Chapter 43

Prologue, a bit earlier

Since the storage mechanism couldn't be implemented immediately, we decided to start by removing the arm that protrudes from the shoulder and securing it to the upper arm during normal times.

I can't help but think, "If you're going to go that far, why not just take it off?" But apparently, for Saigo-san, being able to have four arms in an emergency is an absolute requirement.

It's not about firepower; it's about the company's identity.

Yeah, that's right. We can't let it be copied by companies affiliated with the zaibatsu, or it might get stolen. We need to make sure it's secure enough that even if it gets copied like a mass-produced model, we can still feel safe.

I want to tell him, "Think about the people who will have to use it," but since the increase in firepower, even if only momentary, is real, I can't say it too strongly. It's a dilemma.

Despite all this, I carry the cumbersome thing with me as I travel through Far Eastern Russia with Saigo-san.

In this country, unlike Japan, which doesn't allow monsters to invade, monsters are found everywhere. Major roads and railway networks are often destroyed by these wild monsters, so without the special trailers manufactured in Japan, large-scale transportation of goods would be extremely difficult.

It's kind of like this: imagine a medieval merchant or a vulture from a certain anime famous for the line "Is the moon out?" to get the idea.

Of course, the trailers that travel through the wilderness are conspicuous, so they are often attacked by monsters or bandit-like groups.

At first, I thought, "We don't need a machine for escort duties," but it turns out we do, yeah.

Japan is like the Japan I remember from the Reiwa era, but as soon as you step out of Japan, it's like this. Seeing this, you wouldn't think about coexisting with monsters and getting along with them.

That's why I think it's better to teach this kind of thing in school or send important people for inspection. Especially for those involved with the Third Division, it should be thorough.

I'll leave the people I plan to retaliate against for later.

Currently, we are heading to the third-largest city in Far Eastern Russia, Na Amur.

The noble who governs this area is a trading partner with the prestigious family from the Tohoku region, including Saigo-san.

Incidentally, the capital of Far Eastern Russia, Khabarovsk, is governed by a grand duke who is nominally equal to the Emperor, so it is treated specially. Vladivostok, which has a military port, is also directly traded with and supported by zaibatsu-affiliated companies.

Incidentally, the reason why zaibatsu-affiliated companies do not trade in Na Amur, the third-largest city, is simply a matter of cost.

Yeah, Vladivostok is one thing, but Na Amur is far away. As a company, we need to make a profit, so it's understandable that they have to make such a decision.

I'm just a soldier, so I don't want to get involved in territorial issues. I hope Saigo-san and his team can handle it on their own.

"In other words, once you go beyond Khabarovsk, the zaibatsu groups can't do anything."

"Of course, that includes those related to the Third Division, right?"

"Yeah."

Saigo-san nodded confidently. He must be proud of how well they get along with the people of Far Eastern Russia.

I can't help but think, "Since the zaibatsu and Saigo-san are all Japanese, it might not be that difficult to deceive the people there," but since Saigo-san is confident, I won't say anything unnecessary.

Silence is golden.

"So, in September, with the harvest season and the approach of winter, small monsters become more active. We plan to hunt them while doing business to promote the growth and optimization of the thing you entrusted to me, even if it's just a little."

"I see."

Monsters also prepare for winter hibernation.

Ah, no, they are originally wild animals or humans, so they do.

The winters here are apparently very cold.

And growth.

Indeed, even medium and small monsters can make the powered suit grow. We've taken care of about two medium and thirty small monsters so far, and there is evidence of growth and optimization, even if it's subtle.

However, the downside is that the powered suit needs to be taken out of the magic crystal to grow, which is a hassle. On the other hand, since I originally thought it would be impossible to sleep with a 20 or 30 kg load, it's a blessing.

---

As a basic specification, the machine and the magic crystal-compatible powered exoskeleton cannot be stored simultaneously. If you try to store them together, the magic crystals of the machine and the exoskeleton will repel each other, and the weaker one—the exoskeleton—will be destroyed.

---

So, during the day, we store the machine in the magic crystal and hunt monsters with the powered suit, and at night, we store the powered suit and keep the machine on standby in the trailer.

It must be a hassle for the maintenance people, and the people in charge of business might have some complaints about the wasted space, but this isn't an amusement park, and fighting monsters isn't an attraction.

If the firepower is insufficient in a real emergency, I, the maintenance people, and everyone else would be in trouble, so there haven't been any complaints about the space my machine occupies in the trailer.

Actually, the highest authority, Saigo-san, is the one who takes the lead in maintaining the machine, so there are no complaints at all.

This is a simple overview of our current situation after entering Far Eastern Russia.

...Enough of this long-winded reality escape.

"So, shall we get down to serious business?"

"Coincidentally, I was just thinking the same thing."

"That's good."

No, really.

"If I'm not mistaken, that city, what was it called? Amursk?"

It's about 10 kilometers away. You can see a city of considerable size.

"Yeah. By the way, it's about 45 kilometers from our destination, Na Amur, but it's a city that serves as a satellite city."

"I see. What about that satellite city?"

"Yeah."

