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Sniper vs. Assault Machine

「My beloved machine is the Canary. As you said, it’s the only one of its kind. I received it from Asia’s Knight. Since I’ve shared this much, you should at least tell me the name of your machine.」

I must survive. I need to inform Kou. I have to prolong the conversation somehow. This communication is likely being recorded in real-time by Asia’s Aimer.

I can’t expect reinforcements, but I won’t give up until the end. This is a common occurrence for snipers, we are priority targets after all.

「The Canary, huh? So you’re sticking with bird names. ―― Fine. This machine’s designation is Bogatyri. Like yours, it’s a unique Onikaínest. For now, at least.」

「So, you’re interested in the Lanius.」

「Exactly! I’m fascinated by the Lanius and the process by which that silhouette is evolving! I would love to meet the Development Engineer who is behind that. Can you tell me where he is?」

It seemed that Blue had made the right move.

She had thought Vasa was a cold-blooded soldier, but that was not the case. He simply didn’t care about anything outside his interests. And right now, his interest lay in weapons—specifically in Kou and the Lanius. Blue’s voice lightened up as she realized Vasa’s intentions.

「That’s impossible. ―― Is that why you haven’t killed me yet?」

「Do you think I could kill you so easily? Your machine is also equipped with armored muscles. The reason why it can fire a helical railgun despite being equipped with armored muscles… It must have two reactors, just like Asia’s Knight’s silhouette.」

「Exactly.」

To think he could see through that much…

Blue was astonished. Whether she responded or not, it wouldn’t matter. Silence would only affirm his deduction.

The Bogatyri also drew its sword. It resembled a saber, but it was slightly different. It was modeled after the Baklanov Shashka, a weapon used by Russian cavalry.

「Now, let’s test your combat capabilities. I’d like to see just how agile a sniper machine can be.」

「A sniper can’t possibly win at close range. Your silhouette is a transformable type, isn’t it? One that turns into a fighter jet.」

「This silhouette is more of an assault silhouette—Shyutulmovik. You could say it’s an attack silhouette specialized in maneuverability.」

「That makes it even more impossible. Picking on a helpless sniper is quite unbecoming.」

A silhouette specialized in maneuverability. He said maneuverability, not mobility. Typically, transformable silhouettes have the mobility of an aircraft but are weak in maneuverability. It’s hard to believe he misspoke.

「My opponent is Fairy Blue, I would never underestimate you.」

As expected, he isn’t going to let his guard down. Here it comes.

Without hesitation, Blue tossed aside the sniper rifle and pulled out her backup weapon from behind. Blue’s sub-weapon was a carbine version of the AK2 with a shortened barrel.

Three thrusters on the back of Bogatyri simultaneously ignited.

Vasa intended to close the distance in one swift move and strike—a tactic at which Joania excelled. Sparks flew from the ground; his machine was making contact with the surface.

Blue activated the pile bunker on her left hand, accelerating to counterattack. Blue’s intention was to surprise her enemy, as normally one wouldn’t expect a sniper like Blue to use the pile bunker.

In an instant, they closed in on each other. The pile bunker’s fiery thrust moved faster than anyone could anticipate. But what happened next was beyond belief.

The Bogatyri dropped its stance, planting its pivot foot on Blue’s right side, and dodged. The smoothness of the movement was something no mere machine could achieve.

Blue’s left arm was severed. The saber in the Bogatyri’s hand had sliced through the left arm equipped with the pile bunker. Realizing the danger, Blue quickly ascended vertically.

The Bogatyri kicked off the ground and leaped as well. In its opposite hand, it held another Shashka.

「Damn!」

Blue braced for impact and charged in, prepared to be struck. Dodging would mean certain death. Vasa, expecting Blue to retreat, swung the Shashka in his left hand. The Canary’s torso was grazed, but the wound wasn’t fatal.

The Canary lost its balance and fell to the ground, but managed to land on one knee, avoiding greater damage.

The Bogatyri landed gracefully, regaining its balance.

「That movement… a movement like that can only be done by a silhouette equipped with armored muscles…! Impossible. Kou said that transformable silhouettes can’t equip armored muscles!」

「You’re well-trained by Asia’s Knight, I see. Indeed, transformable silhouettes normally can’t equip armored muscles. Normally, that is.」

Vasa smiled slyly. He liked enemies who could appreciate the intricacies of weapons development.

「The military martial art I learned, Systema, emphasizes the core, meaning posture and movement. Thanks to the introduction of armored muscles, I was finally able to replicate it perfectly. As expected of a machine built for swordsmanship, its adaptability is impressive.」

Blue had made a mistake blurting out Kou’s name, but the enemy was already aware of it.

