Eight

Three Armunale lined up in the hangar.

I nod, satisfied, looking up at them.

One’s mine, of course. And next to it—Batis’s personal unit.

It looks almost exactly like the base model. No standout features, apparently.

Batis says it’s easier to practice what we learned at the academy when it’s just the raw frame.

True enough—kind of reminds me of the machines we used back at the academy. Nearly identical in every way, even down to the magic selection. They’ve tweaked the power a bit, optimized the physical calculators—sensboards, I think they’re called—but otherwise, it’s built for anyone to handle.

Equipped with two swords at the waist, one shield, and two larger blades—bigger than the waist ones—mounted on the back, plus an extra unit.

“Those swords… original?”

I mutter something casual, and right on cue, Batis walks in through the hangar entrance. Next to him, Elexia’s there too.

“Nah, this one’s mass-produced too. Extra unit and all.”

“Some knights ask for big swords. Even if they’re rare, they did make ’em.”

Elexia chimes in after Batis speaks.

Ah. So knights are mostly designed for one-handed use—makes sense why someone with a big sword’d be grumbling.

“Wait—Batis, you ever used a big sword?”

From what I remember of academy days, you were always with a one-handed blade.

“Before academy, yeah. I used big swords. You know—being noble and all. Had tutors from childhood, sword training every day.”

“Huh. Then why’d you switch to one-handed? They’d’ve made exceptions for you, right?”

Should’ve been able to bend the rules a bit for a weapon you’ve been used to since childhood, right?

“Yeah, being able to handle all kinds of weapons is handy. Back when I was a kid, I started with a one-handed sword—just practicing old habits, really. On the battlefield, you might end up grabbing an enemy’s weapon and using it. If you can’t handle something, you’ll fall behind.”

“Ah. That’s what you meant.”

With Armunale, it’s just the two swords at the waist. You can add more, but only so much.

I’ve forced it with Artifigoj, but Batis figured out how to just pick up what he needed on the field.

“Got a decent grasp of most weapons, though I suppose I’m a bit too focused on basics. Not much room for improvisation.”

“Huh. More solid than I thought.”

I was expecting something flashier—some grand finishing move, boom—something like that.

Then Batis scratched his head and answered, looking a bit put out.

"My sword teacher’s the type to knock you flat if you even think about showing off. I’m a noble, y’know? How often do you get to punch someone till their face’s bruised?"

"Literal beatings, huh."

"Sounds like a good teacher. I wish I’d had one like that. Might’ve gotten better at swordplay."

"Elekzia’s strong enough, though."

She’s been tough in training—stronger than I’d guessed. Maybe not quite up to Layra’s level, but she could hold her own against Batis or Leon.

"Mostly self-taught, really. That’s why people who actually know their stuff say I’ve got gaps. First time I joined the knight squad, the captain pointed it out."

"Out of our league, that is."

"Damn right."

Even during training, I couldn’t see any openings in Elekzia’s machine. So even she’s got flaws—when you’re up against people who really know their stuff.

But our focus is still the battle at Armunale. Maybe sword skill matters if we could perfectly replicate movements, but that’s impossible there.

Still, what matters most is how you fight.

I shake myself back to focus, looking up at the last machine.

The base frame’s not much different from Batis’s, but the armor’s thinner overall, with extra gear tacked on in the details.

Boosters on the shoulders, waist, and thighs—while the back armor’s especially thin. I could probably punch right through it with a harmonica pistol.

"Elekzia’s machine’s been pretty well modified, huh."

"Yeah, the added parts are mostly magic-enhanced—wind-elemental base, generating thrusters and wings."

"Wings? You mean it can fly?"

"Not like a bird, no. Just enough to launch upward with the thrusters, then adjust the fall using the wings."

Kind of like my active wings, huh.

"How high can it go?"

"Depends on the terrain. On flat ground, it can reach about three times its own height. With help from allies' magic—especially terrain-raising spells—it can go even higher."

"Damn. That’d put it nearly as high as the Avila booster."

Handy for assaults. With this base’s walls being a pain, Elekzia might actually pull through.

"Can we use terrain-raising magic from allies?"

"Can do that too—explosive spells work, as well. Just sync it with the thrusters, and you boost the thrust."

"Huh. Then my machine might pull it off."

A plan forms in the back of my mind, just barely.

Charge in with Elekzia, break the gate from inside. Secure the prisoner facility in one go, then—me and Batis tearing through the rest. I want Armunale focused on my side, so I’ll make a mess near the command center. Batis can hit the storage hangar. The princess asked to keep the base mostly intact, sure—but we’re risking our necks here. A little destruction ought to be forgiven.

"My unit’s been tweaked too, but not to Eld’s extent, I’d wager?"

"Is that so?"

"Given the weight, the legs must be custom-built, right?"

"Guess so. Just found out myself, not long ago."

We’ve got mechanics so good it’s annoying. By the time I notice, they’ve already tweaked the damn thing all over the place—might be I don’t even know half the stuff about my own machine anymore.

I’d love to know it all, sure. But between running the squad and all that, I can’t keep doting on Armunale like I want to.

“What’s in that left arm, anyway?”

“Ten swords, three harmonica pistols, and a special rig—Perfiliiz. This one’s a long-range sniper. Also got a physical calculator—sensboard—and a magia tank in there.”

“Seriously?”

“Most battles, I burn through it all. Then comes the paperwork. That part’s a real pain.”

You know that mountain of forms I have to file after every fight? Just thinking about it makes even me hesitate before climbing into Armunale.

I’d ride it every single day if it weren’t for that mountain of paperwork.

Elexia nodded along, humming like she actually got it.

“Why the hell do we need five sheets just to refill Hyimagia Liquid…?”

“Yeah, that’s gotta be off.”

