Chapter 25

The world of otome games is harsh on the extras, and Volume 10 is now on sale!

The web version has been expanded with episodes not found in the web version, so please buy and check it out.

In a room of the renovated Merea.

The room where the development team was located was equipped with various facilities.

Percy, the development team leader, was talking to Emma on the monitor.

"Lieutenant Rodman, this will be the final test. The success or failure of this plan depends on the results of this test."

"I understand."

It has been about two years since the seventh renovation.

With Merea as the flagship, the former border security fleet has supported the development of Atalante.

One light aircraft carrier.

One cruiser.

Four destroyers.

Considering the scale of the space military, it is small, but it can be said to be a considerable fleet for developing just one activation knight.

"Despite everything, I am grateful to you."

"Hehe."

The development team members felt their tension ease at the blushing Emma.

Operating Atalante, a difficult machine, was a girl who still had a hint of childishness.

It looked somewhat unbalanced.

Normally, an experienced and talented knight would have been chosen as the test pilot, but in reality, only Emma could operate Atalante.

"Once this test is over, the development team will be disbanded."

"I've heard. We're going back to the Third Weapons Factory, right?"

"That's right. Whether we will develop a successor to Atalante is uncertain, but we will be involved in the development of a new model."

The development team is set to be disbanded regardless of the outcome of this test.

This is also proof that the development of Atalante has reached a conclusion.

Percy said to Emma,

"I intend to build a machine that surpasses Atalante. When I do, I'll send it to you first, so don't die until then."

"But the test isn't over yet?"

Percy trusted the smiling Emma.

"I believe you will succeed. So, please conduct the test."

"Understood."

Launched from Merea's hangar, Atalante was equipped with a multi-purpose rifle in its right hand.

The tall rifle is capable of both rapid fire and sniping.

It can also switch between real ammunition and optical weapons, making it a high-value item.

As Atalante approached the area with floating rocks in normal mode, it began shooting at the prepared targets.

While moving, the accuracy of the shots was high.

One wrong step and Atalante would collide with the floating rocks, causing significant damage.

Shooting at targets in such conditions is a significant burden for the pilot.

But Emma managed to do it.

One of Percy's subordinates, looking at Emma's score, said cheerfully,

"Lieutenant has a talent for shooting. It's a good score."

Emma, who had average skills as a knight, had a special skill.

Recently, her shooting skills have improved.

Percy explained the reason.

"Of course. Since the renovation, Lieutenant has been undergoing rigorous training. I would be in trouble if the results didn't show."

Despite saying she would be in trouble, she looked quite pleased.

Percy, who had seen Emma's efforts, was probably happy with the results.

The subordinates looked at each other and laughed as the test moved to the next stage.

"We will deploy the virtual Raccoon team. Lieutenant Rodman, please transition to Overload mode."

"Understood!"

As Atalante began to glow, yellow discharge phenomena occurred at the joints.

From Merea, it was clear that Atalante, which had clearly accelerated, was weaving through the obstacle-filled area.

The trajectory of Atalante left a trail of yellow light.

Percy folded her arms.

"The other machines that will be facing it are in for a tough time."

◇

Doug, a pilot of the first squadron, third platoon of Merea, was riding a Raccoon.

The assault rifle was loaded with paint rounds, which would not cause any problems even if they hit Atalante.

However, Doug was sweating coldly.

"The girl is coming, Larry!"

The reason for his tension was that he had a real sense of the threat posed by Atalante in Overload mode.

They had fought many times in previous tests, and Atalante in Overload mode was strong.

Raccoon, ridden by Larry, began its attack.

"I know that!"

Larry, who was sniping with the rifle, was unable to aim at the dodging Atalante and missed.

The paint rounds hit the rocks, splattering blue paint.

Doug shouted at the sight.

"That's why I told you to spray the rounds instead of aiming!"

Doug's Raccoon was spraying paint rounds with the assault rifle.

The surrounding rocks were being painted blue, but not a single round hit Atalante.

Soon, the ammunition ran out, and he had to change the magazine.

During this time, Emma's Atalante approached rapidly.

"You're ruthless, girl!"

As Doug complained, Larry shouted back in retaliation.

"That's because you waste so many rounds, leaving yourself open to attack!"

Emma's Atalante, aiming the multi-purpose rifle, fired two paint rounds into the center of Doug's Raccoon—its cockpit.

As Doug's Raccoon was painted red, the system reported.

"Direct hit to the cockpit."

"Damn!"

Doug, cursing his own inadequacy, found his machine immobilized.

As he drifted there, he heard Larry's scream.

"You're being unfair!"

