"I'll go test-fire this nearby where hardly anyone comes. Rozalia-san, could you keep watch for anyone approaching?" "Understood." "Kay, come spar some close-quarters combat with me." "Sure thing. Sinon-san, we've got limited time, so let's regroup here in an hour." "Okay!"
And so the four of them hurriedly set off. In truth, Yahata had instructed Rozalia to recover drop items even if someone died, but Rozalia didn't mention it. Yahata had gagged her on the matter. Komachi had a vague inkling but said nothing. One hour later, the four regrouped, and Rozalia alone headed out for reconnaissance.
"Sinonon, how'd it go?" "Strength's sufficient, but it's pretty heavy. No issues moving, but I might only be able to use it as a fixed turret for now." "That's plenty. So we'll kick off with your long-range sniping. Thin their numbers as much as possible first, then mop up the panicked survivors." "Got it. If we take out Zexeed early, the rest should be easy." "Yes!"
The two immediately agreed to Benkei's proposal. Sinon, perhaps a bit more relaxed, grinned mischievously at Pitohui.
"Hey Pit, sorry in advance if I accidentally blow your head off." "Huh? Well, that might be kinda thrilling... No no no, if Shana's weapon's gone, I'd get absolutely reamed... But that sounds thrilling too..."
Benkei and Sinon abruptly backed away from the muttering Pitohui.
"Wha—hey, why're you two moving so far away?" "Heh, perversion's contagious..." "I thought you were starting to seem normal lately, but nope, my bad." "Even you, Sinonon... Shana..." "Everyone, I'm back now." "Rozalia-san, we've been waiting!"
Right on cue, Rozalia entered. Sinon cut off Pitohui's words, calling out to her. A scene straight out of somewhere familiar.
"We were roughly hashing out a plan with three of us." "And and, Sinonon actually with Shana..." "Rozalia-san, don't you have a report? C'mon Pit, enough chit-chat—let's hear what Rozalia-san has." "Muu... tough crowd..."
Pitohui muttered, but time was short, so she backed off for now. Prompted by Sinon, Rozalia began her report.
"There's movement on their side too. Zexeed just left mob-hunting with his gathered crew." "Okay, everyone—prep for the hunt."
Pitohui, perhaps questioning Rozalia's unusually polite speech from earlier, blurted out without reading the room:
"Hey, I've been wondering—why's Rozalia-chan acting so out-of-character? I heard she's usually reserved, sure, but lately around me, she's been all like a desperate spinster racing against her biological clock, trying to snag a decent guy and honey-trap him into a shotgun wedding, right? Scared 'cause Sinonon's here? No worries. Sinonon's already hooked on Shana—wants to hit an all-you-can-eat cake buffet IRL with me. You can drop the act around her!"
Sinon moved to retort, but Rozalia—shoulders trembling—beat her to it, shouting:
"Who's the desperate spinster fantasizing about honey-trapping Shana into a shotgun wedding, you blooming maiden?!" "Uwah... Rozalia-chan, your true colors are spilling out. And don't slyly tweak the end—it's spinster, spinster!" "So Rozalia-san's this kind of person..." "Gotta report this to big bro..." "Wait, Kay-san, no! Fine, spinster's fine—just not that!"
Apparently, for Rozalia, the Shana report hurt worse than spinster status. She bowed repeatedly to Benkei.
"Sorry sorry, got a bit carried away. I'll get you a gift next time—keep it from Shana, 'kay?" "Yay~ Free gift! Rozalia-san, I'll definitely hit you up via big bro next time!" "Ah... sure." "Going through Shana? Kay's ruthless too. Totally blocked your escape..." "Well, she's Shana's little sis." "Oh, that hits home..."
Despite the minor drama, the three headed out under Rozalia's guidance to intercept Zexeed's group.
"Alright~ Time to kill, written as 'slaughter'! Girls' night out, boys!" "'O~!'"
Pitohui's words were content-wise a mess, but Benkei and Sinon cheered along, raising spirits. The four deployed, Rozalia guiding. Unseen observers watched: Shana and Shizuka.
"Made it just in time." "Let's tail 'em discreetly, unseen." "Eh, it'll probably wrap quick anyway."
The two followed the lead group. They used binoculars from just beyond visual range— counter to Pitohui's uncanny intuition, naturally.
"Zexeed's crew's over there, huh." "This is a pretty open wasteland—great sightlines." "For newbie mob-hunts, open fields are standard: spot PKers coming early. Unless you're snipe-vulnerable." "Time to see Sinonon's skills." "Yeah."
Meanwhile, the advance four did final checks behind a rocky outcrop.
"I'll head back then—you lot better not die." "So Rozalia-san's usual speech is like that." "Rozalia's fine, Sinon. That was camouflage. Basic recon: men loosen lips around a pitiful, demure woman." "I see..." "Heading to town. Expecting victory reports."
Rozalia left—or rather, linked with Shana's group.
"Rozalia-san, over here!" "How're they holding? Tense?" "Fine—pumped, not overzealous." "Ideal." "Yes."
In that time, Sinon scaled the rock formation, sniper setup ready.
"Kay, Pit—Zexeed's commanding solo while watching. Advances while directing, stops to surveil—I'll time it." "'Understood.'"
Benkei and Pitohui crawled forward, inching closer. Creep, halt—now ~100m from foes.
"Can't push further—discovery imminent. You two charge straight. Moment you're spotted, I snipe him." "Do it, Sinonon!" "Go get 'em, Sinon-san!" "Leave it. Post-snipe, you two assault."
They crept on; Sinon scoped Zexeed's every twitch. The moment: shock twisted his face. Sinon eased the trigger. Zexeed's head exploded. His crew didn't notice at first—then panicked stares. Delayed gunshot arrived. Impact outpaces sound.
"Hit."
Sinon, voice flat, lined up next shots—three players down in a blink. Signal given, Benkei and Pitohui opened fire close-range. Ten more fell; six left. The six—sharp enough—hit dirt, seeking escape. Panicked, one fired wildly; others followed, spraying nowhere.
"Where are they shooting?" "Aim for reloads—they suck at it. Kay, we practiced—melee finish." "Roger!" "I'll snipe cover—go!" "Thanks, Sinonon!"
Daggers out, they charged survivors. Sinon poured rounds into likely bushes, denying reloads.
"Damn, can't reload... Fine, close quarters!" "Idiot, you got no melee—run!" "O-okay!"
The fleeing pair ate Sinon snipes. Of the four left, two already throat-slit by Kay and Pitohui. Last two: women players, trembling embrace—no fight left.
"You two are last. Shot or slashed—which?"
Pitohui's query: they sobbed, kowtowing, begging.
"Sorry, we just got sweet-talked by that guy—followed blindly!" "Yeah, all his fault—Zexeed! Please, don't kill us, don't kill us!"
Pitohui paused at their pitiful sight. Benkei frowned awkwardly. Sinon joined; now three towered over them.
"Shana's orders: total wipe, right? What now?" "Kinda pitiful..." "Normally no-brainer. Names?" "Yukko." "Haruka."
Instant: Pitohui blurred—both heads rolled. Benkei and Sinon gaped at the sudden kill.
"Wh-what the—Pit?!"
Pitohui didn't answer right away, asking Benkei:
"Kay, you hear about the reunion from Shana?" "Nope. Big bro doesn't spill much." "I'll spill offline later—but those idiots who dissed Shana? Yukko and Haruka duo. Couldn't help it." "Probably not them, but... circumstances noted." "Mission complete—let's bounce!"
Thus, the trio's holy war to earn Shana's trust ended flawlessly. Yukko and Haruka being the actual ones? Obviously.
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