dobelyuwai

Mobuseka Volume 13 Chapter 11

Added 2024-06-04 06:33:53 +0000 UTC

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

Chapter 11 "The Narcissistic You"

Part 1

Leaving Chris behind and moving on, we were moving closest to the outer wall because of the passageway.

Since it seems like we are taking a rather long detour, I question Luxion out of anxiety.

"Are you sure this is the right route?"

In response to my suspicions, Luxion was calm.

[No problem. Still, the internal structure is difficult to understand. It lacks functional beauty.]

Is it because it is a fortress built by new humans, or is there really no functional beauty?

The interior of Arcadia was complex and intricate.

"Isn't this a measure against intruders?"

[It's possible, but they should have focused on convenience rather than doing that.]

Luxion's complaining never stops.

[Generally, there is too much uselessness. This isn't an effective use of the space——Master!]

Luxion interrupted his complaint and shouted, and I made Arroganz back down from the spot.

They must have targeted and attacked the place where Arroganz was.

The attack was carried out from the outside to the point of breaking through the wall.

Had I continued on my way, Arroganz would have been attacked by the enemy.

What had entered through the hole in the wall appeared to be an Empire Army armor.

They are not magic knights, but there are more of them here.

"We found you, intruders!"

"Oi oi, this is your fortress, right? What kind of nerve do you have to drill a hole in the outer wall exterior wall?"

When I speak lightly, the enemy machines yell back at me.

"We will repair the wall as much as we can after we defeat you!"

One after another, magic knights also entered through the holes that opened up.

The enemy aircraft headed towards Arroganz, but were stopped by the red armor that had cut in front of them.

"We'd be in trouble if you forgot about us!"

The enemy aircraft was pierced and destroyed by the spear-wielding armor of Greg.

The sharp thrust had pierced the cockpit precisely.

It may be due to the performance of the armor, but it also shows the high level of spearmanship and piloting skills that Greg has honed over the years.

However, we were not able to settle down after defeating the enemy aircraft.

Julius says, looking at the hole made by the enemy plane.

"This is bad. The enemy is gathering on the other side of the outer wall."

Through the hole that had been blown through, I could see the view outside.

In addition to the flying battleship that must have rushed to Arcadia's aid in its crisis, there are many armor and monsters.

"There are so many of them. It's not a number we can't defeat, but to deal with them——"

——would take too much time.

"It's troublesome dealing with these numbers."

Luxion seems to think the same way, but if we ignore them and proceed onward, we will be stabbed in the back.

The enemy planes and monsters had spotted us and were heading towards us.

Then Brad, riding in his purple armor, flew out through the hole that had been opened.

He says while spreading the lances on his back like wings and deliberately spreading his arms out to show a pose as if he were dancing on stage.

"In that case, I guess it's time for me to step in. My aircraft is suited to taking on large numbers of enemies, so you can proceed without worry."

The lances on the back of his armor can be controlled remotely.

Brad could operate more than one of these lances at the same time, and he was certainly better at fighting large numbers than any of us.

But it was still too dangerous to leave him alone.

"You idiot! I can't leave you here alone? Of any of us, you are the——"

I was about to say that "the weakest", but swallowed it at the last moment.

It was Brad who took over my words.

His voice is neither angry nor dissatisfied, and in fact, it was rather refreshing.

"The weakest, right? I understand that. That's why it makes sense for me to buy some time here."

"You're copying Chris, too"

"I don't want to rehash it. And then I'm going to stay here and fight. Leon, make sure you succeed in your mission."

Chris and now Brad. Why you guys——.

I thanked Brad in my heart for his determination.

"Seriously, why are you guys acting cool only at times like this? Don't you dare to die on your own."

"I have always been cool. And I'd like you to tell me to catch up, even if it's just to flatter me."

When we try to move, Luxion moves.

[I'll leave some of the drones. Brad, use them as you like.]

Brad seemed a little surprised but also happy to hear that we were worried about him.

"I didn't expect you to worry about me. ——Thank you."

