Chapter 47

That person who was showing off might be recognizable if you read the main text?

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That otome game is a harsh world for us guys, Volume 4 - Now on Sale!

Fairy Bullet - The Mechanized Maiden and the Pseudo-Beast Soldier, Volume 1 - [Scheduled for release on October 19]

...I'm quite impressed with myself for having worked so hard on it.

The rear admiral, who commanded the makeshift fleet of the Imperial Navy, was stroking his well-groomed mustache.

"The Banfield family's provincial army is suitable for our advance guard."

Facing the scene on the monitor, the vice admiral was satisfied.

A very beautiful woman stood beside the rear admiral.

She, the secretary, had obtained her current position through her beauty.

She supported the rear admiral both in public and in private.

"As you say, sir. Still, the Banfield family is investing a considerable budget in their army."

Upon hearing this, the vice admiral became displeased.

"Hmph! A typical Banfield army, risen to prominence through military fame. However, they are useful in situations like this. Our patrol fleet was hastily assembled, so the weapons we use are all outdated."

The Banfield family's fleet was better equipped.

The rear admiral was concerned about this, but he found it reassuring to use them as a shield.

The secretary wore a malicious smile.

"Here, you plan to weaken the Banfield family's forces and present them as a gift to Prince Calvin, don't you? Your family is part of Prince Calvin's faction."

When the topic of factional struggles was brought up, the rear admiral wore a sly smile.

"All for the victory of the Crown Prince. After all, the outcome of this war is of little value compared to the struggle for the imperial succession. Even if Princess Cleo leads and loses this war, it doesn't hurt me. Rather, reducing our losses while weakening the Banfield family's forces is far more valuable."

Despite being in the same Imperial Navy, they were pulling each other down internally.

The root of the matter was the succession struggle taking place in the capital of the empire.

The Crown Prince Calvin and the Third Prince Cleo were vying for the next imperial throne.

The war with the Oxyus United Kingdom was merely an extension of the succession struggle for the nobles.

The rear admiral could not tolerate the Banfield family, who were supporting Cleo, and deliberately used the guerrilla fleet to capture the fortress.

The secretary applauded.

"Brilliant strategy, sir."

"Thank you, Secretary. Still, I want to capture the fortress in front of us. It was originally a fortress guarded by the nobles of the Calvin faction. If we leave it in enemy hands, it will be a significant loss for us."

For the nobles of the Calvin faction, the loss of the fortress they had been guarding was a significant setback.

If they did not recover it, they would be criticized by the Cleo faction.

This is why they were so focused on capturing the fortress.

"You will surely recover it and deal a painful blow to the Banfield family, sir."

The rear admiral, egged on by the secretary, had something that slightly concerned him.

"You're praising me more than usual today?"

Then, the secretary spoke of personal matters.

"...A junior I dislike has transferred to the Banfield family. He keeps boasting about his fulfilling personal life, so I would be personally delighted if he got a taste of his own medicine here."

"Hmm, a junior, huh?"

"A capable and annoying one."

The rear admiral laughed heartily at the secretary's explanation.

"So it's a women's quarrel. It's understandable to get heated up."

As they were talking, a staff officer nearby spoke up.

"Sir, it's time to start the operation."

"Indeed. By the way, is our trump card ready?"

Upon confirmation, the staff officer nodded slightly.

"The latest mobile knight squadron is ready for deployment at any time."

"That's good. Our ace in the hole. Once the Banfield family's fleet is crushed, we'll deploy them to recapture the fortress. Well then... let's see the strength of the famous Banfield family."

As the operation began, the fleet started to advance.

When the guerrilla fleet entered the fortress's range, the attack began.

The rear admiral, watching the guerrilla fleet under attack, stroked his chin.

"Come on, Banfield family, do your best. Give the fortress some damage before you're crushed and ease our burden."

As the rear admiral watched the progress with a laugh, the bridge operator was confused.

"Sir!?"

"What is it?"

"Our mobile knight squadron is rapidly approaching the fortress!?"

"...What?"

◇

Immediately after the operation began.

On the bridge of the Marea, Allison was taking command in place of Tim.

The Marea was shaking from the fortress's attacks, but it was holding up thanks to the defense field.

Allison shouted at the bridge crew.

"Get as close as possible to the distance where the mobile knight squadron can launch! Gunners, focus on the fortress's defense systems!"

Upon hearing Allison's orders, a complaint came over the communication line from the gunner.

"How can I aim in this situation! Besides, we're out of effective range!"

"Theoretically, it's within range. Instead of making excuses about your lack of skill, just attack quickly."

"Got it!"

The gunner, though not convinced, followed Allison's orders.

Tim, watching Allison's back, felt her lack of practical experience.

(She seems like a new, headstrong rookie. She probably hasn't even moved a ship before.)

Tim's intuition was correct.

While under attack, it was impossible for the Marea to launch a perfect counterattack.

Allison was aware of the Marea's capabilities but had misjudged how well they would perform in actual combat.

(I don't want to die here with my great-grandchild.)

Tim straightened his hat.

"...Divert all energy to the defense field. Then, prepare the mobile knight squadron for launch."

When Tim took command, the bridge crew began to follow his orders without complaint.

"Maximum output for the defense field!"

The Marea's shaking eased as the field output increased.

"Prepare the mobile knight squadron for launch!"

As the operators called out one after another, Allison shouted.

"If you launch the mobile knight squadron here, they'll all be shot down! Just follow my orders—"

But Tim glared at Allison.

