Airship Control Room
The floating city of Laputa had been under development since the founding of the Kingdom of Metallica. Beneath the island lay underground power lines, waterways, and various facilities. In case of emergency, there were plans to sever these connections from the ground, allowing the city to operate independently. Terrace had been involved in the early stages of the project, but he mentioned that he had been removed from it long ago.
And now, that emergency had arrived, but I still couldn’t grasp what Metallica was trying to achieve. The island that housed the Kingdom of Metallica was smaller than the entire Kingdom of Avangarde, yet Terrace was spitting in frustration, emphasizing that the ability to move was the real issue.
“The reduction of distance between nations brings various benefits. Cost savings in logistics are one thing, but the primary goal is likely the ease of deploying military forces. Moving closer to the Kingdom of Avangarde allows for a more effective military expansion. The immediate target is probably the Holy Nation of Uzei.”
“The Holy Nation of Uzei?”
“Formerly the Nation of Negesta. It seems that since the emergence of a figure claiming to be the Religious Founder, the nation has undergone a thorough transformation. You might consider it entirely different from the Negesta you know.”
“Is that really happening?! The Religious Founder… is that the one from the Uzei Religion? Kurinka, did you know about this?”
“I was curious about it too… I was planning to find an opportunity to investigate.”
They had recognized a sudden appearance as the Religious Founder. It was hard to believe, especially since I felt that nothing I said had reached that person when I spoke to them. If that was the case, then this Religious Founder must possess extraordinary power.
“Terrace, do you know what kind of person this Religious Founder is?”
“Since being imprisoned, I’ve been unable to gather any information on that front. Damn Genia…”
“I see… So, Metallica is now attempting to annihilate both the Uzei Nation and the Nation of Kashiram.”
“For now, they are likely targeting Kashiram with the Sky Cannon while using Laputa to keep the Holy Nation of Uzei in check.”
My hatred for Genia and Corin grew stronger. I couldn’t understand their intentions, but no matter the reason, it was unforgivable. In Noibranz, people lived in hardship, sacrificing themselves for their nation. Even if some nations improved, it meant nothing if others suffered. Claiming it was for peace held no meaning if it came at the cost of those who desired peace.
Recently, my thoughts had become clearer. If there was a purpose, then I would pursue it. But I wouldn’t cause trouble for anyone else. The ones I had fought against had caused trouble to avoid causing trouble. The Comet Wolf Brigade was the same; they claimed the nation was failing while doing even worse things.
“Lord Hast spoke of the power to shatter injustice… If I have that, I will do something about the injustice so that no one has to cry. No matter what anyone says, I still can’t abandon someone.”
“I think that’s a good mindset. How you choose to use your power is up to you, Lua-chan. No matter what anyone else says.”
“There are times when you must let go. When faced with such a situation, it’s about how you respond.”
I understood what Terrace was saying. But still, I wouldn’t abandon anything. Even if I had to let something go, I would find a way. I clenched my fists, resolving to pursue what I wanted no matter what lay ahead.
“We need to do something about the Sky Cannon quickly…”
“First, we board Laputa and infiltrate the Metal Tower’s core. We’ll inject the Virus there, and while it’s halted, we will destroy the Sky Cannon and its satellites. How does that sound? It’s quite a daunting task.”
“First, we need someone to destroy the satellites.”
“Yes, our roles have already been assigned. We are already heading towards each satellite.”
Please don’t start talking suddenly like that. It genuinely surprised me. It was Elmera, and I knew she was aware of what she was doing.
“So, once they stop, we just need to let you know?”
“Yes, please take care of that. The Zodiac are already on-site, but there’s no need to worry.”
“Eh?! I knew it, there are indeed people like that!”
“They’re boldly guarding the area, anticipating our arrival. They have no intention of hiding. Also, it seems they are present before the Kashiram forces attempting to destroy the Sky Cannon. Elmera is heading there.”
“The Zodiac… While I’m not too worried about Tiferia and the others, it’s dangerous if Ord and his group are fighting.”
“They requested this battle themselves.”
“Oh, I see…”
When she stated that so firmly, I found myself speechless. Thinking about it, Ord and the others had willingly participated in this fight. They must have known it was dangerous and that they could potentially die. What could have driven them to such a resolution?
But now was not the time to ponder such things; the view from the airship’s cockpit made that clear. Just as Terrace had predicted, Laputa was right there. The problem was its location; directly beneath Laputa lay the Kingdom of Avangarde. The enormous island completely blocked the sunlight from reaching Avangarde.
“I can see it now. This is a dire situation.”
“W-whoa, it’s huge! How can something like that float?!”
