Chapter 41

Considering the history of the country's founding, it might seem surprising, but the Grand Duchy of Far Eastern Russia and the Japanese Empire have a nominal equal alliance.

The surface enemy was the monsters, but in reality, the main enemies were the Soviet Union—more specifically, the Russian Republic—and socialist states like the Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, which were supported by the Soviet Union.

However, since these main enemy states were ravaged by monsters, the current alliance is more economically tied than militarily.

The primary exports from Japan are food and weapons, while the main exports from Far Eastern Russia are mineral resources and other resources.

The Kusanagi-type units are particularly appreciated. They are not used as weapons but for flood control, infrastructure construction, mining development, and the extraction of underground resources. It’s a rather peaceful use.

There is a reason why they can use these valuable units in such a peaceful manner. It is due to the unique monster situation in the northern part of the continent.

"The characteristic of monster invasions in the northern part of the continent is that there are few large or medium-sized monsters, but a very large number of small ones. Sometimes there are no large monsters, five medium-sized ones, and five hundred small ones."

"The balance is off... or is it, in a way, normal?"

"Well, let's see."

If demons and demons were trying to destroy humans using monsters, it would be an unreasonable formation not to prepare large ones. However, if the purpose is to torment humans, having more small monsters seems more suitable.

After all, the attacks of large monsters can vaporize humans even without a direct hit. At the very least, one must wear a powered suit or protective gear to stand on the battlefield.

If you are vaporized in one hit, there is no suffering. Considering this, it might be natural that there are no large monsters among those that regularly attack towns and villages.

According to the data compiled by the Japanese side, the small monsters that come to Japan were initially the same number as those on the continent, but their numbers decrease because they drown while crossing the sea.

In any case, this situation of "few large or medium-sized monsters and many small ones" is suitable for testing powered suits designed to combat small monsters.

"Well, I won't say that your analysis of their intentions is meaningless, as you are a soldier. But what's important for us now is not their intentions. Regardless of their intentions, we need to make effective use of this situation."

"Yes, that's right."

Yeah, that's correct. We didn't come all the way to a foreign country just to analyze.

In this regard, Saigo-san is right.

However, there is something I can't understand.

"Um, I remember that powered suits are equipment for ordinary soldiers, or rather, for those with a low compatibility rate with magic crystals, right?"

"Yes."

That's right. If the compatibility rate is high, they would become machine knights.

"Is the one I'm testing this time a custom model for those with a slightly higher compatibility rate?"

"Yes."

Regular powered suits are already being manufactured by conglomerate-affiliated companies. Given their extensive experience and production lines, it's impossible to compete with them in terms of versatility and price.

That's why Saigo-san and his team decided to produce custom models, which, while fewer in number, have a certain demand.

This is apparently the policy of Saigo-san's wife, who took over the management department as CEO, replacing the machine-obsessed Saigo-san. Regardless of who proposed it, the idea is very clear and correct, and I have no intention of arguing about the management of someone else's company.

However, I still have my doubts.

"Do you have four arms?"

Yes, the powered suit that Saigo-san said, "Try this," has four arms—more precisely, four arm-like appendages with pointed ends—attached to the shoulders.

"Yes."

'Yes' isn't the right response!

"Powered suits are heavily influenced by the user's physical condition. They are exoskeletons. How do you expect to add something that doesn't exist and make it work?"

I don't think I can move them.

It's completely different from the four-legged models, which had a precedent.

"Yeah, I understand your point."

"Understanding it doesn't mean anything."

No, seriously. How do you move them?

Is this person trying to kill me here?

"Wait, calm down. We thought the same thing at first. The focus was on how much high firepower it could produce."

"Hmm."

Why the emphasis on high firepower... Ah, no, it's a custom model, so it can't be helped.

I think the mobility is lacking, but I understand the need to have a distinctive feature.

"To produce high firepower, you need either weight or rate of fire. But there is a limit to weight."

"Right."

If you are given weapons that are too heavy for the powered suit to support, it won't work.

Even if you aim for a long-range sniper type, completely sacrificing mobility, a coffin gun or a beast-type unit would be sufficient.

"So we decided to increase the rate of fire."

"Right. But why add literal extra arms?"

How do you move arms that grow out of your shoulders?

"Yes. When our team was struggling with this, you came along."

