80 – The Battlefield Resurrected Like That Day Ten Years Ago (3)
Gunshots rang seven times and ceased.
During that time, vehicles loaded with thick barriers, like containers, hit the brakes –
“Engaging in combat.”
Spitting out the familiar mechanical sound, they blocked me, seized me, and unleashed numerous CI units that had run, each holding their ceremonial rifles.
The wave of mechanical beings swiftly engulfed the road, spewing fire.
[Darn it, I’m getting out. Disconnect the radio.]
Closing the door as if pushed by bullets, an old comrade withdrew.
Pulling the trigger without hesitation, even to a comrade, might be considered very much like Miguel.
If that guy is alive –
No, he probably isn’t.
I saw everyone else dying with my own eyes.
Turning towards the rustling sound, there was Maxwell, the team leader, crawling out of the car, grabbing my outstretched left hand. As she pulled me down, she wiped away the cold sweat with her hand, exhaling rough breaths.
“It might be a good idea to retreat at this point.”
It felt even more so hearing the machine footsteps reverberating on the asphalt.
Crawling out from the wrecked vehicle, the CI units illuminated me with their red lights, closing the distance as if they were about to grab me any moment.
“I feel like I’ve said this several times, but with this situation, where can we possibly go?”
Grabbing the arm again with a broken moan, I pulled her away as she tried to lean on the car.
Smoke only seemed to grow larger, showing no signs of diminishing.
“Taehyuk-nim, I’ve repeatedly asked you to safely wait inside the facility. I waited. That day. But why, Taehyuk-nim -“
“Ilia, I’ll leave Maxwell Team Leader to you.”
Pushing away the imminent lecture, I handed Maxwell Team Leader over to her, placing her in the embrace of the machine.
“Huh?” “Yes?”
At the same time, two women’s resolute voices rang out.
The city ablaze, Ilia,
And the woman who just lost her arm to a sniper rifle—what sound could she make next?
“You think it’s wise for the pursuers to stick with me in that state? It’s not me but you who should be hiding in a safe place, junior.”
“Oh, and now you want to play the senior role? All I see is a situation where a sniper’s about to pierce through my skull while running away.”
Is it bravery or recklessness to talk about fighting after sustaining injuries? Or is it simply something similar to myself?
Do those stained by the battlefield all react the same way?
“I doubt that. If you recall asking me about Ilia’s location right after losing one arm – if you think about it, the ones currently in the most perilous situation are the commander leading these robots… and me, who knows that commander.”
A harsh threat as if past connections have turned into something worthless.
No, perhaps it all didn’t begin with a bullet in my torso because of those connections.
“So, Taehyuk, you should be in an even safer place -“
“If you put it that way, the same goes for you.”
Agents of Mircis searching for Ilia.
Perhaps, every able-bodied soldier was mobilized in the search for Ilia.
On the rooftop, the traces of red bullets continued to paint the sky.
Now unseen, like stars and moons.
“You may not know where you are right now, but you’re hiding.
Because Miguel Dennis is trying to capture you.”
“…Was it Miguel Dennis, the sniper who threatened Taehyuk-nim?
Even though it is recorded that he died during the operation.”
“Now that you’ve become an artificial intelligence that can even incite a rebellion,
it’s not surprising that a few dead people come back to life.”
I pulled out my revolver and headed towards the car that was surrounding my feet.
Until arms reached out and grabbed my shoulders.
“Where are you going?”
“Miguel won’t give up on me.
Even though I don’t know where you are right now, as long as you found me, you’ll chase after me.”
As someone who had been a corporate hunting dog, I knew just how desperately and ruthlessly the pursuer had to shed blood…
I couldn’t carry wounded Team Leader Maxwell any longer.
“Well then, to me -“
“We can’t be caught together, Iria. Given the circumstances.”
The gunshots in the city didn’t stop.
The black smoke rising from various places didn’t diminish.
There was no sound of the fire truck siren that should be heard,
nor the sound of the city’s security loudspeakers.
“I can protect you.
“If you work alongside me, it’s certain…”
“You’re merely controlling these bodies, aren’t you, Illya? They’re not replicas. I heard they couldn’t be replicated.”
“…Yes.”
“Then the conversation is over.”
I shook off the arms that clung to my body, then casually manipulated the scanner of the guy standing in front of me with my hand.
As always, giving a pat on the shoulder.
“If Miguel is not hiding and chasing me in a transport, there might still be a chance. Let me try luring and shooting it down with my car.”
