◆ Nation of Normitz, Southern Region, Taharak Plains, Sky Cannon Satellite Base ◆
“Why do you rise up despite being unchosen?”
I find myself pinned beneath a Powered Suit belonging to that bull, Taurus. My head would crush like a tomato under its weight. I charged in with bravado, but the sheer power of the suit overwhelmed me. Over there, that half-fish man, Pisces, is dancing through the air, effortlessly kicking and dodging while facing Eeks. Gemini, who is up against Tiferia, splits into two, flanking her and unleashing electric bursts.
In my case, I can’t even make this guy show off any special abilities. Once again, I’m embarrassing myself in front of Kou and Bun. I really don’t want to show them any more of my pathetic side.
“If you lack strength, you should give up and pursue another path. Without a Powered Suit and with weak skills, is it fun to struggle while looking up at the strong?”
“Y-You figured that out well, huh? That I’m looking up.”
“If you’re watching, it’s obvious.”
Though I’m in a dire situation, this is exactly what I was aiming for. If I fought him head-on, I’d be annihilated in an instant, but as expected, he’s underestimating me. After all, even a group of B-rank Adventurers would struggle to defeat a Floor Monster. To him, I’m just a speck that could be blown away.
“You’re probably happy as long as you’re receiving praise for taking on low-level requests. But as time goes on, greed will inevitably arise. Look at those Adventurers over there; they’re being fawned over. Above them are those called heroes, and wherever they go, they’re lifted up.”
Though I can’t see it from being pinned down, I think I caught a glimpse of Eeks fighting. He’s probably the only one around here who’s truly called a hero.
“Think about it. While there are those called heroes, here you are, lying on the ground. Doesn’t it feel empty?”
“…It does. But I once lamented at a drinking party that I couldn’t show weakness, that I couldn’t run away. I even went missing for a while because I hated it so much.”
“Even if you show a little weakness, there are plenty of women who will comfort you with golden voices. But look at you; a commoner like you was never expected by anyone. No one will even notice if you show weakness. What about that man? Even after disappearing for a long time, he walks through the Royal Capital as a hero.”
Even after being gone for so long, once he returns, he’s a hero again. As he said, exceptional people are envied no matter what they do. Everything about them is affirmed. It’s only natural to think it’s unfair. If someone says I’m not putting in enough effort, then that’s that. But if everyone could become a hero through effort, then everyone would be one. No matter what those with achievements say, it seems unfair from the perspective of a twisted commoner.
This bull-headed guy really understands me. He’s grasped my feelings and the emotions I’ve passed through. From the sound of his voice, he seems to be quite the old man. If he’s reached this level while being an old man, then he must be something else.
“So you were just like me, huh?”
“But I was chosen.”
His voice, which had a hint of age, suddenly gained vigor. It was the moment he claimed to be part of Metallica’s elite squad.
“The candidates for the Zodiac are a total of 5,000. The gate was narrow, but I was chosen. This Powered Suit is a symbol of Metallica and a representation of strength. Wearing it means I embody Metallica. So, being compared to you is unacceptable.”
“Hey, hey, my bad. I’m just a nobody who won’t be chosen anyway.”
“Then why do you strive? Why do you expose your own disgrace by opposing Metallica in this battle that brings you no gain?”
“Why, you ask? It’s because I’ve long since passed that point. Kou, Bun.”
Why is there a spear rolling right next to me? He doesn’t get it at all. If he were just like me, he would understand the tenacity of weeds.
Whether my signal reached them or not, Kou and Bun lift the spear together. With a lever-like motion, they manage to hook it against the large foot that’s casually stepping on my face.
“Ugh!”
By the time I realized, it was too late. The spear that had been rolling beside my head was lifted by the two of them, causing one of Taurus’s feet to rise. Given his massive size, normally, two kids wouldn’t be able to budge him, but their training made the difference. It wasn’t just me who was influenced by Lua. They’ve been training diligently every single day. Their levels have risen too.
