Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 141

I approached as close to the formation as I could, as my nerves wore down.
Advancing through the West Petra great forest that divides the nation's borders, I position myself in a place where I can use clairvoyance to confirm the stronghold built at the base of the Arakabe mountain that continues into the commonwealth.
For troops to pa.s.s through here, there's an unavoidable need to utilize the lone highway piercing the great forest.
Pa.s.sing through anywhere else is harsh, it's a rough section of nature.
In turn, the fatigue would be considerable if a forced march was made through there though.
This feat is possible precisely because this is master's prided regiment.

「Everyone, good work.」
「Captain as well.」
「Nn, thanks.」

I'm handed dried meat so, I bite into it.
As the border fort is, constructed with a structure designed to seal that path, this place has functioned as the absolute line dividing both countries since ancient times.
And as such, the princ.i.p.ality that held back the commonwealth at this fort is, strong in a difficult battle.

「There is also soup!」
「I'll have.」

The vice-captain, was distributing rations to everyone while seeming happy.
Even though she's the vice-captain, she's like a maid-san.
Nn?
They're all normally, maids?

「Is there enough?」
「One stomach portion, during work.」
「It's totally not enough is it!」
「Nn, I'll sponge off master, when I return.」

Even in normal times, there shouldn't be enough leeway to go on by throwing food away.
The unit's children, all have empty stomachs.
To the me who came this far while watching the children of the church, what's called causing everyone to hunger is the thing I most can't tolerate.

「Everyone's status is?」
「Everyone is br.i.m.m.i.n.g with vitality, do not worry!」

That will come to be relied on.
It's gone smoothly up until now.
There are searchers using magic and primitive traps but, we've proceeded by penetrated everything with clairvoyance and these children's attentiveness.
I gaze at the narrow cliff span that's our objective.
The child who's the vice-captain followed that gaze and, swallowed her breath.

「……The fort, is incredibly close……isn't it.」

It certainly does make you nervous.
There will be no support from our allies if an uproar happens and, enemy reinforcements will come quickly.

「If it isn't a span of that degree then, they'll be able to pa.s.s even if it collapses. Sorry, I've had you accompany me on a dangerous mission.」
「No no no!」
「After this is……I believe we will encounter enemies even if we're careful.」
「……」
「I'll ask one more time but――――do you have the resolve?」

I purposefully, ask coldly as if shooting it toward her.

「……If we thought fighting was impossible, we would have been circulated to a rear support mission. Before we set out ojousama, deigned to go around asking each of us in turn. Are you not putting on a strong front, is it not because you're afraid of being spoken poorly of, while guiding us with real kindness.」

Everyone of the unit is nodding.

「But originally, we were raised to be used and discarded as combat slaves, we were children without a place to be. Slandered, rebuked, scorned……the one who deigned to employ that without discrimination, in a place where the sun reaches, was ojousama. Ojousama and the head maid are, always asked to take on missions that do not lack for danger but, what about, ojousama herself……? Doesn't she always, seem to come close to death!?」

Perhaps she was excited, she was crying a little.

「I don't want to be, luggage……We, want to serve a purpose for ojousama!」

That determination is, not something of the sort that other people could find fault in.

「That so……」

What, they're just like me.
They shouldn't, stop.

「Inspect our equipment. We're going.」
「Hai, captain!」

Everyone did a powerful salute.

◇■◇■◇

Put fire crystals in and blast it to seal the highway――there's nothing but to create a landslide.
To start with until we arrive there, move in the dark of night.
To confuse the eyes of countless enemies, there's nothing except to fade into the darkness.
It's not simple, for our group which has rough knowledge of the geography.

「Waa」
「Be careful.」
「Ha, hai.」

We climb the steep slope that's as if one wrong step could send you plummeting into the depths of Naraku, while gasping for air.
The sound of wind, the sound of trees rubbing against eachother, the movements of animals, all of that shaves away nerves and stamina.
We won't survive if we're found, each of us has our spirit deteriorate under that sort of pressure.
We've made our resolve, that sort of thing is a starting point.
Having entered the entrance, the terror when advancing through endless darkness, must not cause such as paralysis.
Even if you become used to the act of killing people, you won't become used to the act of being killed.
Because the act of being killed, only happens once.
There's no way to get used to it.