“If I explained the principles to you, it would take you hundreds of years to understand.”
“Enough with the sarcasm!”
Not even a glimmer of hope could penetrate the entirety of Avangarde. It was no surprise that Laputa claimed dominion over that space. The underside of Laputa, extending endlessly in parallel, was covered in round armor resembling pipes. Here and there, laser ports were visible, far more numerous than those at Grand Hate Prison, resembling a nest of insects.
“The level of defense here is on a different scale than when we were on the ground. If this airship gets even a step closer, it would vanish without a trace in mere seconds.”
“We need to board and inject the Virus…”
“One hit, and we would crash. We must protect this airship from the torrential rain of lasers and board Laputa. Are you feeling scared?”
“That’s fine. We’ll lead the charge and block everything for you.”
To be honest, I wasn’t entirely confident. But this was the battle I had chosen. There was no way I would run away now. Without even looking at Terrace’s face, I headed to the bottom of the airship and opened the hatch as if signaling the start of the battle.
In Front of Laputa
The word “countless” felt inadequate; from a distance, it looked like mere beams of light. Without hesitation, I slashed through the lasers targeting the airship. There was no time to rest. Kurinka was constantly countering with her breath attack.
What would happen if these lasers rained down on the Royal Capital? It would be faster than using the Sky Cannon, and it was questionable whether it would even take a minute. The lasers would pierce deep into the earth, obliterating people, buildings, and the very ground supporting them. Nothing would remain after the lasers passed. It was reminiscent of the Jörmungandr in the Abyss Cave, swallowing everything like that monster. It vanished as if it had been scraped away. Though smaller, the sheer number of lasers was staggering. It was no lie that they could repel monsters of Hell’s Berg caliber. A weapon of slaughter that could erase even calamities. This was the power of the Kingdom of Metallica.
Fearing calamity, we waited for it to pass. Humans had done that since ancient times, but that was now outdated. From now on, the Kingdom of Metallica would confront such threats with overwhelming power. It was excessive. A sudden thought crossed my mind. Perhaps Madias had feared this. What would happen if the Kingdom of Metallica grew even stronger than it was now? If humans possessed such power…
――――Humans would become the calamity.
“…Lua-chan! We’re about to charge in!”
Amidst the relentless motion, Kurinka’s voice sounded faint. At the same time, I felt as if I heard someone else’s voice echoing my thoughts.
Laputa, East Wall
“Charge in!”
We leaped over the wall with flair, and I thought I recognized the scenery from before. Naturally, there were laser ports on the inside of the wall. Additionally, there were security machines. The floor was covered with iron plates, and there were various square buildings of unknown purpose lined up against the wall. There were no signs of people anywhere.
【12 Sword Legion II appeared! HP 2300】
The blade-wielding mechanical soldiers I had seen in prison. The difference was that arms extended from their backs, each equipped with blades. They had four arms and a color scheme leaning towards purple and red, giving off an intimidating impression. It was immediately clear that they were stronger than those in the prison, but what surprised me was that the lasers had no effect on the Sword Legion.
In fact, they reflected the lasers, sending them flying in unpredictable directions. The Sword Legion rampaged, and the laser trajectories became erratic. I understood now; this was different from the prison. But my task remained unchanged. As one of them swung at me, I twisted my body mid-air and executed a full rotation, taking them all down in one fell swoop.
【Lua’s attack! Dealt an average of 5,236,445 damage to Sword Legion II! Defeated 12 Sword Legion II! HP 0/2300】
“I can’t keep up with the movements, no matter how much I power up…”
“You’re really something, coming to Laputa all by yourself.”
That voice belongs to Corin. She’s speaking through some sort of device, just like when Jarmon and the others did. I can’t see her, but there’s no hint of panic in her tone. On the contrary, she sounds like she’s enjoying herself; her voice is already laced with laughter.
“Welcome to Laputa. That was just a little greeting. Now, let me advise you, assuming you plan to storm the heart of the Metal Tower where I am. You should reconsider.”
“Corin, let me give you a piece of advice as well. What you’re trying to do could lead to irreversible consequences. The opponent may have existed long before we humans came into being. Our civilization has indeed survived until now, but if it chooses to, it could obliterate this world in an instant.”
“Former Director Terrace, as a scientist, it’s unworthy to speculate without data. Is that why Director Genia took your position? Let me rephrase that for you, former Director Terrace.”
“If the data is that reliable, we must also consider the opponent’s opacity.”