As the drones followed Brad out, they were positioned to provide support.

Then the green armor that Jilk rode in stopped.

Julius turns around.

"Jilk?"

"Leon-kun, and His Highness. It would be worrisome to have only Brad-kun here. So I will remain here."

Julius' foster brother, Jilk, never leaves Julius' side.

He should have been trained to protect Julius in a situation like this.

However, he said that he would stay.

Julius immediately gives his permission.

"If you decide it is necessary, do what you want. Help Brad out."

"I will do that. I want to avoid enemies pouring in from here."

Jilk's armor has a long-range sniper rifle.

Providing cover fire from behind Brad would be a great help.

Instead of jumping out, he kneels down the armor and opens fire with his rifle.

Then the enemy machines on the outside fall down.

Jilk, who shot the enemy aircraft with ease, calls out to me as I try to move on.

"I'm sorry, but please take good care of His Highness."

"Don't force me to take care of Julius."

"Fufu, please do."

Hearing it, Julius complains.

"What do you guys think I am? ——Leon, let's go. We can't waste any time."

Greg also calls out to Brad and Jilk, who choose to remain here.

"Don't die!"

The two of them were laughing.

"You too"

"Your Highnesses, please be careful."

Part 2

When Brad stepped outside the fortress, he was in a cold sweat in front of the enemies who were rushing toward the hole in the outer wall.

"Even now, I'm a little regretful that I stayed behind, but——it's not cool for me to be regretful!"

Towards the oncoming group of monsters, Brad fired the lance that his armor was carrying.

The lance flies through the air, spinning and piercing the monsters.

Although he has the same lance in his armor, but Brad's weapon is six lances flying around.

"Don't think that I'll let you through that easily."

Six lances were operated simultaneously.

It is as if the lance itself is moving with a will, flying around Brad and obliterating monsters.

Not only the monsters, but also the enemy aircraft —— the armor is attacked.

"I will not let you kill my familyyyy!"

The rider must be an empire's knight.

Perhaps because he had been informed that his family would die if he lost, he was extremely motivated to fight.

Brad raises his voice, trying not to lose his spirit.

"We too, we can't just say, 'Oh, yeah, right,' and lose!"

As the enemy aircraft approached, Brad turned his armored left arm towards it.

A gun planted in his left arm was fired from close to the cockpit of his opponent.

Enemy aircraft with its cockpit shot through falls down.

Even as he does this, Brad's six flying lances are destroying enemies.

But no matter how many times he defeats them, there is no end in sight.

Rather, the number of enemies had increased.

"What a number."

Jilk, who was sniping from inside the fortress, was prioritizing troublesome opponents among the onrushing enemies.

Even now, he was shooting through the bridge of a flying battleship, and then shooting through the engine to sink a ship.

Brad is reassured because the drones left behind by Luxion are also fighting.

"I knew I could rely on Jilk's sniping."

"I don't mind if you rely on me. However, this number is a little bit tough. I just hope Leon-kun and the others can quickly destroy the power reactor."

If they can hold out until Leon and the others destroy the power reactor, they win.

But Brad also had concerns.

"Hopefully they'll stop."

Destroying the power reactor would stop Arcadia, but not the Empire.

Even if it is destroyed, there is no guarantee that the Empire will not charge in desperation afterwards.

Besides, they are not the only ones fighting.

He was worried because he didn't know what was happening on his ally.

Based on the information gathered in advance by Luxion and his team, it is estimated that more than two hundred ships could have been sunk at this point.

Even if their operation succeeded, if there were no Kingdom troops left, it would be the same as if they had lost.

"I think the Republic and the Duke Fanose are the only ones who have managed to hold it together. For my part, I have mixed feelings."

The Field family has been stationed on the border of the former Principality Fanose and has been responsible for its defense.

Brad's family had been suffering at the hands of Duke Fanose for many years.

And yet, it was a strange feeling, because now he could rely on them.

"The Republic is fighting hard, too."

"As for me, I didn't expect the Republic to lend a hand."