「……It's a convenient thing though.」

Having done the work of an a.s.sa.s.sin, do I have the sort of personality that feels terror.
I strain my ears, having finished climbing the woodland mountain within deep darkness.
What strikes my ears is, an insect's bell like crying voice.
The cliff wall that I had confirmed, is right there.

――Let's go.

I give the signal, to everyone from the unit following after me from behind.
I a.s.sume they're totally exhausted but, everyone advances forward from within the trees, without making a sound.
This night has a crescent moon.
I hide my body, in the vague light.
My wish is, I want to complete the objective without anything happening.

「……」

The squad setting the fire crystals in the cliff and, the squad conducting the monitoring of the surroundings split up.
Only time moves forward, due to the unfamiliar terrain, of an unseen landscape.
The work is taking time, that sort of thing is a bad situation but, impatience begets impatience and, becomes yet slower.
Without scattering them about, we have to set the necessary amount of fire crystals while considering their proper positioning.
Our salvation is, the fact that the torchlight that seems to patrol the area shows no sign of coming toward us.
It's alright, even if they come to ascend our cliff now, the work will have room to spare――――

「Ufufuu, ahahahahaa! Fou～～nd you, who might be, the child that's up to mischief?」

――I messed up!!
The voice is directly above me――――from the sky!

「……Ill natured elf!」

Blond hair lit under the ominous light of the crescent moon, her way of talking that directs her irritation toward people, her eyes dyed with the color or insanity.
There should be no mistake.

「Wha～t, Alice isn't here then? Nn～～? That demon isn't here either. Someone I don't know isn't it. A group with an uncouth dwarf and, a dirty beastman is it?」

She has an accurate grasp, on our side……
It's the same as master's……an elf's eyes!
This is rather……bad.
It's not the case that we weren't monitoring what was above us, but……this person, suddenly appeared.

「Fuun? You're rather few in number arren't you? Even if you're used in human experiments, the number isn't enough but……ufu! Well I a.s.sume it's fine. Because it's a bother to use allies isn't it? In various ways.」
「It's our first time speaking directly but……trash.」

Her head is broken.
More importantly than such a thing, what to do?
If I don't become calm……this is, the boundary between life and death.

「Those who go beyond the era are, not understood……Haa, I wanted Alice diidn't I.」
「……You're saying such a thing but, surely you came out because master wasn't here? You're, afraid.」
「――Ha?」

The elf's face perceived with clairvoyance was, distorted.

「You were terrified right? ……Of, master's s.h.i.+shou.」
「……」
「You're free, to rampage in that sense of omnipotence when you put power in your fist. But, looking down on the strongest is, unacceptable. It isn't a cheap t.i.tle. But I think you know that firsthand?」
「A blockhead dwarf……as if you know!」

Magic systems are deployed one after another, in the night sky.
Summon……
That number is, easily 3 times our number.
The chimera with wings growing from them, that I fought against at Wilmington, alongside master.

「Nee dwarf? It really would be better for someone of your sort to be doing blacksmithing or something deep in a cave, getting agitated, aren't you a ridiculous race to have made demon hunting your life work. Ara, on that note? You're someone who's often with that red demon aren't you? Since just her face is to my liking, perhaps she could be used as a prost.i.tute or the like?」

It's a fact that dwarfs spend day and night hunting demons.
There are circ.u.mstances.
As such, there was a sense of unease while being with that person――at first.

「……Certainly, that person is a short tempered idiot who doesn't think enough but……」

I turned my eye, to my vice-captain.
She moved her head and, I confirm that forceful nod.
At this point, there's no doubt.
The strong gazes of everyone in the unit are, supporting me from behind.

