Those Whose Fangs Have Been Broken, And Those Who Still Have Their Fangs Bared
Today marked the third day since the UN Security Council inspection team arrived. The tour outside the city area began this morning. Until yesterday, explanations were given about the facilities in the city and how the lifelines functioned. It was also conveyed that all city facilities were open for free exploration and experience.
Several representatives visited the sports gym and shopping street, while others went to bookstores searching for books related to Ama no murakumo. There were many souvenir shops handling local products around the inn, and some representatives were seen shopping there. However, from around the second day, the escorts were no longer seen accompanying them. They went to investigate the interior of the battleship instead, which was their original mission. Over these two days, the representatives had come to realize that they were safe even without them.
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At the inspection team’s request, the first stop of the third day’s tour was the Magia Ritter hangar. From Ama no Murakumo’s perspective, even if they were seen, they couldn't be replicated, and since only registered pilots could operate them, the possibility of them being stolen was almost zero. In other words, according to Misaki’s concept; 'seeing it does not diminish it', a considerable amount of information could be openly shared.
“So these are the rumored mobile weapons, huh. The ones lined up on both sides of the runway are the same, right?”
“Yes, we call these Magia Ritter which means ‘magic-powered knights’. It's similar to the German words of this world, so some of you may have noticed it already.”
At Hildegard’s explanation, the German representative nodded contentedly. They had not expected their mother tongue to be used for this mobile weapon name, and instead, a question arose --- Why?
“Excuse me. I am speaking Hindi, but I understand your language. I thought you were speaking Hindi at first, but I noticed that the movement of your lips were different. Is this also magic?”
The Indian representative asked, and other representatives nodded in agreement. On the first day, when talking to the concierges in the inn’s lobby and visiting various shops in the city, golems were always present to assist them. However, despite the presence of representatives from various countries, explanations were completed in a single instance. They thought the golems might have used something like a universal language
“We use a form of communication similar to telepathy. It’s a magical technique called ‘transmission of will’, which allows us to understand the intentions and meanings contained in each other’s words and directly project the will we want to convey into your minds.”
In other words, they could communicate even with different languages. The representatives were convinced when Hildergard explained it was something like telepathy. However, when it comes to ‘nouns’ that have some kind of meaning attached to them, they were conveyed as fixed concepts. Names like the aforementioned Magia Ritter were an example of this.
“Excuse me, but is it possible to see the inside of Magia Ritter’s cockpit?”
The Chinese representative lightly raised his hand and asked. In a way, this was also a challenge to Ama no Murakumo.
How far would they reveal their hand?
Are they really going to show us the inside of such an advanced weapon system?
Hildegard understood his hidden intentions and accepted the challenge without a second thought.
"Then, ten of you please follow me, while the other ten, please follow Rosweisse. Now we will show you the inside of Magia Ritter's cockpit."
"““““Ooooh!!”””””
The Chinese representative had just scored a win ---- some of the representatives thought so, but the others felt strongly that Ama no Murakumo had no intention to hide it at all. Taking the elevator up to the maintenance passage of the chest block, they were guided into the cockpit of mass-produced model Magia Ritter ---- Gryph, which was under maintenance.
"Is it out of the question if I want to enter the cockpit?"
"Please take turns. You can even touch the control levers if you like. However, Magia Ritter cannot be operated by anyone other than registered pilots."
"How does the registration work?"
"That, of course, is classified information. But I can tell you that ‘those without magical power cannot be registered’.”
It was not a magic-powered knight for show, after all. When the inspection team had just arrived, their magic power has been checked in secret. The result was they were only at the average level for humans. To become Magia Ritter pilots, they would need at least magic power two orders of magnitude higher. Under no circumstances would Magia Litter be seized by them.
Then, after the explanation, the representatives, unable to contain their excitement, entered the cockpit in turn. Some even took commemorative photos, but no one reprimanded them. Meanwhile, the Russian special forces watched those representatives frolicking around Magia Ritter cockpit in disbelief.
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On the first day, the Russian special forces stormed in via the elevator. On the second day in the morning, they infiltrated using transport vehicles, and in the afternoon, they did not explore alternative routes but instead deliberately moved to seize the underground power distribution section of Manyo Pavilion, facing counterattacks each time and being completely wiped out. Then, on the third day, they infiltrated through a ventilation duct near the delivery gate in the sightseeing area.
This was quite difficult, requiring them to disable multiple alarm systems and surveillance cameras as they advanced. However, this infiltration was fully monitored on the bridge by Takeda and Chosokabe via monitors. Since the alarm systems and cameras had their disable levels lowered to match the infiltration team's capabilities, they were deactivated faster than expected.
"Commander, this is going quite well, don’t you think?"
"Even those combatants can’t launch an ambush inside the ventilation duct as expected. That’s it. Location-wise, beyond that should be the hangar."
Using the detailed map created over the past two days as a reference, it was impressive that they managed to reach the hangar on their own. Even Truss One showed a surprised reaction to this. Eventually, when they removed the mesh of the duct and stepped outside, they were greeted by a sight of Maria Ritters lined up for maintenance. The four soldiers immediately got into a combat formation, but when they spotted the representatives of various countries around the cockpit of a Margia Ritter about 20 meters ahead, the commander and everyone else could only stand there in disbelief.
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The Russian special forces members gathered at the feet of Margia Ritter. Looking up, they could see the representatives of various countries, as well as Hildegard and Rossweise, their tour guides.
"Why are all the representatives gathered here?"
"Today, we are touring the area outside the city sector today, and since these gentlemen wanted to see our Magia Ritters, I simply brought them here."
