HPDBC Chapter 69
Chapter 69
“Today’s sky is amazing, Yuu-sama! You’re so lucky!”
“What’s so great about it!”
Due to the roaring wind during descent, we can’t talk in normal voices, so we communicate through helmet-mounted transceiver mics from the start. There’s no need to shout, but my voice involuntarily grows louder with the anxiety of skydiving, a task I’m not fond of.
Right after starting the descent, the feeling of being “whooosh!” inside subsides, and once our relative speeds match, we finally have the leisure to converse.
“Descent time is just over a minute. If they catch on, we’ll be toast with anti-aircraft fire.”
“So, it’s her turn as an observer?”
“Hey there~ Enjoying the dive?”
As Lieutenant Matoi comes forward from ahead, he grabs Hayami-san’s hand and perfectly matches our descent speed.
I hear it’s quite difficult to land where you’ve aimed during descent, but as expected, the parachuting team’s airborne training is part of their daily routine. They’re quite skilled.
“Being able to skydive while holding Yuu-sama like a baby... it’s like a dream...”
“I would’ve paid anything to avoid this punishment...”
“Such contrasting opinions~”
Lieutenant Matoi laughs as he takes out folding spotter optics from his diving jumper’s pocket and peers through his goggles.
“Target fleet spotted. Hm... There’s an advanced ship ahead. The Unknown-type vessel that was discussed in the pre-brief.”
“Excellent work. Io was Sniper Aptitude S during officer school.”
“I’ve sent the observation data your way. I’m counting on you, Madoka.”
Hayami-san and Lieutenant Matoi exchange brief words.
“Alright then, let’s do this.”@@@@
“Hey, are we seriously doing this?”
“Speed is crucial for this mission. We’re going!”
“So, the time for mental preparation is... Ahhhh!”
Hayami-san transitions from a prone position to a head-first freefall toward the ground.
This is what they call a head-down posture, and with the descent speed suddenly skyrocketing, I find myself screaming for the second time today.
“Hey! Don’t teleport sporadically, Hayami-san!”
During the descent, Hayami-san repeatedly teleports short distances erratically to dodge anti-aircraft fire from the enemy ship.
Every time, the sudden change in scenery makes it twice as terrifying.
“To prevent the enemy’s gunners from targeting me. Please bear with it, Major General Kamiya.”
[Yes. If Major General Kamiya and Lieutenant Hayami-san fail to sink the ship or get hit by anti-aircraft fire, I’ll just become a target for the enemy’s anti-aircraft fire, or I’ll have to commit suicide. Please]
“That’s quite a weighty statement!”
But if Hayami-san and I were shot down here, Lieutenant Matoi would descend helplessly over the sea with just a parachute, leading to a tragic end.
“Damn it! If you’re going to do this, hurry up and finish it! Commence weapon deployment!”
[This is a more haphazard deployment than usual, Master. The target is... Oh my, this is...]
“What the heck is that?! A real ship?”
Seeing the bizarre form in visual range, I inadvertently forget my fear of descent and blurt out in amazement.
“Could this be why our neighboring country has taken such an aggressive stance this time?”
Hayami-san, too, becomes engrossed unintentionally.
The appearance of a colossal whale-like floating battleship hovering about 100 meters above the sea is bizarre enough even just seen from above.
However, reaching this height in the visual range means the density of enemy anti-aircraft fire is about to increase, making it impossible for Hayami-san to avoid it with spatial teleportation alone.
[Target, large floating battleship ahead. Commencing attack!]
[Weapon deployment initiated]
Ships are fragile.
From experiences sinking multiple fleets of the same country three years ago, I had been optimistic about naval battles.
For an island nation like Japan, maritime supremacy is a matter of national survival.
Therefore, we aggressively reduced the naval forces of neighboring countries.
“They’re deflecting cannon fire from above! The floating battleship appears undamaged!”
Hayami-san reports the damage from the observation.
[Huh? Kon usually doesn’t misjudge enemy strength]
I silently speak to Kon in my mind.
Even the cannon fire has stopped.
We don’t usually conduct attacks for reconnaissance purposes.
Well, it’s fine since the enemy’s anti-aircraft fire has also ceased.
Saying so, Hayami-san teleports me to the roof section of the flagship aircraft carrier as per my instructions.
