Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
chapter-278

『Daughter of the Military State. Born and raised in the Military State, the future of the Military State… even you, in the end…』

Even in the face of the overwhelming majesty of the angel, Historia's resolve did not waver.

"I will rectify this. I apologize for failing to meet your expectations."

『You had strength, power, and honor. Despite that, you abandoned everything. What was lacking that led you to betray the Military State?』

Historia gripped her gun with her injured hand.

As someone who had mastered the extremes of Gam Qi Art, she managed to realign her dislocated bones within minutes, but her condition was still far from perfect.

So, Historia held the gun with her damaged hand, ready to fight.

“…A friend.”

Eimeder tilted its head in confusion.

『Just for that?』

“…And a place for friends. The Military State had nothing to offer to me in that regard.”

『You had power, authority, and numerous subordinates. Yet you chose to run away instead of fulfilling your responsibilities…. Truly, you are a child, endlessly immature.』

The conversation ended with the angel's lament.

Despite the possibility of being spared based on her actions, Historia showed no intention of seeking forgiveness from Eimeder.

With their differing opinions, the only thing left was battle.

Everyone anticipated the forthcoming fight, holding their breath.

The silence was taut, like a string about to snap.

In the midst of this tension, a pair of animal eyes glinted behind the angel.

“Meow!”

The battle began with an ambush from Nabi.

The beasts, Azzy and Nabi, had no interest in things they couldn’t eat, and the identity and ideology of the Military State were certainly inedible.

Nabi had wandered into the quiet, dark communication module room and immediately curled up to sleep.

But the angel's dramatic entrance had disturbed Nabi’s sleep.

Groaning in pain, I muttered.

“I brought these beasts for a reason…”

Eimeder was made of light.

Nabi’s hunting instinct was triggered by rapidly moving, shiny things.

And with Eimeder not wearing a human body, it would be difficult for the angel to detect the beast’s ambush.

Just like when we fought Eimeder before….

Or so I thought.

『A mere beast.』

The true Eimeder, embodied in a human form, noticed Nabi and spread its wings wide.

The wings glittered in front of Nabi.

Following her instincts, Nabi's eyes tracked the tips of the wings momentarily.

Her forepaws struck like lightning to tear through the wings, but it was a mirage.

『If faith is all you have.』

“Nyaaaaah!”

Immediately, a brilliant light flashed, and Nabi shrieked as she was flung away.

She had been struck by two other wings in the light.

White fur, stained with blood, scattered through the luminous aura.

『I shall teach you how arrogant your belief is.』

Eimeder folded its wings in mid air.

A small storm brewed inside the building, and Eimeder moved suddenly as if pulling an invisible lever.

It charged towards Historia.

Intending to coordinate an attack with Nabi, Historia was now facing the angel one on one due to Nabi’s retreat.

But Historia was a Star General, she was a Qi Practitioner who had mastered one on one combat.

As the angel came closer and closer, it finally entered the range of close-quarter combat.

**｢The wings move before the arms and legs. The force moving the angel comes from the wings. I’m not sure, but I need to confirm. If that’s true, I have to avoid the wings.｣**

Recalling the angel’s characteristics, Historia stepped firmly and twisted her body.

The large wing brushed past the tip of her nose.

Even as the fierce wind battered her face, Historia continued to observe her opponent.

**｢The range is too wide. All of its attacks are sharp and fast, which makes it impossible to get closer. In that case!｣**

As soon as Historia finished her assessment, she drew her gun.

She aimed for the minute gap created by the three wings.

She pushed the muzzle into the gap and fired with all her might.

Click.

But the bullet didn’t fire.

A white feather had lodged itself into the gun barrel.

**｢Not just the wings, but the feathers too…?! Damn!｣**

『I am the Military State itself. Within the Military State, Eimeder is omniscient.』

Eimeder’s wings enveloped Historia.

What kind of ordeal would a fly perched on an eagle’s wing experience?

Later, if you asked Historia, she might be able to tell you.

The large wings expanded and flicked Historia away.