“You’re just using it too much.”

Batis gave us a look like we’d lost our minds over the stack of forms.

“Using it too much?”

“Eld’s machine, sure—but Elexia’s too, right? Extra gear, magic support, or whatever you call it? That’s gotta double the Hyimagia Liquid consumption, doesn’t it?”

“Mm, true enough.”

“My machine only needed three sheets last battle. One for the liquid, two for the gear.”

What… what was that…

Elexia looks as though she’s hearing it for the first time.

“Wait, you’re serious?”

“Dead serious. Start learning to save a little. Even the army’s funds aren’t endless.”

“Ouch… you hit a nerve there…”

“Think about it.”

Elexia… that answer’s just the first in a long line of ones you’ll never act on.

Best not to dig deeper into this right now. Too risky.

“Anyway, we’re moving out at first light tomorrow. You’ve already told the team, right?”

“Yeah, everyone here’s on board.”

“Mine’s fine too. But we’re really going in with just a few, huh?”

Seventeen total—everyone I picked for this raid. All drawn from our own knight squad.

Makes sense, really. Familiar faces ease the nerves.

Three from the maintenance crew, five scouts total—set. I picked Caline for the physical calculator, the senseboard writer. Last two, I called in Ange from the support maids, and one from the Elekshia unit. Had to think hard about which support maid to take—both were good, but when I asked them, Ange said the Elekshia one’s been doing this longer, and seen more battle. So we went with her.

“Assault’s all about speed. And if they spot us, we’re done for. Get in close without being seen, take ‘em before they can react. Speed’s what matters—numbers just get in the way.”

“Yeah… guess so.”

“Then I’ll go tell the princess we’re ready. You two—get some rest early.”

“You too.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

I waved once and stepped away from the hangar.

“Scout report. Enemy patrol, six units, heading toward the three o’clock. Moving straight east. One of them’s slow—probably using this to train the newbies.”

“Understood. We’ll skirt west and keep moving. Maintain current speed. Mr. Blois, keep scouting for us.”

“Understood. Haven’t been on scout duty in ages. Feels good to be back.”

He tossed those words over his shoulder and turned his horse around. Lately, with the rise of Abnomule, the war had shifted—more about crushing enemy forces in mass than careful scouting. The role of scouts in the Armunale unit had faded. Blois, I’d noticed, had been quietly uneasy about that.

Watching his back as he rode off, I adjusted my course slightly westward, leading the way.

Half a day out from base. We’d already slipped past the enemy’s scouting patrols. If we keep going, we’ll reach our target—Kroitsel—by evening.

Then another scout comes back.

“Report. Three Abnomüller units spotted, ten o’clock direction.”

“Damn. Just like we’re getting sandwiched.”

“Commander Eld, let’s drop them.”

The suggestion came from Elekzia, riding just behind me.

True, Elekzia’s right. Three machines—no way they’d stand against us. A surprise strike, and they won’t even have time to run. The only hitch? They might have scouts of their own out there.

“Three, you said. Anyone else around?”

“Nothing. Just the Abnomüller unit.”

Alright then, let’s go. Elekzia, get in front of me. Time to test out a magic combo.

Got it.

Perfect chance to try that windburst jump you mentioned yesterday. No sense risking it right at the base.

And as we move forward, enemy troops come into view. They’ve already spotted us. One look and they’re scrambling, turning on their heels and bolting.

Honestly, three Armunale units? No way a mass-produced model could handle that.

“Elekzia, I’ll cover you. Go whenever you’re ready.”

“Then I’m off!”

Elekzia’s machine picks up speed. Lighter than ours, thanks to thinner armor—she’s way faster than our rigs, even at top throttle.

She kicked off the ground and shot upward, the wind blasting from her added armor’s thrusters rippling the grass around us.

I activated Fire Lance the instant her machine left the ground, firing straight at the soles of her feet.

It punched clean through the earth beneath her—boom—right on target.

“Hmph. Impressive precision.”

She said that, then shot up high above, her machine climbing like a stone flung into the sky.

Then part of her back armor slid open, exposing the inner workings. There, too, were thrusters—spewing out from her back like wings.

“Huh. So that’s how the wings work.”

Two massive wings, far longer than her entire machine, unfurled from her back.

Her fall slowed. Her direction shifted—controlled now.

The machine glided toward the fleeing Abnomüle unit, its blade piercing through the back of one craft and straight into the cockpit.

The impact, amplified by the fall, tore through the armor and killed the pilot instantly.

“What the—? The machine’s falling down!?”

“Damn it, but just one—”

The machine spoke, then the cockpit was blown apart by a shot from Perfilizzi.

Not just one enemy, then.

“What the hell is this!? Who the hell are you!?”

The last Abnomüle, frozen in shock, stood still—then was cleanly taken out by Elekshia.

“Good work. Flyin’ up that high, huh?”

“Eld’s machine’s something else. That’s a shot straight through the cockpit from that distance?”

“You guys move too fast. Didn’t even get a chance to show off, did I?”

Batis throws a complaint from the rear guard, but I ignore it. Slow ones are just slow.

“Then let’s keep moving. Leave the wreckage where it is. The rear unit’ll pick it up later, won’t they?”

After we’ve secured the area, a full force from Enahat is scheduled to come in and finish taking over the base. They’ll handle the cleanup.

“The number of scouts is growing.”

“Yeah. We’ll be fighting more often from now on.”

“Leave some for me too!”

“That depends on how much Batis pulls his weight. Well then, the wagon’s caught up. Let’s go.”

The wagon had caught up with us after we’d pushed ahead to destroy enemy units. Now we resumed our march toward Kreuzl.

And when the sun had fully set, we arrived at the base.

The place had turned into a fortress, guarded thick as bees by a horde of Abnomyle troops.