kscans

Chapter 96 - Weapons and Monsters

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, we headed back to the Empire.

There were no repercussions for our return. I had told them we’d be out all day, so it wasn’t an issue. Then, the usual briefing began.

The content was the same as always, but at the end, the soldier added, "Also, a new weapon is scheduled to arrive from the capital. It will be here at noon. You are to maintain the front line until then. This is a directive from the Commander and Second Princess Grine-sama."

With those words, the soldier departed.

A murmur of excitement filled the area.

The topic on everyone’s mind was, without exception, the new weapon.

The Empire had developed weapons before. For example, their catapults, which used to take time to load a single large rock, were now fully automated, using multiple Golem arms for everything from loading to firing. I heard there were others, but many had been damaged or broken from long-term use and were mostly mothballed.

Still, their performance had reportedly been excellent, so many held high hopes.

In the commander’s office.

Goltor wore a grim expression.

The day after the vice commander’s death on the battlefield, the front line was not in good shape.

There were delays in adapting to changing situations, and the soldiers’ defensive posture was lax—problems were rampant. He needed to select a new vice commander immediately. There were a few strategists at the base, but they lacked leadership.

That was why he had to choose someone, and quickly.

Just as he was thinking this, a messenger arrived with news that a new weapon was coming from the capital.

He had been informed beforehand what it was. He had even seen the real thing.

It was indeed incredible. A weapon worthy of being called the culmination of all their efforts.

But he also had his concerns.

In a way, it was a weapon that anyone could operate. If someone with malicious intent were to use it, no one could stop them. They had to be extremely careful in selecting who would pilot it.

It seemed today would be a day of many decisions.

Goltor took a sip of tea as he gazed out at the scenery.

In the monster horde.

The monsters were brimming with energy.

We want to fight soon. Even without words, their roars told the story.

Rodel was watching them.

Having become a monster himself, he could understand what they were saying.

But their thoughts were simple and uninteresting: I want to fight and blow off steam, or I’m bored. I want to fight soon.

Monster minds were truly simple.

Well, it didn’t matter to him.

He decided to head out, hoping that this time, those two would be there.

The morning’s battle was, for all intents and purposes, business as usual.

They repelled the attacking monsters at the defensive line. It seemed the strategists were devising plans to minimize casualties, but something was lacking.

The void left by the vice commander had yet to be filled.

Just as I was thinking this, a soldier from the rear sounded the signal for a shift change.

It seemed it was time for lunch.

After eating a simple ration and resting for a bit, we returned to the battlefield.

I wouldn’t call it a fierce battle, but it was a life-or-death struggle all the same.

Eventually, a soldier’s voice echoed from the rear.

"Everyone! The new weapon from the capital has arrived! Retreat immediately!"

At the cry, everyone evacuated the area.

The base gate opened, and out came…

A giant, roughly five meters tall, with gun barrels for arms. Its four legs moved like a spider’s. Its torso was a plain gray, boxy shape. And on its head, there was a person.

He was gripping the controls, so it was a cockpit, protected by transparent glass.

It was a robot.

A robot that a person could pilot.

Something like this, on Earth, would be a mere prop or, at best, have moving hands.

To see it moving so smoothly… their technology surpassed Earth’s.

The soldier inside shouted, "What do you think? Amazing, right?! This is the culmination of the Dwarves’ work: the Edgeson! A fully quadrupedal machine powered by a steam engine. And what’s more, the weapons attached to both hands are single-shot firearms modeled after matchlock guns! Witness their power for yourselves!"

After shouting, the Edgeson unit took aim and fired in unison.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

It was a volley.

The monsters in front had huge holes blown through their chests and died instantly. The bullets that missed struck a rock. They didn’t penetrate, but they left cracks and a crater-like dent in the center.

It had considerable power.

For long-range combat, it was undoubtedly among the strongest.

The soldier piloting it yelled, "Did you see that?! This is the weapon that was completed with the funds and supplies provided by our new emperor, Grine-sama!"

At his cry, a soldier chief asked, "Grine-sama is the new emperor? What do you mean?"

The pilot in the cockpit replied, "Hmm? Oh, you haven't been notified? She became emperor this morning in recognition of her achievements in completing and mass-producing this weapon. The majority of the nobles consented, and even Lady Yorune acknowledged it."

At this, not only the other soldiers but also the adventurers were surprised.

Everyone had thought the first princess would be the next emperor.

But she had contributed so much to the development of something like this. It wasn’t strange that the second princess would become emperor.

The Edgeson unit advanced. The reloading was automatic. The mechanism was like that of a sniper rifle. I only knew it from manga, but I was pretty sure that’s what it was.

Firing while advancing… I thought this war was over.

Until that moment.

On the monster side.

They were a little shaken.

What is that thing? What an incredible attack. They hesitated to advance.

