53 – Pine Cone (1)
Time continued to pass.
After finishing the final adjustments, we stood in front of the transport vehicle.
“Farewell.”
Peregrine Alto waved his hand and whispered in my ear.
“Don’t forget our promise, Drakan.”
“I won’t forget your kindness.”
“Good. That’s enough. But aside from that, there’s something else I want to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“If the dragon tribe with a hint of black on their white scales is looking for you, cooperate quietly.”
“….?”
“I can’t guarantee it right now. That person is, well…a bit of her own. I’ve only seen her once. I might not even run into her again. But if I do, tell her your story.”
“Is this person related to me?”
“It’s not likely. It’s just that…”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“At least something similar, if not more of a monster than you. It will definitely be helpful.”
A monster?
“Could it be someone like me…?”
“Shh. I don’t know that much. I don’t have any information about her. Well, whether she’s looking for you in 10 years or 20 years, just relax and wait.”
Peregrine Alto ruffled my hair with a mischievous look.
“In case, just in case, my armor really gets damaged, consult with the nearby engineer.”
“Is there such a great engineer nearby?”
“Of course, it’s not common to find an engineer so great that they can fix this body of mine… but if you take this book with you, maybe they can repair it somehow. Of course, they would need talent for that.”
Peregrine Alto handed me a book.
“…I thought Peregrine would give something in a data format.”
“Ahahahaha! Of course, that would be more efficient, but sometimes analog is better. Even if all communication is cut off and machines break down, you can still read a book. This book roughly summarizes information about the armor you’re wearing. If you’re a capable engineer, just by reading and seeing, you should be able to fix it.”
Peregrine Alto poked my side.
“If you were going to handle the armor in the first place, you should have at least one capable engineer on your team. Do you understand? If you’re going to recruit someone, find someone who is versatile. Someone who can also help with weapon maintenance.”
I glanced down at the weapons I received unevenly from Peregrine Alto.
…Well.
To maintain these kinds of weapons, I should at least ask for regular maintenance. Maybe I should look for an engineer in Festa.
“Thank you, Peregrine. In many ways.”
“It’s not necessary to thank me for a deal. We helped each other.”
Peregrine Alto chuckled softly.
“You’re still a kid.”
…Depending on how you look at it, you’re the kid here.
“When there is a meeting, there is also parting. I will look forward to the day we meet again. Ah, and Drakan-“
She grabbed my ear once again. I slightly bent my waist.
“Don’t die.”
It was a somewhat bitter farewell.
…
“Master!”
“Yes?”
Peregrine Alto swiveled the chair around and looked at her disciple.
Green hair. A girl. She seemed quite smart.
What was her name again?
Well, there’s no need to remember it.
“Why?”
“Well, those clothes you just gave me… they’re all next-generation armor, right?”
“So what?”
“Why would you give them to guys who are likely to die soon…?”
“Is there such a great engineer nearby?”
“Of course, it’s not common to find an engineer so great that they can fix this body of mine… but if you take this book with you, maybe they can repair it somehow. Of course, they would need talent for that.”
Peregrine Alto handed me a book.
“…I thought Peregrine would give something in a data format.”
“Ahahahaha! Of course, that would be more efficient, but sometimes analog is better. Even if all communication is cut off and machines break down, you can still read a book. This book roughly summarizes information about the armor you’re wearing. If you’re a capable engineer, just by reading and seeing, you should be able to fix it.”
Peregrine Alto poked my side.
“If you were going to handle the armor in the first place, you should have at least one capable engineer on your team. Do you understand? If you’re going to recruit someone, find someone who is versatile. Someone who can also help with weapon maintenance.”
I glanced down at the weapons I received unevenly from Peregrine Alto.
…Well.
To maintain these kinds of weapons, I should at least ask for regular maintenance. Maybe I should look for an engineer in Festa.
“Thank you, Peregrine. In many ways.”
“It’s not necessary to thank me for a deal. We helped each other.”
Peregrine Alto chuckled softly.
“You’re still a kid.”
…Depending on how you look at it, you’re the kid here.
