Ch.51Miraculous Story (1)

The situation had come to an end.

The demon that ruled over Belzen was executed following proper procedures, and it seemed the remaining forces in the facility had been dealt with as well.

They swept through without leaving even a trace of mercy.

From the beginning, this was an infiltration solely for extermination, not for subduing or capturing.

The members showed no compassion at the tips of their swords.

By now, the dark mages in the building were nearly annihilated.

“We’ve cleared laboratories 1 through 105. There appear to be no remaining enemies.”

“Were there any casualties on our side?”

“None whatsoever.”

“As expected, you’re quite capable. Well done, Miss Neria.”

“It’s all thanks to your leadership, Commander.”

I was receiving a report from the Deputy Commander.

Although I had handled all the highlights myself, she was the one who had actually commanded this Belzen extermination operation.

While I was confronting the demon in the lowest level.

Neria had led the members and methodically consumed the research facility.

She was truly an outstanding talent.

“All survivors who were imprisoned have been rescued. The total number was 71, and they’ve been transferred to Astro’s direct medical unit for treatment. We plan to release them in the Imperial capital afterward.”

“Good.”

“As you instructed, all research materials found in the facility have been completely disposed of. We’re now setting fires to ensure no traces remain…”

The briefing continued calmly.

Everything seemed to be in order.

“And… here’s the item you requested.”

Neria finished her report and pulled something out from inside her clothes to hand over to me.

It was a small case about the size of a palm.

It seemed she had brought the item I had ordered.

“It was found in a nearby ravine. Just as you said, Commander, it was buried underground along with massive bone fragments.”

“This is indeed what I was looking for.”

Click.

After checking the contents, I put the case inside my clothes.

It was an item I needed for later, and thanks to our Deputy Commander, I was able to obtain it easily.

I left a brief word of gratitude.

“Thank you, Miss Neria.”

“I merely did what was expected of me as your subordinate.”

“What admirable words.”

“Everything according to your will.”

Neria bowed her head silently.

As I stroke her long silver hair as a sign of praise, the girl’s breathing twitches strangely.

As if electricity were flowing through her.

“Hnngh…”

Whatever cool demeanor she had was gone, replaced by a melting expression.

Beyond her silver pupils, desire glistened.

Perhaps it was due to her exceptionally deep loyalty.

She was blushing at even this simple physical contact.

“I’m proud of you.”

“…!”

The girl’s shoulders trembled.

Satisfied with the response I’d elicited, I resumed my steps that had paused.

Neria followed behind, staggering slightly.

My feet stopped in front of iron bars.

There sat Anne and Irene, who had regained consciousness, leaning against the metal bars.

Both were covered with small blankets.

I smiled gently and spoke to them.

“How are you two feeling?”

“I told you I’m fine… Do you know how many times you’ve asked already?”

“No matter how many times I hear it, I still worry.”

“…I’m fine.”

“I’m okay too! Nothing hurts at all!”

Anne answered energetically.

Now fully awake, the girl was brightening her surroundings with a cheerful demeanor.

Her smile was dazzling.

‘It seems there are no aftereffects.’

Since I had worked on her memories while restoring her body.

The things she endured during the chimera experiments.

Those were wounds too heavy for a young child to carry through life.

After much deliberation, I decided to selectively delete them.

Of course, all her other memories remained intact.

What I wanted to remove was the nightmare, not the courage the girl had steadfastly maintained.

In a way, it was a well-intentioned lie.

“I’m glad you’re not in pain.”

“Thank you for your concern, handsome big brother!”

“Handsome…?”

“Yes! You’re handsome!”

“My, my… I see you’re not only spirited but also have excellent taste. I think you’ll make a wonderful writer.”

“Gasp! How did you know my dream is to become a writer?”

“I have my ways of knowing.”

We exchanged light banter.

After spending some time, Neria, who had been standing behind me, spoke up.

“All cleanup is complete. It’s time to return now.”

“What about the other members?”

“They’ve already returned to headquarters through the portal. We’re the last ones.”

“Hmm… And the handling of this research facility?”

“I’ve inscribed explosion spells. It will be reduced to dust in exactly 30 minutes.”

“Good. Let’s head back.”

Swish.

As I spoke, a person hidden in the shadows appeared.