She slipped over the wings, was scratched by feathers, and caught in the storm.

In a fleeting moment, Historia experienced a multitude of sensations.

“…Tch. We’re losing.”

The Military State’s Star General, Eimeder, in its true angelic form, wielded immense power.

The most terrifying thing was that this Eimeder had sufficient knowledge and the intelligence to use it.

“Nyaa! That thing is weird! It’s hard and sharp!”

Nabi rolled on the ground, crying out in pain.

Despite the severe blow, Nabi didn’t seem critically endangered.

Eimeder hadn’t inflicted a fatal wound while fighting.

It merely raised its feathers like hooks to tear at her fur.

It was painful but not life threatening.

So, Nabi wouldn't display her ferocity.

She would just watch cautiously from a distance.

“Woof….”

And since Eimeder had taken on I.A.’s body, my next backup, Azzy, was just sitting by my side licking her paws.

Tch… Useless beasts.

“…Woof. It hurts.”

“Me? Yeah. It hurts like hell.”

I grumbled as I pulled out two heart cards.

There were no visible injuries, but the sheer impact was too much.

I was bleeding, my internal organs were slightly damaged, and my bones ached.

When one part of you hurts, you use the medicine for that part.

But when your whole body hurts?

“An anesthetic, of course.”

I placed Four of Hearts and Five of Hearts together.

Holding the two cards with a slight gap between them, I tapped them lightly, causing bright red liquid to seep out.

Four of Hearts, Death.

Five of Hearts, Sensory Poison.

Combined, they created a potion to kill sensation.

Yes, an anesthetic.

Or rather, a narcotic.

A potion made by combining the two cards.

Every potion contained in each card was simple and dangerous, but highly effective.

I tilted the cards and let the liquid flow into my mouth.

The sharp initial taste quickly turned flavorless.

My senses were numbed.

The side effects would be significant, but surviving the immediate crisis was the priority.

The future could only be prepared for if I survived.

“Woof. Not you. Her.”

“Who? That sparkly one?”

“Woof.”

Is this really the time to worry about her?

She willingly offered her body, giving up even her mind.

“Of course, she’s hurt. She practically sacrificed her Spiritual World to summon an angel. I predict she won’t last long. Maybe an hour….”

But an hour is more than enough time for Eimeder to steam me.

I need to think of a countermeasure before the terrifying result of "Hughes Steamed by the Angel Chef" appears.

The potion seemed to be taking effect, as the pain subsided and strength surged in its place.

With this power boiling within me, I felt like I could do anything.

No, truly, I could do anything.

The card in my hand was actually a shattered legendary sword, and if I used my 'true power,' I could split the angel in half.

Eimeder, you’ve had your fun so far.

I’ll tear you apart….

**｢Your state is abnormal! You’re standing while trembling and clinging to the wall, sobbing! I suspect something has gone wrong!｣**

…Of course not.

The delusions that just surfaced were the side effects of the anesthetic.

The world was full of pain, and forgetting pain meant forgetting reality as well.

But I am a Mind Reader.

As long as people were watching me, I wouldn’t lose my objectivity.

I was grateful that my pain was invisible to others, and I straightened my wavering body.

At that moment, Captain Abbey ran over.

“You! Are you safe?”

“I’m fine now, Captain Bbey.”

Having regained my composure, I surveyed my surroundings.

Historia was still fighting.

Nabi was cautiously watching the angel while inching closer.

The Princess had been taken to safety by Shiati.

Shiati still had her thumb, which might be helpful if things got worse, but I doubted an angel would fall to black magic.

Hmm.

This was a dire situation.

“It’s been a while. I missed you. How are your injuries? Are they serious?”

“I’m not in pain anymore.”

“That’s good to hear. Now that we’ve exchanged pleasantries, I will report the current situation.”

Even after a near death experience, a Signaller is still a Signaller.

After checking my well being, Captain Abbey began to relay information while still showing concern for me systematically.

