Chapter 206. Blunder (1)
As the time approached late evening.
Descending the spiral staircase and turning a few corridors, he came to a corner of the hotel's first floor.
Enoch passed through the dark lobby corridor and entered a small, secluded room without encountering any of his other comrades.
Perhaps it was an unused room in the hotel, as a musty smell wafted in, and the atmosphere was pitch dark with no lights on.
Enoch stepped into the room.
“…….”
Three or four members of the Dragoon Corps that Shepherd had brought with him last time stood by a desk in front of the fireplace.
Realizing that they were in someone else's residence without permission, Enoch frowned but didn't show it.
“A message from Lord Shepherd.”
One of the messengers, a man, approached Enoch.
He stared at Enoch in the darkness, his crimson uniform fluttering, and said.
“Excluding the leader, Lord Enoch, the number of squad members accompanying the solo operation is limited to two from those deployed on site.”
A gust of wind blew in from the open window.
“Two, excluding me……”
It meant to compress this side's combat power to the extreme.
Enoch narrowed his eyes.
At first glance, it was a request that might sound like an inefficient story that would significantly reduce combat power.
However, considering the special nature of the operation, it was not something he couldn't understand.
“Are you saying to maximize stealth during movement by minimizing the personnel?”
“Correct. There would be no chance of victory if we were to infiltrate and engage in an all-out battle. And one more thing.”
The Dragoon corpsman said in a low voice.
“This mission is only known to Lord Enoch and the related personnel who were aware of the decision made at the meeting at that time.”
“Are you saying it’s a secret mission?”
“That is correct. A gag order has been issued to the leaders of the squads who heard the operation on site, and we are preventing the rumors from spreading. Please refrain from speaking of it before the operation.”
A secret mission with a ban on disclosure.
Enoch slowly nodded his head to signal that he understood.
“I’ll do that.”
“Do you have any objections to what you’ve heard?”
“No. It was unexpected, but there’s no problem. I wasn't planning on publicizing this mission anyway.”
Enoch added, looking at them with an expressionless face.
“In any case, I wasn't planning on taking all the squad members on this operation either.”
“Is that so.”
Of course, there were some questions and incomprehensible aspects about this operation, but it wasn't something to worry about right now.
After all, Shepherd, not Enoch, still held the initiative on the information.
“This is equipment that will be helpful on site.”
The messenger nonchalantly threw a sleek, pitch-black duffel bag in a rectangular shape that he held in his hand.
Without a word, he caught it and turned it upside down, and the contents poured out onto the table.
Tudududuk.
The first thing that caught his eye was a transparent plastic water bottle of a futuristic material and design.
Following that, various survival items such as emergency food, a flashlight, a multi-tool, and a compass tied with paracord came out.
Come to think of it, the duffel bag itself was waterproof and its surface was smooth.
It was probably a tactical product that also served as a life buoy in case of falling into water.
“Considering the functionality of the equipment in the first place.”
Enoch said, looking over the items on the desk.
“It seems Shepherd doesn't think this mission will end in just a few hours.”
“Perhaps so.”
The members of the Dragoon Corps replied coldly.
Enoch also didn't say anything more and, with an expressionless face, looked at the desk, and suddenly found something.
“Wait, this is?”
A single round of ammunition, not even a handspan long.
At first glance, it had a cylindrical shape like a shotgun shell, but its size was larger and the details were different.
Enoch immediately recognized what it was.
A ‘large-caliber high-explosive’ cartridge that annihilated the enemy by concentrating the caster’s mana to exert explosive firepower.
When he picked it up and held it up to the fire, the characteristic black color of the product containing a mana stone shimmered with a strange luster in the red light of the fireplace.
“Ammunition for a Bombardment Lance?”
When Enoch asked with an expressionless face, the Dragoon corpsmen nodded their heads without a word.
Judging by its weight, it was much heavier than a standard Bombardment Lance round.
In the first place, judging from the different design and color, it must be a type of special ammunition.
“It is a special high-explosive round customized with enchantment magic so that it can destroy the unknown enemy called Indiviltal in one blow.”
Another Dragoon corpsman who was standing next to his comrade explained.
“It has a high power that can destroy a tank or even a building in one blow. Not just anyone can handle it, but if you hit the target with this round, you will be able to defeat it.”
“I heard there were other battle participants who had witnessed Indiviltal last time.”
Enoch said, looking at them.
“Did you prepare such a high-powered special round based on that? So that you can blow it away.”
“That is correct. However, this is not an item included in the equipment sent by Colonel Shepherd.”
