Chapter 92: Alien Invasion!
After Kazuma destroyed the visor, those who had sent a scout to Earth from the far reaches of distant space were in a monitor room, looking over the data that had been transmitted.
However, Kazuma noticed them partway through, and all communication equipment was destroyed. But since they already had sufficient data, the one seated at the very back of the monitor room gave an order to their subordinate.
“We know the enemy’s strength. The Crimson Knight is designated a threat. Revise upwards; change the military formation from a single company to a grand fleet.”
“A grand fleet, sir? You mean to send a force comparable to an interstellar war against such an asteroid?”
“The scout team was a unit composed of our military’s elite. Seeing them dealt with so easily, we cannot afford to be careless.”
“But, it’s ultimately a small number of individuals. Wouldn’t a battalion-level force be sufficient?”
“That opinion is valid, but there’s an inexplicable point in the combat data we received. It’s that the enemy’s Combat Power is far too low.”
“I-It’s true, the data sent showed a Combat Power lower than that of an infant…”
“That’s right. Weaker than an infant. And yet, a single person annihilated our elite scout team. Don’t you think there’s something more to it?”
“Now that you mention it, yes… It doesn’t seem like a mechanical malfunction…”
“Indeed, right? In that case, we will crush them with the maximum force we can deploy.”
“However, what about fuel and supplies?”
“The council members probably wouldn’t believe us even if we sent them the previous data…”
“What shall we do, Kakka?”
“It can’t be helped… Falsify the data. I will take responsibility.”
“Are you sure? If it’s discovered, Kakka, you will…”
“What, if it comes to that, so be it. I have plenty of savings. I’ll just enjoy a leisurely retirement in the countryside.”
It seems that governments, no matter the country or planet, are not always monolithic.
Perhaps it’s the same everywhere: those unfamiliar with the front lines give absurd orders and torment those on site.
“But, how will you explain this to Her Majesty the Queen?”
“Of course, I will tell her everything. Her Majesty is a wise person. She’s different from those rotten council members.”
“Understood. Then, I will prepare the data for the council members and the data to be presented to Her Majesty.”
“I’m counting on you.”
And so, the individual known as Kakka skillfully persuaded the council members, organized a grand fleet, and it was decided they would head to Earth for an invasion.
Of course, he revealed everything to the Queen and was able to prepare a trump card, so preparations were perfect.
Having finished inspecting the star-faring ships, completed troop deployment, and finalized all preparations, Kakka departed for Earth.
◇◇◇◇
Around the time the grand fleet, vast enough to fill the sky, was heading towards Earth, Kazuma had arrived at Kurashige Industries.
In addition to it being an emergency, he had been told by not just the Prime Minister but also the leaders of various countries to do as he pleased, so Kazuma demanded Kurashige Industries’ full power.
“Alright, everyone! I’ve got the green light from the leaders of every country to do whatever it takes! This is a grand operation with Earth’s survival on the line! Everyone, unleash your power to your heart’s content!”
『YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!』
The beasts that should not have awakened, awoke.
Their true nature, which should have remained dormant, revealed itself, and the employees of Kurashige Industries stopped caring about Earth’s survival, becoming ecstatic at the chance to demonstrate the results of their research.
“K-Kazuma-kun! Th-this equipment here!”
“Hey, move it! Kazuma-kun, how about this weapon over here!?”
“You’re in the way! Kazuma-kun! About this armament…”
“You idiot! If the enemy are aliens, we’ll need robots!”
“Are you stupid?! It’s obviously spaceships!”
“How about a mobile fortress!?”
“Don’t you need a drill? How about a drill that will pierce the heavens?”
“We haven’t secured the idols yet…!”
“Should we go with headbands and bloomers?”
“Combining is romantic, so it’s essential, right!?”
“Let’s take the super Gravity generator!”
“Don’t you need a device to become a giant of light? It’s still in the prototype stage, though.”
The employees gathered around Kazuma, clamoring loudly, pushing their creations on him like children wanting him to use what they made.