"Huh?"

Me? Did I do something?

"The command system you use to operate the Mikage-type units. We thought it might be possible to move the extra arms using that system."

"Ah."

I see. Instead of moving them freely like real arms, they are reduced to performing predefined actions. That might indeed be possible.

"I understand. But since these are parts that don't exist originally, won't the weight be a hindrance? Especially for experts?"

Experts can handle their bodies perfectly, right?

If they have to carry extra weight, they would have to readjust everything.

Do they have the time for that?

"That's true."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought the same thing at first. But that's a narrow view."

"Hmm."

What's with the sudden change? Did a British gentleman just descend?

"You look surprised. First, listen. Understand? The users we are targeting are not experts. They are people with a low compatibility rate with magic crystals. You're not an expert either, right?"

"Well, that's true."

Since I'm testing it, it wouldn't do if only experts could use it, regardless of the compatibility rate with magic crystals.

"And the enemies we are targeting are not humans but monsters."

"That's true."

Yes, that's really true.

"Fundamentally, martial arts are designed for human opponents. I'm not saying that the techniques of experts specialized in this are meaningless, but I believe that the most important thing when facing monsters is not the skills used in close combat but the firepower that prevents them from getting close."

"Ah, I see."

That makes sense, doesn't it?

"Of course, one unit alone won't do much. But if you form a squad of about ten units and fire together, you can expect significant results, don't you think?"

"Hmm."

It's simply double the rate of fire. If you make them a bit heavier, they can also carry heavy weapons.

Indeed, this would be more efficient than sending in a single expert.

Moreover, by designing them for multiple units from the start, the number of orders would increase.

It would be beneficial for both the military and Saigo Heavy Industries.

I have to admit, it's well thought out.

"However, all of this is still theoretical at this stage. So, first, we want you, who are most familiar with the command system, to operate it and gather data for improvement. After that, we will have ordinary soldiers use it and make further improvements. That's the purpose of this test."

"I see."

It's no wonder that a company that is already being watched by conglomerate-affiliated companies is so capable.

You're not just a tech geek; you think things through.

"So, what I need to do is use the command system to move the extra arms. After that, I need to investigate the operability, the accuracy of the weapons, and the durability against recoil. Is that correct?"

The purpose needs to be clear.

It would be troublesome if I were blamed later.

"Something like that. Additionally, we want to study the growth and optimization process of the unit when it gains magic power from defeating small monsters. We also want to observe the behavior when equipped with weapons powerful enough to take down medium-sized monsters."

Huh? Do powered suits grow?

Ah, no, this is for people with a low compatibility rate with magic crystals. If they can use magic crystals, even if the compatibility rate is low, they can still grow, right?

---

By the way, if the compatibility rate with magic crystals is below 15%, it is impossible to integrate magic crystals into the body.

In such cases, it is impossible to store items in magic crystals, so ordinary soldiers cannot grow their powered suits even if they equip them.

---

I understand that Saigo-san is hoping for the growth of the units as well.

That's what engineers are like. That's fine. But...

"Aren't you being a bit greedy?"

If you're too greedy, it might backfire.

Mainly in terms of my hard work.

"It's the maximum, though. We came all the way to a foreign country, after all. Besides, if we don't show significant results, the people back home might say we abandoned them and ran away."

"Would they say that?"

In reality, it's the other way around, but nominally, we are the ones who were given an unreasonable task.

"It depends on the damage on their side. Generally, these people are excellent at self-preservation and self-justification. Considering this, there is a good chance they will blame us with some made-up reason. If there is a possibility, we need to be cautious, right?"

"I guess so."

I think caution is necessary, but I also think that the organization is not so lenient that such arguments would be accepted... No, this is complacency. The enemy is the conglomerates and the military. It's better to be overly cautious.

"That's why we need to create a track record here that will prevent them from saying anything foolish."

A track record, huh.

I understand the concept, but how do you plan to handle the fact that we don't even know if it can move properly?

---

As mentioned in the comments, it is a multi-armed exoskeleton as many of you expected.

The image is similar to the G**n**le's *r*in.

This is a request: I'm really happy to receive your comments, but if you can guess the plot, please don't mention it. It really drains my motivation to continue writing. (This is important, so I'm saying it twice.)

Thank you for reading.