Ordinarily, Identities are given a certain degree of safety lock against one another.
To keep them from attacking allies... how should I put it?
For example, take this. The Identities of N Corp don't attack Dante's face just because it's a prosthetic.
They more or less twist their perception so they can pass it off as a mask instead of a prosthetic.
The point is that some measure is taken so they don't end up hostile to each other.
By this principle, even characters who are hostile to one another can fight together if they use Identity techniques!
...That was how it should have been...
"...Saramago."
"Don't glare at me like you want to kill me, Yi Sang~ We're not even going to fight here, are we?"
"Do not put my name in your filthy mouth. I have reached the limit of my patience."
"Oh dear. Why so hostile? You're making me sad. And here I thought we were once the same..."
Before I could finish,
Yi Sang's branch-like weapon shot forward and stopped right in front of my throat.
"Enough. To speak that place's name with that mouth of yours..."
"Oh, how scary. You going to stab me? Really?"
"...Shut up. I have no desire to speak further with someone who holds such a filthy ideology and insults technique itself."
"That's a little hurtful, calling it a filthy ideology. Not exactly what I'd expect to hear from the head of a terrorist organization."
"I told you to shut that mouth..."
"Why, am I wrong? If you think about it, aren't we the far more decent people here? We save people, and you kill them. Come to think of it, you even deceive your own innocent subordinates just to achieve your goals, don't you? I can't tell who's calling whose ideology filthy. Don't you agree?"
"You...!"
Hah. So this was as far as it went.
"...As I have said repeatedly, this is a matter of the Identities themselves, and I also have no clear solution. If you are questioning Mephistopheles' functions, I would like to state that there is no issue there."
<...>
Hm, if I'm remembering right, is this the third time now?
Not the number of times Clock Head... Dante asked Faust a question, but the number of times Yi Sang and I have clashed.
The earlier ones were five, I think.
Of the three clashes, the first two involved actual physical fighting. This time I was stopped.
"...Tch."
"Very well."
"...Provided that gentleman does not pick a fight first."
"You're the one who attacked first, Yi Sang. You're the one trying to kill me."
"How dare you...!"
There were about two or three other prisoners around us, watching with weapons drawn.
Hm... looks like doing anything more here would be impossible.
Fine, I'll go along with it for now. I don't know exactly what's going on, but we're in a position where we have to follow that manager, Dante.
And seeing Yi Sang's mood deteriorate in real time is pretty satisfying in its own way.
"If you intend to use both Identities together, testing them in advance under such circumstances is not a bad choice."
How many chances are there for a safe live test where two allies can have an internal conflict? If you're going to get the preventive shot, now is the right time.
After a moment of thought, Dante gave us a reluctant look and made a decision.
<...For now, both of you go fight. Just don't point your weapons at each other. Ah, and don't talk.>
"As you command."
"...Very well."
Yi Sang and I turned away from each other without even looking at one another.
There was no way we could stay side by side without fighting.
I do plan to kill him someday, but there's no point lunging at him right this second... I'd better wait a little longer.
He was probably thinking something similar.
"Hmm..."
Still, what am I supposed to do?
I'm not completely incapable of fighting, and I do have a few hidden tricks, but my base is still that of a noncombatant.
What is it with me, being left loose in the middle of a battlefield?
Mm... maybe I should focus on support like a proper noncombatant?
It's not like I have no way to fight directly, but that drains my condition too much.
I've got a fair number of regeneration ampoules on hand...
And I still have a few reserved for emergencies.
Good. I should be able to support from the sidelines without any problem.
Ah, one of them's already about to die.
"Ghk...!"
I pulled one regeneration ampoule from my chest pocket... and tossed it!
The ampoule flew from my hand and struck Heathcliff, who had been getting beaten senseless.
"...What the hell?"
"Support~"
"Tch..."
...Why does he look so disgusted just from seeing my face? Did I do something wrong?
I don't think fighting Yi Sang is enough to make him hate me this much.
Well... whatever. I'll just do my job.
How many regeneration ampoules do I have left? Since they're emergency stock, I don't carry that many.
Still, even this much is enough to affect the battle.
Ah.
