Chapter 40

Subtitle fraud?

...Don’t think. Feel.

It seems the Third Division clique really dislikes me.

By the way, I heard from Igetani that it seems they claim my achievements were originally theirs.

Apparently, according to their logic, I stole their accomplishments.

Yeah. To be honest, I don’t understand it.

By the way, it seems that the Third Division has managed to get a considerable number of mass-produced units through the Operations Department, but so far no one has been able to operate them properly.

On the contrary, it seems that the people from the Sixth and Eighth Divisions, who only received two units each, are making better use of them. Of course, this is not due to a difference in innate ability... but because the Third Division lost a large number of experienced pilots in the previous defeat, and it’s taking them time to arrange test pilots.

This has also affected my classmates, including Muto, who seems to be doing fine.

In any case, according to Saiko, if the mass-produced units can hit a large target a few times, they can take it down. So, I hope they will do their best.

At least, it’s a big relief to know that they weren’t trying to kill me out of short-sightedness, but rather didn’t want me on the battlefield.

Of course, even if it wasn’t short-sighted, there’s still a possibility they might try to kill me in the medium to long term, so I won’t let my guard down.

Now that the immediate enemy is clear, there’s only one thing I can do.

"Let's hurry and prepare to go to Far Eastern Russia."

Go to Far Eastern Russia before the Second Division or other divisions send a request to deploy. There’s no reason not to, as this is the best way to get back at the Third Division.

"By the way, the prototype of the powered suit I will use is ready, right?"

I’ve seen the proposal, but that’s all. If there’s no actual prototype, there’s a possibility of complaints later. However, since Saiko proposed this, I don’t think she would overlook something this basic. So, I should assume the prototype is ready.

"Yeah. Of course, that’s the plan. Some adjustments are needed for the powered suit, but with a few days, it should be ready for combat."

"Should?"

A scary word came up, but is it really okay? Could this person have been bought off by the Third Division?

"That’s the mission, to test it."

"...I see."

Yeah. That’s right. I said it was a test unit myself. I must be on edge. I apologize for the suspicion.

---

"What...?"

This news reached Shino Yuuhei while he was discussing joint training with the operational leaders of the Sixth and Eighth Divisions, who had been dispatched as reinforcements to prepare for the impending monster attack.

"...Special Duty Lieutenant Kawakami, or is it Special Duty Captain now? Is it true that this Special Duty Captain won’t participate in this interception battle? Is it true?"

"...It seems so."

Seeing the disgruntled expression on Lieutenant Colonel Sato Taimei, who brought the news, Shino thought (there’s no point in yelling at a lieutenant colonel) and managed to hold back his anger.

"What’s the reason?"

But his voice was filled with anger.

While Sato, who was targeted by Shino’s anger, might not be entirely blameless, he understood Shino’s feelings and didn’t voice any complaints. In fact, Sato was also struggling to contain his anger.

Their anger was justified.

Kaita seemed to think, "Large targets can be taken down with 2 or 3 hits, so it should be fine," but it’s not that simple.

Indeed, it’s possible to hit a large target with a preemptive attack.

But if you don’t take it down in one hit, it will counterattack.

And the counterattack from a large target is powerful enough to severely damage multiple Kusanagi-type units that are on defense.

In previous offensives, they managed to take down large targets with concentrated artillery fire from gunners and Yashimada-type units, but the damage to the Kusanagi-type units protecting them was not negligible.

On top of that, they had to deal with the remaining medium and small targets.

Even with the damage from artillery fire, it’s extremely dangerous.

If it’s a regular offensive, that’s one thing, but the risk in a large offensive with at least 10 large targets and over 100 medium targets is unimaginable, and just thinking about it makes your stomach hurt.

But with Kaita, most of that danger can be cleared. Of course, Shino and the others don’t intend to rely on Kaita alone in the future. That’s why reinforcements from the Sixth and Eighth Divisions are being sent. They expect things to get easier once mass-produced units and prototypes are deployed.

