How to Survive on the Armored Front

Chapter 13

"Without my permission, they sent out the colossi-what is the meaning of this!"

The front lines, lulled into a lull after the first three-hour offensive.

After Cain had held the line against the Orc troops and mana-cannon fire, the utterly absurd news awaiting him was that Randel had taken Yaan and vanished into the battlefield.

"I-it was the direct order of the commander!"

"And where is that commander now!"

"He said he was going to call reinforcements, to the rear...!"

Bang!

The conference table rang loudly under Cain's fist.

I knew he was jealous, but I never imagined he'd cause this kind of mess!

The four colossi-including Yaan and Randel-were close-combat Frames dispatched from the knightly order, the core force meant to repel the coming Elf Kingdom colossi.

And he dragged them off and fed them whole to the Elf Kingdom!

Clutching his throbbing head, Cain hurriedly asked his downcast adjutants.

"So, how many troops can we expect from the rear garrison?"

"Th-that is...."

"Of course there won't be any support. High command already abandoned this front!"

At those words a shadow fell over the staff officers' faces. The order lying before Cain commanded the remaining soldiers to charge, while the headquarters and the knightly order would withdraw to join the rear garrison and merge with the central assault force.

"Driving the soldiers to their deaths while we alone retreat-where is the justice in such an irresponsible order...!"

Cain's fist clenched with rage.

"Currently about six knightly Frames are sortie-ready. Of those, the personnel fit for this operation...."

The order that had flown to him would have reached the other knights as well.

Even if he ignored it and asked the knights to charge with him, they would only ignore him.

The grand title of Silver Knight was, at a time like this, nothing more than an empty honor that wielded no real power.

"Damn it!"

Spitting the curse, Cain kicked open the conference door and strode out. The personnel in the maintenance yard were already deep in withdrawal preparations.

"Pack that sub-assembly properly! Re-supply will take half a year!"

"Send two more crates to Sir Knight over there!"

While the soldiers were busy preparing for the next offensive, the artillery and the knightly order meant to support them were turning tail-disgraceful.

"A victory won by sacrificing those countless soldiers...!"

They had dispatched him under the pretext of excavating colossi, expanded the scale of battle, and scattered the enemy forces.

Tactically it might have been the correct decision, but looking at the soldiers dying on the front lines he could not bring himself to say so.

He felt several soldiers watching him with uneasy eyes. They had sensed something in the maintenance yard's restless mood.

"Commander."

"You are...?"

Someone approached and saluted him.

A second lieutenant who still looked very green.

On his chest was the cannon emblem symbolizing the artillery corps.

"Second Lieutenant Dandel Klaus, sir."

"Ah, the one who came back alive from the ruins with Corporal Yaan...."

"It's an honor you remember me."

A shadow could be seen on Dandel's face as he spoke.

"The artillery corps must have received the withdrawal order too-why are you here?"

"I changed my assignment. I intend to take the field with the infantry."

A faint tremor could be seen in Dandel's hand as he spoke.

From the relatively safe artillery to the infantry, where death could come at any moment-no sane officer would ever do such a mad thing.

"Why?"

"I am the squad leader who drove my men to their deaths. And I am also the reason the front has expanded like this...."

As he spoke, Dandel clenched his fist.

"I've heard the story. It wasn't your fault."

"Corporal Yaan said the same, but I can't think that way."

Dandel's eyes, looking at Cain, were those of a proper soldier, not a green junior officer.

They were the eyes filled with the same fire Cain himself had carried when first arriving here.

"For the soldiers who died because of my decision, I cannot retreat from this front."

"Throwing away an officer's life for the deaths of a few soldiers is inefficient."

He couldn't let him die on this hopeless front. With that thought Cain deliberately spoke harshly.

"By withdrawing now and leading the war to victory, you can answer their deaths as an officer...."

"I no longer wish to receive such special treatment."

Cutting off Cain's words, Dandel spoke.

"During the Elf village sweep operation... I planned to disobey the higher-ups and set them free. I had warned them in advance that Imperial forces were coming."

"...."

"Before being a soldier, I had my own conviction that I could not do what was wrong as a human being."

Dandel continued speaking.

"But in order to do what was right, I neglected my men. Because of that I couldn't do my duty, and Corporal Yaan had to clean up after me."

