Chapter 19 – Observation Tower
One.
How much time has passed
Bugs are still coming.
In the midst of such nervousness, Netoru felt the blood draining from his body. The sensation of slowly flowing out of her body is not a pleasant experience.
Damn it My vision is blurry. Apparently, she spilled a little too much blood. It was also a problem that the piles of stones hit her back when she fell.
Still, this is quite tolerable. His body, which he had trained hard over the past few years, had long since deviated from the level of an ordinary criminal. You won’t die from this
No, I won’t die Reflecting on himself like that, Netoru stared at Karen.
A question flashed in those bleak eyes.
‘… Why is this guy crying all of a sudden?’
Karen’s eyes turned red.
The traces of her tears were clearly visible on her cheeks, which had already been buried in her mounds of dirt. She probably wouldn’t say that because her breasts were touched at most. Or is the situation scary now?
“Karen, are you okay?”
“… “
Karen was speechless. She just stares at Netoru, biting her lips in embarrassment.
At first glance, the eyes might have seemed blunt, but at that moment, Netoru saw countless emotions swirling in Karen’s dark eyes.
What should I say about that expression?
Eyes as if watching an unbelievable sight,
And at the same time, indescribable surprise and somewhere sorrowful nostalgia coexisted exquisitely.
It was definitely not an expression to express briefly. So I wondered why he was making that face.
‘… Are you all right for now?’
I don’t know what this guy is thinking right now, but Karen looks okay anyway.
Besides, it wasn’t even the worst.
– Brother Netoru! Sister Karen!
——Go, why did the ground suddenly fall!? How do you do this!?
─Noisy, get rid of the dirt quickly!
The loud noise is still there. But at the moment, I’m not happy enough.
Hearing the platoon members’ voices coming from above the mound, Netoru felt a small sense of relief.
Either way, it doesn’t seem like he’s destined to die like this.
When the ground suddenly went black, four Toru could not help but feel the danger to their lives.
‘… Why is there a basement under the ground?’
Hearing the sound of the platoon members clearing the mounds with holy cavalry, Netoru calmly thought about the current situation.
The ground suddenly collapsed
That is to say, there was that much empty space under the ground. So, what the hell is this space?
If you think about it, the answer is this.
Something large dug a passage in the ground.
Then what about the guy who dug a passage under the ground?
The answer was obvious. Bugs are the only beings in this world who can do bizarre, unknown things.
But the problem is that it’s the first time I’ve seen this type.
‘It’s dangerous.’
Netoru pursed his lips. I don’t know when this habit started, but at some point, when I thought it was really dangerous, I would laugh.
That was then.
“… You.”
All of a sudden, Netoru felt the warmth touch the side of his cheek.
I hesitated for a moment, but it was Karen’s hand.
Now she was slowly wiping the blood from Netoru’s jawline with her fingers, which trembled faintly as if she was frightened.
“What are you doing?”
“Yeah, but the blood…
Looking at Karen’s embarrassment, Netoru inadvertently twisted her mouth up.
In a good way, this was also pure laughter.
Even though she was young, she usually acted so boldly, but now, for some reason, it just felt cute to make an expression like a high school girl.
“It only bleeds a little. So don’t worry.”
“It’s really good… ? You always tell me not to worry.”
It is a voice that sounds like it is out of tune with emotions.
It wasn’t too bad considering the usual tick-tick. Should I say that it was worthwhile to throw my body to save it?
Actually, I didn’t protect it in a pure sense.
Bugs are right in front of you, but it’s difficult when Karen, your coupling partner, dies.
And at the same time, there were a few mean selfish thoughts.
It is a body that has been eyed once.
So it would be a waste to leave them to die in a place like this.
“Netoru… Thank you.”
Karen, who was silent for a moment, spoke softly. Unlike usual, in a somewhat awkward, but powerless voice.
It’s not a bad attitude from the point of view of watching, but somehow it’s not fun because it doesn’t have the usual angry feeling.
Maybe that’s why some nasty feelings creep up on me. As if it’s like this or when I’m going to try it.
“Karen. What are you thankful for?”
