In the western region of the Wispa Holy Nation.
Tōyashi’s exclusive machine, the Ōgane.
Its golden exterior gleamed under the sun’s light.
“Captain! Aren’t you returning to the homeland yet?”
“Our supply shipments have been delayed for several days. I’m tired of subsisting on dried fish and raiding the next village…”
“Silence! Do you think I’ll let Suurl take all the credit?!”
“…Please don’t shout into the comms.”
“My ears are ringing. I’ll submit a report to go back to the homeland for treatment.”
“It’s my captain’s prerogative. You lot will proceed with the operation with me. If you have any complaints, you can face a firing squad at a court-martial, or become targets for our prototype weapon!”
Bwoom. Bwoommm!
“You’re tyrannical—! Magic power reaction!? What is it!?”
“Power is great… Huh? Prey♪?”
It’s really convenient when the prey you want to earn merit from comes to you♪
“So, which direction is it?”
“…? Is the detector malfunctioning? No… this is…”
“? ? That can’t be…”
“Hey? I asked which direction the prey is! Are you still complaining about your ears ringing?”
“Ah, no, no, sorry. The direction is to the right.”
“It’s within visual range, about one kilometer.”
“…Huh? I can’t see it. Is the detector broken… Oh come on, give me a break…”
The Ōgane does not carry detection equipment.
Instead, its exterior is made of a special magic alloy that diffuses magic bullets.
It’s a unit that was pushed into shape despite being slower than mass-produced machines.
Without eyes, you can only search for prey diligently with the machine’s vision, right!? What do you think specialized detection units are for, you guys!?
“I told you to prioritize maintaining the detection equipment even if supplies don’t arrive, didn’t I!?”
“No, the detection equipment is fine.”
“Same here.”
“Then why can’t I see the prey that should be visible!? Did the enemy machine equip stealth!?”
What kind of joke is that?
I haven’t heard anything from the Intelligence Agency (Patch) about the enemy country deploying new weapons equipped with stealth!
Beep! Beep! Beep!
“Huh? A warning?”
“Captain—!?”
“High magic power reaction from the enemy!?”
*Whoooosh~~…*
What is that sound?
But I don’t have time to comment.
“Scatter—”
“Hiiiiii—”
“Uwaaah—”
*DDOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!*
Tōyashi and his men were swallowed by the enemy’s high-powered attack.
The ground, hundreds of meters behind Tōyashi’s location, was deeply gouged.
The claw marks showed the power of the enemy’s high-firepower attack.
Several tens of minutes later.
An invisible enemy.
Appeared from amidst the white clouds.
“Hit, hit, multiple hits on the enemy company-sized unit. No enemy reactions detected.”
“Wait a minute!? Multiple magic power reactions from the ground!! Incoming attack—Kya!”
*Dodoon!* *Don!* *Don!*
The enemy is an aerial city.
Descendants of the hero-brave warrior who fled from the ruined country Tartan to the Wispa Holy Nation decades ago.
Their abilities are unknown (Unknown).
The aerial city founded by the first head of the family, who escaped to the Wispa Holy Nation.
Their descendants are still carefully protecting and utilizing it. A one-sided high-powered, wide-range bombing from an altitude of tens of thousands of meters.
Within the Wispa Holy Nation.
Everyone knows the master of the aerial city.
The reason why the country does not utilize them is.
They lack the military power to control the master of the skies, and the master of the skies has a weak desire to protect this country.
It’s barely a request.
The top of the country can only say something like, “Could you grant us a favor?” This is the extent of their influence with the master of the skies.
“Report the damage! Where is the enemy? Display it on the screen.”
“Only the exterior is scorched, damage is minor. No problems with navigation.”
“They are emerging from the gouged ground. Displaying on the screen.”
*Whirr…*
A large wind screen appeared on the bridge where the master of the skies was.
The Ōgane, its golden exterior peeled off, was still able to continue fighting.
And behind it, multiple subordinate machines with severely damaged arms.