"It's being attacked, right? By monsters."

Smoke is rising from the city, and you can clearly see a group of them moving.

"It looks that way."

"Are they fighting?"

"Does it look like they are?"

"Sorry. It looks more like they've already lost. They seem to have been trampled and looted."

At first glance, only small monsters are visible, but their numbers are terrible. There are definitely more than a thousand. The sporadic sounds of battle can be heard, but it sounds like they've failed to defend themselves.

"Yeah, it looks that way to me too."

"..."

"What do we do?"

"What can we do?"

"..."

---

You might think, "If they're being attacked, help them!" but fundamentally, dealing with monsters is the job of the country's military. Even if we have the combat capability, it would be inappropriate for a mere merchant like Ryuubun to intervene. As a Japanese soldier, Keita, who is on a special mission to test new weapons and protect Ryuubun, it would be even more inappropriate for him to get involved.

Moreover, using weapons in another country's territory without permission, especially for purposes other than self-defense or protecting the escort target, can cause command and control issues and is a serious violation, even if the purpose is to save lives.

Think about it. If there were a terrorist standoff in Tokyo and a soldier from another country suddenly appeared, shouting "New weapon!" and shot the criminals with a gun smuggled through customs, what would happen?

The soldier would undoubtedly be arrested. The Japanese government would express its regret to the country the soldier belongs to, and that country would likely punish the soldier for exposing a secret weapon.

If someone were injured by stray bullets or buildings were damaged, the on-site commander would say, "If that guy hadn't done something unnecessary, there wouldn't have been any unnecessary casualties."

That's the situation.

Of course, if we had permission from the local noble or a special request, it would be a different story—though we would need to be extremely careful about handling information to prevent leaks of new weapon details—but from Keita's perspective, Amursk is completely overrun by monsters.

There is sporadic resistance, but in such a situation, it's questionable whether a request for reinforcements would be made, and even if it were, whether it would be recognized as official.

"What if a civilian asks for help?"

"...It's a bit complicated."

Far Eastern Russia is a constitutional monarchy, and its sovereignty is held by the grand duke and the nobles who govern the cities. Depending on the situation, they might say, "I don't know anything about a civilian's request," and blame us for entering the city without permission.

So, even if we entered the city with the intention of providing reinforcements, we might be treated as looters and face demands for compensation.

"That compensation is for reconstruction, so it's not entirely unreasonable to criticize the nobles..."

"It might even become an international issue."

"Yeah."

Even if the reasons are understandable, no one would feel good about risking their life to help others only to be treated as looters or violators.

It's only natural for Keita and Ryuubun to hesitate.

The issue is what Keita confirmed earlier: "What if a civilian asks for help?"

If we accept the request, we might be treated as looters, as mentioned earlier.

But if we don't accept it, we'll be criticized for abandoning the citizens of an allied country.

"Should we pretend we didn't see anything and head to Na Amur?"

"We can't do that. But if we did, their impression of us would be terrible."

"Saigo-san is a merchant, right?"

"In theory, yes. But emotions are different. That's what it means to be human."

"...I see."

How would our trading partners feel about us coming to do business while leaving their allies to be attacked by monsters?

It's obvious.

Even if they know we are merchants without combat capabilities, they would still have complaints.

Especially since Ryuubun is not without combat capabilities. Keita, for example, and Ryuubun originally has a private army organized to protect the company's trade caravans.

While they don't have the skills to operate mechs, some can fight as gunners. Some are trained enough to kick away small monsters in powered suits.

Their training and equipment, using weapons made by Saigo Heavy Industries, are on par with or even surpass a regular Far Eastern Russian army battalion, which is forced to use outdated Japanese equipment.

It's because of their existence that Saigo Heavy Industries can trade with inland cities in Far Eastern Russia.

Of course, the noble of Na Amur knows that Ryuubun has a private army on par with the regular military.

Therefore, if Ryuubun enters Na Amur without a fight, it's inevitable that there will be a confrontation over why they abandoned the city.

"It would have been easier if they had all been wiped out."

"Maybe so."

Ryuubun scratched his head and said this, and Keita agreed casually.

It's not that they are particularly cold-hearted, but from their perspective, it would indeed be the quickest solution.

If they had all been wiped out, there would be no need to fight.

The noble of Na Amur would likely accept it as a fact of life.

Keita could even take out his mech and clear the monsters with incendiary grenades.

But with survivors, it's a different story.

We can't just burn everyone who is still resisting the monsters.

So, we would have to engage in urban combat, and in that case, Keita would have to use the powered suit to avoid damaging the buildings.

Even though they are small, the number of monsters is over a thousand. There's no guarantee of coming out unscathed.

On the other hand, if we don't choose to fight, we might be seen as abandoning them.

Even if we don't encounter the survivors, if reinforcements from Na Amur pass by us, it would be clear that we abandoned them. Either way, the trust we've built up would be shattered.

"...Really, what should we do?"

"...It's a tough decision."

From their words, it might seem like they don't care, but that's just on the surface.

Their expressions, which have been bitter and twisted since they first saw the city being attacked by monsters, tell a different story.

Thank you for reading.

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