Hildegard explained it as if something natural. The commander knew about today's schedule, but he had never thought they would be touring Magia Ritter hangar of all places. Their hard work to reach this place went down the drain and the plan to take control of this place fell apart right before their eyes.
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"Hmm, I see.... The Russian special forces used the ventilation duct to infiltrate the hangar, huh. But how did they manage to remove the duct cover? Had it been loosened beforehand as a handicap?"
In the operations room below the bridge, I was checking the movements of the Russian special forces and the Chinese special forces along with Hildegard and Octa One.
If I were to sum up my impression so far in one word, it would be 'full of surprise'. On the first day, the Chinese special forces, one of the world's strongest, were easily neutralized like twisting a baby's hand. However, from the next day onward, the situation gradually became one that could not be taken lightly.
"No, we didn't give them such a handicap. They purchased necessary tools at a home improvement store in the city and used those."
"What? You could open it that easily?"
"*beep*.... The mobile battleship was built assuming various situations from the start. Even if someone tries to destroy the outer armor or internal frame artificially, it is considered impossible due to the material strength, but parts that can be maintained by human hands are close to Earth standards."
So they took advantage of that. Well, since whatever their plan in the hangar had failed before it even started, let's call it a draw.
"By the way, what happens to the Chinese special forces, which is still targeting the same location?"
"Earlier, Gerhilde engaged in a one-on-one duel with the enemy commander. Although technically she was at a disadvantage, she somehow succeeded in defeating him. However, the remaining troops had successfully infiltrated the power distribution facility while she was busy."
Hilde, don't make it sound like something trivial. Isn't that quite a serious situation?
"So, what happened next?"
"Gerhilde immediately went into the power distribution facility and neutralize them. Those soldiers have taken some footage of the facility, but she didn't retrieve it as an award for their outstanding performance. Currently, they have joined with the Chinese representative and are laughing."
"I guess they could only laugh. I wonder if they will try again."
"They have their own pride as soldiers. Tomorrow, it seem that China and Russia will carry out a joint operation to seize Ama no Murakumo bridge."
Scary!! They're coming here? But, am I mistaken, or have their goals and means switched?
"The commander of the Russian special forces said it was like the Expendables but with their lives guaranteed. He laughed and said it was perfect for training."
"Fine, bring Chuck Norris while they are at it. In the end, we are going to win, right?"
"That might be difficult.... He is the man who could make onion cry, right? Instead of pushing his body up and down when doing push-ups, he pushes down the earth itself, right?"
Don't believe in the Chuck Norris Factor! I mean, where did you even learn all of that?
"By the way, besides China and Russia, there is one more country that has not given up on their infiltration mission and moves independently."
"Oh, which country is that?"
"It's Japan."
I’m not showing favoritism, but it seems Japan is doing quite well. I wonder if he's a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Or maybe he's an elite soldier chosen specifically for this mission.
"Where is he and what is he doing now?"
"His whereabouts are.... unknown."
"*beep*.... It's embarrassing to admit, but we’ve lost track of him."
"Huh!? How is that possible? You have a perfect monitoring system over Ama no Murakimo's interior, right?"
"*beep*.... Currently, we have activated all motion sensors inside this ship and deployed all available Servants on a search mission. However, we have not yet able to locate him."
What the hell is going on? Is he a ninja or something? Is there really a human with such skills?
"For your reference, we have received reports from Gerhilde that this Japanese escort possesses combat abilities equivalent to the commander of the Chinese and Russian special forces."
"*beep*.... The Chinese special forces prioritize team operations, while the Russian special force prioritize solo missions. Had the SEALs participated, it would have been even more interesting."
"You sound rather happy. Oh well, just keep your attention for any change. For Truss One, I want you to analyze combat data of the Chinese and Russian special forces and provide feedback."
"*beep*.... Understood."
Even so, the combat power of a well-trained human is no joke. I thought the golem I made was a masterpiece, but there’s always something better. This means I need to strengthen not only the hardware but also the software.
"*sigh*.... 100% safety is sure hard to come by. Maybe I’ll take a bath."
When troubled or tired, a warm bath is the best. No doubt about it.
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The First Lieutenant Colonel of the Japanese Special Operations Group stayed still. He received an order from the Japanese government to deliver a letter to Misaki Tendou. However, he had to do so in utmost secrecy so that no foreign dignitaries notice, and preferably when she was alone.
On the day he arrived in Ama no Murakumo, he immediately left his escort duty and began investigating the city alone. Blending into the surroundings with natural movements, as if he had lived in this city since long ago. He strolled through the grid-patterned city blocks, visited shops, and made natural conversation with the golems, and so on. If this were a period drama, his skill might be described as the ‘Art of Human Disappearance.’ He blended into his surroundings so naturally that he attracted no attention.
On the second day, he disappeared from the city altogether. He didn't know where the surveillance cameras were, but sometimes he felt like being watched by someone. Relying solely on his intuition, he searched for ‘places where he was not being watched’ and hid there for the day. In the city without sunlight, clocks were the only way to tell time. But even that was turned off by him. Relying only on his senses, his heart rate, and the perceived time, he waited until nightfall.
On the third day, he started moving. Using ventilation ducts like the Russian special forces, he made his way up to the upper floor where Misaki was likely to be. Unlike the others, his mission was only to deliver a letter to her.
On the day I stayed at the hot spring inn, my intuition told me that there were 'people' who have been using the facility before we arrived. If my intuition is right, there's a possibility that one of them was Misaki Tendou.
Manyo Pavillion is a facility used by Misaki Tendou. Then during the inspection team's stay, she wouldn't be able to use it. If there's another similar facility, it would be on another floor.
Once again, he erased his presence. He then focused all of his senses to the utmost, in order to search for the place where Misaki Tendou was believed to be.