Author's Note: In Hameln, there seems to be a gradual increase in NIKKE's fan creations. As a reader, I've been enjoying reading all the works, including the R-18 ones.
...I do want to try writing R-18 as well, but... Captain Moore, the original character, is too serious... I can't imagine him in 'those kinds of seductive situations,' so it's a self-contradiction, and I find it hard to write.
----
With the sunrise, Moore glanced sideways as the members of the Metis Squad woke and sat up. He removed the night vision goggles, which had been left on his helmet, and put them back into his backpack. Casually reaching up to his chin, he felt the beginning roughness of his beard. It wasn't just his jawline; the area around his mouth was similarly rough.
Although he had brought an electric shaver with him, Moore was more of a razor person. In dry areas where water was scarce or in cold regions where water froze, an electric shaver would be more practical, but fortunately, his beard hadn't grown that much yet.
While chewing on his breakfast ration bar, which he had opened, Moore heard Anis' anxious voice echoing from the cliff's edge. It had been about an hour since they had left the camp.
After leaving the camp, they hadn't encountered any notable battles apart from Eunhwa, who, using her sniper rifle, had accurately shot and destroyed a few approaching Raptures by hitting their core.
Moore paid little attention to the battles, but the bridge they found ahead, following Shifty's navigation, caught his eye. Originally constructed with sturdy materials like thick reinforced steel and covered in concrete, the bridge had been well-built. However, due to aging, most of the surface had peeled off, exposing the inner steel reinforcements.
[Um... According to the data, this bridge was built twenty years ago and was primarily used for transporting cargo vehicles. Considering the weight of nine Nikkes and the commander... I suggest crossing separately. It seems a bit dangerous for everyone to cross at once.]
"Twenty years ago..."
"...Certainly, it has deteriorated, but a vehicle must have passed through here, right? There's no doubt the ton should have been exceeded... Right? ...Oh. That much, huh?"
Exposed to the elements for 20 years without proper maintenance, it was surprising the structure had held up so well.
Anyway, he glanced at the girls involuntarily upon hearing Shifty's suggestion.
Hypothetically, hypothetically speaking, if they assume the total weight, including weapons and gear, for each person is around 200 kg...
"There are differences between individuals, but generally—"
"Wait a minute! I don't think we need to hear that~!"
"...Well, you don't have to force yourself to say it..."
Rapi, who was about to answer honestly, was hurriedly stopped by Ema. Moore observed this and decided it was wiser not to press further. He recalled being cautioned by Shifty during their mission up north.
Just as he was thinking that Ema, being tall, probably had the most mass among them, Maxwell spoke up.
"Go ahead, cross first. Absolute and Counters members."
"Isn't it the opposite? Shouldn't you cross first?"
Moore, feeling suspicious due to her overly gentle tone, moved his lips.
"If we say go, go! Don't argue! Just follow my—"
"I'm not your subordinate, am I?"
"Well, that's true."
Drake sided with Maxwell, forcing them to proceed, but the logical argument delivered in his low voice and sighs made them agree.
"Why don't you go ahead?"
Maxwell urged, wearing a wry smile. However, Eunhwa, in response, clicked her tongue, explaining her reluctance.
"I don't want those surveillance dogs hanging back."
"I want to believe you won't do that, but I'd rather not have rear-guard bullets."
They knew that Nikkes attacking other Nikkes and humans was, in principle, impossible. However, exceptions always existed. Moreover, Metis Squad had been tailing them. Moore and Eunhwa couldn't help but harbor suspicions about whether their mission was solely to secure Heretic fragments.
Sensing an impending standoff between Eunhwa and Maxwell, Laplace, the leader of the Metis Squad, intervened before it could escalate further. She looked up at Moore and Eunhwa and spoke firmly.
"Stop! That's enough! We should cross first as heroes; it's our duty to lead and face danger for the weaker ones!"
Moore and Eunhwa, with their height difference, exchanged glances, their gazes communicating, "Well, I guess that's fine."
