I Reincarnated as the Captain of a Battleship in a Robot Anime, but at This Rate, I’m Going to Be Assassinated – Chapter 2

Chapter 2: If Every Direction Leads to Hell, Choose the Less Terrible One
[space_man][space_man]Many stories featuring characters reincarnated after an untimely death often see them starting over several years before a turning point event, or even in early childhood.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I mean, isn’t that normal? Isn’t that the standard?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]I couldn’t help but mutter. It’s only natural to feel that way.
[space_man][space_man]If, hypothetically, Shougo had been reincarnated into the petty villain Jowain’s childhood, he might have still held some hope.
[space_man][space_man]At worst, if it had been right after he became a soldier, or at the very beginning of New Balance’s formation – basically, if he could have reincarnated a few years before the start of the anime’s first episode, no, I won’t be greedy. If it had been even a few months earlier, I think he could have still managed something.
[space_man][space_man]But it’s twelve hours. The time he has left is only twelve hours. Not even a full day.
[space_man][space_man]In twelve hours, the story begins. At that time, the character Jowain will massacre the planet’s inhabitants.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”What would happen if I don’t give that order……?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The way to avoid this tragedy is simple, right?
[space_man][space_man]If Shougo, now Jowain, doesn’t give the order, it wouldn’t happen. But the problem is what happens after that. Even if he’s a rotten apple, Jowain still holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander. So, can he do whatever he wants? No, he can’t.
[space_man][space_man]Jowain has a direct superior, a Colonel. Colonel Anferu, the de facto commander of New Balance.
[space_man][space_man]This character, to put it bluntly, is incompetent, but he’s been given the role of commanding a large army, and most of the actions he orders result in massacres.
[space_man][space_man]Anferu only gives the orders, and Jowain is always the one to carry them out. In other words, he’s being used as a scapegoat.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Will I be accused of disobeying orders…… or will I be eliminated in some other way……?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Defying orders is easy, but what comes after is scary.
[space_man][space_man]He’ll undoubtedly be blamed and disgraced, and the military will feign ignorance. In the worst-case scenario, it’s highly likely that they’ll conclude that Jowain acted on his own.
[space_man][space_man]Above all, New Balance is a military organization. In the military, orders are absolute. Disobeying them results in punishment, even if the operation is inhumane.
[space_man][space_man]In other words, Jowain is stuck.
[space_man][space_man]Judging from the anime’s depiction, Jowain shows no remorse for his actions. He believes in clinging to those in power and carries out orders to stay under their protection. The fact that he ends up assassinated by his subordinates is just tragic. Though, there’s no need to save him, is there?
[space_man][space_man]But that’s the character Jowain, and it has nothing to do with Shougo. This is the worst kind of collateral damage.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ahh……”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He ruffled his hair, messing up his pompadour. Perhaps because it was heavily styled with wax, it became disheveled but didn’t lose its shape.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It’s the alcohol’s fault, I’m so thirsty!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]His mouth was parched from prolonged thinking and the alcohol he didn’t remember drinking. Shougo himself isn’t a big drinker.
[space_man][space_man]Following Jowain’s memories, he recalled drinking alcohol the previous day. Relying on those memories, he found the refrigerator in Jowain’s private quarters and checked its contents. There were three bottles that looked like whiskey, one that seemed to be wine, and then beer bottles – dark beer, perhaps Jowain’s favorite.
[space_man][space_man]There was no regular drinking water. No juice either.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”There’s not even water for mixing…… damn it.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He had no choice but to go to the toilet where he had vomited earlier and draw water from the sink. The water purification system on a spaceship is impeccable, as they apparently put extra effort into this aspect to prevent infections and other issues during long voyages.
[space_man][space_man]Such knowledge flowed into his mind.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah, that’s right.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]After taking a sip of water, he suddenly realized something.
[space_man][space_man]He’s currently on a spaceship. He’s in the world of a sci-fi robot anime, and since he’s the captain of the ship, it’s only natural. He had only just become aware of this obvious fact, so he…… let’s stick with Shougo.
