NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47
Chapter 47. Assault
A few minutes after starting our movement along the highway,
“They’re here.”
Several individuals were detected with abnormally fast breathing, likely due to tension.
(As expected, they’ve chosen this timing. Just as predicted.)
“Igai-san, approximately 270 meters ahead to the right, there’s a sniper in a building. Additionally, five large vehicles are pursuing us from beneath the highway.”
“Understood. They likely plan to attack about a kilometer ahead where there’s a merging route.”
Ishii-san relayed the situation to the team through the intercom.
Moments later, the distant building where the sniper was hiding flashed brightly.
A bullet shot straight toward the car’s tire, perfectly aimed to ensure a hit.
◇
The sniper grinned as he peered through the scope.
It was the kind of smile one could manage only after countless successful missions.
(A 300-yard shot. Even if there were detection-type ability users, there’s no way they’d sense me from here. And with so many people moving around, their accuracy would plummet.)
The sniper’s reasoning was sound.
Even the world’s best detection-type ability users could only scan up to 3 kilometers at their peak. During movement, that range shrank to 800 meters, with accuracy decreasing significantly.
Confident his attack would go unchallenged, the sniper underestimated his enemy.
However, he hadn’t accounted for the irregularity among them: Hayato Yanagi.
A sudden sand wall materialized, blocking the bullet.
“What?!”
(This can’t be! Blocking at that timing? No way they knew about me from the start—)
While grappling with disbelief, the sniper noticed the target vehicle emit a faint light, similar to the flash of a gun being fired.
“Huh?”
The sniper realized he was lying on his back.
(Why am I down? And… why does my body feel hot?)
When he touched his abdomen, he felt warm liquid. He brought his hand to his face hesitantly.
“What… is this?”
His hand was drenched in blood, dripping steadily.
Without understanding what had happened, the sniper’s heartbeat stopped.
◇
“Well done.”
“Thank you.”
Igai-san smiled lightly and stowed the rifle beneath her seat.
…Why does she have something so dangerous there?
No, best not to question it. If I did and ended up staring down the barrel, what would I do?
I saw nothing. Nothing at all!
“So Igai-san, you’re a sand user?”
Deflection and a topic change: the perfect combo!
“Yes, it’s a rather plain ability, but its versatility makes it quite enjoyable for me.”
Indeed, its versatility was impressive.
It could infiltrate even the smallest gaps and, when gathered, unleash immensely powerful attacks.
A difficult ability to counter and highly dependable in this mission.
“We’re nearing the rendezvous point. What’s the enemy’s status?”
“They’re still pursuing us. At this rate, we’ll collide. What’s the plan?”
“I’d prefer to avoid them, but that seems unlikely. Since the escort team is prepared, let’s intercept them here. Kashiwagi-sama, can you stay close to the young ladies?”
“Understood.”
I approached the two trembling in the corner of the car and gently patted their heads.
If the family head found out, I’d probably get killed, but right now, this felt right.
“Um…”
“Oh, sorry. I have a younger sister, so I tend to act like this out of habit. Was it unpleasant?”
“N-No! Not at all. I was just… a little surprised.”
Haruka waved her hands hurriedly, flustered. But she had stopped trembling.
“Runa-sama, I apologize as well.”
“…Could you pat me a little more?”
“Oh? If you insist.”
Like a cat seeking affection, Runa rubbed her head against my hand, her eyes narrowing blissfully.
She’s an angel…
But this isn’t the time for that.
We arrived at the merging point. Five large vehicles emerged from below.
“Out of the way.”
Igai-san manipulated the sand, blowing several vehicles off the highway. Yet mid-air, the cars halted and descended back onto the road, resuming their chase.
(Psychokinesis? That’s a formidable ability.)
“Don’t ignore us!”
The escorts intervened between us and the enemies, launching their own attacks.
Water, lightning, earth, telekinesis—abilities clashed in a chaotic melee.
Amid the chaos, telekinetically hurled debris struck the limousine’s tire, causing it to slip.
“Eeeek!”
I hugged the two screaming girls, bracing for impact.
Thud!
The limousine collided with a soundproof wall. I absorbed the shock by spreading my arms against the wall.
Leaping out of the car, I wanted to comfort the two, but there was no time to waste.
“Everyone, get down!”
Reacting immediately, Igai-san and the escorts ducked.
A truck roared over their heads at high speed.
“?!?”
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock as the truck crashed into the enemy forces, obliterating them in a grotesque instant.
Before we could even react, a new figure descended from the sky, landing heavily on the road.
The ground cracked like a spiderweb, shaking violently as if in an earthquake.
“Huh? Why are there so many left? I thought I cleaned up.”
The figure’s body was grotesquely muscular, with a horn protruding from its forehead.
“…An oni?”
No one knew who muttered it, but everyone shared the same thought.
This mission was far from straightforward.