"All right. Then, we'll cross first. But—"
Maxwell nodded, her turquoise eyes piercing Moore.
.
.
.
.
"—With Captain Moore."
"Huh? Why?"
"Sensei too?"
Maxwell's conditions hung invisible question marks over Anis and Neon's heads. Their gazes questioned why Moore had to accompany the Metis Squad across the bridge.
"...Oh, Insurance?"
"Thanks for your understanding. You see, you all might betray us, right?"
With an attitude that said, "We're in the same boat," Maxwell turned her gaze toward Anis, Neon, and the Absolute members.
Moore, the one specifically named, showed a certain level of understanding. He lit a cigarette with an oil lighter.
"W-We wouldn't do something so cowardly."
"Yeah, yeah. Vesti would never do that. But—some others might."
Vesti pouted, expressing her disappointment. Maxwell nodded in amusement, affirming Vesti's statement. She glanced at Eunhwa, hinting that she was addressing her.
"...Understood. I'll cross with you."
"—I object."
He nodded, accepting to accompany them. But immediately, Rapi, looking up with her crimson eyes, voiced her disagreement.
"...It's okay. Probably... they won't do anything cowardly. At least, Laplace won't."
"But... I understand. Alright, I'll accompany you."
"...It adds another layer of security... I don't mind," Eunhwa said.
"Yeah, yeah. Whether it's three or four of us, it's all the same, right?" Maxwell agreed, waving her hand dismissively.
Once it was decided that he and Laplace would accompany the Metis Squad to cross the bridge, the two remaining members of the Counters showed signs of unease.
"...Is it really okay?"
"Just to be sure. But I'm sure it'll be fine."
"...Considering the situation, they don't intend to do anything underhanded, right?"
"Sensei, please be careful."
"Now, enough with the tearful farewells... shall we go?"
Maxwell, approaching the squad clustered in discussion, casually wrapped her right arm around Moore's left, forcibly separating him from the Metis Squad.
"...You don't have to use me as a shield... they won't shoot us from behind."
"Just in case. Ah, and I thought Captain Moore might be afraid of heights, so I was just trying to comfort her by linking arms."
"...I don't need it, so let go."
Unfortunately, Moore wasn't afraid of heights. He shook off Maxwell, who had linked her arm, and removed the cigarette from his mouth, blowing out the purple smoke he had inhaled.
The bridge was about 1 km long. Moore found it impressive that they had built such a bridge in a place infested with Raptures.
Peering over the edge of the bridge...
"...If I fall, I'll definitely die."
It wasn't a fear of heights per se, but rather the vertigo associated with great heights.
Exhaling the purple smoke, it was carried away by the crosswind. Moore flicked the shortened cigarette into the portable ashtray and began walking again.
The journey across was uneventful, eerily so. Perhaps this eeriness was a harbinger of the accident that was about to occur.
"Alright, we made it across," Moore said.
Acknowledging that the Metis Squad's three members, along with him and Laplace, had finished crossing, Maxwell nodded and waved her hand vigorously toward the others on the opposite bank. It seemed to be a signal encouraging them to cross.
The Absolutes and Counters saw this signal and began to move onto the bridge.
"Hmm!? This presence...!"
"...Hmm?...Anti-air combat!!"
At the same moment Laplace looked up at the sky, Moore also glanced upward. Due to the swirling sand particles, the sky appeared yellow, and there were several black dots hovering in it. There shouldn't be any friendly aircraft in operation near this area during their mission.
If that's the case... it was a flying type Rapture.
Moore released the safety catch of his assault rifle and fired several shots into the air.
Clearly, it was beyond the effective range. The purpose of the shots was not anti-aircraft fire but a warning to the Metis Squad, who was attempting to cross the bridge, urging them to retreat.
Eunhwa, probably due to her sharp eyesight, noticed. Since they hadn't even crossed a quarter of the way, everyone could be seen returning from a distance, back to the other side.
