"What the hell is this!?"
—Fwooosh!!!
In a rude awakening, I scrambled to find a ledge to hold on to after being thrown out the door, suddenly realizing I was falling again.
'S-Should I cover myself in a ball of Ichor like before!?' I wondered, recalling how an unknown force allowed me to land safely in Alathea's office.
Just as I was thinking about it, a wall appeared in the distance, blocking my view.
I didn't know how this was possible, but it felt like I was no-clipping into an unknown space, heading straight for a nearby pillar.
After a moment of consideration, I contemplated the best way to avoid serious injuries and decided to wrap my skin in flexible Ichor instead, hoping it would protect me from any sharp impacts.
...Only to realize I had made a mistake by trusting those who planned to contain me.
"B-BWAAAAA—"
—CRASH…!
My stomach slammed into the pillar, an impact that would have broken some bones if I hadn't taken precautions.
—BLAM!
"BWEH!"
The next moment, I fell to the floor, landing nose-first, and felt the warm trickle of blood.
I had avoided serious injuries that could have resulted in broken bones, but the pain was still harsh.
My head was already heating up from this unfair treatment, and I couldn't help but remember the bodyguard beside the Overseer.
That guy... Alden Thena, he must have a grudge against me, didn't he?
"Mgah…! Annoying! Where am I, anyway?!" I exclaimed as I stomped around and finally stood up.
I looked like a spoiled, lost child who couldn't find their parents, and that's exactly what everyone in this hall seemed to think at that moment.
a lost child who can't find their parents.
—Clatter Clatter…!
The hall was wide and grand, and I squinted as I tried to take it all in. People with wings floated through the air, moving from one place to another.
Despite being so deep underground that an unfortunate intruder could fall straight to the Earth's core, there was a day-night cycle in this place, and sunlight radiated on my skin.
This location could be described as a kind of heaven, with its residents all bearing wings; the difference was that theirs were mechanized.
Everyone was dressed formally and properly, from their attire to their wings.
In this unfamiliar environment, for the first time in years, I felt nervous and uncertain about what to do.
It took me a while to realize that a crowd began to form, intrigued by where I had come from after crashing into a pillar.
"...Uh." I waved my hand awkwardly, an instinctive gesture.
In the past, I had been glared at with envy and malice, but down here, the looks I received were filled with curiosity.
Not because I didn't have wings, but because their gazes were focused on the sigil on my chest.
"H-Hello…?" I greeted them properly this time.
"Aria Cyth from… the Xero Squad?" someone called out.
The crowd grew louder at the mere mention of the Xero Squad.
"Has there always been a member named Aria? I don't remember…"
"That's not possible! They're a Vice-Leader; there's no way we haven't heard of her!"
"That's not the point. If a Xero Squad member is here, that means…"
—Mumble mumble…
'...Hmm.' I tilted my head, wondering why they were suddenly so restless.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, approaching them for context.
As I got closer, they became even more distant, avoiding me as best they could.
"...?"
I tried again, walking in the other direction, but the same thing happened again.
It was like Moses parting the Red Sea, except I was the walking hazard, horrified by the golden badge on my chest.
Questions arose endlessly ever since I left Eclecia, and I had learned to make educated guesses about certain things now.
...The Xero Squad appeared to be much more infamous than I had thought.
And I had to be the 'Vice-Leader' of that group?
"Just kill me already," I sighed deeply, showing my annoyance.
Maybe because I acted similarly to them, spouting whatever came to mind, the tension in the air grew colder.
It became evident that everyone was making a mental note to avoid the Vice-Leader, Aria Cyth, at all costs.
—That is, until an actual member crept up behind me.
"Are you alright?" a familiar voice suddenly asked from behind.
It was such a soft voice that I wasn't surprised by her presence.
"Anellia...?" I called, wondering why she was here.
As an Xero Squad member, her arrival at the scene made me look around at the crowd, curious about their reactions.
...
...
...
"M-Mmm?" I scratched my head, confused about how they had disappeared so quickly.
They were gone.
The angels that had crowded around me suddenly vanished into thin air.
"Aria?" Anellia tilted her head, puzzled by my strange behaviour.
"I'm sure people were surrounding me just a moment ago..." I shook my head, questioning my own sanity after hitting my nose.
"It doesn't matter."
"—Of course it matters!"
I raised my voice, concerned that this situation wasn't normal at all.
"Sigh... I'm alright," I said, setting my thoughts aside for the moment.
"What about the others?"
"Nn, they're waiting, I was ordered to find you."
She nodded and handed me tissues to wipe the blood from my nose.
...At least she's a nice person.
"Oh, thanks," I said as I accepted the tissues and cleaned up the remaining blood.
I wanted to move on and pretend that what had just happened was an illusion, but I couldn't help but ask.
"…Anellia, is it normal to be avoided like this?"
"Nn. It's normal."
"...Huh."
What was more concerning was how easily she accepted this as a fact.
What could this girl (taller than me) have done to cause such avoidance?
"But it's not me who caused this," she added.
"…Is it because of Lux?" I boldly stated, wondering if that was the case.
"Affirmative."
"Yeah... I can see that."
Meeting her once made me aware of how rabid she was, so I didn't question her any further than that.
"Sigh... should we get going then?" I asked.