“That they can survive that blow is amazing♪”
“We will counterattack.”
“Attack squad, sending enemy coordinates.”
*DODODD!!* *DODODD!!* *DODODD!!*
“Guh, you… You guys attack back too!? What are you dawdling for!? You used me as a shield! Hurry up and counterattack!?”
“That’s unreasonable!?”
“It’s a miracle we’re alive!?”
Stop whining about retreating!
They turned my exclusive machine (Ōgane) into scrap!
I absolutely won’t forgive them! Moreover… aerial weapons.
Do you think I can return meekly after being taken down by something like that?
I’ll fall further behind Suurl in terms of achievements!!
The five of us are important figures.
But Zappa messed up.
And I learned that the status of important figures is not immutable.
I myself will be demoted to a mere soldier (now deputy squad leader?).
“I absolutely refuse to face such a future—”
“Captain!?”
“What are you doing in that state!?”
My exclusive machine (Ōgane)
Doesn’t just diffuse magic bullets.
“Captain—!!!! What should we do—”
“Decide for yourselves. Knock that giant thing down to the ground—!!”
Retreat or escape.
I will certainly judge you for it later.
“No way!?”
“What are we supposed to do without the captain’s machine (shield)!?”
*DOOOON!* *DOOOOKAAN!*
“Kyaaaaa… If I die, I’ll haunt you—”
“Help… We’ll shoot back—”
Tōyashi alone sped toward the direct underside of the aerial city.
With the heavy exterior stripped away.
Its mobility greatly improved.
However, its defense capabilities plummeted.
If it took even a single direct hit from a magic bullet.
It would fall and a shock that could kill him in the cockpit would hit.
“Uoooooooh”
*DANN!* *GASHAN!*
It passed through before the magic bullet’s impact point.
It landed on the ground with a delay.
Using the force of the explosion, the Ōgane accelerated steadily.
At its current speed, it’s comparable to the machines led by Suurl.
However, it hasn’t been refitted for high-speed maneuvers.
It’s suffering severe friction and wear.
Even without a direct magic bullet hit.
Its limits will eventually be reached. Whether that time comes first or it achieves its objective.
Depends on Tōyashi’s luck.
#############
##Town#####
##TownCastleTown##
##Town#####
#############
↓ ↓ ↓↓
↓↓
↓
↑ ↓
↑
Ōgane ↓
↓ ↓
↓↓
Single Single Single
The unit, having lost its shield, grabbed the remnants of the special magic alloy, which showed no signs of fading even when scattered, and hurled them at the magic bullets on their direct course.
*Pashuuu…* *Pashuuur…*
The magic that constituted the magic bullets that hit the special magic alloy diffused.
It interfered with other magic bullets, exploding them in mid-air.
Several meters ahead, the magic bullets detonated in a chain reaction.
↓ ↓XX
X↓
Single Single Single
“We’re saved.”
“You’re amazing…”
“More importantly, let’s escape the enemy’s attack range.”
“The captain will kill us.”
“No, he won’t survive that…”
“If you’re not coming, I’ll go alone…”
“We’re coming too! Don’t leave us behind!”
“Then hurry up and act! You’ll die!”
Single Single Single
↓
↓
Homeland
(Towards the Sharshar Kingdom)
“Wha—?! You guys—!! Guh!”
*Dooon!* *Dadann!*
They didn’t even have the luxury of looking away.
I’ll definitely deal with them later.
On the aerial city’s side.
“Are you still unable to defeat the enemy machine!?”
“Apologies.”
“Attack squad, attack squad. Destroy the target.”
#############
##Town#####
##TownCastleTown##
##Town#####
#############
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↑
O
“Ir… Irritating.”
“Target has submerged directly below our main city.”
“Attack squad, promptly destroy the target.”
The aerial city couldn’t destroy the Ōgane and was subjected to concentrated fire.
Taking advantage of the opening, the other enemy machines successfully escaped. The master of the skies became even more fixated on the remaining Ōgane. By the way, I learned the machine’s name through an open channel communication.