At the unexpected answer, Enoch tilted his head and asked back.
“What do you mean by that? Is it support from someone else?”
For a moment, the elite soldiers of Victoria in their crimson uniforms exchanged glances.
Then, as if they had decided that there was no problem, the Dragoon corpsman at the forefront nodded his head and replied.
“This special round was prepared by the color-bearer of the Dragoon Corps’ honor guard, Aslin, who customized it herself.”
“Customized, you say. Enchantment magic?”
“That is correct.”
In the middle of a dark, large room, the soldiers of Victoria with their pitch-black Bombardment Lances slung on their backs.
One of them narrowed his eyes and added.
“The direct lineage of the Elsyde main house, which oversees combat magic, would not be unaware of the raison d’être of the ‘color-bearer’ branch of the honor guard.”
“……”
“In particular, Aslin is a color-bearer with outstanding skill in enchantment magic. I swear on the honor of the Victoria army that the performance of the special round is guaranteed to be certain.”
Aslin’s unique magic, who belonged to the branch called the ‘color-bearer’ (旗手), was in the ‘enchantment’ series, which strengthened the target.
However, usually, the enchantment series only temporarily strengthened the effect of one's own or another's magic.
It was not so easy to grant a continuous effect to an object like this.
Enoch nonchalantly nodded his head.
“I had heard that she was currently an 11th-rank, but I didn't know that it was possible for objects as well.”
The Dragoon corpsmen standing in front of him slowly nodded their heads with a calm gaze.
“It is possible for objects as well as people, but since it is temporary, the duration is the problem.”
“There’s a duration, you say. Then the effect of this round is?”
Another female corpsman took a step forward and said with emphasis, as if to make him remember.
“The duration of the special round’s effect is just over three days.”
It meant to defeat the enemy within that time.
Listening to the explanation, Enoch looked over the special round and, inadvertently thinking of Aslin, almost smiled.
Aslin was in a situation where she opposed Alicia in terms of her position, but was secretly cheering for her as a friend.
Was that why she had prepared such a gift?
After all, it was not easy even for those who had manifested enchantment magic as a complete unique magic beyond the 10th-rank to cast an enchantment magic that lasted for three days on an object.
It was obvious how much effort Aslin must have put in to customize an ammunition of this power.
Enoch once again looked over the items in the bag and, nodding his head lightly, said.
“I’ll use it well. Can you tell Aslin that?”
“I will do as you say. And finally—.”
They slowly turned their backs and glanced at Enoch. Then, with their eyes shining clearly, they added.
“—The start of the solo operation has been set for the early dawn just before sunrise tomorrow. Please finish your preparations by then and enter the site.”
Dawn.
An order to move at a time when the magical beasts’ activity was at its lowest and there were few people watching.
“I’ll do that.”
The moment Enoch slowly nodded his head.
The Dragoon corpsmen, with their backs turned, said to Enoch in a suggestive tone.
“Ah, and. This is a separate matter.”
“…….”
“We, too, are looking forward to the achievements of the Direct Lineage Member of Elsyde, who has been the subject of many rumors recently. We wish you good luck.”
The messengers of Shepherd left the room without looking back after saying that.
Even though they had huge Bombardment Lances slung across their backs, their movements were completely silent. As they were an elite force, it seemed they were also trained to some extent in suppressing their presence.
By the way, tomorrow at dawn.
He had expected it, but it was a surprisingly early start to the operation.
Just as Enoch was making a few plans in his head after they had left, a clear girl's voice was suddenly heard from outside the door.
“……It seems they’re gone.”
From the corridor outside the door where they had left, Lien slowly walked out and her gaze, which had been glancing to the side, met his.
Her long, silver hair that flowed richly down to her waist, and the blue-silver eyes of the girl with a cold beauty shone quietly in the darkness.
To the silver-haired maid, who had probably been listening to the conversation just now, Enoch nodded his head.
“Yes. As you heard, this is the situation.”
Lien, in her maid outfit with black gloves, her hands clasped in front of her apron.
Enoch met her gaze directly, who was standing in the darkness as usual.
“Lien. There’s something I need to ask you.”
“I know without you saying it.”
The silver-haired girl slowly shook her head and quietly lowered her gaze.
She, with her long eyelashes lowered, turned her head slightly to the side and added.
“On the contrary, if you hadn't asked, I would have tried to follow you.”
Sensing that her words were not a joke, Enoch slowly nodded his head.
“Then, what about the other one? Do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes.”
Enoch picked up the special round for the Bombardment Lance from among the items that were still scattered on the desk.
“For sure.”
