“It appears they are evenly matched.”
“Indeed… To hold her own against Elena, the Progenitors’ golems truly are exceptional.”
On Hourai Island, Jin groaned as he stared at the magi-screen.
The Progenitors were a race that loathed conflict. Consequently, they had never constructed combat golems. This level of performance came from a mere assistant automata.
“How are our preparations?”
“Ready, My Lord. Pegasus 2 will arrive at the site in thirty seconds.”
The pilot of Pegasus 2 was, of course, Hope.
“Good.”
Once it arrived at the scene, Jin would send his Body Double to Pegasus 2 via the Warp Gate, and their preparations would be complete.
“I thought I could leave things to them if the enemies were at a normal level, but once the technology of the Progenitors shows up, it’s our turn to step in.”
“Your Doppel is ready, My Lord.”
“Alright.…Reiko, what will you do?”
Jin asked if she would stay by his side on Hourai Island or head out with the Body Double.
“I am going,” Reiko answered without a moment’s hesitation. “In my stead, I shall leave this child here.”
“Eh?”
Reiko held out an automata about thirty centimeters tall. She was a perfect miniature of Reiko.
“What is this?”
“Father used to call her ‘Mini Reiko.’”
“‘Used to call’… which means the me from four hundred years ago made her?”
“Yes.”
Since she had been made by the Jin who had recently traveled back four hundred years, it stood to reason that the current Jin had no knowledge of her.
“I thought it best to have her stay by Father’s side at times like these.”
“Father, I look forward to being with you.”
“Oh, she can speak?”
Reiko nodded.
“Yes. You could say this child is my Small Doppel; I am able to operate her remotely.”
“Heh… I certainly made something interesting, didn’t I?”
Reiko added that at this size, the doll could even slip into his luggage.
“I see. As expected of me.”
Jin found himself impressed in a strange way, wondering if this counted as self-praise.
“That’s all well and good, but I’d like to have Reiko wear some armor too.”
Even though Reiko was made of materials boasting world-class strength and durability, Jin felt that if he was sending her to a battlefield, she should have protection. He had made armor for her long ago, but because Reiko’s own performance was so high, she had only used it once.
“Father remade that for me previously as well.”
Reiko pulled out and showed him a breastplate, gauntlets, greaves, and a headband-style protector used to shield the forehead called a hachigane. The balance between the armor and her apron dress wasn't half bad.…Or so it seemed. Well, since both creators were Jin, the design sense was identical.
“The me from four hundred years ago… Good job!”
With that, Reiko equipped her armor and shouldered her beloved katana, Touka.
“Well then, I am off.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
Jin’s Body Double and Reiko moved to Pegasus 2 via the Warp Gate.
“It’s still pitch black out here.”
“However, the eastern sky is growing faintly bright,” the pilot, Hope, replied.
The time difference between Hourai Island and the Pandor Continent was roughly six hours. Here, it was likely around five in the morning.
“Father, I can see Noriji Lake below. I intend to provide support for Elena and then head toward Markitus’s base.”
“Understood.”
Reiko then leapt from Pegasus 2. Landing effortlessly from an altitude of about fifty meters, Reiko immediately sprinted toward the direction where Elena was fighting, taking the shortest path. Her output was at ten percent.
The shortest path meant a straight line. She sent any enemy golems obstructing her path flying. She rushed toward the location of Elena and the assistant automata. For the time being, Reiko decided to knock away the majority of the enemy golems that had been surrounding Elena.
The battle between Elena and the assistant automata had reached a stalemate. Elena’s sword and the assistant automata’s mace were both battered. Furthermore, both were covered in shallow wounds across their entire bodies.
<To think there is a skilled engineer even in this era.>
Having briefly increased the distance between them, the assistant automata spoke as if observing Elena.
“If you keep looking down on us forever, you’ll have the rug pulled out from under you, you know?” Elena sneered.
<That cannot be helped. It is simply how I was made.>
The assistant automata began swinging its mace like a windmill. It was obvious it intended to drive home a blow backed by tremendous speed.
<Shall we settle this now?>
(If I take that hit, I won't walk away unscathed...)
It was dangerous to even parry with her worn sword. She had no choice but to dodge. If a human were swinging it, there would be openings, but the speed at which the assistant automata swung was extraordinary. It was truly nothing short of a physical barrier.
<Here I come!>
The assistant automata stepped in while swinging its mace. Elena took one… no, three steps back. Elena’s golden hair fluttered in the wind pressure generated by the mace.
(This is bad at this rate...)
While retreating, Elena searched for a way to break the deadlock. However, no good ideas came to mind on this spot.
(If only it were a narrower space.)
But this was the shore of Noriji Lake—a flat plain.
(Right, if it were somewhere with poor footing.)
Thinking that the heavy assistant automata would be at a disadvantage in a muddy marsh, Elena retreated toward the lake. However—
<That tactic will not work.>
From behind Elena, enemy combat golems attacked. Forced to react, Elena had no choice but to head away from the lake.
<This is not a one-on-one fight, after all.>
(...This has become difficult...)
Three combat golems and the assistant automata—four enemies in total—pounced on Elena. She could handle the combat golems without issue, but if she focused on them, the assistant automata’s mace would close in.
Once, the mace Elena dodged grazed the head of a combat golem. In an instant, that golem’s head was crushed, and it was sent flying.
(I certainly don’t want to end up like that...)
The number of enemy combat golems was reduced to two, but Elena decided to focus entirely on evading the mace.
(If I can successfully lead that mace into hitting the enemy golems, I might have a chance at victory.)
Reducing the number of combat golems while simultaneously wearing down the enemy’s weapon—that was the tactic Elena adopted. It worked reasonably well, and she managed to eliminate the remaining two combat golems that were clinging to her.
<You are quite capable.>
Without stopping the rotation of its mace, the assistant automata spoke to Elena.
<But this is the end.>
Standing behind Elena now were five new enemy combat golems. If she moved forward, she would fall prey to the mace. If she retreated, she would be caught by the combat golems. The same applied to the left and right.
<It is over.>
The assistant automata slammed its mace toward Elena. Then, a dull metallic sound echoed with a heavy crunch…
The mangled mace shattered, and the five combat golems were blown away.
“You are…”
“Elena-san, leave dealing with this sort of rabble to me.”
The Jet-black Destruction Princess had descended upon the battlefield.