Ch.275The Great Chaos (3)

The underground bunker of the Second Command Headquarters had been there since the Cult Empire built Kesha Arma.

This ordinary bunker had been transformed into a luxurious shelter with various amenities by Montana’s touch.

However, the refugees being entertained in this luxurious underground bunker looked extremely dissatisfied.

“What is going on here! I’m going back right now, so open the door!”

“How dare you do this to us!”

“This is Montana’s order. You cannot leave until the fortress is safe.”

Those who had been urgently evacuated from the banquet hall continuously poured out complaints to the mercenaries in charge of security and the androids providing hospitality.

“How dare you lock us up in this animal cage?”

“Ahem, please be patient. The commotion above seems unusual, so please wait a little longer.”

“That vibration just now, doesn’t that mean it’s becoming dangerous even down here?”

“This is a shelter built by the Empire, so it’s quite sturdy. There’s no need to worry.”

“What? What if something goes wrong? Will you take responsibility?”

“Uh, well, that’s…”

Humans spouting nonsense while devouring high-quality alcohol and snacks stored in the bunker. The security guards were forcibly suppressing their anger at their employers’ misconduct.

Given the special circumstances, the mercenaries in charge of security were also being rationed small amounts of snacks. Thanks to that, they could endure; otherwise, there would have been a major incident long ago.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Instead of wasting food, go outside and take a look.”

“That’s right. You people were hired for times like this, so go check together.”

“…Yes.”

“And get rid of those damn robots too.”

The security guards felt like they might shoot their employers if they stayed any longer. They gritted their teeth and went outside. The androids also left, saying they would bring new snacks and drinks.

“Pathetic fools! They don’t even know whose credits got them into this precious gathering!”

“Indeed. I had a decent impression of Montana, but I’m disappointed.”

“Tsk, I shouldn’t have trusted someone who relies on mere androids in the first place.”

“Well, he’s a pirate at heart, so what can you expect?”

The VIPs, their faces flushed red from drinking too much premium alcohol, began gossiping about the security guards and Montana.

All the humans here were Middle Capital, the middle-upper class of Megacorp. They were merely representatives sent on orders from Noble Capital or Prime Capital.

Everyone knew this fact, but no one pointed it out. They expressed dissatisfaction despite receiving treatment they could never enjoy in their own Capital.

While the Megacorp VIPs raised their voices on one side, the Cult customers were discussing the Empire’s political situation among themselves.

“It seems it will take some time to get out, so let’s continue our earlier conversation.”

“You mean the weapons purchase project? I’m not sure. I heard there might be a reduction proposal at the next assembly, so who knows what will happen.”

“With the atmosphere being so unsettled these days, shouldn’t we be well-prepared?”

“Our faction officially supports military reduction.”

“Hmm, at times like this, unity is important. What does it matter what factions think…”

Just then, the room they were staying in shook. The chandelier decorated with transparent jewels flickered and went out. The room plunged into darkness, and everyone, both humans and Cult, screamed.

“Kyaaaah!”

“Urghhhh!”

Only after the red emergency lights came on could they finally calm down.

“Wh-what is this outrage!”

“Android! Where are the androids!”

“Security guards!”

The humans who had been screaming and writhing just moments ago stood up abruptly and shouted angrily.

“I heard that Kesha Arma’s shelter has excellent durability, is that correct?”

“I heard it was built during the Golden Age…”

“…Whatever the case, that vibration just now, it sounded quite close.”

The Cult members maintained relative composure, but they couldn’t hide the anxiety that had seeped into their faces. Meanwhile, one of the Cult members stood up.

“You stupid tin cans! When will they…”

“Everyone be quiet!”

The Cult member who had stood up rebuked the Megacorp officials who were making a commotion.

“I heard something.”

“A sound?”

“I don’t hear anything.”

The Cult member signaled for everyone to be quiet and put his ear close to the wall. In the quiet room, only the shallow breathing of people could be heard.

No, except for one sound.

“…!”

The Cult member jerked his ear away from the wall at the sound coming from beyond it.

He wasn’t the only one who heard it. Everyone heard that sound clearly.

The sound coming from beyond the wall, from outside.

It was the sound of screams from multiple humans.

