Combatants Will Be Dispatched - Volume 5 - Chapter 5.6

6 

“I gave the watchmen advance notice to let anyone from Kisaragi through, but I didn’t expect them to let you through looking like that.” 

She looks a bit uncomfortable when she says this. 

“Sir Six, our nation’s political climate is such that we simply cannot let bygones be bygones. For the sake of a bright future between our kingdom and Kisaragi, would you mind turning around and going home?” 

Tillis is more serious than I’ve ever seen her before. 

…But she’s not talking to me. I’m still hidden by optical camo. She’s speaking to the strange, masked maid. 

I creep past Tillis with my back to the wall and sneak into the dungeon. 

Tillis seems to be pretty intent, so I’m not gonna interrupt her. I’ll just leave her in Ten’s care. 

I easily sneak past the sentry and search for the cell containing the person I’m here to find. 

And at the very end of the dungeon… 

…I see Viper in a cell, sitting primly on the floor, engrossed in the game I gave her. 

“Vi… Vi! This is Six, can you hear me?” 

When I whisper to her from outside the cell, Viper twitches and looks up. 

“I-is that you, Mr. Six? Where are you?” 

As Viper glances around her cell, my inner imp can’t help himself. 

“I’m transmitting my thoughts directly into your mind from far away, Vi… Can you hear me…? Is my voice reaching you…?” 

“Yes, I can hear you! Your voice is coming in loud and clear, Mr. Six!” 

Viper looks off into the distance, appearing a bit excited. 

Rather than following the sound of my voice, she’s probably looking in the general direction of the hideout. 

“I didn’t know you could use magic as well! And magic as powerful as telepathy, no less!” 

Oh, Viper, it wouldn’t kill you to be a bit less gullible… 

“Forget about my secret powers for now. Tell me what’s going on, Vi. Why are you gonna be executed?” 

Viper puts on a troubled smile. 

“I’m sorry, Mr. Six. I lied to you… I wasn’t able to keep my promise of staying with you until you finished your game…” 

Viper delicately hugs the console to her chest like it’s her newborn child. Considering the gloomy atmosphere of the dungeon, it’s a pretty heart-wrenching sight. 

“So how far did you get in that dumb game I lent you?” 

“I was able to handle most of the puzzles, but the fighting was rather difficult, and I ended up getting stuck…” 

If she’s never played a game before, the combat segments would be hard, I bet. 

“It’s okay, I’ll handle the fighting. You can just worry about the puzzles, Vi.” 

“…I’m sorry. My execution is scheduled to take place soon. Everything will be over by the time you get here, Mr. Six…” 

Even though Hideout City and the kingdom of Grace are technically neighbors, it still takes half a day to get from one to the other. 

Since Viper doesn’t know I’m right in front of her, the smile on her face wavers further into sadness. 

“I really enjoyed the time I spent with you, Mr. Six. All you did was come to the office and play video games, but listening to you let out weird voices or suddenly complain about something—Well, I found your carefree lifestyle heartwarming.” 

She doesn’t think I’ll make it in time, so she begins spilling her feelings. 

“Oh, I see. Vi, you probably shouldn’t say any more. You might end up regretting it.” 

I warn her for her own sake, but she just quietly shakes her head. 

“I won’t have any regrets. When I was helping you with your game, that was the only time I wasn’t a Demon Lord awaiting execution, but simply Viper, playing with her friend. I really, really appreciate what you—” 

If I let her keep going, there won’t be any salvaging this. 

“Vi, please don’t say any more. I’m a Combat Agent for an evil organization. I might use this embarrassing story to make you do ridiculous things in the future, you know.” 

“It’s okay. Remember, I told you when we first met that you could do anything you wanted to me. But even after all the time we spent together, no one at Kisaragi troubled me in the slightest.” 

When she says this, Viper looks a bit more relaxed than usual. 

Since she thinks she’s about to be executed, she probably thinks there’s no harm in joking around. 

“It’s not over yet, Vi. It’s too early to relax. You might end up getting kidnapped and taken to some evildoer’s hideout.” 

“That’s fine by me. If I could be of use to them in any way, I wouldn’t mind.” 

Once again, Viper just goes with the flow. 

