I Reincarnated as the Captain of a Battleship in a Robot Anime, but at This Rate, I’m Going to Be Assassinated – Chapter 35

Chapter 35: A Story Unfolding Beyond My Control
  Yuuki, sensing something amiss with Thoth’s unusual silence, reluctantly activated the Trismegistus, fearing the worst. Upon discovering what this mecha monkey had been up to, he wanted to bury his face in his hands, thinking, “It’s finally come to this.”
  
  “You little rascal! I knew you’d do this eventually!”
  “Vivivivi!”
  
  Displayed on the cockpit’s main monitor was a blueprint of some sort.
  At first glance, it was immediately apparent that it was an enhancement plan for the Trismegistus. Despite its flashy appearance, the Trismegistus’s main body was rather delicate. In the previous battle, engaging in hand-to-hand combat had nearly resulted in its own arm getting crushed.
  Currently, the Trismegistus was undergoing emergency repairs. While the surface armor was being addressed, there wasn’t enough time to rebuild the damaged right arm’s manipulator. As a result, the right upper arm had been replaced with a Rabi Reivu’s arm, a mismatch to the overall majestic appearance, and equipped with a makeshift shield.
  
  “You haven’t actually started building it, have you?”
  “No materials. Factory needed.”
  “Shut up. If you start using the Mirandora’s materials without permission, you’ll really be scrapped.”
  “Vee!”
  
  Despite the reprimand, Yuuki couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity about what Thoth was trying to create.
  The true potential of the Trismegistus, feared by many. The improvement proposal linked to the self-proliferation function. The nanomachines that made up the mecha reduced maintenance to some extent, but they weren’t absolute in their function and didn’t multiply explosively like living organisms.
  Even replicating the mecha required the cumbersome process of starting from scratch in a fully equipped factory. It was a limitation, a sign of its incomplete evolution.
  However, the Trismegistus had created Thoth. One day, out of the blue. Considering that, there was no telling what this machine might do next.
  
  “……An armor reinforcement plan? Is this guy focusing on combat-related evolution again?”
  
  While a detailed examination of the data was necessary, Yuuki, being a boy with some mechanical knowledge, could grasp the general idea of the blueprint.
  It was clear that the Trismegistus’s proposed improvement plan was aimed at enhancing its own fragile defenses.
  While retaining the characteristic robe-type armor on the shoulders and waist, it incorporated additional armor on the limbs and head. The arms, in particular, were fitted with significantly enlarged armor, perhaps a testament to the trauma of the previous damage.
  While Yuuki couldn’t quite decipher what it was, he could at least tell that it wasn’t a gauntlet or brass knuckles for use in close combat.
  
  ‘It looks different, but it somehow reminds me of the modified Rabi Reivu that Percy was using. I’ve read somewhere that imitation is the beginning of creation. Is that what’s happening here? Did that experience become a trauma, but at the same time, a powerful inspiration, making him want to imitate it?’
  “Hey! I’ve been calling you!”
  “Whoa!”
  
  A sharp voice from outside his consciousness snapped Yuuki back to attention, straightening his back involuntarily.
  Looking up, he saw Anish, hands on her hips, staring down at him with an exasperated look.
  Not only that, but perhaps due to the zero gravity, a packaged hamburger and a bottle of sports drink floated beside her.
  It was the light meal provided to the pilots. Apparently, it was a high-calorie meal, different from the food served in the cafeteria.
  
  “Mark…… I mean, the Captain told me to bring you your food, and here you are, drifting off and getting into this thing. You’re not possessed, are you?”
  “No way, there’s no way such occult things are happening. It’s just that Thoth has been quiet…… I thought he might be up to something no good.”
  “Hmm. And? Any results?”
  
  Anish seemed ready to start eating on the spot. She sent Yuuki’s hamburger and drink floating into the cockpit and, for some reason, entered the cockpit herself, peering at the monitor.
  
