A school.
A hastily constructed theater venue.
*Paaan! Paan!*
Fireworks Magic colored the sky vibrantly. Beneath it, traveling performers, previously imprisoned on suspicion of being spies, enacted how they achieved a great victory in the Northern Verbald Kingdom. They performed with easy-to-understand explanations and witty jokes.
“Begin rehearsal.”
“Yes!”
If they messed up the main performance, prison life awaited them again. They couldn’t stand having their rear ends targeted anymore!
The main performance.
The actors delivered their powerful performances.
*Clap clap clap! Clap clap clap!*
Thunderous applause. Encore.
“~~♪♪”
“We will respond to the audience’s encore! Now, actors, please take your positions!”
*Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!*
The scene changed to the border of the neighboring Wispa Holy Nation.
“It’s a festival in the city, isn’t it…”
“We made a promise not to talk about that.”
“I didn’t make any promises with you.”
“It means read the room… Huh?”
The sentries noticed.
From the direction of the neighboring country, they could see a distant dust cloud.
“Is it the army or monsters?”
“Either way,”
“Yeah, let’s ring the bell.”
“Okay.”
*Gong gong gong gong!!!*
The alarm bell rang.
The Border Guard Unit assumed a defensive posture.
One hour later.
The source of the dust cloud appeared to be a knight (Golem) unit from the neighboring country’s army.
Estimated numbers: 600 machines, 10,000 foot soldiers, 5,000 cavalry.
This was a force entirely capable of breaking through the border.
“Fire the magic bullets!”
“Attack without any prior warning!”
“They’re clearly attacking! No mercy! Destroy their cockpits!”
“Ooooh! Ooh! Oooooooooh!!”
The Border Guard Unit launched a preemptive strike against the enemy army.
Despite the open line of fire, they did not hesitate.
To stop the enemy’s advance, they fired magic bullets in rapid succession.
If they got close, they would unleash long-range attacks from gunpowder and magic users.
*Daan! Daan!*
The magic bullets hit their mark.
The enemy machines’ advance halted.
*Papapa! Papapa!*
The enemy machines also began firing magic bullets.
Due to the overwhelming numbers, they retreated behind the border line before their magic bullets could land.
*Dada—n!!!*
“Hiii!”
“Even reinforcements from the city won’t be enough!”
A volley of fire caused the border line to semi-collapse.
They lost places to hide.
“We cannot retreat to the city!”
“We won’t let the city become a battlefield!”
“We must stop the enemy here at all costs!”
An emergency communication was sent to the city via Mato.
Brain, its main unit enjoying the festival in the Royal Capital, intercepted this communication.
Immediately, its sub-unit, the Unmanned Machine [Alexy], was dispatched.
“Brain, Unmanned Machine [Alexy]. Scrambling.”
From a different city than the Royal Capital, the Unmanned Machine [Alexy] was launched.
Several hours later.
Black smoke stained the sunset sky.
Fires broke out in the city.
“Scanning system maximum… Enemy detected.”
Brain headed towards a vast magic power reaction that had triggered its search system.
“Enemy army detected. Attack… Evading.”
*Dadada! Doon!*
The enemy army also possessed equipment with excellent search systems.
[Alexy] narrowly avoided a preemptive attack.
After evading, [Alexy] turned and began its counterattack.
A barrage of magic bullets.
“It’s a single enemy machine!”
“Don’t bunch up! Meet them head-on!”
“Excellent command unit confirmed. Prioritizing attack on this unit.”
*Daan! Dadaan!*
“Guh.”
“Retreat! I’ll handle this…”
*Doon!*
One of the command units was in danger.
The other command unit shielded it.
A few minutes later.
The exchange of fire was dominated by [Alexy].
Its accuracy was perfect, its future-predicting calculation processing capability unmatched.
The command units had their defensive shields stripped away, and their supporting friendly units were destroyed.
They fell to their knees under [Alexy]’s magic bullets.
“Uwaaaaaaaa—”
*Dokaann!!*
They were bombed.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”
“Wh-what?! Enemy reinforcements!!”
While the command units were in disarray after being defeated, the units that Brain had requested reinforcements from appeared.
The Wispa Holy Nation Army had no choice but to retreat.
The First National Defense was limited to burning the towns near the border.
“Restoration supplies will definitely be delivered.”
“U-um. More than supplies, what about personnel replacements?”
“Are you the highest-ranking officer here? We will handle personnel as best we can.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you!”
The man who had become the person in charge because his superior officer had died in battle, not knowing it was an unmanned machine, thought the pilot of [Alexy] must be someone very famous. He prostrated himself. “Personnel will be handled as best we can” meant that they likely wouldn’t be sent. He was told that supplies would be sent in abundance. If the enemy army attacked again, he thought they would either use up the supplies or cause them to explode to buy time.
“I will return to Headquarters to report directly that the neighboring country has attacked.”
“Thank you for your assistance! Please be careful! Salute!”
“………”
Remaining soldiers engaged in rescue operations and those who rushed in stopped their work and saluted [Alexy].
They saluted until [Alexy] became a tiny dot in the sky.
“Resume rescue operations.”
” ” ” ” “Yes… sigh.” ” ” ” ”
People were crushed by rubble. Unable to get out. Rescuing their own citizens.
Capturing enemy survivors. Interrogation. Torture. Extracting secret military information from enemy machine terminals.
It was troublesome. Too busy.
“I wish more reinforcements would come.”
“I understand how you feel, but don’t stop working.”
” ” ” ” …Yes, understood.” ” ” ” ”
Not enough hands. This is tough…
Resentment gradually built up. The rescued women were taken to a secluded place by several men and assaulted. Those who rushed in as reinforcements were invited to join, and friction arose. King Nine His Majesty’s regular army consisted of former rogues. Someone carelessly stated, “It’s fine to assault the rescued civilians, isn’t it?”
Some soldiers from the former king’s era opposed this.
“Ugyaaaaaaa!!!!”
“Please stop! Kyaa!”
“Clear the rubble. Let us bury our family’s bodies! Gwah!”
Caught between two factions, the rescued survivors became collateral damage. Men were hit by stray bullets. Women were stripped of their clothes and violated.
“Uhyahyahyahya!”
“Kahahahaha!”
*Thump. Bump.*
Brain, which had been intercepting Mato, picked up on the commotion. It sent information to the Intelligence Agency and dispatched a supervisor unit.
Several days later.
Intimidated by the supervisor unit, everyone received punishment and was assigned to restoration work and guarding against the neighboring country.
“Don’t slack off—!”
“We only assault at night—!”
“We’ll bring all the prostitutes and hostesses you want! ♪”
“So, do your jobs properly—! ♪”
” ” ” ” ” ” “Ooooooosu!!” ” ” ” ” ”
