Clank, boom! Grk, gruuuk... boom! The slaughter machine of the Technology Liberation Alliance easily crushed the K Corp security guards underfoot.
But thanks to the ampoules, the guards were healed in an instant. The struggle between overwhelming force and overwhelming recovery continued without end.
"Sure... it does look convenient. To think even broken bones are restored in an instant."
"K Corp has poured astronomical research funding into improving these regeneration ampoules. If Shurenne finds out, she might stay angry for three months, so this is a secret."
"Hmph... the clock only turned because we had to die for it to realize how frightening that little pain was."
<...>
Ah, Dante got pricked.
...Should I slip away and not draw attention, or should I help the guards instead?
"I think I've got a slight crack in the bones of my right hand~ Mind if I get an ampoule? Swinging this axe is getting awkward."
[Welcome. This is a K Corp drone dedicated to your health at all times. I will administer a regeneration ampoule.
...Administration impossible. Friendly subject type 3j-54 may receive serum injections, but regeneration ampoules require a condition of at least 1L of blood loss. Therefore, administration is impossible under the current circumstances. In addition, please note that cross-compatibility testing for the HP ampoule has not been performed, and we are not responsible for any resulting side effects. Thank you.]
"What...? What are you saying, then? You want me to lose an arm or a leg first?"
"They're already... already doing that. Those K Corp guards... to get regeneration ampoules injected... they cut off their own limbs..."
"It can't be helped. Using a regeneration ampoule for every little scratch would be a serious waste of money.
I don't particularly want to compare, but for a small or medium-sized company like yours, it's not something you can afford to use carelessly."
"Usually, it's cheaper for a small or medium-sized company to hire a new person than to inject an ampoule. Right?"
"I won't deny it."
Dongrang-nim must be someone of fairly high standing if he can get an ampoule for nothing more than a twisted ankle.
A researcher... top-tier, maybe.
...Hm? This thread is...
Thud!
Because of the enemy machines... wait, this is—
When I turned around after reading the sudden possibility that had drifted in from behind, there were K Corp robots with their eyes turned red, making threatening noises.
They're firing. Something threatening. Without question.
Dragging Dante back as he made a stupid sound, I swung my spear and knocked away the incoming ampoules.
Thud—
"Kgh..."
Of course, even if I could roughly see the trajectories, it was impossible to deflect all the ampoules with one hand instead of two, and a couple of them ended up embedded in my body.
And this hair... Ms. Ishmael?
Ms. Ishmael must have thrown herself in too. Quick on the draw.
The condition is... are both of them okay? Looks like I'm the one taking the hit here.
"Manager! Are you all right?"
"I'm the one who got hit, though..."
"Otis should have taken that hit instead, damn it!"
"..."
Well, then why didn't you at least pretend to throw yourself in front of it?
I swallowed the protest I couldn't bring myself to say aloud. Right... Dante is the more important resource than I am.
"...Are you all right?"
"Ms. Ishmael..."
Ms. Ishmael supported me with a worried expression.
As expected, there's no one like Ms. Ishmael. That black-hearted sycophant can get lost.
"Hah, so the robots made with your precious research funding are malfunctioning after all. They fired on an ally by mistake!"
"I object. That was not a mistaken shot."
Samjo was raising his hand from far away.
Not a mistaken shot... so they're not set up to recognize allies?
"However... it seems the exception handling was not completed in time. For that, I offer my apologies."
"What nonsense are you—"
"As you know, the reason you were allowed into this place was entirely due to Dongrang-nim's whim.
Visitors here are an extremely rare occurrence, and thus this falls under something that was not fully accounted for."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
"It means the purpose of K Corp's regeneration drones is not limited to simple treatment."
"No, explain it in a way I can actually understand—"
Squelch.
So they made a modified version of the regeneration ampoule... looks like they made a collapse ampoule instead.
Judging by the fact that my body is turning into green liquid and slowly melting away.
"Ah... damn it, I didn't... think I'd die... like this..."
"Mr. Saramago!"
My body grew heavier and heavier. Since I can't even feel pain, I guess it's melting my nervous system too.
Ah, in the middle of all this, Ms. Ishmael is still holding up my collapsing body. In a way, that's a decent way to go, I suppose. Pretty moving.
"K Corp drones normally inject regeneration ampoules into the injured... but they inject collapse ampoules into those who leave the battlefield."
