Chapter 88

“Aren’t you lot embarrassed about sending our new female leader to fight your battles? And that’s not even counting the fact that kids like Rose and Russell put their lives on their line, too…” “We do feel a little bit guilty! But what were we supposed to do? Miss Viper wouldn’t take no for an answer, no matter how much we tried to talk her out of it!” “We’d be the first to charge in against an opponent we can actually handle! We’re thinking up ways to deal with dragons now; we’ll get them next time!” Alice speaks up after we watch the losers make their excuses and slink out of the room. “The letter from the Bashin tribe mentioned a large number of giant monsters that included dragons. So we should operate under the assumption there’s more things like that dragon lurking around.” “I see… Thankfully, I do construction for a living. Combat Agents sure have a dangerous job,” the construction worker who’s supposed to be a knight says, as though it doesn’t concern her in the slightest. “Well, look who’s decided to tuck her tail between her legs and hide! I don’t think I’ve ever met a construction worker who’s constantly cosplaying as a knight!” “W-watch your tone! Calling me a cosplayer is going too far! It’s true that the creature that attacked us last night was huge, but surely they’re not all that size. Besides, dragons fetch good prices. I can’t just let you insult me like that. Fine, I’ll join the fight next time, too!” Viper hesitantly raises her hand to stop our argument. “Um…I don’t wish to interrupt, but…a dragon that small isn’t going to be worth much money.” Huh? “Um, Vi…that thing was a small dragon? We barely got away from it with our lives.” “Well, um… The dragon from last night is one of the lowest classes of its kind. It’s not weak by any stretch of the imagination, but the ones that are truly feared on this world and fetch the highest prices are the greater dragons. It’s not uncommon to refer to them as walking natural disasters…” I decide then and there that I’m going to go do some construction work with Snow for the time being… I leave the conference room, fully committed to putting in for a transfer when Alice suddenly calls me over. “Hey, Six, we’re going to file a complaint with Hiiragi.” “I’m a construction worker now. You’re gonna have to find someone else.” I quickly turn down Alice’s nonsensical proposal. Heading back into the woods after all that? Not a chance in hell. “The Hiiragis you’re scared of are the Hiiragi tribes in the woods controlling the dragons, right? I’m talking about filing a complaint with the Hiiragi who call themselves an Agency of Order.” Oh, right, they’re both called Hiiragi, aren’t they? “Remember what that woman Adelie was saying? The surface-dwelling tribes are their followers. They were there to restore the balance when people on the surface obtained too much power.” That’s true. If those brutes really are affiliated with the Agency of Order, then the actions by the tribesmen are a violation of our cease-fire. “But if they’re the ones issuing directions to the Hiiragi tribe, wouldn’t it be dangerous to just march into their headquarters?” Alice raises her lips in a conniving little smile at my question. “Ten’s already infiltrated their base to gather information. Depending on how they choose to respond, I’m going to have him do some explosive demolition work at their base.” 7 Having come to the land formerly known as the Kingdom of Torace with Alice, I’m throwing a bit of a tantrum in the castle the Hiiragi call their base. “How dare you ask an evil organization to schedule an appointment! Just bring that dummy Adelie out to talk!” “The Apostle, Lady Adelheid, is currently dealing with a local visitor! If you’re going to keep causing a scene, we’ll call the elite soldiers of Hiiragi to remove you!” “Oh? We kicked your asses last time. You really wanna test Kisaragi a second time? If you’re itching for a fight, we won’t pull our punches.” Just as I’m about to brawl with the sentries, a voice calls to us from above. “It’s fine. Let those people through. I’ll deal with them in Adelheid’s stead.” The guy who calls down to us from one of the castle windows is the handsome fella that’s Adelie’s boss. I think his name was Fritz or whatever. We’re shown into a rather plainly furnished room. It seems this is Fritz’s personal room. I guess they have no intention of playing nice with someone who was their enemy until recently, even with the cease-fire in place. Can’t just let them insult us like this. I should at least complain about their treatment of us… “Unfortunately, Adelheid is dealing with a messenger from a country called Grunade who’s come to file a complaint and is currently using the meeting room. I’m afraid we’ll have to speak in this room instead.” “…I see. Well, we’re here without notice, so that’s acceptable.” Alice makes it sound like we’re being magnanimous, but I’m pretty sure the complaints from Grunade are because of our letter. “I know why you’re here. It’s about the monsters controlled by the Hiiragi tribe, yes?” Fritz smiles confidently, lacing his fingers together on top of the table. “I thought you’d try to play dumb. I’m glad you’ve owned up to it. Those Hiiragi pets of yours sent a dragon after us. Our cease-fire should still be in effect. We’re here to get answers about this little incident.” Fritz’s confident smile doesn’t waver at Alice’s complaint. I feel like he’s got some sort of ace up his sleeve. And just as I’m thinking that… “It’s true that the Hiiragi tribe has interactions with our organization. However, they regard us as servants of the gods because of our advanced technology and culture. I know Adelheid affectionately calls them our followers, but they’re very much beneath us… Or rather they’re simply cultists who worship us without our permission.” The door behind the coolly smiling