A round of slow, indifferent applause sounded. Lux turned to look at UMP45.
"Oh my, it seems I really underestimated you, Commander. You look so fair and cute, yet you're actually quite ruthless inside."
"Sten, have everyone get out of the vehicle and secure the perimeter. HK, come inside. The Commander is injured—treat his wound."
UMP45 pressed her tactical headset and issued orders swiftly and concisely. She sensed something off about Lux's condition and judged that she should take command.
In less than two seconds, HK416 kicked open the bar door and rushed to Lux's side, staring anxiously at the blood dripping down his cheek.
Only after confirming there was no threat to his life did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"45!! How the hell did you protect the Commander?!"
HK416 roared, glaring at UMP45.
"If he's on the front line, he should be prepared to get injured. You and I both know that. You should be thankful it's just a scratch and not a blinded eye."
"HK, don't blame 45. I dodged too slowly. I gave an unreasonable order and got hurt myself. This isn't her fault."
Lux said calmly.
"Damn it!"
HK416 pulled out alcohol swabs from her first-aid kit.
"Commander, it might hurt. Please bear with it."
She quickly treated the wound on Lux's cheek.
A few minutes later, HK416 carefully placed a piece of gauze over the wound.
"Commander, do you want a painkiller?"
HK416 asked with concern.
"It's fine, thanks. It doesn't hurt that much."
Lux shook his head.
"Was it really worth it? If we had left earlier, they wouldn't have dared to stop us."
"You pushed them into a corner and got yourself injured. That wasn't exactly the best strategy."
"You're always this impulsive. Maybe you should stay somewhere safe instead of standing here."
UMP45 said, her faint smile still present.
"They… deserved to die."
"Oh? And why is that? Did you know them before? Your reaction doesn't look like it."
UMP45's interest was piqued.
"They were involved with drugs. That alone makes them deserving of death. That stuff ruins lives."
"It's the apocalypse. Everyone has the right to choose how they survive, don't they? We didn't have to interfere. There was no reward anyway. Besides, those pitiful worms wouldn't live much longer."
UMP45 shrugged.
"I once had a very close friend. He became a narcotics officer. On his twenty-first birthday, I was going to attend his party, but instead I received news of his death…"
"When I saw him one last time at the hospital, his face had been completely ruined by blades. Every joint in his body had been smashed with blunt weapons. Large amounts of amphetamines were found in his system—drugs that keep a person conscious… He was tortured to death while fully aware."
"His girlfriend developed severe depression afterward and eventually committed suicide."
Lux spoke painfully.
"..."
UMP45's smile disappeared, replaced by a dark expression.
"It doesn't matter if I'm injured. I'm alive, and they're dead. That's enough."
"I didn't have the power back then… but now I have you. Please, lend me your strength."
"As long as you give the order, no matter who it is, I'll kill them."
HK416 hugged Lux tightly and patted his back.
"Ah… having you by my side is really wonderful."
Lux closed his eyes in relief.
"Of course, I'll help too. You're really an impossible Commander."
UMP45 added.
"Thank you."
"So, what about that woman?"
UMP45 asked calmly.
HK416 released Lux, and both of them turned their gaze toward the naked woman on the sofa. Her well-shaped body was covered in horrifying bruises and cigarette burns. Her rolled-back eyes and foaming mouth showed she was unconscious.
"Looks like she was fed a lot of drugs. What should we do? Save her?"
UMP45 asked flatly.
"... While she's unconscious, I'll send her off. At least she won't feel pain when she dies. If she lives, she'll become addicted. During withdrawal she'd suffer endlessly, struggling miserably in this world, and might be eaten someday anyway. Rather than that, it's better she rests without pain."
As Lux spoke, he drew his katana again.
"If you can't bring yourself to do it, I can handle it for you."
UMP45 said calmly, flipping a small dagger in her hand.
"No. This is my decision. I have to do it myself."
Lux sighed, then drove the blade straight into the woman's brow.
"Hehehe… just as I thought. Commander, you're really becoming more and more to my taste."
UMP45 smiled with satisfaction.
"Hmph. Pick up your weapons and stay alert. There's no guarantee those were the only scum here. There might still be people guarding the women."
"Understood."
Lux flicked the blood from his katana and walked toward the bar counter, storing bottles of famous liquor into the system space.
HK416 stayed close behind him, vigilantly watching their surroundings.
"Hey, this steel-ball gun is dangerous at close range. I brought it over—do you want to use it?"
UMP45 handed the steel-ball gun to Lux.
Lux hung it on his waist. HK416 then passed him a grenade.
"This is the steel-ball magazine. There should still be quite a few inside. That said, beyond twenty meters it's not very effective."
"Oh."
Lux nodded and also slipped the grenade-shaped steel ball storage container into the pocket of his trench coat.
Very quickly, all kinds of alcohol on the counter were swept clean by Lux. When he picked up a can of beer, he hesitated for a moment, then pulled open the tab.
"The rest of today's driving is up to you, 45. I'm in a bad mood and want a drink."
"Alright, leave it to me."
Lux tilted his head back and downed half the can of beer in one go, then poured the remaining half onto the ground. He crushed the empty can with one hand and tossed it into the corner, then silently stored the remaining bottles and glasses into the system space again.
"A bar this big can't possibly have only this much alcohol. Go look for the wine cellar."
Lux said calmly.
The three of them split up to search.