35 – Rebels (5)
Blanca entered the sewer through a ladder.
The interior was somewhat spacious. The intricately connected paths were endlessly dark. Since she didn’t have a flashlight that could be attached to her gun, she had to hold the supplies provided in her hands.
If she held them with one hand, she couldn’t hold her rifle with the other. She reluctantly picked up the supply revolver, but her posture was unsteady.
For Blanca, it was natural.
She had rarely experienced such guerrilla warfare during her activities within the Family.
“Hold the revolver over your hand.”
“What?”
“Like this.”
The vampire moved her hand smoothly to help adjust her posture. Her hand became more relaxed compared to earlier.
“…”
Blanca silently glanced at her. It was a completely different behavior than before.
Was it called Drakhan…?
She had brushed off the interference with her path earlier. The shock had been so great that she couldn’t even stand for a moment.
She undoubtedly resisted. But still, she was pushed back.
She never expected herself, a half-demon, to be defeated by sheer force.
And…
Blanca turned her head abruptly. She looked at Avacus and the squad leader.
Immediately, the two moved. They immediately subdued the enemy. They were outnumbered and had better weapons, but they did not hesitate to step out with their feet.
… Killing machines.
Blanca naturally lost strength in her shoulders. She was looking at them scornfully, but they were not creatures to be underestimated.
And the dragon right next to them …
Truly the most dangerous presence among the killing machines.
The platoon leader momentarily paused and instead gave orders. He quickly advanced to the battlefield and killed the visible rebels faster than anyone else.
I have never seen a soldier as good as me. This movement, which assassins who lived in families could not demonstrate, even when flying.
“… You.”
Blanca asked him quietly, moving forward with him.
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen when this winter is over.”
“… You’re damn young!”
To fear a chick like that.
Former subordinates would have laughed if they had heard it.
Blanca smiled helplessly. Tetis Libra’s eyes flickered.
“So chatter is prohibited.”
A voice was heard on the radio. Blanca focused on the first voice she had ever heard.
The voice was serious. It was also cold like frost. Like a voice coming from an enemy.
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“Wait at your current location. Join us.”
Avakusa frowned.
“Drakan. That voice…”
Drakan sighed.
“Even if a request for support comes in, just don’t bother helping this time. It’s better to let them die.”
“Tsk.”
“Kid. Cheer up.”
I can’t tell what they’re talking about. I just do it.
Suddenly, Blanca’s neck was grabbed. She gasped as she was dragged along.
“What, what is it?!”
“Shh.”
He whispered urgently, “Turn off the flashlight.”
“What?”
“Turn it off! Follow Drachan’s lead!”
Tetis Libra shouted. Bianca, who didn’t know what was going on, stammered.
The flashlight almost went out as if it had been taken away, but one light did not go out.
“I don’t know what it means. Why turn off the flashlight in a situation like this? If I turn it off now…”
“Just turn it off already! This damn guy!”
“Explain logically. Based on past experience, not turning it off would be…”
“It’s too late. Abacussa.”
A sound was heard. Bianca was startled.
There was a sound late in front of her. Did she catch that small sound before it even reached her ears?
Something monstrous…?
“Run.”
The sound got closer.
Abacusa immediately jumped up.
Drachan shouted once more.
“Run!”
Bianca ran hastily and the water rose up to her ankles and splashed onto her face.
All that followed was a gunshot.
“F*ck?!”
Tudadadada!!!!
“Shoot them!!!”
“They’re chasing us!!!!”
The sound started ringing. Those with gun lanterns revealed themselves.
Their number…
Twice as many as seen from above.
“Run! You bastards!!!”
Bianca ran in a daze. But just when she barely dodged to the side, she met another lantern.
“It’s here!”
“Chase them!!!”
Blanca kept running. Continuously moving her body without knowing where to run.
What is…
What in the world happened…?!
Boom!!
She tripped and fell. Accidentally crossing the railing and falling straight down.
“Huff?!”
Water rushed into her mouth and nose. She struggled but couldn’t grab anything.
A swift stream of water flowing down.
Blanca swam with all her might, discarding her gun.
. . .
“This damn it! Because of this bastard!”
“There’s an enemy on the right! Turn left!”
No proper cover. Terrain that would immediately sweep her away if she came into contact with the enemy.
Even a skilled soldier, without cover, would only face death when encountering bullets. She quickly changed direction and ran towards where there were no enemies.
Of course, she didn’t use a flashlight to avoid giving away her position.
Amidst her chaotic running, the noise around her diminished. Then soon after, there were just two left. Finally, even those two disappeared.
“Dra…!”
Even Tetis Libra’s voice, leading the way, disappeared along with the sound of water.
She immediately turned on the flashlight. Right in front of her was a waterway with no railing.
