4

When I arrived at the hangar, maintenance crew were bustling about, scrambling to finish their work.

They stopped dead when they saw me, snapping to attention with a salute.

I gave a quick salute back, then called out loud.

“Ready for launch, Batis and Elekshia?”

“Here I am.”

“Ready here too.”

Voices came back from each of the machines, returning from their last run.

“So, what’s the plan? Are we going out too?”

“Yeah. The princess has issued the order to launch. We’ll be picking off the enemy forces. Mainly stopping the ones running loose.”

I vaulted onto my own machine, sliding into the cockpit.

I powered it up in one smooth motion, checking systems as it came alive.

“For now, we’ll launch with the main unit. Hold position outside the East Gate.”

“Understood.”

“Then, Elekshia, let’s go!”

Watching the two machines roll out of the hangar, I was about to launch myself when Caline’s face popped into the camera, waving.

“Something wrong?”

“Guess you already know, but I’ll say it anyway. That machine’s physics processor—senseboard, it’s still got no trace of that spell on it. The system’s built, sure, but we’re not just gonna plug it in right here, right now.”

“Understood. Still, it might come in handy later, so if you’ve got a spare physics processor, try transferring it over. I’ll give it a shot if I can.”

“Got it. Then guard this base tight. If that system falls into the Empire’s hands… well. Hell on earth.”

“Of course.”

No way I’m letting their forces reach the base.

“Eld’s machine, moving out!”

I guided the machine out from the hangar and stepped out into the open.

By the time I reached the east gate, the Abnomyle were still streaming out of the hangar, gathering in clusters.

They’d already formed their ranks by unit, lined up outside the gate.

I stepped aside from the formation and met up with Batis and the others.

“Eld, what now?”

“Waiting for the princess’s orders. She won’t be coming to the front line, I’m sure—probably handing command to someone else.”

“We can’t keep putting Ines in the front forever. If we hit them hard here, she’ll at least be able to rest easy.”

“Yeah.”

We exchanged a few casual words when a figure appeared atop the gate.

Zooming in, there’s the princess, the base commander, and another one—judging by the uniform, probably a squad leader from the infantry.

Same rank as me, head of the Armunale unit, but it’s rare to see someone like that stepping out beyond infantry combat. There’s a sort of tension in their stance. Did the princess give them some wild order?

“Everyone, listen!”

The princess uses a megaphone, her voice cutting through the air.

“Enemy forces—Armunale and Abnomule—are advancing toward us from Camentria. We must repel them and secure the area around Crossl—completely, without fail!”

She glances briefly over the troops, and a chorus rises—“That’s right!” “No more imperial arrogance!”—voices hot with fire, eager to fight.

The princess gave a light nod and kept speaking.

“The Empire still comes, still tries to take our land. But we’re not just sitting ducks anymore. Right hand—sword. Left hand—shield! Soldiers here have the skill to wield both! This isn’t the end—just the start! We’re planning our campaign to reclaim Camentria! Win this battle, take back every inch of our kingdom’s soil! Give me your strength! Unite all our power—bring peace back to this land!”

Her voice rang out, strong and clear. The soldiers roared back—*“Ooooh!”*—so loud the ground trembled.

The mood here was at its peak.

Just as the princess stepped back, the commander stepped forward—keeping that fire burning.

“Now, I’ll outline the plan. The expected point of contact is the Blackbird Plains ahead. We’ll collide head-on with the enemy. Accordingly, this time, command of the Abnomule units will be entrusted to Captain Jade, leader of the soldier corps. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Abnomule Units—fall in under your captain’s command and deploy accordingly!”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the ranks at the commander’s orders. Naturally enough—up until now, the Armunale units and the soldier corps had operated as entirely separate forces. Now, suddenly, they were being handed over to the captain of the soldier corps. No one could’ve stayed calm.

Even I, speaking from experience, felt a flicker of surprise.

“Let me explain the reasoning. The one I’ve introduced—Jade.”

Captain Jade stepped beside the commander. A dandyish sort, with a neat little mustache that suited him just fine.

The machines you’re riding now—yes, they’re descended from Armunale. But their numbers, their armaments, they’re no different from regular soldiers’. What you learned at the academy? That was how Armunale fight each other. Did you study group tactics? How to maneuver so you don’t get surrounded? No, you didn’t. There was no such thing as group combat in Armunale warfare. The most you’d see was three against three. The idea of a full unit? Never existed. But what you’re riding now—Abnomule squad—*is* a proper unit. And I believe the knowledge of infantry tactics will be essential. Just now, Lady Ines said it herself: Let’s unite all our strength and reclaim peace! So I want to break down the barriers between squads and use this knowledge for your sake. Please—let me help you too.