Fritz quietly opens. And entering the room is a stark-naked Combat Agent Ten, towel over one shoulder and optical camo over the other. Noticing our presence, Ten raises his hand in greeting. If he’s infiltrating this castle, he should be more careful. What’s he doing in this VIP room? “They adopted the name ‘Hiiragi tribe’ on their own in an attempt to become closer to us… Still, we have taught them our philosophy and principles, and we occasionally provide them with technologies that we no longer have any use for.” None of what Fritz says registers with me. It seems this information has caught even Alice by surprise, because she’s completely frozen next to me. Based on the fact that he’s still damp and there’s steam rising from his body, I figure Ten just finished a bath. I guess he must have walked out of the bathroom, but how the hell did he scrub himself down without Fritz noticing? I nudge the frozen Alice with my elbow, and her brain reboots as she returns to her senses. “…Ah, so your reasoning is that the Hiiragi tribe is acting on their own and that you bear…um, no responsibility. Is that how…” Based on how much difficulty she’s having speaking, I guess she hasn’t fully finished rebooting. Get it together, Alice. We can’t have the android losing her composure here. If we don’t stay cool, Fritz’ll figure out there’s something going on behind him. “We’re not that irresponsible. But no doubt you also have had problems in your organization with loose cannons acting on their own, yes? As well as affiliated organizations? Let me apologize for the Hiiragi tribe on their behalf for this unfortunate incident. With that said, we’d like to maintain the current arrangement if you are so willing.” Having finished drying off, Ten reaches into what seems to be a fridge behind the smiling Fritz and takes out a drink. Stop it! Don’t gesture to me to ask me if I want one! “I-I see. We’re willing to forgive if you’re willing to apologize. Ahm… Then what should we do about those brutes…?” Alice isn’t able to show her usual bravado. Maybe she’s not good at dealing with unexpected developments. Just then, Ten begins communicating with us using hand signs and gestures. “As noted earlier, they’re a group that worships us, rather than a direct subordinate group. You can do whatever you want with them.” <Vital information. Fritz. A Woman. Pretending to be a man.> …Because Ten tells me this at this vital juncture, I can’t process a single word Fritz is saying. I mean, sure, Fritz looks a bit delicate for a man, and despite the huskiness, his voice is a bit on the high side, but is that really information we need to know right now? Ten’s gotta be enjoying this. “Um, then… You don’t mind if we retaliate against them?” Ignoring Alice’s continued confusion, Ten begins communicating again with hand signs. <Show you. Evidence.> No. The fact that Fritz is a woman doesn’t matter. My silent plea goes unheard, and Ten casually opens a dresser, digging through it. “Yes, I have no problem with that. Still…” Ten then dons the women’s underwear he retrieved from the dresser without a moment’s hesitation. <<See?>> Who the hell cares?! Why did you have to put them on?! Why are you being so disruptive at such an important moment? I bet you’re earning Evil Points as we speak, you asshole! We’re trying desperately to hold it together right here. Don’t go posing to try to make us break character! “The technology they’re using, while obsolete for us, is more than advanced enough to cause you problems. After all, it’s even capable of controlling lesser dragons.” I reach my limit and look down at the ground, my shoulders trembling. Fritz smiles confidently, thinking that my response means that he—or rather, she—has the upper hand… “They’re going to be more of a challenge than you think. I wish you the best of luck with your retribution.” Um, you’ve got a middle-aged man dressed in women’s underwear sleeping in your bed. On our way back from our meeting with Hiiragi. Sitting in the passenger seat of the speeding buggy, I turn to Alice in the driver’s seat and speak up. “Why did you pick Ten to infiltrate their base? It’s way harder to choke back laughter in the middle of a serious situation like that!” “Don’t make it sound like that was my fault. The problem is with you Combat Agents in general. Just what are you eating that makes you so stupid and impulsive?” I’m pretty sure that eccentricity is part and parcel of being a Combat Agent. It’s a little late to complain about that. “Anyway, we have their word now. As for the question of taking in the Bashin children, we’ll do one better—we’ll help the Bashin in their fight. This is a proxy war between an evil corporation and the Agency of Order.” “Meaning, it’s a proper combat assignment for the first time in a while. I wish I could say leave the fighting to us, but…” The problem is that the enemy’s controlling giant monsters that are immune to bullets. We simply don’t have the firepower to deal with them. Even if we drag out the Destroyer, it can’t reach a dragon if it’s flying. “I get your concerns. Leave that part to me. We just need to rely on our most powerful asset.” Well, our most powerful asset at the moment is pretty obvious. Whatever his faults, he takes care of his own, and I’m sure he’ll come right on over if he hears Rose and Russell are in the hospital. Then there’s the fact that we’re protecting Little Bashin and the other Bashin children. Given his unfortunate proclivities, I’m sure it’ll be easy to motivate him if we get Little Bashin to ask. Above all else, he’s already defeated a dragon after a massive fight and taken its sorcery stone. It’s time for Kisaragi’s most powerful mutant, an expert in woodlands combat, currently lurking in the forests of a kingdom called Grunade, to shine. It’s time for Tiger Man, our ultimate mutant, to lay down the law!