WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 27: Resistance - 2

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Having steeled himself, Kanisen abruptly turned and shouted.

"If you've pulled yourselves together, get out here already. We need to hurry. We don't have much time!"

It seemed Alpha and Beta weren't the only ones hiding inside the supply crate. Several voices answered from within. Soon after, amid a flurry of movement, two people climbed out of the crate, grunting under the weight of a square metal case.

Kanisen gave them a glance, then strode over to me.

"Comrade."

Why the hell am I your comrade, asshole?

I only cursed at him inwardly and put on a smile instead. Kanisen gripped my shoulders tightly, his expression grave.

"We need your help, comrade. In return, help us, and we'll get you out of here."

"Out? Really?"

"Of course. Unlike the military state, the Resistance doesn't lie to its citizens."

Haha. Sure. Escaping was escaping, all right. A grand escape to heaven after abandoning my body.

Look at him, not even changing expression. If I weren't a mind reader, I would've watched them install bombs without knowing a thing and gotten blown to pieces.

Still, I couldn't let him realize I'd caught on. He had the strength of a knight. Without any equipment, I stood no chance against him. I had to follow his orders without giving him an excuse to act.

With a bitter smile, I pretended to know nothing and gave him the reaction he wanted.

"Escape? You'll get me out of this damned place where the sun doesn't even shine? That's a promise?"

"Of course. I keep my promises."

"Leave it to me! How can I help, comrade?"

Kanisen looked around and fell into thought.

'The prison is larger than expected. We brought a considerable amount of explosives, but it still won't be enough to completely destroy Tantalus. Even if we blow up the cliff as planned, only the bedrock will collapse while the main facilities remain intact. What we need most is a point where we can create the greatest effect with the least amount of explosives. Since we've come all the way into the Abyss, I want to strike at the foundation itself.'

After calmly forming a plan, Kanisen spoke to me.

"You said you've been here for several days. Then you should know the rough layout of this oppressor's prison."

"Not all of it, but I've looked around. Other than the prisoners who were here, I probably know it best."

"Good. Was there anywhere important? Somewhere that looked worth paying attention to."

"Hmm. Somewhere important."

There was. A very nice place prepared just for you people.

I immediately raised a finger and pointed.

"That underground armory over there. There's a huge steel door sealed shut, but it opens by itself every once in a while. I looked inside once, and it seemed like there was a lot of stuff in there."

A thousand-year-old vampire was waiting inside. A delivery of living blood lunchboxes. Vampire, enjoy your meal. Ah, and the packaging can't be put out with the trash, so dispose of it yourself.

"And in the monitoring room on the first floor of the prison, it looked like they had weapons or equipment for controlling dangerous prisoners."

On the first floor was Tantalus's ultimate weapon, the regressor who would happily cut off your arm upon meeting you. If she heard you were planning to destroy Tantalus, she'd cut off your head too. Next time we meet, let's see your head and body separately.

"What about that place?"

Kanisen pointed at the administration building, separate from the prison structure. It was half-destroyed, with broken walls, a collapsed roof, and little left beyond rubble.

Hmm. They shouldn't go there. There was nothing there that could kill them.

I answered in the most uninterested tone I could manage.

"I went there once, but there was nothing special. Just broken debris everywhere. Nothing worth taking."

"Broken debris."

'The other buildings remain, yet only that place bears so many signs of destruction. Someone clearly destroyed it deliberately. That means there is something there that cannot fall into someone else's hands. Or perhaps abandoned equipment. Either way, with resources so scarce, if we're going to search somewhere, that should be first.'

My words seemed to have drawn Kanisen's interest instead.

Tch. His mind did work well.

Not that it mattered. He was still in the palm of my hand.

"I've decided. Everyone, listen carefully."

Kanisen called the other Resistance members over. The Resistance members who had been anxiously scanning their surroundings hurried to gather before him. Their stiff bodies still hadn't loosened up, and one of them stumbled after stepping wrong. Regardless, they assembled with tense expressions.

Kanisen pointed to them one by one.

"Alpha, head for the underground armory. If there are explosives or weapons, gather them and bring them back. We lack weapons."

"Understood!"

Kanisen turned. The woman who had shot at Azzy earlier flinched and clutched her gun tightly.

"Beta. Head to the first floor of the prison. There may be weapons intended to control the prisoners. If you encounter any prisoners, avoid fighting as much as possible. Make up whatever excuse you need and search the place."

"M-me? I have to face Tantalus's prisoners?"

Beta shook her head, looking uncertain. Kanisen let out a quiet sigh, loud enough for her to hear clearly.

"You're the most cautious among us, Beta. You're also the best shot. You're the right person to search while avoiding a fight."

"B-but, leader. You saw it just now. The prisoners here are monsters who can catch bullets. M-my gun won't work on them."

"We've already put our lives on the line. The moment we came down here, we were as good as dead. Have you come this far only to tremble in fear?"

Kanisen glared at Beta as though scolding her, but she still looked terrified. After glaring at her for a moment, he sighed.

'I can't change her personality right away. Her confidence took a huge blow after the bullet she fired so confidently was stopped by teeth. At a time like this, even if it doesn't quite fit...'

"Huu. Alpha, we're switching assignments. You go to the first floor. Beta will go to the armory."

Alpha stepped forward and answered in a booming voice.

"Leave it to me. I'm not afraid!"

"Confidence is good, but don't forget the principles. Your opponent is likely to be terrifyingly strong. Avoid fighting whenever possible. And Beta, since you're going somewhere relatively safe, give Alpha the military gear you have."