It reminds him of his time studying in the Republic of Arzel.

Brad was beaten up and badly injured by the nobles of the Republic.

Leon and the others also have struggled a lot, but now they are fighting as allies.

"Then I'll have to show them my cool side too!"

Brad deployed several magic circles in front of the onrushing monsters.

The magic circle deployed in front of his armor releases magic that attacks a wide area.

The monsters are burned by the flames and disappear into black smoke.

(We are also in a situation where we have our hands full with our own issues. I feel bad for our allies, but we have no choice but to make them hang in there a little bit longer.)

Brad and Jilk were desperately trying to hold their own amidst many enemies.

(Will this buy us some time?)

Just after he thought he could manage it.

A group of magic knights was coming toward them. Brad had a bad feeling when he saw them flying in formation.

"Oi oi, the vibe of them is too different from other magic knights, isn't it."

Although the Magic Knights stood out for their individual play, that group was well-disciplined.

Jilk gently calmed the wary Brad.

"They are magic knights. But we are equipped with anti-magic equipment. You don't need to worry."

Jilk was not wrong in his opinion, as he was convinced that he could fight well against the opponent's magic armor.

Still, Brad does not change his perception that the group in front of him is a threat.

"No, they're going to be a nuisance this time."

It seems that the captain's aircraft, which leads the magic knights, picked up Brad's voice and became interested.

"Did you perceive us as a threat? You are not mistaken in your judgment"

"Thank you for that."

"I am Hubert. Hubert Luo Hein."

"I am Brad Fou Field."

The reason they both revealed their names was likely because they shared a common interest in fighting against large numbers of people.

Brad intuitively understood that their fighting styles were similar.

Brad pilots a lance-shaped drone and keeps watch over Hubert's magic knight's squad.

"It seems the goddess of fortune really loves me. If the other guys had faced you, they would have had a tough time. It was a good decision for me to stay here."

Hubert seemed to be disappointed by Brad's mannerisms.

"It's fine to be conceited, but the way you talk makes it sound like you think you can beat us."

Brad smiles in the cockpit and declares.

"I will win. After all, I am a man loved by fate!"

"——Sounds like a narcissistic person."

Part 3

On the bridge of the Licorne, something unusual was happening to Livia.

In addition to sweating and disordered breathing, she was holding her chest as if in pain.

"V-Voices."

Livia was listening to the voices coming from the battlefield.

Creare, who is assisting Livia, has omitted any unnecessary information in advance.

Still, the voices of soldiers losing their lives can be heard.

"The voices are fading away. They're screaming that they don't want to die."

Ange rubbed Livia's back as she endured the pain with tears in her eyes.

She gives a stern look to Creare.

"Can't you do something? Livia's heart cannot bear this."

[Even like this, a lot of dangerous information has been cut out.]

For Creare, who processes a vast amount of information, the information that is reaching Livia is probably more limited.

Ange, concerned about Livia, seemed to think it couldn't take much more.

"Just let her get some rest."

[If communication were to suddenly be cut off, our allies would fall into chaos.]

"T-That's"

Ange's gaze swam.

She would like to give Livia a break, but doing so would throw their allies into chaos.

Currently, the Kingdom's army is at a disadvantage, and Ange probably does not want to push them into a corner.

Seeing Ange's distress, Livia showed a smile.

"Thanks, Ange. But if I don't hang in here, I won't be able to help Leon-san. So I'm going to keep going."

Livia was enduring the situation with tears in her eyes, and it seemed as if she could collapse at any moment.

Marie looked out the window at Arcadia.

"They're going to succeed, right, aniki and the guys?"

Everyone here hoped that Leon and the others would return safely.

Then suddenly a hologram appeared in the air.

The floating screen showed Gilbert's close-up image.

He had a grim expression on his face.

"From now on, I will lead the fleet in the rear and go forward."

Ange was mildly confused when Gilbert, who had been in the rear, insisted on coming forward.

"A-Ani-ue?"

