"…A mercenary, you say?"
"How about it? Sounds like a good idea, doesn't it?"
It was just like her—so very much her.
There were times when even her ideas managed to surpass my expectations.
This was one of those times.
'Still… it's not a bad offer.'
Strictly speaking, this could be seen as the Shadow Order taking a step back.
The defeat of the Turncoat Rook and Sart of the Shadows must've been a considerable blow to them.
In such a situation, they likely judged that continuing to antagonize me wouldn't be a wise move.
More than anything, with Esther by my side, it would've been a heavy burden for them to try to kill me outright.
["Commander, then what you're saying is…"]
"Yep. You win. I surrender."
She raised both hands in exaggerated jest.
Of course, neither Esther nor I believed that surrender was genuine.
"That all you wanted to say?"
"Well, for now, yeah."
"What if I refuse?"
"Hmm, good question. Didn't really think that far ahead. But you won't say no, anyway—I already know that."
Confident, wasn't she?
She wore that laid-back smile like she owned the place.
As if this proposal were some grand gesture of her benevolence.
'Well, she's not entirely wrong.'
To be honest, I didn't want things with the Shadow Order to escalate any further—not at this point.
Not just because of their strength, but also because of the role they played.
'The Shadow Order's goal is to swallow Ark whole.'
Naturally, they also end up doing things that benefit Ark—intentionally or not.
Even they wouldn't want to take over a completely ruined Ark.
'Still… that doesn't mean I have to accept this with open arms.'
Just because they backed off doesn't mean I had to do the same.
We were still enemies, after all.
"I'll consider it."
"Consider it? Come on, you know that word doesn't belong between us. Decide now. Right here."
Her smile was still there.
Yet, the ether around us began to stir—subtly betraying her true mood.
[Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit.]
["Carl Marcus."]
In the past, even a surge like this from her would've crushed me.
But now, things were different.
'Esther.'
["I know."]
There was no need to bring out the experimental round, GHOST-157.
Esther flared up both her ether and mine, pushing back against the pressure from the Commander.
[Kreeeak, krrrk…]
Ether clashed with ether, chilling the air like frost forming on glass.
We couldn't overpower her, sure—but this was enough to hold out for now.
"Interesting…"
She smiled again.
And just like that, the overwhelming ether that had been ready to devour me withdrew.
"Well, I didn't call you here to fight. Still, I hope you'll keep your word about 'considering' it."
The pressure vanished as swiftly as it came.
"Bit much for a joke."
"Joke? Ahaha. I guess it could feel that way. But I don't really like jokes—especially in situations like this."
"If it's not a joke, then it is one."
"I can always crank it up again, if you'd like?"
"Think I'm scared?"
Her eyes narrowed.
But I had no reason to back down.
If needed, I was ready to counter with GHOST-157.
"Oho… hiding something, are we? Spooky."
She raised her hands again.
"Fine, fine. I surrender. Can't keep up with you."
And just like that, we both decided to back down—each holding our trump cards in reserve.
No point escalating things surrounded by Ark's soldiers anyway.
"Esther."
["…Speak."]
"We'll be apart a little longer. But bear with it. One day… I'll bring you back."
["…"]
"Then I'll be expecting a good answer, Karl Marcus. You know this is a generous offer from me."
I didn't bother to reply.
That was the end of our talk.
"See you next time, Esther."
She gave a small wave.
Esther didn't respond.
Leaving her private room, I found the soldiers inside the truck visibly shaken—probably from the ether surge earlier.
"…Why's it so cold all of a sudden?"
"Yeah. Is the temp control system off? Hey! Check the system!"
It hadn't been a long meeting, but it somehow felt like it had lasted for hours.
'…Well, I suppose we achieved something.'
The Shadow Order had no immediate intent to eliminate me.
With Rook and Sart's defeat, trying to force anything more on me wouldn't be worth the cost.
And judging by her behavior, she felt the same.
["…Master."]
'It'll be fine.'
["No, not that."]
'Then what?'
["Are you… going to accept the Commander's offer?"]
'I'm considering it positively.'
Truthfully, I was planning to accept it eventually—but for now, saying this would keep up appearances.