<...So because I tried to leave the battlefield, they fired a collapse ampoule at me?>
"How disgusting... so even though this isn't even a war, summary execution is accepted?
Fine, wouldn't it be better to just put those drones at the front and have them fight instead?"
"It seems the Nest you came from placed a high value on human life. Is that right?
Those machines are so expensive that even exchanging one for the value of ten Grade 2 employees wouldn't come close. Do you understand?"
"...Understand it, accept it... I've been forced to accept that kind of thing so much that I don't really feel like doing it anymore."
Gregor had a sorrowful look in his eyes, unlike his usual cheerful air.
"I do understand. There was research showing that introducing K Corp drones into a simulated battlefield increased allied victory rates by 23.5%.
It was a fairly well-known paper among researchers."
Even as a person is collapsing and dying, they don't even blink... Can I really keep living with this? Ah, right, I'm dying.
My hearing is starting to fail little by little as well. Though for some reason, the performance of this 'eye' is making my vision clearer than ever.
"Since ancient times, the greatest cause of morale collapse on the battlefield has not been the enemy's strength, nor the commander's weakness, but those who abandoned the battlefield.
The public punishment of deserters is a historically proven, highly effective tactical method."
"Tch. Do as you please, then. Understand that."
Gregor looked at them with a fed-up expression.
It seemed like he couldn't understand their inhuman way of thinking, but as someone with experience, he also couldn't deny its efficiency, which only made him more irritated.
Saramago is... melting right now...!>
"Ah, my apologies, Manager. I failed to account for the pain of turning the clock."
...I'm going to kill that bastard someday.
I'll put a hole in his back. For real.
"You'll need to turn it quickly. At this level, your heart should still be preserved."
"Hah... hah... saying that in front of someone who's dying... is a little hurtful..."
"..."
A deep sadness flickered through the eyes of Ms. Ishmael, who was holding me close.
Was she... looking at someone else? Or does she simply hate seeing someone die so horribly? Maybe... over the past few months, she's grown attached in her own way.
That grief-stricken gaze looked a little lonely, or maybe I felt a sense of kinship in it... so with my right hand, which was still barely holding its shape, I gently brushed back Ms. Ishmael's hair.
And just as that hand was about to reach her face...
Tick, the clock hand turned back.
Then, as if nothing had happened, my collapsing body began to return to its original state.
Green liquid surged upward in reverse. Through it, I saw...
"..."
Mr. Yi Sang quietly examining the ampoule bottle rolling around on the floor.
There had been a brief and dangerous commotion, but we had all regained our composure.
"..."
"..."
No, let me take back the word all. The man and woman who had just been in such a shameful state still didn't seem to have fully recovered their composure.
"As expected... Saramago, there's something going on between the two of you, right? Right~? I saw the whole thing, the way you were exchanging tender looks with such an affectionate atmosphere, so you're not planning to deny it, are you? Hm? When you brushed back her hair, I nearly fell for you too, you know? Hey, are you listening?"
"Yes..."
...Unfortunately, it was me and Ms. Ishmael.
Ms. Ishmael hugging me and worrying about me was just because we're somewhat close... no, if you count it, I guess that's true too, but...
Ahhhhh... what was my hand thinking, moving on its own like that...? Did I lose my mind right before dying?
Thanks to that, I was about to become the bus's first official office romance target in one fell swoop.
It really did look like that kind of atmosphere... it did... but still!
Even I can't deny that it looked suspicious, which only makes it more infuriating. In times like this...
"Ms. Rodion, I couldn't ask you last time because you brushed it off, but what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Sonya? Last time I saw you, the atmosphere was pretty..."
"Wait, wait, wait, bringing up old stories is cheating!"
"Who attacked first?"
"Ugh... tsk, how petty."
Good, I've dealt with the person responsible for ninety percent of the chatter among the prisoners, so there shouldn't be a problem—
"Ah, so you two were dating? Congratulations~"
"...We are not."
Mr. Hong Lu, why are you like this? Please show a little less interest in this sort of thing!
"So the two of you really were in that kind of relationship? Congratulations, doctor."
Ah, damn it. These people are having too much fun. I'm going to be tormented by this for a while.
Ugh, if only an enemy would show up...
Boom!!
Ah, right. We were in the middle of a full-scale battle.
"..."
...Why are these people looking like they just realized it too?