“When there is a meeting, there is also parting. I will look forward to the day we meet again. Ah, and Drakan-“
She grabbed my ear once again. I slightly bent my waist.
“Don’t die.”
It was a somewhat bitter farewell.
…
“Master!”
“Yes?”
Peregrine Alto swiveled the chair around and looked at her disciple.
Green hair. A girl. She seemed quite smart.
What was her name again?
Well, there’s no need to remember it.
“Why?”
“Well, those clothes you just gave me… they’re all next-generation armor, right?”
“So what?”
“Why would you give them to guys who are likely to die soon…?”
“I made a deal.”
“A deal?! What did you receive that would be worth the price of twenty Titans, the next generation armors?!”
“Oh, did the price go up?”
“Our initial capital was surpassed long ago! The products that our master personally upgraded could never have the same price as in the beginning!”
The creaking noise is annoying. The person who was once needed as an assistant now tries to undermine themself.
…Sigh.
Certainly, it may not be comforting to look like an adult on the outside.
“Well, as long as I received what I gave, it doesn’t matter. Besides, we can always make more.”
“Th-then what did you receive? Please teach me too!”
“I cannot tell you.”
“This is ridiculous!”
How noisy.
“If the higher-ups find out, they might discover there’s a hole in our budget and discipline could come down!”
It’s disturbing.
“And what if I had completed user registration? I wouldn’t be useless then…!”
“Be quiet.”
“I’m speaking for our master right now!”
“You’re probably doing it for the sake of your own career.”
Peregrine Alto raised an eyebrow.
“Anyway, the conversation is over. It’s all finished. I’ll handle everything myself. Don’t worry about it.”
“At least tell me what I received…!”
“Why should I let you know?”
The disciple’s expression collapsed. But Peregrine Alto didn’t feel any particular emotion.
He only wanted to create new products with the information he had discovered.
Resistance remained within the rebel group due to the substantial budget provided.
There wasn’t any sentimental attachment involved. He only focused on the fact that more budget would come in once a good result was achieved.
“Leave it at that.”
“To-to our master…what am I to you?”
“Aren’t we attached to each other because we have something to gain from one another?”
“Well, at least I…!”
“Rubbish.”
Trust is maintained as long as one does not do anything suspicious. It is not formed at first glance by someone who follows behind openly.
“I know that the commander knows everything about what I am doing. It’s funny that he still talks about trust.”
“Me, I just…!”
“Elite family background? The best engineer developed within the resistance? ”
She thought of the description she had given herself.
Peregrine Alto chuckled.
“You didn’t get anything on your own. Aren’t you even trying to profit off my name now?”
“… ”
“There’s no reason to be hurt if we don’t talk behind each other’s back. Do what you were doing. I’ll do what I was doing. You just need to help me properly. That’s it. ”
The disciple’s expression twisted.
“… Do you remember my name, master?”
“Why is that even relevant?”
“Didn’t you talk dryly about it in the first place? About the topic of making things like a monster. I can’t feel any humanity in you, so how do you expect me to trust you?”
“Is this discussion over?”
“Answer me!”
“Why are you forcing an answer like that?”
Peregrine Alto sighed.
“I don’t even know your name. I don’t remember third-class names at all. I only remember special names.”
“I… I… I am… Bella Nix, the most famous engineer of the Resistance… Nobody can catch up to you except me…!”
“What’s the point of ranking yourself outside of being the top? That doesn’t make you any more special.”
The conversation was over.
It was a conversation with no nutritional value.
Peregrine Alto swiveled the chair.
“Bring me the data I asked for and leave. As usual, the necessary data is on top. ”
The disciple’s voice flowed from an unseen place.
“… Monster
There is something much more important than that. Drakan’s combat prowess. Its peculiarity.
If we utilize that…
We could create something quite extraordinary…
“Indeed…”
Peregrine Alto smirked. Alone in the laboratory after his disciple left, he carefully poured the reagent.
Now, let’s concentrate for a moment.
“It feels as if I have unleashed a dangerous beast named Drakan on the streets. Well, it doesn’t matter.”
…
“It feels like it’s my birthday.”
“It feels like I’m celebrating the birth of the federation.”
