I was naturally confused by the different preparations I had to make, but with the support of the company, I was able to finish my preparations.
And once it was over, it was even more different than usual.
"My men have been watching and tracking Miyagawa and Amelia's current location. My men will guide you to the spot so you can catch up with it before it enters the battlefield, but in an emergency, you're on your own. It's heading north, straight for the battlefield. He's making his way north, passing through several cities on the way to get supplies and equipment.
The quality of equipment, the supplies provided, and even the personnel to operate them.
The quality of the equipment, the supplies you have available, and the personnel you have to operate them.
I listen to the supervisor's last information about Amelia, feeling for something better than the equipment I usually use.
Everyone else is making a final check, but I'm listening to the supervisor's words.
The supervisor's injuries have healed over the past few days, and although he's not bandaged up, he's not quite up to it yet.
Nevertheless, he stands firm so as not to let you realize his condition and tells us what to do.
Jiro, that which is entrusted to you, do not use it except when instructed. If it is unworkable, withdraw immediately.
"Yes, sir. I'll be careful not to overdo it.
In it, the conditions of use of heterogeneous presence in the equipment given this time will be reaffirmed.
With the exception of Himiku, the special armament that was given to our party.
I'm equipped with a thirty-centimeter cylindrical object at my waist, while Minami, Kaido, and Kitamiya each carry a thin one-meter tube on their backs.
It's time to go to ....... Pray for the success of the operation.
After the final check, the supervisor checks the time on his watch and has his subordinates start preparing for the transfer.
This time, instead of using the gate to the base, we're going to go to a pre-arranged rendezvous point.
So we'll be in the room I used when I crossed into Isual.
Now I'll be the one to see you off?
Come to think of it, I don't get sent off by you very often.
Yes, I was with you on Isreal. This may be the first time I've seen you off.
"Yeah, maybe.
To see us off, Suela and Memoria come up to us.
As she stands beside Suela, she opens her mouth as if she has a sudden thought.
"How many times do you think this is the first time I've been seen off by Suela?
"Well, when I go to Ithar, when I leave for the continent, and then three times for training. Jiro really does worry about me a lot, doesn't he?
Humor.
I'm glad to know that you're not one to abandon your friends like this. So, please have a safe return, I'll be waiting here with Memoria.
"Himik, Jiro, please.
I'll take care of it, and I'll make sure that the Lord will protect you!
I'm sure our ladies are strong, but if you glance aside, you can see Katsu talking with Minami and the others.
It's a little awkward, but the way she worries about whether or not she's forgotten anything is just as she usually is, so it seems that the pass is over.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the transition are finished.
It's time for you guys to get to work.
The usual shouting.
It's less daunting to be in the company of the usual, than to be in a strange state of mind.
You look at them, their expressions tightened and smiled.
As always, we'll finish the job quickly and safely, no overtime. No overtime.
"Whoosh!
"Yes, that I do!
I know.
Then, let's go!
With Kaido, Minami and Kitamiya in tow, we waved our hands behind our backs and stepped into the transition zone prepared for us.
Suela, Memoria, Masaru, and the supervisor saw our party off and stood here.
This is a different world?
"It's night, right?
"There's something weird about it, that it is.
It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends and family.
The equipment that the three of you are wearing is of such a high quality that it's almost unfair to compare it to what you usually wear.
......
Compared to those three, I've been feeling bad about the dusty air since the transition.
"Lord
This is the air of the battlefield?
Oh, I knew it. It's a long way off, but from my point of view, the battlefield is right around the corner.
The space appears very bright in the distance, even though it's the night world.
It's as if that place is the only place that represents day.
That's the Dragon King's army over there, isn't it?
Oh, I feel a dragon. And.
"Angels?
"Oh.
You can't hear the explosion, but even from a distance you can see something glowing.
It was clear that it was a magical firefight, with light falling from the air to the ground, or from the ground to the sky.
"d*mn, how do you manage to get such a clear view over the horizon?
If that's where Amelia is headed, it's heavy.
I mean to say this lightly, but I won't do anything to ease your mind.
No, I can't.
The atmosphere is different from that of a dungeon, a battlefield.
An atmosphere I didn't know existed was naturally tightening my body.
"...... Well, I'm supposed to get picked up...
The restlessness will settle down after a while as your body gets used to it, and you look around quietly, looking for signs of life.
If the supervisor is right, the pickup should be here.
But there was no sign of him.
......
I tried to wrap my head around the awkward schedule, wondering if maybe the worst had come to pass in the first place, but...
Lord, something's coming. It's pretty big.
Apparently, I don't have to worry about my feet.