「To a level that someone like you, can't compare to――she's a good person.」

I quickly, release an arrow.
I suppressed unnecessary movement to the lower limit but, a chimera flew in front of Carmel and covered her.
The chimera that had an arrow splatter its stomach as it stabbed into it falls from the sky.

「How pitiable, quite the barbarian? To do something so sudden.」
「Well said, while using life as a s.h.i.+eld so easily.」
「Captain!!」

Okay, preparations, complete!

「――Retreat!」
「Acknowledged!! Everyone, retreat! Cover one another, while maintaining the formation!」

Everyone of the unit really is agile, adroit, they began the retreat without waste.
These children, I'll recommend them for the personal guard, when we get back.

「Ahaa? There's no way you're escaping right? You, s.h.i.+tbags!」

Ah, she snapped.
Even though something like anger, is pointless during a『hunt』.
For the type that formulates schemes, she's of the direct mold.

「Nshouto」

I continuously release, covering arrows.
Go rout the chimeras trying to encircle the unit.
Even so to the extent of their overwhelming numbers, there's that which is impossible regardless of what is done.
They're gradually encircling us.

「――Ojousama's 3rd unit, please don't look down on it!」

The vice-captain's weapon is, a staff.
The weapon of 6 shaku from front to end is elegantly, handled like a part of her body.*
There's no blade but, even boulders would break if hit so, it's a fine weapon that can be used freely without chipping its blade.
That girl goes and adds one blow upon another to the chimera.
Speed, strength, her staff technique's quant.i.ty of experience, all of them are at a level that opens the eyes.
It's not just that girl, the children of the unit use magic, bow, sword, things like axes, they give support together with their various fortes.
They've become reliable!
In that case――

「Would you kindly not get conceited? I'll offer a display of, alchemic magic! ――Gate of order that connects to the other world's sky, bear truth and do not break. Rain down logic here in this place――――Arrow Rain!」
「!?」

――This magic!

「Scatter!!」

s.h.i.+ning spears clouded with a gray color, pour down from the sky.
Should, I a.s.sume the rain should be avoided?
Such a superhuman feat, is impossible, if it's not s.h.i.+on.

「Kuuu」

Guard my face and head and, there's nothing but to rely on luck for the rest.
My shoulder, ate one hit.
Rather than saying it hurt, it's a burning sensation of the sort that made me want to scream.
I also hear the groaning voices, coming from everyone in the unit.

「……Losses, are?」

I don't want to look, at my own shoulder.
It'll just lower my spirit so, later is fine.
More importantly, what sort of meaning is it, that there's no response from the vice-captain who should have been nearby?

「Nee――」

I turn around and, my throat froze up.
The factor called, luck, is always present.
It's fine to say that vice-captain's actual ability, is number 1 in this unit.
But『it just so happened』that, an attack with『no way to avoid it』came and, as the result of covering a nearby child――――her chest was pierced.

「Ahaa, ahahahahahahahaa! That face, it's great! It's finally, gotten fun hasn't it? Creeping like a caterpillar suites you. Now then? Chimeras, please makes daruma for me. Killing the living is no good okay? Because they'll be used as experimental subjects. Aah, I'm looking forward to it……」

The freak raising a voice with elation, doesn't matter.
The chimeras walking leisurely, while looking down on us as well.
Currently――

「――Me, to cover me……Aaah!」

The youngest child of the unit, turned pale while embracing the vice-captain.
……I, see.
Truly, the children of master's place are……benevolent master and servant alike……
Concentrate.
Since long ago, my concentration has been more impressive than anyone's.
In battle, in judging the situation, concentrate on calculating the steps forward from here――
Whether chimeras or Carmel, their disposition is twisted so, they won't come and deliver an attack all at once.
………………

「――Team leader, present? Safe?」
「Ha, haii! I am alright!」

The unit's, next child in rank.

「Losses are?」
「……In, light injuries 6 names! He, heavy injuries 1 name, others 4 names, no losses!」
「Children who can use Heal?」
「It, it's, me!」

The child who embraced the vice-captain, squeezed her voice out while trembling.

