The Aegis Special Task Force Team 8.
Its five members were as follows.
[Sub Party1 (5/5)]
- Lv.35 Godhand(SR)
- Lv.29 Bodybag(R)
- Lv.28 Oldgirl(R)
- Lv.25 Skull(N)
- Lv.22 Burnout(SR)
"Interesting code names."
Having checked everyone's name, I gave a brief remark.
"Can you tell me your real names?"
"I'm sorry, sir."
Godhand bowed his head.
"We're sufficient as nameless chess pieces. We've forgotten our real names."
"Well, fine. After all, it wasn't your names but your abilities that made me take you under my wing."
Manipulating the system window, I checked the stats of the five and smirked.
"Shall we see what your team can do?"
"Willingly. We are completely at your disposal, sir."
Well, I didn't need the complete disposal...
First off, the team leader, Godhand.
"I am a metallurgist. More precisely, a ferromancer."
Godhand picked up a chain that had been lying on the ground.
"If it contains iron, I can refine any metal into the shape I desire."
"Ho."
The chain disintegrated into iron dust and in the next moment transformed into thin strands of wire, which then twisted together into a spear.
Godhand, who had lightly swung the spear in his hand, carefully set it down on the ground.
Before long, the spear had transformed back into a chain.
"Depending on the enemy we encounter, I can create different weapons."
"Indeed..."
I nodded.
"You would supply metal on the spot and provide it as weapons to your team members?"
"Exactly."
They were essentially special agents. Activity in enemy territory was basic.
The ability of Godhand to create weapons even when going in unarmed would have been extremely useful in this respect.
Godhand then pointed out his subordinates.
"I'll introduce the abilities of my team members."
The Aegis Special Forces Team 8, having removed their hoods, were all elves with green hair, brown eyes, and long ears.
And, they all looked young.
Even these kids had to risk their lives for the survival of the entire race, indicating the dire situation of the elves.
"Bodybag is a telekinetic. She can freely lift heavy objects, even able to lift all five of us into the air and transport us. She can also throw weapons that I've refined all at once."
A female elf, still chubby-cheeked, named Bodybag, politely bowed to me.
A telekinetic. That's extremely versatile.
"The remaining three are all archers. However, even among archers, each has their area of expertise."
Godhand introduced the remaining three in turn.
"Oldgirl specializes in close-quarters shooting. She uses a double crossbow and is a specialist in combat. She also has a lot of experience hunting monsters."
I wasn't sure why 'Old' was part of the codename, but she appeared to be the most hardened agent among them at first glance.
Oldgirl waved at me with a shy smile.
I found myself instinctively waving back, then snapped out of it. What the hell?
"Skull is a long-range sniper. She uses a longbow. She has the skill to suppress noise, making her unparalleled in covert operations among us."
Skull, the only N-class character among the five, bowed her head nonchalantly.
A deep scar marked the youthful boyish face, suggesting a history of many battles.
"And Burnout is..."
Godhand, introducing the final agent, paused momentarily.
"...our team's main firepower. She uses a customized stationary ballista. She hasn't fully controlled her abilities yet, but with more experience, she can be of great help to you."
The last agent, Burnout.
While all other team members had removed their masks, this girl still wore hers.
Her lime-green hair ends were singed black, and her brown eyes flickered with red flames.
Having reviewed this child's abilities via the system window, I swallowed nervously. If this girl matures properly...
"Also, please take this."
Godhand pulled something out and handed it to me.
"This is our 'Collar', a pledge of loyalty."
When I looked at it, it seemed to be a tiny switch.
"What is this?"
"It's the activation button for a bomb collar."
Godhand showed me his neck. There was a collar that looked as if it was made by melting and hardening iron.
The red gem embedded in the collar shone threateningly.
Upon closer inspection, all five of them were wearing these collars.
"It's a device to 'self-destruct' remotely in case of capture by the enemy."
"..."
"This should give you more trust in us."
"No, I already trust you..."
"You might, Your Majesty."
Godhand gestured behind me.
"But others might not."
When I turned around, it was indeed as he said. Lucas and Evangeline showed clear signs of being wary of the new sub-party members.
"Anyway, I have a rough idea of your abilities now."
I felt it would be rude not to accept their pledge of loyalty, so I took the bomb switch. I won't use it, anyway.
"But it seems you've been mainly involved in person-to-person combat up to now. The main enemy here at the monster frontline is monsters."
"..."
"Do you kill monsters well?"
"I regret to inform you, Your Majesty."
Godhand grinned faintly for the first time that day.
"We are the monsters."
Wheels that throw away morality and ethics to serve the nation.
That's the Aegis Special Forces.
And among them, Team 8, who willingly became scapegoats for their kin.
It had been a while since they had strayed from the path of humanity.
"And yet, we haven't encountered a monster stronger than us."
"That's something we'll need to prove."
Slowly, I got up.
"We will have to hunt monsters soon, after all."
The special forces team of five rose in unison. With a faint smile, I gestured towards Crossroad.
"Let's go. We should at least eat something."
***
Right after our return to Crossroad.
The sub-party were all accommodated in the spare rooms of the Crossroad mansion, with only Lucas and Evangeline entering the reception room with me.
It was for a meeting to plan our future.
"Those people are criminals, my lord."
As soon as the door closed, Lucas raised his stern voice.
"And not just any criminals, they're traitors who plotted a rebellion!"
"Well, that's true."
Treason was the most common reason for capital punishment in the Empire.