"Nn, follow me," she replied, guiding me to our destination instead of letting me wander.
Before the silence in the halls became unbearable, I followed Anellia's footsteps after she nodded in agreement.
I wanted to get this over with and get some sleep.
As we walked side by side, we both remained silent, avoiding even small talk.
I knew she was the quiet type, likely more inclined to listen than to engage in conversation.
"...Hey Anellia, can you tell me more about yourself?" I asked unexpectedly, trying to break the ice.
"Is that an order, Vice-Leader?" She stopped walking and looked at me.
It was so natural for her to use the title 'Vice-Leader' that I didn't even notice it until a few seconds later.
"Vice-Leader… wait, how do you know that already?" I asked, glancing down at my chest.
...
...
...
"Nevermind." I shook my head in disappointment.
It struck me again that I was bound to be the Vice Leader of a squad I didn't know much about in an organization I also didn't understand.
"No, this is not an order," I said, waving my arms to emphasize my point.
"…?" Anellia tilted her head in confusion.
"D-Do you have any, um, hobbies? I guess?" I searched for a topic, hoping to elicit a reaction from her.
"Hobbies...?" Anellia's amber eyes locked onto mine, as if peering into my very soul.
Midway through, I realized it was pointless to try starting a conversation with Anellia unless I found a loophole.
"Uh, tell me what Project ANGEL is while we walk instead," I suggested, inadvertently making it sound like an order.
"Understood." She nodded and took a deep breath.
I was expecting a summarized, well-grounded answer, but what I got was a textbook response.
"Project ANGEL was an organization established by the first Director, Michael Evláveia, to combat Eldians and restore the motherland. When the Second Cardinal Sky was temporarily suppressed, it was created to strengthen our military forces. As such, the first Director employed unethical methods to enhance subjects and elevate their status, forcing their innate mana cores to undergo rapid changes, which resulted in what is now known as—"
"Stop! Stop! Are you reciting from a book or something?"
"Yes, is something the matter?"
Anellia didn't dispute my remark, which turned out to be true.
"Just... try to summarize it if you can; that would be great."
"…Understood," she nodded, and we resumed walking.
"Project ANGEL was formed to specialize in eliminating Pylons, each serving a specific role."
"A squad must consist of five types of units to eliminate a Pylon without casualties: Observer, Analyzation, Designing, Combat, and Leader Units."
Observer Units are responsible for scouting the area and determining the Pylon's overall radius.
Analyzation Units assess the Pylon's threat level and relay information about the conditions it exhibits.
Designing Units are versatile engineers—mechanics who repair and improve the squad's weapons and create communication beacons.
Combat Units are the assault team and a core component of the squad; they exist solely to serve as the front line.
Lastly, the Leader Units—guidelines with the capability and authority to make commands—are strictly in charge of operations.
Every squad has a specific skill in which they specialize, creating a seemingly perfect system that relies on cooperation.
Individually, they are all strong, but they excel against the Pylons that destroyed the world.
Pioneers in charge of reclaiming humanity.
"Hmm…" The word 'cooperation' echoed in my mind several times.
I was about to comment on the dynamics of the squad's overall relationship, but I decided to hold back.
"Do you find this explanation satisfactory, Vice-Leader?" she asked, waiting for my validation.
"Mhmm, that helped a lot, thanks," I replied with a smile, feeling less confused now that I understood the organization's purpose.
"What unit are you in, Anellia?" I asked, curious about everyone's roles.
"Designing Unit," she said, flashing her emblem.
Instead of being displayed on her chest, the emblem was on the top of her shoulder. It included her name, product number, and her unit, abbreviated as 'D.U.' for Designing Unit.
I wondered how the squad would function if all units were present, excluding the Leader Unit, who could be Orion.
"Ah, right. Where did the rest of you go while I was away?"
"Nn, we met the others to discuss the next mission... ah."
—Tap...
Anellia suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Huh? Is there something wrong?" I asked, confused about what was happening.
"…An urgent mission."
—Dash!
"W-Whoa!?" I struggled to maintain my balance as Anellia grabbed my wrist and dragged me into a room.
—Blam!
She flung open the door to where the other Xero Squad members were gathered.
Like Anellia, the rest of them had also been notified about the intel she received, but I was still left in the dark.
Unlike their rowdy personalities when I first met them, they now seemed different—more like bona fide super soldiers.
"A new Pylon has appeared in the district, Metrova. A Type-Three Environmental Domain that prevents exit until it is terminated." Eskieth said.
—Ving!
The table displayed a hologram of Trestkania's outline.
Countless domes were scattered across the nation, with the largest at our current location.
However, one of the domes was dyed red, indicating that something was wrong.
"There is no time to explain. But everyone, including you, Vice Leader Aria, prepare for your first mission." She didn't question how I had suddenly become the Vice Leader.
Nox and Lux were eager to ask, but time was of the essence.
Once the mission briefing was finished, everyone placed their hand over their chest.
To swear allegiance to the nation and recited in unison,
"To reclaim our motherland."
After that, no one spoke. It didn't take long for someone like me to realize what was at stake.
If a Pylon—a complex contraption that generates endless eldritch creatures—lands in a city...
Tens of thousands will die.
"Are you kidding me..." I scoffed, laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
Being appointed Vice Leader and given an urgent mission right away...
I might throw up.