I’m a Sniper, That’s Why
Ireneo’s Khameleon advanced forward.
There were basically two kinds of optical camouflage.
One type records images of the surrounding environment and then projects those images around the surface of the object covered in optical camouflage material.
The other type refracts light and distorts it to allow the object covered in optical camo material to blend with the surroundings. It was a method that made use of Snell’s law.
The Khameleon was a stealth Silhouette that employed the latter type. Not only does its optical camo system severely interfere with the light’s wavelengths, but it can also refract heat, ultraviolet, and infrared light.
Moreover, its rollers allow it to move around in virtual silence. Ireneo’s Khameleon dropped its hips and sped forward even faster.
Fairy Blue didn’t seem to be moving from her current position.
Even though Ireneo remained vigilant as he quickly closed the distance, there were no signs of traps along the way.
The forest area was made up of mostly giant conifers. The biggest ones were more than fifty meters tall.
He was about to reach ground-zero of the earlier explosions. The Khameleon deployed its high-performance radar that was capable of sniffing out all sorts of information from the surrounding environment.
Ireneo stopped his advance and scanned his surroundings to prepare for a snipe.
「I’m detecting two reactor signatures out there.」
There were two reactor signatures displayed on the radar window. There were also multiple metal signatures.
One was on top of the forest canopy. He narrowed it down to branches that could support a weight of 20 tons or more.
The other was underground.
There were no signs of movement from both of them.
「She’s still staying put huh?」
It looked like his opponent could no longer use that tremendously destructive sniper cannon. If it was still able to use such a thing, he would have been long blown to bits.
After all, that weapon was said to have destroyed an Ate in a single blow. A mere Silhouette would be popped like a party balloon.
He increased the magnification of his machine’s telephoto sensors. He checked for out-of-place foreign objects in the environment.
A gun barrel was faintly visible from behind some trees. The metal signature was about seven meters in length. There were signs of a stealth system being used. If this was the real one, then that meant its reactor was turned off.
The reactor signature on the canopy perfectly mimicked the real deal. He could also barely make out what looked to be metal armor.
Although it was cleverly hidden, he could also confirm the wreck of a destroyed recon vehicle. This reactor signature was probably a trap.
And then there was the signature underground.
At a cursory glance, it looked like ordinary ground. However–
The Khameleon carefully approached and touched the ground below.
It pulled off what seemed to be a cloth-like cover.
「Heh. Just as I thought.」
It was actually a quantum stealth sheet.
If his attention got too distracted by the reactor signature from above, he would have fallen for this improvised pit trap. His opponent must have made this giant pit using that powerful rail cannon. He would have gotten done in instantly if he ended up falling.
Inside the pit was a pool of metallic hydrogen. If he ended up shooting carelessly due to impatience or being in a fit of anger, it would have caused a massive and powerful explosion.
It would be then that Fairy Blue would commence her counterattack. If things went particularly wrong, the pool’s explosion alone could have mostly destroyed his machine. He’d die if he fell, and he’d die even if he remained vigilant. It was a trap that was meant specifically for the types who tended to act cautiously.
「So, that’s why the reactor signature was weak. This should be that recon vehicle’s reactor then. Without Whis, the liquid state of the metallic hydrogen can’t be maintained for long.」
Ireneo reinitiated the open comm channel.
「This is nothing more than mere child’s play. Wait, You probably set this up on the assumption that it would be seen through from the get-go, you damned fox.」
He spoke to Blue who was probably lurking nearby.
「Let me teach you how a sniper really does things, Fairy Blue. Y’see, even when piloting Silhouettes, our five senses are still invaluable to us snipers.」
Ireneo was sure he’d managed to foresee the other party’s line of thought.
「You thought the helical railgun can’t fire in rapid succession. And so, you prepared three, no, four options. Isn’t that right?」
Ireneo’s expression distorted into a truly vile-looking one.
「Well, too bad! This railgun can actually fire two successive shots!」
Without getting out of its stealth mode, the Khameleon deployed its huge helical railgun and assumed the knee-firing stance.
This was how they were able to take control of a part of the forest area north of Fortress Area P336 with only eight sniper-type Silhouettes.
The double barrels of the helical railgun weren’t meant to be fired at the same time.
