Chapter 30 - The Hero's Solo Rampage and the End of the Foolish Bio-spaceship
～ Gialpha Galaxy, the space region added to the Gialpha Galaxy Empire's territory after the defeat of the Free Democratic Alliance (the combat zone against the Second Mineral Lifeform Group) ～
In the star system where Sangou had reunited with Jin, Sangou was meticulously detecting all remaining enemies.
In particular, Sangou was prioritizing the search for the unique life reaction of the bio-spaceships, which were the most dangerous enemies.
"Captain. The remaining space beasts number about 1.8 million. However, they are scattered over a fairly wide area, so if we aim for complete annihilation from here, it will take considerable effort. Also, there is a reaction from a Mock inside the star of this star system. From the situation, it seems likely that the Mock intends to consume the star's energy and allocate abundant energy to its bombardment and defense fields."
"Hoh. So when a bio-spaceship is hiding inside a star, my Search Magic can't identify it. Well, as is typical with magic, I have no idea why that works. Anyway, setting that aside, can you put the Mock's position on the monitor? Even an approximate position is fine; I want to grasp it."
"Master, is that 'Mock' stupid?"
Kichou threw a straightforward question into the exchange between Jin and Sangou.
Around here, the judgment criteria changes based on 'whether battle involving magic is common sense or not.'
Therefore, even if Kichou's question was correct from her perspective, whether it could be understood by anyone other than Jin was a completely different matter.
In fact, at this point, Kichou's question was utterly incomprehensible to Sangou.
"Ah. In the sense that 'they don't understand magic,' the 'Mock' is stupid. If its position is revealed, it's over immediately."
"Um, Captain? What does that exchange mean? From my perspective, the battle is high-level on both offense and defense, and I would consider the Mock's tactics not bad. Also, I am displaying the image on the monitor. The Mock's position is indicated by a pointer on the screen."
Sangou could guess that it involved magic, but couldn't keep up with the understanding.
The bio-spaceship honestly raised its question, but still answered the Captain's request properly.
"Hoh hoh. So the Mock is around here. If I get close, I'll probably know the exact position. Then, let me show you the reason that 'the enemy is stupid,' as Kichou said. It's faster to show reality than to explain with words. So, I'll go defeat it quickly."
Jin left those words in the bridge of Sangou and vanished.
He had activated Teleportation Magic.
Then, he repeatedly short-distance teleported around the Mock to approach.
Of course, by deploying a Shield Magic and wearing the Sub-unit Armor, his defense was perfect.
A human being alone plunged into the scorching star.
Sangou indeed recorded such a surreal scene.
"Status Ailment Infliction. Paralysis."
Jin, who had approached and confirmed the Mock's position with his naked eyes, used magic.
The Hero who came from a fantasy world easily robbed the enemy bio-spaceship of all freedom except thought via magic.
Next, he activated Teleportation Magic and moved to a spot very close to Sangou.
The Hero, having finished one job, quickly returned to Sangou's interior.
"Captain. Welcome back. I understand. If the Captain can do that, the Mock, having no means to counter it, is indeed nothing but stupid. With its positioning in that environment, it probably couldn't detect even if the Captain teleported nearby. So that's how it is."
Even if the Hero wielding magic teleported nearby, the Mock couldn't detect it and thus couldn't sense the danger.
Moreover, it was utterly defenseless against magic.
What happens to such a bio-spaceship when its biological parts are deprived of freedom by paralysis from status ailment infliction?
The answer is only: 'The defense field dissolves, unable to absorb energy from the surroundings, exposed to the super-high temperature and super-gravity of the star.'
In other words, the Mock had no choice but to burn out and fall toward the star's core, meeting its end.
"As for Sangou, being sunk by enemy attack is something I'm prepared for. But I wouldn't want to meet an end like that."
"Yeah. I'm the one who did it, but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that."
"Master? I think it's just the idiot's fault."