"Leave it to the hero here!!"
With her azure eyes gleaming, Laplace, having identified the enemy aircraft, activated her weapon. The sight reminded Moore of something from science fiction or a transformation scene from a superhero story.
A mask covered her face, and blue armor adhered to various parts of her body. In her hands, which seemed too large for her petite frame, she held what was probably a launcher, aiming it at several approaching Raptures.
"There they are!!"
Amidst discharges resembling lightning, golden flashes shot straight from the muzzle aimed at the Raptures that were closing in.
The flash accurately shot down the approaching enemy aircraft without missing, and the remnants of the Raptures that didn't disappear in the flash crashed, trailing black smoke, into Moore's field of vision.
"...Enemy aircraft confirmed down—huh?"
The wreckage of the shot-down enemy aircraft headed toward the bridge they had just crossed.
As the wreckage, trailing black smoke, collided with the bridge, an explosion occurred.
...Perhaps the Rapture's armaments fell as debris.
While Moore calmly considered this, the aged concrete's surface cracked significantly, and then the entire bridge twisted greatly.
From there, it happened in the blink of an eye. The bridge girder couldn't withstand the impact and started to warp. Following the collapsing girder, the entire bridge, with a deafening noise, disappeared over the cliff.
"..."
"..."
Moore and Laplace stared in astonishment at the scene before them—both of them unusually silent. Just beside them, Maxwell shouted at Laplace, furiously scratching her head.
"You! Are you crazy!?"
"I-I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Amazing! This is a declaration of war stating that the Heretic's Shard belongs to us, isn't it!? As expected, Leader! I acknowledge you!!"
Although the Metis Squad was loud in celebration, Moore was torn between being angry and sighing. For now, he decided to light a cigarette to calm himself down. First, he needed to compose himself.
"...Rapi, do you want one?"
"...No, I'm fine."
"...I see..."
"...Yes..."
Trying to settle the situation by bringing up a trivial topic instead of relying on tranquilizers, Moore seemed to be facing an unexpected turn of events.
"...Seriously! How are we supposed to deal with this!? We have to take an 8 km detour to meet up now!?"
It's unfortunate for Maxwell, but Moore was in no condition to offer any assistance.
Nevertheless, what was certain was that there was nothing they could do about what had already happened.
"Shifty! Contact them over there! Tell them there's no malicious intent! It was an accident!"
[I'd like to do that... but, um... the communication line is limited around the commander... there's no way to contact them over there.]
While exhaling purple smoke, Moore took out binoculars from one of his pouches and aimed the objective lens across the river. Both squads seemed to have escaped being involved in the earlier collapse, and there appeared to be no casualties.
"...Ah... they seem quite angry..."
Through the binoculars, he could see the women from both squads expressing their anger in various ways, reflecting their individual personalities.
The most radical among them was probably eunhwa. She was kneeling on one knee, aiming her sniper rifle, and it seemed she had fired a shot. The sound of the bullet passing by closely followed the gunfire.
It appeared she had aimed for Laplace. Several strands of blond hair floated in the air.
It was probably meant as a protest, but it was quite an extreme one. Although it might not be wise to sound gunshots recklessly, a deafeningly powerful sound had echoed from afar just moments ago. Gunshots were relatively harmless in comparison.
Peering through the binoculars again, he focused on their mouth movements as they shouted. He couldn't hear their voices, but he could discern what they were saying from their mouth movements and gestures.
"...What the shit... How you going make up... Baka... They're saying more provocative things."
"Hehe... I see! Hahaha! What fools! The Heretic's Shard belongs to us, the Metis!!"
"Don't provoke them, Drake—"
"—Ah, this is bad."
As Moore started running backward, Laplace followed suit.
The moment they jumped behind a rocky outcrop, Vesti fired a multipurpose grenade that exploded right in front of the Metis Squad.
Even Drake, who had been laughing arrogantly like a villain, was now sweating nervously.