“Whoaah!”
That round body was magnificently toppled, rolling down the hilly plains. Due to its shape, it kept rolling without stopping, finally bouncing once before the long horns on its head plunged into the ground.
“Ugh! I can’t get out!”
“Don’t underestimate the growth speed of a weed that wasn’t chosen. That’s how you get your feet swept out from under you.”
“Let’s call this a reversal of fortunes!”
“That’s right, old man!”
【Ord’s Sky Trust! Unable to deal damage to Taurus!】
“Hmph, fool! Something like that… W-What?!”
From its appearance, the Powered Suit is heavily armored. With my skills, I couldn’t even leave a scratch. However, I could insert the spear into the joint. The area connecting the left shoulder and arm of the round bull, which was buried headfirst in the ground, had thinner armor. It’s only natural that the joints would be weaker; without gaps, the arms couldn’t move. So, it was unavoidable that the joints were vulnerable. Yes, if I could insert the spear, I could immobilize its arm.
“Get off me! You, you! Do you think something like this can stop a Powered Suit’s movement?! Fumooooo!”
“You’d better not force it too much. I had to struggle to buy that spear. It’s too heavy for me to handle, but it’s made of Zircon. You know it’s said to be the second hardest after Orichalcum, right?”
“Ngghhh!”
――――Crack!
The spear wedged in my grasp was now cracked and useless. But at the same time, his joint was finished. Due to the excessive force, the part from the shoulder down had completely come off, leaving the inner arm exposed. To allow for movement, the connecting part was indeed somewhat fragile. I don’t know who developed the Powered Suit, but they probably never anticipated that a Zircon spear would get stuck in it.
“Ugh, ugh! What a disaster!”
“Well, it’s shorter now that it’s broken, but the blade part is still intact. I wonder what will happen if I stab your arm with this?”
“Stop! Please, don’t!”
I hesitate on whether to actually stab him, but I can’t move forward without incapacitating him. Perhaps out of fear of me inching closer, Taurus, unable to move, swings his exposed arm to push me away.
“I have no personal grudge against you, but it can’t be helped.”
“Everyone! Get away from here!”
【Gemini’s Dual Magnetic Field!】
There’s no way we could escape in response to Eeks’s shout. It was only after the twins’ Powered Suits attacked us diagonally that I realized we were in trouble.
【Hast’s Thunder Guard! Lightning attribute attack nullified!】
“What?! Our Dual Magnetic Field was blocked?!”
“Don’t underestimate a sage. I’ve already seen through your favored attacks.”
So cool, I’m in love. I want to say something like that just once. Still, to nullify such a large-scale attack is a feat that few can achieve even when looking at the world from above. Truly, a sage.
“I’m sorry, Lord Hast. They’re just so fast…”
“What’s happening to us?!”
【Dealt 4506 damage to Gemini! Gemini has been defeated! HP 0/2222】
“Looks like we were just a bit too late.”
It’s true that without Lord Hast, we would have been in danger. But it was almost simultaneous; I have no idea what skill Tiferia used to attack. The moment they seemed to freeze in mid-air, they fell like exhausted bugs. They’re definitely dead. Because of the Powered Suits, I can’t tell what’s happening inside, making it all the more eerie.
“Now it’s just you left, Pisces.”
“Y-You! How can you be so strong?!”
“I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
“He’s asking, ‘How did you gain such strength?’ It’s a natural question since you’re struggling against him, Eeks.”
From across the plains, Meria flew in with her arms crossed. I won’t comment on her magic, but seriously, where has she been?
“Meria! Where have you been?! You said you’d take care of things!”
“Ord was getting fired up, so I just… couldn’t help it…”
“Ah… well, that’s true, but still!”
“Fufu… you’re quite the handful.”
I couldn’t quite understand what was happening, but despite being alone, Pisces had regained his composure. Eeks, Tiferia, Seigel, and Lord Hast were all there, along with Meria. There was no way he could take on such a formidable group by himself.