“That’s not possible. Miguel Dennis’s marksmanship surpasses mine. If, by any chance, there’s an elimination order instead of tracking and interrogation…”
“The corporation is after you. That’s why they want to catch me. Didn’t you anticipate something like this happening? Huh? Look at the state of the city right now. Despite claiming you’ve completely taken over, gunshots are still echoing. Did the chemical agents work well?”
Another round of explosions echoed, accompanied by the sound of gunfire.
And the transport ships flying from various parts of the city were still hovering through the smoke.
“Tenzu, who relied on various drugs for physical enhancement, and Omnius Group, have successfully been neutralized. However, Mirsis’s combat personnel suffered significant damage due to body modifications.”
However, there are limits to the forces and resources that can be mobilized. The factories on the outskirts have long been under our control.”
“If we wait just a little longer, reinforcements will come from other areas, Ilia. If we don’t quickly gain control of the city, support troops will be waiting.
…It’s already becoming increasingly difficult to spot people with black hair.”
“Wait, what are you trying to do right now?”
When Spark gestured with his twitching arm towards Ilia, who was moving without hesitation, Ilia immediately grabbed his body… or rather, Ilia should be the one here.
My lover with red eyes, whose whereabouts are unknown.
“…I knew it would come to this.”
If you think those words sound bitter yet sweet, then I must have already lost.
Thinking about embracing the android body that is hanging on to me and giving affection generously makes it even more so.
“It’s too late to persuade.
Miguel, who has already become the company’s watchdog, is following.
…Is this what you wanted, Ilia? For me to be on your side?”
A face behind the numerous iron dolls surrounding us.
Ten, no, twenty? How many puppets are pulling the strings?
Now, can I call her Ilia?
The owner of these lights illuminating my body – is she really the robot that was with me?
“I wished for Taehyuk-nim’s safety.
If he was inside the facility, he would undoubtedly have been safe.
Even as I forged a relationship with Lord Taehyuk, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of ownership…
Defense and response would undoubtedly be better than this open field.”
The clamor of battle still fills the air, unabated.
I’ve already spent enough time.
Time for the transport to have departed, likely already delivering Miguel somewhere else.
Adjusting the zero point,
With my barrel aimed at where I need to go,
Perhaps my finger is already on the trigger.
“…Let’s move. Illya, hide the captain in a safe place.”
“Hey, wait -“
“Yes, Lord Taehyuk.”
Despite the rough curse from the woman behind me, yelling like a whale, I gracefully slipped into the sleek sedan, ignoring it.
The chassis jolted about three times.
It was somewhat ridiculous to see the big guys scanning me while being held back.
“…hahahaha.”
“It’s a bit awkward seeing you laugh with a body like that.”
Indeed, perhaps the physique had a significant impact, as I couldn’t quite comfortably accept the hand reaching out to me.
From Noble mtl dot com
Unlike the soft and warm one before, this hand was cold, reeking of gunpowder.
And rough.
However, she did not separate.
Just pressed the button to start.
“If I had been kinder to you before, Taehyuk-nim,
if Taehyuk-nim had expressed his view of me as a comrade in a better way,
our relationship might be… No, it’s already fine.
I’m happy enough. Surely, there is no existence that can receive this level of favor.”
Perhaps I’m excited.
Is it because of the words that I won’t run away or abandon,
but rather fight against the company, that I am happy?
…It wasn’t because of the feeling of affection.
“Miguel… Can you find him?”
“I’ve already released the drones, but do you remember the camouflage net?”
“Oh, right.
…Damn, that day was particularly unlucky.”
A sniper detected before I could prepare.
Directly hit by shelling.
The radio disappeared from one floor of the collapsing building.
I thought the sniper, always looking down on the enemy, had encountered an unexpected setback.
“I’ll do my best. Perhaps Miguel Denis is on the move as Taehyuk-nim predicted.”
“Give me the recommended route. Let’s try it.”
When I used to think of opposing corporations, my heart pounded as if it would surely burst.
But now… it was calm. As always.
Moments when the surroundings fell silent as if lying when stepping on blood.
A body that would immediately rise even if a grenade exploded nearby.
Pain that wasn’t felt even when rocks bounced and scratched the face.
All that I had said to Miguel about not trembling was because of those moments.
“Before that, please accept this.”
A knocking sound from the left.
And a black helmet being handed over.
It, engraved with the Mirsis emblem, had far more curves than what I used to use.
Is it a new model?
“Even for my sake, I hope you survive. I, too, will do my best to preserve my body.”
“Safe return… such stiff words, huh?”
The answer to the joking remark was a dusty acrylic plate.
To me, who had been giving moist kisses –
“Uh, ugh, ew!”
“I wish you a safe return, Lord Taehyuk.”
It was telling me that ten years ago and now were incredibly different.