Chapter 23

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In the development room on the asteroid Nia, Nias is writing programs, with nine screens floating around him, all being written simultaneously. Some of them are being rewritten, but even so, it’s quite unusual. Atlante is in the middle of a battle, and Nias is rewriting the programs during the fight.

"This won’t do. This one needs some adjustments, but it should be fine. And this one—"

While checking Atlante’s movements and data, Nias continues to rewrite the programs.

Percy, witnessing this abnormality, envies Nias.

"A real genius is different. I never thought you could create a program from scratch even in this situation."

There is a hint of envy in her tone, but Nias doesn’t seem to mind.

"This is just a daily occurrence."

"I didn’t prepare it from scratch. I’m using existing materials."

"Existing? That’s impossible. Atlante is the third unit, and its design philosophy is different from the seventh."

"I didn’t match the unit. I matched the pilot’s system."

"—That’s impossible."

It’s unthinkable to prepare a mobile knight system specifically for an unknown pilot.

While Percy is puzzled, Nias completes the system.

"It’s possible. The simulator that child used for practice was one of our special units. Who would have thought she would train with that simulator?"

"Special unit of the seventh? No way."

Nias takes out a candy and puts it in her mouth, giving her tired brain some nutrients and stretching.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment and finding the pilot interesting, Nias smiles.

"Where did it leak from? I never expected a child to be practicing with Avid’s simulator. She’s interesting in a good way."

Nias operates the terminal.

"Lieutenant, listen carefully."

◇

"Lieutenant, listen carefully. The system is complete."

Inside Atlante’s cockpit, Emma is violently moving the control stick.

The Gold Larkoon is approaching, and without any offensive capabilities, Atlante’s laser blade is ineffective against the enemy.

"But I don’t have any weapons. The laser blade isn’t effective against the enemy."

It seemed impossible to defeat the Gold Larkoon with its special armor.

However, Nias, the developer, sighs softly, looking genuinely disappointed.

"There is a way. It’s very regrettable, and it’s frustrating that a unit from the third is involved in this."

While narrowly avoiding the large axe swung down by the approaching Gold Larkoon, Emma asks for the method.

"Tell me!"

"Although it’s customized, the base is still a Larkoon. The joint movements are the same as other units. Even though it’s sturdy, the current Atlante can destroy it. Get serious."

Serious—Overload.

"But—"

Emma hesitates, knowing from a previous test that overloading can destroy the joints.

Nias, seeing this, reassures her.

"Don’t worry. The frame and system of this unit are based on a certain unit."

"A certain unit?"

"—Avid."

Atlante uses the same rare metal frame material as Avid and has been recovered.

The system is also based on Avid, adapted for Emma.

"Avid?"

"Even though it looks different, this unit is Avid’s sibling—maybe a sister? You can trust it. It’s almost impossible for someone of your level to destroy it."

Though the words sounded mocking, they carried Nias’s guarantee that it wouldn’t break no matter how much it was pushed.

Emma makes up her mind.

"I trust it."

"You don’t need to."

Though Nias doesn’t acknowledge Emma’s trust, she seems to be smiling on the other side of the monitor.

"Atlante, lend me your strength."

Emma pulls the lever to activate the Overload state with all her might, without any hesitation.

Atlante shakes under the overload, but unlike before, it holds up.

The rare metal frame is suppressing the runaway reactor.

There is less electrical discharge from the joints than before, but the energy is being transmitted to the unit more efficiently.

The twin boosters emit a yellow light, and Emma feels a greater gravitational force in the cockpit.

"I can do it!"

The yellow light-emitting Atlante heads towards the Gold Larkoon.

◇

"What is this thing!?"

Inside the Gold Larkoon’s cockpit, Sirena is shocked.

She couldn’t believe how well Atlante was moving, and the special armor had given her a significant advantage in the battle.

However, as soon as Atlante started glowing, its speed increased.

"The data is slower. No, is she using it to its full potential?"

The data she received from the client included information about the overload state.

However, it was more troublesome than the data suggested.

She thought she could handle a slight increase in speed.

However—

"The sensors can’t keep up!"

The Gold Larkoon’s fire control system couldn’t lock onto Atlante.

Long-range attacks couldn’t finish it off.

But getting close was even more troublesome.

She swings the large axe, but it’s easily dodged.

"Her physical abilities are below average, but as a pilot, she’s a real monster."

She thinks of Emma, a girl who still has a hint of innocence, and can’t believe she’s piloting the vicious mobile knight, Atlante.

Atlante is a threat, and the pilot who can handle it is equally threatening.

"If I don’t crush her here, it will become a problem."

Sirena discards her rifle, having used all its ammunition, and switches to a submachine gun.

She performs a feint and then swings the axe, but Atlante hurriedly dodges.

"Clearly, she lacks combat experience!"

The unit and pilot are impressive, but her combat skills are superior.

Without offensive capabilities, Sirena has the upper hand for now.

The Gold Larkoon swings its large axe with its left arm, and Atlante charges forward.

"This thing!"

"I’ve got it!"

The contact opens the communication line, and Emma’s voice is heard.

Atlante accelerates, and Sirena feels the gravitational force in the cockpit.

"Y-You!"

The left arm she extended to destroy Atlante is grabbed.

Atlante then rips off the Gold Larkoon’s left arm.

"Even the power is monstrous."

Sirena, sweating, is joined by her subordinates.

"Commander, retreat!"

The Atlante, under fire from dozens of mobile knights, retreats and flees.

"I’ve taken too much time. I’ll join the main force."

(That’s unlike me. I got too heated.)

She reflects and tries to join the main force, but her subordinates give an unexpected response.

