Chương 115: Chapter 8:”Request to Participate in the Humite King Rescue Operation”

The two, who were too surprised, didn't seem ready to talk at all.

"W-wait a minute. Am I... dreaming some strange dream?"

"It's not a dream, Kudin. I'm clearly seeing it with my own eyes too. I can't believe it, but the reaction shows it. Without a doubt, it's the man from the daytime incident!" With their mouths gaping open, looking around my whole body restlessly kyoro-kyoro. The two had completely lost the adult-like calculation and calmness they had until just now. Looking from the outside, they are indistinguishable from mere children whose hearts are captivated by something they see for the first time.

It even makes me think they are a little cute.

"I am a somewhat special human. I have two different types of bodies and can transform anytime. This male body and—" I transform again to show them. The two rounded their eyes again.

"The female body I've been showing until now. Both are the real Me." Incidentally, let's answer Remi's question too. Now that I showed the transformation, explanation is easy.

"I've been a woman until now to escape the Humite Sensing System. This body doesn't emit Life Energy."

"Eh—ah, true. The life reaction disappeared again!"

"Unbelievable... Really without any device!? Why? Was there a Humite who could do such a thing?"

"Rather than can do, maybe it's a constitution. So even if you ask why, I'm troubled. I have no proof, but such a constitution is rare, and I think I'm probably the only one in this world." Well, if I show and explain this much, they should have understood for the time being. I think they will tell the rest of the story even if I stay a woman, but... I decided to transform into a man again.

If it doesn't lead to troublesome things like being chased, it would be better to be a man who excels in combat power in this world. It's easier to deal with when something happens. When Remi attacked earlier, I managed even as a woman, but I don't know when and what will happen. It's better to be safe than sorry.

"So, once again. From here on, I'll listen to the story as'Ore' (Me/Male). Tell me your business." When I urged them to return to the main subject, did Kudin try to calm down somehow? Reseating himself deeply in the leather chair, which is a little too big for his child's body, he took a deep breath.

"Good grief. Among us Natura, there are those who have a structure that partially transforms, but... It's the first time I've seen someone change completely like this. My head is still confused."

"Me too. I might be the most surprised in my life. Yu. Who on earth are you?"

"Even if you ask who. Well— a Traveler, I guess."

"Traveler? There's absolutely no way that's true, right!?" I was glared at with a stare saying she wasn't convinced, but I'm not lying. Without being shaken, I returned words honestly.

"Just a passing traveler. Just happened to wander into a town full of Machine Humans." Technically, speaking of FabL, there are various things, but... Everything is unrelated to the circumstances of this world. In that sense, there is no mistake that I am truly nothing more than a single traveler.

"Hmm. Is that so. A traveler, huh? Is that so?" With that, she backed down for the time being. But looking down displeasedly, I could hear her muttering in a small voice,"Absolutely impossible. It's absolutely impossible that I was defeated by a random traveler," or something. Hmm. Did she hold a grudge? Ahaha...

"Ah—fine already. Kudin, tell this guy the operation quickly." Eventually, when she urged him with a slightly thorny voice, Kudin nodded as if he returned to himself.

"Ah, yeah. That's right." Finally the main subject. It was long. I regret a little that maybe it would have been faster not to show the transformation.

"What I want to ask you is no other than this. I want you to cooperate in the rescue of the Humite King."

"Rescue of the King, huh." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I thought they came with an unexpected angle. Humites and these people are probably not allowed freedom of speech in the first place, and Kudin speaks as if he seeks strong fighting power anyway. So I expected that they would appeal to force more and make me do radical things. Was it different in a good sense? Well, if it was as expected, of course, I intended not to cooperate at all.

"Yes. As is well known, Theo has been imprisoned ever since he was arrested during activities in Amareum a year ago." Theo. Apparently, that is the King's name.

"We have been moving around secretly to rescue him in cooperation with Humites, but..."

"It always goes well halfway, but in the end, we are blocked by the hands of Dielevats led by Lilna. In addition to producing not a few sacrifices, everything has ended in failure."

"As expected, her existence is the bottleneck." At the level where she is impressed by the movement of "Watashi" (Female Me) in a completely normal state, that is helpless. Even "Ore" (Male Me), who is one step superior in raw physical ability to "Watashi," can barely capture her movement by fully strengthening with Qi. That's how fast she is. Just that alone is dangerous enough, but if there are other similar comrades, it shouldn't even be a fight.

It is not hard to imagine that there is no choice but to do it secretly, and it's over at the point of being found.

"Yes. She is a devil. Once the battle begins, there is absolutely no mercy. She turns into a slaughter weapon with no blood or tears."