“That, that…”
Is it an illusion that the mass of light created by Karen has weakened? As if not knowing what to say, Karen licked her lips and finally avoided her gaze.
Cuddles, wiggles… Every action looks as stupid as the chicks above.
But Netoru stared intently at Karen. In the end, Karen said honestly, as if she was being dragged by the gaze.
“Thank you for saving me… You covered me when the ground collapsed. I live thanks to you.”
Yes, I know it
But there is still one thing she doesn’t like.
No, I should have been curious about it.
“Karen. Can I ask you something?”
“… What?”
“Why are you talking half-heartedly from the first time we met?”
“… What?”
“Even the last time I saw him, he used respectful words well with Chandler. What the hell is the reason?”
“… “
Karen pressed her mouth shut again.
She seemed to be somewhat absurd, but her eyes were rolling as if looking at her.
Then she closed her eyes for a moment and said.
“Then call me brother from now on… Shall I give it to you?”
It’s really awkward.
Well, I didn’t care too much anyway.
It was an unspoken rule for coupling partners to talk comfortably regardless of age.
It was for a horizontal relationship, not a vertical relationship. Relationships may be trivial, but they start with the titles we call each other.
Netoru laughed.
“No, it’s okay. Because it was just a joke. I’d rather you just talk casually like you normally do. It doesn’t suit you.”
“What? Really! What in this situation…”
Karen’s expression softened this time. It must be said that she was confused as if she had seen something completely unknown.
Then, just in time, the pattern engraved on the neck of the suit glowed, and the commander’s voice came out.
—Are you both okay!?
Did you hear the situation from the little ones? Unfortunately, it was not the time to rejoice that she was still safe. Contrary to the commander’s urgent voice, Netoru answered calmly.
“Yes. It’s okay. Rather than that, can you tell me how far the bugs have come?”
—… Estimated contact time is 1 minute.
“… One minute.”
There is no time to run away.
Scared to think like that.
───Kuuuuu!
The weight that weighed down my back disappeared and the light came.
I never thought the hot sun would be so nice. I missed the stuffy air so much.
─I found it! All good! Both of them are alive!
─Get it out quickly! First of all, we have to run away from here… !
─Aww! Bugs are coming!
I mean, it’s noisy too. I’m grateful that they didn’t run away and saved each other, but their actions are still stupid. Hey, what do you want from your kids?
Netoru slowly lifted her body from over her Karen and held out her hand towards her.
“Wake up. Because it’s not over yet.”
“… Huh.”
Karen nodded quietly and took her hand.
2.
In short, the situation was the worst.
Without even time to shake the dirt, I could see a swarm of bugs rushing into the field as soon as I got on the holy cavalry.
The number was more than doubled, as if ridiculing the battle that had been fought today. The nearby fields were already occupied by the guys. A situation that is practically under siege.
Fortunately, thanks to the hill, I haven’t found this side yet.
But it was only a matter of time before they found out.
“… I guess I was serious this time.”
How did it happen like this Forget the idea that this mission was a light picnic. Netoru thought as she held onto Karen’s control arm, which had finished her connection before she knew it.
Should I just run away without looking back?
In fact, Netoru could live if he ran away like this. Although she says she is besieged, her siege was shallow. It is not impossible for her to break through.
But if that happens, the 5th platoon will be annihilated.
Netoru has the confidence to outrun the bugs, but the 5th platoon doesn’t have that kind of mobility.
Then you fight here with the 5th Platoon?
That’s even crazier
It will probably be annihilated in a matter of minutes. Except for Netoru and Karen, to be exact.
I can’t even expect much from guys who haven’t even been in their car for a year.
You can neither run away nor fight.
Really… It’s all a load But that’s why it’s embarrassing to just throw it away here.
Bugs are coming right in front of you, but aren’t they the ones who didn’t run away and were digging through the mounds of dirt?
So, if you just leave it like this and let it die, it will surely become a wild dream.
So what should we do here?
While the blood flowing from the torn forehead left a red mark on the cockpit with a dripping sound,
In unwavering cool reason.
Netoru asked Karen.
“Karen. Wouldn’t it be nice to just leave the under-aged kids here to die?”
Damn it, Netoru was still a modern man.
