Rune Troopers: Self-Defense Forces Adventure - Chapter 2: Argentavis (Part 10)

While the banquet was being prepared, Kuze held a brief meeting in front of the helicopter that had landed.

Gathered there were the Squad Leaders from each of the Platoon’s Squads. Kuze’s unit operated with 31 members divided into three squads. This time, since they would be dispersed, they were particularly careful.

“The First and Second Squads will accompany me and Vice-Admiral Kato and provide escort. Third Squad will stay here to protect our helicopter and secure the perimeter.”

The Squad Leaders of each group nodded nervously.

Kuze would lead the First and Second Squad consisting of 20 soldiers. The remaining eleven would be responsible for securing the helipad.

“Any questions?”

“None.”

This was a standard exchange used at SDF meetings as a greeting, but this time the tension was different.

“The atmosphere seems a bit strange. I talked with Commander Kato so carry your weapons along. If you see anything suspicious, radio me immediately. I’ll ask the pilots to stay close to the helicopter for immediate evacuation. Keep your radio open.”

“Understood.”

Kuze felt worried about leaving the helipad, which was their lifeline. But for now, the top priority was escorting Commander Kato. With that, he had to enter the Castle, which he considered to be more dangerous.

“Keep our ride out secured, I beg you. Sergeant Yaegashi.”

“Understood. Take care of yourself, too, Third Lieutenant Kuze!”

Kuze patted the shoulder of Yaegashi, the Squad Leader of the Third Squad.

Yaegashi seemed to be really worried about Kuze. He was a small man, a little over 30 years old, but he looked younger. He had a boyish face. Perhaps it was because he always had an innocent look on his face that many members of his Squad admired him.

However, in spite of his appearance, he carried the insignia of a Ranger, which was only bestowed to the strongest in the Self-Defense Forces.

He was also the one who took the initiative to assist Kuze from the time he arrived at his post, even though many Sergeants take a dim view of new cadre members. For this reason, Kuze trusted him.

Yaegashi also trusted Kuze, who spared no effort for the Unit. He was such a hard worker that he himself volunteered to become a Ranger, so perhaps he could not leave a hard worker like Kuze alone.

“Captain Kuze, let’s get going. We don’t want to keep them waiting.” Kato calls out to him carefree from behind.

Kuze, on the other hand, was impressed by his lack of nervousness.

“Ah, yes. Then, First and Second Squad on me. Oh, and Ichinose, you stay here. You don’t have to watch my back.”

Ichinose, who was preparing to put on a sniper’s bush hat, looked at Kuze with a puzzled look on his face.

“What’s that? But basically, I have to stay close to the Commander…”

Since the snipers of the Ground Self-Defense Force existed in the name of protecting friendly Commanders from enemy snipers, he thought he should be by the Commander’s side this time, too. However, Kuze looked appalled.

“What’s the point of bringing a sniper rifle into the room? It’s useless. Instead, stay here.”

“Oh, come to think of it.”

The truth was that even if they were detained inside the Castle, they would have a chance of escaping if they were near a helicopter. It was a parental feel that made Kuze leave young people like Ichinose behind.

Once preparations were made, Kuze and Kato along with the Escort Squad moved to the castle.

‘That’s one hell of a castle, by the way…”

Kuze lightly raised the eaves of his work cap and looked up at the towering spires.

It was an exotic castle, more reminiscent of a Turkish blue mosque than a Western castle. The marble corridors made a pleasant sound with each step. It was almost a shame to walk in half boots. The furnishings were all beautiful and expensive looking.

The castle exuded a sense of grandeur, perhaps because one could tell just by looking at it that it had been here for a long time and was still in use today.

“Is this your first time in a castle?” Carda asked the two following behind her.

“Huh? Yes, it’s my first time.”

“Really?”

Carda mumbled and did not ask any more questions.

(They have never been to the Castle, these guys must be of very low status.)

Normally, it would be unthinkable for them to appear before Her Majesty, much less be invited to a banquet.

However, it seems that Her Majesty had a plan. If that was the case, Cards thought she just had to go along with it.

“Speaking of castles, have you ever been to Kumamoto Castle on a school excursion?”

“Hey, I was at Nagoya Castle.”

They were still talking in an incomprehensible way. It may be true that they were not our enemies.

But what would be the use of having such an unknown, yet not very strong-looking group of people as allies? I see that those strange flying vehicles and the iron ship that the Warrior Lalona had seen might be of some use. But they did not seem useful in battle. It would have been better to hire mercenaries who were hungry drifters.

“From here on out, you shall be in the throne room. Please do not make any mistake.”

Carda glanced coldly at the two men and their Guards, who were holding strangely shaped iron staffs.

