Chapter 86

The Fallen ones swarmed out of the abandoned airport.

Among them, there were those as big as bears and others so short it made you wonder if they were dwarves.

Still, most of them had average height and build.

They certainly were raiders, but unlike the vagrants who roamed the wasteland, they looked healthy.

“Move faster!”

Though somewhat disgruntled by the soldiers’ commands, the group followed obediently.

As this happened, Falder approached me.

“Nothing went wrong, did it?”

“No, even if these Fallen ones are foolish, there’s no way they’d fight against this.”

I subtly inclined my head toward the cruiser we had arrived in.

“That’s true.”

Falder nodded, understanding my implication, and replied with a faint smile.

Meanwhile, the Fallen ones continued to emerge from the airport, discarding their weapons and disarming themselves.

From crude homemade firearms to relics of bygone eras, some looking like they belonged in a museum, mixed with relatively modern weapons, the pile was a mishmash.

“That’s right. Unlike the other Fallen ones, they do seem well-armed.”

“Indeed.”

Fallen.

The word referred to the pillager types in the AOE world.

However, as was often the case with these end-of-the-world pillagers, they fell into distinct categories.

First were the Chasing Bandits, a nuisance that roamed the wastelands in vehicles modified for combat.

Next were the Red Faces, an occult group composed of end-times religious fanatics who revered blood and had embraced savagery.

Lastly, these ones: Iron Legion, who though awkwardly imitated soldiers, were a military-esque gang with strong power.

“Moreover, they seem to have a somewhat organized structure.”

“That’s correct.”

In reality, they were grave robbers – scavengers hiding in old military facilities and fortresses, using leftover tools and supplies.

But as the saying goes, even temple dogs can recite poetry after three years.

Though the Iron Legion weren’t actual soldiers, through mimicking military structures, they had more discipline and order than other pillagers.

Thus, I targeted the Iron Legion among the various pillager factions — those with prior experience and exposure to the military might adapt better.

“Even though they aren’t soldiers, by mimicking them, they’ve somewhat grown into their role.”

“Faking it….”

Falder let his words trail off as he nodded. His gaze turned to the Iron Legion commander kneeling before us.

“Indeed.”

A shabby, old military uniform.

Though it could be forgiven, the circuit board hanging from his chest and rank insignias plastered all over his cap were excessive to the point of being bizarre.

And the misplaced stars signifying ranks were scattered haphazardly.

This reminded me of something akin to the ballistic medals of a certain kingdom in the north of our land.

“Shall we have a bit of a chat?”

As I spoke, Nisia deftly positioned me in front of the man.

“Leader of the thieves. Oh, in Iron Legion, you’re called Chief, right?”

The man twitched in response to my words.

The man who had been bowing his head low, as if attempting to tunnel into the ground, finally looked up.

“Y-you… how could you know that?”

“I have my ways.”

“…”

His complexion turned even more pale at my words.

Alright, enough anxiety built up, let’s try extracting some information from him.

“So, what’s your name?”

“K-Kiron.”

“Good, Mr. Kiron, I’ll ask you a few questions. Please answer truthfully. If you lie… you know, right?”

“Yes, understood!!”

Kiron answered loudly.

“Good, then—”

I questioned him about the Iron Legion, checking for inconsistencies with my knowledge.

Their troop counts, the locations of their bastions, and who their leaders were, amongst other things.

Nearly everything matched my memory, except for one detail that diverged from my expectation.

“So, your leader’s name is that battalion commander, Adamant, correct?”

“Yes.”

His demeanor, even after claiming to be Kiron, seemed overly submissive, despite the typical raiders’ mindset of following strength.

Hmm, if handled correctly…

“Alright, that’s all for now.”

“Ah, yes.”

Kiron let out a faint sigh of relief at that moment.

“By the way, Mr. Kiron.”

At my renewed address, he tensed again.

“Y-yes, what is it?”

“You didn’t lie, right?”

Kiron’s eyes widened in response to my question.

“Er, surely you can’t mean to say…”

“Yes, the content I’ve just inquired about is something I already knew and have verified.”

My false statements.

But there was no way Kiron could detect the falsehood in my words.

“E, err…”

Confused, Kiron avoided meeting my eyes as he stammered.

I paused deliberately before speaking again.

“Calm down, Mr. Kiron. My purpose in interrogating you was to confirm that you are a trustworthy individual.”

I continued, making it seem like everything was within my control.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Even with my gentle tone, the complexity of Kiron’s thoughts left him visibly restless.

Watching this, I signaled to Falder upon sensing an opportune moment.

“Mr. Falder, could you please fetch one of those items you brought along?”

“Here it is.”

Falder handed me a chocolate bar.

As I took it, I turned to Kiron, noticing his gaze flicker uncertainly, unsure of what the item was.

He seemed to dread some terrible fate.

However, his current unsettled state worked in my favor.

It would make this small token of kindness, the sweetness of the chocolate bar, even more impactful.

“Here, Mr. Kiron.”

“Y-yes, yes.”

