Chapter 91: Ugh, Claude’s being blunt again… by Revia
[space_man][space_man]Also, the top speed of a Clawsolas in a full sprint is over 80km/h for the first-generation modified type, and the second-generation test Clawsolas assembled during high-mobility experiments recorded 180km/h.
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[space_man][space_man]The developer of this giant knight with exposed knight frame and no weapons is, of course, Lady Nina Valer, the “White Fox” with enchanting limbs and beauty. Thus, it was given the name “Damon,” after the German poet Schiller, whom she admires.
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[space_man][space_man]Although his book “William Tell” is famous… the name of the main character was taken from “Hostage,” a story in which Damon runs for his best friend Pythias, knowing he will be executed. In other words, it’s from the original version of “Run, Melos!” compiled by Osamu Dazai, and it was probably adopted because the focus was on the speed of the Clawsolas.
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[space_man][space_man]Anyway, it will take less than four minutes for the Zephyrus Domain’s giant knight unit to close the distance and reach the effective range of magic fire.
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[space_man][space_man]In the meantime, the Rigsia’s mixed knight unit, in order to fire another magic cannon shot, had their escort squad, which was too small to be seen from a distance, move around and replace the magic supply unit of the artillery Clawsolas “Cannon Deal.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Hurry up, you guys! We don’t have enough lives!!”
[space_man][space_man]”…Why are we on a battlefield between giant knights?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Save your whining and complaints for when you get back alive and tell them to the White Fox. It’s her design that’s bad!”
[space_man][space_man]”I’ll be sure to tell her that our captain said that!!”
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[space_man][space_man]While half-panicked, they proceeded with the work in two teams, skillfully disconnecting the conduction cables of the storage containers filled with magic crystals that were individually connected to both legs of the Clawsolas.
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[space_man][space_man]Although they were used for the preemptive long-range shooting, the storage containers, weighing around 100 kg each, were operated while loaded on two carriages to save time. The transport corps soldiers, who had been watching the work, immediately pulled the reins of the horses.
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[space_man][space_man]”Alright, bring the next one! Let’s finish before the second Clawsolas team!”
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[space_man][space_man]”Hey, if we’re faster than that squad over there, buy us something.”
[space_man][space_man]”Yeah, that sounds good.”
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[space_man][space_man]While admiring the maintenance soldiers who were exchanging banter without stopping their hands, Valph, the Knight Captain of Rigsia, looked at the approaching enemy Clawsolas and narrowed his sharp blue eyes.
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[space_man][space_man]Because the pilot’s intentions are linked to the Clawsolas through the nerve nodes of the artificial muscles, the Gladius Mr-II’s pseudo-eyeballs also focused.
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[space_man][space_man]”I guess we’re just one shot short?”
[space_man][space_man]”Yeah, that’s right.”
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[space_man][space_man]He gave a short reply to his cousin’s question, who was riding with him as his personal mage, and called out to each Clawsolas through the shared communication line used during battle.
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[space_man][space_man]『Move forward after the bombardment. Mages, start constructing your spells.』
[space_man][space_man]『『『Roger!!』』』
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[space_man][space_man]Tens of seconds after the energetic replies… just as they were about to enter each other’s magic range, the two artillery Clawsolas tried to fire purple lightning again, but a giant arrow made of light hardened alchemically material flew from the blind spot of the forest and pierced the barrel of one of them, detonating the Flame Bomb magic attached to the arrowhead.
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[space_man][space_man]『Guh!?』
[space_man][space_man]『N-No! Detonation… kyaaaah!!』
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[space_man][space_man]Immediately after the desperate voices of the Clawsolas mages were heard, the right half of the first Cannon Deal, which had been pierced by the magic cannon, was engulfed in flames, and it tilted and collapsed to the ground.
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[space_man][space_man]While the unharmed second Clawsolas was bombarding the Clawsolas that seemed to be the commander of the Zephyrus forces, most of the Rigsia knights turned their Clawsolas around to see several Clawsolas silhouettes camouflaged in the forest behind them, wearing camouflage cloaks.
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[space_man][space_man]『Northwest 1.6 to 2km, multiple enemy Clawsolas confirmed!』
[space_man][space_man]『They came through the magical beast forest!?』
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[space_man][space_man]『Tch, we were too focused on the front… The Aidos territory unit will take on the reinforcements, we’ll crush the existing forces!!』
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[space_man][space_man]Following Valph’s voice through the Clawsolas’ external loudspeaker, his subordinates, including about thirty or so modified first-generation Clawsolas Gladius and assault-type Nightshade, advanced.
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[space_man][space_man]The Clawsolas of the reinforcements, which had a different chain of command, also began to move in coordination, cautiously closing the distance with the Clawsolas of the ambush unit that had thrown off their camouflage cloaks.
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[space_man][space_man]Watching the scene, the Lizel bow knight, who was a gunner and somewhat absent-minded, muttered.
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[space_man][space_man]『…The enemy Clawsolas exploded spectacularly, but they’re not dead, right, Kurato-san?』
[space_man][space_man]『Don’t think about unnecessary things, Kotono. Doubt will kill you and your comrades.』
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[space_man][space_man]『Ugh, Claude’s being blunt again…』
[space_man][space_man]『I don’t think that’s appropriate in this situation, Your Majesty.』
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[space_man][space_man]Receiving Revia and Fine’s words, which contained a slight hint of reproach, he understood that his response was wrong, but it couldn’t be helped.
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[space_man][space_man]It’s extremely dangerous to lose focus on the battlefield, so if he was sincerely concerned about the girl from his hometown, he had to mention it, even if it was harsh.
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[space_man][space_man]『If you’re not ready, you can just focus on rear support. Darvi, take care of her.』
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[space_man][space_man]『Understood, leave it to me.』
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[space_man][space_man]After glancing at the Svel S-type second Clawsolas, which had its bow weapon raised, he joined the vanguard group, which included the highly mobile close-combat specialized F-type as a scout, and rushed his black and silver Clawsolas Belphegor forward.
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[space_man][space_man]Moving in a straight line would have resulted in being hit by the enemy Clawsolas’ magic fire, so he moved in a gentle zigzag pattern, just like the other Clawsolas that were spaced apart, approaching until he was within sword fighting range.
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[space_man][space_man]Perhaps because the Imperial Faction knights, who seemed to have little combat experience, were impatient, they fired magic bullets from the right palms of their Clawsolas with vague aim, but they couldn’t land a direct hit on the Lizel elites at the forefront.
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[space_man][space_man]They were either deflected by the skillfully angled arm shields of the Svel F-type, wielded by Rain and Zacks, or repelled by the twin swords of the Begalta piloted by the silver-haired, blue-eyed Tsukigase siblings, disappearing in unexpected directions.