Combatants Will Be Dispatched - Volume 6 - Chapter Pr

Prologue

On the monitor in front of me, Astaroth, one of the Supreme Leaders of the Kisaragi Corporation, flashes a smile of approval.

“Well done, Agent Six. Good work on subjugating our rivals, the Demon Lord’s Army.”

Astaroth’s good mood is understandable. Thanks to my brilliance as an elite Combat Agent, the Demon Lord’s Army has joined the Kisaragi Corporation. With our greatest rivals under our heel, our conquest of this planet will go much more smoothly.

“Praise is nice and all, but isn’t it about time you made me part of the leadership? I think I’ve proven my loyalty to the Kisaragi Corporation as the longest-tenured employee. Why did Vi, the rookie, get promoted to a Supreme Leader, but not me?”

“Well…you’re weak.”

…

“Hey!”

“I mean, you’re weak. Sure you’re tough and can survive any battlefield, but…”

Man, this chick is being really mean to me. Also, why’d she have to say it twice?

“You outfit me with all sorts of enhancements and then decide to call me weak? That’s pretty messed up, isn’t it? I mean, the reason I’m not all that great is because I’ve still got first-generation enhancements! Everyone who joined after me is stronger because they got all the latest mods! Can’t you upgrade me or something?!”

“Upgrade…? Well, it’s not impossible, but with the original body being so bad…,” Astaroth struggles to explain, a concerned grimace finding its way to her face.

Is she trying to say I’m a lost cause?

“…Well, the thought of going under Lady Lilith’s knife a second time fills me with dread, so I don’t really mind staying the way I am… But can I apply to return to Earth? Since things have settled down a bit here, I’d like to get a little R & R in Japan.”

The gold coins I’ve acquired on this planet should make for some decent spending money back home.

Besides, I can’t spend Japanese yen on this planet, so I should have a decent bit of cash just sitting in my Earth accounts.

“Oh? You were so adamant about not coming back until recently. What changed, hmm?”

“The reason is obvious, ma’am! It’s because I want to see your face in person, Lady Astaroth!”

Obviously, it’s because my Evil Points are no longer in the red.

“O-oh, I see! …It’s true that this is the longest we’ve been apart since you joined Kisaragi… But I can’t approve your return request yet.”

…

“What gives? You were acting all seductive and practically begging me to come home until recently.”

“I wasn’t acting seductive! And, well, getting the Demon Lord’s Army to join us was certainly a positive development, but you’re still at war with the kingdom of Toris, aren’t you? Work hard to win that fight as well. Show me how awesome you can really be,” Astaroth says teasingly, chuckling.

I’m usually pretty easy to please, and ordinarily that would have worked, but…

“Given that you sent me here so suddenly, I want to check in on my apartment. I’m worried about my cactus, and I’m pretty sure my fridge is a biohazard at this point.”

…At this point Astaroth, on the other side of the monitor, glances away, clearly uncomfortable.

“…Your apartment’s gone.”

She then says something nonsensical.

“…? What do you mean it’s gone? Did they evict me because I haven’t been there for such a long time? My rent money should’ve been automatically deducted from my accounts.”

“…It seems the Heroes caught wind of your address, and they bombed it a few days ago.”

Wait…

“What the hell?! Why did they bomb my house?! I’m just an underling! Hell, don’t I qualify for workman’s comp?! Kisaragi’s gonna pay to replace my furniture and clothes and stuff, right?!”

Astaroth completely ignores my words.

“So it’s still too early for you to come home! Earth is currently suffering from severe climate change and food shortages! We’ve got no margin for error left! We’re counting on you, Six! The fate of humanity rests in your hands!”

“Hey! You better prepare a place for me to live! What kind of operation are you running where everything I own is gone by the time I complete my mission?! …Don’t try to avoid the subject by pretending the connection sucks. I know you can hear me! Dammit, she hung up… She’s gonna get it when I get back to Earth! I’m gonna make her beg for mercy, dammit!”