Konbini Ossan Volume 10 Chapter 4 — Non-Lethal Suppression
After finishing my discussion with Kanehama and the others, I immediately returned to Otogi Trading’s forces and decided to launch an offensive against the enemy army without delay.
The enemy seems to be assuming that we will not actively attack, so I want to capture as many prisoners as possible early on.
Reducing enemy numbers is one objective, but more importantly, I want to closely examine how Naito’s skill functions.
To put it bluntly, I want to secure test subjects for human experimentation.
There are eight of us heading to the front lines alongside Otogi Company’s forces, including myself.
Metidovan, who accompanied us from the Demon King’s army. Marceline, who commands Otogi Trading’s Combat unit. Shuri, who joined us personally. And Kanehama, Mimori, Tōdō, and Matsuriya.
The four summoned individuals; Kanehama and the others, are among the few who have not yet been exhausted from the front-line battles.
They expressed a strong desire to continue assisting us, so I gladly accepted their help.
“By the way, are you sure we don’t need to go out to the front as well?”
Kanehama, standing beside me at the rear of the deployed forces, asks.
“Yes. Suppression alone should be possible with the equipment our unit brought. We will remain here in case of emergencies and focus on commanding the entire force.”
Saying that, I survey the battlefield through binoculars.
Standing atop a large armored vehicle designed for combat, I have a vantage point that allows me to see the entire battlefield.
Not only Otogi Trading’s forces, but also the Duchy of Barometz’s army deployed beyond them.
“From what I can see, there are no standout enemy units. I believe suppression will proceed without issue.”
“I see. Then I’ll leave it to you for now.”
Kanehama nods in agreement and returns inside the armored vehicle. That leaves the remaining seven inside, waiting.
Now then, preparations are complete. Time to begin the operation.
“All units, commence advance!”
With my order transmitted over the radio, our forces begin moving forward in perfect unison.
The disciplined advance causes visible agitation among the enemy ranks.
Before long, the enemy enters our effective range.
“All units, fire Dye Rounds! Full volley!”
With that command, the core of this operation begins; the full-scale attack using our key weapon.
The front-line members of Otogi Trading’s defense division shoulder weapons resembling bazookas.
As they pull the trigger, colorful projectiles are launched from the barrels.
Not explosives, but projectiles fired using compressed air, wind magic.
What is launched are paintballs, similar to those used in convenience stores in modern Japan as anti-theft devices.
These projectiles are our secret weapon: Dye Rounds. Magical tools used for security purposes across all Otogi Trading stores.
Originally, the idea was to recreate the same functionality as the paintballs used in modern Japanese convenience stores.
Since fast-drying solvents were not widely produced in this world, development began with creating the solvent itself.
This problem was solved with a simple magical application. By creating a solvent that evaporates and dries through absorbing small amounts of magic power, we successfully replicated the function of paintballs.
However, at this stage, Arisa came up with a groundbreaking idea.
“Hey, can’t we make it absorb magic power more inefficiently?”
When examined closely, her idea was truly revolutionary.
If we can create a solvent that dries by absorbing small amounts of magic power from whatever it adheres to, then it should also be possible to create one that requires a massive amount of magic power to dry.
And what happens then? During the drying process, the target rapidly has its magic power drained, resulting in magic depletion.
Magic depletion places an enormous burden on the body, essentially like running at full speed until complete exhaustion.
In other words, the target becomes instantly incapacitated.
Of course, it wasn’t as simple as completing it right away. A solvent that requires vast amounts of magic power to dry also means it won’t dry quickly on targets with little magic power.
In such cases, its quick-drying nature would be lost.
To solve this, we used two types of solvents. One is the original type that dries with minimal magic power. The other is a viscous solvent that requires a large amount of magic power.
The first solvent dries quickly, allowing the second to act like an adhesive, binding the target while continuing to absorb large amounts of magic power.
Thus, Otogi Trading’s paintball, the Dye Round, was completed and deployed across all stores as a magical tool to ensure employee safety during emergencies.
Naturally, we had a large stockpile, so we transported them to the front lines and are now using them to restrain enemy soldiers.
“Well then. Everything seems to be proceeding smoothly.”
Enemy soldiers are struck one after another by the dye rounds, collapsing and being neutralized.
Unless one is at least a C-rank adventurer specializing in magic, enduring the rate at which magic power is drained is impossible.
Considering multiple impacts, even B-rank adventurers would struggle.
As a result, the enemy army is being neutralized from the front lines onward without sustaining any injuries.
“At this rate, I would expect the enemy to deploy some kind of countermeasure.”
Just as I say that, a commotion erupts in one section of the battlefield.
“I don’t want to fight-! I don’t want to fight anymore!”
Shouting like that, a boy charges forward.
A summoned individual, someone I recognize, has appeared on the front lines as an enemy soldier.
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E/N:
Developing all these products, in a fantasy world too… it really makes me giddy! Now, who is this guy who's running for a fight?
Stay tuned! (2/2 chapter)
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