episode_0148

One does not make toothpicks from good wood. It is an old proverb from a now-extinct nation.

This proverb implies not to waste valuable resources and time on useless things, and was often used to reflect the contemporary atmosphere that denigrated soldiers.

Perhaps due to the prevailing trend of looking down on soldiers, this nameless nation was the first to fall during the First Dimensional Invasion.

Interestingly, even after the war, when the existing national systems were unified and reorganized into a federation, this proverb alone continued to survive and was used among Awakened Ones.

Currently, this saying is used by Awakened One officers as self-deprecation and satire regarding the trend of talented Awakened Ones not volunteering for the Federal Army.

In truth, a talented Awakened One has no reason to enlist in the military unless they have a special motive.

If they are skilled, they can join a large clan and enjoy high income and benefits incomparable to those of officers, and if they dislike clans, they can live freely as freelance hunters or private fixers.

Ultimately, the talent the Federation can recruit is usually just the crumbs left over after clans and corporations have taken their pick.

As the civil issues and misdeeds of some low-quality Awakened One officers were extensively reported by clan-sponsored media, worsening public perception, people at some point agreed to refer to Awakened One soldiers as ‘toothpicks,’ likening them to the proverb.

Language is truly social.

Sadly, the man standing before the Aegis Academy students, Major Marius, was a prime example of a ‘toothpick’ in the worst sense.

The former B-rank barely-there hunter was currently interrogating the students in an overbearing manner.

“Can’t you answer immediately? You, what’s your affiliation! Why are you here?”

A dark gun muzzle appeared ominously before a male student’s eyes. The Model 27 electromagnetic pistol was larger and more threatening than imagined.

“I’m really a student! I showed you my student ID!”

The male student bravely protested in front of the gun muzzle.

Unfortunately, to Major Marius, whose inferiority complex filter was active, the student’s words sounded like, ‘How dare a mere toothpick-wannabe who just plays in a crappy clan!’

“How do I prove that’s real? How can a student be operating in a deep zone like this? Speak!”

Reflecting its master’s troubled mind, the servo motors of the exoeskeleton attached to the Major’s limbs hummed threateningly. Around them, soldiers holding large rifles also intimidated the students no less than their superior.

“I told you we came for a field trip…”

“We are currently conducting a special military operation. We received intelligence that suspicious individuals like you are collecting dangerous artifacts and plotting conspiracies here. Why are you near the artifact?”

Major Marius pointed to the gear sphere set up in a corner of the building.

“That was an artifact?”

As a female student opened her mouth with a puzzled expression, the Major, feeling indignant, slapped the female student’s cheek.

“Shut your mouth! Who told you to answer without permission?”

“Gasp!”

Although the Aether defense absorbed the shock, the girl, not expecting violence, flinched in surprise.

“If you don’t cooperate willingly…”

Major Marius couldn’t finish his sentence. A group of armed troops walked from beyond the alley.

“Ah, ah, mic test! Hello!”

The megaphone switched on. Soldiers in black uniforms walked towards the Federal Mobile Force.

**

With Violet Platoon deployed, I was dumbfounded.

“What kind of jerks are those?”

A group of soldiers had captured and were interrogating the poor students. I felt a sense of déjà vu from the scene.

“Ugh! Imperialism!”

“Japanese Imperialism! Nazis!”

No matter how threatening Awakened Ones are, surrounding young students with dozens of soldiers and then abruptly hitting and threatening them is too inhumane.

They had surrounded the students with tanks and armored vehicles, just like the mercenaries who ambushed Irene in the past.

“What’s wrong with their heads?”

Just in case, I generated more troops from beyond the alley. A company-sized force was deployed.

“Stop! Stop! Identify yourselves!”

They looked at us warily. I whispered to Irene for a moment.

“Can I borrow your clan’s name?”

“Of course. If not now, when would we use it?”

I decided to use the prestige of my friend’s clan, as a simple answer might seem unprincipled.

I spoke into the megaphone.

“We are Helios Frontier Service’s 10-6-8 Operations Team, Ariel Group! We are currently performing a student rescue request from Aegis Comprehensive Academy! Who are you?”

“What? Helios? Ariel Group?”

The beret-wearing guy who had been most actively harassing the students earlier stepped forward.

He was a soldier with a clearly stifling appearance. There was a rank insignia on his beret that I’d never seen before. It wasn’t a national army insignia, so I didn’t know. What kind of guy was he?

“I am Major Marius, commander of the 60th Mobile Combat Unit. Who is your commanding officer?”

Oh, a Major. That’s a bit higher than I thought.

I shrugged my shoulders, and Irene, wearing a mask, appeared and carefully handed over an ID card.

The guy who appeared to be an aide next to the Major quickly took it and examined it.

“Hmm, is it real…”

“This is Team Leader Irene Solstis. Those students over there. We can take them, right?”

The Major scoffed and replied.

“No, this is our jurisdiction. I can’t let them go. Where’s the proof that those guys are students?”

“Their identities can be vouched for by Helios and Aegis Comprehensive Academy. Any future issues can be discussed outside the dungeon. Would you please release them now?”

“Here are photos too!”

I showed him the list and photos Adela had handed me. The Major frowned intensely.

