7

Boom—through the woods, the explosion rang out, and birds shot up in a panic.

“Where the hell are you hiding!?”

“Sneaking around like a thief!”

“This kind of thing ain’t gonna work, you know!”

At the epicenter, smoke rose from seven Abnomyle units. No visible damage from the blast, but clearly frustrated—something unseen was poking at them from all sides.

Still, they’re not ignoring our attacks completely. They say words don’t affect them, but they’re starting to show cracks.

In fact, the enemy’s already reinforcing joints with extra armor—trying to counter Bronzo. But if you armor up every joint to block fist-sized Bronzo strikes, movement gets stiff. Real stiff.

So they can’t just wave off Berjio’s unit like it’s nothing.

I was watching from a little ways off, through Pespilarge’s monitor, the way the enemy machine was swinging its sword, frustrated and sharp.

Pespilarge was draped in a camouflage net, hidden among the trees.

The net wasn’t much bigger than a cloak—just enough to cover from head to chest—but in the thick of the forest, that was more than enough. You’d have to get damn close before anyone noticed.

And then, again—explosion.

Two hours since the operation began. The enemy was moving exactly as we’d hoped.

At first, twelve Abnomüle had pushed into the woods. But by hitting them from multiple directions at once, we’d slowly split their forces down to seven.

On another screen, the monitor showed more explosions—perfectly timed, pulling the enemy further away.

“Lady Ruiner, it’s about time we moved.”

"Yeah. Let's get ahead of schedule! Keep your eyes peeled—don’t let the enemy catch on."

『Got it!』

The waiting units began moving, and Lady Luiner followed, vanishing into the woods.

Watching her go, I called Ange over.

"Ange."

"What is it?"

"There's a mismatch between the intel we had and what’s happening now. I need you to check something."

"Sure thing, sure thing. What should I look into?"

"Armunale’s position. There’s gotta be an enemy commander somewhere. Sending out so many units, but leaving Armunale behind? That just doesn’t add up."

According to the pre-battle intel, it was one Armunale and twelve Abnomule units. If twelve Abnomules are here, Armunale should be here too. And yet—since earlier, we haven’t seen a single trace of it.

No way it’d be broken down and in the shop. If it’s not here, there’s gotta be some other reason it’s missing.

“Reinforcements might be coming.”

“Huh. So we’re the distraction, then?”

“Could be. If so, the road and the supply lines are the real danger.”

Cutting off supplies is basic strategy. If they’re hitting the Bergio unit, they might come straight for the supply train. And if the enemy’s pushing hard, bypassing the Bergio unit to hit the town directly isn’t out of the question.

“Not having much to counter them means we’re letting the enemy do whatever they want.”

If it were Fatal, we’d have Armunale and Abnomule units scattered all over the place. But Bergio’s got none—so all we can do is watch, hands in our pockets, while the enemy rolls in.

I’m regretting now—should’ve grabbed those first three units when we had the chance—but I keep the machine crouched low, shifting it forward.

“Ange, after you’ve checked the road we used, head straight to the first operation site. If you spot enemies, fire a signal flare. I’ll keep an eye out.”

From the bag at my feet, I hand her the gun—emergency signal flares inside.

Standard scout gear, but easiest way to send a signal.

“Got it. Scout Armunale, confirm reinforcements. What if we run into the supply convoy?”

“Don’t engage. Just signal and come straight back.”

Sorry, Bergio’s team, but Ange comes first. Besides, I’m aiming to wrap this up today—supplies aren’t that critical.

Truth is, the supply convoy currently on the move’s mostly just bringing extra weapons—rations are barely enough.

That’s how serious everyone is about this operation. Gotta bring the same fire to our side.

“Got it. See you later, then.”

“Be careful.”

“Same to you, Eld.”

Ange jumped from the pilot’s seat and vanished into the woods in an instant.

Watching her disappear through the monitor, I hurried to join the operation site.

Arrived at the planned location—managed to get here without the enemy spotting us, I think.

Just as the map showed: a sudden cliff right in the gap of the forest. I’m hiding beneath the trees at the base of the cliff.

The unit we’re guiding’s getting close—explosions are sounding pretty near now.

I glance at the monitor, just enough to check the nearby trees. The other units from Bergio have already set up—ready to move at a moment’s notice.

I can’t spot Louiselle, but she’s probably close by.

Every now and then, I check the sky to the north.

It’s been twenty minutes since I split from Ange. At her pace, she should’ve found something by now.

Would be awkward if she showed up right as we launched our plan. In that case, I’ll just have to forget about capturing them—no time for prisoners. We’ll wipe them out completely. If the enemy’s main force is on Ange’s side, then these guys here are useless anyway.

Just then, a soldier dashes up to the machine’s feet.

“Eld-sama, we’ve received word—arrival’s imminent.”

“Understood. We’re ready. Go ahead anytime.”

“Thank you.”

The soldier runs off. Only the echoes of explosions remain in the forest.

And then—

“What the—?!”

One machine, having slipped off the cliff, slid down. But it wasn’t moving anymore.

“What’s going on!?!”

