Projectile weapons didn’t even deserve to be called weapons; they were just trash. This had been a widely known fact, a common knowledge, since ancient times.

The air, imbued with mana, fundamentally repelled everything it collided with. Even an arrow, attempting to slip through the gaps, disproportionately disturbed the firmament compared to its sluggish speed. Those with keen Qi Sense could easily detect and deflect it with timely reactions.

The same went for bullets. This incomparably noisy weapon had always been criticized for its poor lethality. Unless fired at close range, it was an object that couldn’t even injure an ordinary person, no more harmful than a swarm of annoying flies.

However, the Military State thought differently.

If mere common soldiers could buzz annoyingly near an absolute powerhouse, wouldn’t that, of itself, be a tremendous gain?

Right as the Military State was in the thick of seeing positive results from this interest, Gunmaster Historia appeared like a comet.

Bang, Bang.

As I was hiding inside the container, bullets flew intermittently, reminding me of their existence just when I was about to ignore them.

Of course, the bullet’s couldn’t penetrate the container’s outer wall. But that didn’t mean I could be complacent. Just when I let down my guard, a massive explosion dented the containers. It was Historia’s bullet.

“An annoying swarm of flies. And hidden among them is a hornet… Or so you said. Hmm. Indeed, that is a fitting description.”

When Tyr clenched her hand, the darkness flowing along the floor brought the dented bullets into the container. Tyr casually appraised the incoming bullets in a relaxed tone.

“Even if the sun is shining, to think she could dent steel that is wrapped in my Mark. Moreover, from that distance.”

“That’s right. It’s the pinnacle of the State’s military tactics. It isn’t for no reason that she is called the Daughter of the Military State.”

At the same time the Regressor grumbled, she glared at me.

“At this point, it makes me very, very curious about what strange things happened in Hamelin. What kind of resentment did you bring forth? Even just a few days ago, they simply let us pass. But how is it that now, a Star General is chasing after you, even betting her life while doing so?”

“I told you. It’s a personal issue. I bet the only person trying to catch me is Historia, you know?”

“What in the world did you do?”

“Ah, well. It’s a long story. It was when I was the tender age of sixteen. In a secondary military school, where the Military State tried to cut away at the prime of our youths to craft us into weapons, we….”

I settled in my seat and recalled past memories. At some point in time, Tyr had already lent an ear, prepared to listen attentively.

Memories of my brilliant school days. The small, low hill in Hamelin and the river flowing gently below. The memories and dreams that lingered there….

“Just get to the point.”

“Tch. What a spoilsport. You’re no fun.”

“Is fun the issue here? The enemy is almost right before us!”

“Alright, alright.”

I shrugged my shoulders before explaining.

“In Hamelin, they tried to use students like bullets, you see? This angered the students greatly, who then used the tactics and combat skill learned from the Military State against them. They organized raids, burned bases, staged sieges, and at one point, they were about to execute the top student of the school to set an example, but...”

The Regressor, who was listening quietly, flinched at the realization that this was my story.

｢Wait. The top student of the school? Isn’t that him? He nearly got executed by a friend in the past?｣

Yeah. I told you. It’s not something that can be summed up so simply.

The Regressor asked with a noticeably cautious tone.

“...But?”

“Upon reflection, they seemed to realize that killing a fellow student wasn’t the move. Fighting against the Military State could be a sort of protest, but attacking the top student is just rage, driven by envy, isn’t it? The message doesn’t really carry well. My classmates realized this at the last moment and chose to take their own lives instead of fighting back.”

“....”

“Amidst all that, they even asked me to join in their suicide. How terrifying, right? Truly, a desperate crisis. Wow. But anyway, at the last moment, I used my brilliant wits to play dead and escaped.”

｢So he’s been a crazy bastard since his school days, huh. Well, to be fair, given all the other sides of him I’ve seen, it’s not like he was ever normal.｣

What an upsetting thing to say. You’re gonna make me sad, you know? Isn’t it so unfair to me? The students ranked second and third in Hamelin were too strong, so they didn’t even dare to think of touching them. It was just that weak, little me was the top student, as well as the easiest target.

At this point, wasn’t I the victim? Is it a sin to be weak?

“I barely survived and tried to return, but the Military State didn’t want to take responsibility, so they just blamed me for everything. What an utterly unjust situation. It was just that I had a whistle in my mouth instead of a gag. But it somehow turned into a situation where I led everyone with a whistle, you know?”

“I get the gist. At any rate, you’re saying the Military State are the bad guys, right?”

“It would be best to remember that. After all, if something strangely wicked happens, it’s usually the Military State’s doing.”

