Chapter 33

"Waited long enough, huh? (Shaky voice)"

"Sure thing. Here I come!"

"What!?"

---

Third match, concluded.

Time taken: 28 seconds.

Fifty Valley's machine: heavily damaged.

Pilot: deceased.

---

"...Ugh! This is too much of a stretch!"

Fifty Valley's voice echoed inside the simulator.

"Three losses in a row, huh."

The third match. Even for Fifty Valley, who had been shown the 10-second attack and even the position of the opponent, it seemed that her pride as a pilot wouldn't allow her to accept any further handicaps. Thus, no additional handicaps were given.

However, the battlefield was set to a 500-meter radius, and the scenario was adjusted to an urban combat setting, with the starting positions modified to increase the number of obstacles. Despite this, the result was a defeat within 30 seconds, with her head being blown off as it emerged from a building.

"The detection range is different, and that massive body can make such fine movements? ...There's no opening at all."

In urban combat, it's surprisingly difficult to control a machine without destroying buildings. Even the Kusanagi-type, which is designed to mimic human movements, struggles with this. Given that the upper body is human and the lower body is animal—animal?—anyway, a quadruped like the Mikage-type, it would be even harder to move properly. While this setting is significantly unfair in terms of fairness, it is useful for finding weaknesses, and since the opponent agreed, it was not a problem. However, the result was a clear instant kill.

"What's going on!?"

The opponent is a long-range sniper, so if the battle can be brought to mid-range, there is a chance of winning. Despite this, she was found and sniped unilaterally. Even if it weren't Fifty Valley, anyone would have a complaint.

There are several reasons for this, but the most significant is the difference in detection capabilities, as Nana mentioned earlier.

The Kusanagi-type, originally designed for mid- and close-range combat, relies on the detection capabilities of the Yatsu-no-ya-type and regular troops. In contrast, the Mikage-type, designed for long-range sniping, has a very high detection capability, especially since it is designed to operate independently.

Moreover, the prototype No. 1 machine that Keita rides has grown far beyond what the engineers of the Mostou Heavy Industries could have anticipated, having defeated a large number of monsters.

Therefore, the performance gap between the two machines is so wide that it is beyond the level of a new pilot like Fifty Valley to handle. Adding Keita's own growth to this, the difference in detection speed is inevitable.

There are other reasons as well.

One is that the Mikage-type did not struggle with urban combat as much as Fifty Valley and Nana had expected.

As mentioned earlier, for a pilot controlling a machine over 6 meters tall, urban combat is a highly nerve-wracking situation. Not only must buildings be avoided, but also traffic signals, street trees, and power lines, which can hinder movement.

Of course, there is the opinion that "since there are no civilians in the urban combat scenario, building damage doesn't matter!" However, reconstruction is important, and winning—more importantly, surviving—takes precedence. In some situations, pilots will prioritize destroying buildings and power lines to clear their line of sight.

"If he had just charged in, it would have been easier to deal with."

If he had come in with brute force, the direction of the attack would have been clear, and traps could have been set. Given the distance, it would have been possible to aim and shoot when he jumped to detect.

Therefore, Nana thought that if the battle was at mid-range, where the Kusanagi-type has an advantage, it wouldn't be a one-sided fight.

However, Keita, who realized he could release magic from his back and legs, was in a different league.

He repeatedly made small jumps, using magic as a boost to move in all directions, and shot as soon as he found Fifty Valley's machine. His movements were so erratic that it was hard to understand from the outside.

"...What is this? This isn't how a machine should move."

Shoko's reaction to the third-person view was understandable. Nana felt the same way.

However, now that an enemy capable of such movements has appeared, as military personnel, they have no choice but to deal with it.

In fact, small monsters in urban combat are known for their erratic movements. If a machine can do what a monster can, one mistake can lead to death. Given the environment they will face on the battlefield, they cannot afford to be complacent.

"This is valuable data. Let's think of it that way."

"...Yeah."

Indeed, the data on urban combat with the Mikage-type is invaluable. Not only the 6th and 8th divisions, but even the 1st and 2nd divisions would want this data.

Just obtaining this data is worth over 300,000.

Incidentally, from Keita's side, the Mostou Heavy Industries also wanted the data on urban combat with the Mikage-type. The company president, Takafumi Mostou, was watching Keita's movements with great interest, unlike during the wide-area battlefield match.

Putting aside the joy of the perverted engineer.

"Yes. We can't deal with it now, but we should aim to be able to handle it eventually."

"That's the only way to keep going."

"So, for the next match, I think we should use the same scenario."

"...Why?"

"It's certain that the opponent is not good at this scenario. If we can find them first, we can get a hit in. I don't think this idea is wrong."

"That's true."

"So, for the next match, I suggest we adopt a strategy of hiding in the shadows of obstacles and waiting."

"I see. I get found because I'm trying to find him. It's not just the machine's performance; he has more practical experience, so his ability is higher."

"Yes, I agree."

"It's frustrating, but I recognize the difference in ability. So, instead of trying to find him, I should find him while he's moving to find me. Is that it?"

