Chapter 51
The situation ended like that.
The devil ruling over Belzen was executed following proper procedures, and it seemed the cleanup of the remnants left in the facility was also finishing.
They swept through without leaving even a trace of mercy.
From the start, it was an infiltration not for suppression or capture, but solely for extermination.
The members didn't show any compassion at the tips of their swords.
Before they knew it, the black magicians in the building were in a state close to annihilation.
"We've cleaned up from Laboratory 1 to 105. It's judged there are no remaining enemies."
"Were there any casualties on our side?"
"None at all."
"As expected, you're capable. Thank you for your hard work, Miss Neria."
"It's thanks to you being with us, Commander."
I was receiving a report from the vice-commander.
Though I had taken care of all the highlights, she was the one who had actually commanded this Belzen annihilation operation.
While I was confronting the devil on the lowest floor.
Neria led the members and gradually swallowed up the research institute.
She was truly an excellent talent.
"We also rescued all the trapped survivors. The total number was 71 people, and for now we've transferred them to Astro's direct medical unit for treatment. We plan to release them in the imperial capital afterwards."
"Good."
"As you instructed, we've taken steps to completely destroy all research materials found in the facility. Now we're processing arson to leave no traces......"
The briefing continued calmly.
There didn't seem to be any particular problems.
"And... here's the item you requested."
Neria seemed to finish her report, then took something out from her breast and handed it over.
It was a small case about the size of a palm.
It seemed she had brought the item I had ordered.
"We found it in a nearby ravine. As you said, it was buried underground along with huge bone fragments."
"This is indeed what I was looking for."
Click-.
After checking the contents, I put the case in my breast.
It was an item needed for later, and thanks to our vice-commander, I was able to obtain it easily.
I left a brief thanks.
"Thank you, Miss Neria."
"I simply did what I should as a subordinate."
"That's an admirable thing to say."
"All according to your will."
Neria bowed her head silently.
As I stroked her long silver hair in praise, the girl's breathing twitched strangely.
As if electricity was flowing.
"Hnngh..."
Where had her chic atmosphere gone? She had a melting expression.
Desire glistened beyond her silver pupils.
Perhaps because of her especially deep loyalty.
She was blushing even at simple skinship.
"I'm proud."
"...!"
The girl's shoulders trembled.
Having elicited a satisfactory reaction, I soon took steps that had been stopped.
Neria followed behind, staggering.
The moving feet stopped in front of an iron cage.
There, Anne who had come to her senses by now, and Irene were sitting leaning against the iron bars.
They were both covered with small blankets.
I smiled brightly and spoke to them.
"You two, how are you feeling?"
"I told you I'm fine... Do you know how many times you've asked since earlier?"
"No matter how many times I hear the answer, I'm still worried."
"...I'm fine."
"I'm okay too! It doesn't hurt at all!"
Anne answered spiritedly.
Now fully awake from sleep, the girl was illuminating her surroundings with a bright atmosphere.
It was a brightly shining smile.
'It seems there are no after-effects.'
Because I had worked on her memories while restoring her body.
The things she had suffered in the chimera experiments.
They were wounds too heavy for a young child to bear and live with.
After deliberation, I decided to arbitrarily 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 held.
In a way, it was a white lie.
"I'm glad you're not hurting anywhere."
"Thank you for worrying, handsome big brother!"
"Handsome...?"
"Yes! You're handsome!"
"My, my... Now that I look, not only are you spirited, but you also have excellent taste. You'll make a good writer."
"Gasp! How did you know my dream was to be a writer?"
"I have ways of knowing everything."
We exchanged light small talk.
After spending some time, Neria standing behind spoke.
"All cleanup is finished. 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... What about the handling of this research institute?"
"I've engraved explosion spells. It's set to turn to dust in exactly 30 minutes."
"Good. Let's return."
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 greeted us first when we visited headquarters last time.
Her lips moved behind her mask.
"Commander."
"Miss Lena."
"I've come to escort you."
Crack-!