The waterway was directly connected. Perhaps due to the influence of outdated facilities and corroded boundaries.
It seemed that when Tetis Libra hit it, the railing itself broke and they both plopped into the water.
“This damn it!”
Should she go inside? Which way should she go?
She immediately shone the flashlight, but there was something that stimulated her senses.
I lowered my head.
Ping!
The bullet that was deflected by metal hit the wall.
“There they are!”
“It’s a flashlight!”
I immediately ran towards the water. The flashlight in my mouth flickered and went out.
Complete darkness. I swam vigorously, feeling the touch of the water against my body.
A momentary dive. Soon, something touched my hand, and I forced myself to stand up.
I clicked the flashlight. It didn’t turn on.
“…an epidemic.”
Nothing could be seen inside.
I tucked the bayonet into my chest, once again raising the rifle instead of a revolver.
All I could hear was the sound of rushing water.
I cautiously moved forward. What had become of the scattered remnants?
Tetis Libra must have fallen this way… Why can’t I see it? How far has it flowed?
My mind was filled with questions. To solve them, I had to move. It’s almost impossible to navigate through the sewage without seeing anything. I’m even afraid I might overlook her.
…Inside the sewer.
I had no choice but to explore this place as I moved forward.
I cautiously took a step, trying not to make any noise.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
One step at a time, with my body tense.
The interior was quiet. My body, which had been immersed in water, felt cold, as if it could freeze at any moment.
…At this rate, won’t I freeze to death before getting shot?
Something appeared in front of me. Footsteps. I saw a faint trembling light.
I stopped walking. The sound was getting closer towards this direction.
Slowly.
Stealthily.
Hiding my body in the shadows, I held my breath. The footsteps were approaching.
…Now.
Right now.
“Ah!”
Thunk!
The woman lying on the ground groaned. I aimed the muzzle at her head.
“If you move, I’ll kill you.”
I immediately snatched the lantern. I looked around to see if there were any additional people.
It’s a given that they would grab me by the collar and drag me towards my location.
A little late, I confirmed her face. Similar to mine, but with brighter blonde hair. Half of her face covered in burn scars.
…Wait a moment.
“You?”
“Uh…?”
She blinked.
“That time…”
“Why are you here?”
“W-well…”
The woman trembled at the sight of the gun barrel. I sighed.
I lowered the gun.
“Answer me.”
“……”
“You, who were supposed to work at the bakery…”
I shone the lantern on her face. She squinted.
Certain.
The scar-ridden girl who came to that resistance-infested brothel. The one who received coins from me and brought bread…
That girl.
“Why are you here?”
“I-I’m indeed working at the bakery.”
“What kind of excuse is…”
“I-I came to deliver… this.”
She quickly showed me the bag she had been carrying behind her.
“To…deliver it…”
Inside it was bread. But it wasn’t just simple bread.
Preserved food. Biscuits baked numerous times to prevent them from spoiling.
“…Could it be.”
I wiped my face.
“Are you a rebel food procurer?”
“…”
The woman bit her lips.
That alone was enough of an answer.
“…”
What should I do about this?
I sensed someone’s presence. I immediately grabbed her throat.
“Hu, huh…!”
“Keep quiet.”
Avoiding any further attention is the priority.
No matter how strong I am, I can’t fight against the army.
Especially with such shoddy equipment.
…
Blanca crawled out of the tunnel. The worn-out house exhaled heavily, filled with water.
“Ha…ha…”
My head is spinning. No matter how much water I spit out, it keeps crawling up.
Exhausted strength. I wasn’t used to swimming in the first place.
And on top of that, it’s winter.
The cold settled into my still-dazed body.
“Uh…uh…”
I have to go. I can’t just stay here.
But where should I go?
Blanca moved cautiously, curling up her body. There was no sign of the group. Perhaps they left long ago.
The sewer beneath the city was disorienting. It felt like a maze. The lantern didn’t light up, and nothing was visible.
Blanca kept walking. That was all she could do.
And then…
She came face-to-face with someone.
“…Gobain?”
“Ah! There you are! Blanca! I’ve been looking for you!”
Blanca stepped back. It was an ally’s appearance. She should definitely be glad.
But what is this?
“Who are those guys behind you…?”
“Oh, them.”
The armed individuals raised their guns. Blanc took a step back, feeling her already cold interior freeze even more in their presence.
Rebels.
Kobein, who had been chasing after them, shrugged his shoulders.
“These are the new acquaintances. Well, no need to shed blood unnecessarily, right?”
“You… you…”
“This is the best way. I’ve always sought only the means to survive.”
“You insane bastard!”
Thud.
Blanc was struck by something and collapsed.
“I… heard… support is coming…”
Amidst her fading consciousness, Kobein’s voice reached her.
“Don’t worry… as hostages… we have value…”
This…
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Trash!