Chapter 580: That Confrontation is Karmic Retribution

Author's Preface

Updating in accordance with the oracle.

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Ten minutes after infiltration. Having barely escaped the massive swarm of slaughter-focused unmanned weapons, we were taking a breather inside a room Python had hacked and unlocked—a space that likely used to be for human NPCs.

"Infiltration successful."

"Almost died getting thrown out into space, though..."

"No one died, first objective complete, what's there to complain about?"

"...Hindsight bias, no good."

Fox-shi, unfortunately, there is absolutely zero persuasive power when someone who didn't produce results complains about the process.

I never expected to be forced to use my trump cards—the ship-mounted Gatling and the powered armor—right off the bat, but... well, it'll work out somehow. My currently equipped handgun is a complete piece of junk though... No, wait, I can use it, okay? It's super convenient, but in this situation, a handgun alone isn't going to cut it.

"How about it, Python? We'd be really happy if you could unlock the armory or the engine room for us."

"Don't ask for the impossible. There's no way we can crack a Teraton-Class's security with just our hand gear... We have no choice but to slowly unravel the security from the edges and move forward."

"Through all of this?"

A Teraton-Class is, to put it mildly, basically a final dungeon. The financial power required to prepare a Teraton-Class means they have the financial power to operate it, and needless to say, the NPCs are absurdly strong... which means if we want to whittle down G-Cup Breast Meat or the players participating in his alliance during the war period, we can't afford to spend days on a Teraton-Class that doesn't even have players on board.

"No, even before the update, no matter what Teraton-Class it is, they can't lock down the teleporter floor leading to the bridge where players board and take command. So as long as we can find the teleporter floor, we should be able to reach Deer Horn."

"We have to find it inside all of this?"

"...."

Can we actually do this...?

I have the motivation to do it, but as I felt a completely different kind of motivation starting to get chipped away right from the start, the sound of a bell suddenly echoed out. Gooong, gooong.

"What the hell?!"

"Ah, so this is it..."

"What does that mean?"

"Did you not hear about it, Rhino-san? The war goes into a ceasefire the moment the day changes, and resumes at 7 PM the next night. A gentleman's agreement? Or something like that."

"Heh, so that was a thing. I hadn't heard."

Heh, so that was a thing. I hadn't heard... but I won't say it out loud. There is a certain level of dignity that can only be maintained by keeping your mouth shut.

"All combat actions are prohibited during the ceasefire. The game is programmed that way, so if we try to sneakily sabotage things, the system will detect it. We have no choice but to quietly save here."

Just then.

『...Can you hear me? This is Love Board. The five surviving players... let's see, Rhino, Python, Wolf, Fox, Gazelle. Are you reading me?』

"!!"

The five metal animals looked at each other at the voice echoing from inside their helmets. We couldn't see each other's avatars' eyes, but based on the atmosphere, we all collectively understood. Who's going to handle this?

Five fists were smoothly raised. Without a single word spoken, a common phrase flowed through each of our brains in rhythm...

Rock, Paper, Paper, Paper, Paper.

"Guh."

"We're counting on you, Captain Wolf."

"It's not like you have the authority to give orders or anything, but do your best, Captain Wolf."

"I ain't customer support... Yes, Wolf here representing the five of us."

『Oh, I'm glad to see you're safe. What's your situation?』

"For now, the infiltration was a success. We're currently hiding out in a block formerly used for human NPCs."

『Splendid, splendid. The war situation on our end isn't looking too great, but successfully infiltrating them is a harvest in itself. If you're planning to log out, I apologize, but I'd like to hold a brief meeting. I want the others to listen in as well.』

To summarize:

・Aside from us, every other player who boarded a transport shuttle for infiltration was completely wiped out.

・Players other than the fighter pilots who fully committed to anti-ship attacks were also wiped out.

・The war situation is slightly disadvantageous for our side, but repairs on the Great Wall will finish during today's ceasefire.

・We're prepared for a drawn-out war, so we don't plan on rushing the capture, but we want you to inflict damage on three specific ships via internal sabotage.

・Simply put, damage the enemy carrier aircraft nest "Hexagon Palace", the defensive lynchpin "Canning of Pearl", and the enemy leader's main camp "The Great SummitEverest" out of pure spite if you have to.

So he says. Wait, there were players who committed entirely to fighter jets? I completely assumed everyone was on the breach team.

『The fact that you managed to infiltrate the Hexagon Palace first is huge. Given our current fighting strength, getting whittled down by fighter jets is the most inconvenient scenario... I want you to prioritize taking down the Hexagon Palace itself over dealing with Deer Horn personally.』

"...So he says."

"Even so, with how massive this place is, who knows how long that's gonna take."

『Hmm... But if I recall correctly, Hexagon Palace has a linked-unit structure. In that case, I'll do a little investigating on my end during the ceasefire. I'm pretty sure both of our ships were built before the update, so we might be able to find some structural vulnerabilities.』

"You sure know a lot."

『Hahahahaha! After all, the one who sent Deer Horn packing back to Earth previously was none other than me!』

"Ah... I kinda see why they joined the other side now."

『Listen and be amazed. Seventy percent of their motivation for forming that faction is purely out of a grudge against me.』

Isn't this flat-chested barbarian making way too many enemies on multiple fronts?!

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...

......

.........

"My fever broke."

So Riot Blood really was a medical drug? No way. If that stuff counts as medicine, we're truly in the post-apocalyptic end times.

That being said, since my fever broke, I have to go to school. If I don't balance my hobbies with my absolute minimum obligations, I won't be able to survive in the Hizutome household. The fact that all the family members lean heavily towards their hobbies as long as they manage that balance is exactly why child protective services hasn't been called on us—we're barely threading the needle.

In the end, the infiltration team held a strategy meeting yesterday, hammered out plans to gather the next night... meaning tonight, and then disbanded. But man, I'm already looking forward to tonight. Guess I'll just use this motivation to ride out my school life!!!!

...Or so I thought as I cheerfully walked to school several tens of minutes ago.

"We will now begin the interrogation."

"Why the hell is the handicrafts club weaving wire to make ropes?! That's a treaty violation!!"

"It's an extrajudicial measure."

And now, the moment I arrived at school, I was bound to a chair with a wire rope and am currently being interrogated.

"No, seriously, what is this about?! I was walking to school all by myself today!!"

"No, you saying 'today' just proves that you usually don't, which means you're out..."

"No, no, Hizutome-kuuuun... Today, we actually have physical evidence, you seeee?"

"Hah? Evidence of what...?"

"Here you go."

What's this? A social media site? And then, the uploaded video began to play...

『It's a peace sign. Unlike you, who can't keep his little hands to himself, I'm a pacifist, you see? I can just laugh it off and forgive you. Just laugh and forgive...』

"!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?"

!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?

"I'm gonna need you to explain exactly what the meaning of this is...?"

"Wh-Why does a video like that even exist...!!?"

Hold on a second. No, seriously, wait a minute!? Is this nationwide?! Did this leak on a national level!!? You've gotta be kidding me, hold on, I'm not wearing my helmet in this!! Nooooooo!!

"Sorry, but using Akatsuki Heart as a decoy won't work today."

"Yep, yep, just for this once."

"You're going to spill everything...!!"

"Can I go home early, please...?"

Naturally, I was denied.

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Author's Afterword

The suspect reportedly remained silent, but in order to resolve the repeated suspicions, the investigation team issued a statement that they will be conducting a public interrogation alongside another person of interest...