I'm sure you'll be able to find something approaching, but if you point in that direction, you'll see a large cloud of dust heading your way.
"Senpai! There's a huge centipede coming at us!
"Wow, even I would feel uncomfortable if it was that big, that I am.
"Above
It's understandable that Kaido and the others are wary of the giant centipede, with its seemingly enemy-like appearance.
You're the one who came over from Isual, aren't you?
"My wife is here too. I was just out on the road. So when I heard I was going to have you on board again, I thought it was a crazy coincidence.
Totally.
The centipede stopped its huge body as if to lay on us, and from its head we could hear a familiar cheerful voice.
The giant dragonfly-riding pollywog who helped us escape from Isreal.
'And then? I heard that this time you're delivering to the front of the battlefield, what the hell have you guys done? I've never seen a fallen angel before.
"Unfortunately, it's classified. The less you pry into each other's affairs, the better.
I don't hesitate to take a seat with the body of the giant centipede as a foothold as I follow Mushito's thumbs pointing at a space where I can sit back like a driver's seat.
Himiku also spreads his wings and lands next to me and sits down.
Kaido and the others are fearful, but they're climbing up.
That's it. My job is to get you guys home. I'm not going to ask too much.
Keep it that way.
Waiting for Kaido and the others to get in, thinking that he is a jovial guy despite being so close to the battlefield.
"Come on, brother! It's one way to hell from here! Are you ready? I'll go on without it, though!
And as soon as he got in, the policeman deftly used the reins to make the giant centipede run.
When you start to run, you can feel the scene accelerating with the wind.
Are you nervous?
You think I don't?
No, I'm doing it too, so I thought it would be safe.
Easy going.
I'm learning that the key to not struggling in life is to be able to open up.
We have time to arrive.
Looking back, I saw Kitamiya holding his staff as if in prayer.
His usual strong tone of voice is a little lacking in authority.
"Yes, I heard good things about it.
Yeah, I've come this far. We'll do what we can, that's all.
Don't you think about failure?
"For now, na
What about now?
He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it with his recently learned fire magic, inhaled, and exhaled the white smoke.
I set myself up for failure. So you'll think about failure when you fail. The preparation period is over. Now all we have to do is put everything we can into making sure it works.
I'll just do what I can to avoid mixing up unnecessary thoughts.
This time I'll ask for help from the spirits too.
I've come this far. Don't get lost. We'll do our jobs, help Amelia and have a party. That's all right.
...... Right. We have to focus on that now.
That's what it is.
Shake the purple smoke and turn your gaze in front of you.
The anxiety of Kitamiya is understandable.
No matter how much you prepare, the anxiety remains.
But you shouldn't let your fears show before you start.
I have prepared my cards.
The showdown will be right around the corner.
We can't change hands anymore.
Yes, the schedule is undecided.
We'll just have to make do with the cards we have.
Brother! I can see it!
Not even twenty minutes have passed.
And yet, it seems we're almost there.
Or maybe it's a magic light, or it appears to point toward us.
"Sorry, brother. My partner is too scared to go any further. I know that, too, but what happens from here on out is dangerous, okay?
Slowly I slowed down and faced the light source and saw the devil in the black cloak.
It's probably the observer the supervisor was talking about.
And I knew I was going pretty fast and gaining distance.
I felt something I couldn't feel right then and there.
"I knew that's what we came here for. If you care about us, you better hope we're okay.
Good luck! Good luck! We'll be back, brother!
Jump off the centipede and descend to your destination with the noisy policeman's voice at your back.
Himikku follows, and Kaido and the others descend as well.
Thumbs up, Mushito maneuvers the centipede the same way he came, and heads back the way he came.
We've been waiting. The target is on the ravine ahead. Follow me.
"Oh.
The devil's man begins to lead us on, saying that time is running out, and we follow him on a rough path at a run.
We run silently over the cliffs, peering down the canyon, and .
"I got him. Subject.
No change in course.
He joins a party of about five demons.
The demon, who was watching them with a telescope-like magic tool, removes the telescope from their faces and answers them.
Then, when he sees me, he quietly holds out the telescope to me.
He takes it as if to say, "Take a look at it," and looks in the direction he's pointing.
"Amelia.
I could see her walking down the canyon road in the moonlight.
She's a far cry from the way she came to the company, dressed in dark robes, but I'm sure of it when I see her back.
"We will continue to keep an eye on you. I'll assist you in withdrawing as planned, but what do you have?
No, I'll be fine. I'll be fine.
Gently take a deep breath and calm your mind.
Answer the question of the demon who had a telescope, who would be the captain.