"That is scary." I play along. As someone who experienced that tremendous killing intent and relentless movement, I can easily imagine how it looks to others.

"Many, many comrades were killed! I hate her!... But, I'm scared of her more than that." Did she recall the scene where her comrades were killed? Her voice was trembling.

"They are terribly powerful obstacles. But still. We can no longer afford to sit back and watch. A reason has arisen why we must rescue him urgently no matter what."

"What is that reason?"

"Information came in that Theo's execution has been decided... According to the schedule, it will be carried out in three weeks."

"I see. That is bad." So that's why they were desperate enough to recruit a stranger like me. They really don't have time to choose means.

"He is the last hope left for Humites. If he dies halfway through his ambition, there will be no one left who can save the Humites who are in danger of extinction. He is such a man." From his way of speaking, it was keenly felt that he placed full trust in the man named Theo. The fact that he is evaluated this much by him, an outsider Natura, means that the trust from the Humites in question might be even higher.

"For us who share the same ambition, losing him is the only thing we want to avoid no matter what." If I am a "Humite," I must cooperate to save such an "Excellent King." If they called me expecting that. Does this seemingly too sloppy recruitment drama make sense for the time being?

"Until now, we mainly received aid such as relief supplies from Humites. Directly, we were doing our best by ourselves. But we were made to realize painfully that it is no longer enough. So this time, prepared for great risk, it was decided to have 『Lunatope』 come directly here."

"What is Lunatope?"

"Eh, don't you know? They are famous." I was amazed with a face saying unbelievable. Kudin, who is good at following up, explains again.

"A Humite platoon doing resistance activities in various places on this Eln Continent. Elites who have crossed blades with Dielevats and survived."

"Hee. Elites, huh. Why didn't they come out until this last moment?"

"They couldn't come out. They have done dangerous missions in various places, but they had to avoid only this Diesnatura. If you were chased just today, you would understand, right?"

"Ah..." I guess vaguely. He said exactly that.

"Operating on the ground where a perfect security network against Humites is set up is normally equivalent to suicide. It is too reckless. Therefore, until now, Humites have not been able to step into direct activities here."

"That they suddenly stepped in this time means... it is such a situation after all."

"Yes. That's why I was really blown away that you were walking around above with a calm face. Only you in the world must have done such a thing." Haha. Is that so. If I was doing such insane actions, no wonder I attract attention from around and a bounty is put on me. But that was really force majeure, though...

"Lunatope is scheduled to arrive here via an underground route within a few days. The execution of this operation is scheduled for ten days later. Our purpose is to rescue Theo and deliver him safely to their capital Luonhumite."

"What should I do?"

"I want you to participate in the execution unit with Lunatope and accompany them until the end. We, who cannot fight properly, intend to fully support instead."

"Leave that part to us perfectly," Remi puffs out her chest.

"It will be a hard battle risking lives. Of course, we will prepare a reward commensurate with it." He straightened himself and asked me with a sincere attitude.

"I was really sorry for doing rude things earlier. We were also not in a position to choose means. I am fully aware that it is a selfish story. But please. Can't you cooperate?"

"Please from me too. Everyone's fate is at stake." The two bowed deeply together. They didn't seem to intend to raise their heads until I replied. I couldn't feel any signs of lying in the story. There is no merit in deceiving, and besides, I don't have enough suspicion to doubt from the root after being done this much. I don't believe blindly, but I think it's okay to trust. Then, my answer was already decided.

"Understood. If it's helping people, I'll gladly cooperate. However, let me do it at my discretion to some extent. Is that okay?" The faces of the two raised finally shone brightly as if a light of hope was lit.

"Really! Will you do it! I thank you. Of course, your judgment should be respected."

"Thank you! It really helps!" Looking at the faces of the two who seemed happy from the bottom of their hearts, I, who accepted, didn't feel bad either. However, considering that it will be a hard battle from now on, I can't be too excited. In the end, I ended up getting involved in a troublesome problem. It seems trouble is inherent to me. —Well, that's what makes the journey interesting.

"Then, I'll explain the detailed content of the operation immediately. There is also an information terminal you can access and food. Please follow me to the conference room."

"Roger. I'm already starving."

"I thought so. Looking at the thermo, your body temperature was dropping. You haven't eaten anything for a long time, right?"

"Yeah. Phew. I can finally take a breather." Thus, I decided to participate in the operation to rescue the person named Humite King Theo. It is three days later that the Humite Liberation Squad 『Lunatope』 they mentioned arrives at Geesnatura.