"...Have they forgotten we're here...?"
"...I don't think that's the case, but..."
As he adjusted his helmet, which had shifted during the jump, he stepped out from behind the cover and asked Rapi. She seemed uncertain too.
"This... this was an accident! No one's at fault!"
"You're the most at fault here!!"
"...No one could have imagined that the wreckage of the enemy aircraft would directly hit the bridge. Well... it can't be helped."
While he was attempting to defend Laplace, his tone was unfortunately lacking confidence.
However, there was nothing they could do about the unexpected turn of events. With a sigh, Moore peered across the river through his binoculars and began signaling with hand gestures using his left hand.
.
.
─Cease attack.
─Accident.
─Gather at the destination.
.
.
If communication wasn't possible, the old-fashioned way was the best.
Although they had recently learned these hand signals, he realized he would need to thank the base personnel for teaching them, especially the mass-produced Nikkés. He finished sending the signals while contemplating this.
Everyone, except Eunhwa, who was looking through her scope, seemed to have received the signals using the telescopic function incorporated into their eyeballs.
Anis and Neon responded with a thumbs-up hand signal, indicating their understanding.
"...Alright, let's move."
"...Thank you... you saved us."
"Don't mention it... Well, maybe you could mention it a little... but forget it. Shifty, I'm counting on you for navigation."
Acknowledgment came from the operator deep inside the housing. There was a slight unease about joining forces with the Metis Squad, but there was no choice.
He put away the binoculars into his pouch and glanced back across the river once more. Although it was just a silhouette from this distance, it seemed like Anis was waving her hands vigorously. After a wave back, Moore started moving forward, following the Metis Squad.
-----
Author's note: ...I guess there's no choice but to spend some money now... Even if I decide to play, it'll probably be on payday... (Muttering to himself: "Something happened...")
By the way, many Commanders seem to have cleared Chapter 14. As for how Captain Moore will handle that chapter... well, I think you'll find out eventually. It's definitely graphic, so be prepared...
Author's Note: In Hameln, there seems to be a gradual increase in NIKKE's fan creations. As a reader, I've been enjoying reading all the works, including the R-18 ones.
...I do want to try writing R-18 as well, but... Captain Moore, the original character, is too serious... I can't imagine him in 'those kinds of seductive situations,' so it's a self-contradiction, and I find it hard to write.
----
With the sunrise, Moore glanced sideways as the members of the Metis Squad woke and sat up. He removed the night vision goggles, which had been left on his helmet, and put them back into his backpack. Casually reaching up to his chin, he felt the beginning roughness of his beard. It wasn't just his jawline; the area around his mouth was similarly rough.
Although he had brought an electric shaver with him, Moore was more of a razor person. In dry areas where water was scarce or in cold regions where water froze, an electric shaver would be more practical, but fortunately, his beard hadn't grown that much yet.
While chewing on his breakfast ration bar, which he had opened, Moore heard Anis' anxious voice echoing from the cliff's edge. It had been about an hour since they had left the camp.
After leaving the camp, they hadn't encountered any notable battles apart from Eunhwa, who, using her sniper rifle, had accurately shot and destroyed a few approaching Raptures by hitting their core.
Moore paid little attention to the battles, but the bridge they found ahead, following Shifty's navigation, caught his eye. Originally constructed with sturdy materials like thick reinforced steel and covered in concrete, the bridge had been well-built. However, due to aging, most of the surface had peeled off, exposing the inner steel reinforcements.
[Um... According to the data, this bridge was built twenty years ago and was primarily used for transporting cargo vehicles. Considering the weight of nine Nikkes and the commander... I suggest crossing separately. It seems a bit dangerous for everyone to cross at once.]
"Twenty years ago..."
"...Certainly, it has deteriorated, but a vehicle must have passed through here, right? There's no doubt the ton should have been exceeded... Right? ...Oh. That much, huh?"
Exposed to the elements for 20 years without proper maintenance, it was surprising the structure had held up so well.
