Chapter 41 — The Witches Strike Back

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Yuki's conversation with her father was interrupted as the base's alarms blared to life. Red warning lights flashed throughout the office, bathing the entire room in an ominous crimson glow.

"...The alarm?..."

Yuki exclaimed in shock, while her father's expression immediately turned serious.

"...General!"

Two soldiers burst into the office. As they approached the general, he immediately assumed a commanding demeanor.

"...Status report!"

At the general's command, one of the soldiers immediately reported the situation.

"...The emergency alarm was triggered in the base's cafeteria! Shortly afterward, all security cameras and motion detectors went offline!"

"...!?"

Yuki's face filled with disbelief.

The base's security systems had been upgraded to the highest possible standards with Gero Sullivan's assistance. She had even personally tested them to ensure everything was functioning properly.

And now, they had all gone offline.

"...We can't establish communication with the personnel in the cafeteria. We've already dispatched five squads to investigate the situation!"

The general remained silent for a moment.

Although they still had no information about what was happening, he was almost certain that the Witches of Sin had finally made their move.

The general shifted his gaze toward his daughter.

"...Colonel Horikita."

He addressed her by her name and rank, signaling that they were now acting as soldiers rather than family members.

Yuki immediately understood and adopted the same mindset, looking at her father with the focused expression of a soldier ready to follow orders.

"...Join one of the squads and investigate the situation."

"What?! But, sir! The Bravers are forbidden from engaging in battle!"

One of the soldiers immediately protested.

Every soldier stationed at the base knew that the Bravers had been prohibited from engaging the enemy because the Witches were specifically targeting them, attempting to turn them into Witches themselves.

"...Under normal circumstances, that would be the case. However, the enemy appears to have infiltrated the base and bypassed all our defenses. Right now, we need Colonel Horikita's strength to defend this base!"

Once again, General Horikita looked at his daughter.

"...Colonel Yuki, you have permission to engage the enemy if necessary. However, if you find yourself outmatched, retreat immediately and wait for reinforcements."

"...Understood, sir!"

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Yuki answered with a salute.

The general then turned toward everyone in the room.

"...Since the alarm has been activated, additional reinforcements should arrive soon. Our priority is to assess the enemy's strength, contain the threat, and hold our positions until those reinforcements arrive!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone answered in unison.

Yuki quickly turned around and hurried out of the office to join one of the squads heading toward the cafeteria.

"...Yuki..."

However, just as she reached the door, she heard her father call her name.

She turned back to look at him.

"...Remember... this time, you won't be fighting alone..."

At those words, Yuki's eyes widened slightly before she nodded to her father with a gentle smile.

Then she turned around and disappeared through the doorway.

"...."

General Horikita closed his eyes for a moment.

Once again, his daughter was fighting to protect humanity.

For a moment, the image of his daughter as a one-year-old child appeared in his mind.

That same little girl who had barely been able to walk was now protecting the entire world.

If his wife hadn't passed away on the day Yuki was born, perhaps their daughter would have lived a different life. A peaceful life, far removed from the battlefield.

As a single father, he had raised Yuki strictly. Of course, he had always shown her the love and affection of a caring father, but he had also made her join the military at a young age.

He had played a significant role in Yuki's selection as one of the Bravers. Her exceptional adaptability to Stellar Energy had made her a strong candidate, but it was her extensive military training that truly set her apart from the other potential candidates.

General Horikita had always questioned whether he had made the right choice. Even now, he sometimes wondered what his wife would have thought of the life he had chosen for their daughter.

Would she have been proud of Yuki for becoming a Braver, or would she have wished for their daughter to live a peaceful life, free from the dangers of war?

He would never know the answer.

However, one thing was certain: he had never wanted his daughter to suffer. Everything he had done, every decision he had made, had been with the intention of preparing her to survive in a world where danger could appear at any moment.

Yet, despite all his efforts, he couldn't help but wonder if his own choices had dragged his daughter into the horrors of war. First, she had fought against King Cosmos's invasion, and now she was facing her former friends, who had been transformed into the Witches of Sin.

Suddenly, the general's thoughts were interrupted as one of the soldiers approached him.

"...General, let's escort you to the safety room..."

One of the soldiers suggested.

According to protocol, if the base came under attack, high-ranking officers were supposed to gather in the designated safety room until the enemy threat had been neutralized.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"...!?"

The soldier looked at General Horikita in confusion at his sudden response.

"...General?"

"...I'm not going to sit around while my daughter is fighting. Not this time..."

The general murmured.

As he spoke, he reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a device resembling a smartphone. Its design bore a slight resemblance to the devices used by the Bravers.

"...We'll join another squad heading toward the cafeteria and assist Colonel Yuki."

The soldier was momentarily speechless, but he quickly regained his composure and saluted the general.

"...Y-Yes, sir!"

With those words, the two soldiers accompanied General Horikita as he prepared to join the other squads and fight alongside his daughter this time.

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Throughout the numerous hallways of Military Base Delta 55, hundreds of soldiers rushed toward the cafeteria, armed with Stellar Energy rifles and prepared to fight.

The sound of heavy boots echoed through the corridors as soldiers from different stations hurried toward the cafeteria, their hurried footsteps growing louder.

♪ Hmm-hmm-hmm... ♪

However, in one of the quieter hallways, a girl wearing a black sailor-style uniform with a crimson-red ribbon walked cheerfully, humming a little tune.

Her hands rested behind her back as she swayed from side to side with each step. Her long crimson twin ponytails swung playfully behind her, while a wide, delighted smile stretched across her face.

"...Hehehe... I can hear so many footsteps. I guess they've already found Gluttony..."

Greed giggled cheerfully as she continued walking without a hint of urgency.

The corners of her already mischievous smile stretched even wider as she thought about her friend.

"...Ahhhh... Yuki... I can't wait to see you again..."

She tilted her head slightly, her narrowed crimson eyes gleaming with excitement.

"...We have a looooot of catching up to do... Hehehehehe!"

Greed continued strolling through the hallways as hundreds of small, dark figures crawled behind her.

The Witches of Sin had begun their attack on Military Base Delta 55.