Even though he was a disgraced soldier, he had survived fierce battles.

His gaze was enough to intimidate Allison.

"Can you please be quiet, Inspector? This has a higher success rate. Besides, don't underestimate our people. The troublesome knight who led us here won't be shot down by something like this."

"But, what's your basis—"

Before Allison could continue, an operator interrupted.

"Atlante is launching!"

◇

(The Marea's movements are back to normal? They felt strange just now, but if they're back to normal, it should be fine.)

Emma, worried about the Marea's movements in the cockpit, felt relieved when they returned to normal.

Molly informed Emma over the communication line.

"Emma, the mobile knight squadron has been given permission to launch."

"Finally. I thought the timing was a bit earlier, though."

Holding the control stick, Emma issued orders to the squadron.

"Launch permission granted. Atlante will go first, so please follow me."

Everyone responded with "Roger," but Aline and Rick were different.

"Major, as I said before, the Valona team will do as they please."

"I'll also do as I please."

Emma had her thoughts about these selfish two.

But she had already accepted that they were troublemakers from the start.

"Fine. But I'll go first. You two can just follow behind."

The restraints on the Atlante were released, and the arms attached to its back activated, moving it out of the hangar.

Next, Larry and Doug's Raccoons were also moved out by the arms.

"Adjust the defense field for me, Marea."

A response came from the bridge operator.

"We'll create a hole in the field on the course at the right time. You can launch whenever you're ready."

"Roger. ...Atlante, launching!"

The twin boosters on the Atlante's back glowed, increasing thrust, and the restraints released, propelling it out of the Marea.

Emma felt the pressure from the Atlante's acceleration but managed to endure it without being pressed into the seat.

As soon as the Atlante left the Marea, the fortress's defense systems locked onto it.

Emma selected the multi-purpose rifle and aimed the Atlante, starting to fire while moving.

The multi-purpose rifle, with its long barrel, was difficult to handle, but it was a specialized equipment for the Atlante, capable of using both physical and optical weapons.

Although they were far away and the multi-purpose rifle was out of effective range, Emma still managed to hit her target.

"There!"

—Light was emitted from the multi-purpose rifle's barrel, and a few seconds later, the defense system targeting her exploded.

Meanwhile, Emma continued to make reckless maneuvers with the Atlante.

She avoided the attacks from the fortress while destroying the defense systems.

As she destroyed the systems targeting her, the barrage of fire from the fortress in the direction of the Atlante's advance became thinner.

As the turrets on the surface of the fortress were destroyed one after another, the enemy launched mobile knights.

They were equipped with rifles supplied with energy from the fortress and were targeting the leading Atlante.

However, they seemed to be in a hurry, as the deployment of the mobile knights was slow.

From their movements, Emma could tell the skill level of the enemy.

"They're not knights... then!"

Emma continued to fire from out of effective range, destroying the mobile knights that had been sent out to intercept her.

The Atlante, accelerating, quickly approached the fortress within the effective range of the multi-purpose rifle.

Emma took evasive actions while discovering and destroying turrets hidden behind rocks and other obstacles.

When the multi-purpose rifle's ammunition ran out, she switched to a different weapon mounted on her back.

"The distance is sufficient. From here on—"

She equipped assault rifles on both arms, holding a large magazine-equipped physical bullet version in her right hand and a beam assault rifle in her left, allowing her to use both physical and optical weapons.

Despite the concentrated attacks aimed at downing the Atlante, Emma dodged them with her innate reaction speed from her reincarnation.

The Atlante, which had caused many test pilots to struggle due to its overly sensitive response, was now a trusted partner for Emma, who could keep up with its reaction speed.

The defense systems, which were unable to keep up with the reaction speed of Emma and the Atlante, were being destroyed.

As she approached the fortress, Emma changed the posture of the Atlante and used the twin boosters to decelerate.

"Atlante, first to arrive! Marea, I've attached to the fortress!"

Although she couldn't completely stop the momentum, she landed on the surface of the fortress, spinning and firing the assault rifles in a sweeping motion.

She also destroyed the mobile knights that had emerged.

After clearing the surrounding turrets and mobile knights, the Atlante discarded the assault rifles.

Next, she took out her two pistols, which she was skilled with.

A response came a little later, but it wasn't from the Marea.

Missiles were launched one after another around Emma, exploding.

She was blowing away the hidden mobile knights and newly emerged turrets in a single blow.

"Finally got my turn."

The one who had landed on the fortress was Doug's Raccoon.

He held a large Gatling gun in his left hand and a large shield in his right.

Next, Larry's Raccoon, which had escorted a small transport ship, landed on the surface of the fortress in a precarious manner.

The marines on the small transport ship, watching this, teased Larry.

"You won't get any girls if you don't escort more carefully, kid."

"I'll buy you a drink since we arrived safely, boy."

"Be more careful when landing, kid."

Larry, who was being teased, was raging in the cockpit.

"I protected you with all my might, and you're saying whatever you want, you bastards! Hurry up and capture the fortress!"

The special marines who had arrived at the fortress disembarked from the small transport ship and began to infiltrate the fortress.

Meanwhile, more Raccoons arrived at the fortress one after another.

Emma counted the Raccoons and was relieved that no one was missing.

However, her next order was stern.

"We will secure the safety of the marines and destroy the defense systems on the surface of the fortress. Be careful, as enemy mobile knights are also appearing."