"Y-yes..."

Beta quickly took the large disc off her back. The silver disc, which looked as though it had been cast from metal, bore dozens, perhaps hundreds, of characters engraved along concentric circles. At its center was a hole barely large enough to fit a fist through. Anyone seeing it might mistake it for a weight plate used for exercise.

Its true identity, though, was military gear, a military state-made weapon.

The circular silver disc that formed the military gear was the most powerful weapon they had brought, but Beta hurriedly handed it to Alpha as if it were nothing more than a burdensome load.

Alpha seemed delighted to receive such a powerful weapon, while Kanisen clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"Tch."

'Military gear is a powerful weapon. It would be more rational for cautious, calm Beta, whose physical strength is lacking, to wear it... But it can't be helped. We've already discarded our lives. Right now, we need fighting spirit more than talent. Someone like Alpha.'

Unaware of Kanisen's thoughts, Alpha happily accepted the military gear and looked at him.

"Leader. Can I put it on now?"

"Of course."

"All right! Then!"

Once Kanisen gave permission, Alpha rolled up a sleeve to reveal a bio-terminal, then slipped an arm through the hole in the silver disc.

At that moment, magical light flashed.

The metal disc split apart above and below. With a clatter of interlocking metal, it changed shape and climbed up Alpha's arm as if swallowing it. Hard, crude metal wrapped around Alpha's left arm. As armor plates encased the arm, the wires joining the gaps drew tight.

Clank, clank.

A series of regular, perfectly fitting sounds rang out, sounds that might give anyone who worked with metal something close to an orgasm. Gears turned and ridges locked into place. Steel armor plates steadily covered Alpha's body without leaving a single gap.

Before long, Alpha wore an enormous suit of steel armor. A helmet covered the entire face, and steel scales filled every gap. Surrounded by steel without a single opening, Alpha clenched a fist in exhilaration. Metal scraped against metal.

"Haha! I could die without regrets now!"

The military state was a country that turned everything in the world into a weapon. True to its nature, when clothing packets first appeared in the world, it immediately came up with a different idea.

Clothing could be made into packets.

Armor was clothing too.

Then couldn't armor also be made into packets that were easy to put on and take off?

With that simple three-step logic, the military state researched methods of alchemizing armor into packets.

The fact that the alchemical difficulty of cloth clothing and iron armor differed like heaven and earth was not considered important. That was a problem for the engineers to overcome.

Whatever complaints the engineers might have had, the military state poured in countless human and material resources and eventually perfected the technology to turn armor into packets.

That was this. Military gear.

The essence of the military state's alchemical magitech.

"This is incredible power. With this, I don't think I could lose to anyone!"

Alpha shouted, drunk on a sense of omnipotence. The confident voice echoed through the metal. Just as Kanisen had expected, Alpha didn't look intimidated even after putting on the military gear.

That was also what Kanisen disliked about it. He clicked his tongue.

"Don't talk nonsense. Military gear only grants you additional strength. Whether you defeat the enemy depends on your own ability."

"But with this much power!"

Alpha's heated gaze turned toward Azzy. She had been yawning as though bored, but she sensed the strange hostility and slightly raised her gaze as she turned her head.

Wow. He was asking for death without knowing his place.

'This reckless brat doesn't know his place!'

I wasn't the only one thinking it. Kanisen widened his eyes and shouted.

"Alpha!"

Alpha flinched at Kanisen's rebuke.

"Don't act rashly! Focus on your assignment! First, take off that visor blocking your entire view! Your mission is exploration, not combat!"

"Y-yes. I'm sorry."

'Huu. Nothing is ever easy.'

While Alpha hurriedly removed the helmet and visor, Kanisen looked at the remaining members. Gamma and Delta. They were support personnel with less combat ability than Alpha and Beta, so it was best not to expect much from them in that regard.

Delta was a meticulous rear-support operative, while Gamma had once worked as an engineer for the military state. With planned demolition now more important than indiscriminate bombings, Gamma was the most important person in this group.

"Delta, stay here and protect these..."

Kanisen's gaze turned toward Azzy and me, especially Azzy. Something like awe and fear lingered in his eyes.

"Protect these people. Since it could be dangerous, don't let them get near the administration building. If possible... yes. Play some ball with them."

"Understood."

Wow. Look how thorough he was. He wasn't about to let his guard down until the very end.

I was one thing, but Azzy was the King of Dogs. If she wanted to, she could slaughter everyone here. Of course he would be wary.

Of course, as the King of Dogs, she couldn't harm humans, so it was only talk. He wouldn't be able to think that far ahead.

"Good. Gamma, you're coming with me to the administration building. With an engineer like you there, we can conduct a more precise investigation."

"Yes!"

"Then gather up."

The tense Resistance members put their hands together. Their hands were stacked, but I could tell their thoughts were scattered in every direction.

Some were terrified. Some thought only of showing off. There were Resistance members who had blindly followed their friends here, ended up in this place before they knew it, and still regretted coming along.

Yet none of those feelings showed on their faces. From the outside, they simply looked like a somewhat mismatched rabble of Resistance members.

"Everyone. Put your lives to use. Use them to strike a blow against the hateful military state."

"Yes, leader!"

"Good. Split up!"

What had brought them here, at least, was their hatred for the military state and their bond with one another. They had the bare minimum of unity, and no one disobeyed or hesitated at the order. The Resistance members began moving toward their assigned locations.

Footnotes:

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