Since I dislike heights, I crouch down on one knee without looking down.
“Now then... What should I choose... Oh, since they’re from the neighboring country, I might as well use weapons of our own model. It would be easier for them to understand.”
Muttering to myself, I hold out my hand over the roof section of the bridge.
[Kon. Prepare Automata Continent-Made Series Torture Type.]
[Master, the Torture Type is, as the name suggests, a violation of international treaties.]
[Their own country has refused to ratify the treaty and continues to use it, so there shouldn’t be a problem if we use it too.]
[What are the targets and scope?]
[Targets are all fleet vessels. The scale should render the proud and robust hearts of the marines utterly useless.]
[Understood. Materializing Saturated Ritual Automata Torture.]
In front of me, just one meter away, a menacing combat quadruped automaton, equipped with sinister torture devices, materializes.
I can’t help but grimace at the sight, even though I created it myself.
The Torture Series automata were always blown away as soon as they entered my field of view in previous battles, so this is the first time I’m seeing one up close like this.
Ignoring my own discomfort, the automaton is generated as if on a factory production line, swiftly racing across the bridge and decks of the ship, filling every corner in moments.
Many misunderstand my Soul Armor ability.
They define my Soul Armor ability [Saturate] as something that overwhelms the opponent’s defenses with sheer numbers of cannon rounds and gun ports. But that explanation only scores half of the possible points.
Well, that’s exactly the misunderstanding I aim for...
“Those subjected to the Torture Series automata know full well the horrors they bring. Will they hold up much longer?”
I mutter towards the command center on the bridge, though no one could possibly hear.
[Saturate] is about imposing the utmost limit on an opponent.
It isn’t just about the number of gunports or rounds.
It’s about placing an unbearable mental burden that easily breaks a person.
Soldiers in this World War have seen death up close.
Therefore, many soldiers aren’t particularly afraid of death itself.
But they do hope to at least choose how they die.
Dying to protect comrades, or achieving significant results in battle before dying.
At least, they want to find meaning in their final moments, even if it’s self-satisfaction.
In that sense, the Torture Series combat automata I’ve just summoned, which are flooding the ship and attempting to dominate its enemies, are something that tramples upon human dignity.
They are the kind of thing that could make battle-hardened soldiers cry out and beg for mercy, overcome by despair and regret, unable to console themselves as they die.
“I’m back.”
“Oh, Hayami-san. You managed to retrieve Lieutenant Matoi safely.”
Hayami-san returns with Lieutenant Matoi in his arms, having used spatial teleportation.
“You’ve successfully destroyed the enemy’s large floating ship, Major General Kamiya. What’s next?”
Lieutenant Matoi swiftly removes her parachute on the bridge and asks for my next orders.
“Both of you, cover your ears. It’s about time.”
Seeing Hayami-san and Lieutenant Matoi cover their ears as instructed, I do the same.
(Boom! Boom!)
Along with the thunderous sound, a signal flare shoots up from the flagship.
“It’s a surrender signal in accordance with international law.”
“All fleet vessels have ceased their engines.”
Using weapons that violate international treaties while strictly adhering to international standards regarding matters that affect one’s own life—it’s a bit ironic.
It seems I’ve succeeded in saturating them with fear of a horrific death, causing them to abandon their military pride and duty.
[Kon. Temporarily suspend the Materialization Saturate Ritual Automata. Automata remains in idle mode.]
[Understood, Master.]
After instructing Kon to suspend the automata, I issue commands in the real world.
“Transmit the following message over open channels: ‘I commend the wise decision of your fleet commander. As you know, using what you have before your eyes inside the ship is a big hassle. We hope your surrender process goes smoothly. – Major General Kamiya Yuusuke, attached to the Joint Staff Headquarters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.'”
As Hayami-san types the message I dictated on a foldable keyboard from her pocket, Lieutenant Matoi busily coordinates with the airborne squadron leader via communication devices.
Shortly thereafter, transport aircraft from the airborne unit arrive overhead, deploying squadron members from the rear hatch.
The sight of parachutes blooming one after another in the sky as they descend is truly spectacular.
“Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I watched fireworks this year...”
I murmur to myself, gazing at the slightly cooler evening sky as the sun sets.