["Seriously? Just say it straight."]
'Like I said.'
["Ugh… never mind. I give up."]
Once the meeting with her ended, I headed back to the original truck.
'Still docked, huh.'
Soldiers were busy exchanging supplies between the trucks.
It was earlier than scheduled, but since the vehicles were already docked, might as well take care of things.
"Ah, you're done."
Captain Cliff, who'd escorted me earlier, returned to guide me back.
That is—he tried to.
'Hm?'
The bridge connecting the two trucks began to lurch violently.
The trucks' previously steady speed had shifted.
'That's… not good.'
Trying to cross now would've been reckless.
One misstep and I'd fall between the trucks and get left behind.
"Enemy attack!"
The call echoed from the comms officer as soldiers scrambled into motion.
It hadn't been long since the last attack.
And now—more monsters, more beasts, swarming in once again.
'No… could that actually be the cause?'
Even with noise suppression mode, there's no concealing the screeches of demonic beasts and monsters.
It was that very noise that drew another horde of beasts toward our truck.
'Of course—it was never going to be easy.'
Thanks to our relentless pace, we weren't far from the destination.
But that also meant we faced far more attacks from beasts compared to traveling on foot.
'Well, whatever. We'll manage.'
Just as I gripped my Ark-34 Automatic Conversion Rifle and pointed it out the window—
Thanks to our relentless pace, we weren't far from the destination.
But that also meant we faced far more attacks from beasts compared to traveling on foot.
"There's no need for that."
A familiar voice stopped me.
"…Kalakin?"
Kalakin, who should've been up front with the driver leading the way, was here.
In other words, we were close enough to the remnants of Kronos that we no longer needed directions.
"What do you mean, no need?"
"Look over there."
I followed the direction of Kalakin's pointing finger toward a small window inside the truck.
Through it, I saw a scene that defied all logic.
Someone was floating in midair.
No jetpack, no cables—just calmly walking as if the sky itself had solid ground.
And there was no need to wonder who could do such an impossible thing.
"That's… what the hell?"
"Isn't that the Young Lady?"
"Young Lady?"
A stir broke out among the soldiers.
What was unfolding before them simply didn't seem real.
'She's getting involved directly?'
I already knew the Shadow Order had shifted their stance.
But I never imagined she'd show up herself at this point.
Outside, ether churned violently.
It wasn't even comparable to when I had faced her in her private chamber.
[Kik… hehehe…]
[Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die.]
[Kill. Kill. Kill them all.]
The murderous aura radiating from her ether made the power Esther and I used feel like child's play.
A blind, seething hatred for the beasts.
That emotion was saturating the ether now gushing out from her.
'She's… unbelievable.'
The gap between us had shrunk considerably.
Yet, the difference in power remained undeniable.
[Kraaaaaaah!]
[Keeeeeegh!]
[Kah! Khah!]
Beasts charged in from all directions.
But not a single soldier raised their weapon.
Because the command from the Young Lady leading this unit had been crystal clear.
"Is this… really okay?"
"The Young Lady is handling it."
"I mean… even if it's her, taking on that many alone is a bit…"
Even soldiers who live and die by orders were visibly unsure about this particular command.
Meanwhile, the beasts charging at the truck had surrounded us and were slowly closing in.
"...Sergeant, shouldn't we open fire now?"
"Hold position. That'd be disobeying orders."
"But…"
Even so, no one on the truck dared move recklessly.
No matter how suspicious or irrational it seemed—orders were orders.
Boom!
BOOOOOOM───!!
The truck rocked as the beasts slammed into it.
Even a truck as sturdy as an Ark unit's had weak points when struck from the side.
The soldiers onboard now seriously debated pulling the trigger.
But at that moment, the turbulent ether outside suddenly went still.
And I could feel it.
The way that ether, once wild and scattered, was now condensing all at once in a single spot.
["─────────"]
Soon, the condensed ether began to whirl violently.
But it didn't stop there.
The vortex grew into a storm, and the storm surged outward as if to consume everything.
["Die──────"]
A softly spoken death sentence.
And in the end, the only thing left here was death.