Indeed, I have no idea what kind of person Madias is. I still can’t tell if he’s something we need to defeat. I understand that he has destroyed civilizations and is a dangerous opponent. But right now, he hasn’t done anything. He did grant power to Aleid and the leader of the Comet Wolf Brigade, Vandalsia, but that’s about it. I drove Zaniel away, and now it’s truly quiet. That’s why I’m even more uncertain.
“Moreover, former Director Terrace, I couldn’t care less about Madias. My sole purpose is to have ALEX recognized by the world. Director Genia has already given her full approval. She was overjoyed to leave this place in my hands.”
“Hmph, if you’re so easily swayed by that man’s sweet words…”
“The heart of the Metal Tower, you know the location, don’t you, former Director Terrace? It’s up to you whether you reach here or I kill you. The citizens are watching closely; you better put on a good show.”
Corin is challenging us. I won’t say I’ll accept her challenge. After all, I’m not here to compete, and this isn’t the time for that. Whatever her goal of gaining recognition in the world is, countless lives are at stake here.
“Terrace, we should aim for the Metal Tower first, right?”
“From here, the South Terminal is nearby. The place you entered before was the West Terminal… well, in any case, our actions remain unchanged. I will board the airship, and you will act as my escort. Understood?”
Anticipating a fierce attack, I tighten my resolve. The Metal Tower is quite far from here; I wonder how much interference we’ll face along the way.
“I’ll tell you this: don’t underestimate that woman. While she may lack the fighting power you possess, her weapon is ALEX… which means she holds all the information.”
“What is this ALEX? I feel like I’ve been told about it before, but I don’t really understand.”
As the airship takes flight, I mount Kurinka and gaze toward the distant Metal Tower, barely visible. Of course, they won’t let us advance without a fight. Countless machines glide through the air and on the ground, heading our way. I can’t afford to sigh. The Kingdom of Metallica is mostly wasteland outside the major towns, which means I can unleash my full power here. What is this ALEX? Can’t they see that having all those machines is meaningless?
◆ Laputa, Southern Region ◆
ALEX is the information control agency and system created by Corin. It seems that satellites floating far above are monitoring everything, along with spies scattered throughout the world.
“…So it operates fully automatically and collects data on people?”
“Not just people; it’s countless. From the king of a nation to a piece of trash lying on the street, an unfathomable amount of information is gathered by the supercomputer known as ALEX. Corin can access it and retrieve any information she desires at any time. You should assume she knows what you had for dinner a few days ago and what you were doing.”
“Yikes! She knows everything?!”
“What? Do you have something to hide?”
Kurinka is trembling, and I can’t help but feel scared too. What I did the other night might have been seen.
“See? Terrifying, isn’t it? Information can be a powerful weapon.”
“But, but there are things you can’t see just by watching from the sky, right?!”
“There are plenty of people under Corin’s influence. Even important figures in the country have been seduced by her beauty. Like a pyramid scheme, she can manipulate countless individuals. Considering that, it becomes clear.”
“Seduced, you say?”
“Furthermore, if you attach tiny observation cameras to birds or animals, the range of information gathering expands infinitely. You could say there is no place in the world without that woman’s eyes.”
As Terrace’s voice fades from the airship, a sense of unreality washes over me. The more I hear, the more impressive Corin seems. If she’s that amazing, why does she misuse her power? Or does she truly believe she’s in the right?
“Here they come, a swarm of machines. They possess performance that far surpasses the old models we faced in prison; this is just the first wave.”
【100 Cannon-type Albatrosses have appeared! HP 3990】
【250 Assault-type Galyumps have appeared! HP 5000】
What surprised me was how human-like these machines were compared to those in prison. They were humanoid machines with wings on their backs and eagle-like beaks on their heads, and others looked like goblins with hunched backs. The difference from ordinary monsters was, of course, that they wielded weapons resembling lasers.
“Wow, they’re fast. They’re stepping side to side; could they be predicting our movements? Well, whatever.”
≪Here they come! Galyumps!≫
≪That form is irresistible! I can’t believe I get to see it live!≫
Just as I was about to engage, I heard something. I didn’t think anyone was around; they must be in another location, just like Corin. But it’s not just Corin; there are many voices.
≪The real Flash Strike Girl!≫
≪Is this live?≫
≪There’s no way they can handle that many!≫
≪But hey, I saw her take down a Vice Tank in a video!≫
≪It’s probably edited.≫
“W-What?! Who are you?!”
“Before Corin can explain with a smug look, I’ll tell you. This battle is likely being broadcasted across all of Metallica. In other words, those voices belong to the citizens of Metallica watching the live feed.”
A broadcast? Everyone is watching this battle and talking like that?