<...Saramago, is something wrong?>
"Nope. Here, take an ampoule. Use it if things get rough."
I should hand them out in advance to anyone in an important position. It'd be a disaster if they died, after all.
"That's all for now."
But if I keep doing nothing but tossing ampoules around, is that the end of it? This is more boring than I expected...
"Hup!"
- Whoosh!
"Whoa?!"
"Tch. You dodged."
That startled me! I almost died before I could even react.
"Isn't it a bit much to swing a weapon at an innocent club patron right off the bat?!"
"I saw you helping that guy earlier, so cut the nonsense."
"Ah, got me."
This is getting annoying. Direct combat really isn't my thing.
I don't have a weapon right now either... should I bring it out after all?
There's no sign of this ending anytime soon with those pirates still crawling out of there.
"Hmm... I really didn't want to fight directly, but I guess I have no choice."
"Die!!"
"Hoo..."
For a moment, let me recall an old memory.
The time when I finally wanted to acknowledge my own ugliness and move forward.
The time when I resolved to put an end to the past and create a future of my own.
The feeling from back then... when I wanted to take one step forward even while looking like the steward back in my hometown...
"...!"
The first to notice the change was Yi Sang, still far away and reeking of spicebush.
Well, that makes sense. Maybe it was because the acrid scent of a factory that had appeared in an instant was swallowing up the spicebush fragrance.
Ah, look at that face. Hilarious.
But the place I should be focusing on is not over there.
- Clang! crack, crackle...
"Then... please become nourishment."
I shoved the massive scythe-like plow forward, easily blocking the opponent's attack.
It was a simple contest of strength, but I didn't really think I'd lose.
- Clang!
"Ghk...!"
"Opening."
Then, through the gap I'd forced open, I brought down two chopping strikes like I was tilling the earth.
- Slash! Slash!
"Ugh..."
The clean hit shattered the enemy's stance.
Then I brought the blade down hard to finish it...
- Crunch!
Done.
From here on, it was repetitive work.
After all, the enemies weren't strong enough to require E.G.O, and they weren't thinning out either.
It was just a matter of slowly killing them one by one, like farming.
I did briefly consider provoking Yi Sang in between...
"..."
"Pffft..."
But the moment I saw his face already rotting with disgust, I decided I was satisfied.
Should I just declare myself a traitor outright? No, no. If I did that, he'd probably throw himself at me no matter what, so forget it.
Anyway, reversals are most effective when revealed at the most dramatic moment.
"There he is! Get him!"
"They keep coming forever. This has become a real pain."
Ugh... how long is this going to take?
I hope it ends before it gets any more annoying.
As the prisoners died one by one and came back to life, their Identities unraveled, and at some point we were fighting the enemies in our default state.
That made communication easier, which is good for interrogation and the like.
As for me, once it became clear the enemy numbers were thinning out, I just rested near Dante.
<...I've been meaning to say this for a while, but you're really good at slacking off.>
"Thank you for the compliment."
"If I take it as one, doesn't that make it a compliment?"
<...>
I flashed Dante a proud V sign.
Top-tier wage theft.
Anyway, the annoying interrogation work would be handled over there, and someone had to protect Dante. Hmm.
And look, they're doing the interrogation right over there.
"I-I'm telling you... if you know what's good for you, you should tell us where your boss is."
"Hmph... saying that when you don't even suit the role."
"N-no, I'm not making this up! If you don't talk next time, then next time it'll be your he-"
Bang!!!
"Your head."
"Ahaha... o-okay. Calm down."
The pirate, sweating under the fierce threat of a boy at least a head shorter than himself, finally began spilling information about their leader.
"The captain isn't here... but the first mate is, so he'd know."
"Where is he?"
"Down that corridor... last room..."
"...Go."
"Eek..."
Bang!!
"Not that way...! Use the entrance."
"Aaaah?! O-okay! Sorry!!"
Wow, impressive. Sinclair really does have backbone when it counts.
Heathcliff looks intimidated too.
...Feels like just yesterday this guy was getting his head smashed in right alongside the rest of us.
"...Hey, you... got stronger, didn't you?"
"I don't want praise for something like this..."
Oh dear...
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