Nikeh's performance on the mission would have provided the research team with unexpected data.
　It seemed as if the chronic shortage of detection mages had been solved.
　Since it has been proven that the training of detecting mages in exploration is ineffective if they don't have the right qualities, the military has established various preferential treatment for searchers as valuable human resources.
　One of them is the ability to independently apply to become a partner of a double-digit wizard or higher. Of course, the salaries are comparable to those of a double-digit wizard.

　Nikeh will be able to carry out his role as a detection dog and partner. However, it is not possible to obtain a search engine for artificial animals called "magic dogs" at present.
　This was partly because it was the first example, but more importantly because the research team was reluctant to do so because of the many uncertainties.
　That was also a natural argument, as the research data was still going strong, but only for three months.

　But it was true that Nikeh's position in the squad was completely partnered with Ars, and the squad members thought so.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect when you're in a position to do something.
　Ars and Nike are often together at all hours of the day and night. It's even to the extent that they spend time in the troop room instead of returning to their own rooms.

　After watching them for about two months, it could be said that the feelings they had for Arus had softened considerably.

　On his day off once a month, he would go to a large, useless space on the military headquarters grounds to play ball. It's the usual game of just throwing the ball and Niké gets it, but it also has the drawback that it's not even a game without magical help.
　In other words, you need to fly the ball hundreds of meters to get some exercise. Nikeh's physical ability to run at a top speed of 200 km/h cannot be matched by ordinary people. Once, when one of the members of the squad threw a ball normally, he was snatched away from the side just as it left his hand.
　The first time he used a rubber ball and it ate through him.
　So now we have a new ball made of a resilient material. It is the same material used in anti-physical armor.




　It's already been three months since Nike became a member of the squad.
　Even though the duties remain the same, or even more so than before, there is not much fatigue on the faces of the troopers - mood fatigue, not physical.
　On the desk of Viziest, curved in the squad room, there is a pile of orders that have come in from completed mission papers.
　About 90% of the troopers were in the troop room, though not all of them were present.
　Elina is waiting next to Viziest as his assistant.

''It's a bit of a tricky mission this time.

　The squad members cowered their shoulders in response to Viziest who spat out heavily and opened their mouths thoughtlessly as usual, "It's always the same thing.
　It's true that the mission so far has been little more than a nuisance, isn't it?
　Even so, the troopers, none of whom have come to this day without a shortage of personnel, may have some pride in themselves.

''No, for once, things are different.

　Erina returned it divinely, in a tone that would have lifted her glasses if she had been wearing them with a quick snap. There was a hint of irritation in her voice.

'This time, Governor Beric has given me a directive, but there's no difference between being a butt-wipe.

　Although Vizayst speaks eloquently now, when he received this order in person from Beric, he was so outraged that he crumpled the directive with a blue streak of indignation.

　Hearing the gurgling and boiling sound, Elina looked sideways and took over to calm her down.

''It's urgent. You know that we have been driven out without a break as a plan for territorial expansion in the outside world for some time now. Of course, I'm sure you're also aware that the order came from Lieutenant General Morwellard of the External Progressive Integration Division.

　No member of the squad is surprised when he reveals that. It might be an exaggeration to say that Viziest is the enemy of the eye. He has the rank of colonel.
　But if Beric had used Vizayst to create a new unit, it was not amusing to Morweld, who also has power within the army.
　In the current regime, Bellick's power was growing even within. Even so, the power structure was still overwhelmingly dominated by the proportion of nobles and other high-ranking officials. At the top of the list was Lieutenant General Morweld.
　This kind of crushing was not uncommon, but orders that called for status were extremely blatant.
　Of course, since the Special Demon Attack Unit is the unit in charge of the outside world, the main orders are given by the Joint Staff Headquarters, but since it is labeled as special, it is certain that it is an independent unit.

　However, the newly-established unit does not have a solid enough ground to bait an opponent who will bite them if they show an opening. Even though Bellick's breath is on the line, it will ostensibly be a newly established individual Viziest.
　That's why, as much as possible, Special Squadron 0 has taken the utmost care to complete the order when it was given. It was like walking a tightrope every day, but thanks to the nucleus called Ars, we have managed to succeed without a single failure until today.

"Lieutenant General Morweld's troops were competing with our [Special Squadron 0] for success, but two days ago, they lost their target 70 kilometers to the northeast.

　The squad members, who had roughly guessed the outline of the mission with this alone, waited for the explanation that would follow with a bitter expression. But even those who had only listened, now have a dusky anger in their eyes as if they were distracted.