「Breath is……?」
「Ah, eh――Aah! It's there!!」

Perhaps she didn't confirm it because she was shaken, her voice became brighter.
To begin with――it wasn't such a situation either.

「Fall back into the forest, while applying Heal with your full power.」
「Ha, hai! Take formation, so as to protect the injured!」

The team leader retakes command and, retreats as the circle tightens.
Using Heal on that injury, it's difficult but……I want her to be saved.

「Discussion ovver? It's about time, perhaps it's even fine to make this feeding time?」

A twisted smile, enough for her mouth to rip her cheeks open.
Tormenting the weak is entertaining and fun and it can't be helped, that sort of face.
Starting with master, there's no mistake that elves are a beautiful race.
But, that's no good.
It's broken.
What is done, to make people that distorted.
Environment?
No, I also――it's not the case that I slept in a warm futon, ate enough food to fill my stomach and, received my parent's love.
The one who bent to her environment was, me myself.
Breaking from distortion and――killing people as well.

「――Long ago, when I pulled my first arrow, I said this.」

I make the signal, for everyone to get down.
I nock an arrow, with my shoulder that's numbed by its injury.

「This side isn't prey, you're the prey――」

I, set the arrow and release it toward the fire crystal.
With the arrow of flame, that was prepared in advance.

「Tsu――!?」

A huge explosion, along with a flash of light of the sort that blinds the eye.
Our side was also too close, to make an explosion.
So as not to be blown away by the blast wave, while praying that boulders wouldn't come flying in, I lowered my body.
I, can't do anything except such a gamble like thing.
I'm incompetent.
Even so, I want to protect……somehow, I want to protect!
Rana, everyone, protect――!

「――――」

The continuous thundering noise.
The cliff began to crumble.
Rocks large and small, begin falling one after another.

「We did it……!」
「……No.」

――Insufficient.
That firepower really was too low, falling rocks of this degree will be restored without difficult.

「……A～ah, my ears hurt. I was wondering what you were sneaking about for but……aha? How was it? The moment your effort becomes a bubble on the water's surface?」

Without even needing to be said, it's the worst.
Betting our lives――whoever it may be, even if everyone here made their resolution――the unfathomable despair of not even completing the objective.

「Nn――Run, with everything you have.」

With no relation to enemy or ally, that decision set everyone aback.

「Why, is avoiding danger the fundamental directive of life?」

Starting with me, everyone ran with their full speed.
I run by the path from which we came with my full power.
The captain takes the initiative and runs.
They were confused but, everyone from the unit began the retreat while carrying the injured.

「……It isn't the case that everyone from Alice's comrades are honor students iss it? Aha, which is the trash then? Do you care more for your own body, than those of the wounded troops? You're a coward!」

Her scorn echoed through the forest.
An incredulous gaze pierced my back, as I desperately fled.
Even though I wouldn't spare something like my life if it was for the sake of my comrades, frustration, such dissatisfaction is conveyed to me.
The girls who walk the proper path, under master, wouldn't allow that injustice.

「That is an interfering emotion……there's no way you'll live.」

People aren't saved by pride.
Even if you live proudly, the stomach won't bulge.
What made crying children make smiles was, the money obtained from dirty work.
……Fame isn't necessary, to complete the objective.

「――Nn, individually disperse. Flee to our formation separately.」
「With, with that those without stamina will……there are also those with injuries!」
「Those who are weak, die. That's obvious.」
「――Ca, captain!」
「There's no time for, dialogue. I pa.s.s on dying from being caught up by hindrances.」
「Pe, people like you are……!」
「Then, if your luck is good, again?」

I sense a bothersome presence chasing after us.
Shaking off everyone of the confused unit, I change my course toward the forest depths.

「I, I don't believe this!」

Ignoring the angry voice, I left the unit behind.

◇■◇■◇

Fading into the pitch darkness, I erase my presence.
Whether Carmel or chimera, I confirm the firing angle, from a position where I can watch over everyone of the unit.
I'm a sniper, after all.
Just, a killertrash.