“I’ll be the gunner! Route the standard machine monitor here.”
“U-Understood.”
“Attack squad, the master seems to be quite angry.”
The Operators followed the master’s orders.
A crosshair appeared on the large wind screen.
“Hurry up and die, you half-dead bastard—!!!!”
*Click.* *Click, click.*
“Ohhhhhh—… Escape device activated!”
Tōyashi activated the escape device directly beneath the enemy aerial city. The basic design of the escape device is to separate everything except the cockpit and propel it away from the battle line at high speed. However, the escape device of an exclusive machine like the Ōgane is different. Its golden splendor alone exudes self-importance.
*BOSHuuu~~~!!*
First, the head was launched high into the sky.
Next, both arms were launched.
And then, the cockpit was shot diagonally upward.
The remaining lower body stopped supplying magic (energy) and tumbled forward, rolling and breaking apart on the ground.
#############
##Town#####
##TownCastleTown##
##Town#####
##▽##
#############
“Guh, what?! What happened!?”
“Did the enemy machine explode!?”
“The head punched through the outer wall of our main city and caused damage to a part of the castle town.”
“What!? Investigate the damage report in detail! Can you pursue the escaped enemy machine? If you can, chase and destroy them! They’ve inflicted a wound… an indelible wound on this precious aerial city granted by our ancestors! Don’t let them live!”
“Yes! We’ll investigate immediately… No problem with pursuit. We will pursue the enemy machine.”
“Alright, aerial city, depart. Whoever inflicted this wound. Make them pay with their lives.”
“Yes!”
The subordinates, who ignored the captain Tōyashi’s orders and left the battle line.
Were completely annihilated by the fierce pursuit of the aerial city.
“Surrender—”
*Dooooon!!*
“Capture me!? I’ll sell mysel—”
*Dododdo!!!*
“This infuriating—”
*Dookan!* *Chudoooon!!*
“—Kyaaaaa”
The master of the skies listened to the communications of the enemy pilots with a smile, felt somewhat appeased by the anger of those who had damaged his city, and said.
“We’ll stop by the Royal Capital. I’m going to collect my reward for annihilating a part of the enemy force.”
“Understood.”
“Retract all cannons. Combat is concluded. All sector staff members are requested to submit their reports.”
Meanwhile.
Tōyashi, who had successfully escaped the battle line using the escape device.
Believed by the enemy to have died in the explosion.
The hatch on his chest was bent, and he struggled to get out of the cockpit, sweating profusely.
“Guhhh…. I thought I was going to steam myself to death…”
Those idiots (the subordinates who ignored orders).
If I ever make it back alive, I’m going to punch them!
“Emergency rations… Tch, only two days’ worth.”
This is bad luck.
Looting in an area where enemy aerial weapons are lurking is suicide.
…Huh?
“Are you leaving this place♪?”
It seems my luck hasn’t completely run out yet.
He made camp, using his cockpit as a makeshift bed.
“Mmm, my whole body aches…”
Sending a distress signal is no good.
It will alert the enemy.
Smoke signals are also out.
“Securing organic food.”
Tōyashi, concerned about whether his arms were still sharp after this long period of solo action.
He removed the magic power generator from inside the machine, lured out monsters, and.
“Shoo, shoo.”
“Haaah.”
He casually stretched his body while securing food.
“Come on, bring it on♪”
“Fuu, Fuu.”
“Pigi! Pii!”
“Uhoh, Uhoh.”
One medium-sized monster, and the rest were numerous small ones that had materialized.
Hmph.
“Do you think you can defeat me with such fighting strength!?”
“GRRRRNNN!!!!!!”
Tōyashi played with the monsters.
Several days later.
On the main road, Tōyashi rechecked his remaining food supply.
His equipment consisted of monster fangs from the medium-sized monster, used as throwing weapons.
Un-tanned fur was used as exterior armor.
From all appearances, he looked like a bandit.
“I want to drink some alcohol…”
