Chapter 17 – Observation Tower
On the way to the observation tower, sparse railroads appeared. However, perhaps because people stopped walking, weeds grew thickly, creating a lonely atmosphere.
In this way, Netoru was able to arrive at the end of the observation area covered by Unit 393 in Area 39.
“Is this it?”
If this was Korea, I would have seen a mountain peak somewhere nearby, but no matter how much I looked around here, I could see only hills and vast fields.
And a long stretch of railroad that pierced those landscapes continued beyond the horizon. The railroad, which had never run a train for the past several years, stood firm by itself.
Maybe we were lucky, the railroads here are mostly in good shape.
Since the entire area is a battlefield, it wouldn’t be strange if the bug was hit by a misfired shell and was damaged somewhere.
As far as I could see right now, the traces of the shells were clearly visible on the vast field.
Netoru, who was moving while learning the surrounding terrain with his eyes, not knowing if he would fight here later, soon found the observation tower he was aiming for.
“… This?”
Upon discovering the observation tower, Netoru’s eyes narrowed.
For some reason, it was because the observation tower had collapsed on the floor.
─What? Are you down?
─What is it? Did you fall down in the wind?
-You fool! Why is this blown away by the wind?
─Then why are you doing this?
Other crew members who confirmed the condition of the observation tower belatedly also vomited questions here and there.
Netoru narrowed his eyes for a moment at the noise of the crew members, who were not helpful and were noisy, but now that he was used to it, he decided to leave it alone.
“Why is this down? Do you know?”
“No, I don’t know.”
At Karen’s question, Netoru shook his head and knelt on the ground with the genital soldier’s knees. Then he got up from the cockpit and opened the cockpit.
“… What do you do?”
“I want to check it out for myself. You wait here.”
When the cockpit opened, the warm sunlight greeted Netoru first. As the hot air swept over his face, he became annoyed to go out,
Still, the mission was a mission, so I should check it properly.
You can’t check it properly while riding the holy cavalry, so it’s better to see it with your own eyes. Without hesitation, Netoru landed on top of the holy cavalry and fell to the ground.
He landed lightly on the ground while using his mana for a moment and carefully contacted the fallen observation tower.
The appearance of the observation tower was simple. It looks like a large black crystal carved into a long stick. Even so, if you look closely, complicated magic circles are engraved on the outside.
Observation Tower’s abilities are divided into two main categories.
The first was the barrier to check the invasion of bugs – the axis of the observation area, and the other was the ability to amplify the commander’s magic.
It was thanks to the observation tower’s ability that the commander could precisely observe the movement of bugs entering the data link or observation area from tens of kilometers away.
Even if one or two observation towers were destroyed, it wouldn’t be a big problem right away, but this would leave a hole in the commander’s observation area.
“For now, the outside looks fine.”
Netoru, who was checking the condition of the observation tower by sweeping the surface with his hand, tilted his head.
In his experience, usually when observation towers have problems, it’s mostly because of bugs.
Even though they install awareness reduction magic circles to prevent them from being attacked by bugs, sometimes they get discovered with no luck.
So, at first, I thought that this would be the case again.
However, no matter how much you look, there is no external impact on the surface of the observation tower. At least it didn’t break because of bugs.
Then why is this down?
As if looking for an answer, Netoru looked around closely and soon realized a dubious fact.
“… Could it be an earthquake?”
The condition of the ground around the observation tower is strange. It was messy, as if someone had deliberately broken it or disturbed it, as if an earthquake had occurred.
Then, did the tower fall because the floor shook?
Then it makes sense that it is down like a tree with its roots uprooted.
Although it is rare, natural disasters such as typhoons sometimes cause abnormalities in the observation tower, so the possibility of an earthquake is sufficient.
But the problem is if there really was an earthquake nearby.
Why is the surrounding landscape so undisturbed?
Even the railroad, which is located not far away right now, is intact without disturbance. If the earthquake was enough to knock down the observation tower, the railway could not be intact.
– Brother Netoru! What did you find?
After Netoru stared at the ground with a serious face for a while, a blue holy cavalryman approached with heavy steps.
Pera’s partner, Kyokyo’s holy cavalryman.
As the holy cavalry moved as much as it weighed several tons, the shaking under the ground was greatly felt. Netoru looked up at him, noticing the shadow that fell over his head.
Then, I saw Kyokyo’s holy cavalryman lowering his body and examining the observation tower.