Avakusa and Blancas, who had brought all the clothes to wear inside, loosened their grip on each other’s hands.
Winter was still cold. Their exposed skin felt it. However, apart from that, their whole bodies felt warm.
So, this is the effect of winter clothing.
“hehehe. It feels like I’ve become a fashion star.”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course! Don’t you feel the same?”
“Hmph… Well, umm…”
Blancas lightly flicked her tail.
“hehehehe.”
In the end, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey! Avakusa! Let’s compete!”
“Alright! Bring it on…!”
Thud!
They both fell at the same time.
“…Ugh. How annoying. Why do my feet act on their own?”
“This… It might take some time to get used to…”
Clang!
Apart from that, Tetis Libra’s feet precisely sliced through the snow. A swift and chilling gust of wind passed by.
“At first glance, it might seem difficult, but it’s actually quite easy.”
Tetis Libra, who had reached ‘control’ faster than anyone else, lightly flicked the gauntlet-clad fingers.
“The black clothes looked expensive, as well as various types of armaments…”
For some reason, my eyes welled up with moisture. He looked up at me in surprise.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“Excuse me?”
From Noble mtl dot com
“It’s nothing. I’ll pay it all back.”
“Are you talking to Penegrin?”
“It’s nothing.”
What kind of conversation was this? It felt like a misunderstanding, but to fully explain it, I would have to talk about my current state, so I decided to drop it.
After all, my body had turned into a creature. How could I even put it into words?
As long as it wasn’t contagious, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t an urgent matter to discuss.
Blanca, who had been rolling around in the snow, suddenly stood up. I could clearly see the bust molding on her outfit. Her laughing face looked very joyful.
However, apart from her, I couldn’t look away from her clothes.
Blanca’s lingerie was shorter than I had expected
“….Hmm.”
She smiled faintly.
“It was a silly question. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
Avakusa, digging the floor, held a machine gun.
Blanca had a rifle with a grenade launcher attached.
Now…it could be said that they finally had a specialized unit-like appearance.
“You seem relieved.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just…”
Her muttered breath scattered in the wind.
“It’s just talking to myself.”
With this, even if I’m not there, I won’t die anywhere.
That is enough.
…
Winter ended, and spring arrived.
Tetis Libra maintained a focused posture. The commanding officer in front of her, Besmoph Litn, opened his mouth.
“Prepare for deployment.”
“What specific mission is it?”
“A support request has come in. It can be considered as the first active role of the 1st platoon, 13th squad, who are externally active. The village near Harvest, ‘Pinecone,’ is currently isolated by Harvest.”
“……”
“At present, there is a train carrying military supplies heading towards the front line. It contains valuable materials. We must ensure the safe-guarding of a large amount of mining resources. We need to reclaim the road.”
“Do we use the railway?”
“That’s right. However, it won’t be smooth sailing. We will have to repair the damaged train on the spot, as well as temporarily fix the broken tracks. After everything is done, we will make a way out along with the resistance troops stationed there.”
“Are there no other survivors?”
“Well…I’m not sure about that. Harvest has set up a communication interference device, so we cannot know the detailed internal circumstances. Besides, it’s not a problem we need to worry too much about.”
“I see.”
“Survivor protection should be left to the other resistance groups, shouldn’t it? Just focus on fixing the train and getting out. Prioritize only what you need to do. That’s what matters most.”
“…I apologize, Commander.”
“Apologies are unnecessary. I hope to see an impressive performance from you, Squad Leader. Your honor, as well as the face of this punitive unit, now belongs to you.”
“…”
“When engaging in external activities, it’s better to have a separate designation. Did we also receive a suitable logo? It wouldn’t be bad to promote the interaction with Penegrin Alto. If we let it be known that we are associated with a famous weapon artisan within the Resistance, our influence will naturally increase.”
The Commander, Besmoph Liton, laughed heartily.
“A skull with roses… Yes. Special Response Unit of the Punishment Division, Skull-Rose. Return victorious. Leader. I only trust you now. You are my pride.”
Pride.
Concealing his swollen chest, Tetis Libra saluted formally.
“I will give my best, Commander.”