The squad leader bowed. A few scattered claps followed, then swelled into a wave.

So I’m accepted here, for now. But can the Abnomyle unit even manage infantry tactics?

Just as the squad leader said—no training in squad operations at the academy. Which means they might not even march properly, let alone reposition mid-battle.

Still, I doubt the princesses haven’t thought about it. Maybe they’ll just give simple orders—nothing complicated. But still, knowing what’s going on up top makes all the difference.

“Armunale Squad—move as you see fit to wherever you think you’re needed. Your strength matches that of an entire unit.”

Hmm. Us, as usual. Then I’ll just go ahead and wreak havoc—no holds barred.

"Then, full-scale advance! Destroy our enemy utterly!"

At the princess's command, we began our march toward the Blackbird Plains.

Two hours after leaving the base—just as we were about to reach the plain—a scout unit returned with news.

Apparently, the enemy had deployed their forces ahead on the plain. Not much more than the Abnomule force lined up in a row, waiting for us.

They’re big, like us. No way they can hide in ambushes. That’s a relief, at least.

"Alright, what’s the commander’s call?"

"Keep moving forward, don’t you think? We can’t veer off now—those bastards already know where we are."

"Yeah. Guess war’s gotta be face-to-face, huh."

The commander’s order was clear: straight ahead. Just one thing—position the shield-bearer Armunale in front of the unit, bracing for a cannon assault.

My unit doesn’t carry a shield, but Artifigojue’s got strength to match one—so I’m stepping forward too.

Batis and Elekshia follow behind me, but they don’t have shields either, so they stay a little back.

And then—out of the woods.

There it was, just like the intel said: an enemy main force.

Two machines stood straight ahead—those mercenary types, and one specializing in magic.

I crank the Magic Shield up to maximum, then keep moving forward.

“Finally show up, huh?”

The voice came from the enemy side.

“My name is Kansas Otte Dileveria. Knight of the Eight, of the Otte bloodline! You there—pilot of the one-armed Armunale—what’s your name?”

Oh, right—straight to the introduction.

Seems like the other side’s just as eager to get a look at us. Well then—perfect. Let’s have them focus all their attention on me, while I clean up the rest of the crowd.

“First Guard Armunale Battalion, Second Princess’s Guard Captain Eld.”

“Appreciate the response! I wanted to hear your name before taking you down—rumor has it you’re quite the legend.”

“Mistake for a souvenir from the underworld?”

“No future for a knight of the Eight but defeat. What lies beyond the Eight is nothing but corpses of the enemy! Forward!”

‘Battle!’

My unit and Kansas’s both step forward at once.

No—right at that moment, another machine started moving.

The mercenary standing right beside Kansas. A machine carrying a dozen or more cleaving axes across its back—the one known, according to intel, as the Nylon Eater mercenary group.

Kinda feels like a duel, but this is war, y’know! I’m in too! Always been curious about one-armed fighters like you!

The machine shot forward, catching up to Kansas in an instant, then stepped right in front, shielding Kansas completely.

“You—cheating bastard!”

“Don’t you shame the pilot’s honor?”

“I’m a mercenary! If I’m having fun, that’s all that matters!”

Batis and the others, caught off guard and now fully in the grip of a one-on-one standoff, raised protestations—only to be instantly silenced, as expected.

Well, war’s war. You do what you gotta do to win.

So I give my orders.

“Batis, Elekshia. You two take care of the others, just like planned. These two I’ve got covered.”

“Tch. Again, Eld gets the fun part.”

“Got it. We’ll clear the rest and join you right after.”

The two of them turn in opposite directions, just as I ordered. At the same instant, Abnomyle’s forces—already lagging behind both sides—finally start moving forward.

And then, first to meet me, my machine clashes head-on with the Nylon Eater.

A battle-axe swings down straight at me, launched with a full sprint. I catch it with my sword, same as before, and push hard.

“Greedy little thing, aren’t you? Trying to claim Lady Rizet all to yourself, huh?”

“Just a logical choice, based on strength.”

Easy to forget—but my piloting’s full manual. No way I’m getting outclassed by some mercenary’s machine!

“Pushed back so easily!?”

I don’t let the mercenary’s surprise stop me. I drive my blade deeper, wrenching his balance.

The machine stumbles—then I spin it, whipping the Artifigojue with centrifugal force, like a hammer on a chain.

“Huh.”

The machine caught the Artifigojue—but the sheer mass threw it sideways, skidding hard.

I watched it fly, then immediately backstepped, shifting my own frame clear of the spot.

Right after, a lance of flame shot through where my cockpit had been a second before.

