Arc 23: Incoming New Threat

Chapter 204: The Rampage, and the Red Deity of Destruction

How is it?(Touya)

The balance is slightly out of place, but it doesnt hinder the movements. The response time is faster than that of a black knight and its also easier to move(Elzie)

Elzie answers while moving [Gerhilde], the newly completed frame gear.

Gerhildes armor has been coated with crystal material. It wouldve become a completely transparent if all of it has been made with crystal materials, and it wouldve been very hard for allies to see her. Ive naturally tried to paint the crystal materials, but it didnt blend with [Modeling]. The paint has only ended up trapped inside the crystal materials. In the end, [Modeling] is merely a [Transformation] magic and not a [Fusion] magic. Though I think I couldve managed it somehow if I had used the same raw materials.

Therefore, Ive installed a thick crystal material on top of the special armor, making it a multi-layer armor. Gerhildes red color can be seen through the top layer of the armor underneath it.

Fuu!

Gerhilde punches the huge rock wall in the prairie and smashes it to pieces. At the same time, a stake that looks like a spear has been shot out along with a roar from the pile bunker that was equipped onto its arm.

The stake is instantly stored back in the arm after it crushes one of the big rocks that has been flown into the air. The other end of the stake pops out from the elbow.

Un, there are no problems with the pile bunker. It can shoot anywhere I aim. It looks like it can even destroy an intermediate class with a single blow

Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Those words cross my mind. However, Gerhildes movement can be surmised as killing something with one hit. Of course, this unit is above the black knight whether its power or speed.

Boost!

The vestiges of magic overflow from each part of Gerhildes multi-layered armor. It looks as if the unit is being clad in dim red light.

Gerhilde, having invoked strengthening magic, gets even faster with the attacks of both its projected fist and pile bunker, smashing the remaining rocky wall into smithereens.

How is it? Are there any irregularities with the body?(Touya)

It eats up a tremendous amount of magic power and stamina. I wonder if its not because this magic is from an emission system. It may be hard to use it consecutively(Elzie)

There seems to be no problem with the unit. Gerhildes light also disappears when Elzie cancels the boost.

Master, Ive finished collecting data(Rosetta)

A call from Rosetta, who has been monitoring from Babylon in the sky, comes in. This is the reason why Ive bothered going for a trial run in the prairie away from the castle.

All thats left is to adjust the frame based on this data so that we can make use of it during the production of the succeeding units.

Alright, were done. Thank you very much for your work, Elzie(Touya)

The hatch of Gerhilde that has stopped opens up, and Elzie jumps out from inside.

With this, the first completed unit is Elzies(Touya)

Whose unit are you planning to make next?(Elzie)

First of all, I want to prepare the units oriented mainly towards the battle. I guess next will be Yaes and Hildas units. Both are mainly proficient with swords, and their battle styles are also relatively similar(Touya)

It feels like Yae excels at offense while Hilda excels at defense. Elzies Gerhilde ended up being a bit tricky unit, but those twos units will likely be orthodox frames called warrior units or knight units.

A telepathy then comes from Kougyoku inside the castle while Im thinking of those things.

Lord. A message has come from the Hill-state governor of Rodomea(Kougyoku)

Oh, is it you, Kougyoku? Has the central state of Rodomea allowed the entrance of the frame gears?(Touya)

No, she is asking for help. I was informed that a considerable damage had occurred in the central state from what seems to be a rampage of armored wood golems(Kougyoku)

Come again!?(Touya)

Armed golems you say. Do you mean those fellows that the young bald Dr. Bowman has made!? Why again!? More than anything else, why at such time when an invasion of Frazes may happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow!?

I immediately send Gerhilde back to [Hangar], and we head towards the castle.

Im glad Ive given a gate mirror to the Hill-state governor Audrey-san for the times when something happens. She can get in touch with me in real time even though its only through a letter.

A number of armed golems seem to be certainly rampaging in the central state when I read the letter that had arrived at the castle, but the reason for that rampage is unknown.

In any case, lets go to the site and investigate. Elzie, it may become the first battle for Gerhilde. Will you be alright?(Touya)

No problem. The enemies are those guys from the pruning ceremony, right? It will be an easy victory for my Gerhilde(Elzie)

Ive heard a quite powerful reply. For now, both I and Elzie quickly hurry to the capital of the central state while saying we will go and look at the situation.

Whats going on?(Touya)

The beautiful baroque buildings have been smashed to pieces, and people are running about trying to escape.

Fires are rising from here and there, and black smokes are going sky high. Several huge armed golems are all over the streets. They are swinging their fists around, destroying the buildings. It looks just like a retro monster movie.

Hey, can you transfer those to somewhere else!?(Elzie)

Youre saying somewhere else, but where do you think I could send them to!? They will be a burden to whatever country I send them to!(Touya)

I reject Elzies suggestion. Of course, its out of the question to send them to Brunhild. Ive also thought about the ocean, but I dont think they will die because of that. I will be troubled if they manage to eventually land somewhere I dont know. I should send them to a hole of a volcano or something similar.

In any case, it will be bad if this continues. Lets transfer them to the plains a few kilometers from here. The damage to the town will be too great if we defeat them here.

There are twelve in total when I search for them via the smartphone. A dozen, huh? I transfer them to the plains all at once. The golems, who are destroying the city, disappear in instant.