It was the best charge to be thrown on someone, in a broad sense.
"Do you really plan to employ them? We don't know when they might betray us!"
"But the switch to the bomb collar is with me."
I kept it carefully in the inventory, worried I might accidentally trigger it.
"Lucas, you must have felt it too during this free exploration. We're gradually becoming overpowered with just us."
"..."
Recalling the free exploration, Lucas kept his mouth tightly shut, unable to refute.
The white-masked NPCs... The Nightcrawler squad. We almost fell helplessly to them.
As we delve deeper into the dungeon, unexpected threats appear. We need to reinforce our power as soon as possible.
It's not just about free exploration, but also the imminent defense stage in front of us.
Now that Jupiter, who was our core power, has left due to injury, we should utilize convicts, or anything we can get our hands on.
"What do you think, Evangeline?"
When I asked, Evangeline hummed, touching her chin before opening her mouth slowly.
"I think the Aegis Special Forces Team is reliable. But employing elves is certainly a risk."
"Is the problem because it's an elf?"
"Are there people among the Empire who like elves, or rather, other races? It could negatively affect your reputation as a lord."
Humans and other races had been fighting for generations, and it was only a hundred years ago that the race war ended.
The hatred and conflicts imprinted on the people of this world run much deeper than I thought.
"Do you hate elves too?"
"If I have to choose, I don't have any particular feelings. I neither like nor dislike them."
Shrugging her shoulders, Evangeline glanced outside the reception room.
"Regardless, it doesn't seem to work."
"Doesn't seem to work?"
"Offering themselves to death to save their entire race... It's a heart-wrenching story."
Evangeline nodded in my direction.
"If you're asking me to pick a side, I'm in favor. No matter who they're affiliated with or what species they are, as long as they help fend off the monsters, that's enough, isn't it?"
I nodded in response and turned to Lucas.
"Alright, Lucas. Let's do it this way."
"Yes, my lord."
"For the immediate success of this defense mission. And to break through those in white masks during the next free exploration. For now, let's employ these five friends just until then."
"..."
"And if these friends turn out to be not so great in real combat, we can consider another method, like you suggested. What do you think?"
Lucas silently nodded his approval.
"In the first place, it's not my place to question the decisions you make, my lord. I merely follow your will."
You say that, but don't you often disagree with me?
But every organization needs a brake. There's validity in opposing opinions too.
There are reasons both for and against using the five of them, and it's a fact that there's no particular reason to trust them completely.
'One thing's certain, we need their power immediately.'
In the impending defense battle, the new sub-party will prove to be useful.
'One way or another, they've presented an interesting game.'
I pulled out and read the official document I received from the capital again.
They sent convicts when I asked for reinforcements, all of them from different species, and they belong to the Aegis Special Forces.
'I wonder what they intended by sending them.'
I carefully looked at the name signed at the end of the document.
Prince Fernandez 'Ember Keeper' Everblack, the second in line to the throne.
The elder brother of my character, Ash, and the imperial regent responsible for domestic affairs.
'A character that never appeared in the game...'
I folded the document neatly and tucked it away, pressing my lips together.
'I must be careful.'
Tactics for the true ending.
Not only monsters, but also the will of humans from various places have started to intervene.
The road ahead is fraught with danger.
'Overcoming these challenges is part of the fun of strategizing.'
I wish I could clear this a bit more easily!
***
That night.
The Convict Transport Troop, terrified by me, was driven out of the city.
The captain of the transport troop pleaded to confirm the execution, but I kicked them out immediately, saying that I couldn't allow anyone who had lied to the imperial family to stay in the city any longer. Get out!
The Aegis Special Forces Team 8 continued to stay at the mansion.
Officially, they were the most important prisoners and were confined in the mansion's prison... or so it was arranged.
'Where should I place them later...'
Of course, since I am the commander of the front line here, as well as the lord of this city.
I can keep them close in a pretend ignorance kind of way.
But the issue is clear. Where should they stay from now on, and how should I summon them?
As I was contemplating this, I stood in front of the room where Aegis Special Forces Team 8 was staying.
I knocked and pushed the door open.
"It's me. I'm coming in..."
And when I slightly opened the door...
"Bed, bed! It's a bed!"
"How long has it been since we had a proper place to sleep?!"
"So soft! It's soft! It's super soft!"
...Members of the special task force were visible, frolicking and jumping on the bed.
I froze.
"The food was good, too!"
"It was delicious, it was delicious!"
"I can't remember the last time we had a proper meal!"
"I want to eat more! Do they serve snacks?"
As they babbled on, they soon began a pillow fight, laughing heartily.
I watched them, my face void of expression.
What on earth... is happening here?
"Huh?"
One of the task force members noticed my presence.
"Your, Your Highness?!"
"What?!"
In the next moment, all five of them rolled out of the bed with a clatter and in no time, they were kneeling on one knee in front of me.
"You have arrived, Your Highness."
Godhand spat out with a voice full of strain. But it's too late to act now, isn't it?
"It's too late to act serious now, you know...?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
Godhand responded in a dry voice. Yet, there were feathers from the pillows stuck in his hair.
"We are the Aegis Special Forces. We're emotionless killing machines..."
"No, that's enough."
I shook the thing I was holding in my hand. It was the remaining food from the kitchen that I had warmed up.
"Do you want to eat a midnight snack or not?"
The eyes of the little ones, wearing the mask of the special task force, shone like wild animals.