"Why do you look dumbfounded? Father's flying battleship has already gone down. Someone has to step forward and take command. Are you going to continue to rely on the Republic and the Fanose family?"

"N-No."

After Vince, if she puts her brother Gilbert in front of the line, he may never come back.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Ange was unable to make a decision.

Gilbert reprimands Ange for this.

"Don't get discouraged now! This is the path you have chosen."

"——Yes. Good luck."

"Right. That's good."

Gilbert smiles, and Kara, who is looking out the window, exclaims.

"Our allies are coming forward!"

Passing by Licorne was a flying battleship with Gilbert on board.

They gathered up the flying battleships in the rear and will now fight against the Empire's forces while rescuing their allies.

Gilbert's flying battleship was followed by the flying battleships of the Kingdom's army.

They had launched an attack on the Empire's forces, which were attacking the vanguard fleet.

Gilbert asks Ange for a favor.

"When I die, you will be the heir to the Redgrave family. Your children can take over if necessary."

"!"

Gilbert says to Ange, who is shaken, smiling a little sadly.

"Now you have a duty to protect the country, even at the cost of your family. Don't forget that."

Ange looks down.

Then she immediately raised her head and her expression was turned off, her face cool and calm.

"Leave the Redgrave family to me. I will definitely protect them."

"That's my little sister."

Nearly 300 ships of the Kingdom's army had already been sunk.

But at the same time, the Empire's forces were also suffering heavy damage.

Both sides were in a situation where they could not back down, and they could not spare any of their forces.

If this were a normal war, the scene would be one in which the kingdom admits defeat and withdraws.

But defeat in this place means death later.

Both armies are unable to back down.

Livia stood up and faced forward, holding her chest.

"Let us step forward too."

Creare was surprised.

"Livia-chan! Noel-chan has reached her limit, you know!?"

Noel had put up a shield using the power of the sacred tree, but she was exhausted and seemed to have reached her limit.

However, when Livia said that they should go forward, Noel, who had been lying down, tried to stand up.

"Is it my turn again? It's hard to be popular, isn't it."

Noel tried to stand up, but her body wasn't moving.

Yumeria is crying as she hugs Noel.

"Noel-sama, you can't do it anymore."

"Haha, why I can't move at a time like this?"

Livia smiled at Noel, who was shedding tears of frustration.

"Thank you. But you need to rest now."

"Olivia?"

Noel looked up, but Livia was looking ahead.

"Bring Licorne forward. I will protect the people of the kingdom."

When Livia says she will use her own power, Creare calls a halt.

[No! Even now you are under a heavy burden, and if you do anything more reckless, Livia-chan, you will break!]

"If we don't step forward here! For me, this is the point where I have to do my best right here and now. That's why!"

Under heavy burden, she said she would do something more reckless.

While everyone around her tried to stop her, Ange was different.

"You're starting to look like Leon, too. You're just like him in your reckless behavior."

"Ange?"

"If you say you'll do it, I'll be with you until the end."

Ange looked around at everyone on the bridge, then put her hands on her hips and said.

"Bring Licorne forward. Anyone who wants to get off, do so immediately."

Kara and Kyle looked at each other, but since Marie didn't say she would get off, they decided to stay behind and keep quiet.

Noel was laughing painfully as she was supported by Yumeria.

"Don't joke about it. We've come this far and we're not getting off?"

Yumeria also nodded slightly.

"I will also stay. I need the support Noel-sama, and above all, Kyle remains too."

Yumeria looks at Kyle and smiles.

However, Kyle had a complicated look on his face.

He wishes his mother would get off, but understands that she is Noel's assistant —— an essential figure in controlling the sacred tree.

He can't tell her to get off.

Marie carries the saint's staff on her shoulder and says it proudly in front of Ange and Livia.

"If you hadn't said we were going to step forward, I would have kicked your asses and made you charge."

Marie answered proudly, and Ange was taken aback for a moment before smiling.

Ange shows her meanness in correcting Marie's statement.

"We'll go out in front, but I never said we were going to charge with Licorne."

