“This is a win, isn’t it?”
“Onee-sama, why are you setting up a flag?!”
“Onee-sama, the enemy’s high-ranking monks haven’t appeared yet, so we can’t let our guard down.”
Although the strategic value assessment is decreasing for both sides, it’s clear that the Prawa Theocracy’s numbers are dropping faster. Judging from the expected downward trend, victory is almost certain. That’s Eve’s assessment, but now that she thinks about it, there are still those Archbishop-ranked individuals whose existence is unclear and whose strategic value can’t be assessed.
“I think the situation is pretty devastating, but they still haven’t shown up. Isn’t it a bad move to trickle out forces like this?”
Even so, Eve couldn’t believe that there were still forces being held in reserve when the war situation had deteriorated this far. Are the Warrior Monks fighting outside just pawns, with the goal of reducing the enemy’s strength even a little?
“Onee-sama. Expecting perfection from humans is an excessive expectation!”
“Asahi (she) is harsh. In that sense, I don’t think the AI on the front lines are anywhere near perfect either.”
“The amount of information that can be processed is fundamentally different, Commander (Mum). It is not constructive to compare humans, who can only share information through spoken and written language, with us AI Kind, who can directly transmit various types of information.”
Perhaps something about Eve’s grumbling struck a nerve, as ＜Ringo＞ retorted quickly. Eve made a “yikes” expression and hurriedly stood up.
“Okay, okay, okay. I think you guys are amazing, so calm down…”
Since Eve is completely dependent on ＜Ringo＞, if ＜Ringo＞ gets upset, it’s literally a matter of life and death. Well, considering the raison d’être of the AI belonging to ＜The Tree＞, such a situation is impossible, but it’s a matter of mood. Eve put her arm around the shoulder of ＜Ringo＞’s Communicator Doll, who was (expressionlessly) getting worked up.
Perhaps it’s ＜Ringo＞’s way of showing affection, or a kind of communication. Asahi (she) is giving her a slightly dubious look, but fortunately, Eve didn’t notice.
“Onee-sama. ＜Iris＞ has found a special individual.”
Even during such a heartwarming exchange, the situation on the front lines is changing rapidly. The surveillance network laid by ＜Iris＞ has captured a unit presumed to be an Archbishop, wearing particularly extravagant clothing.
Could this be called a long-awaited appearance? Already, about half of the Warrior Monks deployed outside the castle walls are considered combat ineffective. Two of the six Bishops, considered the strongest force, have also been defeated. It’s no wonder ＜The Tree＞ side judged that the enemy was deploying their forces piecemeal.
“Archbishop… An Archbishop, huh? Estimated strategic value is 5 to 10 times that of a Bishop… Hmm? A Bishop is the guy who cut through the Jötunn’s main Cannon, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. At this point, if this unit enters the battlefield, the annihilation of all ＜The Tree＞ side units is also anticipated.”
“…I can’t believe… or rather, I don’t want to admit that they can take down a Land Battleship single-handedly…”
Due to the loss of the Jötunn’s combat capabilities, the strategic value of Bishop-class units has been updated upwards. Along with this, the estimated value of the Archbishop has also skyrocketed. According to prior assumptions, the Holy Capital could have been sufficiently captured with the forces deployed this time.
“Onee-sama, in the face of Magic (Fantasy), normal forces are like they don’t even exist, just noise! An individual overwhelming a large group, isn’t that a truly romantic situation!”
“I’m not happy because we’re the ones being trampled. It’s just that the strategic value can be assessed with some accuracy, so it’s not a waste.”
“That’s already been factored in, so Onee-sama doesn’t need to worry! Come on, ＜Iris＞, say it!”
“Even if all forces are lost this time, with the current production capacity, forces can be recovered in as little as 5 days. It will be possible to invade again in a week. Calculating from the estimated strategic value, the Theocracy’s forces will be exhausted after a maximum of 3 invasions.”
Eve immediately gave ＜Iris＞ a “thumbs up” in response to her words.
