How to Survive on the Armored Front

Chapter 31

"Excellent! Just a bit more to the left!"

Clank, clank.

The colossus maintenance yard on the open ground of the frontline base was, for the first time in a long while, crammed full of colossuses.

Unlike when the knightly orders had been dispatched before, every single one bore the Lorenz family seal.

Their angular armor, different from other Imperial Army colossuses, made for striking Frames.

"Young master. It's been half a year."

"Rorang, Kurks, Shard, Walter. And Bison."

A smile blossomed on Cain's face as he looked over the five newly joined knights. The five knights, too, could not hide their joy at meeting again after so long.

"How was the north?"

"Oh, don't even mention it. It was so cold the colossus joints were creaking."

"This guy's complaining again?"

"Hahahaha!"

Watching them trade stories after so long, Cain smiled in satisfaction.

"By the way, is that Frame the one?"

"That's right. The trusty Frame that's held this front line till now."

The greatest focus of the newly stationed knights was the Glaepnir occupying one corner of the maintenance yard.

Though the Frame was not powered up, the huge railgun stowed on its back-added to the usual ashen body-gave off an indescribable sense of menace.

"Just as I'd heard. It's a shape you'd never think of as a colossus."

"That cannon on its back-how does it fire?"

Knights clustered in twos and threes before the Frame began pouring out conjectures.

Even as they spoke, a gantry rolled up, the cockpit hatch opened, and a man in black uniform hopped out.

"Oh, so that's him-"

"Yan Verkut."

"Younger than I expected. Looks about the same age as the young master."

A woman in maintenance overalls, white hair tied up high, walked over and said something to him.

Several mechanics moving about the yard approached her to ask questions; she clearly wasn't just anyone.

"A knight and a mechanic talking so casually-rare sight at other bases."

"Right? I thought only Lorenz workshops worked like that."

"Ever seen the Belkuth yard? Brutal place..."

While the newly posted knights chatted in clusters, Yan-having finished the virtual battle loaded in Glaepnir-sat on the open hatch and discussed the newly installed armaments.

"Third shot, the aim point drifted two clicks. At long range that's nearly ten meters off."

"I'll try swapping the environment data. How's the shell production?"

"Even turning every available hand, ten rounds a month is the limit. One battle and they're gone."

"Tch, that's bad."

The yard had suddenly become crowded, but thanks to that Glaepnir was short of long-range ammo. Chin in hand, Yan asked quietly,

"Can't this thing use the standard-issue gear the mass-production units carry?"

At his words a corner of the open cockpit glowed, and Nill spoke.

[After aiming, firing is possible, but most are conventional weapons; significant time required to integrate with the fire-control system.]

"So it can fire them?"

He thought of the twin arm-mounted machine guns once used by the knight Delranel he'd met on first boarding the Frame. Yan studied Glaepnir for a moment.

[Additionally, per this AI's assessment, among the weapon systems present in this sector only the currently installed items are suitable for the Frame.]

"In short, you won't touch backward gear, right?"

[Partially affirmative.]

Now it doesn't even bother denying.

Still, it was hard to deny that the weapons standard to Imperial colossuses were flawed.

Assault guns whose shells shattered on impact with armor, machine guns whose sights broke the instant they fired-apart from being nearly unbreakable, every aspect was inferior. That was the current state of Imperial arms.

"Beggars can't be choosers. If we're out, we'll use what we have."

Any other knight hearing that would have exploded, but Yan didn't care.

"Hey! Pup!"

Hearing the voice from below, Yan looked down.

Realizing a group of knights was looking up at him, weariness flooded Yan's face.

'Don't tell me they're another Randel.'

Watching the knights motion for him to come down, Yan rose with a reluctant expression and walked over to salute.

"Loyalty. Lieutenant Yan Verkut."

"Huh? We've got no ranks. We're just knights, so relax."

"...Free knights, then?"

Free knights.

Pilots who own personal colossuses and wander the land taking commissions.

Few of them ever come to the front like these.

Usually retired knights with mana or rich merchants buy just the frame for construction or transport.

The difference in trade volume before and after adopting colossuses exceeds 150 %, showing how powerful they are on worksites.

"I believe you're acquainted with the Commander."

"Ah, our young master? Of course. We're of the same house."

"Same house?"

Relatives? Puzzled, Yan wondered-when one of the knights clapped his shoulder and said,

"Fate must've brought us together; how about a drink among knights?"

"My apologies, I must decline."

"Why not?"

"I'm on duty."

The knights' expressions shifted at the words-utterly alien to the Penal Corps brand on Yan's shoulder.

"Strange. The Penal Corps I've seen were completely different."

"Weren't they the sort whose duty hours doubled as desertion drills?"

"If I didn't have a colossus I'd have been killed by those guys ages ago."

They were each voicing opinions sparked by Yan's remark when-

-Still half-asleep, are we? Gossiping during duty hours.

"Oh, young master!"

"How does the Alfraian colossus feel!?"

The knights shouted, waving as if Cain's scolding went unheard.

The easy atmosphere-unlike any Yan had felt among Imperial knights-almost swept him along.

-Armor and mobility both surpass the standard Unit Four. I can see the tech gap with my own eyes.

"The difference is that great?"

-Of course, the downsides are clear too. Mana consumption is so high even most elves struggle to handle it.

A human average knight could run it for an hour.

An elf average knight could manage half a day at most-Cain's conclusion.

"Hold on, young master. You just ran it twenty hours on that?"

"Our young master's bragging again."

-I can hear every word, you ungrateful lot.

Hahahahaha!

Amid the unending laughter, an unexpected proposal flew to Yan, half-buried among their sturdy muscles.

