Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 102

Chapter 102: The Work of a Maintenance Soldier is a Race Against Time
  “Well, it’s the main job of the maintenance crew in the rear to repair and restore broken things. How long can we use to rebuild our forces?”
  
  “Unless that Heisel something-or-other on the enemy side is a fool who throws his forces in piecemeal, I feel like the battle is already decided. However, the other Imperial Faction nobles are bound to make a move, so…”
  
  While answering the maintenance chief’s sudden question, I thought for a moment and decided I should hear my best friend’s opinion as well. Looking down at the twin elf sisters who were on all fours after being defeated in an argument, and beckoning Nina who seemed to be triumphant about something.
  
  The satisfied girl walked towards us with light steps, her slightly dark brown hair swaying, and slowly tilted her head.
  
  “What is it, Claude-dono?”
  “I want to finalize our future plans.”
  
  “I see. Jax-gikan, how many days will the Knight Kingdom need for the repair work?”
  “Even if we leave behind the heavily damaged Clawsolas, we need at least two, preferably three days.”
  
  As the mechanics who were working nearby suddenly stopped their work and focused on the conversation that would affect the difficulty of their work, the young lady, with her right hand on her mouth, pondered in silence and muttered to herself in a small voice.
  
  “I don’t think the guys who were hedging their bets and avoiding losses until now will make a move. Rather, they’ll probably try to cut their losses… But while we’re delaying the start of serious ceasefire negotiations, I want to secure the core cities and the Marquis.”
  
  “Everyone’s pitch black. I’m fine with just being a mage for the rest of my life…”
  “You’re not suited for it personality-wise either.”
  
  While gently patting the pleasant-to-touch red hair of Revia, who was, to put it nicely, free-spirited and straightforward, and to put it badly, impulsive, I recall her lamenting at a tavern in the castle town where we went with the three musketeers, saying it would be cruel for her father, the Chief Magician who also serves as Prime Minister, to make her succeed him.
  
  At that time, I was persuaded to join them because “I can’t neglect my social life either,” and I couldn’t keep up with the old stories of the senior officials who were bound by strong ties from our younger days at the military academy, and ended up being at a loss and drinking too much alcohol, which I usually don’t do.
  
  It’s still fresh in my memory that at dawn, Magician Sariel and the Royal Guard retrieved me, who was lying in the tavern, and after I sobered up, I was scolded by Izana for worrying her endlessly.
  
  “…It’s a bit much to call someone over and then space out like that, you know?”
  “Yeah, and it’s not fun to be randomly patted either.”
  
  Apparently, I had been unconsciously moving the hand I had placed on her head, and Revia, whose hairstyle had been messed up, looked at me suspiciously.
  
  I forcefully disguised the awkward atmosphere with a cough, and the young lady, understanding my intention, gave a wry smile and brought the conversation back on track.
  
  “About what we were talking about earlier, it’s better to be safe than sorry in case of unforeseen circumstances, and I intend to prioritize the maintenance of the giant knights.”
  
  “Understood, we’ll coordinate our efforts as well.”
  “That’s a good decision. Thanks to you, we can do a satisfying job.”
  
  Receiving the pleasant words, Chief Jax, who always boasts that “sending them to the battlefield with poorly maintained Clawsolas would give me nightmares if they died,” turned on his heel.
  
  “First, we have to make sure that the inexperienced jouchan who carelessly lost her mount can handle a Gladius.”
  
  “Whoa, that’s harsh! Please say something, Your Majesty!”
  “We’re adding to the workload of the maintenance crew too, so I can’t defend you.”
  
  Although I rejected Rita’s exaggerated appeal, the cheerful female knight readily backed down and chased after the departing Rare Human engineer.
  
  “You’re still gathering quite the unique personnel, aren’t you?”
  “Ugh, I can’t deny it.”
  
  Glancing at Revia, who mumbled at Nina’s painful words, I secretly agreed, and then a familiar driving sound approached.
  
  The source of the sound was a first-generation Clawsolas, a modified type, carrying a replacement “left upper arm” and “left forearm” in its arms.
  
  『 I’ve brought them, Ojou-san! 』
  “Thank you. Could you put them down next to Belphegor?”
  
  『 Understood. People of the Knight Kingdom, please make some space. 』
  『 Please keep a safe distance, it’s dangerous. 』
  
  The voices of Zephyrus knights and mages echoed from the external loudspeakers embedded in the shoulders and legs, and the mechanics who were working on the King’s Clawsolas scattered like spilled counters.
  
  Before long, the old modified Clawsolas knelt in the open space and gently placed the two left arm parts on the ground with a smooth motion.
  
  “He’s able to pull off quite delicate movements smoothly.”
  “Yeah, adjusting the output of the Magic Furnace and such seems pretty difficult.”
  
  “Fufu, our Clawsolas pilots are used to setting up with other military branches, so this is a piece of cake for them♪”
  
  Once again, Lady White Fox proudly puffed out her ample chest, but in Lizel, there’s a strong tendency to deify the brave ones who risk their lives on the front lines, so using giant knights for anything other than combat tends to be avoided.
  
  If we were to make special shovels and use them as construction equipment, we would inevitably face backlash from the volunteer soldiers and citizens who were not chosen as squires for the same reason, starting with Raizes, who is concerned about not having Clawsolas aptitude.
  
  ‘We need the flames of war to die down or move away from our neighbors…’
  
  At present, all we can do is entrust the Clawsolas I left with Jii-san Souichirou and have him forge the prototype armament, the “Type-0 Zanki Blade.”
  
  Since the effective use of Clawsolas in various situations doesn’t happen overnight, I stopped thinking and turned my attention to the twin elf sisters who had gathered around the Wired Burst Knuckle, their eyes sparkling.