Chapter 2: Farewell and the First Battlefield

This is the worst.

"Hehehe… it’s so good. So delicious. This is how you’re going to tame me, isn’t it? Tempting me with food, making sure I can’t run away… cornering me…"

"I’m glad you like it."

"…Um, can I have another one?"

"…"

This wasn’t part of the plan. I never imagined anything like this would happen. Sure, those of us in the reserve unit were told that in an emergency, we’d be deployed as substitutes if the front-line units failed. But still—no one seriously expected this to happen, right!?

People in this world—Kivotos people—are tough. Especially the kids… students with halos floating over their heads. They barely ever get seriously hurt. It depends on the person, sure, but they can literally take a bullet and just go "Ow."

And yet they’re suddenly "no longer usable"? This comes from the higher-ups, of course. They wouldn’t say that over a simple injury. Best case: loss of a limb. Worst case… death. Malnutrition could be possible, but the higher-ups know manpower is scarce—scarce enough that even brats like me get dragged into this. So they wouldn’t starve valuable front-line fighters. And the reserve unit? We get plenty of rations. So it’s not a food issue.

Damn it. Why? They can’t die from bullets—right? So what the hell is happening on the front lines?

"Hiyori, don’t push yourself…"

"No, it’s fine. I brought a lot today."

Why? Seriously, why? Why does everything I build get destroyed so easily? All those valuables I stockpiled in my hideout, the preserved food, the peo—cough… the companions I managed to gather with them. All of it, gone.

Aaaah! I’m gonna die! They’re going to throw me onto the front lines and that’s it for me! Students can take bullets? Don’t be stupid—I can’t! Those things hurt like hell! If I take multiple rounds, I’ll die for real! Ahh, it’s over. Yep. My journey ends here. Dun dun dun… Game Over.

"You… so you were here."

"Saori. Sorry to intrude."

"No, it’s fine. If anything, we’re the ones freeloading in your home."

"That’s not really true…"

While I tried to keep up appearances despite internally clutching my head, the metal sheet door screeched open, revealing a sharp-eyed girl with navy-blue hair.

"Sorry for the wait. Anything happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing in particular. But… maybe because of the civil war—the area’s been noisy lately."

"Yeah… it seems to be getting worse. You all should be careful, okay? You’re still kids. Don’t do anything reckless."

"We’re not that different in age…"

Joumae Saori. The pale blue–haired girl stuffing her cheeks with the emergency food I brought—Tsuchinaga Hiyori. And behind her, following timidly, a frail-looking girl wrapped in bandages, probably hiding wounds—Imashino Misaki.

They’re the girls I’ve been… feeding. No, that sounds terrible. They’re companions I’ve formed a connection with. Whether the civil war ends or drags on, Arius is already lawless. Being alone is dangerous. Forming a group increases your chances of survival. That’s why I shared food and let them stay here.

…Well, that all went to waste.

"Saori. Can I talk to you for a bit?"

"What is it…? Did something happen?"

"Yeah."

So, sadly… it’s goodbye. I don’t like it, but I can’t take them with me into the brutal combat zone near the front lines. They’ve never trained. Bringing them would make them nothing but shields. Even if we’re physically the same age, the idea of younger, emotionally immature kids—kids I’ve bonded with—getting hurt… that’s too much.

"I’ve been assigned to the front."

"…!"

"I’ll probably leave tomorrow."

"Can we come with yo—"

"…"

"…I see."

Of course they’d be anxious with the oldest one leaving. I handled more than half of our food gathering, after all. But they’ll be fine. I’ve left them my stored resources, and I know they have the ability to survive here.

The problem is me, honestly. Can I survive this battlefield? No! Thank you for the match! I’m doomed. Seriously, what am I supposed to do?

"I drew a map showing where the food and supplies are hidden and left it on the table. Check it later."

"…"

"It’ll be fine. You’ll be okay—if the three of you work together, you can manage even without me."

"That’s not…!"

"It’s okay. I’m sure you can."

"But…"

"Do you not trust me?"

"…That’s not fair."

Adults are unfair!!

…Since we’re being unfair anyway, maybe I should just desert the army. Yeah, no. I definitely can’t. Not in this hellscape. I wouldn’t survive a single day as a deserter.

"Take care of the other two, okay?"

"…I will."

All I take with me is the equipment they issued. Pathetic. Everything I built is gone. So this is life, huh? What a joke.

"…See you."

"Yeah. See you."

I force open the warped metal door. I probably won’t come back.