“It’s the cliff. Damn it, my leg’s gone.”

The machine had lost a leg during the slide. In that state, it couldn’t walk—no way.

“Can you move?”

“Nope. Gotta write it off.”

“Got it. We’re going down. Keep watch on the others.”

They hadn’t noticed their comrade’s machine had wrecked. Not with the constant explosions gone quiet.

Two of the remaining machines were descending the slope. The other four stayed up top. Nice—split them up just right.

Now, this is my job. First, take out the ones still free to move above.

We’ll be fine with the two untouched ones down below.

“Let’s go. Pespilarge.”

Stomp the output pedal and spin the generator up to critical in one go.

The massive generator hums—enemy units scramble, but it’s already too late.

Peeling off the camouflage net, I unfold one wing and lock on to the four above the cliff.

Then, I pull the Perfilizzi from behind me and aim at the one with damaged legs.

“Fire!”

Four blades and one bullet slam into the enemy, slicing through them with perfect precision.

Immediately, I slide the Perfilizzi back behind me and reel in the Grondiarepesh with the wire.

Closing in on the two below the cliff, I grab the returning Grondiarepesh, pull it free from the wire, and ready it.

“Damn it—Fatal’s machine!”

“Got played!”

“Now you realize? Too late!”

I dive into one machine, shove it hard into the cliffside, and slam it down.

“Damn you!”

As I’m driving it into the rock, another one comes at me with a slash. I block it with my sword and shove it back with all my might. Only possible because of the fundamental specs gap between Armunale and Abnomule, really.

“Now then…”

How to take the last one.

The rule is to smash the pilot’s seat to disable the enemy, but that’d defeat the whole purpose of capturing it.

To kill just the pilot, you need to channel the shock inward—something Armunale’s martial art can’t even dream of replicating.

So then… pull it out directly.

The enemy raises its left arm and fires a cannon at point-blank range. But by the time the barrel’s aimed, I’m already moving—bullet sinks straight into the cliff.

In that moment, I slip around behind and crush the cockpit hatch with my hands.

“W-wahhhhh!?”

“Sorry ’bout that.”

I rip the crushed hatch open while dragging the machine down onto the ground.

“So, you gonna come out nice and slow… or roast in there? Which’ll it be?”

Still standing outside the cockpit, I ask, magic ready, as I pry open the wreckage.

No answer comes back.

“Hmm. Messy, sure, but if it works, it works, right?”

Thinking that, I’m about to lob a weakened fireball into the cockpit—when a soldier from Belgio comes dashing out of the woods, frantic.

Among them, I spot Lady Lunele.

“Wait! Hold on! We’ve got it under control—don’t fire your magic!”

“Ah, okay. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Then let the Bergio troops handle it. For now, keep the unit pinned down—disable the controls so it won’t move even if someone tries to pilot it.

I’m back in the cockpit, checking the monitor. Soldiers who climbed in from outside are dragging the pilot out by the arms. Then they just toss him onto the ground.

The pilot must’ve hit a bad spot—doesn’t move at all. Well, even if he’s knocked out, he’s still over two meters from the cockpit. Fall headfirst like that? Yeah, that’ll do it.

“How’s it look? Think you can manage it?”

“I’ve studied the manual thoroughly. I’ll try it—Lady Ruinelle, please step back.”

“Understood.”

“You’re actually going to try?”

I tilt my head, hearing that. Can he really do it?

Even with the manual, it’s still a mess—hence why they gathered the former pilots and trainees in the first place.

“If it won’t move, that’s that. We’ll just have to practice till it can be carried.”

“Is that so.”

Well, we can’t exactly take it apart and lug it back home here.

I got the unit to stand up, stepped back a bit.

Once I’d confirmed the other soldiers had cleared out, the pilot gave the command and started moving the machine.

At first, it was just flailing limbs—then, gradually, it began to make sense. The movements grew more deliberate.

And then, slowly, the upper body rose.

Just then, suddenly, red and blue lights shot up into the northern sky.

“What’s going on!?”

The Second Princess immediately asked the soldiers, but they all just tilted their heads.

“Ange was sent to scout. The enemy’s main unit is over there.”

“What!?! So this lot—”

“A diversion? Or a two-front assault? Either way, since Armunale’s over there, I’m going.”

“Please! Judging by the light’s position, it’s not far from the town!”

“Understood. Then—”

I pressed down on the pedal and sent the machine hurtling toward where the light was rising.

◇

Having received orders from Eld, Ange swiftly dashed through the woods and emerged onto the road.

“Um… the town’s over there, and we came from that way, right? By feel… probably that direction.”

The rustle of wind, birdsong, insect hum, creak of trees, the faint tremble through the ground.

She gathered up all those tiny, everyday sensations—normally just brushed aside—and focused them, hunting for human presence.

Then she stepped forward, away from the town.

Soon, the presence grew stronger.

“Getting close, maybe.”

Deciding it was too dangerous to keep moving along the road, Ange slipped into the woods.

Zipping through the trees, using the flare booster to dart this way and that, the sound of arguing voices starts to rise. Then, through the trunks, I spot the shape of an Abnomyle.

