CHAPTER 16 – THE GREAT COMMANDER

LYSANDER FARADEISS

After our daring breach from above, Gregory and Hiraya swiftly bound the wrists of the terrorist dragonoid who had received a forceful blow to the face and secured him at the room's periphery. Meanwhile, the two other still breathing dragonoids, bleeding and unconscious, lay sprawled on the floor. Hiraya, however, went the extra mile, channeling her magic into a healing spell for them.

I inquired with a cold tone, "What are you doing? They are the enemy."

Hiraya, her expression marred by a hint of guilt, responded, "They're still living beings. I'd rather avoid causing any more unnecessary casualties."

Her words struck me as ironic, considering that we had already taken the lives of two dragonoid terrorists during our descent from above. But it was clear that she genuinely felt remorse for the deaths, even though they were our adversaries.

"Your first kill?" I inquired of Hiraya.

She simply nodded. "I didn't expect the terrorists to perish during that breach. I never realized how fragile life could be," Hiraya said, gazing at me with eyes that seemed to seek sympathy, like twinkling kitten eyes. "But you... It's not your first kill, is it? The way you dispatched the enemies, so swift and precise, your eyes reflecting a cold, unyielding spirit."

"I've taken more lives than you can fathom," I replied. "There's no room for pity. It's a matter of survival—kill or be killed."

I could sense a certain fear in Hiraya, but I paid it no mind. I was resolved to do whatever it took to secure humanity's future, even if that meant having to eliminate anyone who posed a threat, including Hiraya.

"Stop assisting us, you elf pig!" The terrorist's voice reverberated through the room. "Are you planning to subject us to torture? It won't make a difference! Volk will ensure your demise!"

Hiraya's golden eyes fixated on the terrorist's attire, consisting of a beige blazer and white shirt, identical to the school uniform worn by students at the Magic High School. It became apparent that he was attempting to infiltrate this haven of innocence among the teenagers.

"Why?" Hiraya inquired, her voice laced with curiosity. "Why have you aligned with Neo Arcadia? Why have you targeted the school?"

"Fuck you," the terrorist retorted vehemently. "We're exacting revenge for the hundreds of years of slavery by the filthy powerless humans! All of humanity must pay! The empire must crumble! There are no exceptions, not even for an elf like you!"

"These students might have been influenced by Neo Arcadia from the start," Gregory suggested.

"We're not puppets! It's you humans who are mistaken! We dragonoids have a rightful claim to this planet!" the terrorist exclaimed.

The relentless shouting from the crimson-eyed gecko stirred a violent impulse within me, compelling me to step forward, sword drawn. But then, Hiraya intervened, positioning herself in my path, her arms outstretched, urging me to cease.

"Lysander... No," Hiraya implored, shaking her head. Her golden eyes pleaded with me to hold back. Her long elf ears drooped, evoking the image of a despondent dog. "He doesn't pose a threat at this moment. There's no need to take his life."

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I expressed my disappointment with a disapproving click of my tongue. In the previous timeline, we hadn't taken any prisoners. Every dragonoid we'd captured met their end.

Gregory promptly procured masking tape and silenced the obnoxious terrorists. While the President is doing that, Hiraya retrieved a school map from her cleavage and spread it out on a nearby table. Her golden eyes shimmered, and her ears twitched, almost as if they were receiving some form of sonar signal. She then channeled mana into the map, unveiling an array of blue and red dots. She proceeded to use the peculiar dragon chess pieces as markers for the red dots.

"These are the positions of the terrorists who are wielding weapons and are openly patrolling around the school. They're scattered all around the campus, but I've already deployed our team members on the ground to handle it," Hiraya informed Gregory, placing three pawns at the eastern, western, and southern boundaries.

"So, you prearranged the Spice Girls, huh? Or are they called the Charlie's Angels now? Anyway, brilliant move, Vice President," Gregory praised.

Hiraya chuckled, "Kate might knock your molars loose if they heard that, but okay." She then retrieved her phone from its hidden location in her cleavage and initiated a call on speakerphone, placing the phone on the table. "Kate, Charlotte, Gaeun... Do you read me?"

"Loud and clear, Vice President!" Kate's voice came through.

"Kate, you have hostiles posing as students at thirty degrees from your current position. You have the green light to engage," Hiraya commanded.

"Copy that, Vice President!" Kate acknowledged. Then, we heard a metallic clink and the sound of roaring flames. "Take this, you terrorist scum! Garuda Blade!"

A faint tremor coursed through the school grounds, and then we witnessed a mana-created phoenix soaring into the skies, likely the result of Kate's unleashed attack.

"Charlotte, there are terrorist scouts in rooms 2-B, 1-C, and 3-A. They're posing as our students. Deal with them," Hiraya conveyed through the phone.

"Si, Madam Vice President," Charlotte sassily replied. "Leave them to me."

Subsequently, I heard three consecutive shots, likely from the school rooftops. It seemed that Charlotte had successfully neutralized the hostiles.

"Gaeun, there are undercover enemies among the hostages, positioned at the back of the auditorium. Engage them," Hiraya commanded.

"E-Eh? O-Okay, Vice Prez!" Gaeun replied, followed by a shout, "Lightning Bolt! Hyaaa!"

A swift flash of thunder emanated from the leftmost window, suggesting that Gaeun had employed her spell nearby, followed by the agonized screams of the terrorists.

"Excellent," Hiraya rejoiced with a smile. "Their numbers have now dropped below twenty. We can prevail in this. Kate, destroy the wall on your right. The enemy is waiting for an ambush there."

“Got it!”

“Gaeun, there are three terrorists in your area. Run and lure them to the second window of the first floor.”

“R-Roger!”

“Charlotte, if the enemy appears, you can put lead on their non-vital spots.”

“That’s a tall order, but I’ll try not to kill them off.”

I couldn't help but wear a smile myself. Hiraya was undoubtedly an outstanding commander, as if she were a seasoned general. In fact, I began to think she might be a more effective leader than the Erudites from the future. General Wilhelm seemed like a mere shadow in comparison to this remarkable Oracle who would eventually become my most formidable adversary.

However, her contradictory personality and actions didn't escape my notice. She displayed a desire to spare the enemies' lives but simultaneously issued orders for her team to eliminate them. It was clear she was wrestling with inner conflict, evident in the tight clenching of her left fist. She was uncertain about what to do but remained resolute in doing what was necessary.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light erupted from the northern skies, prompting all of us to rush to the window. There, we witnessed the presence of a colossal, four-legged lizard covered in glistening snow-white scales. This quadrupedal behemoth stood at an imposing twenty meters in height, resembling more of a gigantic tortoise than a traditional dragon, with a snowy mountain-like shell and the absence of wings. I recognized this type of dragon from the previous timeline – it was the Arctic Dragon.

Perched atop its dragon-like head was its Dragon Knight, a trench-coated man armed with a long sword.

"Wait, what was that!?" Gregory exclaimed.

I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. "That Dragon Knight... They've finally harnessed the Vesryn Pulse."