Amidst them, Danmes was swinging his iron club, warming up. It had been a while since he’d had a chance to go on a rampage. And this was a more than worthy opponent for a warm-up. Rodel, on the other hand, wasn’t very enthusiastic and decided to watch from the sidelines.

Besides these two, several dozen monsters were preparing to face the new weapon.

A Cyclops, Rock Wolves, a higher-tier Ogre—a Great Ogre—and a higher-tier Goblin—a Goblin Guardian.

Those confident in their own defenses stood up and descended onto the battlefield with Danmes.

On the human side.

The Edgeson unit’s advance was relentless. We adventurers followed behind, ready to pick off any stray monsters, but there were none at the moment.

Just as the adventurers were thinking this would be an easy job, the Edgeson unit suddenly stopped.

When we looked ahead to see what was wrong, we saw multiple monsters standing defiantly before them.

Seeing the monsters, one of the adventurers said, "You’ve got to be kidding me. A Cyclops, Rock Wolves, a Great Ogre, a Goblin Guardian… and a Minotaur. Higher-tier monsters are showing up? This has to be a joke."

He was trembling as he spoke.

Higher-tier monsters. A type one rarely encountered.

Even an A-rank adventurer would struggle to defeat one. And there were several of them. It was only natural to be terrified.

One of the Edgeson pilots shouted, "Don’t flinch! We have a powerful new weapon on our side! What are a few high-tier monsters?! Open fire!"

With that cry, they unleashed a volley.

The bullets hit the monsters. But they didn’t draw blood.

They hit their bodies, but their hides were too tough to inflict a fatal wound.

Still, it was clear from their faces that it hurt a little.

Among them, only one—the Minotaur—remained completely unfazed even when hit. He looked at his own body with an expression that seemed to say, Did you do something?

The soldiers were shaken.

Taking a direct hit from their new weapon without a scratch seemed to be a heavy blow to their morale.

The adventurers felt much the same.

The soldier in the cockpit yelled, "D-Don't lose your nerve! There’s no way it had no effect! Keep firing until you’re out of ammo!"

He shouted as he reloaded.

The Minotaur raised its iron club and charged.

The soldiers and adventurers braced themselves.

Its target was the Edgeson. Everyone thought so.

But the Minotaur passed it by.

While the others stood there, stunned, its target was revealed: me and Tina.

I was surprised, but I instinctively took a defensive stance. The iron club came at me in a horizontal sweep.

Sword and club clashed.

I braced myself, but I was easily sent flying.

I was blown from the battlefield to the wall on the left side, a distance of about three hundred meters. That was quite a ways. I checked my body. My back hurt, but it wouldn't hinder my ability to fight. My mask had broken from the impact of being thrown.

I tried to hurry back, but an object was approaching from the front, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was the same Minotaur from before.

He went to the trouble of chasing me? As I was thinking this, the Minotaur stopped about thirty meters in front of me.

And then he spoke.

"My name is Danmes the Minotaur. A warrior under the command of Sidoor-sama!"

He introduced himself.

"Sidoor?!" I asked. "Are you here on his orders?"

At this question, Danmes’s expression changed. "Not on Sidoor-sama’s orders. I requested this myself. To see if you are truly a man worthy of fighting Sidoor-sama."

He raised his iron club.

I see. So it was a kind of jealousy, stemming from the fact that someone he revered had taken an interest in someone else.

It was a common thing on Earth.

The feeling of being ignored after doing all sorts of things to be liked by your boss. It might be a little different, but I concluded it was something like that.

"If that’s the case," I said, "then I have to answer the call!"

I filled my body with magic, strengthening it, and raised my sword.

We glared at each other, and just as we were about to move—

"I FOOOOUND YOU!!!!"

A shout came from above.

We both looked up to see something falling. It landed between me and Danmes.

As it kicked up a cloud of dust, I felt an extraordinary killing intent. This was a powerful foe.

The view cleared, and what appeared was… the upper body of a human in armor, and the lower body of a horse.

A Centaur.

It was the first time I had seen this monster, yet its face was somehow familiar.

The Centaur said, "Kukukuku. We finally meet. It’s been a while. Do you remember me?"

To this, I replied, "Y-You’re… Who was it again?"

I thought I recognized him, but I couldn't remember.

The Centaur trembled. "You bastard! Don’t you dare tell me you’ve forgotten the face of Lord Rodel!"

At that name, I remembered.

That overly self-conscious A-rank adventurer, Rodel.

I knew I had seen him somewhere before, but it just came back to me.

However, I asked, "You… you were a monster?"

It was a natural question.

Rodel replied, "I cast aside my humanity. All to kill you. I sold my soul to a demon!"

He let out a roar that was also a cry of rage.

I’ve only ever seen lines like that in manga. I was impressed that people actually said them, but this was a very bad situation.

After all, it was two against one.

And my opponents were high-class monsters.