"I-It means the same thing, doesn't it!"

Marie was embarrassed when she was corrected, and she raised her voice.

The people around looked at the scene and laughed.

Part 4

Jilk, fighting alongside Brad, was checking the battlefield through the scope of his rifle.

"The rear fleet has been sent forward. The Kingdom's side seems to be cornered."

He understood that the current situation was unfavorable for the Kingdom's army.

In the first place, the Empire's forces are also superior in terms of conventional forces.

They are able to fight because of the help of artificial intelligences.

The burden on the Kingdom's side is lessening as the drones are dealing with troublesome enemies.

However, those drones also fell one after another.

Because there are too many enemies.

"Kill the sniper first!"

He aims at the enemy aircraft with his rifle, but the heat in the barrel seems to have reached its limit thanks to the continuous shooting.

The bullet only grazed the shoulder of the enemy aircraft.

"Is this also the limit?"

Against an enemy aircraft that was forcibly closing the distance, Jilk tossed his rifle and switched it to a handgun.

He shot straight through the cockpit and called out to a nearby drone as he watched the enemy aircraft fall.

"I'm going to need you to replace the rifle."

The drone, carrying the same container as Arroganz, approached Jilk's armor.

As it is, it hands him a rifle that it took out of the container.

Jilk receives it and holds the rifle ready.

An image was sent towards the armor from the scope attached to the rifle.

Seeing the enlarged image, Jilk held his breath.

As he pulled the trigger, the two Empire armors that had been flying toward him fell, pierced by a single bullet.

He aimed for the moment when the two machines overlapped in a straight line.

Immediately, he looks for the next enemy and pulls the trigger in the same way.

"It really disgusts me. It's so easy to lose your life like this."

A few years ago, he thought he would be a knight and would not be afraid of war.

A knight is one who fights. If he is defeated, he will die with honor.

But, having been on the battlefield so many times together with Leon, he realized something.

There should be no war, he thought.

And how foolish he was.

"I think I'm better suited to paperwork. I just need to aim the gun at targets, not people."

If he survives, he will think about finding a way to avoid another war as much as possible.

Fortunately, the next king is a pacifist.

(No, he is not a pacifist. Just a soft-hearted guy)

But he doesn't hate that kind of king.

(His vassals will fill in the missing pieces. That's all there is to it. So neither he nor I should be dying in a place like this.)

He scolded himself for wanting to flee from the advancing enemies and somehow managed to stay and fulfill his role.

Part 5

We were proceeding through the interior of Arcadia, and apparently we were on the right route.

Numerous defensive units were deployed, perhaps to protect the power reactor.

I forcefully push through the defensive forces with Arroganz.

"Out of the waaaay"

Destroying the enemy's armor one after another, we advanced and came out into a large space.

Waiting for us there were many magic knights.

[Confirmed by the magic knights. Security is pretty tight.]

"Proof that we're on the right route."

A man who seemed to be the leader of the Magic Knights spoke to us.

"I didn't think you'd really come this far."

"Very well guarded. Is the reactor behind you?"

"Do not underestimate us. With the core of the magic equipment prepared by Arcadia-sama, we, the new magic knights, have no enemies!"

The magic knights spread their bat-like wings, each holding a different weapon.

"Arcadia guy, he can even prepare a magic core?"

Just as I was thinking that I had heard some unpleasant news, Luxion immediately corrected my thoughts.

"They will not be able to provide a magic knight as good as Brave. What we have here is merely a degraded version of the Finn and the others."

The Magic Knights must have been listening to our conversation, as their voices were filled with anger.

"You dare to insult us? We are the imperial guards recognized by Arcadia-sama!"

When I heard that they were degraded versions of Finn, I let out a small sigh of relief.

But even a degraded version is still a magic knight.

"That's a bit of a problem."

I couldn't waste any time here so I readied Arroganz.

Immediately, Greg and Julius came in front of me and stopped me.

"Leon, you need to calm down a little! You've been acting recklessly for a while now."