“Correct. Just streaming it wouldn’t be entertaining, so we made a system that allows viewers to send in live comments. Of course, not every voice will be heard.”
“What good does that do? Can they defeat me with that?”
“Well, who knows?”
I can’t waste my time on this. I had a bit of hope for how amazing ALEX might be, but this is pointless. I swing my sword at the approaching Galyumps, who are bouncing toward me.
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Ripper! Dealt 4,957,660 damage to Galyumps! Defeated 250 Galyumps! HP 0/5000】
“That was nothing special.”
《Huh?》
《What? Did something happen?》
《No way, that was definitely staged, just for show.》
As the Galyumps were engulfed by the Sonic Ripper and vanished, voices erupted again. This is getting really annoying.
《Did the Galyumps just get taken out? Huh? Seriously, die already!》
《Aren’t those the ones who came to destroy Metallica? Isn’t this bad?!》
“W-Wait a minute! I never said I came to destroy anything!”
《Did they really just get taken out?》
《I have no idea what just happened. It feels like they self-destructed due to a glitch.》
“What is going on?!”
Kurinka is also hanging her head. I ignore it and prepare to face the next wave of flying machines. I swing my sword again; after all, if I can’t catch this speed, it doesn’t matter what they throw at me.
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Ripper! Dealt 500,015 damage to Cannon-type Albatross! Defeated 100 Cannon-type Albatrosses! HP 0/3990】
《Hey, did they self-destruct again?》
《Whoa, in slow motion… yikes! This is the real deal!》
《This isn’t edited, right?!》
“For those who can’t keep up with how fast everything is happening, we’re sending it in slow motion. Rua, feel free to move with confidence.”
As I swing my sword, the impact of my strike on the flying humanoid machines is conveyed to everyone. Even I can understand what’s happening. They’re broadcasting a slowed-down version of my movements. When I was on the airship earlier, Platiu told me about it. The footage can be sped up, slowed down, or even paused. So, no matter how fast I am, it doesn’t matter once it’s on screen.
《That’s not a girl! That’s a monster in human form!》
《Isn’t she the one who almost wiped out Daigami from Azuma?》
“You’re in Clid, right? You’re doing okay, I hope!”
“I’m watching from the North Terminal, enjoying the show.”
“Wh-why?! Why would I be the one to nearly destroy Azuma?! This is nonsense!”
“That woman is controlling the information. It’s safe to say, Rua, that you have almost no allies in this country.”
“Controlling information?!”
“By extracting certain facts or fabricating them, they make it seem like that’s all there is. If you use that, it’s easy to turn a single person into a villain.”
“Hehehe, it looks like you’re in for some fun.”
I realized the terrifying power of information as a weapon. Being insulted like this didn’t feel good at all. There had been similar situations with Vandalsia, but back then, my opponent was a monster, so it didn’t bother me as much. This time, it was humans—people I was desperately trying to protect.
“Just because that brat is a little strong, they pick a fight with Metallica.”
“Looking closely, they seem pretty dim-witted.”
“That face screams country bumpkin.”
“Ugly brat, die!”
Maybe trying to protect these people was unnecessary after all. I felt my grip on the sword weaken just a bit.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The strength of resolve—Rua has grown as well.
But that, at the same time, can become a weakness.
To fight by entrusting your reasons to something means that if you are betrayed, you become powerless.
Korin foresaw this and sent the fight to Metallica.
That storm of chaos would be tough even for Rua.
Fortunately, Shin’s form has likely not been seen.
Just imagining it is terrifying enough to kill.
I thought the information weapon would come at me more aggressively, but I was completely mistaken; it was definitely buried from the outside.
I dislike that old hag, but she’s clever.
However, if Rua snaps and becomes uncontrollable, what then?
That would be as dangerous as the problem of the pudding bun.
What should I do?
Monster Compendium
[Cannon-Type Albatross HP: 3990]
A flying weapon designed for aerial combat. The artillery type is less mobile but emphasizes firepower. However, its wing propulsion remains strong, capable of fending off monsters of Wyvern class with just one unit. Thanks to its friend-or-foe identification function, there’s no worry about friendly fire.
[Assault-Type Galyunpus HP: 5000]
A weapon designed for ground combat. Its blue-purple coloration and head resembling a set of fangs have made it popular among certain enthusiasts. This small weapon, about the size of an adult human, emphasizes mobility and is specialized for guerrilla warfare in urban areas. With just one unit, it has the capability to suppress small-scale guerrilla conflicts, and its performance is expected to be effective for counter-terrorism efforts. It is also equipped with anti-aircraft weaponry, leaving no gaps in its armament.