11

After the battle on the plain, the victorious Kingdom Army began its advance toward Camentria.

I’d have liked to join them, if I could— but no matter how much I wanted to, a pilot’s useless without a machine.

So, with Batis still waiting for his机 to be repaired, we stayed behind here, assigned to secure the princess when she came charging in.

In the meantime, I’d already sent my squad out to salvage usable parts from the wrecked enemy machines. After all, as a pilot, I can’t do jack without a machine.

Even if it’s cobbled together, I want to get Armunale running again somehow.

Half a day passed. Just as the sun started to dip, the magitech carriage carrying the princess rolled onto the plain.

“Why, my knight, what are you doing out here?”

I stepped forward with a grin, waving a hand from the magitech carriage, and answered the princess—her face all puzzled and tilted to one side like a curious bird.

“My machine’s been wrecked, so I’ve been fixing it while waiting for you, Your Highness. Honestly, I was shocked. Just as the victory was decided, you bolted off from the base. What in the world’s going on? Explain yourself!”

She must’ve felt something in my smile. She pulled her head back into the carriage in one swift motion. Then came a muffled voice, sharp and insistent.

“You’re not going anywhere! Hey, you—give me a proper explanation! You were supposed to stay put this time, you hear me?!”

I gripped the door handle and yanked it open.

There she stood—frozen, mid-motion, caught in the act.

“S-so, that’s what it is. Just trying to give some healing words to soldiers worn thin by battle, you know? Morale’s important, right?”

“Please, rest easy. Morale’s at its peak here. Already, under Captain Jade’s command, we’ve reorganized the troops and are moving out to reclaim Camentria. So please, just wait here quietly. I’m sure we’ll bring good news soon.”

“Hmph. My knight’s gotten bold, haven’t you? No more hesitating around me, I see.”

“Of course. I’ve learned that holding back around a princess gets you nowhere. Anyway, let’s get down from the spell-cart. A tent’s already set up—let’s talk there.”

“Huff. Fine, fine. I did hear something curious, though. I’ll want to know more. Will you show me the way?”

“Yes, this way.”

I lead the princess and her attendants toward the tent I’d set up earlier.

It’s a sizable tent—big enough to host royalty, but the interior’s a mess, thanks to the sudden rush of setup.

Just a large table in the middle, maps spread out, folding chairs lined up haphazardly.

I guide the princess to the seat of honor, then take the one beside her.

“So, about Eld’s machine—completely wrecked, right? How long till it’s fixed? Think you’ll be able to join the campaign to retake Camentria?”

“Can’t get it back to how it was. Took a real beating—everything but the generator’s gotta be replaced.”

I give the princess a quick rundown on my machine’s condition.

Point is, it’s not moving at all right now. The only way we could get something working again would be to cobble together a new one from the parts we’ve salvaged.

And I ask her.

“Parts are gathered for now. If you give the word, we can start repairs anytime. Maybe get it running by the day after tomorrow.”

“Enemy mechs’ parts, huh? That… really okay?”

“Just change the color, and it’ll be fine.”

If they stop attacking long enough, we’ll handle it. And once I let the other side know who I am, it’ll be fine. Honestly, during battle, who’s got time to check every tiny part? Most of us just go by color.

“Understood. I grant permission for emergency repairs. But hurry—do your best to get it running by tomorrow night.”

“You’re in a rush. Got a reason?”

“From what we know of the enemy’s state, if we wait too long, the Eight General Knights will show up again. If that happens, none of today’s Kingdom Army mechs will be able to hold them back.”

Ah, so if they hear Kansas has fallen, the Empire might send over fresh Eight General Knights. And if one’s enough to beat us, then two—or more—shouldn’t be a problem.

But I’ve lost my mech. What’s left is just a patchwork pile of scrap, a hollow shell. In that state, well… no chance at all.

So the princess wants to take back the land all at once—before that happens.

“Understood. I’ll tell the troops to hurry up.”

“And can we reach the main body?”

“Yes, we’ve got messengers standing by.”

