The enemy sprayed pulse rifle fire at me.
Their aim was sloppy!
As long as I kept moving, their accuracy was too poor to pose a real threat.
I closed the distance with another unit.
’Die!!!’
It swung its sword high.
I caught its arm, ducked under its guard, and threw it with a perfect Seoi Nage!
Maintaining my momentum, I stomped on the opponent’s head, crushing its main camera.
Executing the move felt like following a textbook illustration of Imperial Army Close-combat Techniques.
I didn't have Leo's versatility or his mastery of various martial arts.
I was limited to the standard close-combat techniques I’d been drilled in since the Junior Academy.
I snatched the enemy’s pulse rifle, tucked it under my arm, and fired blindly.
This was a lesson learned through real combat.
Whether it was a Zork or a human, returning fire was the best way to buy time.
I ran, and ran, and ran.
The rifle I was firing wildly began blaring an alarm, signaling it needed to charge.
I ducked behind a tree.
I counted the pulse rifle impacts.
Six... one unit was down. Looks like my shot found its mark.
The surface of the tree charred as pulse rounds slammed into it.
’That was close!’
I ducked behind another tree, but I knew this would only buy me a few seconds at best.
I fired the pulse rifle over my shoulder without looking back.
I didn’t hit a thing.
There was no way I would have.
’Here, catch!’
I tossed a grenade!
This was strictly for the sake of making an escape.
I threw it and bolted.
If my opponent had been Ren, I’d be a dead man.
Suddenly, a transmission crackled to life.
’Uwaaaaaah! My Lord!!! It took some time to get her started, but I have arrived!!!’
Are you kidding me, Suematsu?!
Struggling to start up a Humanoid Fighter deployed to the Knight Order garrison—you haven't practiced at all, have you?!
No, no... now wasn't the time for internal quips.
’Master Sergeant Minerva, deploying!’
Minerva was coming too.
I wasn't exactly relieved, but for the first time, I felt a spark of hope.
’Uwaaaaaah! Charge!!!’
Suematsu rushed forward.
I lunged out at the same time.
Suematsu lumbered toward me, his movements jerky from his terrible piloting.
The enemy focused their fire on him.
’Uwaaaaaah!’
Fortunately, Suematsu was equipped with a large shield.
He absorbed the brunt of the pulse rifle fire.
Well done, Suematsu!
I pinpointed the enemy positions.
I set down one pulse rifle and took steady aim.
One... thud.
Two... thud.
Three... thud.
They all hit.
I counted three units down.
I managed to take out their main cameras with headshots.
Only three more left in fighting condition.
I scooped up the other rifle, tucked it under my arm, and charged.
’Damn it! You monster!!! I'll kill you!!!’
Who are you calling a monster?
A real monster was someone like Leo.
I was just a normal guy doing normal things as best as I could.
I fired wildly.
’I'll kill you!!!’
A grenade!
I leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the blast.
But the danger wasn't over yet.
One unit pounced on me.
It tried to run me through with its sword.
’Hah!’
While still on the ground, I kicked out with all my might.
The enemy slipped on the snow and tumbled.
I immediately scrambled over them and delivered a crushing elbow strike.
There was a sword lying nearby, so I grabbed it and drove it home.
Two left!
But things didn't go quite that smoothly.
A pulse round caught me, blowing the machine’s shoulder clean off.
’My Lord!!!’
Suematsu slammed into the enemy who had shot me, leading with his shield.
Yes!!!
I gripped the sword with my remaining hand, charged at the enemy, and drove the blade through its face.
’My Lord... my apologies...’
Suematsu's machine toppled over.
Its legs had been blown off.
He had been taken out by the final survivor.
’Hey, you! If you value this guy's life, you'd better stay quiet and surrender!!!’
It was a desperate moment.
But the situation was resolved a second later.
The enemy's head exploded.
’Sorry I'm late!’
Minerva stood there, her pulse rifle still smoking.
’Nice work, Minerva... Suematsu, you still with us?!’
’I am alive! Though I cannot move...’
I finally understood why Leo complained so much...
I definitely didn't want to get promoted any higher than this.
I’d have to go back and re-read the Officer Academy textbooks once this was over.
After the battle, we secured the culprits and headed back to the Knight Order garrison.
I thought I was going to freeze to death.
I huddled in front of a vintage kerosene stove to warm my bones.
I placed a kettle on top to boil some water.
’Second Lieutenant Eddie. Here, have some coffee.’
’Thank you.’
Minerva poured a cup for me.
I hadn't even thought to offer...
I'd just assumed everyone would help themselves once the water was hot.
’Forgive me for not being more attentive.’
The military was built on seniority.
As the youngest person there, I should have been the one serving the coffee.
Knowing Leo, he would have had it ready in a heartbeat.
He was always surprisingly considerate about that kind of stuff...
Minerva laughed.
’Since you are currently the superior officer as a Second Lieutenant, it is only right.’
’Hahaha! It's good to be young!’
...Suematsu-kun.
You're the one with the lowest rank here by far!
’Regardless, my Lord is truly strong! Hahaha! This planet will surely be secure now!!! Gahahaha!!!’
I envied his thick skin.
I was far too high-strung for my own good.
I contacted His Majesty shortly after that.
It seemed he was already on his way.
Uprisings had broken out across multiple planets at the same time.
The cause was simple: fear of their corruption being exposed.
They hadn't joined the Duke Association Faction's initial coup, but they revolted once they realized we would uncover their crimes.
Apparently, the trigger was a few of my colleagues who had arrived before me. They had started disciplining officials for egregious corruption.
The rebels were just a group united by self-preservation.
Idiots.
Most minor corruption would have just resulted in a warning.
But the ones being purged were involved in things like human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Apparently, at Ren's location, they had detained officials who were selling members of the Beast Race into slavery.
Naturally, they were furious.
’So, my Lord, what is our next move?’
’Well, we're retreating, but... it'll be about two more hours...’
The schedule for Ren's spaceport had been moved up; it looked like it would be under control in about two hours.
After that, our goal was simply to escape through the spaceport.
Given the travel time, we might as well leave now.
Even though we still had a few Humanoid Fighters, there was nothing three pilots could do to reclaim this planet alone.
It was better to escape and return later with enough allies to stage a proper raid.
If the enemy let me go, they might even decide to abandon the planet entirely.
It was always an option to walk away if a place wasn't profitable.
Besides, my salary came from the military, regardless.
I just hoped the enemy was competent enough not to chase us too far.
I decided we’d head out once we’d warmed up just a little bit more.