A woman with deep black hair.

She held a dagger in each hand.

She was the member who had first greeted us during our previous visit to headquarters.

Her lips moved behind her mask.

“Commander.”

“Miss Rena.”

“I’ve come to escort you.”

Crack!

As Rena extended her hand to the side, a blue ring formed in midair.

Soon the surrounding dimensions twisted to create an entrance.

It was a door leading to headquarters.

The fox, who had been watching, muttered blankly.

“…You even have a space mage under your command?”

“She’s the pride of our Astro.”

“There are barely a thousand people with that ability across the continent.”

“How else could I have arrived here from the Academy in just one day, over such a long distance?”

“You… become more frightening the more I learn about you.”

“Hehe, shall we move along now?”

Just as we were stepping through the portal.

A stream of noise from behind caught the sleeves of the girls.

<Grrrk, grrrr?>

<Keeek… keek>

Those were the cries of monsters.

Things that were once human, but could no longer be called human.

Anne and Irene stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

“……”

Sadness touched their ears.

Perhaps because they had been in the same situation until just recently.

Their eyes wavered.

People who had endured the same hell.

The sounds were particularly pitiful.

Perhaps because they already knew there was no way to save them.

The girls bit their lips tightly.

Their expressions were pained.

“Hmm.”

This kind of ending doesn’t feel right.

After pondering briefly, I turned to the Deputy Commander with a question.

“Miss Neria.”

“Yes.”

“How many chimeras are imprisoned on the lowest floor?”

“Not many. Since they had a principle of immediately incinerating failed experiments, the cages were emptied on a weekly basis, we believe.”

“And?”

“According to our confirmation, there are 13 individuals.”

“That’s a precarious number.”

Correcting thirteen mutants would require at least a month of hard work.

I let out a troubled sigh.

In my field of vision, I could see the fox clenching her fist in frustration.

Her eyes were venomous.

‘Still.’

Having come all this way… making them look sad would be unkind.

Children always look most beautiful when they smile.

“There’s no law saying miracles can’t happen twice.”

I let slip a gentle comment.

“Deputy Commander? We’ll take the chimeras with us too. Let’s move them in their cages since they could be dangerous.”

“As you wish.”

The members began moving the cages.

They didn’t know I could heal the chimeras. I had never shown them.

But they didn’t question and followed my orders.

They assumed I had my reasons.

Such solid trust was oddly gratifying.

Two people were blankly watching the scene from the side. I briefly met their gaze.

Then I asked.

“Does your heart feel a little lighter now?”

Death cannot be undone.

But if they haven’t died, it’s perfectly fine to hope for a miracle.

“I hope today’s events won’t remain as a nightmare.”

Because I am by your side.

At least as far as my hands could reach, I wanted to protect those who were suffering.

Nothing grandiose.

Just a modest wish.

“Miss Irene.”

“……”

“If it could make you even a little less unhappy, I would gladly lend you my strength.”

The fox bowed her head deeply.

“…Why.”

A trembling voice.

She bit her lip as if confused, bringing out the question she had been holding in her heart.

It was frustration born from ignorance.

“Why… what am I that you would go this far for someone like me?”

To the fox’s question, the snake answered plainly.

With nothing but sincerity.

“Because one is forever responsible for what one has tamed.”

Although people have forgotten this truth, I still believed in it.

About taming.

About relationships and responsibility.

“Does that answer your question?”

“……”

The fox did not answer.

She just stared at me with her mouth closed.

Since we couldn’t delay any longer, I took both their hands, one in each of mine.

I led them toward the portal.

“Well then~ Let’s return to our beloved home!”

Steps crossing the threshold side by side.

And so we escaped from the hell filled with the smell of blood.

***

We returned to Astro headquarters.

There was much remaining work to be done.

Since we had just completed a major mission, reorganization was needed in several areas, so I planned to stay at headquarters for a few days.

And the same applied to Anne.

“Wow…! It’s so clean and spacious!”

While the other survivors headed straight to the hospital, Anne came with us to headquarters.

Her physical condition didn’t require any special treatment.

She also strongly wished to stay by the fox’s side.

Thanks to this, the girl was able to set foot in the headquarters of the most secretive organization on the continent.

“This is amazing…!”

Anne bounced around excitedly.