The incident of razing and burning an entire Elf settlement. The report stated it had been carried out arbitrarily by the Penal Corps.

The name of Dandel, the responsible officer, and the signature of the commander who had ordered the sweep operation had been thoroughly erased.

"You...."

"Ah, and actually."

Dandel gave an awkward smile.

"If I return home like this I intended to file for discharge, but my compulsory service period has increased. To reduce it even a little, I need to distinguish myself."

At the unexpectedly realistic reason Cain let out a wry laugh.

"A fine excuse to hide behind family honor."

"Ha, haha...."

Dandel laughed awkwardly. Cain looked at him for a moment and then spoke.

"One hour until the attack. Don't die. I'll help you too."

"Commander, understood!"

Saluting, Dandel ran toward the front. Watching him for a moment, Cain also called to the mechanics inspecting his Frame.

"Reconfigure my Frame for combat loadout! I'll see this battle through to the end!"

***

Chwarurrk!

With a metallic sound Glaepnir's entire body began to be bound in chains.

Whether still furious over their comrade's death, the colossi pounded the cockpit of the immobilized Glaepnir like mad.

Yet the pilot inside showed no sign of coming out.

- He's probably not in his right mind after the impact, the stubborn bastard!

- Let's just burn the whole Frame!

- Stop!

Buertael, restraining the fuming knights, shouted.

- The Mage Tower will examine that Frame. We have to deliver it unharmed!

Upon news of a moving relic of the Creator, the greatest interest was shown by the Mage Tower located in the western reaches of the Elf Kingdom.

They valued the Frame so highly that they had dispatched mages with mana cannons to this frontier on condition of receiving it.

- Thanks to the Mage Tower's mana cannons we pushed the front without colossus support; no need to offend them needlessly.

So Buertael explained to his comrades.

When a human voice cut into the elves' conversation, the knights' faces twisted.

- Hold on, wasn't the agreement different? I was told to kill the knight riding that colossus here!

The one who shouted was the human gray colossus-Randel. Furious at having nearly died again, excitement rang in Randel's voice.

- If operational time hadn't ended you'd already be dead; your mouth's still in fine shape, huh?

- Shut up! Open this Frame at once and drag that bastard out...!

Thwang!

Randel's colossus staggered as if struck by something.

- Wh-what!?

When he turned, an Elf colossus stood there.

- The knight riding that colossus seems to have a grudge against you too; shall I take your place?

The colossus Randel rode staggered as its back crumpled, losing balance like it was about to fall. Flustered by the unexpected attack, Randel began screaming like a madman.

- Damn elves! Are you planning to break the promise!?

- No. The promise between Rael and me was only that I wouldn't kill you.

Having said that, Buertael approached the fallen colossus of Randel and grabbed the armor plate in front of the cockpit.

Screeech!

The entry hatch, made of soft material to rescue the rider in an emergency, crumpled and blocked Randel's exit.

As if mocking Randel, who couldn't find words at the events unfolding in an instant, Delranel uttered a line.

- However, was there such a promise with the goblins that will soon arrive? I don't seem to recall.

The elves' speech that does not tell lies.

It didn't take long for him to realize he had been played.

- Y-you bastards planned this from the start!

- From the moment you asked your enemies for help, you should've naturally expected this situation. How foolish.

That single line marked the end.

Crack! Crunch!

Two Elf Kingdom colossi raised their swords and severed both arms and legs attached to Randel's Frame.

A dead end where escape or retreat was impossible.

All that remained was the ending of being torn apart alive by goblins squeezing through the crumpled gap of the cockpit entry hatch.

A scream escaped Randel's mouth as he belatedly realized that.

- Ah! Aah! Aaaaaah!

While Randel's screams echoed, Yaan's eyes quietly glowed inside the halted Glaepnir.

"Hey. Nill."

[User call confirmed.]

"Reactivate the Frame."

[Impossible. Possibility of endangering pilot's life.]

"Then you're planning to keep me locked up like this until the Elf Kingdom's camp?"

[Reactivation scheduled once pilot's fatigue is resolved. Planning escape route.]

Looking at Nill speaking like that, Yaan quietly sighed.

The operational time had nearly doubled with the AI's joining, but the frustrating control that felt obstructed by something continued to hold his ankle.

The Frame couldn't keep up with his movements.

"I was talking with Ren. You heard it."