Just as I felt a smirk from Pisces, something massive began rolling toward us. A fluffy, cotton-like mass was tumbling forward. As it drew closer, its size and details became clearer. The fluffy ball was enormous enough to crush several houses, and entangled within it were numerous people. They were dressed in some kind of traditional attire, likely nomads traveling through this area. The fact that they were caught up like that meant they could be considered hostages.
【The Weaving Demon Hair (Aries) has appeared! HP 7780】
“Hey, you seem to be struggling, huh? I’m sleepy over here, you know? Without me, you wouldn’t be able to do anything at all, would you?”
Someone from within the fluffy mass spoke. Wait, is this also a Powered Suit? What on earth is going on? One thing was clear: this was the moment the Zodiac was truly unleashing its power. It was only natural to have hostages, and it was equally expected to see people groaning and on the verge of death.
“Please, help us… We never intended to tarnish your pride… We just want to live quietly in harmony with nature…”
“Chief, you won’t die because you haven’t done anything, right? Are you really living in nature? If you live long enough, things like this happen, you know?”
“I can tell just by hearing your voice that you’re human. You must have human blood flowing through you…”
“Ugh! Nooo!”
As I watched the chief struggling and being constricted by the tangled hair, my anger surged, but I felt utterly powerless. What would you do, Rua? If I attacked carelessly, the hostages would be caught in the crossfire. Rua, you will stop the Sky Cannon, right? Rua.
◆ Kingdom of Metallica, Metal Tower 4th Floor, Space Colony Laboratory ◆
The Seraphim, Princess Kram, and Platiu had all stopped moving. I managed to hold the three of them back with my arms wide open, contemplating our escape. I could use my sword to propel myself with Sonic Boost, but with the three of them in front of me, I couldn’t charge forward. I couldn’t risk crashing them into the wall.
“…! …!”
Platiu seemed to be in distress. She appeared to be struggling inside her suit, and her frantic movements were anything but normal. What on earth was happening?
“I’ve cut off the oxygen supply to that brat over there. She won’t last long. Rua, aren’t you reaching your limit too?”
What have you done? How many times has my blood boiled today? But I couldn’t afford to be angry; Platiu could die. No matter how much healing power Klinka had, there was nothing to be done if she ran out of air. Finding a place with oxygen was my top priority.
“Lua-chan, if these two get hurt, I’ll heal them right away, so charge at the wall.”
“R-Right. I can communicate thanks to Meria’s magic.”
“Yeah. I couldn’t hold back and jumped out, but it looks like the situation was already resolved… As expected of you, Lua-chan.”
“Then let’s do this.”
I cradled Platiu and Princess Kram under my arms, with Klinka positioned at the front. This meant Klinka would be the first to crash into the wall. Normally, I would never do something like this, but I couldn’t hesitate when two lives were at stake. Corin, remember that you made me do this.
――――Boost!
I charged toward the door where Terrace was, aiming for the path we had come from. With me in charge, doors and walls were no obstacle. I burst straight through the door and into the corridor where I had been trapped. The entire corridor was flashing red, and a loud alarm blared, threatening to pull me back with tremendous force.
“W-What?!”
“I’ll fix it right away!”
Klinka quickly repaired the broken wall and door, managing to hold our position just in time. She had restored the ground during the Noibranz incident as well; I wondered just how far Klinka’s regeneration could go. It was far more frightening than my own destruction.
◆ Kingdom of Metallica, Metal Tower, Underground 4th Floor, Corridor ◆
“That was a close call. The zero-gravity space is the same environment as outer space. I won’t go into the detailed principles, but connecting this place to that space carelessly could lead to serious consequences.”
“Terrace, I’m glad you’re safe.”
Terrace stood with his arms crossed behind his back, welcoming us in the corridor. As always, he showed no signs of panic.
“I watched your battle on the monitor provided here. That broadcast suddenly stopped, didn’t it? It’s likely that Corin had to cut it off after making an inconvenient remark.”
