The Land of Steel and Faceless Humans – 15
Captain Ab, whom I had not seen in a long time, seemed not as good as before. The way he looked at me with a hard face without any humanity was not as lively as the golems I had seen.
Captain Abbie answered dryly.
“The main building is Captain Ivy, a military signalman.”
‘yes. me too. It’s really nice to see you again… I’m glad.’
Her words were hard, but the words she heard in her thoughts were different. I think it’s because of the unique magic.
Of course, it wasn’t a serious problem for me who read my thoughts, so I continued the conversation, listening to the words that came out of my mouth.
“Ivy? What happened to make this happen?”
『I was called to the Inner Circle Command to check for mental contamination. On the way, Hughes, your terrorist called Hameln’s Piper Man occurred, and in the process, you interfered with the signalman’s judgment, so his name was taken and he was temporarily assigned to the Inner Circle Communications Headquarters.
‘I want to ask. The main building has already been prepared, but how did you come to this point? You were the one who caused the Hameln Incident, but did you come back to the Inner Circle without running away? Weren’t you hurt while running away?’
“It was eventful while I was away. You were a bigger being than I thought, Captain Abbey… No, was it Captain Ivy? Was it the captain who spoke to you back then?”
“Positive.”
“Somehow, it was similar. Why did you change your name?”
‘I didn’t want to change. I didn’t want to lose Ab. Because you remember me as Ab.’
The captain’s thoughts came first, followed by the sound like an echo.
“As you may have guessed, the title of a signalist is an identification name. The name of the main building has no significance other than distinction.”
‘I will be remembered as AB within you. If I talk to you through the golem, then I must be an Ab. Otherwise you won’t know who I am.’
“But it doesn’t matter if I call you Captain Beep, right? It’s up to me to call it.”
“… !」
The military is trying to control all humans. If we follow the orders of the military, not everyone will be happy, but we can live without any guilt or responsibility.
But there are still criminals in the military. It’s cute compared to other countries, but it’s a lot more than the harshness of the military. Even most of them are mongrels. They take pleasure in flying together, and commit crimes they don’t need to do even though they know the military’s fears.
In short, the military is not perfect either.
Of course it would be. Because the people who made this army must be human.
This signalman in front of me, Captain Abbie, who has become attached to his name, proves it.
“Captain Beep.”
“The main building… .』
Captain Abbey stumbled as if it was broken. I stretched out my hand.
The morning glory vine is invisible to others, but visible to mine. I pretended I couldn’t see the vines, and gently touched the captain’s shoulder tenderly.
“Look at your stiff shoulders. Haven’t you been exercising?”
When my hand touched the morning glory vine that had wrapped around my shoulder, it began to crumble like fallen leaves that had been withered for decades. Captain Abbie stuttered.
“That, yes.”
“How long are you going to live like that? If you are going to work in a corner of the room, you have to take good care of yourself.”
『The main building works through the golem. There is no reason for such maintenance.”
“It’s a biosynthesis. Body maintenance is golem maintenance. The more flexible Captain Pi’s body becomes, the more things he can do with the golem, right?”
“… I have no reason to hear such comments from you, and I have no obligation to follow them!”
You have to be the same for everyone to be in harmony. In other words, if you gain a difference, your alignment breaks. During the few days I spent with Captain Abbie, I prepared all sorts of stimuli to get a feel for life.
If the military is a body, the signalman is a nerve.
And it is the neurotoxin that causes the most lethal damage in the smallest amount.
“It is a useless attempt. She is a signalman and a soldier loyal to the military. Also, she is under the control of the current module. Communication with you is limited.”
IA intervened.
Even as I say that, I feel anxious for an unknown cause. Do I instinctively know that I am pouring poison?
I said with a snort.
“Do not interfere. I’m going to break the signalman my way.”
“Are you revenge for the military? However, as you directly mentioned, an attack on a carrier is pointless. She was commissioned after the Hameln incident, and in the first place, the signalman was not involved in the Hameln incident except intelligence control!”
I ignored IA’s words and brushed off Captain Ab’s hair. The vines that surrounded her blonde hair caught her finger. Of course, my fingers went through the vines like mist. Because the material could not be involved in the image.