"Yes. I think the chances of success are much higher than just searching."

If you don't move, you won't be found. Of course, there is a risk of being found and sniped while hiding, but given the skill and performance gap, it's a fact that you have to take a risk to win.

Nana thought that in this case, "not moving" was the risk.

Of course, there were other reasons for her reaching this conclusion.

"He is lenient with Fifty Valley. If he understands her intentions, he will surely take the action she wants."

This was a conclusion she had reached through their conversations and the current simulation battle.

If she told Shoko, she would probably yell, "Don't read too much into it!" but since it's true, it would be a waste not to use it.

Of course, if incendiary grenades were used without regard for damage, hiding would be meaningless.

Therefore, the fourth match, with the use of incendiary grenades prohibited, resulted in...

---

"Hmm? Ah, so that's how it is. Alright, let's do it."

"I found you! You can't dodge in that position! Take this 40mm machine gun!"

(Yes!)

"Too easy."

"Huh?"

"What?"

---

Fourth match, concluded.

Time taken: 89 seconds.

Fifty Valley's machine: heavily damaged.

Pilot: deceased.

---

"Using a shield to block a 40mm machine gun is one thing, but having the strength to fire a 40mm machine gun while defending is another!"

"What's with that shield? This is too much of a stretch!"

"Indeed, it is..."

Of course, Nana doesn't have a problem with using a shield. The upper body of the Mikage-type is designed for such use, and Shoko understands this.

Therefore, the issue is not the use of the shield, but the shield's performance and the ability to use it while firing a weapon similar to the one they use with both hands.

First, the shield. Its size, which covers the upper body, and its hardness, which can completely block a 40mm machine gun, are already quite unusual, but not impossible.

In fact, Nana, despite seeing it for only a few seconds, has a rough idea of the material.

"Probably processed from the armor of a large monster."

Large materials, which are usually destroyed by artillery fire, would not be available for shields. If found, they would be used for research, not for students like Keita or non-wealthy companies like Mostou Heavy Industries.

However, the military was able to obtain a large monster's corpse almost intact thanks to Keita's headshot during the major offensive.

Therefore, it is not unreasonable for the material to be prioritized for Keita and Mostou Heavy Industries to reinforce his machine.

Moreover, a 40mm machine gun is ineffective against large armor—though Nana doesn't have the information that magic needs to be channeled through the shield.

(At first, I thought he was being lenient with Fifty Valley, but it was more about his confidence. He has a better character than I thought.)

Indeed, if he knows that the attack won't work, there's no problem with taking the bait.

He might have been cautious about a surprise attack, but a direct approach leaves no room for surprise.

As a result, Shoko was forced to fire a 40mm machine gun head-on and was completely shut down.

(For the shield, we'll have to wait for mass production. As for the immediate problem, we need to find a way to bypass the shield and attack, and a way to defend against his attacks.)

Keita, while blocking Shoko's attack with the shield, counterattacked with a 40mm machine gun, showing that he can use the same firepower as the Kusanagi-type in mid-range combat.

Incidentally, the 40mm machine gun is the most powerful weapon among those carried by the Kusanagi-type.

Its power can destroy medium-sized targets with a few shots and small targets with one shot, but the recoil is so strong that the Kusanagi-type must use both hands and its body to control it.

(To swing it with one hand? Even if it's not Fifty Valley, this is really unfair.)

However, Keita, who controls the Mikage-type, does it effortlessly.

On one side, the Mikage-type, which can fire a 40mm machine gun while holding a shield. On the other side, the Kusanagi-type, which is vulnerable because it must use both hands to hold the weapon. The outcome is clear.

The Mikage-type, designed to handle heavy artillery alone, has a weight that the Kusanagi-type lacks. While it was known that this weight helps control recoil, the level of dexterity was unexpected.

(This suggests that the Mikage-type's weakness in close combat might be relative to its long-range capabilities.)

Nana could see the results, but she had to test it herself.

"Then, can I have a turn?"

"...Sure. I'll watch from the outside."

Nana's easy agreement was not because Shoko's spirit was broken by repeated instant kills. She simply needed to calm down.

Shoko knows Nana's strength in close combat.

"Next, I'll take over. I'll set it up, so please wait."

"Understood."

"...You're so confident."

There is a trend that "the arena has no meaning," but personal skills are not entirely meaningless.

"Then, let me show you what I can do."

Keita is an unreasonable existence, but martial arts are designed to fight such opponents.

Especially since he was a civilian until half a year ago. He might have learned a bit since entering the military academy, but skills cannot be mastered overnight.

(I'll let him taste the skills I've accumulated as a daughter of a martial family.)

She can't guarantee a win, but she will make him struggle.

Nana's first match, with a determined mindset, ended...

---

"Kick!"

"Ah! ...What?"

---

Fifth match (first for Nana), concluded.

Time taken: 1.6 seconds.

Takaguchi's machine: heavily damaged.

Pilot: deceased.

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In conclusion, Keita's Mikage-type was an unreasonable existence even in the arena.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.