“I am not very knowledgeable about the etiquette of this world, so I would appreciate being informed of any taboos you may have.”

“Since I will be present, I will do my best.”

Carda had no choice but to reply per her duty as a nobleman. To be honest, she wanted to get rid of these guys and train her soldiers in preparation for the upcoming war with the Empire. There was no time for a feast.

“She doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“But she does seem a little scary.”

“Oh, that’s right. She seemed like a person who was going to swing a man around.”

Calda pretended not to hear.

…Because she was hurt.

The woman, who identified herself as Carda, stopped in front of a huge door. This must be the throne room.

“The guests have arrived. Please open the gate.”

“Gyoi.”

The strong men standing by the door answered. Around them were women with veils over their faces and swords at their waists.

“They are probably the Imperial Guards.” Kuze nodded his head in agreement at Kato’s words.

As the King, it would be more convenient for her to have the same women to secure the area around her. Tense, Kuze felt the incomparable stares from these women.

It was on a different dimension from being hit by a gun. It took him a while to realize that it was a killing intent.

If we made a strange move, they would probably attack us all at once. At such a close range, it was likely that they would slice us to pieces before we could even take off the safety of our guns. 

Kuze promised himself not to do anything that might make them suspicious.

“Open the gate!”

With a heavy thud, a group of men opened the gate. This gate would apparently serve as the last line of defense in the event of a battle.

Kuze and the others passed through the huge gate.

“Welcome. You don’t know our manners, do you? No qualms, make yourself comfortable.”

In that space, luxurious dishes were laid out in a narrowed manner.

“Wh-what the hell…”

“Is this legal? I’ve been treated like this…”

On the contrary, the two were puzzled by the hospitality. All of them were asked to prepare a table and sit at it.

“Don’t be shy. Oh, and don’t feel like you’re the only ones, since I had the same thing delivered to your friends waiting in the courtyard.”

“We’ll be very grateful for the…”

Kato agreed, and Kuze gently asked him.

“Are you sure about this, Commander Kato?”

“The possibility of being poisoned cannot be ruled out, but there is no reason to go to such lengths to kill us. There is a possibility that we are being drugged with sleeping pills and taken hostage, but again, I can’t think of any reason to go that far.”

“Are they really inviting us as guests?”

“I don’t know. I’m about to find out.” The girl came to the side and poured a drink for Kuze and the others.

The girl seemed to be a maid working at the castle. They were all young. Some of them were younger than others. Kuze smiled at the girl who had joined him.

“Oh, thank you very much.”

“Huh? Yes.”

She was a girl in her early teens with porcelain-white skin and round eyes. She had light peachy blonde hair that reached down to her shoulders. She was dressed in a cool, slightly revealing, yet elegant outfit. It looked like a more mature version of the Belly Dancer’s outfit.

She’s a pretty girl, Kuze thought.

He was a little relieved by the girl’s presence, since he had been so tense up to now.

The girl herself seemed puzzled, as if she was apparently never thanked in this throne room. She looked at Kuze’s face and seemed a little embarrassed.

He was not aware of it, but he had the appearance of a beautiful young man there, which was rare among the Self-Defense Forces. The girl’s embarrassment was partly due to the fact that he was talking to her so closely.

“Third Lieutenant Kuze.” Kato caught it sideways.

“Yes?”

“…Nothing.”

Kato turned away with a pout and, reflecting the light on his glasses, muttered vindictively.. 

“This is why handsome men are ……!”

He was jealous that he got into a good mood with a girl.

Kuze strangely respected him, wondering if he must have some screw-off to be in such a good mood in this situation. 

“If possible, from next time onwards, would you please serve me either water or juice instead of alcohol?”

“Yes, sir.”

The girl bowed politely to Kuze’s request and gladly complied.

One drink was not a bad idea, but he couldn’t afford to get drunk on the job and not know what might happen.

Kuze glanced sideways at the Type 89 5.56 mm rifle on the floor to his immediate right, with the bipod at the bottom of the cased section upwards for dust control.

As a Platoon Leader, he could not forget that he was now carrying live ammunition.

“Well, it looks like we’ve had our fill.” Hamiea stood up with her own cup.

“My guests, before I congratulate you on your visit, may I ask you a question?”

“Whatever we can answer, Your Majesty,” Kato responded.

“You say you are from a country whose name I have not heard. No, let me be straightforward.”

Hamiea looked as if she were testing him.

“Where in the world did you people come from?”

The place fell silent as if it had been drowned.

The King’s voice was filled with a commanding presence. There was no atmosphere in which she could be brushed off because she was a girl.

Kato looked troubled, but like the King, he stood up and answered with a sincere expression on his face.

“From another world, a world apart from this one.”