Kiron extended his hand without meeting my eyes.

I placed the chocolate gently on his hand.

Surprisingly light, he glanced up, examining the chocolate bar placed upon his palm.

“What is this?”

“It’s called a chocolate bar, go ahead and have it.”

“Chocolate… bar?”

Amazement filled his expression.

With the collapse of civilization, items like chocolate, which were difficult to produce, were practically non-existent.

Thus, Kiron’s reaction was expected.

“Just unwrap it and eat it.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“You answered my questions honestly without lying, so this is my thanks.”

“…”

His bewilderment was evident in his expression.

At this moment, Falder tactfully took out an identical chocolate bar, unwrapped it, and began eating.

His deliberate actions caught Kiron’s attention, prompting him to slowly unwrap the chocolate bar with trembling hands.

The bar came into view.

Its elongated rectangle form was adorned with soft ripple patterns, catching the light and glistening.

Kiron unknowingly swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth.

After pondering briefly, he closed his eyes tightly before biting into the chocolate bar.

His eyes snapped open in surprise.

Looking at me, a hint of positive emotion graced his eyes for the first time.

“How was it, was it tasty?”

“…Yes, it’s sweet and delicious.”

“That’s right. You should know by now, I’m someone who clearly rewards and punishes. Also, I don’t fancy unnecessary bloodshed.”

As I spoke, I pointed to the corner of the airfield where the traces of naval artillery fire could be seen.

“Mr. Kiron, you understand that if I so desired, I could annihilate you and this abandoned airport, right?”

“Yes.”

“And why didn’t I do such a thing?”

“…Isn’t it because you want something from us?”

Kiron’s careful tone suggested thoughtfulness.

Good, he’s not lacking intelligence.

His compliance and keen insight felt like this person could be a useful asset in quickly resolving tasks.

“That’s correct. But after talking with you, Mr. Kiron, my expectations have changed.”

“Yes, what does that mean…?”

“Mr. Kiron, are you interested in working together on something big?”

“…???”

…

A desert, red sand swirling violently in the oppressive heat.

In the heart of this barren wasteland stood something distinctly alien: a gray architectural structure.

A fortress built from rugged concrete and thick with iron reinforcements.

Its pyramidal shape was dotted with artillery emplacements, rusted and damaged but still imposing.

This was the core stronghold of the Iron Legion and also a dungeon-fortress hybrid.

Fortress Line 33.

Towards this place, a single vehicle approached at speed.

An enormous dump truck covered in all kinds of steel plating.

It was so heavily armored that it resembled more a tank than a regular vehicle.

As the truck approached, spotlights from the fortress came to life, locking onto it.

Simultaneously, rough voices barked from within the fortress.

[Stop!]

The truck immediately halted upon receiving the command.

Then, the sand at the entrance stirred as if it were alive, and figures emerged from within.

Clad in thick cloaks, these individuals had completely covered their faces with cloth, leaving no skin visible. The only sound was the harsh, mechanical breaths emitted by their oxygen masks.

Sand Snipers, part of the Iron Legion.

Their goggles glowed green, and the long rifles slung across their backs were now trained on the vehicle.

One sniper stepped closer to the truck, tapping on its door. The window rolled down, revealing a passenger.

“Ho… Chief Kiron, what brings you to the fortress?”

“I’ve come here to deliver a message to the battalion leader.”

“…Without making prior arrangements?”

Heavy, labored breaths continued beneath cloth coverings.

Under his goggles’ concealed glare, Kiron maintained his composure with effort.

“This is urgent. Open the gate quickly.”

“…”

The Sand Sniper scrutinized Kiron silently.

An eternity seemed to pass in that brief moment before the sniper slightly bowed his head.

“…Understood. Be more careful next time.”

“Alright.”

The sniper ended the conversation, immediately turning around and drawing his rifle.

He aimed it at a distant location, the laser pointer flashing a few times before the desert fell silent.

The heavy doors of the fortress slowly opened.

Seeing this, the other snipers lowered their weapons and stepped back.

“Well done.”

Kiron gave one final nod to the nearby sniper before rolling up the window, continuing his drive into the fortress.

“…”

The other Sand Sniper observed the vehicle disappear into the fortress without a word.

After a long pause, realizing his watch was over, the sniper quietly returned to his position.

“Phew…”

Kiron released a shaky breath, calming his racing heart.

The person driving the truck used one hand to remove an old helmet.

Her long black hair swung as a faint rainbow hue shimmered in her eyes.

Nisia Den, Edu’s friend and the protagonist of this world burdened with much responsibility.

“Still, it’s amazing you managed to hoodwink them, Edu.”

“Hmm.”

Amidst their conversation, another voice suddenly emerged from the air between them.

A beautifully flowing silver-haired head popped up, features cute yet elegant.

“From now, this is where it really begins, let’s move forward with determination.”

“Hmm.”

“…Understood.”

The three resolved, their expressions filled with determination as they steered the heavily armed truck towards the inner sanctum of the fortress.