No, it’s not just Kyokyo’s holy cavalry.
All of the platoon members were gathered in a circle around the observation tower. It must have been boring to watch from afar.
─Well… From the outside, it looks fine.
—… Isn’t that also a bug?
─Is that so? But isn’t it too fine?
—Well, I guess I touched it lightly.
-What should I report to the commander?
─And… I’ve never seen an observation tower this detailed!
‘… “
I feel it every time, but I chatter and chatter. Children are also very curious.
“… That’s right. Like the kids said, you’re so fine.”
The voice now belonged to Karen. Suddenly, Karen, who had come down from her genitalia, was looking over the observation tower, slightly lowering her body with her hands in her lap.
“Karen. Why did you come down?”
“That’s because you haven’t spoken for a while. But did you find out anything? You’ve been putting on a serious face ever since.”
“No, I didn’t find out anything.”
“Okay? Shall we take a picture then?”
I guess it didn’t just come.
Karen, just in case, put her Polaroid camera in her hand and she started taking pictures of the observation tower’s condition.
Then Karen, who lapped around her observation tower, checked the picture she had taken, and she nodded her head in satisfaction.
“Good. The photo should be this. Netoru, let’s go back now. Anyway, if we stay like this, there’s nothing to find out, right?”
I was still concerned about the condition of the ground where the ground was disorganized, but that’s for sure.
It would be better to bring in a separate professional manpower later. For example, Asuna, the head of maintenance.
She too was a wizard. So if you look at the scene, you might find out why the observation tower collapsed.
‘… Let’s go back.’
She made an effort to find out, so she has nothing to prick her conscience with. So, once she returns to the unit, it would be better for her to wash up properly and rest.
I was still sweating because the sun was strong. The sticky feeling that clings to the backbone is quite unpleasant. But it’s good that the humidity isn’t insanely high like in Korea…
It was at that time when I thought about it peacefully in my heart.
—Netoru! Please get out of there quickly with your platoon members right now!
“… ?”
Magic light flowed from the pattern engraved on the nape of the pilot’s suit, and Commander Rien’s voice was heard.
At Rien’s urgent yet unusual voice, Netoru corrected the loosened tension.
I’m worried about something… ? What is it all of a sudden
“Commander. What’s wrong?”
—… We just observed the movement of bugs around Netoru. There is still distance, but if you continue to be there, the estimated contact time is 5 minutes.
“… You mean five minutes?”
Netoru’s eyebrows narrowed, and soon a stern impression came to his mind.
It has to be.
If the estimated contact time is 5 minutes… It’s right in front of you.
In fact, it was within Spyder’s range. A location where it would not be strange even if shells flew at any time.
─I’m sorry. It’s too late for me to find out.
“… No. It’s okay. I understand.”
Normally, you may think that it is too late to find something, but
Since we are at the edge of the observation area, it is not surprising that the commander found the bug late.
Besides, the observation tower was also in a state of collapse…
Thanks to that, there must have been a gap in the Commander’s observation area.
And you wouldn’t have known that the bugs would attack you twice a day. Wasn’t Netoru also relaxing in his heart because of this?
‘Tsk.’
It got annoying Netoru clicked his tongue.
I guess I should cancel my description of this mission as a leisurely picnic.
─ Huh? Netoru type? Then…
“Since we have to get out of here quickly, you guys are moving first. I’ll follow right after you.”
─Yes!
Perhaps recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the platoon’s holy cavalrymen near the observation tower moved briskly. Fighting the bugs with only 5 platoons would be annihilation.
“Karen. Did you hear?”
“… Huh.”
Karen, who was listening to the story by her side, also moved quickly to board her own genital tank.
She was in order to connect with the genital disease as soon as possible.
Anyway, Netoru was about to run after Karen in order to ride the holy cavalry.
“… ?”
Netoru, who was taking a step forward, stopped abruptly.
It has to be.
For a moment I thought I had seen it wrong.
Cracks were forming on the floor around Karen, who ran out. The ground cracked as she followed her steps, and piles of grass began to settle down quickly.
What is that?
Before I even fully understood it.
“… Crazy.”
Netoru kicked her to the ground and pulled Karen’s arm, awakening her whole body’s magical nervous system.
And… Next moment.
Wooooo! The world turned black with the sound of the ground collapsing.
Feeling heavy piles of dirt hitting his back, Netoru held her Karen tightly in her arms and crashed into her basement.