「――」

I blow out my breath, like a tensed string.
Without being found by anyone, invite to death with an arrow's strike, from a dead angle to a vital spot.
What I can do, is only that.

「――」

I bury a chimera making an a.s.sault on the unit's slow moving children carrying the injured, with one shot.
If it's a living ent.i.ty, it's over if one strike is received in a vital spot.
Furthermore, there's no method for resisting an attack taken from outside your awareness.

「――」

I pierce one chimera after another, while unnoticed by both enemy, and ally.
In that time everyone of the unit ceases to be visible and, the chimeras pursuing them also cease to be.
The chimeras are――all of them, are coming in this direction.
Having noticed the existence of an a.s.sa.s.sin, they come to deal with that over the pursuit.
Their target changed.
It's fine with that.
Standing up――bracing against the dizziness that came with standing, I start to move.

――A grey magic arrow, pierced my foot.

「Tsu! ……」

I hide my body, by a nearby tree.
Quickly wrapping a tourniquet, I pull the arrow out.

「uaa……!」

I rub the styptic medicine and medicinal herbs that I had on hand in and, monitor my surroundings.

「Was that a direct hit? Ufufu! It seems you still haven't gone dull.」
「……You were a sniper then.」

Carmel's voice, echoes from here and there throughout the forest and arrives at my ears.
I can't ascertain her position.
This is a type of magic.
From the events up until now, I had thought that this person was a magician.
Careless……

「Did you not know? That elves conventionally use bow and magic to fight? Our night vision is also, a much more effective thing than yours isn't it.」

……I didn't know.
Since master fought with magic and martial arts.
And o-s.h.i.+shou also used magic and……there wasn't a time where I saw her use a weapon.

「For a dwarf excelling in power and stamina to fight with a bow……you're enough of a coward to make one sad aren't you.」

Where?
It's echoing such that I can't ascertain it but, arrows aren't flying in.
However, it's over if she gets by me.
It's also become noisy down the cliff.
Being surrounded is now just a matter of time.

「Useless cowards are hated beings aren't they? Ahaha, you alone were abandoned. Amusing issn't it?」

Ascertain her position and, take the initiative.
Those 2 points are critical, in a battle between snipers.
Either of us may lose the initiative but, perhaps the opponent is playing around, perhaps her arm is weak, I'm still alive.
……But, that's just for the moment.
It depends on that person's personality, does it.

「……You also, really are like an elf. Envying people, detesting others and, not acknowledging those outside of yourself.」

For both master and o-s.h.i.+shou, those points were entirely off.

「――Tiresome.」
「Guu――」

An arrow was thrust into, my tired out left arm.
It, won't become something usable anymore――

「Having lost the leg on which to move, having lost the arrow to fire with, you're cornered aren't you? The likes of an impudent dwarf……I won't kill you easily.」

――Caught!
For her to use the 2nd shot as a threat, laughable.

「……A question, for the you who continued stealing lives. How is your own life, used?」

I throw away, the Trick Shooter I obtained from Saira.
In its place, I put my hand on the other bow that I carried on my back.

「Nothing in particular? I'm just living as I please? Did you not say this earlier, those who are weak die, that's an obvious story. It has no relation to me.」
「I'm relieved.」
「My research has also reached a conclusion so, this time I myself desire Alice though.」
「I won't hand her over.」

I jumped out from the tree's shadow, on one leg.

「A pointless struggle issn't it.」

I pull the string tight with my mouth.
The opponent I've caught is, the side of the cliff.

「Ufufufuu! Barbaric barbaric! There's no way that sort of thing, will hit.」

An arrow of light is born, in the s.p.a.ce of the pulled string.
The energy throughout my body is sucked awayーーeven my soul.
This is, my trump card.
Obtained by forcibly requesting Saira to make it, Strike・Shooter.
The nocked arrow is――life itself.
I determine my aim.
As planned, I release the arrow of light at the Carmel using a chimera as her s.h.i.+eld.
Without striking either the chimera, or Carmel, the arrow pa.s.sed them by.

