Chapter 3

“Really, things haven’t changed at all since back then—” Bam! A sudden sound rang out as the girl attempted to continue her speech. First Lieutenant Wilson, who’d accompanied her, had punched her square on her cheek. “Kh…” The students couldn’t keep up with what was happening. Which made perfect sense, really. A girl with two veritable cannons strapped to her back had walked in, called them all pigs, and earned their instructor’s wrath. “Very interesting introduction, transfer student. But I’d say it was a bit too grim,” Wilson said, then continued, “Now listen here, and listen real good. Never deride our country in my presence. Are we clear?” His tone seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet. That was how Wilson spoke when he was angry. “Take this as a warning. The moment you stepped foot in this academy, child, you became no better than an insect. You will obey your superiors’ orders. Act out of turn again and I’ll burn off that cheeky tongue of yours.” A chill ran down Rain’s spine. First Lieutenant Wilson gave off a gentle first impression, but his true nature could be summed up with one word: severe. He didn’t hesitate to beat his students and didn’t forgive those who reported him to superior officers. He had a soldier’s mindset, unlike that of most who graduated from an officers’ academy. Due to all those factors, he wasn’t very popular among the cadets, but he was still a leading figure in the military. And yet… “Oh. Deride, you say?” The silver girl showed no signs of stopping her tirade. Instead, she continued speaking without so much as touching her bruised cheek. “Enlighten me, then.” “What?” “Do you really need me to explain? Fine. Putting aside these cowardly brats—as a company officer, you can try to prove me wrong. Tell me, what parts of this country don’t call for criticism?” She was incredibly calm for being in front of dozens of people, and especially for having spent no more than a minute in the classroom. It was as if her entire objective was simply to come and level complaints… “It’s been a century now… For the past hundred years, this country has been on the back foot in terms of both Bullet Magic and Exelia technology. The West is looking ten years ahead, while this country is fixated on calculating how much alloy it can mine, never sparing any effort for research and development that would benefit it in the long run,” the girl explained in a sharp tone. “What are you saying…?” Wilson asked. “The extremely obvious facts,” the girl stated plainly. Then she continued her rant by saying, “You really are just a bunch of pigs. The only thing on your mind is eating the fodder in front of your eyes. I must say, even dogs are smarter. At least they have the mind to hide their food.” “You little…” “What? Are you going to claim you’re a dog and not a pig? Prove it, then. Bark. Go on. Let me hear you go woof.” Wilson’s hand went to his waist…and he pulled out his M7 military pistol. With the grip in an overhand hold, he swung the barrel down on the girl’s head to shut her mouth with a blow from a metal object. However— “…No. You’re less than a dog.” The girl…didn’t dodge. Wilson had moved to strike her without a hint of hesitation, but she didn’t budge an inch. The metal hit her head with a dull thunk. It was clearly a severe injury. Blood trickled down from her head…but the girl remained stock-still. “What the…?” The girl didn’t so much as retreat a single step, and that confused Wilson. Seeing that brief opening, the girl finally moved. No, she wasn’t just moving. She was launching a counterattack. The girl twisted her arms in a smooth motion, snatching the same pistol that had split her head. “Ah, you little…!” “Too slow.” The pistol swiftly settled into the girl’s hand. Wilson had been taken by surprise, but he soon came to his senses and tried to reclaim his stolen weapon. “Stay still. You disgust me. I don’t want your filthy dust touching me.” “Grr…” The girl pressed the stolen pistol between Wilson’s eyes, threatening him. In seconds, she’d completely disarmed him. “Use your head instead of your body, why don’t you…? Oh yes, I know all about you, First Lieutenant Wilson. Two months ago, you commanded retreating forces and led fifty soldiers to their deaths because of your reckless orders, didn’t you?” “…So what?” Wilson responded unflinchingly. Then he claimed, “Soldiers should be proud to die for their country.” “Perhaps. But no one wants to die because of an incompetent commander’s orders.” The girl’s finger settled on the trigger. “What kind of idiot are you? Do you have any idea what you’re doing?! This is a blatant violation of military regulations… A felony…!” And… “A crime, huh?” …at that exact moment… “Well, whatever… I supposed my transfer-student facade ends here.” …Rain noticed something that no one else had. That’s...! The girl had pulled out a single piece of ammunition…a silver bullet. Then she’d swiftly exchanged it with the one in the gun, loading it into the cartridge. Only Rain, who’d been carefully observing her movements, caught it. It took only a moment, but… That bullet! It was the mysterious object Rain had happened upon, and the one that proved Beluk the Butcher was no mere figment of his imagination. The very same tool that was clearly intrinsically linked to whatever phenomenon he had experienced. The girl somehow possessed the very same thing. And— “Foolishness is the greatest transgression of all.” “Don’t—” Bang! The deafening sound of a gunshot cut off First Lieutenant Wilson’s words, and blood flew through the air as the bullet drilled into his skull. And at that exact moment— —the world shifted with a thump.