When Lena extended her hand to the side, a blue ring formed in the air.
Soon the surrounding dimension twisted and created an entrance.
It was a door leading to headquarters.
The fox watching muttered blankly.
"...You even had a space magician under your command?"
"She's the pride of our Astro."
"There are barely a thousand people with that ability on the continent."
"How else could I have arrived here from the academy in just one day, over such a long distance?"
"You... are a scarier person the more I learn."
"Huhu, shall we move first?"
As we were taking steps through the portal like that.
A streak of noise heard from behind grabbed the girls' sleeves.
<Gurk, grrrr-?>
<Kieek... kiek>
It was the cries of monsters.
Things that were once human, but could no longer be called human now.
Anne and Irene stopped their feet simultaneously.
"......"
Sadness touched their ears.
Perhaps because they had been in the same situation until just before.
Their gazes wavered.
People who had spent the same hell.
It was an especially pitiful sound.
Perhaps because they already knew there was no way to save them?
The girls bit their lips tightly.
It was a painful expression.
"Hmm."
This kind of ending is a bit...
After being lost in thought for a moment, I soon asked the vice-commander.
"Miss Neria."
"Yes."
"How many chimeras are trapped on the lowest floor?"
"Not that many. There was a principle of immediately incinerating failures, so it's estimated they emptied the iron cages on a weekly basis."
"And?"
"According to our confirmation, there are 13 people."
"That's a close number."
To fix 13 mutants would require at least a month of hard work.
I let out a troublesome sigh.
In my vision appeared the fox clenching her fist as if frustrated.
It was a venomous gaze.
'But still.'
We came all this way... Is it not right to make them look gloomy?
Children always look prettiest when smiling.
"There's no law saying miracles can't happen twice."
I let out a soft statement.
"Vice-commander? We'll take the chimeras along too. Let's move them with their iron cages since it could be dangerous."
"As you will."
The members began moving the iron cages.
They didn't know I could fix the chimeras. I had never shown it before.
But they didn't question and followed orders.
They guessed I must have some intention.
The solid trust was somehow gratifying.
Two people blankly watching that scene beside me. I lightly met their gazes.
Then I asked.
"Has your heart become a little lighter?"
Death cannot be reversed.
But if they're not dead, it's okay to hope for a miracle.
"I hope today's events don't remain as a nightmare."
Because I'm by your side.
At least as far as my hand could reach, I wanted to protect those who were hurting.
It wasn't anything grand.
Just a small wish.
"Miss Irene."
"......"
"If it can make you even a little less unhappy, I'll gladly lend you my strength."
The fox lowered her head deeply.
"...Why."
A trembling voice.
She bit her lip as if confused and voiced the question she had been holding in her heart.
It was frustration stemming from ignorance.
"Why on earth... for someone like me, why are you doing this much?"
The snake answered the fox's question plainly.
With only sincerity.
"Because one must always take responsibility for what one has tamed."
Though people had forgotten this truth, I still believed in it.
About taming.
About relationships and responsibility.
"Was that an answer?"
"......"
The fox didn't answer.
She just stared this way with her mouth closed.
Since we couldn't delay any longer, I took one hand each of the two people.
I led them towards the portal.
"Well then~ Now let's return to our nostalgic home!"
Steps crossing the threshold side by side.
Like that, we escaped from the hell full of the smell of blood.
***
We returned to Astro headquarters.
There was a lot of remaining work to process.
As it was right after finishing quite a large mission, reorganization was needed in various areas, so I planned to stay at headquarters for a few days.
And that was the same for Anne.
"Wow...! It's so clean and spacious!"
Though the other survivors headed straight to the hospital, Anne came to headquarters following us.
Because her physical condition didn't need any particular treatment.
She also strongly wished to stay by the fox's side.
Thanks to that, the girl was able to set foot in the headquarters of the most secretive organization on the continent.
"It's amazing...!"
Anne bouncing around.
"She's really enjoying it."
"Huhu, it's the age to do so."
It wasn't only members waiting for us.