-Lieutenant Yaan. How about a mock battle for training?

Probably because of the Frame tuning he'd mentioned earlier.

Thinking so, Yan quietly nodded.

"Oho."

"We'll get to see some skill."

The knights' eyes shone with interest. From Cain's colossus came a voice as if asking what they were waiting for.

-Why aren't you boarding? You're training too.

"Ah."

"Damn. We're stuck."

***

The frontline before a fortress with green grass.

After the battle with the Alfraian army ended, this place-where thousands had died in a single day-was transformed into a vast, barren wasteland with nothing left.

I could sense the soldiers peering out from the frontline base, fortified with cement.

It was because Commander Cain had gathered every knight currently on the front lines to host a mock battle.

- Is this really all right?

- Even if it is an Ancient relic, six against one? We're still knights, after all.

Five Imperial page colossi equipped with blunt wrought-iron swords for mock combat, and Colossus Six.

Facing them was Glaepnir, also holding a blunt wrought-iron sword.

- The elf knights who grew careless because of superior numbers all became lonely spirits on this front. I swear, even if you fight with all your might, winning will be hard.

Although it was called a mock battle, this was the first time they'd crossed swords directly as enemies, so tension flickered in Cain's eyes as well.

The sight of Glaepnir in battle that day.

Recalling how it had danced gracefully across the battlefield, Cain tightened his grip on the control stick.

Peeuuuuu-!

The flare announcing the start of the battle shot up, and at the same moment four colossi encircled Yaan.

- Name's Yaan, was it? Don't get too full of yourself!

- We'll show you how to fight in a group battle!

Speaking thus, four knights kept their distance while the ones who stepped inside were Cain's Colossus Six and the page of a knight named Rolan.

[Tactical recommendation system online. Calculating predicted path of enemy Frame....]

"That's enough this time. I'll do it alone."

Sudden as it was, this was a rare mock battle.

Deciding to use the chance to get as comfortable piloting the Frame as possible, Yaan shut down every support system of Glaepnir.

- Here I come!

- Hyaah!

Colossus Six charged in at high speed; Glaepnir, with its characteristic reaction speed, evaded and Rolan's second strike followed.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

The soft wrought iron rang against the armor plate. Seeing the sword bent at the middle from a single blow, the knights muttered in dismay.

"Didn't see that coming."

"Even if it's wrought iron, bent in one hit?"

"What in the world is that armor plate made of?"

As Rolan who'd spoken fell back, Kurks stepped in to take his place.

As the fight continued, Kurks swapped with Shard, Shard with Walter, and then Walter with Bison. While Cain pressed the attack, they rotated in turn, whittling away their stamina.

"If this were real combat, it'd be dangerous."

[Affirmative. Though output was not overcome, each Frame's movements were organically linked, creating variables.]

In actual combat, on top of attacks like these, one would have to endure long-range support fire from assault guns and the tremendous impact that came with it.

"As expected of knights. There's a wall I, a lucky upstart, can't climb."

They watched every move he made, shifting their responses; they altered formation and order so their patterns couldn't be read-a linked strategy.

It was a style of fighting utterly unlike his own, where he relied on the Frame's specs and fought however he pleased.

- What's the matter, Yaan Verkut!

- Just blocking all the time's no fun, is it!

Thus the knights of House Lorenz provoked him with wave attacks.

Yet they themselves were secretly amazed at how Yaan kept his balance and took the damage without faltering.

'Calm even when surrounded by six colossi.'

'And every time he parries, he minimizes the impact at strange angles. Instinct?'

'These are the movements of a pilot who's had no proper training?'

Finally, after continued exchanges of sword blows, Yaan, having made up his mind, lowered his stance.

'He's coming!'

His target, unexpectedly, was the sturdiest part-Cain.

Boom!

After deflecting the downward slash, Glaepnir used the recoil as thrust and rushed the leader.

- He accelerated all that way in one breath!?

Faster than expected, but Colossus Six smoothly blocked Glaepnir's downward slash.

Clang!

With the dull clang of low-grade iron, the contest of strength between Yaan and Cain began.

"I'll overpower him with output."

[Order confirmed. Increasing output.]

Whoooom-!

Glaepnir's engine hum rose ever higher, pressing down on Cain's colossus that had blocked the blow.

"The young lord's losing in strength!?"

"Impossible!"

The knights watching the scene exclaimed in astonishment.

- A bold charge, and then using the Frame's output to pin down my sword arm-flawless up to that point. Splendid.

- You flatter me.

Even as he spoke, Glaepnir did not ease the pressure on the sword.

At that moment, Cain with a triumphant smile spoke to Yaan over the loudspeaker.

- Tell me, do you remember when you dueled Randel?

'What?'

At those words, Cain's sword bent at a bizarre angle.

Screeech!?

Unable to withstand the high output, Glaepnir lost balance for an instant and staggered.

- Well done, young lord!

- If there's no opening, you just make one like this!

Crying thus, the knights swung their swords in sequence.

Forehand, high, low, thrust, mid.

Unable to fend off the time-delayed attacks coming the moment he lost balance, Glaepnir finally toppled.

- All right, that's enough.

The knights wore triumphant smiles, but when Cain halted the match the instant Glaepnir fell, everyone felt puzzled.

- Young lord, why? A little more and we could have subdued-!

Rolan's words, the last to swing, were cut short.

For he saw Glaepnir's fingernails aimed at his own cockpit, together with Yaan's sword embedded beside Cain's colossus.

- This mock battle is ruled a victory for Lieutenant Yaan.

At Cain's quiet declaration, Glaepnir relaxed its stance.

Meanwhile, at headquarters a flare was being fired to summon the knights.