The battle continued.
As many times as I pulled the trigger, the number of lives I saved increased.
['Pacifism' has been activated.]
[Lives Saved: 29]
Well, it was a bit ironic that the number of lives I killed far outnumbered those I saved.
At that moment—
["Master! Behind you!"]
Esther's urgent warning rang out in my ear, and almost simultaneously, I heard the beastly howls from behind.
[Kieeeek!]
[Kyauk, kyauk!]
As a gunner operating the NOA-44 Eraser, my focus and vision were naturally fixed on the front, making the rear more vulnerable.
If Janus had been able to move, he would have taken care of it, but that wasn't possible right now.
Even though I had destroyed all the surveillance equipment from R17-1 to R17-15, I couldn't block the eyes of the soldiers.
Tsk.
["I've got them!"]
While Esther held the beasts that charged at me from behind, I kept my right hand on the NOA-44 Eraser's trigger and drew the HE2050 pistol with my left hand.
Since the NOA-44 Eraser boasted an impressive rate of fire of nearly 20,000 rounds per minute, stopping the barrage even for a moment would give the beast horde a chance to push forward.
Click—
I aimed the gun roughly.
If it had been loaded with regular bullets, the unmodified HE2050 wouldn't have been enough to stop those beasts.
But right now, the bullets loaded in it were none other than A-985 Explosive Rounds.
In other words, I had more than enough firepower.
Boom—!
Bang—!
The distance wasn't too far, so even without precise aiming, it was enough to hit the beasts.
With two shots, the two Grade-8 monster types that had dared to charge me from behind met their end.
But there was still something bothering me.
'Where did they come from? I didn't miss anything in this area.'
Not to brag, but I was single-handedly maintaining a perfect defense from R17-1 to R17-15.
There was no reason for beasts to suddenly appear from behind me.
["They came from another zone."]
Tsk.
I had a feeling, and it turned out I was right.
Holding just my assigned zone was already pushing my limits, and now I had to deal with stragglers from other zones too...
But there was no use complaining.
After all, it was unreasonable to expect soldiers armed with just a single gun to hold off a horde of monsters like this.
If Esther hadn't held them back, I would have been in serious danger.
And if I were in danger, it would mean the defense of this entire sector would collapse.
'In the worst-case scenario, I might have to use Janus's power as well.'
Even though I couldn't block the soldiers' line of sight, I had already disabled Ark's surveillance equipment, so it was still a viable option.
Although the explanations and cleanup afterward would be a hassle, it would be better than the entire front line collapsing.
["By the way, I didn't hear a thank-you for saving your life?"]
'Thanks.'
["That's it? How about getting on your knees and bowing?"]
Esther, now visible at my side, pouted and puffed her lips.
Even in moments like this, I couldn't afford to lower my guard, both front and back.
At some point, the speed at which the Pacifism stacks increased had skyrocketed.
['Pacifism' has been activated.]
[Lives Saved: 32]
['Pacifism' has been activated.]
[Lives Saved: 33]
['Pacifism' has been activated.]
[Lives Saved: 34]
.
.
.
['Pacifism' has been activated.]
[Lives Saved: 45]
The meaning was clear.
'It seems the support platoons have arrived safely at the western front.'
The more they fought and saved lives on the western front, the more all those lives would count toward my Pacifism trait.
Since I was the reason they headed to the western front in the first place, all those lives were credited to me.
'If this pace continues, I'll at least gain one Near-Death Survival stack before the wave ends.'
Everything was going smoothly.
Or so I thought.
But nothing ever goes as planned in this world.
And right now, the situation in front of me was a prime example.
["Hey, Master..."]
Esther, who had reappeared at my side, quietly grabbed my sleeve.
Her hand was trembling.
She didn't have to—being a spectral entity—but the point was that I understood why she was reacting like this.
'I know.'
The problem was that just knowing didn't change the situation.
'Something's coming.'
To prove that, the Ether around me stirred violently.
[Hiii...]
[Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared. Scared...]
[Kyaaaaaaah!]
It was a reaction similar to encountering a regional master-class beast.
But there was no sign of any massive beast or monster approaching from the front.
'More than that... this presence isn't coming from outside Ark.'
In other words, something was approaching from inside Ark.
Something with such an overwhelming presence that even the Ethers and Esther felt compelled to warn me.
'...An ally?'
How likely was it that someone with this level of presence from within Ark would appear at the Red Line front?
To be honest, I was skeptical.