The dodge left the spear blazing straight into the plain. It hit a gentle rise and exploded—huge, violent. Way stronger than a normal Fire Lance.

Guess that’s what it takes to punch through a magic shield.

I glance at the machine that fired it.

Still as a statue, stopped mid-run, calmly standing there—already finishing its next spell. Kansas’s machine.

Just like the intel said—shoulder-mounted, like a giant drum can, no weapon in hand at all.

But probably it’s tuned from a physics engine—sense board—into something magic-focused.

The number of floating spears hovering around was off the charts. Just at a glance, there were at least ten. If you made that many all at once, normal magic liquid—Hyimagia Liquid—would run dry in no time, even if just for a moment.

There’s got to be some trick behind it.

“Hmph. Dodge this one? Then how about this!”

Simultaneously unleashed—those waiting spears.

They all came down from different angles, pinning my dodging moves with precision.

With regular magic, I could just dampen it with a Magic Shield and cancel it out with Artificious Joust—but judging by the power of the last one, damping alone won’t bring it down enough.

So then—

I use Artificious Joust to launch the frame upward like a high jump.

And the place I’m falling toward? Right beneath Rezett, after she’s steadied herself.

Can’t take the whole crew with me, can I?

That kind of power’s a real pain from afar, sure—but up close, it’s just going to blow back on itself.

Or maybe I’ll just blow everyone to pieces?

I keep an eye on her movements, just in case, then bring the sword down toward Rezett’s frame.

She steps back a few paces to dodge, then pulls something from her waist with her left hand.

I catch the motion instantly—what she’s pulling out—and shift the frame to her right side.

Out comes what I expected: a harmonica pistol. Probably stolen from one of the kingdom’s machines. Doesn’t matter if it can’t reload—just having a few rounds left makes it plenty deadly.

Rizet aimed it and fired at point-blank range—but I’d already dodged, so it missed.

Holding it in your left hand, the right side’s a bit hard to aim at.

And while they’re off guard, I dart all the way around to the back—blade lunging straight at the pilot’s seat.

I won’t let you!

But just before my sword pierced the cockpit, something shoved it aside.

Saved me, Your Grace.

At the same time, Rizet swings around, bringing up a new axe.

I dropped down on instinct, dodging the attack. But before I could catch my breath, another spell came straight for my feet.

My feet slipped out from under me, and I toppled forward, off-balance from crouching.

“Tch.”

I let out a small click of my tongue and kick hard against the ground, putting every bit of strength into it.

Half-falling, my machine kicks off the ground and skims across the plain, nearly flat on its back.

“Nice dodge.”

Kansas murmurs, sounding like she’s praising me—but really, I’m the one who deserves the thanks.

That bastard dialed down his magic just enough to hit my sword dead-on.

Not just some brute-force machine magic. That knight’s got real skill. If he ever got his hands on a Perfilizzi, he’d probably be hitting targets ten kilometers away without breaking a sweat.

“Close combat’s something else too. Feels like he’s reading my every move. I can see why a battle-mad fool’d be interested.”

“Battle-mad fool?”

I frown at the words, then snap my machine upright—dodging Lizeet’s next strike with a flick of the wrist.

In a moment like this, it’s better to half-turn and rise up from all fours than try to stand straight. Gets you out of trouble quicker.

A person’d lose sight of the enemy—bad move. But Armunale’s monitors cover every angle. As long as the enemy’s on any screen, no need to worry about getting hit.

“Is Fortze mixed up in this?”

“Yeah, he’s the one they’re gossiping about in the Empire. ‘The one-armed Armunale’s mine,’ he says. Most mercenaries got curious after that. ‘Only someone worth a real fight would interest that battle-mad fool,’ they say.”

That bastard—always stirring up trouble where he’s not needed.

“Plus, that new girl over there seems to be eyeing you, too.”

“Newcomer? You mean Rayla?”

"Yeah, that's the one. Oh? That reaction’s got something going on, huh? You bring up women on the battlefield, you’re asking for trouble—short life, guaranteed!"

I parry the rapid slashes with the new sword drawn from Artifigouge, dodging the occasional magic strike, watching for an opening in my opponent.

These two aren’t coordinating anything fancy. Still—no openings to exploit.

Truth is, openings only come when the attack stops. And Kanza—right when I’m about to breathe, he throws a spell at me.

So every single moment I’d’ve used to counter Rizet’s pause? Gone.

I make up my mind right here.

Rizet’s a damn strong mercenary. But the real danger’s the old guy behind her.

Imperial Eight Knight, huh? Guess he’s earned that title, all right.

Then I’ll give it my all—every ounce of me—to break this damn stalemate.

I licked my lips—just a little—and caught Rizette’s axe mid-swing.