Chapter 97: Conclusion, The Battle Near the Small City of Begnitz
[space_man][space_man]『It’s frustrating that all I can do is watch. I wouldn’t mind at least getting one swing in.』
[space_man][space_man]『But Bel-chan is at her limit. She’s already started self-repairing, though…』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Noticing Revia’s slightly hesitant remark, I shift my consciousness to the Clawsolas. Through the feedback, I become aware of an indescribable heat dwelling in the areas damaged on my side and left arm, covered in scabs of solidified magic fluid. It’s the itchy pain that comes with healing.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Now that she mentions it, the fact that I can recognize it as a recovery phenomenon, even at a microscopic speed, means that Belphegor, tainted by the twin’s autonomous magic core, is probably getting closer to being a “Mechanical Magi.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『The control technology that the ancient elves devised is amazing.』
[space_man][space_man]『Yeah, well, they are the race that developed the prototype Mechanical Dolls.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Recalling Mia and Mila boasting about the system of formulas used to create pseudo-spirits, I maximize the magnification of the pseudo-eyeballs and look at the surviving enemy artillery Clawsolas, which had withdrawn earlier and were now shrinking into small dots.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As if responding to my actions, from the Clawsolas L-type of Knight Captain Xenos, who had been standing beside me as a shield, the mage Fine with her flaxen hair spoke in a calm voice.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Your Majesty, I haven’t used the embedded magic “Stonehenge” yet. So even if that Clawsolas resupplies and returns within visual range, I can buy enough time for everyone to retreat with my foster father.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『I have some reservations about the Lizel Knight Captain acting as a rearguard, but I’ll rely on you.』
[space_man][space_man]『Yes! It’s all about the right person in the right place, right?』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As if embodying the very essence of a battlefield, entrusting his protection to the knights who were in good health and the man who laughed heartily as usual, the Knight King fixed his gaze on the new Gladius model, likely piloted by the enemy commander, and turned his attention to the dual-sword Begalta that had slashed its way through.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]With Rain and Zacks’ close-combat specialized Svel F-type units as their vanguard, the Tsukigase siblings’ Clawsolas, which had gone to take the enemy commander’s head, swung its right-hand longsword. However, the new model Clawsolas, unfazed, deflected the sword strike with a shield bash from its left arm.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Taking advantage of the moment when half of the enemy Clawsolas was thrown off balance by the heavy impact, the Knight King thrust the tip of the iron sword in his remaining right hand towards the enemy’s sternum. But Lloyd, a knight devoted to his sister, deflected the trajectory with the short sword he held in his left hand.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Not bad! But!!』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The Rigsia Knight Captain roared, stepping the new model Clawsolas forward and slamming the claw-like edge of his long arm shield into the chest armor of the enemy Clawsolas.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was a blow that would have meant instant death for the beloved mage sister if taken directly, and would have snapped the longsword if used to block. Yet, as if he had anticipated the attack from the beginning, the silver-haired, blue-eyed knight deftly leaped the Begalta backward to evade it.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Tch, sharp eyes as rumored, dual-sword wielder of the Knight Kingdom.』
[space_man][space_man]『You are not to be underestimated either, Lord Valph.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As if responding to the words I had uttered, wondering if it would be embarrassing if I had mistaken him for someone else, the new model Clawsolas, while concealing its right arm behind its left arm shield, extended it to its waist, throwing two gunpowder-filled auxiliary cracker weapons at once.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Brother!!』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Driven by Eleia’s warning and the cunning attack launched under the guise of a casual gesture, which had diverted their attention during their brief conversation, I almost instinctively aimed and fired. From beneath the left sleeve of my Clawsolas, a specially modified wire anchor shot out, propelled by the explosion of condensed magic power.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The tip of the anchor grazed one of the hand grenades flying in a gentle arc, and the gunpowder, overheated by the lightning magic instantly transmitted through the mithril wire, exploded, scattering flashes of light and a large number of small iron balls along with the other grenade.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Tch, this is another trick!!』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Weapons designed for use against other branches of the military, based on the concept of “how to kill efficiently,” cannot penetrate the armor of a giant Clawsolas unless they hit directly. However, it serves as a dazzling distraction that takes full advantage of surprise.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The Begalta barely managed to parry the blades dropped by the new model Clawsolas, which had raised its weapons with narrowed eyes, with a cross-guard using its two iron swords, just as it took a step forward for the finishing blow.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Using a weapon on a Clawsolas to kill a flesh-and-blood opponent is just the worst.』
[space_man][space_man]『You’re young to be talking about fairness in war, little lady.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]While Fiana, the mage of Rigsia, throws a sarcastic taunt at Eleia, who shivers down her spine, Lloyd, resisting Valph, who is trying to push through with his artificial muscles surging, momentarily increases the physical strength of his Clawsolas and slightly pushes back the approaching blade.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Immediately afterward, he relaxes his strength, deflects the blade outward to his left side with a swift maneuver, and in that unguarded moment, flashes his right-hand longsword, slashing the abdomen of the new model Clawsolas.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The Gladius Mr-II, spewing crimson magic fluid, retreats, but the Tsukigase siblings’ Clawsolas, unwilling to miss the opportunity, pursues. From a low stance, Lloyd thrusts his left-hand short sword upward, piercing the chest armor of the enemy Clawsolas.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Gah… I’m sor…ry… Fia…na…』
[space_man][space_man]『It… can’t be… helped… right?』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The two, who had barely managed to avoid immediate death by attempting to evade at the last moment of the attack, exchanged their final words and breathed their last. Their dedicated giant knights also shut down their magic furnaces and fell into slumber.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Perhaps with something on her mind, the mage sister on the victorious side mutters softly.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Even if something were to happen, please don’t apologize to me.』
[space_man][space_man]『Yeah, I’ll thank you instead.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Putting aside whether it’s possible to do so while dying, the silver-haired, blue-eyed knight pushes away the Clawsolas that had leaned against him and lets out a roar through the external loudspeaker, which he had turned up to maximum volume.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The remnants of the Rigsia forces, having lost their primary and secondary commanders and now outnumbered, gradually ceased their attacks, and the Zephyrus knights, understanding the intention, withdrew.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The clamor from moments ago was gone, and an awkward silence hung in the air for over a minute, as both sides had lost the figures who held the power to make decisions.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Now, regardless of whether they were friend or foe, the gazes of each Clawsolas naturally focused on the Knight King’s Clawsolas, Belphegor, who seemed to be the highest-ranking figure present.