Anyway, he glanced at the girls involuntarily upon hearing Shifty's suggestion.
Hypothetically, hypothetically speaking, if they assume the total weight, including weapons and gear, for each person is around 200 kg...
"There are differences between individuals, but generally—"
"Wait a minute! I don't think we need to hear that~!"
"...Well, you don't have to force yourself to say it..."
Rapi, who was about to answer honestly, was hurriedly stopped by Ema. Moore observed this and decided it was wiser not to press further. He recalled being cautioned by Shifty during their mission up north.
Just as he was thinking that Ema, being tall, probably had the most mass among them, Maxwell spoke up.
"Go ahead, cross first. Absolute and Counters members."
"Isn't it the opposite? Shouldn't you cross first?"
Moore, feeling suspicious due to her overly gentle tone, moved his lips.
"If we say go, go! Don't argue! Just follow my—"
"I'm not your subordinate, am I?"
"Well, that's true."
Drake sided with Maxwell, forcing them to proceed, but the logical argument delivered in his low voice and sighs made them agree.
"Why don't you go ahead?"
Maxwell urged, wearing a wry smile. However, Eunhwa, in response, clicked her tongue, explaining her reluctance.
"I don't want those surveillance dogs hanging back."
"I want to believe you won't do that, but I'd rather not have rear-guard bullets."
They knew that Nikkes attacking other Nikkes and humans was, in principle, impossible. However, exceptions always existed. Moreover, Metis Squad had been tailing them. Moore and Eunhwa couldn't help but harbor suspicions about whether their mission was solely to secure Heretic fragments.
Sensing an impending standoff between Eunhwa and Maxwell, Laplace, the leader of the Metis Squad, intervened before it could escalate further. She looked up at Moore and Eunhwa and spoke firmly.
"Stop! That's enough! We should cross first as heroes; it's our duty to lead and face danger for the weaker ones!"
Moore and Eunhwa, with their height difference, exchanged glances, their gazes communicating, "Well, I guess that's fine."
"All right. Then, we'll cross first. But—"
Maxwell nodded, her turquoise eyes piercing Moore.
.
.
.
.
"—With Captain Moore."
"Huh? Why?"
"Sensei too?"
Maxwell's conditions hung invisible question marks over Anis and Neon's heads. Their gazes questioned why Moore had to accompany the Metis Squad across the bridge.
"...Oh, Insurance?"
"Thanks for your understanding. You see, you all might betray us, right?"
With an attitude that said, "We're in the same boat," Maxwell turned her gaze toward Anis, Neon, and the Absolute members.
Moore, the one specifically named, showed a certain level of understanding. He lit a cigarette with an oil lighter.
"W-We wouldn't do something so cowardly."
"Yeah, yeah. Vesti would never do that. But—some others might."
Vesti pouted, expressing her disappointment. Maxwell nodded in amusement, affirming Vesti's statement. She glanced at Eunhwa, hinting that she was addressing her.
"...Understood. I'll cross with you."
"—I object."
He nodded, accepting to accompany them. But immediately, Rapi, looking up with her crimson eyes, voiced her disagreement.
"...It's okay. Probably... they won't do anything cowardly. At least, Laplace won't."
"But... I understand. Alright, I'll accompany you."
"...It adds another layer of security... I don't mind," Eunhwa said.
"Yeah, yeah. Whether it's three or four of us, it's all the same, right?" Maxwell agreed, waving her hand dismissively.
Once it was decided that he and Laplace would accompany the Metis Squad to cross the bridge, the two remaining members of the Counters showed signs of unease.
"...Is it really okay?"
"Just to be sure. But I'm sure it'll be fine."
"...Considering the situation, they don't intend to do anything underhanded, right?"
"Sensei, please be careful."
"Now, enough with the tearful farewells... shall we go?"
Maxwell, approaching the squad clustered in discussion, casually wrapped her right arm around Moore's left, forcibly separating him from the Metis Squad.