"Well, it's like that. Don't say that. They have no knowledge or technology about magic over there. Anyway, setting that aside, the remaining are 1.8 million? Should we leave this to the Imperial Military as their second battle target? Or should we completely annihilate them ourselves and move on? Sangou, what do you think?"
Jin changed the subject for now.
They were talking rather casually, but in fact, this was 'during an operation' and should be 'during combat.'
Well, of course, there are circumstances for that.
Regarding this matter with Jin, what was the sequence of events from when they started a real-time communication with His Majesty the Emperor to this point?
Now, let's go back in time and trace the flow up to here in order.
The Gialpha Galaxy Empire faced an unprecedented crisis: 'an invasion aiming for the extinction of humanity' by the Mineral Lifeforms.
However, the Emperor of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire, which was under attack, had not detected the Mineral Lifeforms' goal.
Still, he had recognized that 'the Empire itself is being subjected to a large-scale attack by space beasts, at a level that has a very high possibility of destroying the Empire.'
The enemy surpassed the Imperial Military's interception capabilities in both numbers and overall combat power, excluding Sangou.
From the Emperor's perspective, one day before real-time communication with Jin became possible, this sad and pitiful fact had already become clear from information arriving from the frontline where contact had been made.
Jin and Sangou's return from the Betasia Star System.
The Emperor, who had been looking forward to it, immediately upon communication becoming possible, expressed his hope that Sangou's combat power would overturn the battle situation that was leaning toward defeat.
However, it was hard to say that this was 'the whole truth of the Emperor's heart.'
No matter how outstanding the performance of the 'bio-spaceship Sangou' was.
After all, it was just 'one combat vessel.'
That being the case, it was impossible to single-handedly take on all enemies across multiple distant battlefields.
If it could instantly move between battlefields and annihilate enemies in the time it arrived, then the story would be different.
But Sangou could not possibly have such performance.
Considering the time it would have taken for Sangou to return to the imperial capital at top speed after going to the Betasia Star System, that was clear.
The current situation was nothing short of being 'under a saturation attack,' where the Gialpha Galaxy Empire's vast territories were being attacked simultaneously with overwhelming numbers.
Moreover, the enemy's force strength, even at a minimum estimate excluding the firepower of 'bio-spaceships of the same type or subspecies as Sangou' that were likely present, easily exceeded four times the Imperial Military's interception capabilities.
Additionally, 'concentrating the Imperial Military's interception forces in one place' was nothing but 'leaving all regions except the one concentrated in defenseless.'
In essence, the Gialpha Galaxy Empire's defeat was almost certain.
On top of that, the Emperor had hidden in his heart a 'plan to evacuate the imperial family aboard Sangou' on the premise that there was no winning path for Sangou.
At this time, the Emperor did not know.
He did not know about 'the combat ability of the Hero' which had been hidden behind Sangou's performance and never shown its individual strength.
Contrary to the words he had spoken to Jin and Sangou, the Emperor inwardly thought 'it's probably impossible to win,' but still, just in case, he checked.
He had already decided how to handle his own situation after discussing with Empress Laura.
If Jin, their last hope, raised a white flag, he would order the evacuation of the Crown Prince and over a dozen imperial family members.
Of course, he and Laura had no intention of running; they were resolved to stay in the imperial capital and resist until the end.
To the question from the Emperor in such a state, Jin's reply was unexpected for the one who asked.
"Before I answer your 'Can you do something about it?', may I ask a few questions? There is something I want to confirm first."
"Of course, it's fine. I permit the question."
"Yes. Thank you. In the past, I displayed power and was feared, and essentially in the form of 'disposal,' I was exiled from the country I had served. Suppose we can eliminate this crisis using the power of Sangou and myself. I have doubts: 'Won't the same thing happen again?' Therefore, I am not inclined to pull chestnuts out of the fire. Your Majesty the Emperor, how will I be treated afterward?"
To the Emperor, Jin's speech felt strange.