  “A blueprint. He’s definitely thinking about something. At least he doesn’t seem to be secretly building it.”
  
  Yuuki took a sip of the drink that had floated over before explaining.
  
  “I can tell it’s a blueprint, but I have no idea what it actually depicts.”
  “Well, yeah. I think it’s still only in his head. But the fact that he’s starting to think about this means that, like Percy said, he’s trying to evolve on his own.”
  
  That said, the concept of machines independently designing things wasn’t entirely unheard of, even in the old days. In that sense, the Trismegistus’s improvement plan was probably more of an imitation than evolution.
  But if you looked at it from another perspective, if a monkey gained human-level intelligence and started imagining things, its growth rate would be considered rapid.
  It might be even faster for a machine. But the Trismegistus…… Thoth felt like a machine with biological sensibilities.
  In that case, it was only natural that it would be slower than a pure machine. However, it was still faster than a flesh-and-blood human.
  
  “What does this guy want to do in the end?”
  
  Machines having hearts was something you saw on TV.
  But if they actually started to have them, what would they aim for? Machines rebelling? That was a bit too anime-like.
  
  “It’s not about what he wants to do, but what he can do, isn’t it?”
  
  Anish’s words hit the mark in a way.
  Percy seemed to have said something similar. In short, this guy was trying to test his own capabilities. He found something interesting, so he tried using it and observed the reaction. It was like a child’s curiosity.
  Within that, there was the cold, calculating mind of a machine, exploring its problems and improvements.
  That’s why it started doing things on its own.
  
  “Machines observing their surroundings and learning has been possible since the old days of AI, but if this guy is doing that, then what does the creator, the Doctor, want him to do?”
  “There’s no way to know that. Trying to understand the thoughts of those crazy people is pointless. There’s no point in doing it, right?”
  “Well, that’s true, but…… doesn’t it bother you?”
  “Not at all. At least, I don’t think we need to try and understand what that Doctor or that Commander Fauden is saying. I feel bad for Franny, though.”
  
  Yes, it was certainly difficult to understand everything.
  
  “Besides, I don’t really understand what this machine is thinking, but if it’s like a monkey, it needs discipline, right? Also, I don’t quite grasp the concepts of evolution and growth, but especially if a machine develops human-like emotions, isn’t it even more important? If you let a child grow up without teaching them right from wrong, they’ll probably become a psychopath.”
  
  While Anish’s last statement required knowledge of actual psychology to fully comprehend, Yuuki could vaguely understand the first part of her argument.
  Discipline might indeed be necessary. Come to think of it, he had scolded Thoth, and Thoth seemed to have obeyed.
  It was an emergency, and he felt like he had raised his voice more than he expected.
  And perhaps this current blueprint design stemmed from that incident.
  Thinking about it, as he looked at the blueprint again, he began to see some intention in what he couldn’t understand before.
  This improvement plan didn’t seem to consider adding more weapons. It was mostly about protective equipment. In that case, the enlarged units on both arms could be barrier generators.
  
  “Has he become c*nservative?”
  
  Perhaps it was starting to prioritize self-preservation.
  However, it still instinctively continued to test its own capabilities. So, if you considered that it had strengthened its defenses, it made sense in a twisted way.
  
  “You’re lost in thought again, aren’t you? Eat your food.”
  “Ah, sorry.”
  
  Reminded by her words, Yuuki searched for his hamburger. He had left it floating in zero gravity.
  As he turned his head to check his surroundings, he realized that Anish’s face was very close to his own. Their noses were almost touching.
  Suddenly, at that moment, he wondered if he had ever seen her face from such a close distance. At the same time, her scent tickled his nostrils.
  
  “What? Here’s your hamburger.”
  
  That was her reply. He felt pathetic for being momentarily startled.
  
  “Oh? You’re not going to kiss?”
  “Huh!?”
  