‘To break the sympathy? One, unique magic is the embodiment of imagery. It is impossible to influence the image of others without the same sympathy, and even that is nothing more than passing on memories or information… .’
right. Matter cannot participate in the image.
But my hand can reach Captain Abbey’s heart.
the vines are broken The leaves are dry. flowers wither
The morning glory was crushed every time they talked or touched each other a little. The flower petals, which boasted a pitiful purple color, wither and bow their heads, and the fragile stems that can only be turned upwards only by leaning on something are cut off.
‘A unique mage?!’
IA was terribly surprised.
‘According to my memory, Ivy only had contact with the Piper for a week! In the meantime, you’ve broken your own magic?!’
Realizing that my actions were unraveling Captain Ab, IA exclaimed urgently.
“Is this the revenge you were thinking of? It makes no sense!”
“How are you? There is nothing meaningful in the world anyway.”
Any action has a meaning given to it by humans.
So you can do anything. It’s up to you to decide what meaning to give it.
So, is everyone in the audience?
Almost all of the signalmen trapped in the room came out. Although their appearance was different, they all had the same eyes, awkward steps like a person who had been lying down for a long time, and white skin as if they had never seen sunlight.
They got their freedom, but they don’t appreciate it. On the contrary, the fact that he raised his eyes defiantly was a struggle to criticize why he had called him outside.
It’s natural for the communicators to be locked up. Because I don’t want to show my face to anyone. because it is a duty
While everyone was thinking the same thing, IA, who had become more energetic in tune with him, shouted even more sharply.
“Give up if you intend to taint the signalmen. I warn you. If you are unable to work due to mental pollution or other reasons. That carrier is obsolete! Your actions only make her more dangerous… .”
“I can’t listen any more!”
I strode over to IA and slapped him on the cheek. Clap, a refreshing sound resounded, and IA’s face turned in a flash.
A strike that is extremely painful but does not hurt the face, spread the palm of the hand and widen the contact surface as much as possible. There was even a surprise attack, so the effect was doubled.
The easiest way to give a psychological shock is to give a physical shock.
“how… ! Can you say something like discard?!”
yet again. I hit the left before, so this time I hit the left one more time.
I, who knocked IA down with just a slap on the cheek, stood in front of her and exclaimed vigorously.
“Are you a colleague? Even though it’s only been a few days, you’re of the same age, in a similar rank, and in a similar situation! Don’t order the destruction at will!”
“… ?! What is that?”
don’t let me think On the other side, IA is speaking as the representative, but 25 people are together, and close to 500 signalmen are backing up.
On the other hand, I am alone.
To mentally pollute all of this… .
“You want Captain Abbe dead?! do you want it?”
IA staggered to her feet and answered.
“no. Her talent is very rare among the signal soldiers. Disposing of her is a significant loss for the military as well.”
“Is that all? colleague! After all, you say you’re going to dispose of your comrades at will, you think that’s okay? Sadness, loss, or regret! Do you not have such feelings?”
“Such feelings are not allowed for signalmen.”
“Allow and sleep… !”
When I shout like I’m angry.
Historia, who had just broken through the door of the last room, called me with a stiff face.
“day off. here… .”
“why?”
“The communicator… .”
Historia can’t even talk about what she saw. I hardened my face and approached.
“What’s going on?”
“… The carrier is down.”
“What? Get it out right now!”
Historia nodded and pulled out the whole bed with one hand. The iron frame scratched against the wall, making a loud noise.
Uh, this wasn’t what I was thinking. I was expecting Historia to come out holding a signal soldier coolly.
Anyway, I took it out. I approached the operator, who was lying on it and exhaling hard. The signal operator in the last room, Z, was unconscious and fainted.
Historia looked at the condition of the lieutenant and said.
“I have a fever and shortness of breath. Is it a cold?”
“no. Judging by the symptoms, it’s a godsend. He became ill because he became a sacrifice to summon the angels of the military.”
“Dream? offering… ?”
“okay. Aimeder. The guardian angel of the military. Isn’t it something that a powerful being with the rank of sixth leader can be summoned without any cost? Of course, you will need an offering.”