There were also little foxes.
The children who had been peeking around at news of Irene coming immediately rushed over as soon as we arrived.
We were surrounded by fluffy tails.
"It's sister!!"
"Si-Sister..."
"Did you come because you missed us again? Sister is the best!"
"She came with the Commander this time too!"
Pure innocent children who knew nothing.
The fox who seemed choked up for a moment soon embraced her siblings warmly.
"Yes... I came because I missed you."
"Are these the siblings you talked about? They're super cute!"
A noisy scene.
As I stood with a pleased smile, suddenly someone approached.
It was a middle-aged man with red hair.
"Commander, you've arrived."
"My, my... Our chef has appeared."
Red Sword Star, Kyle Stroban.
He was a man currently serving as the chef at Astro headquarters.
"Uhaha! I wish I could have participated in the mission too."
"That would be too much force. And if the chef guards headquarters, we can go out without worrying, can't we?"
"I'm glad to feel recognized."
"Always."
It's because I trust him that I leave things to him.
Kyle was that important a figure within Astro.
He will continue to be so in the future.
I asked jokingly.
"I hope nothing unusual happened?"
"Uhaha! How could anything unusual happen in a place I'm guarding?"
"As expected, the title of star is high~?"
"It's a name only those who reach the night sky can obtain."
"You're truly a reliable chef."
A short exchange of banter.
I soon brought up the main point.
I lowered my voice so only Kyle could hear.
"Lord Kyle."
"Yes, Commander."
"I have something to show the chef."
"What is it?"
"You'll surely like it."
"You make me even more excited saying that."
Red eyes blinked with interest.
"When do you plan to show me?"
"It seems difficult right today. As it's an urgent situation for recharging to show you something."
"Then...?"
"Let's talk tomorrow. Come down to the training room."
"Yes, understood."
Kyle nodded obediently.
I smiled lecherously.
He probably couldn't even imagine what I had prepared.
I pictured the Sword Star's expression dyed with shock.
***
The very next day.
The training room of Astro headquarters. A wide space prepared for members' individual training.
Kyle stood in the center looking this way.
"Uhaha! I'm excited to see what you're going to show me."
Other members were present around as well.
As I had said it wasn't content that only the two of us needed to be present for, everyone was watching comfortably.
Most of Astro was gathered.
"......"
The gazes of the audience pouring down.
Though it felt needlessly burdensome, I calmly spoke my first words.
"Today will be a joyous day of keeping a promise..."
"A promise."
Kyle tilted his head.
He seemed to have no idea even with the hint I had casually dropped.
Well, it can't be helped.
It wouldn't be easy to remember words that had just passed by like empty talk.
But that was okay.
"The tragedy from two years ago. The family lost during the Great Subjugation period."
"......"
"I'm talking about Lord Kyle's daughter who was kidnapped by black magicians."
I recited the past.
Kyle's gaze that had been relaxed until just before wavered.
Perhaps because of a wound that hadn't healed yet, his fist clenched involuntarily.
I calmly continued speaking.
"Didn't I promise you once?"
I wonder if he forgot.
Though it was words I had said quite seriously.
-I don't know how long it will take... but I will definitely retrieve it.
-The other half of your world that you lost.
I extended my hand towards the air.
Following my grasping fingers, pitch-black cracks arose in the air.
As if glass was cracking.
Crack, crackle-!
I was opening subspace.
Following the scene of it completely shattering, something that had been filling the inside fell to the floor.
It was a lump of meat easily 10 meters long.
<Aah... uwaah>
It let out a faint groan.
Hundreds of tentacles dangling all over its body writhed weakly as if dying.
It was a hideous appearance.
"Co-Commander!? What on earth is this......"
"Lord Kyle."
This was the monster that had attacked the protagonist's group in the previous "Abandoned Laboratory" episode.
At the same time.
"Your lost daughter... I've retrieved her as promised."
It was Kyle's daughter.
"......"
The red-haired man was dumbfounded.
Shock settled behind his red pupils.