Chapter 36: Holy Relic (7)

As soon as Tatiana Belov appeared, Sart's shadows shot forward, forming dozens of spears and spikes.

"…We'll talk later."

I remembered it clearly.

The scene of Tatiana Belov being pathetically chased by a horde of beasts.

But the situation was different from back then.

Sreung───!

A flash of light gleamed.

In an instant, the shadows attempting to strike her from behind were scattered.

With ordinary physical force, such a feat would have been impossible.

But for Tatiana Belov, it was doable.

"Do not interfere, beast."

The level of the protective suit she was wearing was at least 6.

Considering my own suit was only level 3, the difference in basic performance was on a completely different scale.

Furthermore, unlike when she was exhausted and injured from prolonged combat, Tatiana Belov was now in prime condition.

Even Sart of the Shadows would not find her an easy target.

"Well... It seems I was thoroughly underestimated."

Sart sneered savagely.

It was a deeply unsettling grin.

"I will kill you all, milords."

Ssssssss────!!!

Darkness spilled out across the ground.

Nightmare Reproduction was about to manifest on this land once more.

But Tatiana Belov was not alone here.

"Formation F-3. The target is a Grade 2 Phantom Beast classified as a Level 1 Hazard. Take your positions."

The command was delivered calmly.

But what happened next was anything but ordinary.

The troops moved in perfect unison.

As expected of the elite Ether Combat Troopers, they quickly encircled Sart.

"I repeat, the target is a Grade 2 Phantom Beast classified as a Level 1 Hazard. Only weapons with firepower equivalent to Level 5 or higher are permitted... Authorization granted for plasma sword usage."

Most of the weapons developed by Ark were long-range firearms like cannons, guns, and missiles.

But that did not mean they lacked close-combat weapons entirely.

Plasma Sword.

A special weapon allowed only to Ether Combat Troopers and select personnel, it was essentially a sword-shaped projector emitting plasma.

A limited-use close-combat weapon.

Its energy efficiency was poor, limiting its operating time.

Its durability was low, prone to frequent malfunctions.

Despite all these drawbacks, the reason the plasma sword remained the primary weapon for the vital Ether Combat Troopers was simple.

Near-absolute cutting and destructive power.

Not just a sword in purpose, but a pure and overwhelming force as a weapon.

As if to prove it, when Tatiana Belov's plasma sword traced a line of light, the darkness hiding the shadows was split apart.

Kwaaang─!!!

The ground overturned, and the darkness was torn asunder.

With every flash of light, the shadows' hiding places diminished.

"Just this much...!"

Of course, the opponent was still a Grade 2 Phantom Beast.

Even with the plasma sword, he would not be taken down so easily.

Shssh!

Amidst the raging plasma storm, Sart remained unshaken, still attempting to unleash Nightmare Reproduction once more.

If it had been a one-on-one battle, that attempt might have succeeded.

However, Sart was misunderstanding one crucial thing: it wasn't just Tatiana Belov standing against him.

"Target confirmed."

They were a team.

A team renowned for their experience and teamwork, capable of hunting even a Grade 2 Phantom Beast.

Boom─!!

A grenade launcher fired—a model at least two grades higher than mine—creating a small crater where Sart had been.

The bombardment did not stop there.

Kwakwakwakwang!

Kwakwakwang!

Due to the inherent limitations of Ether Combat Troopers, their shooting accuracy was not very high.

Nevertheless, the sheer volume of firepower was not something even Sart of the Shadows could easily endure.

"Annoying pests!"

Sart erupted in rage.

But instead of a courteous response, he received only explosive rounds and grenades.

Kurururung─!!!

With every explosion, the shadows visibly diminished.

Now it was clear what Sart's next move would be.

"...I will not forget this humiliation. Milords."

The shadows gathered in one place.

As a seasoned soldier, Tatiana Belov could not fail to grasp what that meant.

"He's trying to escape!"

The reason Sart could act as a scout despite his relatively weak combat prowess within the Shadow Order was simple.

His tenacious vitality and exceptional escape ability surpassed even that of the fanatics from the Church of Morte.

As if to prove it, even though Tatiana Belov swung her plasma sword, there was nothing left at the spot where Sart had been.

"...Did we lose him?"

If I had stepped in, I might have been able to cut off Sart's escape.

But doing so now would not have been a wise choice.

Both Sart and the Shadow Order—even though they were currently enemies—could still be valuable if used correctly.

'Above all, revealing the relic's power now might spark unnecessary suspicion. There's no need for that.'

It was rational not to intervene.

'The real problem starts now.'

Thanks to the distress signal, I managed to overcome the immediate crisis.

However, the problem was that the signal itself was not entirely beneficial to me.

From this point on, I would have to engage in another negotiation.

Fortunately, the situation wasn't too dire.

After all, the person standing before me was someone whose life I had once saved.

"Carl Marcus."

Tatiana Belov looked at me.

"Why are you here?"

"I had some personal business."

"What business? And where did you get that flare?"

"Do I have to explain that?"

It was true that the situation was disadvantageous for me.

But that did not mean I had to appear intimidated.

"Yes, you do. Carl Marcus."

I had expected that Tatiana Belov would persist in questioning me.

The reason I gave a vague answer first was simple—people rarely trust answers that come too easily.

"I was tracking someone."

"Who?"

"Name: Leopold. Rank: Corporal. A soldier from the Orange Line."

"Leopold! You know him? How?"

Of course, I knew him.

