and an explosion echoed.

"You promised to ensure his safety!"

I shouted at Dazbrowt.

"I intended to, but my subordinates didn't. Here, I'll return the drive key."

Dazbrowt threw the drive key out of the ship with a smug smile.

"You...!"

I tried to punch Dazbrowt, but I was knocked away by a fake researcher and had a gun pointed at me by Dazbrowt.

"If you don't behave, your research team will die too."

"Damn..."

I glared at Dazbrowt.

At the same time, I was restrained by the fake researcher.

Then,

"That pilot is still alive! He's heading for the cave!"

A subordinate of Dazbrowt, not a fake researcher, reported Uzosu-kun's survival.

"Damn... He's still alive... Chase and kill... Whoa!"

Just as Dazbrowt was about to give the order, the ship shook violently.

"The wind suddenly got stronger... I can't control the ship! Landing is impossible!"

"Try something!"

"It's impossible! We'll crash if we keep this up!"

The pilot was struggling, and his voice conveyed his desperation.

Because the cargo ship's door was open, several fake researchers were almost falling out.

I wish they would fall.

"Can't be helped! Block the entrance to the ruins! We'll kill him when the weather clears!"

Dazbrowt, clinging to the wall, ordered a way to prevent Uzosu-kun from escaping the cave.

Of course, the first shot didn't hit, and while the wind was blowing and the ship was trying to avoid crashing, several beams were fired.

I couldn't help but laugh through my nose at the sight.

"Your pilot is terrible.

The pilots I hired could fly without much shaking in this terrible storm and land easily. Incompetent subordinates are still incompetent."

I couldn't help but provoke Dazbrowt.

Dazbrowt hit me on the temple with the butt of his gun.

"Talking back, are you?

After I take all your research results, I'll take good care of you.

A commoner like you being embraced by a noble like me is an honor."

I glared at the smirking Dazbrowt, enduring the pain.

Heroine? Side: End

This is the worst.

The cave entrance was the only one, so I planned to take out the pursuers one by one inside the cave, but it was blocked.

The wind was getting stronger before the entrance was blocked, so they couldn't land and send pursuers.

They probably collapsed the entrance out of frustration.

Well, they fired several shots due to the wind.

According to Rosweize-san, there's a villa and a hangar here, right?

But why is there a cave?

I'll ask when I get back.

If there's a villa or hangar in here, there might be another entrance.

It would be even better if I had a map or floor plan.

There's no point in just sitting here.

I'll go deeper first.

I'm not just a nobody!

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