"The main force has been annihilated."

"—What!?"

The Daria mercenary group has over a thousand ships.

Not all are elite, but about two hundred are reliable.

It was hard to believe that a thousand-ship fleet had been destroyed.

"Who destroyed the main force?"

"The Banfield family. They launched an attack on the main force. Only about fifty ships survived."

"They found the hidden main force."

Fifty ships. Many of them are damaged, leaving few unscathed.

Sirena grits her teeth.

(There was another troublesome one besides Cheney. I heard no famous knights were coming, but I underestimated them.)

Sirena regrets her mistake but, as the commander, gives the order.

"—Retreat."

The Gold Larkoon retreats, but the Atlante, which initially pursued, stops.

Seeing the Atlante not pursuing, Sirena feels relieved but also frustrated.

"I’ll definitely finish you off someday. Until then, enjoy your knight play."

Spitting out these words, Sirena feels a surge of regret as she flees.

◇

Watching the retreating enemy, Emma is berating her superior in the cockpit.

"Why aren’t we pursuing! That—That woman, she—she killed the lieutenant!"

The other party is Klaus.

He discovered and annihilated what seemed to be the enemy’s main fleet.

"Emergency sortie with limited supplies. Pursuing would result in casualties on our side."

"But—"

"—We will return to Nia immediately. You should also join the allied ships."

Emma hangs her head.

When the Overload state of Atlante is deactivated, it stops moving on the spot.

In her right hand, she holds the left arm of the Gold Larkoon.

"It’s my fault."

She lost a known knight because she was weak.

She takes responsibility for it, and Klaus, on the other side of the monitor, scolds her sternly.

"You are—You are mistaken. Do you think a single knight is responsible for the lieutenant’s death?"

"But! If I were stronger, I could have saved the lieutenant! And the others too!"

"I’m not talking about possibilities. I ordered the recovery of Atlante. I decided which unit to send and had them come to get you. If there is any responsibility, it lies with me."

Emma, unable to respond, looks down, and Klaus adds one last word.

"You did well."

◇

After ending the communication with Emma, Klaus talks to a military officer on the bridge.

The other party is the captain.

"Young and passionate. She lost a comrade and is driven by emotion. Not pursuing with a single unit is commendable."

Klaus, pressing his temples, is grieving over the loss of his subordinate, the lieutenant.

"I lost an important subordinate. It’s my responsibility, not hers."

The captain listens to Klaus and nods several times.

"Of course. You are the knight commander and the one responsible for this fleet."

Though it sounds cold, the captain continues.

"But thanks to your judgment, the Seventh suffered fewer casualties. We were able to defeat the hidden enemy fleet with minimal losses. It’s greedy to ask for more."

Though not explicitly stated, the captain is trying to convey that the results outweigh the losses.

The deployment of the ground forces and knights inside the asteroid, followed by leading the fleet to repel the hidden main force of the mercenary group.

Klaus raises his head.

"I did what I could. Besides, the position of knight commander is too much for me."

"Modesty?"

"Truth."

The captain shrugs and asks about the pilot—Emma.

"So, what punishment will you give the knight who disobeyed you?"

She should be punished for disobeying a superior.

Klaus ponders.

(For that child now, it might be more painful to have no punishment.)

She had lost a comrade and was lamenting her lack of strength.

If so, then—

"During this mission, I’ll have her train with a special menu."

"Are you planning to tire her out so she doesn’t have time to think? You’re being too lenient."

"What do you mean?"

Pretending not to understand, Klaus projects images around him to check the damage to the allies.

Though the casualties are few, there are still fatalities.

Among them is the name of the lieutenant who looked up to him.

◇

A few days later.

Before the debris from the battle could be fully recovered, the Banfield family’s fleet set out to mourn the fallen.

Changing into ceremonial uniforms, they pay their respects to the fallen— their comrades.

Emma, riding on an allied ship, participates, and other units’ knights are lined up around her.

"Did you hear? The attackers were the leadership of a mercenary organization."

"The Vulture? If it’s the leadership of a mercenary union, they command thousands of ships."

"Some of them were foolish enough to challenge the empire."

The captured enemy soldiers are interrogated, and their affiliations gradually become clear.

Emma listens quietly.

She waits for the knights to mention the name of the group that attacked.

"The group we fought this time is the Daria mercenary group."

"What did they intend to do by infiltrating the Seventh?"

"I heard they wanted to destroy our new unit."

The information is already classified, but rumors spread within the allies.

"The commander herself came aboard."

"Is the commander famous?"

"She should be well-known outside. I think—Sirena or something. She wreaks havoc on other battlefields."

"Is it a pseudonym?"

"Still, it’s surprising that a mercenary group would challenge us."

"We don’t hire mercenary groups, so they see us as enemies."

The Banfield family is not familiar with the mercenary groups.

This is because they solve problems with their own military power without hiring mercenaries.

Emma whispers the name quietly.

"Sirena of the Daria mercenary group."

(I will definitely—)

Young Tree ( ゜∀゜)ノ "Sapling thought that if she promoted herself vigorously and appealed to the big shots, her dream would come true."

Bryan (； ・`ω・´) "When I came to check on her, her ideas were so bad that even grass wouldn’t grow."

Bryan (*´ω｀*) "Well, Young Tree is a plant, after all."

Young Tree ( #゜Д゜) = ( # ) ≡ ○)Д`)・∴'. Bryan "That’s terrible!!"

Young Tree ( # ゜Д゜) "I’m still a fresh sapling! So, the 10th volume of 'The World of Otome Games is a Cruel World for the Subordinate Characters' is now on sale. The 10th episode of the anime is also airing today, so everyone, look forward to it!"