chapter_0212

211 – Memory

211 – Memory

Operation has been underway for 28 hours.

Daniel Steiner’s brigade, advancing along the road beside the railway and across the plains, quickly entered the city.

During the entry, a small defense force attempted to resist, but it was not a significant issue.

As the defense force took cover in the buildings to attack, they became prime targets for the tanks.

Boom─!

The high-heat shell that burst from the cannon obliterated the entire building.

As debris from the exploded building fell to the ground, the screams of Allied soldiers filled the air.

There were soldiers who survived the bombardment, but they could not afford to feel relieved.

Behind the leading tank, the brigade’s troops surged in like a swarm.

The only options left for the defense force were to fight bravely until they were mercilessly killed or to raise the white flag in surrender.

A few tanks remaining for the city’s defense tried to respond against Daniel’s brigade, but it was futile.

While the Allied tanks struggled to penetrate the Empire’s tanks, the Empire’s tanks literally blew up the Allied tanks.

The gap in firepower was truly overwhelming.

─ Confirmation of the annihilation of enemy tank units! The advance route for our tank units has been secured!

─ We will continue moving to the next target!

Daniel, who was listening to the brigade’s achievements from inside the armored vehicle, pressed the transmission button on the radio.

“Tank units, swiftly secure the city center in coordination with infantry support. After that, secure key positions and transportation routes.”

A response came back from the other side, acknowledging the order.

Amidst the sounds of gunfire, Daniel thought that the occupation of the city was going smoothly, and naturally, the research facility came to mind.

The ominous machinery prepared there flickered in his mind.

‘If Lucy’s headaches in Penbarch were related to that device…’

Count Caledra might try to use that device on Lucy again.

Thinking that he needed to eliminate any elements of uncertainty, Daniel picked up the radio and pressed the transmission button.

“The reconnaissance company will now move with me to the outskirts of the city.”

–

Light flooded the usually dark research facility.

Thanks to Count Caledra’s orders, a massive amount of power was supplied to the facility.

Most of the power was concentrated in the vertical structure of the Chamber located in the center of the facility.

Inside the Chamber, Lucy, unconscious, floated as if in a zero-gravity space.

The squad leader, quietly observing this scene, turned to the researchers.

“Hey. How much longer do we have to wait?”

Having heard the news that Daniel Steiner’s brigade had entered the city, they needed to escape this place as quickly as possible.

However, the doctor in charge of the researchers only wore a troubled expression.

“The electromagnetic field generator is functioning normally. Therefore, it should create an electromagnetic resonance field to stimulate the hippocampus and block the signal transmission of the neural synapses…”

“What are you saying? Speak plainly.”

“To put it simply, it means that memory erasure is not occurring. It seems that the subject is resisting, which is a first for such an error.”

The doctor, unable to hide his confusion, stared at the control panel, while the squad leader frowned.

“Damn it! Can it be done or not?”

“As I just mentioned, this is an unprecedented error. There is one way to solve the problem, but it is too dangerous. It might be better to give up for now…”

Before the doctor’s words could finish, a scream echoed from above.

Upon hearing it, the soldiers and the squad leader immediately drew their weapons.

As everyone exchanged glances, the sound of multiple soldiers rushing down the corridor could be heard.

The squad leader gestured, and a soldier hesitantly leaned toward the corridor.

Bang!

At the same time, the soldier’s head exploded.

The terrified researchers hid behind the control panel as the squad leader gritted his teeth.

“Shit…!”

As he aimed his pistol down the corridor, Imperial scouts rushed in.

As the soldiers began to pull the triggers in a panic, the sound of gunfire filled the research facility.

However, the more the gunfire rang out, the more Allied soldiers fell.

The scouts continued to pour through the corridor, picking off Allied soldiers one by one as they advanced.

The squad leader, who was responding with his pistol, also collapsed to the floor with a bullet lodged in his shoulder.

Breathless and having lost his pistol, a uniformed officer stepped out from the corridor.

The officer, adorned with various medals, was someone the squad leader recognized well.

“Daniel… Steiner…”

Hearing the murmurs, Daniel turned his head.

The squad leader desperately moved his hands to find the pistol that had fallen to the ground.

But Daniel was quicker to draw his revolver.

Bang!

With a bullet lodged in his forehead, the squad leader bowed his head and accepted his death.

Confirming that the research facility had been secured, Daniel stepped forward, treading on the blood of the Allied soldiers.

His steps slowly came to a halt in front of the Chamber where Lucy was held.