However, this time, there simply wasn’t enough time. Training time was limited, and only four mass-produced units could operate properly. Even then, they could only dodge once after firing, and not with the same agility as Kaita. So, the mass-produced units can basically attack only once, or at best twice.

The Integrated Headquarters hopes that these units can take down large or medium targets and grow and optimize through the experience, but that’s only possible because they have a plan to win.

That plan has now disappeared. Before the battle even began.

It was natural for Shino, as the on-site commander, to ask for the reason.

"...Special Duty, it seems."

"Special Duty? Do you know the content?"

"That’s..."

"No, you’re right. I’m sorry."

Kaita, though a student, is a formal lieutenant and a special duty captain, so it’s not unusual for him to be given a special duty. And the content of a special duty is generally known only to a few people, including the one who issued the order and the one who received it.

So, Shino didn’t think Sato knew the content.

But even understanding this, Shino still asked about the content of the special duty.

That’s how much Kaita’s non-participation in the battle was affecting him.

Of course, if the special duty was to participate in the operation under a different commander, Shino might have some complaints but could tolerate it. What’s important for Shino as an on-site officer is not who Kaita serves under, but whether Kaita participates in the battle.

But Sato had clearly stated that Kaita would not participate in the interception battle.

This means that the special duty given to Kaita is an order other than participating in the interception battle.

(What kind of special duty can be given in this situation?)

If it was for a reason like the one mentioned earlier, or if the General Staff had detected a crisis greater than a large offensive, it would be understandable to assign Kaita to deal with it.

But in reality, it was much simpler and much worse.

When Sato was asked about the content of the special duty, he hesitated not because he couldn’t find out the content, but because he couldn’t contain his anger at the ridiculous content.

"...It seems to be a performance test for a new powered exoskeleton."

"Huh?"

"The order was issued by the Operations Policy Second Section. The background of the order is..."

"Background?"

"...It’s harassment towards Special Duty Captain Kawakami and Saiko Heavy Industries."

"Are you kidding me!"

Shino snapped.

He snapped normally.

Of course, it’s understandable. At a time when they are about to fight for their lives, or rather, for the defense of Japan, to assign a special duty unrelated to the defense battle, such as a performance test for a powered exoskeleton, is completely irrational.

Furthermore, the reason was harassment.

Would there be any on-site commander who wouldn’t be angry?

No, there wouldn’t be.

However, Shino is not a child.

He was mature enough to understand the situation Kaita and Saiko Heavy Industries were in after hearing the content from Sato.

(The special duty for Special Duty Captain Kawakami is just jealousy, so it’s still manageable. The Third Division will calm down once they achieve some military accomplishments. But Saiko Heavy Industries is a different story.)

The biggest difference between Kaita and Saiko Heavy Industries is whether there is a profit involved.

In Kaita’s case, as Shino analyzed, the situation could be significantly improved if the others achieve military accomplishments, though it wouldn’t be completely resolved. However, for Saiko Heavy Industries, it’s different. Their entry into the machine manufacturing business, which has been monopolized by zaibatsu-affiliated companies, is a clear infringement on the established rights of those companies.

These zaibatsu-affiliated companies are not just sitting around or unfairly monopolizing the business.

They have been allowed to monopolize the business because they have the capability to manufacture the required number of units that meet the military’s required performance standards.

The performance of the Mikage-type units manufactured by Saiko Heavy Industries is impressive? That’s true.

After all, unlike other companies, they built the unit from the start with a focus on romance, disregarding cost-effectiveness.

A unit packed with as much as possible couldn’t be weak.

Even the engineers from zaibatsu-affiliated companies acknowledge this.

Of course, zaibatsu-affiliated companies, which have accumulated more capital and expertise, could have built a unit that surpasses the Mikage-type in catalog specifications.

However, no matter how excellent the specifications of a unit, it’s meaningless if it can’t move.

It would just be a statue, or worse, a statue that incurs maintenance costs.

That’s why zaibatsu-affiliated companies didn’t build hybrid units—actually, they did in the past, but they stopped development because they couldn’t operate them.