“Currently, Eimeder, summoned by Signaller Yuel, is displaying strong hostility towards you, me, and the other Signallers. Our chance of victory is 0%. Therefore, I strongly suggest you escape from this location.”

“Escape? I never expected to hear that from you, Captain Bbey.”

“There’s no time for idle talk. The situation is urgent. If Major General Historia is defeated, Yuel's Eimeder will immediately attack you and me.”

Her tone was as rigid as ever, just like a golem.

But the content was different from before.

Captain Abbey was alive.

And she was doing her utmost to survive, preferably with me.

Yes.

To survive, you must be prepared to do anything.

Even defy the angel’s orders and flee.

This is what I need.

Without that, the Signallers would be innocent and faultless.

I banged on the seamless wall.

“There’s no door or window here. How do we escape?”

“We need to buy time. Based on my assessment, Yuel is highly wary of you. Have you ever attacked or threatened Yuel?”

“Not at all. I don’t even know who Yuel is…. Oh? Wait a minute.”

The Signallers mentioned earlier that Abbey was the Signaller closest to the first Signaller, A.

I had a rough idea that Captain Abbey held a significant position.

She had one of the first identification letters and her abilities were surprisingly remarkable.

She could send her will to Tantalus in the Abyss even from the surface.

Although Tantalus was on the outskirts of the Abyss, no one would call it a trivial facility.

It was a historic place to imprison ancient monsters and heinous criminals, those capable of threatening the Military State.

Someone who monitors such a place alone can’t be ordinary.

That’s why I have been trying to build a connection with her.

“Do you know Yuel? Who is she and where does she live?”

Captain Abbey might be more important than I thought.

She listed her knowledge without any emotion.

“Negative. Signallers are assigned identification letters and deployed without revealing their work locations to anyone. This applies even among Signallers. I have only communicated with Signaller Yuel, nothing more.”

“You communicated with that Signaller. And that Signaller summoned an angel here.”

This was uncharted territory for me.

But I could make an educated guess.

A being called Yuel possessed the abilities of a Signaller.

She communicated with Captain Abbey and summoned an angel here.

The mysterious being known as Yuel extended her abilities across the entire Military State.

In short, there was no way to be sure of her location using any measurement methods.

But I could make an educated guess.

“The Military State didn’t fall from the sky. It was created with a purpose.”

When the Kingdom fell, and the Military State rose, it didn’t build its headquarters in the existing large city of Amitengrad.

Instead, it chose this location.

Initially, it was a facility to oversee the installation of the Meta Conveyor Belt.

Soldiers used to pasture the plains for lodging laborers and managed resources and personnel for constructing the Meta Conveyor Belt.

“If that angel is a historical figure involved in the creation of the Military State, she would be in a location deeply entwined with the Military State’s history.”

Once the Meta Conveyor Belt was completed and the Military State was on the rise, this place became the headquarters.

It was a logical decision.

Originally used for grazing, the plains became a hub of transportation following the Meta Conveyor Belt’s construction.

There was no reason to abandon this place after establishing all the facilities.

“For example, like this headquarters.”

“But this is vast, and numerous armed soldiers are on standby. How do you plan to search for her here?”

It’s impossible by conventional means.

But there might be a way.

There’s nothing new under the sun.

All creation, except for coincidence, stems from imitation.

It was very likely that Signallers were modeled after something.

The Military State was akin to a god and Signallers were like priests.

Thus, the closest to A was…

“Captain Abbey. Do you trust me?”

Though it was an out of the blue question, Captain Abbey nodded without hesitation.

“Affirmative.”

Hmm. I thought I’d have to explain since this requires a lot of faith.

But no need for further explanation, then.

“If she can see this place through the eyes of a Signaller… I can’t do it, but you might be able to find her. Look for her, Captain Abbey.”

There’s no doubt.

There’s no need to ask how.

Captain Abbey was a well trained soldier, and she would carry out the mission given to her with all her might.

As long as her faith was steadfast.

“Understood. As of this moment, I, Signaller Abbey, will commence the mission to locate Signaller Yuel.”