“Then later, I’ll write a letter—send it to Jade. And one to the homeland too. If my guess is right, we’ll be in worse trouble than the Eight General Knights if we don’t move fast.”

“Guess? You mean Avilabomb’s coming again?”

If it’s just frontline units contacting home base, I suppose we’d just need to keep an eye on air defense.

“No, something far worse than that.”

The princess said that, staring hard at the base marked on the map—Camentria.

After wrapping up our talk, I went to tell Orell and the others we’d gotten the go-ahead. There, on the carrier deck, was my machine already being repaired.

“Wait, already started fixing it?”

“Naturally. Just repairing it? No issue there. That’s the rule for mechanics—move before permission comes through. Time’s tight, after all.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So, of course we’ve got the okay, right?”

“Yes, we did. Though they said we’d better have it ready to fly by tomorrow night.”

“The machine itself isn’t the problem. The trouble’ll come…”

“Around the flight controls, you mean?”

My machine’s cockpit’s been tweaked all over—left-arm lever gone, monitor added, buttons shifted around, all to optimize full manual control.

Try to use it like a regular machine, and you’ll just end up fighting it.

Best case? Swiping a cockpit from another machine. But in a fight-scarred one? All the cockpits are wrecked. No spare parts left.

Same goes for the physics processor—senseboard, whatever you call it.

“On the battlefield, nothing but trouble, that’s just how it goes. Can’t help but wanna whine a little, you know?”

“Whining’s on my side, thank you very much.”

Orell was grumbling at me when a scream-like voice came from the cockpit.

Then Karine popped her face up, lifting her goggles.

“You want me to fix the masterpiece—my sense board, adjusted to match the captain’s piloting—in one day? Give me a break! Fine, I’ll do it, but don’t expect miracles!”

She said that, then vanished back into the cockpit, goggles still dangling.

“Such a determined voice. Quite reassuring.”

“…Still makes my stomach twist, though.”

What’ll they ask for next? Host only, maybe. But if they’re demanding brand-name jewels and handbags too? My salary’s gonna stretch thin. Maybe I should ask the princess for a raise—or a bonus. Just sayin’.

“Ah, I’ll be returning soon. Anything you’d like me to have ready in the craft? If possible, I’ll take care of it.”

“First, keep the armaments basic. And paint—please repaint it white.”

“Armaments noted. But paint… that’s a bit tricky.”

“Just repaint it, right?”

“The imperial units are dark in color, you see. Just painting white over them won’t hide the base tone.”

Ah, I see.

All imperial mechs are统一 in deep green with red lines. Even if we paint over them with white, the base color’s too dark—won’t cover well.

“If we had a proper maintenance bay, we’d have plenty of paint to layer it on, redo it as many times as needed. But here? That’s not possible. It’ll probably end up slightly tinted. I’ll do what I can—but prepare yourself. The green might still show through, just faintly.”

“Understood. As long as it’s noticeable from a distance, that’ll be enough.”

“Got it.”

“Then I’ll leave the rest to you, Orell.”

I handed off the rest to Orell and turned away from the carrier.

The plain was utterly dark now, lit only by faint glimmers seeping through scattered tents.

I moved through them, parting the flap of my own tent.

“Ah, you’re finally back.”

“Ange?”

Ange was inside the tent. Sitting on the bed, stitching away.

Not in her usual maid’s dress, but a one-piece camisole.

“Hehe, I told Eld I’d bring him dinner, and he said I could just come up here today, so I took him up on it.”

Ange’s eyes drifted to the table. There, covered in cloth, sat a basket. She set down her embroidery, stepped over, and pulled off the cloth.

“Ta-da! Battlefield-exclusive imperial-style sandwich!”

“Battlefield-exclusive? What’s that even mean? Never heard of it.”

Somehow, it feels like a dangerously special edition.

“See, Crosser took it back by force, didn’t he? So the Empire’s rations were still pretty much intact. So we’re making this battlefield meal using what’s left—saving what we can. That’s why it’s battlefield-exclusive!”

“Wow, Support Maid. You’re seriously overqualified.”

