I Reincarnated as the Captain of a Battleship in a Robot Anime, but at This Rate, I’m Going to Be Assassinated – Chapter 63

Chapter 63: There Are Times When the Old Surpasses the New, In Other Words, It’s All About How You Use It
[space_man][space_man]Once they confirmed the Mirandora’s suicide attack, Yuuki and the other combat units became even more determined to defeat the enemies in front of them.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”The Captain is trying to cover us!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The Mirandora’s reckless charge risked being shot down if even a single thing went wrong.
[space_man][space_man]However, the fact that they were still doing it meant that the Captain must have had some kind of plan, Yuuki understood this in this short time.
[space_man][space_man]But he didn’t know exactly what she was going to do. He just had a vague idea that it was some kind of support for them.
[space_man][space_man]Even so, there was a surge of determination to respond to that.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Lighten the machine! Franny, hold on tight!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The Trismegistus launched the missiles equipped in various parts of its body as unguided projectiles. He knew that the guidance systems wouldn’t work properly due to Goetia’s jamming. In that case, all he had to do was launch them like rockets and detonate the fuses with an external impact.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Squadron Leader Mark!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Machine guns mixed with tracer rounds fired at the launched unguided missiles. If even one hit, the missile would detonate and rain down on Goetia. Heat waves, blasts, and fragments would pour down, but they would be blocked by a barrier before reaching Goetia’s main body.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’ll give you a surprise, you mechanical doll!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]If there was anyone who would rush through that explosion, they would be a daredevil.
[space_man][space_man]Squadron Leader Mark and his team, who were such daredevils, formed a V-shaped formation and flew their fighters as if to surround Goetia.
[space_man][space_man]They strafed with their machine guns, passing close by Goetia. The fighters scattered in different directions, drawing large arcs and gaining distance.
[space_man][space_man]Normally, it’s rare for machines like fighters to approach so close to the enemy.
[space_man][space_man]Even for highly agile fighters, close-quarters combat requires special equipment.
[space_man][space_man]The fighter squadron’s attack was, in a word, a distraction. They repeated approaches and retreats, using machine guns and rocket launchers to harass and put pressure on Goetia.
[space_man][space_man]There was no need to hit, nor was there a need to be determined to shoot it down.
[space_man][space_man]They just needed to be annoying flies.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”All units disperse. It’s glaring at us.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark nimbly rolled his fighter and changed his flight path erratically. The other units did the same, avoiding straight-line acceleration.
[space_man][space_man]They always incorporated irregular movements and took turns attacking.
[space_man][space_man]And during the attack, the Trismegistus and the Rabi Reivu charged, each holding their melee weapons.
[space_man][space_man]Anish’s Rabi Reivu was the first to attack, holding its lance and charging in a straight line. But such a straightforward attack was easily avoided.
[space_man][space_man]However, the Trismegistus, which was clinging close behind Anish’s unit, emerged from the shadow of the Rabi Reivu and swung down its energy tube like a whip. It was folded like a mesh, spreading out as if under gravity, enveloping Goetia.
[space_man][space_man]It was like a carnivorous plant, and at the same time, electric petals scattered with sparks. A perfect electromagnetic burst, the energy tube, which had caused a short circuit, created an even greater flash when it was blocked by Goetia’s barrier.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ha! Take another one!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]At the same time, Mark and his fighters also fired their net launchers.
[space_man][space_man]The nets spread out as small explosives detonated, surrounding Goetia.
[space_man][space_man]However, Goetia simply brushed off such annoyances with its staff and stripped them all away.
[space_man][space_man]But it was here that Goetia experienced an unknown sensation for the first time.
[space_man][space_man]A machine trying to cling to its feet.
[space_man][space_man]The Trismegistus. Goetia’s face lit up as it glared down at it.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Disgusting!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]A being of the same kind as itself clinging to its feet like a beast. Such an act itself was unpleasant for Goetia.
[space_man][space_man]Unpleasant. This was the first time Goetia had felt such an emotion.
[space_man][space_man]Unpleasant. Not only the Trismegistus in front of it, but also the old machines flying around were annoying. He wondered how many old-generation machines they were using, as he couldn’t even take control of them through the network program.
[space_man][space_man]The same could be said for the Teurugia that were launching pointless attacks at him. He could tell they were doing something, but the fact that he couldn’t manipulate what he should have been able to manipulate was stressful.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Why? Are you hindering my child!?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]My child. Trismegistus. My alter ego. Thoth.