As if he was saying 'it's possible to deal with it' or 'eliminating the crisis is easy.'
At least, the Emperor had no choice but to understand Jin's question that way.
The Emperor could not have imagined such a premise for a question.
Hence, he was at a loss for words.
Even from the Emperor's perspective, he had recognized Sangou as 'a sufficiently dangerous entity even now.'
However, Jin's statement made him realize that the reality 'far exceeded that recognition,' and the Emperor felt fear at that reality.
But still, as someone who ruled a vast galaxy empire, he had responsibilities.
He could not stop because of that.
Needs must.
"I understand. I can understand the reasons and logic of the side that exiled Jin. However, I am not so foolish as to not understand 'how the one being subjected to that feels.'"
"Is that so."
"Mm. Yes. After this matter is all settled, it would be a start from scratch, but how about the proposal: 'Have Jin found a nation as an equal allied state'? Of course, under the condition of 'full support until the management of the newly founded nation is on track.' It would be problematic if we ceded the territories of the existing imperial nobles, but in this case, there are the 'star systems of the destroyed Free Democratic Alliance.' Beyond that, there are also unexplored regions. If Jin feels that 'remaining as a subordinate of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire under me would be dangerous,' I can only think of that method."
(The Emperor's words seem to have no lies. If he can come up with a plan like this, it probably won't be reneged on after I show my power.)
Jin muttered his appraisal of the Emperor's words in his heart.
And if the Emperor would say that much under these circumstances, Jin could also make a corresponding resolve.
"Understood. Then, I will trust those words. Please be sure to keep your word, no matter what kind of power I display. Now, regarding the elimination of the enemy, it won't be without damage to the Empire's territory, and the Imperial Military, and possibly even the people evacuating, may suffer considerable casualties. However, I have already thought of a way to defeat the enemy."
"Really? Can you do something?"
The Emperor, confirming again, felt a small discomfort at Jin's phrase 'no matter what kind of power I display.'
But in the end, he dismissed it as 'probably a figure of speech' and ignored it.
Well, since Sangou was treated as Jin's property, it was understandable that there was some misunderstanding in this part.
Rather, the fact that he even felt discomfort might be worthy of praise as 'impressive.'
Anyway, putting such trivial details aside, the two continued talking.
"Yes. I can do it. However, I remind you: it will not be 'without damage.'"
"Not having zero damage is unavoidable. It's better than the Gialpha Galaxy Empire perishing. I promise now: 'I will not blame Jin for that.' So, what is the method? How are you going to do it?"
The Emperor, learning that the impossible was now possible, suddenly wanted to know the method.
The supreme authority of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire leaned forward and asked Jin.
"Sangou and I will reduce the enemy numbers to between 50% and 20%, starting from the enemy force closest to us. The Imperial Military will be responsible for mopping up remaining enemies and conducting what is called an annihilation battle as a follow-up. Then, 'when the annihilation of the closest enemy is finished, the Imperial Military will head to the next one.' Sangou will periodically send the expected positions and sizes of the enemies in order and by time. Therefore, I ask the Imperial Military to handle it. However, there is one thing I must ask His Majesty the Emperor to strictly order: 'Do not divide the Imperial Military for operation.' If the military is split, the casualties will certainly increase."
"Understood. I will treat the entire military as one unit and concentrate its use. I will issue that strict order and ensure it is followed. Then, Jin, I leave it to you."
"Yes. Then, I will go."
At this stage, Hero Jin performed a demonstration of a part of his power for His Majesty the Emperor.
Specifically, what did he do?
Jin deployed a Shield Magic and activated a short-distance Teleportation Magic from Sangou's bridge, moving outside the ship.
In other words, to the Emperor's eyes through the monitor, it appeared as if Jin had vanished in an instant.
"The Captain has departed alone to complete the task he undertook. Then, I will end the communication."
Sangou, without waiting for the Emperor's response after informing him of the current situation, ended the communication while the Emperor was stunned speechless with a shocked expression.