A strong vibration shaking the bunker, a power outage, and screams. What these three things meant. Everyone in the room turned deathly pale.

“Damn! You said it was safe because it was built by the Empire!”

“There might be enemies outside! We need to evacuate quickly…”

“Don’t open the door! What if they get in when you open it? Are you going to take responsibility?”

“What? F*ck? Which Capital are you from?”

“I’m from Mars, you bastard!”

“Everyone stop! This is not the time to fight.”

As humans tried to grab each other’s collars under the red glow of the emergency lights, the Cult members intervened.

“Judging by the screams from other rooms, we’re in danger here too.”

“Hmm, if we go out and follow the corridor, there’s an elevator, but…”

“W-wait! Instead of doing that, shouldn’t we wait for the security guards and androids to come?”

“How stupid! Can’t you tell from the screams next door? They might die before they come to rescue us!”

“Everyone calm down. First, those who want to leave, raise your hands.”

At the words of the Cult member who first noticed the anomaly, all the Cult members in the room raised their hands. Among the humans, about half hesitantly raised their hands slightly.

“Are you crazy? If we go out, we’ll all die!”

“I trust the Cult more than waiting here for androids or mercenaries.”

“That’s right.”

Thus, the escape party was decided. The Cult members and humans left behind those who chose to stay and approached the door.

“I don’t hear anything.”

“Let me check.”

A bearded Cult member stepped forward and used his psychic power technique to check if there was any movement in the corridor outside the room.

“I don’t sense any movement.”

“Not even the security guards?”

“…It seems they’ve moved elsewhere.”

They exchanged glances and pressed the button on the terminal next to the door. With a hissing sound of air escaping, the thick metal door opened automatically.

Two Cult members cautiously went outside. The corridor was in worse condition than the room. It was pitch black because there seemed to be a problem with the emergency lights.

“It’s dark.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

A thin female Cult member came forward and gently extended her hand forward. A sphere of psychic power appeared, dimly illuminating the surroundings.

“Since this is a bunker, there should be flashlights somewhere, but we don’t have time.”

“Right. Escape is more urgent.”

“Let’s proceed like this for now.”

“O-okay.”

Unlike the Cult members, the humans who had nothing particular they could do nodded awkwardly. The Cult members, each with special abilities, went into the corridor first, and the humans followed. Those who remained quickly closed the door as soon as the last human left.

The female Cult who created light with her hand and the bearded Cult who sensed the surroundings with psychic power led the group.

“…It’s quiet.”

“Sniff sniff, there’s a strange smell.”

“Shh. The elevator is not far. Everyone please be quiet.”

If they walk a little more, they’ll reach the elevator that goes up to the Command building. Everyone here came down from the banquet hall to the bunker, so they naturally know this.

But that thought was a misconception.

“H-how is this possible?”

“……”

Despite feeling like they had walked at least 1km, the elevator was nowhere to be seen. They were still on the corridor with luxury carpets.

Moreover, that wasn’t the only problem.

The alien smell permeating the corridor was getting stronger. As if it was following them.

“…I think we should run.”

“I agree.”

“Damn it!”

The endless corridor won’t kill them directly. What’s truly dangerous here is the ‘smell’ itself that follows them.

The moment the Cult members and humans started running, an ominous smell wafted strongly from behind. Along with heavy footsteps.

“Hiiiiieek?!”

“Sh*t! Run!”

A beast so massive it filled the entire corridor was following them. The humans cursed and screamed as they ran forward. The Cult members who were fleeing together unleashed their psychic powers to attack, but it was completely useless.

“Attacks don’t work!”

“Everyone retreat…gaaah!”

“Aaaagh!”

After brief screams, there were sounds of something being crushed and burst. The eerie sound licking the back of their necks prevented the Cult members and humans from turning around to check. They focused only on their running legs.

Perhaps the Cult members’ prayers reached Providence. A small terminal glowed lonely at the end of the corridor. It was a signal that the elevator was there.

But the monster was closing in right behind them. Even if they reached the elevator, they would all die before the doors opened.

“W-we need to buy time!”

The fleeing humans exchanged glances.

Cult members are skilled in psychic power, but their physical abilities are inferior to humans. Unless they wear enhancement suits, even an adult male Cult can be subdued by a human female. Needless to say for female Cult members.

