Chapter 100: Tachibana Sara

“Then that settles it.”

Fushihara Ayaka took a deep breath and said faintly.

“So I can’t disclose this matter to you either. But what I can say is—you guessed correctly. Masaki Hinaki has also left headquarters. As for where she is and what she’s doing, that’s classified.”

Ephnel didn’t mind that Fushihara Ayaka hadn’t told her everything.

Her position was that of an Agent, while Masaki Hinaki and Fushihara Ayaka were commanders; the two were inherently different.

“But speaking of which, do I seem to have so many loopholes on my end?”

Fushihara Ayaka suddenly asked again.

“Not really. Hanasou Kotone and Nishizaki Yuuki have never met you. If you’re just being cautious of them, then it shouldn’t be a problem,” Ephnel answered honestly, then added, “But I’m also very curious. You’re so wary of them two, what if the information Nishizaki Yuuki brought back is actually true?”

“Then we’ll just play along. My arrangements here aren’t just for show. The only ones who know about this are me and Masaki Hinaki. Oh right, and now you. But for these soldiers, they are carrying out a very serious mission. This is not something that can be compared to a casual game of house.”

“Is that so… then I’m relieved,” Ephnel looked relieved.

“Then I have nothing else. I’ll see you later.”

“Hey, wait, where are you going?”

“To find Tachibana Sara.”

“What’s with you today? Running around my command post, are you conducting a census?”

“There’s just something I can’t put my mind at ease about.”

With that, Ephnel waved her hand and left.

…

Ephnel grabbed a few chocolate bars.

When she found Tachibana Sara, the girl with light chestnut-colored hair was standing by the window, her gaze passing through the dirty glass, looking blankly into the distance.

“Sara, so you’re here.”

Hearing Ephnel’s voice, Tachibana Sara turned her head.

Her side profile looked soft yet exceptionally defined.

Tachibana Sara was of mixed blood.

Her skin was fairer than the average person in Seikyo City, and her hair color was a very rare type, with a slight curl to it.

Under the setting sun, these features were exceptionally striking.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for the order to sortie…”

Ephnel came to Tachibana Sara’s side and looked in the direction she had been staring at.

What came into view was a distant cemetery, obscured by overgrown weeds.

That desolate scene looked particularly bleak under the setting sun.

The young girl silently watched everything there, with no particular expression on her face.

“I have some chocolate here, want some?”

Ephnel smiled and handed the chocolate she had just brought to Tachibana Sara.

Tachibana Sara loved chocolate.

“Thank you, senpai…”

She reached out and took it, slowly unwrapping the plastic wrapper, then popped the chocolate into her mouth.

Because she didn’t specifically bite off a piece but put the whole thing in, her cheeks puffed out a little.

“Speaking of which, Sara, how long have you been an Agent?”

“Seven months.”

Tachibana Sara’s words were muffled, but still discernible.

“Is your mother’s health good?”

“It’s good.”

Ephnel asked a few more long and short questions, and Tachibana Sara answered them one by one.

Tachibana Sara didn’t talk much; that was just her personality.

She never showed more emotion to others.

If someone asked a question, she would answer.

If you didn’t speak to her in the form of a question, she wouldn’t say anything at all.

This personality of Tachibana Sara’s directly resulted in her not having many close friends.

In Ephnel’s experience, the only time she would show other expressions was in front of her parents.

That was before Tachibana Sara became an Agent.

At that time, Tachibana Sara had just arrived in Seikyo City with her parents.

That was when Ephnel saw Tachibana Sara for the first time.

At that time, Tachibana Sara was still a shy and bashful girl, always hiding behind her father.

Ephnel had met that middle-aged man once at headquarters.

At that time, Masaki Hinaki had been in office for less than half a year.

Compared to the commander with the appearance of a delicate loli, Ephnel had a rather deep impression of that stern man with a chiseled face.

Ephnel heard them talk about Agent matters.

Later, Tachibana Sara and her mother settled down in Seikyo City, while her father left after receiving a mission.

Her father was a naval lieutenant.

In the “Sea-Land-Air” military system of the old era, the navy was the branch with its combat power relatively well-preserved.

This was not just because the number of Erosion Organisms in the ocean regions was scarcer than on land, and the accompanying dangers were much less, but the main reason could be traced back to the first ruin discovered by humanity—the “West Sea Ruin.”

The “West Sea Ruin” was a huge ancient civilization heritage submerged at the bottom of the sea.

It first appeared in human sight as the cliché story starting with “archaeologists and strange objects in fishermen’s nets.” Its true value was only discovered by humanity after the advent of the White Hole Erosion.

The “Boundary Monument System” was a derivative of the ruin technology excavated from the West Sea Ruin, and on top of that, the “Concealer” was developed, with the navy being the earliest experimenters.

For this reason, compared to the almost completely annihilated air force and the heavily damaged army, the navy still retained a considerable portion of its combat power.

It was also the currently safest channel for personnel and material transportation, so the naval forces often received mission deployment orders.

Ephnel had never heard anyone mention what kind of orders Tachibana Sara’s father had received at that time.

She only remembered that after some unknown amount of time, when she met Tachibana Sara for the second time, Tachibana Sara had already become a quasi-Agent.

By then, her father was no longer around, and her mother had fallen ill because of it.

From then on, Tachibana Sara rarely showed any expression.

“Speaking of which, if this mission very unfortunately requires us to go into battle, I might change the combat formation plan a bit.”

Ephnel said softly, looking at Tachibana Sara.

Tachibana Sara just glanced at her, her eyes showing an inquisitive look, but her face remained expressionless, and she didn’t ask any questions.

“I can’t go into the specific reasons yet, but I hope you can act as a mobile unit in this mission. Even if a battle breaks out, your task will only be to be on standby until I give you the order to attack.”

Knowing that Tachibana Sara wouldn’t give much of a reaction, Ephnel continued.

“Of course, if I’m killed in action, you will take over my command and carry out the command task. That’s a different matter.”

Ephnel smiled and added.

“Senpai won’t die.”

Rarely, Tachibana Sara took the initiative to say something.

Ephnel looked at her.

The young girl’s gaze was very serious, not giving an inch.

Smiling, Ephnel reached out and patted her head.

“I’m just saying, just in case.”

“There are no ‘just in cases.’ If we encounter danger, my shield will protect senpai.”

“Thank you for your kind offer, but can you not tell anyone else what I just said?”

Seeing Tachibana Sara nod, indicating her agreement.

Ephnel was not too worried that Tachibana Sara would let anything slip to others, because Tachibana Sara was the type who didn’t talk much to begin with.

…