"Get some supplies. We'll take care of them."

Two of them are readying their weapons, but there are thirty magic knights against them.

Behind them is the garrison, which uses the regular armor of the imperial army.

They held large shields and showed a will not to let us through from here.

It felt like the two of them now had a chance of winning somehow —— but we can't waste our time here.

I didn't want to put too much burden on Chris, Brad, and Jilk.

Luxion informs me that it is time for Arcadia's main gun to be fired.

[Master, the enemy main gun is getting ready to fire. If you take too much time, your allies fighting outside will suffer more damage.]

"Right. ——Luxion, please administer the strengthening drug."

When I decided to use the strengthening drug, Luxion resisted.

[!? That's no good! I can't allow it!]

I know he didn't want me to use the strengthening drugs, but right now it seemed like a waste of time to be having this exchange.

"Luxion——this is an order."

Luxion can't disobey my orders.

[——Yes. Administering strengthening drugs. The time remaining to administer the neutralizer is 9 minutes and 58 seconds.]

A needle was inserted through the backpack on my back and the liquid entered my body.

"Kaha!"

Suddenly my whole body becomes hot and my vision in front of me starts to narrow.

It was so painful I couldn't breathe and I was drooling.

After enduring a period of pain that felt like seconds turned into tens of seconds and even minutes, my body became accustomed to it and I felt lighter, free from the pain.

In addition to the increased visibility, you feel like you can do anything you want in an uplifting atmosphere.

My whole body feels stronger than usual.

My heart felt like it was beating stronger than usual.

I wipe the drool off with my hand and tell Julius and Greg.

"You two, stand back."

"Leon, could it be, you!?"

Pushing Greg aside and stepping forward, the magic knight who seemed to be the captain of the guard spoke.

"The fiendish knight himself is going to be our opponent? If I bring your head as a souvenir, I'm sure Arcadia-sama will be pleased.'

He seems to feel a great debt of gratitude to Arcadia for giving him the power of magic equipment.

At this stage, when the name of the imperial family hadn't even been mentioned, I wondered if it was appropriate to call myself the imperial guards——but I was not interested in it now.

"Sorry, but I'm not interested in what you have to say."

[Removing Arroganz's limiter]

Luxion removed Arroganz's limiter.

A limiter is like a safety device.

If Arroganz were to move seriously, it would become a burden on the pilot, so there are usually restrictions placed on it.

Even if it wasn't me, if an average pilot were to pilot an Arroganz with the limiters removed, it would likely result in a catastrophe inside the cockpit.

However, since I've been given strengthening drugs, I can withstand Arroganz even with the limiter removed.

That's how great the effects of the strengthening drugs Marie brought me were.

Arroganz accelerated and closed the distance with the magic knight.

[Wha!?]

Before the magic armor could swing its weapon —— Arroganz grabbed the enemy's head and crushed it.

I swing down the battle-axe in my right hand, and the knight in magic armor is cleanly cut in two.

Using the strengthening drugs, I was able to completely control the overwhelming power of Arroganz.

"——I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this."

Gradually, the movement around me began to seem slower.

A panicked enemy pulls out his sword and points it at us, but Arroganz avoids the attack with a paper-thin effort and hits the magic knight with the palm of his hand.

The enemy must have thought they were attacking quickly, but to me, their movements seemed slow.

"Do it."

[Impact]

As the second one exploded, the imperial guard's magic knights swarmed around Arroganz.

They swung their weapons down, unleashed magic, and surrounded Arroganz, trying to hit Arroganz.

Wielding a battle axe, I slash and tear through my enemies.

Luxion is displaying the time limit for administering the neutralizer on the monitor, but the digital numbers only seem to move slowly.

"Marie, thanks to you, I can achieve my purpose."

To the enemy, would it appear that Arroganz is suddenly moving at high speed?

I was one-sidedly slaughtering the imperial guard, but before I knew it, I was gripping the control stick strongly.

So much so that it makes a squeaking sound.

And then something felt off.