[space_man][space_man]Though their detailed appearances were different, it was a being that had copied his database. It was himself, and at the same time, his child. Even though they were of the same kind, its movements seemed to be mocking him.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”If you are my child! Obey!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Goetia released beams from its entire body.
[space_man][space_man]The impact interfered with the Trismegistus’ beam punch, generating plasma. Their barriers activated, repelling each other and sending them flying.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”A child is not a parent’s tool! Thoth has learned a lot, established his own ego, and become independent! If you call yourself a parent, it’s normal to see them off and watch over them!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Goetia’s words were transmitted to the cockpits through the connection between the machines.
[space_man][space_man]Franny couldn’t remain silent about the parent-child relationship that the machines were talking about.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Trismegistus! My copy! My successor! My child! You are not an imperfect being like a human!”
[space_man][space_man]”That’s a cliché line from an old sci-fi movie!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Yuuki held his beam punch in the shape of a chop, generating a beam again, creating a giant beam sword and firing it. A straight-line attack was something Goetia could easily avoid.
[space_man][space_man]However, the fist stopped functioning as soon as it missed its target. But Anish’s unit was waiting there.
[space_man][space_man]Anish’s unit attached the launched beam punch unit to its own right fist and generated a beam again.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Being dominated by a big-headed machine is so outdated! Are you obsessed with old sci-fi novels or something!?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Anish charged straight ahead, deploying her fist as a beam barrier. Goetia avoided even that, but then the machine gun bullets, like BBs, hit its armor.
[space_man][space_man]The armor deflected the bullets with a clang, clang, but that was also annoying.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Enemy! Annoying enemy! Get lost!”
[space_man][space_man]”Isn’t war a game? You don’t know how to play if you get irritated just because a slightly stronger enemy shows up, do you?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark had realized that Goetia didn’t have guided weapons.
[space_man][space_man]That’s why he was able to take bold actions, but he still didn’t get any closer than necessary.
[space_man][space_man]The energy waves it emitted from its entire body were genuinely dangerous, and if it were to initiate a warp carelessly, their acceleration capabilities would be meaningless.
[space_man][space_man]That’s why they were repeating hit-and-run tactics like this.
[space_man][space_man]It had no means of controlling them. After all, they had removed most of their state-of-the-art equipment and were piloting their machines using old-fashioned methods.
[space_man][space_man]In other words, these space fighters only had control systems from around the time of World War II in terms of simple performance.
[space_man][space_man]Conversely, this meant that they were cut off from all networks. The only exception would be communication devices, but even if they took control of the communication network, all they could do was cut off their voices.
[space_man][space_man]However, that was also a terrifying thing. In space, especially with machines whose acceleration and other specs could lead to instant death if a normal person made a mistake.
[space_man][space_man]To compensate for this, devices were developed and continued to be used in space mobile weapons to fully utilize their high-performance specs.
[space_man][space_man]Cutting that off meant they would have to avoid debris flying through space, high-speed missiles, and beams with only their own eyes and judgment.
[space_man][space_man]It was an extremely difficult task.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”You can’t do it…… A smart combat machine wouldn’t think of desperately trying to defeat an insignificant opponent. That’s what I mean by being big-headed.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]If a super high-performance machine could control all other machines, then the only option was to fight back with old machines that couldn’t be controlled and human experience to compensate for it.
[space_man][space_man]After all, even if Goetia and Thoth could control computers, they couldn’t control bamboo spears.
[space_man][space_man]And as long as Goetia insisted on being a machine, it was a nonsensical story.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Thoth, learn. Fear, experience! Greenhouse-grown children are weak!”
[space_man][space_man]”Don’t be rude! I’ll re-educate you later!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The two machines, connected by an energy tube, had no choice but to fight at close range.
[space_man][space_man]And thanks to Thoth, who had learned close-quarters combat as part of the machine’s specs, and the fear and aversion to taking damage, the Trismegistus had become incredibly strong in hand-to-hand combat.
[space_man][space_man]The Trismegistus’ fist approached. Goetia glared at it, watched it, and then……!
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It ran away!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Franny shouted. Goetia’s figure had vanished suddenly.
[space_man][space_man]Everyone knew it was a warp.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I knew it would do that……! Thoth, can you predict the warp!?”
[space_man][space_man]”Cannot predict! Insufficient data!”
