第１１８８堀：一回戦その２ (Part1)
Chapter 1188: First Round, Part 2
Side: Hifi, Team 16
"I have things under control here."
With those words, Bitz-san sends a transmission.
Nonoa-san and I exchange a nod, then scramble from the shadows into a house.
"Phew. Thanks, Bitz."
"Not at all. I couldn't possibly let Nonoa-sama or Hifi-sama handle the scouting."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but we are a team. It’s meaningless if only you can do it, Bitz-san. Tetora-san, please talk some sense into her."
When I said this to Bitz-san, she furrowed her brows slightly, but then...
"...I see. No, I understand. Understood, Hifi-sama. It is true that I should avoid a situation where the team collapses the moment I am gone. Let us practice together."
"Yes, please. By the way, Bitz-san, you seem surprisingly accustomed to this."
"She’s right. You look quite natural holding that gun. Do you like firearms, Tetora?"
"No, Terutora generally prefers the sword. However, while researching various opponents, I learned about guns as well. Still, I was surprised; this gun has far higher performance than the Tanegashima I knew."
Indeed, I had heard about guns from Taizo-san, but when I gained the knowledge through a skill recently, I was incredibly shocked.
There are many types of guns, each with their own uses, strengths, and weaknesses—and above all, I learned just how efficiently the very concept of a "gun" was designed to kill people.
I had helped Taizo-san create Tanegashima-type muskets in the past, and we had made some improvements to their performance since then, but compared to the assault rifles we hold now, they are worlds apart.
And with a gun in hand, anyone—yes, even someone who isn't a mage—could kill efficiently if they just pulled the trigger.
...That was the kind of thing the old me used to think about. And the possibility of such things being pointed at us by Weed.
And I was not the only one harboring such thoughts.
"Indeed. To think we ever thought of picking a fight with Weed, who uses weapons like this as a matter of course. I understand now just how much they were trying to keep things peaceful. My, Nogosh was truly lucky to remain unharmed. Or rather, the performance of these guns is so incredible, it makes me wonder where the value of our offensive magic even lies."
"I understand that. When it’s this powerful, the significance of offensive magic does indeed thin out. That said, Terutora says that everything depends on how you use it. After all, he’s the type of man who would charge at a gun with a sword..."
That is true.
Even magic, depending on how it is used, can achieve results that surpass a gun.
Knowing things well and using them effectively is what truly matters.
Incidentally, I’ll pass on trying to face a gun with a sword like Tetora-san; I know full well that’s impossible unless you’re an absolute master.
"However, we cannot use magic this time, so let’s trust in our own skills. For now, let’s scavenge the supplies in this house."
" "Understood." "
Fortunately, we are not lacking in weapons or ammunition.
If we can find some extra recovery potions, we should be able to endure a firefight to some extent.
Well, given the nature of these game rules, if we start a shootout, we are guaranteed to be interrupted by third parties, so I want to avoid direct combat as much as possible.
"I’ll take the house on the left. Nonoa-san, you take the front. Bitz-san, stay in this house. I don't sense any enemies, but the first stage of the map shrinkage is already complete. There’s a possibility enemies are lurking, so be careful."
With that, I approach the single-story house, gun raised, and peer through the window.
There are no curtains, and I can clearly see a room that looks lived-in.
I also confirm that there are tools scattered about.
It seems no one is here, so I circle around to the door, open it, slip into the room, and carefully check my surroundings to ensure there are no enemies.
As expected, there were no enemies, so I breathe a sigh of relief, collect the items on the floor, and contact the other two.
"This is Hifi. No enemies confirmed in my assigned house. I am collecting the items."
"This is Nonoa. No enemies here either. But I found recovery potions and a shield."
"This is Bitz. I have already finished collecting the items and am monitoring the surroundings from the second floor. I see no particular movement."
"Understood. Once you’ve finished collecting items, let’s gather at the house where Bitz-san is. We will decide our next move."
"Understood."
"Understood. Both of you, please be careful."
For now, since Bitz-san is keeping watch on the safety of the area, we should be fine.
So, I quickly gather the items and hurry to the house where Bitz-san is.
Nonoa-san has already arrived, and as soon as she spots me, she opens the door.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
With that, Nonoa-san checks outside once before closing the door.
"Where is Bitz-san?"
"On the second floor. It’s dangerous to hold a meeting downstairs."
"True."
As I did earlier, someone could peer in from outside the window and shoot us on the spot.
Thinking this, I head to the second floor, where Bitz-san is waiting, her gun still aimed at the window.
"Bitz. You can stop now."
"No. I will continue to keep watch while we talk. You two may discuss the plans at that table."
"Why don't you close the curtains?"
I said this because I felt Bitz-san wouldn't be able to rest otherwise, but...
"I shall refrain from doing so. So far, there hasn't been a single house where the curtains were closed. In other words, closing the curtains would signal to everyone that someone is inside. It would be the same as leaving the door wide open."
"Ah, now that you mention it, you're right."
"I just realized that too."
Indeed, as Bitz-san said, all the houses we’ve seen so far had their curtains open.
Therefore, if we were to carelessly close them, it would be an advertisement that someone is inside.
Bitz-san’s judgment is optimal.
"Then, Bitz, please continue to keep watch."
"Yes. I am fine."
"In that case..."
I say this and spread out the provided map.
Bitz-san can also check the map via the projection monitor on her provided wristwatch, so there should be no issues.
"First, we are here. A place where a few houses are lined up, slightly inland from the sea."
"We were on the coast at first, so we’ve walked quite a distance."
"It couldn't be helped. We weren't blessed with our starting location."
"But it wasn't so far that we’re out of breath, so let’s be thankful for that."
That’s right; we were initially on the southeast side of the map, but since the first map shrinkage occurred on the northeast side, we were forced to move.
Nevertheless, it can be considered lucky that all of us were able to obtain assault rifles and sidearms in the first village.