If he were asked and ended up explaining the details, it might go against the Captain's intent, so this was a natural response from Sangou's perspective.
In this case, even if the Emperor had a shocked expression, it was not worth considering.
By the way, Jin returned to Sangou's interior, which was continuing full speed, with a nonchalant face after about thirty seconds had passed.
In reality, in such aspects, the Hero's magic makes possible actions that completely ignore physical laws, but Sangou no longer commented on that.
The bio-spaceship equipped with an excellent organic AI simply recorded and accepted the phenomena that occurred.
"I've already created the time-series data of expected enemy positions for the Captain. I'll input it right away."
Sangou gave the Captain, who had returned to the bridge from the room used for teleportation returns, the information necessary to make the operation possible.
The organic AI of the bio-spaceship could calmly perform multitasking at levels absolutely impossible for humans.
Sangou too was an extraordinary existence.
"Ah. Thanks. Once I receive that, I'll head out immediately. Sangou and Kichou, move as planned. Oh, and send the data to the Imperial Military in a timely manner too."
With that flow, Jin, after receiving data from Sangou, immediately activated Long-distance Teleportation Magic.
However, his destination was not the battlefield, but rather Jin's own home in the imperial capital. That was probably a trivial matter.
Jin properly told his wives, headed by Rouj, and all his children about his destination and work content, and showed off a passionate embrace with his lawful wife in front of the children.
This might be called a 'time loss.'
But in reality, there was no one to point that out and criticize Jin.
After such a scene, the Hero finally headed to the battlefield alone.
Jin once again activated Long-distance Teleportation Magic.
Around the same time, to the Imperial Military that was gathering, orders finally arrived from the Emperor, who had recovered from the freeze of surprise, via the Imperial Military's Supreme Commander.
Also, the time-series data of expected enemy positions sent from Sangou was transmitted to each ship and mobile fortress via the Imperial Military HQ Operations Room.
Then, ships that were ready began to advance sequentially to the assembly points set in the star system that would be the battlefield.
The Emperor and the Imperial Military were moving properly according to the plan drawn up by Sangou.
Of course, needless to say, this was done without any wasteful time spent on examining and deciding whether to execute.
Literally alone, Jin teleported to a position slightly outside the expected area of the first battlefield.
Of course, even if brief, at that moment Jin experienced severe pain caused by mana depletion.
(This is really painful. How many more times will I do this today?)
Though such a self-deprecating thought was muttered in his heart, the Hero quietly waited for the short time until combat action became possible.
From there, it was truly a bargain sale of magic.
Starting with enemy search via magic, all necessary movement was also done with magic.
Against the expected course of the enemy forces, he set up a large number of magic traps to encircle them.
(I could just defeat them all myself, right? There's no problem with defeating too many enemies, is there?)
Such an arrogant thought crossed Jin's mind.
He scattered magic traps densely, creating a minefield-like space in an instant at a level that couldn't be hoped for more.
Also, separately, he placed area-of-effect Lightning Strike Magic with adjusted activation timings to surround the enemy's future positions from all 360 degrees.
As a finishing touch, he activated a Light Ball Magic in the middle of the enemy, robbing them of visual information, and scattered magic traps on the spot.
This was an attack with no mercy, purely for annihilation, extremely vicious.
Jin did everything as calculated in advance and let the battle situation progress.
At the same time as the insignificant single human chose to escape via Teleportation Magic, the Lightning Strike Magic, activated according to the set timing, rained down on the enemy forces.
Following the brilliance of the Light Ball released earlier, what appeared in space was a series of flashes like fireworks.
Each flash slaughtered countless Mineral Lifeforms.
On the other hand, the Mineral Lifeforms that were attacked had no means to counterattack Jin.
It was the moment when an incomprehensible spectacle occurred: the side that stood alone against an overwhelmingly large force 'unilaterally pounded' them.