Kazuma also wanted to use everyone’s creations, but unfortunately, he only had one body, so it was impossible.
That said, there were automatically moving golems, so that shouldn’t have been a problem.
However, Kazuma wanted to use them himself, so he didn’t entrust them to the golems.
“Well, we still don’t know if the aliens are actually coming to inva—”
Just as he was calming down the employees, a “Woo-woo” alarm blared, and Kazuma took a combat stance.
“What is it!? What happened!?”
“I-It’s terrible! Numerous unidentified flying objects in Earth’s orbit!”
“You don’t know the number!?”
“It’s a grand fleet so large it’s ridiculous to even try counting them!!!”
“”””””What did you say—!?””””””
When they checked Earth’s orbit on the giant screen installed at Kurashige Industries, an immense number of unidentified flying objects were floating there.
It was truly an encounter with the unknown. An unknown invasion. A scene of planetary invasion.
“Whoa~. Amazing.”
“It’s like a movie, isn’t it?”
“This isn’t the time to be impressed!”
As Kazuma and the employees were nonchalantly gazing at the spaceships, Ema, who had arrived at some point, yelled.
He was furious, wondering what they were playing at in such an emergency.
If that grand fleet were to launch a simultaneous bombardment, Earth wouldn’t stand a chance.
He felt like interrogating them for about an hour to see if they understood that, but there was no time for such things now.
Ema asked Kazuma if the defense system was complete.
“Kazuma-kun. Is the defense system I requested before complete?”
“Eh? I think it’s already done…”
Asked about the defense system, Kazuma glanced towards Shouzo.
Shouzo, the head of Kurashige Industries, informed Ema that the defense system was complete.
“Prime Minister. The defense system is complete, but…”
“But? What is it?”
“Deployment isn’t finished. The defense system we developed is a Barrier that envelops the entire Earth, but the Barrier Generators that serve as its origin points haven’t been deployed.”
“What…! Don’t tell me you’ve been playing around all this time!”
“No, deployment requires the cooperation of various countries, so we should have asked you, Prime Minister, to obtain their permission.”
“…J-Just wait a moment.”
Having been told this, Ema contacted Tsukimi and had her check the reports, learning that documents regarding the defense system from Kurashige Industries had indeed been delivered.
“My apologies. This is my blunder…”
“Well, it can’t be helped. We didn’t know they’d come so suddenly.”
“Even so, if only I had checked sooner…”
“Let’s save the ‘what ifs’ and ‘if onlys’ for later. Right now, it’s about what to do with those guys in the sky.”
“Um… Just so you know, we have a spaceship we built in Hawaii, so shall we try to intercept them with that?”
“…In Hawaii? What did you say?”
“There’s a spaceship in Hawaii.”
“Why?”
Ema also knew that Hawaii had been Modified Fiend-style by Kazuma, Kurashige Industries, and American craftsmen.
However, he hadn’t heard they had gone as far as building a spaceship.
Of course, they should have reported it, but no one had, because they never thought a day would come when they’d use something like a spaceship.
“…I’ll scold you later for neglecting to report it, but for now, I’ll praise you for a job well done!”
Failing to report was punishable, but Ema clenched his jaw, thinking he would gratefully make use of it now.
And at the same time, he was a little excited.
It was inappropriate for such an emergency, but knowing he could ride a spaceship, Ema recalled his boyhood.
If possible, he wanted to wear a white cap and become the captain, but Ema’s shoulders slumped at the reality that he would probably be a negotiator or an observer.
“Kazuma-kun. We’ll do our best to buy time through negotiations or whatever else. Could you deliver the Barrier Generators to each country?”
“Is it okay not to get permission?”
“Any country that hesitates in an emergency like this can be abandoned.”
“Isn’t that something you shouldn’t say?”
“Earth’s survival is at stake. Don’t worry about one or two countries.”
“That’s quite manly! Understood! Shouzo-san! Please guide me to where the Barrier Generators are stored!”
“This way!”
Kazuma stored the Barrier Generators in his subspace, Teleported Ema and the others to Hawaii, and then flew around the world by himself.