[Unable to determine intent of question.]

"Don't play dumb. You know. What I want right now."

[...]

Nill fell silent again.

With his face scrunched as if feverish, Yaan muttered quietly.

"Hey, tin can."

[This AI's name is A-01 Nill. The designation used by pilot is one of derogatory terms-]

"Shut that mouth and listen carefully."

Whether it realized its master was angry, Nill's words stopped mid-sentence.

"Whether you called me or Ren brought me, right now my owner is me."

[Affirmative. Pilot has completely acquired control authority of this Frame.]

"Then stop beating around the bush and tell me immediately. The method to completely control this Frame."

[Continuous training according to curriculum...]

Bang!

At the sound of a fist striking again, Nill closed its mouth.

"Don't beat around the bush. That's an order."

[Order confirmed.]

A brief moment passed, and a screen appeared before Yaan's eyes.

Through the cable connected to the back of Yaan's neck, something was injected into his body, and footage of it spreading throughout his body played sequentially.

[...biological CPU exclusive neural connection procedure R-666. Expanding and implanting nano-modules for signal detection inserted into the spinal nervous system throughout the entire brain and blood vessels, securing semi-permanent operational time.]

"Whew..."

As what he had wanted finally appeared before his eyes, Yaan sighed in satisfaction. Then he immediately opened his mouth to ask the most important fact.

"So, the risk factors?"

Nill paused for a moment.

When he waited without much reaction this time, its mouth opened reluctantly.

[To maximize Frame synchronization rate, most calculations required for Frame control involve the operator's brain. If unable to bear the resulting load, death may occur.]

"Ha."

A hollow laugh escaped.

The reason why Ren and Nill hadn't told him about this procedure was now explained.

"To handle this thing right now, that's the only way. Do it."

[Advisory. This procedure involves high risk factors. For pilots who have fully acquired control authority, the regular curriculum...]

Nill continued to dissuade him.

Its intention to protect him wasn't unpleasant, so a curve formed on Yaan's lips.

"Nill. I've survived ten years on this battlefield."

[...]

"Loss rate for the Penal Corps in first battle is 70%. And I've gone through a thousand battles in that Penal Corps."

It was both Yaan's pride and his lament.

With what heart had he endured those hellish days for ten years.

How many he had called comrades, called friends, had he lost during that time.

"After surviving those long years tenaciously, would I die here just because I don't want this measly procedure?"

[This AI will take all measures to protect the pilot's life...]

Yaan cut off Nill's words.

"Start the procedure. That's an order."

[...Order confirmed. Initiating preparation procedures for procedure.]

Whirring-

Various mechanical devices in the cockpit that normally weren't activated approached Yaan.

Devices securing Yaan's both wrists, ankles, and chest area without gaps.

The cockpit that had completely secured even his head had now transformed into a small operating room rather than the colossus's cockpit.

[Proceeding with final authentication procedure before procedure. Does this pilot acknowledge that this procedure may threaten his life?]

"Yeah. I know well."

[Does this pilot fully acknowledge that after the procedure, permanent disability or decreased lifespan due to load may occur?]

"I know. You're telling me now."

Click! Click!

As he confirmed numerous clauses and answered about them, he saw that the ends of the many mechanical devices extending like tentacles were equipped with chilling components like needles, drills, and electric saws.

[Final consent form authentication complete. Proceeding with individual authentication.]

Yaan confirmed his fingerprint being recorded on documents with patterns he had never seen before.

Eventually all documents disappeared, and only a red pattern indicating Nill's presence glowed before his eyes.

[Can this pilot assure this AI Nill that he will not die during the procedure process?]

Nill asked him finally.

Hearing its question, Yaan spoke to it without a moment's hesitation.

"I trust you."

With those words, Nill no longer tried to stop him.

[Pilot's final approval confirmed. Transferring all Frame's power to calculation device. Procedure number R-666. Fenrir system. Implantation procedure beginning.]

At his command, the mechanical devices approached Yaan's head all at once. Eventually countless needles pierced Yaan's head, and drill bits as thin as needles slowly approached both temples.

Whiiiiiing-!

[Implantation beginning.]

For two hours after Nill's words, the cockpit of Glaepnir was filled with screams. The perfectly soundproofed bulkheads of Glaepnir didn't let out any sound, devouring Yaan's screams.