Cut the flare booster cold, leap onto a thick branch.

“Not letting them take it! That’s our lifeline!”

“Burn it first! Better to destroy it than let them steal it!”

“Useless! If you just stay quiet, maybe we’ll live!”

“Encircle the infantry. Don’t call for backup.”

The fighters were the supply convoy and the Empire’s troops.

The Empire had blocked the convoy’s front with Abnomyles, and now infantry units were closing in from all sides.

Even in the woods, I spot several more Abnomyles hidden among the trees—ready to strike at any moment.

“Found it.”

The forces on the Berjio side—they weren’t the guerrilla transport unit, no. More like a supply convoy moving food and arms from the town to the border troops. Tried to torch the wagons, I reckon, if only to keep them from being taken. But the Imperial soldiers are giving them hell.

If I could, I’d tell Eld right away and launch a surprise attack with reinforcements.

But—

Armunale’s form is nowhere to be seen.

Ange’s top priority was tracking down the enemy Armunale—and Eld had even given her permission to abandon Berjio’s unit if needed.

That’s why I hesitated here—whether to move or not—but Ange’s luck is finally coming.

What’re you doin’? The town’s not supposed to be this far yet.

"Lord Cloa!"

The machine that appeared there. It had a slightly warped shape, but there was no doubt—it was Armunale.

Got it! See, good deeds really do pay off, don’t they?

While still grinning, the soldier prepared the signal flare.

“Found this unit while moving through—thought they were hijacking supplies. Looks like a food and arms convoy bound for the border.”

“Hohoho, well, well now! Found something quite nice, didn’t we!”

With a high-pitched cry echoing in the air, Croa’s machine slowly raised its arm—then swung it down with a crackling force, slamming straight into the supply wagon.

*Zugan!*—the wagon crumpled flat in one blow. The horses pulling it were caught in the wreckage and killed instantly.

“Kukuku… savoring life, are we? How *wonderful* that is! I want to feel life! So for that reason—*you’ll die!*”

Again, the arm lifted. This time, the target was the soldiers’ heads above.

The soldiers from Belgio were trapped, hemmed in on all sides.

Ange thought fast—she fired a flare straight at Armunale.

At the same moment, she kicked off a branch and dove into the middle of them.

“Who dares to get in my way?!”

“Fufu~, if you’re talking about the Fatal Kingdom’s support maid, it’s me! Ange!”

“Fatal Kingdom… ah, I see! So you’re one of those Armunale troops, are you? Then it’s time to finish you here!”

“No way!” Spiral Fire Lance, Quadruple Installation. Open!

The flaming spear, spinning with deadly force, blew a hole through the soldiers surrounding them.

In an instant, the Belgio soldiers charged straight through the gap, pushing hard to break through.

“I won’t let you!”

“You will!”

The Belgio soldiers had their target set—arm swinging down.

Just before that, Ange fired another signal flare straight at Armunale.

“Annoying, aren’t you?”

“Extra!”

She said it, then sent two more skyward. That was the real signal—meant only for Eld.

Keeping her intent hidden, she drew all their hostility onto herself, setting her break point at Abnomule.

“Even Rayla managed it, so why not me?”

That was something Eld had learned when he’d been gathering intel on the traitor Rayla.

Rayla had fought Abnomule bare-handed, found a crack in its armor, and taken it.

So how could she fail?

“Flare Booster—Octuple setup. Engage!”

She activated the flare booster, not as a single burst, but fourfold, stacked tight.

Eight boosters now—more power, faster direction shifts, but that meant the controls grew a hundred times harder to manage.

“Here we go!”

Ange kicked off the ground, flaring the boosters, and shot straight toward the base of Abnomyle.

Abnomyle hadn’t expected to be targeted—caught off guard, she flailed in place, feet stumbling.

Ange ignored her clumsy dance, spun behind, and launched herself upward toward the cockpit.

But then she caught sight of Armunale’s movement at the edge of her vision—her hand snapped shut on the idea of destroying Abnomyle, and she dove into the forest.

Right after, Abnomyle’s cockpit was pierced through by a long, grasping arm.

“C-Croa-sama… what are you…?”

“Tch, caught me, huh? You’re supposed to lure me in properly, you know. Can’t be a proper decoy, can you? Then how’re we supposed to feel alive? Wait—do you feel it now!? Oh, good! That’s just splendid!”

No flicker of guilt, not even a trace, for killing her comrades.

Croa let out a high, mocking laugh, eyes fixed on the forest where Ange was hiding.

“Now then, how long can you keep running? Enjoy it—while you still can!”

“…That’s just too gross… Gotta have Eld take him down.”

From the shadow of a nearby tree, Ange watched Croa’s antics, wrinkling her nose, and slipped deeper into the woods after the fleeing transport unit.

Next time…

Eld collides with the Eight General Knight Croa. Struggling against the enemy’s odd movements, he gradually begins to adjust. Then, arriving as reinforcement, comes Meghan—the second unit commander of the Belgio forces—riding a captured machine.