All Alone (5)

“We should regroup immediately. Just as I expected, the enemy can’t make multiple people disappear at once... There’s no point in splitting into two groups anymore.”

‘Menou...-san?’

“I’m sorry, Tina-dono. I didn’t think it through... This was my mistake. If my theory is right, the enemy probably won’t launch another surprise attack for a little while. Come join us immediately.”

With that, Menou clenched their teeth and ended the call.

Menou had been focused solely on the enemy, overlooking the enemy-created being among their allies. That being possessed one of Oboromaru’s abilities: “Invisibility.” If the Man-Eaters were failed examples, then Oboromaru was a successful one. And if there was an original Man-Eater, it stood to reason that there could also be an original of the ability Oboromaru possessed.

“Damn it!”

Furious at themself for failing to consider everything they should have, Menou slammed a fist into the ground. More than anything, Menou was angry at being unable to think of a way to prevent a surprise attack by an enemy with “Invisibility,” “Presence Concealment,” and “Sound Concealment.”

Even if Menou had fully considered the possibility, there had been no way to stop it. In the end, they’d simply been dancing to the enemy’s tune.

“Calm down, Menou. Knowing you... you must have learned a few things from this, right?”

“...Yeah.”...