“……”

After staring at Lucy, floating inside the Chamber, for a while, Daniel turned to the side.

The doctor, meeting Daniel’s gaze, felt a sense of pressure but slowly rose from his seat.

It seemed that Daniel was expecting that.

“Speak.”

His flat voice echoed quietly within the research facility.

“Tell me why my adjutant is inside here.”

Feeling a wave of fear, the doctor lowered his head.

“Forgive me. I was merely following Count Caledra’s orders. I wanted to refuse, but my family was taken hostage, so I had no choice.”

“What was the order?”

“It was an order to erase the Lady’s memories. I was following the command…”

The doctor fell silent mid-sentence.

Daniel’s gaze had become an intense pressure that approached him.

“Were my adjutant’s memories erased?”

A chilling undertone laced his low voice.

Like a herbivore hearing the roar of a predator, the doctor hurriedly opened his mouth.

“No, that is not the case. The moment we touched a specific code to proceed with the memory erasure, the Lady’s consciousness resisted strongly. This caused a critical error, raising the output of the magnetic ring inside the Chamber…”

The doctor adjusted his glasses with trembling hands.

“As you can see, the Lady is currently in a comatose state.”

Hearing the term “comatose state,” Daniel clenched his teeth.

Suppressing his emotions as much as possible by closing and opening his eyes, Daniel walked toward the control panel.

Passing by the doctor and looking at the control panel’s screen, he saw numerous red windows displaying the word ‘ERROR.’

As he examined the screen, Daniel spoke.

“What does this specific code on the control panel mean?”

The doctor hesitated for a moment before answering.

“To put it simply, it relates to memories of Major General Daniel Steiner.”

Upon hearing the doctor’s words, Daniel exhaled softly.

It was absurd.

To avoid losing memories, he had pushed himself into a comatose state.

After a moment of silence, Daniel opened his mouth.

“I will now tell you your future.”

Daniel looked around at the terrified researchers, including the doctor.

“Tell me how to bring my adjutant out of her comatose state. If no one knows how, you will all die here.”

Before Daniel’s words could finish, the scouts raised their rifles, aiming at the researchers.

Amidst the panicking researchers, the doctor hurriedly spoke up.

“There is a way! It’s not entirely impossible!”

Daniel shot the doctor a sidelong glance.

The doctor, sweating profusely, continued desperately.

“The Lady is currently in a state of conscious escape to avoid external interference. To explain simply, she has locked away all important memories, making it impossible for her to know, and has moved her consciousness back to the past.”

The doctor pointed to the control panel.

“So currently, the Lady is trapped in memories of her childhood. Theoretically, if we can contact her consciousness and help her recall the locked memories, she can emerge from the comatose state. The problem is…”

The doctor cautiously raised his head to look at Daniel.

“The most suitable person for that role is Major General Daniel Steiner.”

It was only natural.

The memories that Lucy wanted to protect were about Daniel Steiner.

Thus, it was the quickest way for the person involved to contact her consciousness.

Understanding the doctor’s words, Daniel asked.

“How long will it take?”

“Uh? Ah. I don’t know how long it will take inside, but only a few minutes will pass in reality. However, since this is not a confirmed safe matter, there will be some risks involved.”

“Fine. Then prepare it right now.”

The doctor seemed taken aback, not expecting Daniel to say that immediately.

“… Brigade Commander?”

The company commander, who had been listening from the side, also interjected in confusion.

“This is too dangerous. Is it worth it?”

“It is.”

The answer was immediate.

Daniel’s gaze fell on Lucy, who was inside the Chamber.

“This woman risked her life to save me.”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

“So what would it mean if I ran away, valuing my own life?”

Seeing Daniel like that, the company commander expressed his agreement by lowering his head.

The doctor, perhaps thinking he had found a way out, began to prepare to prove that his words were not lies.

“We need a makeshift chamber for consciousness contact. Please help us move it…”

Seeing a few soldiers follow the doctor, Daniel walked closer to the central Chamber.

Stopping at a close distance, Daniel gazed at Lucy, floating inside.

She still wore the necklace with the amber stone around her neck.

“… What a foolish adjutant you are. To make your superior suffer like this.”

Daniel chuckled softly.

“Lucy. It will be tough, but hold on just a little longer.”

His hand, which had been slowly rising like it was caught in a net, touched the glass wall that enclosed Lucy.

“Just like you saved me…”

Daniel spoke with sincerity, his lips moving.

“I will also save you.”