Fortunately, the Regressor didn’t seem too concerned about this matter.

Having destroyed the Military State in a previous regression round, it seemed like minor incidents like this were just something to pass over for her.

｢It’s quite a tragic past…. Well, I guess everyone has their story and circumstances. Compared to the Gunmaster or Lankart, it’s honestly better this way. After all, at least he doesn’t cause much harm.｣

And there seemed to be a bit of consideration for me as well.

“Anyway, it seems their intentions are obvious.”

“They’re not aiming to shoot us down nor approach us. Their goal is clearly to buy time until their main force can join them.”

“So the question is whether we break through or wait. Just one of the two, huh.”

While us two modern folks were pondering, the vampire, whose war doctrine had stopped centuries ago, boldly suggested.

“Let us break through. After all, what reigns supreme in war is firstly, strength, and secondly, momentum. If one only retreats, they will inevitably be driven into a corner.”

It was a viable strategy. If one had the strength to do that, overcoming and crushing were always correct.

“Well, it’s not a bad idea. Shall we give it a try?”

“Wait for just a moment. I shall be back before the tea cools.”

Oooooh, look at that confidence. As I looked up to her with reverent eyes, Tyr shrugged her shoulders leisurely.

｢Be it bullets or whatever. They alone cannot stop me. Come, then. Try shooting as much as you wish.｣

Without hesitation, Tyr stepped forward, exposing herself. She stood alone on the land that was as flat as a river. At that moment, Tyr covered her face with her palms and grimaced.

And on top of there, bullets poured down. Despite Tyr’s not so tall stature, the volley pounded the vampire. Unable to react because she was covering her eyes, Tyr could only endure the barrage of bullets.

Of course, mere bullets could not harm her.

But it wasn’t the bullets that were stopping Tyr’s way.

“...That cursed sun.”

It hadn’t been long. In fact, it had only been a few minutes. However, after she attempted to advance with her parasol, Tyr could not endure any longer and had to return.

I handed the still warm tea to the discouraged Tyr.

“The tea definitely is still warm. Would you like a sip?”

Several crumpled bullets were embedded in her body. Well, to be more precise, they were actually stuck in the darkness surrounding her body, but anyway.

While I was removing the bullets one by one from Tyr’s body, who was barely able to open her eyes, she murmured as if having mixed feelings.

“...The east just happened to be that way, where the sunlight is strong. That cursed sun.”

“Isn’t it a bit too much to curse the sun that diligently rises from the east every day?”

“Are you daring to side with the sun in the face of my presence?”

｢If it was not for that sun, I would have already taken you to your desired destination. I could have brushed aside such an obstacle effortlessly!｣

I know, right? When I think of it that way, the sun does seem a bit outrageous. How dare it do that, huh? Hey, Mister. Can’t you take just one day off? Just sleep in for a bit.

Wait, calm down. Without the sun, we’ll all die. Not just humans, but everything that the sun’s light nurtures on this land.

Phew. I almost got carried away by vampire logic. She almost fooled me! Let’s stay calm.

“If it was not for the sunlight sneaking through the darkness, those mere fragments of iron would not even have been itchy.”

“Huh? So, you’re feeling itchy right now?”

Tyr, who was irritated by the discomfort, realized what exactly she had been feeling throughout various places of her body. A stimulus far too weak to be called pain, but a sensation too persistent to ignore.

Ahhh, so this is what itchiness is. Tyr muttered, finding such a sensation unfamiliar.

“...Now that I think about it, it is strangely itchy. How odd. I did not know such a sensation could exist for me.”

“If Tyr feels itchy, it means the bullets are affecting your Authority. Hm, then are they not just any ordinary bullets? Hold on for a moment.”

I closely examined the bullets I had removed from Tyr’s body. The dented heads had white crystals that shimmered like stars under a faint light; I could recognize the identity of the familiar white powder without even needing to taste it.

But still, tasting it would be better to confirm, right? I put the bullet to my tongue. The undiluted saltiness was immediately apparent.

Tyr asked in utter horror.

“Hu?! Why are you taking such indecent actions?”

“Ptui. Just as I thought, they’re salt bullets…. Huh? What’s so indecent about checking the bullets?”

“No, never mind.”

｢To think he would unhesitatingly put something that made contact with someone else’s body directly into his mouth…. Humans these days are quite bold.｣

Even with Mind Reading, I couldn’t quite grasp the vampire’s mindset. For beings whose joy in life was limited to bloodsucking, it seemed they were more concerned about what touched their mouth than what pierced their chest (bone), huh?