"...You don't have to use me as a shield... they won't shoot us from behind."
"Just in case. Ah, and I thought Captain Moore might be afraid of heights, so I was just trying to comfort her by linking arms."
"...I don't need it, so let go."
Unfortunately, Moore wasn't afraid of heights. He shook off Maxwell, who had linked her arm, and removed the cigarette from his mouth, blowing out the purple smoke he had inhaled.
The bridge was about 1 km long. Moore found it impressive that they had built such a bridge in a place infested with Raptures.
Peering over the edge of the bridge...
"...If I fall, I'll definitely die."
It wasn't a fear of heights per se, but rather the vertigo associated with great heights.
Exhaling the purple smoke, it was carried away by the crosswind. Moore flicked the shortened cigarette into the portable ashtray and began walking again.
The journey across was uneventful, eerily so. Perhaps this eeriness was a harbinger of the accident that was about to occur.
"Alright, we made it across," Moore said.
Acknowledging that the Metis Squad's three members, along with him and Laplace, had finished crossing, Maxwell nodded and waved her hand vigorously toward the others on the opposite bank. It seemed to be a signal encouraging them to cross.
The Absolutes and Counters saw this signal and began to move onto the bridge.
"Hmm!? This presence...!"
"...Hmm?...Anti-air combat!!"
At the same moment Laplace looked up at the sky, Moore also glanced upward. Due to the swirling sand particles, the sky appeared yellow, and there were several black dots hovering in it. There shouldn't be any friendly aircraft in operation near this area during their mission.
If that's the case... it was a flying type Rapture.
Moore released the safety catch of his assault rifle and fired several shots into the air.
Clearly, it was beyond the effective range. The purpose of the shots was not anti-aircraft fire but a warning to the Metis Squad, who was attempting to cross the bridge, urging them to retreat.
Eunhwa, probably due to her sharp eyesight, noticed. Since they hadn't even crossed a quarter of the way, everyone could be seen returning from a distance, back to the other side.
"Leave it to the hero here!!"
With her azure eyes gleaming, Laplace, having identified the enemy aircraft, activated her weapon. The sight reminded Moore of something from science fiction or a transformation scene from a superhero story.
A mask covered her face, and blue armor adhered to various parts of her body. In her hands, which seemed too large for her petite frame, she held what was probably a launcher, aiming it at several approaching Raptures.
"There they are!!"
Amidst discharges resembling lightning, golden flashes shot straight from the muzzle aimed at the Raptures that were closing in.
The flash accurately shot down the approaching enemy aircraft without missing, and the remnants of the Raptures that didn't disappear in the flash crashed, trailing black smoke, into Moore's field of vision.
"...Enemy aircraft confirmed down—huh?"
The wreckage of the shot-down enemy aircraft headed toward the bridge they had just crossed.
As the wreckage, trailing black smoke, collided with the bridge, an explosion occurred.
...Perhaps the Rapture's armaments fell as debris.
While Moore calmly considered this, the aged concrete's surface cracked significantly, and then the entire bridge twisted greatly.
From there, it happened in the blink of an eye. The bridge girder couldn't withstand the impact and started to warp. Following the collapsing girder, the entire bridge, with a deafening noise, disappeared over the cliff.
"..."
"..."
Moore and Laplace stared in astonishment at the scene before them—both of them unusually silent. Just beside them, Maxwell shouted at Laplace, furiously scratching her head.
"You! Are you crazy!?"
"I-I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Amazing! This is a declaration of war stating that the Heretic's Shard belongs to us, isn't it!? As expected, Leader! I acknowledge you!!"
Although the Metis Squad was loud in celebration, Moore was torn between being angry and sighing. For now, he decided to light a cigarette to calm himself down. First, he needed to compose himself.
"...Rapi, do you want one?"
"...No, I'm fine."
"...I see..."
"...Yes..."
Trying to settle the situation by bringing up a trivial topic instead of relying on tranquilizers, Moore seemed to be facing an unexpected turn of events.