That aside, Jin used Search Magic to look for a reaction resembling a bio-spaceship, which Sangou had set as the 'highest priority target.'
However, in the end, he could not find such a reaction.
Of course, it wasn't a case of 'they must be there,' so it was entirely possible that a bio-spaceship was not found.
Even after searching with considerable effort, Jin found nothing, concluded 'they aren't here,' and stopped searching.
Time was finite, and he couldn't keep spending time only on the current battlefield.
Also, according to Jin's rough sense, about 80% of the Mineral Lifeforms in this area had been annihilated.
The tactical goal of 'over 50%' had already been achieved.
In other words, the remainder should be preserved as opponents for the Imperial Military to fight.
Initiating further annihilation attacks would be a bad move from a time-efficiency perspective.
In addition to these circumstances, even if a bio-spaceship was lurking among one of the enemy forces, if Jin continued to defeat the small fry, it would eventually show up.
Since they had been repeatedly attacked in the past, the enemy bio-spaceship likely had a reason to sink Sangou.
Thinking that far, Jin suddenly checked the scheduled rendezvous time with Sangou.
There was still over seven hours of leeway left.
Next, he thought about the time that had passed since arriving here.
(Hm? It hasn't even been an hour yet, has it? The remaining forces were six, right? I could just go ahead and kill them all first, couldn't I?)
The basic core of Sangou's strategy was: 'the Hero who can use Long-distance Teleportation Magic, by enabling instantaneous movement ignoring distance, gradually reduces the enemy by attacking alone.'
If so, Jin would faithfully perform the role expected of him.
What would be the most efficient gradual reduction operation?
Thinking that, Jin heading to the farthest enemy force might have been inevitable.
To cut off the enemy's retreat, he attacked the enemy at the very rear.
He also wanted to avoid having the enemy merge with reinforcements during battle.
Jin's thinking was extremely reasonable.
Of course, no one normally exists who can accomplish that.
Thus, before meeting the rendezvous time with Sangou, Jin would successively attack the invading forces of Mineral Lifeforms in order from the farthest regions.
The magic traps tested in the Betasia Star System had proven to be an effective attack method against Mineral Lifeforms.
In the first attack, the method of placing magic traps so as to surround the enemy forces worked splendidly.
These factors made it possible to conduct effective attacks in a short time.
In the end, the Hero, operating alone, effectively used the time until the rendezvous with Sangou.
He began annihilation attacks on the invading forces that were originally scheduled to be attacked after reuniting with Sangou.
And by the time the attacks on all invading forces were finished, Sangou and Kichou finally arrived at the scheduled star system.
This was the entire sequence leading to the situation at the beginning.
Due to Jin's unauthorized preemptive attacks, the total number of the Mineral Lifeform force of 70 million had already been drastically reduced.
The total remaining forces were in fact less than 15 million.
Upon reuniting with the Captain at the scheduled time and grasping the current situation, Sangou was simply dumbfounded.
Kichou, who had been eager to fight with the aim of further growth, sent Jin a resentful glare, and Jin was exposed to that for quite a long time. That was probably a trivial matter.
(Did I overdo it a bit?)
Jin came to that thought upon receiving Sangou and Kichou's reactions.
From there, Jin asked Sangou to detect the remaining enemies in this area.
At this time, it was not an order but a rather modest request, perhaps because he felt guilty about overdoing it.
Now, let's return the scene to the continuation from when Jin easily defeated the bio-spaceship hiding inside the star.
Jin had annihilated 80% of the enemies that the Imperial Military was scheduled to fight first, and even for the force that was supposed to fight after reuniting with Sangou, he had already started annihilation attacks before the rendezvous.
By the time Sangou could reunite, most of the Mineral Lifeforms in that area had been crushed, and the enemy's bio-spaceship was seeking a chance to counterattack.
From there, the situation progressed further, and that bio-spaceship was also defeated.
Since the situation differed from the original plan in a good way, Sangou was inadvertently pressed to draft a new plan.
How would they move from here?