“They’re probably just similar-looking guys! Besides, do you see that artifact over there? They recklessly touched an artifact we are investigating. This is a serious act of security threat!”

“No! We just thought it was like a statue!”

“We just took pictures because we were bored, what’s the problem?”

The students behind them protested.

The standoff between Irene and the Major continued.

“We will escort the students.”

“I can’t let them go! What would a mere clan know?”

Ugh, that damn guy. He keeps finding fault, talking about security and identity verification every time. How can a guy like that be a Major?

I recalled my dimly remembered military life from before my possession. There was a guy like that there too.

“He must have been a Major or a Lieutenant Colonel!”

“A guy who bullied soldiers and harassed officers, and got his promotion blocked!”

The guy who lost his chance to earn a star even drove under the influence and was eventually relegated to a dead-end position. The guy I saw back then and the current Major were exactly alike.

To think there’d be an officer like that even across time and space. He must be the world’s greatest enemy!

As the guy kept pushing his unreasonable demands, I could see annoyance creeping into Irene’s words.

“If that is the case, our clan and the academy will have no choice but to take action regarding the ten instances of coercive and inhumane behavior perpetrated against the students just now. We will have to discuss the three agreements between the Federation and the Academy City, the infringement on clan autonomy, the obligation to ensure the safety of academy students, and the violations of Federal Army military law.”

“What did you say?”

I didn’t stay silent either. I pointed with my finger at the black boxes attached to Irene and our bodies.

“We recorded all of that. We’re also ready to report it to the media. Can you handle a lawsuit?”

“…Hah! I don’t know who you are, but how dare you little girls mock the military?”

The guy frowned and muttered as if intentionally for us to hear. The soldiers behind him also moved. The humming sound from the exoeskeletons they wore gradually grew louder.

“Are they serious?”

Unable to lose the war of nerves, I also deployed Violet Company. I saw the Federal Army soldiers and officers become flustered upon seeing the black-clad Violets appearing everywhere.

“W-what? Where did those soldiers come from…”

Irene spoke firmly to the startled Major.

“Helios and Aegis Academy respect the Federation’s rights within the city and dungeon, and appreciate your duties and service as soldiers. However, if you repeat such actions, we will have no choice but to remind you of the Academy City’s agreements.”

“And the Cascadia family too!”

“You bastards!”

Just as the Major, enraged, was about to draw his sword, a noise came from behind, and a car sped up and stopped abruptly. A guy who looked like an officer got out and rushed over, stopping the Major.

“Ugh! Let go!”

“Commander of the Mobile Force! I just made contact with someone from the academy. They confirmed they are students! Please put your sword down!”

“Why are you telling me this now!”

The Major, having lost his justification, was furious, but ultimately had no choice but to retreat. The students retrieved their weapons and were handed over to us.

“Damn it… The photos! Just delete the photos!”

“We’ll do that. Those who took pictures? Could you show us your phones?”

The students deleted the photos they took of the artifact. Major Marius, his pride wounded, gathered the artifact and left with his subordinates. The officer who had stopped the Major earlier came over to us and the students.

“I’m Captain Klein. What happened just now… I apologize. I’m at a loss for words. We did something terrible to you students.”

The officer even bowed his head and apologized.

“Uh-huh… well…”

For a subordinate to have to clean up their superior’s mess, it’s truly a difficult world.

***

“Thank you!”

“Uh-huh, no need to thank me. Thank Adela!”

After retrieving the students, we put them in a car and sent them to the coordinates Adela had mentioned.

“They said they got lost and ended up in the factory district, took pictures because it was interesting, and then the Federal Army came and started a fight.”

Irene said.

“Horrible, those bastards are soldiers? And guys like them are stopping the demonic beasts pouring in from beyond the wall. The world is doomed.”

Kalia spat in the direction the Federal Mobile Force had left.

“Other students aren’t going through the same thing, are they?”

Daphne spoke, sounding worried. I reassured my friend.

“Don’t worry! Unless they’re like Alex, they wouldn’t invite danger themselves.”

And my words proved true.

After rescuing the first team from the soldiers, while exploring the factory district, the second group we met was quietly hiding inside a building.

“Thank you! Noxterrors appeared and…”

These guys were a case of getting lost, encountering a high-grade demonic beast, and then rushing into an unknown place.

After the factory district exploration ended, the third group of students we encountered while returning for a break were surrounded by Ghoul soldiers.

“Bang bang bang!”

“We’re saved!”

“Adela was looking for you. Follow us!”

Immediately after finding the last students, the day passed like that. Violet Team headed towards the safe zone, carrying another flag. Since there was no one waiting at the coordinates, they intended to escort the students directly to the entrance.

This time, they also planned to sleep in the safe zone’s lodging. A comfortable bed!

And then, I suddenly witnessed fanatical bastards recklessly imitating Violet’s secret techniques.

“Salvation is comingggg!”

A thunderous roar that shook the dungeon’s ground and ceiling echoed.

“Huh? That’s our technique!”

I witnessed the massive elevators heading towards the gate exploding, along with my teammates.

“Huh?”

“It’s falling!”

“Aaaargh!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Amidst the screams, the safe zone’s elevator toppled over. All that remained was a massive vertical cliff.

“Why does every dungeon we come to end up like this?”

No way, are we trapped again?