Her support ability’s not even a little bit half-hearted.

“Go on, try it. I tasted it myself—pretty tasty, actually.”

“Hmph. Then I’ll give it a go.”

I take a sandwich from the basket, just as Ange nudges me, and bite into it.

The bread’s a little dry, but the pickled vegetables and grilled meat make up for it. It’s pretty plain, battlefield fare, really. But once you actually eat it—wow, it’s surprisingly good. Is it the sauce? Slightly sharp, wakes up your tired body. Feels… familiar, somehow.

“Go on, go on.”

“Not bad at all. That sauce really makes it.”

"Yeah, it’s the kind packed in jars—really boosts your strength. Probably packed with chili and garlic and all that. In the kingdom, strong-smelling stuff gets avoided, so it’s not used much. Feels fresh, though."

"Ah, chili and garlic, huh?"

That’s what it is—this nostalgic twinge. The heavy, junk-food kind of flavor. Reminds me of my last life.

Come to think of it, I used to huddle in the lab with the Robo-Club crew, arguing over research while scarfing down junk food as the tournament drew near.

I just kept chomping away, no pause, and before I knew it, the basket was empty.

I love the taste of home, the kingdom’s food I’ve eaten for over a decade. But still—twenty years of that other world’s flavors? Can’t seem to shake that one.

"Phew, that was good. I’d love to eat that again."

"Seems you really like it. There were peppers and garlic left behind at the base too—let’s grab some when we head back."

"Yeah. Anyway, what were you up to, Ange?"

"Oh, this? This is a new amulet."

"An amulet? Well, you’ve already got one of those, haven’t you?"

I pull out the amulet and pendant from my chest.

One I got when I left the village, the other one we made together in town. Both are important charms of mine.

"Mm-hmm. Just thought it was time for a new one. But Eld’s neck’s already packed full, isn’t it? So I made this one with embroidery—something you can wear somewhere else next time."

"Embroidery? You can’t exactly sew that onto knight’s garb, can you?"

"Hmm-hmm, I’m your wife, aren’t I? Naturally, I sew it onto your underthings!"

Ah, right—my squad’s laundry’s all been Ange’s doing. No wonder she’s been doing whatever she likes with the underthings.

“Just keep it low-key, okay?”

“Leave it to me! I’ll make it look super stylish and cute!”

She says it with a bright, cheerful smile.

That smile. Those words. They left nothing but unease in me.

◇

“Solid fortress, this one.”

“Of course it is—we’ve used it for border patrols in our kingdom, ha ha.”

“Not exactly a laughing matter…”

The Kingdom Army pressed on ahead, leaving Eld and the others behind. They’d reached the front of Kamentaria Base.

Now that dusk had fallen, they were watching from a safe distance. There was urgency in the movements, but no sign of an offensive.

They’re shaken from their defeat.

Maybe even the base commander assigned here is still wondering what to do next. Jade thought.

Don’t give you much time to fret, I’d say.

But breaking through that gate with these forces? Nearly impossible.

The Armunale commander, riding shotgun, mutters while checking their troop strength on the monitor.

Our forces—excluding Eld and Batis—amount to five Armunale units, and the Abnomyle force, rebuilt after the last fight, now totals four.

Not nearly enough to take down a border fortress built to last.

Still, we had to do it.

That’s what the letter from the Second Princess, delivered by a swift rider just moments ago, said.

“Still, we must take it by the day after tomorrow at the latest. How far along is the encirclement?”

“Eighty percent done, but… should we really block off their escape route? I don’t know much about sieges, but once you cut off their way out, they’ll just go all-in, won’t they?”

“Yeah, but…”

If you leave them an escape, that’s the very plan they might try. That possibility—no matter the cost—had to be crushed.

“Complete the encirclement as planned. Tomorrow morning, deliver the surrender ultimatum. If they refuse, we start the full assault at ten o’clock.”

“Understood. I’ll relay that to all units.”

That night, the fortress of Kamentria was fully surrounded by the Abnomylle forces, and the soldiers’ tension crept up, slow but steady.