''In other words, do you want us to take down that target?

　The squad member asked emphatically, not to Elina, but to Vizayst.
　The other members of the squad nodded and said, "So that's why you're wiping your ass?" full of unexpressed resentment. Who wants to drink the bitterness of wiping the buttocks of a superior who has forced an unreasonable task on them? This is because the casualty rate is relatively higher than the accomplishment rate, which has been lightly estimated in the past.

　Taking over a mission itself wasn't unusual, but it was the worst thing in terms of heartbreak.
　But--'

That's right. We can't veto it now that the order has been given. Besides, we're the most decorated unit in the entire HQ area right now. And it's an order from Bellick. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not an assignment I can refuse.

　At a glance, Elina looks down at the material at hand and taps the virtual keyboard on the edge of her desk.
　A virtual screen appears behind Viziest and in front of the squad members. It is a map of the outside world, everyone can see that it is a map of the outside world.

　A red dot of light was floating in the northeast. Erina looked at the dot.

''The information currently known is that it's an A-rated class demon, a spider-type [Arachne], and.......the escape route.......''

　A dotted line stretches across the screen.

".........!
Worst of all, it's in the exclusive territory of the neighboring Krebdito.

　The territory of one's own country is determined after it has been recaptured, but basically all of the territory within 100 km of the country to the outside world is rarely a part of the territory, because even if the territory is recaptured, it leaves all sorts of unsettling factors behind. That's why they take joint operations and decide on allocations in advance to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
　However, in this case, it wasn't a matter of reclaiming territory, but rather a matter of escaping to the exclusive territory by an A-rated demon.
　High-rated demons would be responsible for defeating them. There are times when they need to cooperate with other countries, but the negotiations of defeating them will always work against the side making the request.
　If an A-rated demon is wiped out in an encounter with a unit of Clevidites, the blame will fall on the Alpha. Therefore, Beric would currently be sharing this information with Crebidito.
　In order to keep the injuries as light as possible, Alpha would have to take responsibility for defeating them as soon as possible.

''Why would we........''

　Unwilling anger spilled out.
　Speaking of A-rate, it consisted of double-digit magicians as the main force. It's a rate so high that it's not surprising to mobilize a single magician. But when it comes to Viziest's squad, the only double-digit mage is Elina's only one. Many of them have built up their careers, but there are few who are overwhelmingly strong as mages, and many of them are triple-digit mages.
　When it comes to coordination, they take pride in being as good as double-digit mages, but in terms of customary practice, they remain uneasy.
　The only reason they have been able to accomplish their mission so far is because of Ars, but the actual Ars is currently in the double digits, and the call to be the next single wizard was high in the squad, but that is probably in the future.

　Lindelph was looking at the faces of those around him as he broke out in a cold sweat.
　In this squadron, he was second only to Viziest in command. He was inwardly worried about his usual lack of bloodlust, and he thought inwardly that it was bad.
　No matter how skillful the coordination is, fear and similar emotions are not only useless in the outside world, they are a drag.
　He had such concerns.

''Hanh!　It's grim. It makes me angry, but it's not that bad.
Did you say "sir"?

　The trooper who had just poured out a sinking pain asked slowly.

''Think about it. That's because your stupid superior officer just screwed up on his own. If we wipe our asses clean, we'll get out of this. How about that?　Isn't that the best situation ever?

　The bad smile propagated quickly. The faces of the members of the team are changing at an alarming rate as they watch, as if they were being eroded.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　You can also lift your cheeks and raise your voice with even more dominance.

''The squad will be formed by the 12 people currently here. The commander will be Captain Lindelph.
'What!'
Hmm?　What, Lindelph, are you unhappy?
No, sir, with a mission as important as this one, it seems to me that the captain should be in charge himself.
I've got some business to attend to. You're good at what you do, son, and I'm impressed. You'll do what you've always done.

　Huh~ Nodding with a subtle expression of happiness, Lindelph was more interested in what Viziest said he was going to do. He himself would have shaken his head to the side with such force that his neck would have been cut to shreds if he thought of his skills as a magician alone. But he was confident that he had commanded in this squad.
　He was so confident that there was no mission that he couldn't complete, even considering the morale that Viziest had set up for him.

'Alright!　Go eliminate them for sure. And don't forget there will be a celebration when you return.
""Yes!"

　The salute of the troops shook the floor.

'Get ready and head immediately.

　Viziest raises his cheeks and blasts away.
　He rushes into the changing room, getting ready is a lifeline that cannot be neglected.
　Ars and Nikeh follow suit.

''Lindelph, Elina........''