“Girls shouldn’t casually go along with every little thing. I promise you’ll end up having regrets if you keep that up.” 

“I assure you, I won’t. If only I could see you again, Mr. Six… I would do anything. Even now, as I wait for the end, not being able to remain by your side is my only regret…” 

Viper then chuckles, having teased someone for what might have been the first time in her life. 

…I see. 

“‘Anything,’ huh? Well, first, let’s get you outta here, Vi.” 

I take off my mask and deactivate my camo. Viper freezes and stares at me, mouth agape. 

“What’s wrong, Vi? Your face is all red, Vi! I did say you’d regret it if you kept going, didn’t I? Hey, Vi, can you tell me how you feel after giving that embarrassing confession right in front of my eyes?” 

“…! …!” 

Viper, a blushing, trembling mess, glares daggers at me. 

“Mr. Six, you’re so mean!” 

“And, Vi, you’re a liar. I won’t let you break your promise. I’ll say it as many times as I have to. We’re going to finish this stupid game. Together.” 

I’ll think about the rest once I’ve safely kidnapped Viper and taken her to the hideout. 

Viper has a troubled look on her face. 

“I can’t leave this place. For the demons to be forgiven by this kingdom, I need to—” 

“I don’t care about any of that. I’m a member of an evil organization. Why should I care what happens between the kingdom of Grace and the demons? I’m just gonna kidnap you, Vi.” 

Yes, it tends to be forgotten a lot, but on a basic level, we’re still evil. 

Great acts of villainy, like kidnapping beautiful young women, is technically part of our job description. 

“B-but if you do that, you’ll drive a wedge between Kisaragi and the kingdom! This could result in another war!” 

“If that happens, Alice will figure something out. She’s smart, unlike me. Besides, our primary goal is world domination. The kingdom’s gonna be ours eventually. It was always a question of when, not if.” 

“…Oh…” 

Viper recoils, but the truth is the truth. After all, we’re the bad guys. 

“B-but even then, your fellow Kisaragi Combat Agents could end up getting dragged into the war! Surely, that’s…” 

Wait, is this girl serious? 

“You mentioned this yourself, Vi. We’re always at one another’s throats. Heine even said we were more bloodthirsty than genuine demons.” 

But that’s a no-brainer… 

“The job of a Combat Agent is to fight. If there’s no more war in the world, we’ll be out of work.” 

Viper goes dumb as I say this without a shred of hesitation. 

“Besides, I’ve thought this for a while, but Combat Agents are mostly scum anyway. If we lose a few, it’s no skin off my nose.” 

“That’s awful! You shouldn’t say such things!” 

Viper’s a good girl even in situations like this, but we’re running out of time. 

I produce my vibrating blade and press it against the cell bars. 

“N-no, you mustn’t, Mr. Six! There are lots of people who’ll be in trouble if I escape! …Oh!” 

In no time at all, the first bar is severed. 

As I place my blade against the second, Viper tearfully pleads with me. 

“Pl-please stop, Mr. Six. The demons’ lives are on the line. If you don’t stop, I’ll get mad. I really will! I’m still a Demon Lord! I’m strong!” 

The second bar clatters to the floor, and as I’m working on the third, Viper glares angrily at me through her tears. 

She’s so adorable. 

“I—I hate you… I thought you were a nice person, Mr. Six. But considering what you’re doing, I hate you! Please. We’re so close to ending things peacefully! You’re going to ruin everything!” 

The third bar falls. 

Knowing she can’t threaten me into compliance, Viper tries to sway me with tears. But she’s so cute when she cries. 

I bring the blade up to the fourth bar, and Viper grabs the dull side. 

“Why do you insist on causing so much trouble? We met only recently, and we don’t even know each other that well. I made my peace with this outcome long ago. So please… Please…” 

Viper turns away in an attempt to hide her tears. 

“Vi, Vi.” 

As I ignore the gloom and call her name cheerfully, she faces me again. 

I’m just a teeny, tiny bit stupider than most people. That’s why I can’t really deal with important matters or handle heavy topics. But there’s one thing I know for sure. 

No one truly wants to die. 

“For now, let’s just head back to the base and play that stupid game.” 

As the fourth bar rolls onto the ground, Viper breaks out sobbing.