[space_man][space_man]Shougo moved to the desk in his room and operated the futuristic-looking PC as if he had known how to use it all along. The keyboard was digital, and the screen was the kind of vision often seen in movies.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Battleship Mirandora…… Jowain’s ship, right?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]What appeared on the screen was an elongated battleship shaped like a box at first glance. When viewed from the front, it almost looked like a diamond. Each side was equipped with twin-mounted main cannons, allowing for a simultaneous volley of six shots. It had high firepower when facing forward, but on the other hand, its sides were weak. The main cannons had a narrow firing angle, and interception relied on machine guns, missiles, or the ship’s robot fighters.
[space_man][space_man]Even so, this ship design was common in New Balance because it avoided exposing the battleship’s weak flanks.
[space_man][space_man]And Jowain will die because of this weakness.
[space_man][space_man]And the subordinate who assassinates him…… is on this very ship right now.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Crew list…… there it is, Mark Casey.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The image that appeared was of a handsome man with sharp eyes and characteristic brown hair. He looked to be in his late twenties, but in reality, he was a middle-aged man nearing forty. His rank was Lieutenant. He was a late bloomer, but he had a reputation as a veteran ace pilot. His fighting style was fierce and intense, earning him the nickname “Wild Boar.” He liked it himself, and his emblem was a boar with two tusks.
[space_man][space_man]And Mark hated brown-nosers like Jowain.
[space_man][space_man]When their forces were in danger, Jowain had tried to leave Mark to die. Enraged, Mark had been planning to assassinate Jowain for some time and would take advantage of the situation to take his life.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Flattery won’t work on this kind of guy……”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark already knew about Jowain’s reputation when he was assigned, so his好感度（likeability） was negative.
[space_man][space_man]Naturally, even if he survives this situation, he has to avoid being assassinated by Mark. There are several ways to do that, but if he tries to implement them, factors other than Mark will get in the way.
[space_man][space_man]It’s like walking on eggshells, no matter which way he turns.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well then, I should back the winning horse.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The way to survive. Or rather, the method with the highest probability of survival in this story is undoubtedly to join the protagonist’s side. In any anime, the protagonist’s side usually wins. Of course, there are many exceptions. Moreover, this anime was canceled, so it’s unclear what the future holds.
[space_man][space_man]However, setting aside the question of probability, if you consider ‘which is the least bad’ option, siding with the protagonist is still the best.
[space_man][space_man]But in the end, how to do that…… that’s the problem.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……Wh-what should I do? I can’t think of anything.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He had a headache.
[space_man][space_man]It was then that it happened.
[space_man][space_man]*Beep, beep*, an old-fashioned electronic sound rang out. It was a chime.
[space_man][space_man]Shougo, not expecting such a sound, stood up from his desk with a thud and blurted out, “Come in!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I heard a tremendous noise, is everything alright, Captain?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]A man with a suppressed smile, as if chuckling deep in his throat, entered with a perfunctory salute.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”M-Mark Casey, Lieutenant, is it?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The man who entered was the one who would eventually kill him.
[space_man][space_man]The thought made him instinctively tense up. But at this point, I don’t think Mark would kill Jowain yet. Probably. Shougo tried to convince himself.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Wh-what is it?”
[space_man][space_man]”Hmm? You seem a bit off, what’s wrong?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark seemed to have noticed that Shougo’s reaction was different from the usual Jowain.
[space_man][space_man]Shougo recalled Jowain’s personality, cleared his throat, and somehow managed to regain his composure.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I was just deep in thought. So, what is it?”
[space_man][space_man]”Well, Captain, I was wondering what’s inside that classified container that was brought into the hangar?”
[space_man][space_man]”Classified container……?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Shougo traced Jowain’s memories at that remark. His face almost turned blue.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]’Planet Killer……!’
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was a weapon for planetary destruction that the Colonel had given to Jowain, to be used in case of emergency. Naturally, only Jowain knew of its existence; the crew didn’t know what was inside that container. Some might have had their suspicions…… and one of them was Mark.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]’This scene wasn’t in the anime. Did this exchange really happen?’
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The situation he was currently facing wasn’t depicted in the anime.
[space_man][space_man]In other words, Mark was already suspicious of Jowain at this point and was trying to gauge him.
[space_man][space_man]And…… Shougo……
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That’s a Planet Killer. Your guess is correct.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Shougo decided to take a gamble.