After brief deliberation, the humans made a quintessentially Megacorp decision: to sacrifice the lagging Cult members to the monster.

“Your sacrifice will not be forgotten!”

“What? What are you doing…kyaaah!”

The monster opened its elongated maw and devoured the fallen female Cult member. Another Cult member who fell tried to crawl away, but it was futile.

As the luxury carpet was stained with blood, the humans and remaining Cult members reached the elevator. They quickly operated the terminal to open the elevator doors and jumped inside.

“Close it quickly! Close it!”

The elevator doors closed as quickly as they had opened. Just as the large metal doors several meters high were closing, there was a loud noise, and the doors were slightly dented.

They feared it might malfunction, but fortunately, the elevator operated normally. As the elevator ascended rapidly to the Command headquarters above, the surviving humans tried to catch their breath, but the enraged Cult members grabbed them.

“How dare you!”

“What’s wrong with you? If it weren’t for us, we would all have died down there!”

“You were complicit too, weren’t you? If you really wanted to save them, you should have stayed behind when we pushed them!”

While they were arguing, the elevator had already arrived at the floor where the Command banquet hall was located.

The doors opened, and the familiar scene of the banquet hall greeted them.

The man whose collar was grabbed by the bearded Cult forcefully shook off the arm and went outside.

“That’s your problem! Despite being just like us, you act so noble…”

As he was about to turn his head to shout at the Cult members in the elevator.

All the passengers disappeared from his sight.

“…what.”

What appeared, tearing through the entire metal floor of the elevator and causing the humans and Cult members to fall, was the being he least wanted to encounter.

Massive asymmetrical horns on its head. Dim white eyes glowing without emotion. And a muzzle filled with sharp teeth.

The maw of the monster he had seen in the bunker opened, and a large tongue approached him.

–

‘Hmm. This one’s not great either.’

The humans in the underground bunker didn’t taste as good as expected. I thought they would be decent since they were Megacorp VIPs, but they weren’t.

The only advantage was that the meat was rich in fat.

‘The Cult members were generally okay though.’

I tossed the remaining leg upward. No. 26, who was riding on my back, caught the leg I threw with its pink tentacles. It squirmed and quickly devoured it, leaving a brief comment.

「Tastes bad.」

[Zzz (Right?)]

As it spent more time with me, it had developed its own way of evaluating taste.

Delicious, mediocre, bad—these three categories.

Since it dissolves and consumes food with its body, it’s uncertain how it perceives taste, but it seemed to have its own standards.

‘Come to think of it, this is the banquet hall.’

In a space decorated with all sorts of gaudy jewel ornaments like a nouveau riche would arrange, there were several long tables. Uncleared food remained on the tables.

I handed the dishes with the remaining food to No. 26.

「Delicious!」

[Zzzzz (That’s good)]

Pleased, it extended its tentacles to wrap around all the remaining food at once and put it inside its body. Seeing that reminded me of a black yokai from a Japanese animation I saw at a museum when I was young.

‘That was before I got burned. Nostalgic.’

I popped an apple from a basket into my mouth and left the banquet hall.

Upstairs, they seemed unaware that I had turned the underground bunker into a wasteland. I crawled up to the first floor via the stairs without any hindrance.

The lobby on the first floor was filled with pirates. They had set up barricades and were preparing in case the barrier wall was breached.

One of them turned his head while wiping sweat from the back of his neck and spotted me. His eyes widened as if they would tear. His look said, “Why are you coming out from there?”

The answer was given by my infection tentacles.

It took less than 5 minutes for there to be no living pirates left in the lobby.

I took out a terminal from the chest of a pirate with only the upper body remaining. As I gently pressed the buttons with my small arms near my chest, the barrier wall near the entrance slowly began to move.

「Who the f*ck are you?! Stop right now…!」

I crushed the blood-soaked communicator under my foot to silence it. As the barrier wall near the entrance opened, familiar faces appeared.

“Gigigigi”

“Gigik”

“I want to kill! I want to bite off necks and drink blood!”

The mutants and madmen cheered upon seeing me.

I decided to give them the answer they wanted.

To ravage this command headquarters to their heart’s content.