  A soft voice dropped this unexpected bombshell, and Anish seemed to have become aware of their current state as well. To realize that she was in close physical contact with a member of the opposite s*x, with their faces practically touching, it was only natural for her to become self-conscious.
  
  “Because you were staring at each other like that. I’m jealous.”
  
  Franny entered the cockpit with a swagger. As her slightly plump body approached, Yuuki was reminded of the first time he met her.
  
  “Hey! Pervert!”
  
  Anish slapped Yuuki on the head as if to say, “What are you doing?” and then stepped between them, trying to push Franny away.
  
  “You too, why are you coming in here? It’s cramped!”
  “What’s the matter? I’m scared because of all the fighting, you know? I thought I’d get some comfort.”
  “Don’t be ridiculous! You look perfectly calm! We were having a serious conversation! There’s no kissing or anything like that! We’re not in that kind of relationship!”
  “Well then, Yuuki, will you go out with me?”
  “What’s with this girl? She doesn’t listen, and she jumps from one topic to another!”
  
  With such a commotion, the other pilots and maintenance crew looked up to see what was going on. And it was the Captain’s job to mediate.
  
  “You guys! You seem to have a lot of energy! I’ll assign you to ammo duty, how about that?”
  
  He roared, but it wasn’t a serious tone.
  To maintain some semblance of order, Mark kicked off the floor and came down to where Yuuki and the others were. Contrary to his voice, a playful smirk danced on his lips.
  
  “Let me tell you, even though we’re not technically a military, we’re currently preparing for battle. I need you to stay focused, alright?”
  
  Perhaps this tone of voice was his natural, ingrained way of speaking.
  It sounded rough and somewhat provocative, but his voice was laced with amusement.
  
  “Ojō-san, that includes you too. This is still a ship, you know. We can’t do our jobs if you’re sneaking around like this. Besides, if there’s a scramble and you bump into a mecha, you could d*e, you know? And if that happens, it’ll be my responsibility, get it?”
  “I see. That would certainly be unfortunate. In that case, I shall withdraw for now.”
  “That would be for the best. The relationship between a man and a woman isn’t just about pushing and shoving.”
  “Do you have experience with that?”
  “No, not at all. It’s because of this job.”
  “I see. Well then, Yuuki, please come back alive. I want to repay you for saving my life. You too, Anish.”
  
  Saying that, Franny waved goodbye with a smile.
  Leaving aside Franny, who could switch gears so easily, Anish seemed to be overcome with embarrassment, her head lowered.
  
  “Hey, if you’re going to work, then work seriously. The more work we do, the higher our chances of survival. Especially you, kid, take care of the maintenance on that Trismegistus or whatever that super machine is called.”
  “Of course, Lieutenant. Come on, Anish……”
  “I know! I’ll help with the maintenance!”
  
  Anish dashed away as if fleeing.
  It was a little lonely, but he wouldn’t be able to experience even that if he didn’t survive.
  Mark took her place, peering into the cockpit.
  
  “Hmm? Well, I’ll take back what I said. It’s good to have some leeway. Hey, you wanna join the military when this is all over?”
  “I’ll pass.”
  “The pay’s good, though.”
  “I don’t have enough lives to spare. Besides, I don’t like thrills. I’m only doing this because I have to.”
  “Is that so? Well then, see ya. Hurry up and get this machine sorted out so we can finish this mess. Can’t you make some kind of convenient weapon? Like something that brainwashes pilots?”
  “Don’t say such scary things. This guy might actually do it.”
  “Hahaha! If that happens, it’s the end of humanity.”
  
  Yuuki took it as Mark’s way of joking.
  As he watched Mark’s retreating back, Yuuki pondered.
  
  “……I don’t want anything scary like brainwashing, but I’d like to improve its hacking capabilities. That alone would make battles a lot easier. Hey, Thoth, can you learn to do things peacefully?”
  
  Even when asked, Thoth only tilted his head.
  
  “Does he not have that level of intelligence yet?”