It was a moment that depended on Sangou's plan.
"The Imperial Military shouldn't have reached the first battlefield yet, time-wise. Captain, let me confirm once more. How many bio-spaceships did you sink? Depending on the answer, I believe 'our subsequent response will change.'"
"Ah. About that. The only one I've confirmed is that Mock that was swallowed by the star earlier."
"I see. We should prioritize 'ensuring the Imperial Military does not engage the enemy's bio-spaceships,' but we still have time. So let's complete the annihilation of this area and then head to the battlefield the Imperial Military is scheduled to handle."
There was a possibility that a bio-spaceship still remained in the battlefield where Jin first did gradual reduction.
Considering that, Sangou reached that conclusion.
"I see. Then, Kichou, shall we go for a mop-up?"
"Yes, Master."
Thus, the unstoppable rampage of Dragon Knight Jin began once more.
Just a little under an hour of combat.
With Kichou's consecutive breath attacks, complete annihilation of this area was achieved.
Whatever one might say, dragon breath is strong.
"Remaining are six battlefields. Next is the Imperial Military's first target, right?"
"That's right. Then, heading there."
"Yeah, please. I should have crushed 80% of that one too, so the remaining forces should be around two million."
"I see. There are still over forty-eight hours until the Imperial Military's scheduled arrival time. So after arriving at the site, we will carefully search for the highest priority target bio-spaceship. If we don't find it, let's hurry to the next."
"Yeah. If Sangou goes full speed from here, how long until arrival?"
"Roughly six hours, I'd say."
"I see. Is there enough energy for that? I'm going to rest a bit."
"Yes. I'll call you one hour before arrival."
"No, I'll return to the bridge myself by that time, so no need to call."
"Yes. Then, I'll do that."
The moment Sangou recognized that 'the conversation with the Captain was over,' Jin's figure vanished again.
It was obvious from Kichou's reaction to the magic residue that Long-distance Teleportation Magic had been used.
Then, where did the Captain head when he said 'I'll rest a bit'? Other than his private room on Sangou's ship, where else?
The answer Sangou could derive was none other than to Rouj.
And if that was the case, it was clear there was nothing to worry about.
(It's during a battle, during a mission. Don't you think the Captain is too free in his actions?)
The fact that Sangou thought that at this time was probably a trivial matter.
Setting that aside, Sangou's prediction of the Captain's teleportation destination was correct.
"Jin? Why are you there? You were supposed to be heading to the battlefront on Sangou, right? You undertook the annihilation of the enemy, so why are you at Silk's place?!"
On the communication using Silk's private line, connected by Empress Laura, the video-call-like communication space echoed with Laura's anger-laced voice through the speaker.
In this situation, Jin's figure in Silk's private room, which should not be in the imperial capital and should not be there.
It was only natural that Laura, upon seeing it, was shocked and simultaneously felt anger.
Thus, Hero Jin and Sangou succeeded in achieving results exceeding the operational plan they had presented to His Majesty the Emperor in the direct-line communication, even at the interim stage.
They also managed to sink one enemy bio-spaceship that had shown its foolishness due to ignorance of magic.
However, precisely because of that, the doubt arose: 'Are there really no other remaining bio-spaceships?'
The Hero's mobility and combat ability via magic exceeded Sangou's estimates.
Still, the rock-type space beasts that had swarmed in large numbers remained dangerous.
Likewise, the presence of possibly other bio-spaceships.
How would the interim discussion with Laura affect the situation?
With Jin alone racking up a huge kill score, would the Imperial Military's pride be intact?
No one knew the future.
When actually fighting alone against the rock-type space beast army, the Hero was able to inflict devastating damage surprisingly easily, feeling somewhat anticlimactic.
The bio-spaceships, which should have been more troublesome, were defeated before they could fully display their original capabilities, so Jin even began to think, "Huh? Bio-spaceships aren't actually that strong, are they?" which would make Sangou furious if she knew.