"...Seriously! How are we supposed to deal with this!? We have to take an 8 km detour to meet up now!?"
It's unfortunate for Maxwell, but Moore was in no condition to offer any assistance.
Nevertheless, what was certain was that there was nothing they could do about what had already happened.
"Shifty! Contact them over there! Tell them there's no malicious intent! It was an accident!"
[I'd like to do that... but, um... the communication line is limited around the commander... there's no way to contact them over there.]
While exhaling purple smoke, Moore took out binoculars from one of his pouches and aimed the objective lens across the river. Both squads seemed to have escaped being involved in the earlier collapse, and there appeared to be no casualties.
"...Ah... they seem quite angry..."
Through the binoculars, he could see the women from both squads expressing their anger in various ways, reflecting their individual personalities.
The most radical among them was probably eunhwa. She was kneeling on one knee, aiming her sniper rifle, and it seemed she had fired a shot. The sound of the bullet passing by closely followed the gunfire.
It appeared she had aimed for Laplace. Several strands of blond hair floated in the air.
It was probably meant as a protest, but it was quite an extreme one. Although it might not be wise to sound gunshots recklessly, a deafeningly powerful sound had echoed from afar just moments ago. Gunshots were relatively harmless in comparison.
Peering through the binoculars again, he focused on their mouth movements as they shouted. He couldn't hear their voices, but he could discern what they were saying from their mouth movements and gestures.
"...What the shit... How you going make up... Baka... They're saying more provocative things."
"Hehe... I see! Hahaha! What fools! The Heretic's Shard belongs to us, the Metis!!"
"Don't provoke them, Drake—"
"—Ah, this is bad."
As Moore started running backward, Laplace followed suit.
The moment they jumped behind a rocky outcrop, Vesti fired a multipurpose grenade that exploded right in front of the Metis Squad.
Even Drake, who had been laughing arrogantly like a villain, was now sweating nervously.
"...Have they forgotten we're here...?"
"...I don't think that's the case, but..."
As he adjusted his helmet, which had shifted during the jump, he stepped out from behind the cover and asked Rapi. She seemed uncertain too.
"This... this was an accident! No one's at fault!"
"You're the most at fault here!!"
"...No one could have imagined that the wreckage of the enemy aircraft would directly hit the bridge. Well... it can't be helped."
While he was attempting to defend Laplace, his tone was unfortunately lacking confidence.
However, there was nothing they could do about the unexpected turn of events. With a sigh, Moore peered across the river through his binoculars and began signaling with hand gestures using his left hand.
.
.
─Cease attack.
─Accident.
─Gather at the destination.
.
.
If communication wasn't possible, the old-fashioned way was the best.
Although they had recently learned these hand signals, he realized he would need to thank the base personnel for teaching them, especially the mass-produced Nikkés. He finished sending the signals while contemplating this.
Everyone, except Eunhwa, who was looking through her scope, seemed to have received the signals using the telescopic function incorporated into their eyeballs.
Anis and Neon responded with a thumbs-up hand signal, indicating their understanding.
"...Alright, let's move."
"...Thank you... you saved us."
"Don't mention it... Well, maybe you could mention it a little... but forget it. Shifty, I'm counting on you for navigation."
Acknowledgment came from the operator deep inside the housing. There was a slight unease about joining forces with the Metis Squad, but there was no choice.
He put away the binoculars into his pouch and glanced back across the river once more. Although it was just a silhouette from this distance, it seemed like Anis was waving her hands vigorously. After a wave back, Moore started moving forward, following the Metis Squad.
-----
Author's note: ...I guess there's no choice but to spend some money now... Even if I decide to play, it'll probably be on payday... (Muttering to himself: "Something happened...")
By the way, many Commanders seem to have cleared Chapter 14. As for how Captain Moore will handle that chapter... well, I think you'll find out eventually. It's definitely graphic, so be prepared...