“So Corin is in a tight spot too.”
“More importantly, how’s Platiu?”
“She’s fine, look.”
I removed the headpiece of the suit, and although she had lost consciousness, she was still breathing. Klinka had made it just in time. It wasn’t just this time; Klinka had truly saved me. I had said I would save everyone, but just like with the poison gas incident, I couldn’t have done it alone. I now felt the significance of fighting back-to-back even more clearly. I could say with certainty that I was grateful to have met Klinka. Thank you for doing what I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let myself feel down about my lack of power. After all, there was no greater happiness than fighting alongside Klinka.
“Hmm, as expected. What about the Seraphim?”
“I’m not sure…”
“Let me see…”
As Terrace approached the Seraphim, I too remained on guard. If she suddenly got up and attacked, it would be a disaster. He examined the Machine Maiden thoroughly, scratching his chin repeatedly.
“Princess Kram is conscious. There is no influence from the Seraphim.”
“S-So she just hasn’t done anything?”
“Indeed. She was actively engaged in combat until just a moment ago. This might be due to Platiu’s influence. These two were quite close.”
“Eh?! No, would it be rude to be surprised…?”
“She was quickly separated from Corin and Genia. For a brief time, Princess Kram had no other experience of playing with someone close to her age.”
Platiu wobbled as she got up and clung to the Seraphim. She gently tapped the Seraphim’s helmet and leaned in closer. The silver head of the Seraphim moved slightly, as if it were observing Platiu.
“…Platiu-chan.”
“Yeah?”
“I fought, but it didn’t go well. Do you think Teacher will be mad at me?”
“He won’t be mad.”
Teacher, the educational advisor to Princess Kram and one of the Steel Five. I had no idea where he was now. Still, Princess Kram’s voice seemed devoid of inflection, almost mechanical.
“Being thrust into a position of power without understanding, and becoming a puppet of the adults, can lead to this. During a crucial period, her self-awareness didn’t develop, and she acted as she was told. Teacher seems to have done his best, but unfortunately, Genia and Corin’s factions were too strong.”
“So, Princess Kram is already…?”
“Once the time and environment are right, there should be no problem.”
“…I can’t forgive this.”
The Kingdom of Avangarde sent Tiferia to attack Ikana Village, and I spent ten years in the Abyss Cave. I can only say that my life has been fulfilling because of the results I have now. I can’t count how many times I nearly died; perhaps I was already dead at some point. Ultimately, it was the adults, far older than me, who pushed me to that brink.
It was true that a monster named Belmund was at the center of it all, but regardless, someone had distorted my way of life. Princess Kram may be different from me, but we both share the experience of being messed up by adult circumstances. There could have been joyful moments ahead, and there’s no way they have the right to take that away. I can never forgive them for stealing our future.
“Platiu, from now on, stay by Princess Kram’s side. I believe only you can help her reclaim the time she lost.”
“…Okay.”
From the shadow of Platiu’s downcast face, I could sense emotions that were neither anger nor sadness. Platiu placed her hand on the Seraphim’s headpiece and easily removed it. The eyes of Princess Kram revealed nothing. For now, she was alive, and that was all that mattered. Even after being subjected to such treatment, she had lost the ability to feel anything. Terrace was right.
“Truly, truly, Princess Kram’s heart is…”
“Platiu-chan.”
Princess Kram murmured softly, placing her hand on the Seraphim’s helmet. She rose and offered the very thing she had been wearing to Platiu with her small hands.
“Here, you can have this.”
“Eh…?”
“A present. Daddy and Mommy celebrated it. I want Platiu-chan to be happy too.”
“Platiu wants the Seraphim?”
“I thought she might like it.”
The headpiece of the Seraphim, light enough for a small child to hold, was offered to Platiu, who tilted her head in confusion.
“Oh… I see. It holds memories of your late parents, doesn’t it?”