It seemed Larry had been hit from behind.

Larry, who could no longer move, was complaining in the cockpit.

"There's no way to beat Atalante in that state! Even with Raccoon, the performance difference is too great."

Lamenting that the test was meaningless, Larry spoke to the now idle Doug.

"Relax. Only the girl can operate such a machine. Besides, if Raccoon is insufficient as a test opponent, bringing in other machines would be the same."

Raccoon, the latest and most advanced mass-production model, was very excellent.

If even such a Raccoon cannot be a virtual opponent, bringing in other mass-production models would be meaningless.

"---That's true."

Doug checked the feel of the seat in the cockpit.

"Still, it's not bad. No, it's a good machine. It's a step up from Mohave."

The cockpit of the Mohave, known as the symbol of mass-production models, was of a different grade.

Larry seemed to agree with this.

"Well, it's not bad. I didn't expect the latest model to be this impressive. Still, couldn't the appearance be improved?"

It had a solid feel, but the appearance was not to the taste of knights or soldiers.

However, Doug was starting to like it as he rode it.

"Really? I think it's not bad."

"Are you kidding!?"

While they were talking, the test seemed to be over.

From the other machines, complaints from the same team could be heard over the communication.

"If we're going to face a mobile knight piloted by a knight, at least bring a knight."

"You're right."

"Will more knights be sent to a place like ours?"

The pilots of the same team, who were known for their sharp tongues, were each complaining.

Doug thought to himself.

(Compared to before, the others have become somewhat brighter, but they're not enthusiastic enough to actively train.)

Even with the latest and most advanced ships and mobile knights, the personnel were the lowest quality.

This was something Doug felt more than anyone else.

(I want to transfer someone like the girl to a more motivated unit.)

He thought Emma should be transferred to another unit rather than rotting with them.

◇

At the headquarters of the Mercenary Association.

In the organization of the mercenary group called Vulture, a disciplinary meeting was being held.

The person being questioned by the general commander was Sirena, the leader of Daria, one of the executive organizations.

"Sirena, you've brought a big problem to the Mercenary Association. I didn't expect you to challenge the Empire's Seventh Weapons Factory. The Empire, the weapons factory, and even the nobles have been protesting, causing a lot of trouble."

Although she was being questioned for causing trouble, Sirena remained calm.

"I apologize for that."

"Your group has been reduced in numbers, hasn't it? I don't think you meet the conditions to be an executive organization. What do you have to say about that?"

Daria Mercenary Group, which had been defeated by the Banfield family with about a thousand ships, still had more than half of its total forces remaining.

Sirena wore a confident smile.

"The replenishment of our forces is complete. After the job with the Seventh, we earned money through our main business. In fact, our numbers have increased compared to before."

The lost fleet had been replenished.

This was not a lie but the truth.

After attacking the Seventh Weapons Factory, they worked in a battlefield where nobles were fighting each other.

During this time, they replenished their forces.

The general commander's lips curled up.

"Even if you increase the number of random people, how long will it take for them to become useful?"

"As long as we are doing our job properly, right? We are paying the required fees. I don't understand what more you could ask for."

The other executives glared at Sirena.

The executives of the Mercenary Association were not necessarily allies.

Sometimes they fought each other, and everyone was a rival.

There were many non-executive mercenary groups that aimed to oust the executives and take their seats.

It was a place where mercenaries who had survived the harsh competition gathered.

The general commander said to Sirena,

"If that's the case, it's fine. We will handle the complaints from the Seventh. However, you must understand that you will not be able to use the Seventh in the future."

"That's my intention."

From the beginning, she had no intention of working with the Seventh in the future when she accepted the request.

The pursuit of Sirena eased, and the topic moved on to other matters.

As discussions about where the conflicts were intensifying continued, Sirena maintained a smile while her insides were boiling.

(Thanks to the knights of the Banfield family, I've been put through a lot of trouble. Cheney is just one person, but the problem is the one who led the fleet. A soldier or a knight—)

She couldn't forgive the girl who aimed to become a knight with sweet ideals.

(Emma Rodman—when we meet again on the battlefield, be prepared.)

Tenchou (´ー｀*) "…Major Klaus Sera Mont. Your performance at the Seventh Weapons Factory was impressive. I will recommend you to my lord."

Tenchou ( ´ー｀) "Now, let's move on to the promotion. The latest Volume 10 of 'The World of Otome Games is Harsh on the Extras' is now on sale. Please support both the main story and the side stories."

Tenchou ( ´ー｀) "…Plants? I don't know what you're talking about. I am not aware of it."

Tenchou ( ´ー｀) (I must clean up before my lord arrives.)