Gripping the special round, Enoch lifted his head.
An operation to be accompanied by only two of the squad members.
And with this, who to form the remaining one person with was already as good as decided.
***
A few hours after talking with the messengers.
After a pleasant dinner, April, who had been talking for a long time, started to yawn, and everyone began to prepare for sleep.
In particular, Sirocco, perhaps due to the accumulated fatigue from fighting during the day, seemed more tired than usual and was constantly rubbing her half-closed eyes.
Then, with a slightly coy look, she glanced at Enoch and asked.
“Hey, you. Where’s our room?”
“Our room, you say.”
Enoch sent a slightly bitter look.
Come to think of it, Sirocco had originally been staying in Enoch’s room.
“There’s also the option of sharing a room with other comrades or using an empty room here.”
“Hmph, what’s this. I don't want that. We were staying in the same room before.”
“Y-yes? You two, was that rumor true—”
At those words, Enoch, who saw the innocent nun’s face next to him turn beet red, shook his head slightly to himself.
He had a feeling that the more he spoke here, the more things would get complicated.
“Hurry up and show me the room.”
Sirocco, who was wagging her tail with her arms crossed in front of her chest and her ruby-like red eyes shining, even though her ears were drooping from sleepiness.
Enoch, who had been looking at her for a moment, let out a small sigh.
It was the night just before he was to go on a solo operation. Since he was acting in secret from everyone, he wanted to be with Sirocco as little as possible.
Of course, the same went for the other comrades who were not accompanying him.
In the first place, there was the option of revealing the situation to everyone now and telling them that he was going on a solo mission, but if he did that, there was a risk that things would get bigger due to various circumstances.
Just looking at Sirocco, if he told her he wouldn't take her, she would surely get angry.
But there was a definite reason why he had to do that.
“There’s a room that’s been decided on. Then I’ll go get a key from the hotel lobby first.”
Enoch said that and stood up from his seat.
Then, as he passed by Alicia, who was just then clearing the dishes after finishing her meal, he said.
“Alicia.”
“Y-yes?”
Enoch glanced at her and whispered in her ear.
“At dawn, come out to the terrace alone. Make sure no one sees you.”
“Huh?!”
Without even confirming what kind of expression Alicia was making at those words, Enoch walked away.
By the time he had gone up to the room with the key, the time was already approaching midnight.
Sirocco, who had followed him into the room as if it were the most natural thing in the world, barely washed her body in the shower, but she meticulously brushed her tail, and was soon dozing off.
Unable to watch any longer, Enoch, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, gently laid her down.
As he supported her head and laid her down, Sirocco’s slightly wavy, glossy red hair tickled the back of his hand.
“You look tired. Get some sleep.”
“Mmm.”
Sirocco, as if she was a little tired, felt Enoch’s touch and gave a faint, disheveled smile.
Then, she immediately closed her eyelids and fell asleep with her cheek buried in the soft pillow on the bed.
Confirming that Sirocco’s softly rising chest was moving up and down with her breathing, Enoch slowly stood up from his seat.
It was time to move.
In order to prepare to leave in advance while Sirocco was asleep, Enoch grabbed his black cloth bag once.
The silvery-white one-handed sword that the Empire's last Sword Saint had once used was there, as always.
Then, he took out a case from under the bed that he had brought from the Holy Séjour and packed the emergency ampoules from inside.
Fortunately, the supplies from the Holy Séjour that had been in Nano’s workshop seemed to have been received and brought here by Lien in advance.
It was a necessary item for this solo operation since Lily would not be accompanying him, so it was a good thing.
Just then, Enoch found something under it.
“…….”
The longsword of the Sword Saint of the Waves, which he had secretly packed, and a techwear-style tactical robe from SIEG.
They were two items he had brought just in case he needed to use them in this mission, where the outsourcing district was the setting.
Just as Enoch was lost in thought, wondering if he would have a use for them in this mission.
Just then, the cool voice of a girl who shouldn't be there now pierced his ears.
“Ahaha, as expected! It’s definitely refreshing to wash in the large public bath as you recommended--mda~!”
“……?”
Enoch stiffly turned his head towards the unwelcome guest who had suddenly burst open the door and entered.
Sure enough.
There, the genius engineer girl, who had just come out of the shower, was wearing light clothes and had her long, wet hair hanging down.
Nano, who had just entered, stopped in her tracks and her eyes widened as she spotted me.
“Huh? Direct Lineage Member?”
The moment he saw her reaction, Enoch had a hunch.
It seemed she had mistaken the room. And at the worst possible time.