This will buy us some time. Afterwards, we will go to the plains from here and just smash them there.

Your Majesty the Sovereign King!(Audrey)

As I turn around towards the sudden voice calling out to me, the state governor Audrey and the knight commander Limitt-san, along with their escorts, are coming down from the long stairs leading towards the gate of the royal palace.

State governor, what on earth is going on here!? Why are the armed golems destroying the city!?(Touya)

They went out of control. It seems Dr. Bowman did some unreasonable modifications to the armed golems. He was probably immensely frustrated because he lost to his majestys frame gear. As results, It failed. It seems he has ended up unable to control the golems(Audrey)

Haa!? That young baldy! Is he stupid!? For gods sake! What did he do that for!?

And, where is that Bowman!?(Touya)

His whereabouts are unclear. The statewide governor is desperately looking for him, but perhaps, hes already dead(Audrey)

I bring out a map with the smartphone and search for Bowman regardless of whether hes dead or alive. A red pin then falls straight down at single location. Wheres that?

Hes here. It seems hes alive(Touya)

This is an unused warehouse. Why is he in such a place? F-for now, go take him into custody(Audrey)

Haa!(Limitt)

Some knights start to hastily run through the streets by Limitt-sans orders.

The city has regained some composure due to the disappearance of the golems, but the fires are still burning. Shall I put them off for now?

Oh Rain descends, Pure Blessing, Heavenly Rain(Touya)

Magic power spreads towards the heavens and rain starts to drop even though there are no rain clouds in the vicinity. This is one of the ancient rain magics of the water attribute. I cast [Shield] overhead as a replacement for an umbrella to prevent getting wet. The fires should also disappear soon.

However, it suddenly starts raining like a squall. Oh my god, Ive overdone it!

I did the magic for the first time, so Ive miscalculated the amount of power needed. Its already flooding all around when I stop the rain. Ahahah. Well, it didnt turn out into something terrible since Ive stopped it quickly.

T-the fire has disappeared with this. All thats left is to rescue the wounded. We will go and clean up the golems that have been transferred in the meantime(Touya)

A-y-yes. I understand. Please take care(Audrey)

State Governor Audrey sees us off and we move to the prairie in the outskirts of the capital. A group of armed golems in front of us is heading towards the capital again. They are advancing with heavy footsteps.

I, having looked closely to them, can see that they carrying something dubious on their backs. I dont really understand it from the front, but its somehow identical to a plant. It appears as if theyve been fused. Is that Bowmans remodeling?

I open [Gate], and summon Gerhilde from [Hangar]. The earth rumbles as the crimson unit lands on the grounds of Rodomea.

Will you be fine by yourself?(Touya)

Leave it to me. They have just the right amount of opponents for a skirmish. Ill easily defeat them(Elzie)

Elzie says that and casually runs up the frame, opens the chest hatch, and gets inside the cockpit.

Well, a built-in escape magic is there, so itll probably be alright.

A quiet engine sound was raised as Gerhilde starts up.

Lets go, Gerhilde!

The Frame Gear, while having its back thrusters blow with a thud, turns towards the middle of the group of armed golems and rushes to them at once. The backlash of the thrusters magnificently whirls up a cloud of dust. Hey! She didnt forget I was here, I hope!? So crunchy. The dust has entered my mouth!

Oneeeee!

Gerhilde draws its fist while jumping up, and explodes it into the throat of the armored golem. The core thats in there gets crushed in one go with the pile bunker.

Twoooo!

Gerhilde deals a rotating kick to the other golem next to the crumbling one without even minding it, splitting the upper and lower bodies in two. It then completely crushes the core in the upper body that can no longer move.

The third golem who saw that extends stuff that looks like ivies from both its arms, trying to tie up both of Gerhildes arms. Suddenly, there were two vines of ivies intertwined between both the left and right arms of Gerhilde.

Mooveasi-i-ide!

Gerhilde swings her arms regardless and pulls the golem thats obviously bigger and her Elzie then throws it away towards the other golems with the centrifugal force of that momentum. What power, hey!

Boooost!

Being clad in red flare throughout the body, Gerhilde shifts into a higher gear and starts crushing the golems one after another. The pile bunker, that has been fired, crushes the cores of the golems, making their bodies rot away and scatter around.

That pile bunker is incredible. I kinda understand the feeling of those who call it a romance weapon. Everything is being broken into pieces from the front, its overwhelming in terms of both power and destruction. There is no need for small tricks here. Its an existence of a pure head-on power.

Crush Crush Crush Crush! Prepare yourselves to be smashed to pieces if you stand in front of me!

Waa. The tension is really going up.

Theres nothing that those crystal stakes jumping from both arms cant break. The crimson god of destruction crushes everything that stands in its way. The armed golems are being crushed one after the another as they crumble and become a rotting debris.

Smash!

Gerhilde pushes its right fist very high to heaven as if showing off its victory when the last standing armed golem gets broken into pieces. Shes unrivaled.

We didnt witness whatever that Bowman seemed to have remodeled. Oh well. Ive already said that it was a failed remodeling.

The results are better than what Ive expected nevertheless Moreover, thats not even its full power.

Ive managed to obtain a strong ally against the advanced classes.

I then think of that while looking at the shining red unit.