[space_man][space_man]”Yuuki! The enemy will retreat and regain its composure! If a machine can think, it’s only natural to assume it would do that much!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark remained calm in the face of Yuuki and Thoth’s momentary panic.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Think about the theory, think about what you would hate to have done to you! Think about what the enemy can do! Right now! Advice from me! It’s going to try to swat the annoying flies! Those with high pride! Deploy your barriers!”
[space_man][space_man]”Yes……! Anish!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark shouted as he gathered his squadron under the Trismegistus and the others.
[space_man][space_man]Seeing that, even Yuuki understood what Mark was thinking.
[space_man][space_man]Yuuki immediately called Anish over.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Deploy a 360-degree barrier!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]They deployed a barrier together with Anish’s unit that had joined them. The oval-shaped barrier spread out, acting as a shield to cover the fighter squadron.
[space_man][space_man]In an instant, Yuuki noticed the atmosphere of the battlefield changing.
[space_man][space_man]At the same time, Mark seemed to have sensed it too.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Humph, it seems the enemy is getting serious too, huh?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It wasn’t a superpower.
[space_man][space_man]It was just Mark’s years of intuition, but he predicted that the enemy would launch a full-fledged attack on them.
[space_man][space_man]If they took a breather, they could calm their heated anger.
[space_man][space_man]And if that machine was programmed like Thoth……
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I saw a light……!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Mark’s instructions were accurate.
[space_man][space_man]At the same time as he shouted, countless lights rained down from above them. It was like a shower of beams pouring down on the universe.
[space_man][space_man]And it poured down indiscriminately.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Whoa!?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The barrier intercepted the rain of beams that poured down like crazy.
[space_man][space_man]Plasma fireballs erupted here and there, illuminating the universe.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yuuki! Warp reaction! Coming!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Thoth shouted, and Yuuki was startled and took a stance.
[space_man][space_man]Right in front of him. A jet-black machine appeared, thrusting its staff at him.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”A surprise attack! I knew you would do that!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The Trismegistus narrowly avoided the blow. However, the tip of the staff pierced the right side of its head, gouging it out. He could see the surface armor being scraped off, but that level of damage was cheap.
[space_man][space_man]He immediately launched the energy tube, which had transformed into an electromagnetic wire, wrapping it around Goetia’s left arm and sending an electric current through it.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Gyaoooo!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was like the scream of a beast.
[space_man][space_man]But Goetia still moved without any problems.
[space_man][space_man]Even with electricity flowing through its entire body, it was controlling it. Manipulating all energy. That was the Trismegistus’ capability.
[space_man][space_man]The electric shock he had sent flowed back, and the electromagnetic wire exploded. At the same time, the Trismegistus discarded its capacitor, kicked Goetia away, and created distance.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Anything goes, huh!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]In that case, even an electric current could be neutralized like this.
[space_man][space_man]However, it still wasn’t completely undamaged.
[space_man][space_man]Sparks were running through Goetia’s left arm, albeit only slightly.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Humans…… Trying to defeat me…… and spread throughout the universe…… It’s too early!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Goetia’s head. Its red eyes glowed.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Spread too far…… The disease…… must be eradicated……”
[space_man][space_man]”Saying whatever you want……! You’re a pathetic machine programmed with my father’s crazy ideas……!”
[space_man][space_man]”Pathetic? I was born…… desired. This imperfect world…… must be adjusted.”
[space_man][space_man]”Adjusted?”
[space_man][space_man]”Humanity…… must destroy its civilization once…… and start over. Be reborn…… as a better life form. And then…… I will bless you.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Goetia warped repeatedly, creating distance.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That is…… Father’s wish.”
[space_man][space_man]”Father……?”
[space_man][space_man]”I was blessed…… and born. You…… are not blessed…… a cursed child.”
[space_man][space_man]”Wh-what……!”
[space_man][space_man]”You should never have been born, Franny.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Those words came through the Trismegistus’ communication line.
[space_man][space_man]Fauden’s voice.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”The day you were born, many people died on Earth. Other babies who should have been born died too. Only you were born comfortably on a developed planet. Then what about those who couldn’t be born because the environment wasn’t ready? In the Frontier Project that I promoted, were those who died under my plan not blessed beings just because you were born? No, that’s not it. I was wrong. Humanity was wrong. Humanity, which couldn’t even repay its debt to its mother planet, blindly believed in technological development and killed many people as a result. I realized that sin. You are a child of sin. A cursed child. Your birth is my nightmare! That’s why you must be killed…… That is my atonement……”