「The Canary is truly worthy of the Lanius lineage. To maintain such agility while retaining sniper capabilities… Any other machine would have toppled by now.」

「It seems this is as far as it goes.」

「I know you haven’t given up. Killing you would mean losing the chance to negotiate with Asia’s Knight. The same goes for those two Theriantropes as well.」

Blue turned pale. Vasa had even investigated Kou’s personal connections.

「It would be helpful if you could call him out for me.」

「No. In that case, I’ll fight to the end.」

「The 90mm rounds of that rifle can’t penetrate Bogatyri’s armor. You know the power of Bogatyri’s main cannon, don’t you?」

Blue bit her lip. The Canary’s thrusters weren’t working anymore, the only thing that kept her in the fight was that the Canary’s legs were still functional.

「Blue!」

A gray machine descended from above—it was a Badb Catha.

「Run away!」

「Müller-san!」

It was Müller, the president of Kurtz Corporation, he was also a skilled warrior who had trained under Kurtz and now led the Badb Catha unit.

「Thank you!」

Blue leaped from the building and began to retreat, though she knew she might be caught soon.

「Dammit! How dare you interfere! So you are the president of Kurtz Corporation, huh? You dare to try to stop my Bogatyri with a mass-produced version of the Huckebein?!」

Vasa, who had been savoring the moment, couldn’t hide his frustration at the interruption.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Deep underground, Kou was in the cockpit of Unit 5, when a voice came from behind him—Aimer.

「Kou… We have lost contact with Müller’s Badb Catha unit. Status unknown.」

「Müller-san? It can’t be…」

Kou had known Müller for a long time. Their relationship had started when Kou rescued the employees of Kurtz Corporation. Since then, Müller had been working tirelessly to rebuild the company in Kurtz’s absence.

「Kou, listen. I’ll keep it brief.」

「Blue!」

Kou received a communication from Blue, with whom they had lost contact earlier.

「The enemy is a transformable machine, a Shapeshifter. Classified as an assault silhouette. It’s equipped with armored muscles, a high-powered main cannon, and what appears to be a saber.」

「A transformable machine equipped with armored muscles?」

Among Development Engineers, it was well-known that attempting to use armored muscles in a transformable machine usually resulted in errors.

「No time for questions. The enemy uses a sword style based on military martial arts. The enemy called it Systema.」

The martial art was unfamiliar to Kou.

「The enemy’s target is you, the EX Rank Development Engineer. He also knows about Nyanta and Aki. I believe he intentionally let me escape, though the others don’t seem to think so.」

「Me? But why?」

「He seems to have a strong interest in you and the Lanius. He’s far more skilled than I expected. I’ll try to shake off the pursuers.」

「I’m coming right n—」

「Stay where you are!」

Blue’s voice was calm, but it was a command.

「…I appreciate the sentiment, but if you leave that position, everything will be lost. Stay there. I will escape, I promise.」

「Understood.」

There was no arguing with that. Blue was right. Kou gritted his teeth in frustration but held back. The communication cut off—it was clear that Blue was at his limit.

「Kou-san, please let me go and assist Blue.」

A communication came from Palm.

「That area is under enemy control. Going alone would be—」

「What are you saying? Only the Epona can move in the enemy-controlled battlefield. The only unit capable of carrying Blue to safety is a Quattro Silhouette. In other words, I’m the only one who can do it.」

「…Understood. I’m counting on you, Palm!」

「Affirmative!」

「Trooper 2 to all units, Palm’s unit will disengage now to engage in an individual mission. Take care of the rest.」

「Roger that!」

「Leave it to us!」

Responses came in one after another from the Theriantropes. They were motivated by Kou’s direct encouragement. Kou’s words held great weight for the Theriantropes, the Epos and the Quattro Worker developed by Kou had greatly expanded the possibilities of their race.

A communication came in from the Badb Catha unit on the front lines as well.

「This is the Badb Catha unit. We’ve secured Müller’s MCS. He’s in critical condition, but still alive…」

「Thank god Vasa didn’t finish him off! Get him treated immediately!」

「Yes, sir. It appears he was kicked off the building after his reactor was destroyed. We’ll retreat and provide emergency treatment!」

「I’m counting on you.」

Without a functioning reactor, the MCS’s shock absorption capabilities would also be compromised, severely reducing its performance. The fact that Müller survived after being thrown from a building was nothing short of a miracle. Kou could only entrust Müller to the Badb Catha unit.

Closing his eyes and clasping his hands together, Kou prayed for Müller’s survival.