Suddenly, Saiko Heavy Industries and their hybrid units appeared.

If they had just combined designs that others had given up on and spent three months developing, it would have been fine.

The others might have thought, "Ah, they’re going through the same process we did," and watched with a warm eye.

But everything changed with the appearance of Kaita, a freak who could make the unit move.

The appearance of a freak who could make a unit move, which was previously only a catalog specification, brought it into the light.

No business leader finds it amusing to have their market share threatened, and no engineer finds it amusing to have something they gave up on shown to them.

Driven to the brink of madness by jealousy and envy, they thought:

"Maybe if Saiko Heavy Industries disappears, we can get the Kaita device for ourselves?"

"Using the hybrid knowledge they already had, the experience gained from building mass-produced units, and the combat data from the prototype and the materials from the large monsters Kaita hunted, we can definitely build a unit that surpasses the Mikage-type."

(I can somewhat understand their feelings.)

As a company, to feed their employees.

As engineers, to prove the capabilities of the units they built.

And for various other reasons. I understand that this incident is due to a combination of these various factors.

Shino also doesn’t think it’s necessary for Kaita to be with the people of Saiko Heavy Industries, so his anger towards the zaibatsu-affiliated companies is minimal. At least, towards the zaibatsu-affiliated companies.

(But the Operations Policy Second Section, you guys are the worst.)

Even if they received a request from the zaibatsu, there’s a matter of timing.

Why issue such a useless order now?

Shino, feeling his blood boil, thought of only one answer.

(They don’t understand the field. Then it’s easy.)

"I’ll immediately inform the division commander and have the Operations Policy Section reprimanded. I might even invite them here. If they experience the terror of monsters firsthand, they won’t make such foolish mistakes in the future."

"Hmm. Good idea."

Peace corrupts.

(Unlike the divisions on expedition or those fighting monsters, the people in the Kanto region, far from the battlefield, need a harsh treatment to maintain or recover the power they lost due to the mistakes of their own.)

Shino concluded this, and Sato, who shared the same thoughts, agreed with Shino’s opinion.

"So, about Special Duty Captain Kawakami, is it possible to revoke the order?"

If it’s possible, that would be best. Even if it’s not, it would be good if he could temporarily suspend the development of the powered suit and come here.

It would be a very convenient order for us, but that’s what the military is. Some irrationality must be tolerated.

Of course, in exchange for the inconvenience, rewards will be generous, and after this battle, the Second Division will support Kaita to prevent unwarranted attacks from the Third Division clique and other opponents.

The feeling is total surrender. If put into words, it would be something like, "Please come. I’ll do anything."

If it were just Kaita, he might have said, "What? You said you’ll do anything?" and then "Can’t be helped," and joined the Second Division. But Kaita is not alone. He has a troublesome brain attached.

"That’s... Special Duty Captain Kawakami has already gone to Far Eastern Russia with President Saiko. They are conducting practical experiments there, and the Policy Section has approved it."

This proposal came from Saiko, but since the Third Division, which doesn’t want Kaita to excel anymore, and the zaibatsu-affiliated companies, which don’t want the Mikage-type to excel anymore, had no reason to refuse it, the proposal was quickly accepted.

As a result, before Sato reported to Shino, Kaita and Saiko had already gone to Far Eastern Russia with official orders.

"...Absolutely don’t let the Policy Section people off. Absolutely not."

"Hmm!"

(Special Duty Captain Kawakami is not at fault. President Saiko is a bit at fault. But the worst are definitely those people. ...I’ve decided. I won’t forgive them. Yes, I’ll inform the other divisions and get their cooperation.)

After hearing that their trump card wouldn’t participate, the people from the Sixth and Eighth Divisions would harbor resentment towards the Operations Policy Section, which made unnecessary moves that endangered their survival, and the Third Division, which likely ordered it.

Thus, Kaita and Saiko’s retaliation gradually eroded the Third Division.

The ones at fault are the ones who issued the orders. That’s common sense.

In other words, Kaita-kun just followed orders, so it can’t be helped.