As I said that, I glanced at X and Y. Unlike the other signalmen, their complexion was particularly pale. Whoever looked at it, he looked completely sick.
“Wait a minute. If it’s a sacrifice, it means that he took his own life… ?”
“This is usually the case, but the military seems to have developed a very effective method again. There is no need to end your life.”
uhm. Is it time to write this? It’s too precious to even write to me, but I can’t help it.
He clasped his hand and opened the card. The card to take out this time is a heart.
Unlike the magical clover and the diamond that turns into a weapon, the heart is only for one-time use. It is a valuable item that should never be used unless it is an emergency.
But if I cherish it, will it be nothing more than poop? Now is the time to lose. I put the necessary heart card between my fingers.
“It seems that the risk is spread out with synchronization magic. These are many and one. Even the cost of summoning an angel was dispersed… However, that is”
Hearts are things that work directly on the human body. A drug that temporarily changes the body.
Heart 1 is blood… But, Z doesn’t have anemia, so I don’t need it. Hmm. rather now.
Take out 9, grab one end and shake it from side to side. At first, it shook normally, but as I shook it with patience, the reaction gradually came.
A red heart that mimics a heart. The red paint that was supposed to be drawn on the picture began to slowly flutter along my hand. It looked more like a liquid in a small bottle than a painting.
Well, that’s it.
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Fold heart 9 slightly crumpled in the middle. Along the vertical line, a red liquid leaking from the cracked heart flows. I folded the tip slightly to let the liquid pool, and then showed it to everyone.
“This drug can save him. how about it? Doesn’t it appeal to you?”
Of course, no one will accept the medicine given by the suspicious person. Especially if he’s the one who had just announced he was going to destroy the military.
Y, who was closest to Z, asked sharply.
“The Signal Operator Eyejet is currently powerless. If she has a business, the main building will take over for her.”
“I’m trying to treat this person, but how are you going to do it?”
“Cure, right? Is there any guarantee that the drug can cure the Eyejet?”
“There is no such thing as a guarantee, but I guarantee one thing. All medicines here are my own. Otherwise, there is no way to make it and carry it around in such a cumbersome way, right?”
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Fluttering fluttering. Y’s eyes move back and forth along the card. Unlike the other correspondents observing me, Y keeps her eyes on the pills.
“ruler. Decide. After all, I think it will be difficult to get through today if I don’t take medicine. Will you let me die like this, or will you take a little risk and give me this drug?”
The correspondents looked at each other and nodded. They too knew that Z was in danger.
If you don’t take the drug, you will die. If that’s the case, there’s no reason not to use drugs when you think about it rationally. That’s the common judgment of communicators.
… But only two. Only X and Y purely wanted to save Z.
Because the two lowest ranks here were also sacrifices ‘used’ to summon Aimeder. Compared to Z, the damage was less, but as a sacrifice that felt the same pain, he felt a sense of unity.
“It’s just fine. I needed one. Can you take this medicine in your mouth and feed it to the patient?”
“… The main building, you say?”
“yes. Now that I look at it, I’m completely unconscious, so I think I’m going to go into prayer. It’s sticky than I thought, so if you’re not careful, it will block your prayers.”
The worries were brief. If that’s the way, there’s no reason not to follow it.
Operator Y nodded and took the card I was handed over. I looked at her and said a word to her.
“ah. right. We’ve met an angel three times in total. Who were the other two sacrifices?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Y said.
“… This is the main building and the communication officer IX.”
“Is it a strange coincidence? I’m sure the last three will be sacrificed side by side.”
I said it like it was flowing, but I secretly pointed out the cracks in them.
There are also ranks in the communicators. The higher the matching suitability, the closer it is to A, and if it is inferior to that, it is gradually given a lower identification number. More valuable Signal Operators are consumed last.
Of course, there are reasonable reasons for that. This is because the high-ranking signal operators have a strong ability to align, so they can bear the cost of the low-ranking signal operators.
However, knowing and accepting are two different things. Especially if it involves pain.
“There are reasonable reasons for that… .”
The moment IA was about to intervene, I turned my head sharply and interrupted her with a terrifying voice.
“You have a patient! quietly!”