One was meant to automatically take over once the other barrel overheats after firing.
「I’m gonna rip your most important things right open!」
Ireneo let out a crazed bellow and fired two shots from the helical railgun that went straight through the dense foliage.
He confirmed that his shots hit their targets. Even the huge trees didn’t serve as adequate cover. The Canary’s main wing parts got scattered from behind the shadow of a large tree.
The reactor signature on the tree canopy had ceased as well.
「The only signature left is the one from the pit trap huh? Normally, folks wouldn’t be able to survive those shots, but Nereid bodies are pretty tough after all. I suppose I should check just in case.」
However, at this moment, a shadow suddenly loomed above the Khameleon.
The Canary leaped out of the pool of metallic hydrogen.
「Wha–!」
The Canary landed behind Ireneo’s machine before he could make it stand up. Canary boasted superb reaction speed and agility thanks to its armor muscles.
It brandished its pile bunker with its right arm.
The gigantic stake pierced the other Silhouette’s weak point from behind.
「Blue’s counterattack has begun, dear listeners!」
Gon shouted excitedly.
The high-density alloy stake pierced the Khameleon’s reactor along with its power pack and even continued on to pierce right through its MCS. A sharp and painful sensation ran through Ireneo’s back. The pile bunker’s stake also managed to pierce him as well.
「Gaaah. Y-You bi……!」
He had managed to avoid instant death, but he knew full well that his survival would only prolong the agony and pain before his eventual demise.
「How about it? How does it feel to get pierced by something long and thick, huh? I pierced straight through your heart, just like I promised, right?」
Blue openly sneered. Gon was wagging his tail in excitement on top of the seat behind Blue.
The figure hidden behind the shadow of the trees were the anti-fortress rifle and the Canary’s wing pack that were arranged vertically.
And the one hidden on the canopy was actually the armored recon vehicle previously piloted by Gon.
「I– I was sure…… it wasn’t a Silhouette signature.」
「I merely set the reactor output to the very minimum. To the point where even my sensors didn’t work. However, you said it yourself, didn’t you? The five senses are equally vital to us snipers. I was able to pinpoint your position just by hearing the sound of your shots.」
Blue’s pointed Nereid ears twitched.
「You would have died if I shot that pool in annoyance earlier.」
「There’s no way such a thoughtless person could serve as a sniper, right? In the first place, I knew I wouldn’t be able to defeat you without going this far.」
「Heh…… Hahaha……」
Ireneo let out a powerless chuckle. It was his complete defeat.
And the reason for his defeat was his competence as a sniper, of all things.
「Goodbye. It’s strictly prohibited to make me the subject of dirty jokes, you know? I’m going to get yelled at by my manager after all.」
Using the Canary’s body as a ledge, Blue made her machine lift the Khameleon with one hand and tossed it into the metallic hydrogen pool. And then, she detonated it.
The pool exploded in a pillar of flames. A Silhouette with a dead reactor would be destroyed completely by such an explosion.
「My manager is pretty scary you know. She even arranged a swimsuit gravure photoshoot for me.」
「Uh, Blue.」
Gon whispered to Blue from the back seat.
「What is it, Gon?」
「Err, the radio broadcast is on-air y’know?」
「Y– You’re kidding me, right……?」
Blue quickly glanced at the mic indicator light and found that it was indeed turned on.
She froze up. And then, she asked in a whisper-like voice.
「Since when……?」
「Since we jumped out of the pool of metallic hydrogen.」
「Why……?」
「I turned it on.」
Gon unapologetically puffed out his chest.
After all, it was a crime not to broadcast that brilliant turnabout and counterattack.
「So, it was you, Gon……」
Blue wailed in agony and embarrassment.
She forcibly pulled herself together and turned to the mike.
She wanted the listeners to quickly forget the matter of her participating in a swimsuit gravure photoshoot. Blue had no way of knowing that Metal Iris would be flooded with inquiries about this very matter later on.
「The enemy commander unit has been destroyed. Mission complete. The radio broadcast will now resume.」
To keep her composure, Blue acted as if nothing had happened. However, cold sweat was running down her back.
Her voice also sounded more than a little stiffer than usual.
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