“She’s really enjoying herself.”

“Hehe, that’s the age for such enthusiasm.”

It wasn’t just members waiting for us.

There were also little foxes.

The children who had been lingering at the news of Irene’s arrival immediately rushed over when we arrived.

We were surrounded by fluffy tails.

“Big sister!!”

“S-sis…!”

“Did you come because you missed us again? Big sister is the best!”

“You came with the Commander again!”

Pure innocent children who knew nothing.

The fox, who seemed momentarily choked up, soon embraced her siblings warmly.

“Yes… I came because I missed you.”

“Are these the siblings you talked about? They’re super cute!”

A bustling scene.

As I stood there with a contented smile, someone suddenly approached.

A middle-aged man with red hair.

“Commander, you’ve returned.”

“Well, well… our chef has appeared.”

The Red Sword Saint, Kyle Stroban.

He was currently serving as the chef at Astro headquarters.

“Hahaha! I wish I could have participated in the mission too.”

“That would be excessive force. Besides, with our chef guarding headquarters, we can venture outside with peace of mind, can’t we?”

“I’m pleased to feel appreciated.”

“Always.”

It’s because I trust him that I leave things in his hands.

Kyle was that important a figure within Astro.

And would continue to be.

I jokingly asked.

“I hope nothing unusual happened?”

“Hahaha! How could anything unusual happen in a place I’m guarding?”

“So the title of ‘Star’ holds true after all~?”

“It’s a name only those who reach the night sky can obtain.”

“Truly a reliable chef.”

A brief exchange of banter.

I soon got to the main point.

I lowered my voice so only Kyle could hear.

“Sir Kyle.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“I have something to show our chef.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sure you’ll like it.”

“When you say that, it makes me even more curious.”

Red eyes blinked with interest.

“When do you plan to show me?”

“It would be difficult today. I urgently need to recharge before I can show you anything.”

“Then…?”

“Let’s talk tomorrow. Come down to the training room.”

“Yes, understood.”

Kyle nodded obediently.

I smiled mischievously.

He probably couldn’t even imagine what I had prepared.

I pictured the Sword Saint’s expression filled with shock.

***

The very next day.

In the training room of Astro headquarters. A spacious area prepared for members’ individual training.

Kyle stood in the center, looking in my direction.

“Hahaha! I’m excited to see what you’re going to show me.”

Other members were also present around us.

Since I had mentioned that this wasn’t something that needed to be private, everyone was comfortably watching.

Most of Astro had gathered.

“……”

The gazes of the audience poured in.

Though it felt somewhat burdensome, I calmly began my first words.

“Today will be a joyous day… of keeping a promise.”

“A promise.”

Kyle tilted his head.

He seemed completely unable to grasp what I was referring to, despite my hint.

Well, that’s understandable.

It wouldn’t be easy to remember a passing comment that seemed like small talk.

But that was fine.

“The tragedy from two years ago. The blood relation lost during the Great Purge period.”

“……”

“I’m talking about Sir Kyle’s daughter who was kidnapped by dark mages.”

I recited the past.

Kyle’s eyes, which had been relaxed until just now, wavered.

Perhaps because it was a wound that hadn’t healed yet, his fists clenched involuntarily.

I continued calmly.

“Didn’t I promise you once?”

I wonder if he’s forgotten.

It was a sincere statement on my part.

-I don’t know how long it will take… but I will definitely bring her back.

-The half of your world that you lost.

I reached my hand toward the empty air.

Following my grasping fingers, a pitch-black crack formed in the air.

Like glass cracking.

Crack, crack-!

I was opening a subspace.

Following the scene of it completely shattering, something that had been filling the interior fell to the floor.

It was a mass of flesh that must have been a good 10 meters long.

<Aah… uaaah>

It emitted a faint groan.

Hundreds of tentacles hanging all over its body writhed weakly, as if dying.

A hideous appearance.

“C-Commander!? What is this…?”

“Sir Kyle.”

This was the monster that had attacked the protagonist’s party in the previous “Abandoned Laboratory” episode.

At the same time.

“Your lost daughter… I’ve brought her back as promised.”

It was Kyle’s daughter.

“……”

The red-haired man stood dumbfounded.

Behind his red eyes, shock settled in.