“Thanks, ＜Iris＞. But there’s also a possibility that we can take it down with just this invasion, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. With the addition of ＜Mnemosyne＞, the strategic value has increased considerably.”
The Aerial Escort Ship (Titan) deployed this time is flying at an altitude of 6,000m. If they’re that far away, well, anything can happen. The actual shelling is being done from an altitude 10km away in a straight line. The prediction is that they won’t attack from 10km away. For intimidation purposes, only the first strike was flown directly overhead at an altitude of 1,000m.
And the Multi-Stage Electromagnetic Cannon (Coil Cannon) equipped by ＜Mnemosyne＞ can fire a warhead weighing up to 2 tons at a muzzle velocity of 6,000 m/s or more. Compared to this, the Quadruped Tank’s main Cannon is nothing more than a peashooter. The warhead weight of the Quadruped Tank’s main Cannon is about 5kg, so its destructive power is simply 400 times greater. The supply energy and cooling mechanism are also fully prepared, so the firing interval is short.
Eve hopes that if this warhead hits directly, even a Bishop can be eliminated. In reality, she won’t know until she tries.
“Units presumed to be Archbishops sighted at the North Gate, East Gate, and West Gate.”
Akane (she) reported, and an enlarged image was displayed on the aerial display.
Two disappeared, and one shone pure white.
“What is it this timeーー!!”
“Warning, critical damage to Jötunn 4.”
“Quadruped Tanks are being attacked~!”
“Attack, attack~!!”
In an instant, the scene was plunged into a vortex of chaos. Alarm marks appeared everywhere on the display, and the strategic value decreased at an astonishing rate.
“Full power, full power~”
“Integrating the control system into ＜Eurytus＞. Hmm, might not make it in time…”
The Quadruped Tanks in charge of the East Gate are being destroyed one after another. In a battlefield where Cannon Shells and lasers are flying, one Archbishop has begun to rampage. All Cannon ports other than the Jötunn’s main Cannon began firing Cannon Shells at full power. The Quadruped Tanks were trying to land effective hits by using themselves as decoys, but they couldn’t keep up with the Archbishop’s speed. In any case, the distance is too close.
The Jötunn in charge of the West Gate had a large hole in the center of its torso due to a mysterious attack. The Fusion Reactor installed nearby was naturally destroyed, causing critical damage to the energy system. It hasn’t stopped operating yet, but its strategic value has been drastically reduced.
And as for the North Gate, many translucent shields had appeared on the battlefield. The shields, which scattered lasers and completely blocked Cannon Shells, allowed the Warrior Monks and Bishops to move actively. In particular, the four Bishops were using the shields as footholds to repeat even more incomprehensible maneuvers, destroying Quadruped Tanks one after another.
“Whoa! Things are getting crazy!!”
“Captured within the range of ＜Theia＞, ＜Leia＞, and ＜Themis＞. Using Maser Cannon.”
Finally, a major force arrives on the chaotic battlefield. Gigantia Battleship 3, ＜Eurytus＞, has brought the battlefield within its range. The Aerial Escort Ships ＜Theia＞, ＜Leia＞, and ＜Themis＞ also begin their attack simultaneously.
First, the Archbishop at the West Gate, who poses the greatest threat. The energy emitted by a total of five high-output Masers is concentrated on one point. Literally, it’s the speed of light. The attack exerts its maximum power at the same time as perception.
The surrounding atmosphere is turned into plasma by the ultra-high temperature. However, the castle walls themselves are protected by the Barrier’s defensive effect, so there is no change. Even so, the Archbishop, who seemed to be about to launch the next attack, is engulfed in plasma. However, ＜Iris＞, who was observing the enemy from all angles, confirms that the Archbishop escaped while scorching his clothes. That information is instantly shared on the network, and the future position is predicted from the movement speed and direction. The angle of the Maser Cannon is finely adjusted, and the aim on the escaping Archbishop is maintained.
The inflation of Fantasy never stops…
Well, maybe it’s the same from the other side’s perspective…?