「Where did you aim――」

A huge explosion occurs, directly behind that gleeful Carmel.
This time the cliff crumbles, a large scale landslide is triggered.
Large boulders and sediment come tumbling down one after another, the highway for troops to pa.s.s through is sealed.

「……Impudent, dwarf!」

Carmel came to s.n.a.t.c.h this side while even using teleportation, as I collapsed from having exhausted my power.
I'm pulled up by my head.

「It's already bothersome leaving you alive isn't it……I'll throw you into the sediment as well――No, now, it's you all! How fortuitous, it seems you'll have people to take with you.」

The chimera, came back while holding someone in its mouth.
The youngest child who uses Heal and, the vice-captain.
They have their lives but, the 2 of them have lost their conscious.
Is that, so……
Using Heal to the limit……

「I'm fed up, already. Please hurry up and pa.s.s on together.」

A teleportation system is born at her feet――she teleported directly to the highway directly beneath the crumbling sediment.
I look up and, a giant boulder came falling from above my head.
At my feet are, the 2 fallen people.
――Y, you!

「――Nnaa!!」

I use my injured leg and arm that have no sensations and, received the boulder.
Blood spurts out, from the arrow wound.
Bones creak.
Blood vessels ruptured.

「――Nnn, guu」

That I managed to bring it to a stop is, a miracle.
I can't even make my body move.

「……ah, Cap, captain……?」

The heavily injured vice-captain, opened her eyes.

「Thi, this is……? The operation was……a success, right?」

The vice-captain was quick to comprehend both, the situation where I was left behind and, the situation of the operation.
Soon after, she threw the still unconscious youngest child, beyond the boulders.
Arm strength that made me wonder where she had such power.

「――I can't, protect you anymore. You also, quickly.」

Ehehe, vice-captain laughed like that.

「The truth is, I can't move anymore, the ridiculous power of that fire, earlier……」

What are, you carefreely――!

「Even if you have to crawl!」
「I really……can't move.」

She smiled, gently.
That smile, I know it――!
Minister-sama's smile, came to mind.

「……Captain. the me who had the role of support was useless so, captain was forced into a corner to this extent……I have no excuse. Ehehe, ojousama, will be angry with me won't she.」

Stop!

「It's fine so, hurry――!」

Her legs are sinking into the ground.
She raised a scream, like her bones were breaking throughout her body.
Somehow――how――!?
What can I do!?

「――!」

In my right hand, Strike・Shooter is still being held.

――A life that will be lost either way, if it can be traded off, do it?

Saira……lend me power.
I pull the string, with my quivering mouth.
……Just breaking the rock, isn't enough.
In this place――I, will take that person with me.
I squeeze out power.
I squeeze out life.
Predicting, the scene beyond the boulder, my focus, surpa.s.ses the human realm.
Don't bother, master any more than this, trash elf.

――One shot, with all my might.

A single strike, honed to the uppermost limit with my lifespan.
Breaking through the gigantic stone that's larger than a house, piercing the sediment, the forehead of the Carmel that had been expressing a sneer――is pierced.

「――――――――――――――?」

That face, still looked down on others until the end of the end, while still not understanding what could have happened, while still expressing a warped smile, she collapsed.

「Serves you right.」

From above the broken rock, more and more new sediment falls toward us.
Aah, with this it's a success.
Something like a dragon won't get through.
Something like an army won't get through.
During that time, the battle lines will be boosted.
We'll win.
Rana, I……
Squeezing out the last of my willpower, I grab the vice-captain and, threw her out of sediment's range.

「Ca, captain!!」

I leave, the rest to you.
I forcefully raise my thumb and, wink.

「Nn, stomach, really is empty……………………」

A pitch black world swallows me, a moment later.
I noticed I heard someone's voice, rending the thunderous noise―――――

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TLN: 6 shaku ≈ 181.818 centimeters.*