Anyway. Salt emitting white light had traditionally been used to drive away wrongful things. So, it made sense for there to be a folk remedy that said throwing salt at vampires would repel them.

But honestly, it wasn’t like humans would like being hit with salt any better than vampires.

“To think they have managed to manufacture and distribute specialized bullets like salt bullets in such a short time. Should I say it’s just like the Military State to do something like this?”

“...It is fine. As soon as the sun climbs a bit higher, I shall not have much trouble dealing with them.”

“They must be counting on that too. They’ve even positioned themselves to have the wind and sun at their back. Even throwing a bullet with their hand could probably reach us, let alone shooting it.”

If Tyr was unshielded by darkness, she could only advance at the speed of infantry at best. From the perspective of the Military State’s Gunner Corps, she was nothing more than good target practice.

An indestructible yet psychologically daunting scarecrow in the flesh.

For the next couple of hours, using Tyr to break through, a tactic that once seemed to be a cheat, was out of the question.

“Then, is it my turn?”

A voice as sharp as a blade drawn across skin, filled with chilly words, reached us. The Regressor tensed up her entire body, staring intently beyond our position.

“We need to instill a sense of caution in them. If I can take down the Gunmaster, I will. If not, I’ll still inflict some damage. That way, they’ll think twice about deploying special detachments or scouts in any future pursuits.”

I understood why the Regressor was so pissed. Special detachments and scouts were forces one could only use when they were confident that they wouldn’t be easily defeated one by one, even if they were separated from the main body.

While I empathized, I immediately shook my head.

“Why bother?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, there’s no need to forcibly break through when we’re at a disadvantage, right? There’s no tactical advantage and it’s clear they’ve prepared salt bullets just to drag out time.”

“So what. We just stand here and let them hit us? Until their main force arrives?”

“No.”

Of course not. I grinned slyly.

“We’ll let them hit us well. Extremely well.”

Those guys across the street intended to wear us down with continuous volleys. For the time being, we could use that to our advantage.

You’ll shoot if someone peeks out? Fine. Shoot at us. Just try it.

If there’s any worth in doing it, that is!

“Come out. Fatzzy!”

“Woof!”

At that moment, our team’s secret weapon appeared; Azzy, clad in layered cloth armor that made her look plump, howled. As I swung my arm wide, Azzy followed suit, spinning around.

Her turn was more of a dog’s roll than a graceful pirouette, but the layered cloth armor magnified her presence to seem more sublime. How to put it? Imagine a short-haired breed transforming into a long-haired one, fluffing up her fur. If she rolled in such a state, it seemed like she could roll to the ends of the earth.

“These days, it’s an era where even dogs wear clothes. So, having canine armor wouldn’t be all that weird!”

“Woof! Stuffy!”

“Endure it. With this, it’ll hurt less for you, even while you’re causing chaos!”

“Woof, I’ll endure! For my stake! My share!”

“Stake? Share? What share?”

Azzy cocked her head and looked at me with bright, clear eyes. Her thoughts were unreadable, whether through Mind Reading or observing her movements.

“Anyway, you get the gist, right? It’s time to let the whole world know of your rambunctiousness!”

“Awoooooooo!”

Azzy darted away. Immediately after, bullets started flying towards her. It sounded a bit like rain pattering as something whisked past us.

But even if she didn’t have any protection, Azzy could dodge or withstand bullets. The bullets couldn’t even match her pawprints. Occasionally, some would hit her, only to be deflected by the armor. Azzy ran all over the place, closing in on them.

Screams and shouts filled the air. For now, in terms of causing a disturbance, it was a success.

“How noisy. Indeed, she is unparalleled when it comes to pestering… But Hu, alas, the King of Dogs cannot even harm humans. Is that not so?”

“That’s right. They’ll stop firing soon enough.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the gunfire ceased. A subtle silence ensued. Azzy, having nothing else to do, stared vacantly and the other side went out of their way to ignore her existence. Two groups, neither willing to attack, stood off oddly against each other.

“...Then, is it not utterly useless?”

“That’s right. Azzy can’t attack, after all…. Well, at least Azzy can’t.”

Was it because she sensed something ominous from my words? The Regressor jerked around, surveying our surroundings. Then, as if actually sensing that something was not right, she grabbed my collar.

“....Wait. Hey. Didn’t you ask me for something like a bomb yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“On Azzy’s back.”

The enemy, too, seemed to have realized something, as they let out a cascade of bullets in an attempt to drive her away. However, it was too late. Azzy was already within range.

BOOOOM.

A roar erupted from the land up ahead.