I had dragged his corpse here and burned it myself.

But I couldn't exactly say that in front of Tatiana Belov.

So, I pulled out the explanation I had prepared.

"When the Wave hit recently, he was kidnapped by a flying beast, about to die. I saved him. While he was unconscious, I treated his wounds. He gave me the flare, saying it might come in handy someday. Turns out he was right."

Although Leopold had already become a cold corpse when abducted by the flying beast, that wasn't the point right now.

The important thing was to come up with a convincing story that would make Tatiana Belov believe me.

"You said you saved Leopold? But then you were chasing him? What do you mean by that?"

"I offered to escort him back to Ark since he insisted on returning, but he said he couldn't impose on an outsider any longer and insisted on going back alone. I had no choice but to let him go."

"…Then why are you here?"

I scoffed.

"Heh, did you really think I would just abandon an injured man like that? That's pretty cold-blooded, don't you think? That's a bit harsh, even for your savior."

"That's… not what I meant… Sorry."

Tatiana Belov's voice grew small, sounding genuinely troubled.

As I already knew, she was a rather sincere person.

"Anyway, I couldn't just let Leopold go off alone, so I secretly followed him to make sure he got back to Ark safely. That's when that black shadow… I don't know what to call him, but that guy appeared and attacked me."

It was quite a plausible excuse for something made up on the spot.

Saving someone and then secretly following to protect them was a story that Tatiana Belov would find convincing.

"Grade 2 Phantom Beast, Nightmare. It's classified as a Level 1 Hazard within Ark. It's a cunning and dangerous monster with intelligence beyond that of humans."

Tatiana Belov nodded.

The infamy of Sart of the Shadows was already widespread within Ark.

"Anyway, while that monster was attacking me, I lost sight of Leopold. Judging from what I heard, it seems like you know Leopold. Did you find him?"

"…Yes."

"Good. He promised he'd repay me in a big way once he got back. Unlike some people, he knew how to show gratitude rather than resorting to threats."

As I spoke nonchalantly as if I knew nothing, Tatiana Belov's expression darkened.

"Something wrong?"

"…I'm sorry. It's my fault."

"Leopold's dead, isn't he?"

Feigning surprise, I asked, and Tatiana shook her head.

"…Unfortunately."

Tsk.

There was no need to put on an overly sorrowful expression.

Strictly speaking, we had only known each other for a few days at most.

"Anyway, I appreciate your help this time. Let's just say the debt is settled."

As I had experienced this time, the connection with Tatiana Belov was quite useful, but that was as far as it went.

Getting any closer wouldn't be good for many reasons.

Especially considering that I still harbored the intention of killing Ivan Belov.

"If Leopold is dead, there's no reason for me to stay here any longer. I'll be on my way."

"W-Wait a moment!"

Tatiana Belov stopped me and carefully handed me something.

"Take this."

"What is it?"

"It's a wireless communication device. It's set to our private channel, so if you need anything in the future, just contact us through this."

I hadn't planned on receiving anything from Tatiana Belov, but this changed things.

She probably didn't realize it, but having this would make it easier to eavesdrop on Ark's communications.

'With this, I can keep track of Ark's situation from now on.'

The decision didn't take long.

It wasn't in my nature to refuse something useful when offered.

"Is it really okay to give me something like this?"

Tatiana hesitated for a moment before cautiously adding,

"Because… you're my savior."

* * *

As she watched the departing figure of Carl Marcus, the adjutant spoke.

"Is it really okay to just let him go like that? He's a suspicious person. We should take him in and interrogate him immediately. The fact that Leopold's body was found there is strange, and it's also concerning that the corpse was burned to the point that the cause of death couldn't be determined. Plus, his equipment being missing bothers me as well."

Despite the adjutant's words, Tatiana Belov shook her head.

"The equipment probably got lost while he was escaping. Or maybe he gave it to Carl Marcus as a token of gratitude. And the burned corpse must have been swept up in the body disposal process. Besides, didn't we already confirm that the flare fired from there was Leopold's by examining the traces left behind?"

"That's true, but… still, that kind of evidence can be easily fabricated."

"I vouch for his identity. He's a refugee who lived near Kronos before it fell."

"No matter how much you vouch for him, ma'am, that's not enough. I'll have to report this to the higher-ups."

Tatiana Belov's gaze shifted to the adjutant.

Her eyes held no discernible emotion, but it was precisely because of that emptiness that the adjutant felt his body tense up.

There was no one in the Navy Line who didn't know the name of the Belov family.

The adjutant was no exception.

Everyone respected and feared the Belov family.

"Did you see his hands?"

"His hands? What about them?"

"They were trembling. Probably from fear. Honestly, anyone would have felt that way."

Tatiana Belov was well aware that Carl Marcus's presence there was suspicious.

However, if Carl Marcus had some connection with the Nightmare, there would have been no reason for him to be attacked or to tremble like that.

That was the conclusion Tatiana Belov had come to.

To be precise, that was what she wanted to believe.

No matter what anyone said, Carl Marcus was the one who had saved her life.

"Even so…"

"Whether or not you report it to the higher-ups is none of my concern. But you'd better be prepared to take responsibility for it."

Go ahead and try.

It was an unmistakable threat.

"…Understood."

A warning from Belov was never just a warning.

The adjutant, knowing that well, didn't dare bring up the issue again.

"We're heading back."

Tatiana Belov turned and began walking away.

The suffocating weight that had been pressing on her chest felt like it had been washed away, just a little.

***

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