The current front-line situation wasn't dire enough to call for such reinforcements, and people of that caliber were usually preoccupied with their own missions.
'If it's someone with this level of presence... at least a brigadier from Rose Line or higher.'
In Ark, those who bore the title of "star" were divided into two categories:
Those who fought wars and those who played politics.
Naturally, the ones I was referring to were the former.
Just because someone had a high rank didn't necessarily mean they were strong, but those who fought on the battlefield were different.
For them, rank equaled power, and even if they weren't on the frontmost Rose Line, anyone of brigadier rank or higher was a monster in their own right.
'Who the hell is it?'
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't comprehend who within Ark could possess such a presence and be heading this way.
Honestly, I wanted to run, but if I abandoned my position now, it was obvious what would happen to the front line.
[Let's run...]
[Everyone will die. Kihih, they'll all die...]
As the Ether's restless vibrations grew increasingly intense, that ominous presence continued to draw closer.
The battle raged on, but even as I kept my gaze forward, my mind was preoccupied with the sharp, prickling sensation creeping up the back of my neck.
["Almost here."]
The speed at which they were approaching was astounding—like they were riding a hovering bike.
And before I knew it, an all-too-familiar voice whispered into my ear.
"Need some help?"
I knew that voice.
It sounded polite, almost friendly, but the underlying tone was anything but.
Slowly, I turned my head.
There were two of them.
Just as I expected—faces I already knew.
'...Shadow Order.'
One of Ark's greatest adversaries, alongside the Church of Morte—a group with the ambition to seize Ark for themselves.
And they had the capability to make it happen.
Their ambition wasn't just empty talk.
I knew that better than anyone because I once took over Ark myself with their help.
'Though Ark doesn't know about that yet.'
The biggest difference between the Church of Morte and the Shadow Order lay in their size and secrecy.
Ark had a decent amount of intel on the Church of Morte, but not on the Shadow Order.
That's why, despite their countless schemes and infiltrations, Ark couldn't properly respond to them.
'That's not the problem right now...'
The problem was that two of the Shadow Order's key figures were standing right behind me.
If they felt the slightest urge, they could easily eliminate me while I was defenseless.
'What the hell are they doing here?'
It wasn't strange for Shadow Order members to sneak in and out of Ark as if it were their backyard, but this place?
One question led to another, but I had no answers.
Or rather, I was the one who needed to provide answers.
"When someone asks you a question, aren't you supposed to answer?"
It was clear I couldn't avoid the conversation, so I forced my unwilling lips to move.
"...I'm fine."
"Oh, come on. I'm just offering to help. Why turn me down when things look so rough?"
Technically, he wasn't wrong.
The situation on the Red Line front was undeniably bad from an outsider's perspective.
But that was only on the surface.
In reality, I had been holding the beast horde back without too much trouble.
If given enough time, I could have maintained the defense until the wave ended.
However, their sudden appearance threw off the rhythm of what should have been a smooth operation.
Now, I had to keep an eye not only on the enemies in front but also on the two dangers right behind me.
Of course, the real threat was the pair behind me, but if I let go of the trigger, the beast horde would immediately surge forward.
It was a maddening predicament.
"Why are you so eager to meddle when he's already said he's fine?"
Another voice chimed in—a man I already recognized.
"Why are you butting in?"
"I have my reasons."
Turncoat Rook.
Like the Turncoat Knight I'd encountered before, he was one of Ark's most-wanted named Skull Turncoats.
The fact that such a notorious monster could stroll around openly within Ark was proof of the Shadow Order's influence.
"Come on, it looks dangerous just by looking at it. What's the harm in me helping out a little?"
"The guy said no, didn't he?"
On the surface, it looked like they were arguing, but it was just a game to them—playing with me like a cat with a mouse.
They had already seen me.
They'd witnessed the bizarre phenomenon happening with the NOA-44 Eraser—the inexplicable, endless firepower.
"...Interesting. Really interesting."
The Commander's lips twisted into a wicked grin as he looked at me.
Just from that gaze—those black, soulless eyes—I almost felt my legs give out.
And it wasn't just me who felt the threat.
[Gigit!]
Sensing danger, Janus raised dozens of bony tendrils defensively, fully on guard.
The weaker the animal, the louder it barks.
Even Janus—who usually dominated other monsters—was no different in front of these two.
Watching the swarm of skeletal tendrils rise from Janus's form, the Commander's smile grew even more crooked.
"Hey."
He spoke deliberately, each word like a sharp knife aimed at me.
"What are you?"