“You’re tracing back to the happy memories, and you’re hoping Platiu will feel the same. Lua-chan, there’s still hope.”
Platiu gazed intently at that hope, then gently placed her hand on it.
“Thank you. That makes me happy.”
Platiu, who usually spoke little and sometimes had a sharp tongue, expressed her gratitude. Though Princess Kram didn’t smile, her eyes remained fixed on Platiu. It was the moment when the strongest Machine Maiden, surpassing even Crimson, became Platiu’s.
“I’m taking it off.”
“I’ll help.”
As Princess Kram attempted to remove the Machine Maiden she wore, Platiu assisted her. It was a quiet moment for the two of them; even if it was brief, I decided not to disturb them.
“Does it suit me?”
“It suits you, it really does. Platiu looks much more at home in that. I want something like that too; it looks so cool.”
“Lua-chan, you look great in what you have on now.”
“Really?”
I realized I was being flattered when I saw Platiu, who hadn’t yet donned the headpiece, smirk with a hint of sarcasm. Not cute at all.
【Platiu has equipped the Seraphim! HP 25000】
“Boom!”
It suits her, it really does.
◆ Shin Report ◆
To be confined and unable to move freely is the fate of those born into royalty.
If born into a wealthy family, one becomes wealthy.
If born into a poor family, one remains poor.
People cannot choose how they are born.
Kram, the poor child.
However, if Shin were born a demon, he would be even more unfortunate and pitiful.
One should be aware that there is a poor child here, burdened with a cruel fate.
This is an opportunity to be kinder to Shin.
Alright, let’s use this as leverage.
Kram and Shin seem to share some similarities.
Foolish pair; they could easily turn into monsters.
In this route, even the pudding buns can be obliterated.
Hope is beginning to take shape.
Monster Compendium
【Sky-Leaping Fish Scale Warrior: Pisces HP 4990】
Zodiac, a powered suit modeled after a merman. Originally developed for underwater use, it can move as if kicking through the air thanks to its specialized boost. The Stun Trident delivers tens of thousands of volts to its target, ensuring their demise.
While the small missiles embedded in the chest and arms are limited in number, they pack a powerful punch. Additionally, the plasma spear generated inside reaches its target at the speed of light.
Capable of both close and long-range combat, it is still one of the more challenging powered suits to handle, especially in underwater battles.
【Crushing Bull Armored Man: Taurus HP 8700】
Zodiac, a powered suit modeled after a bull. Designed with a focus on armor and weight, it can subdue enemies with minimal movement.
When attacking, it can instantly boost its speed, operating efficiently with low energy consumption. Its armor is so robust that it can withstand attacks from the dragons of Dragon’s Valley with hardly a scratch. Its primary attack method is a charge using its boosters, but with consecutive accelerations, it can rampage and destroy any obstacles in its path.
While it can establish a stronghold due to its weight and armor, it sacrifices speed, necessitating support from allies.
【Counter Twin Star Magnet: Gemini HP 2222】
Zodiac, not modeled after anything in particular. This powered suit operates in pairs, capable of generating an electromagnetic field.
It creates this field diagonally between the two suits, enabling large-scale attacks. Naturally, it requires two operators, demanding exceptional coordination and synchronization, making it one of the most selective suits in terms of compatible users. Additionally, if either suit sustains damage, its functionality diminishes significantly.
Rather than being combat-oriented, it serves more as a mobile electromagnetic field generator.
【Life-Weaving Woolen Beast: Aries HP 7780】
Zodiac, a powered suit modeled after a sheep. It generates a special fiber wool room within the suit, which can be deployed.
Not only does it provide protection against cold and heat, but it also excels at capturing enemies. Once ensnared, the multiple layers of fiber make escape impossible. The more one struggles, the more entangled and pained they become.
The wool room can reach a diameter of over 100 meters, but in exchange, the powered suit itself is as weak as a sheep that has been sheared.
Given its focus on the wool room’s capabilities, it is arguably the most defensively superior suit among the Zodiac.