I had been entrusted with the military authority of the Duke House.
Almost immediately, I received a transmission from my wife, whom I hadn't heard from in a while. Her head and arms were wrapped in bandages.
"Lord Groom! It seems you've been doing whatever you pleased the moment I left you alone!"
"Um, does it hurt? Are you okay?"
"...That is exactly the problem."
"Huh?"
"That! Right there! You womanizer!"
"Gimme a break..."
"Hmph, it is not a significant injury! I merely fell when the floor shook and broke a bone. My bones are weak because of my Larval Fixation, you see!"
"You should be in bed."
"It is already mostly healed! More importantly, is it true the Duke was killed in battle?"
"His vitals stopped. I couldn't fulfill my promise to Ren."
There was a slim possibility that his sensor-equipped combat suit had malfunctioned or that he’d taken it off, but realistically speaking, he was dead. He didn't exactly seem like a resident of a gag manga world who could shrug off an explosion.
"What did Ren say?"
"She asked me to save her mother and younger brother. It actually hurts my psyche more that she didn't get angry at me..."
"It does no good to regret what cannot be changed. You must do your best with what is in front of you now."
"...Wife-chan."
"What is it?"
"I'm glad I married you."
"Naturally! After all, I am the finest woman in the universe!"
My wife’s mood improved instantly.
"So, Lord Groom. Do you have a plan?"
"Not really. My best bet is probably to wait and ambush them here."
The area was narrow, which gave us an advantage against the Crab-chans. The only downside was that it was also too cramped for us to use robots effectively. Still, it was better than nothing, especially since we had plenty of ballistic weaponry and ammunition.
"Understood. I shall devise a strategy on this end. Go and discuss things with Marma!"
I went to call for Lord Marma. Come to think of it, as the current head of my own house, I actually held a higher status than he did... No, let's not go there. I was afraid of being retaliated against later if I acted all high and mighty now. I made it a point not to do anything that might invite a grudge.
"Well then, I'll be off—"
Just as I was about to leave, Lord Marma arrived.
"Leo-sama! We found another one!"
Oh, please, no. Not another genre shift!
"...A Linear Blazer?"
"Yes, there was one more!"
"Then it is settled," my wife added over the comms.
You’ve got to be kidding me...
"Is there... a pilot's manual?"
I had to steel myself. It was the only way forward.
After parting with Lord Marma, I poured over the manual. It was essentially a single-seater. It did support a two-seater configuration, in which case the co-pilot would serve as the gunner for the Death Blaster. Since Claire was still feeling unwell, I decided to go solo this time.
The manual was peppered with archaic terminology. It felt a bit like I was doing archaeology. I used a translation app on my AR layer to decipher the text, verifying the results with the AI, but ultimately, I had to be the one to determine the actual intent of the sentences.
"Phew. Let's see... [This unit is a Jester-exclusive Machine.]"
I decided to pretend I hadn't seen that. Once again, the world was demanding a performance from this reaction artist. Go to hell!
Guided by the Corporal, I entered the train's cockpit. The controls were identical to my usual custom machine.
"The train segments are controlled by AI, huh."
As I read deeper into the manual, the true purpose of the machine gradually became clear.
"It's a transport craft."
The Linear Blazer was a transport craft equipped with offensive capabilities. That made sense. Normally, it would travel at full speed, and if a confrontation with the Zork became unavoidable, it would combine.
The Death Blaster could be used against enemies, but its primary function was to clear an escape route if the tunnel collapsed. I see, I see.
...Wait, I looked closer at the manual. It wasn't a [Death Blaster]—it was a [Tunnel Boring Blaster]! It was construction equipment!
Well... when it came to construction vehicles, I was the man for the job. I was a Humanoid Heavy Machinery User, after all! I’d even completed my Slinging Training last summer break!
I started the engine. It moved with a smooth, heavy hum. My piloting was definitely improving.
"Leo, I’m initiating the launch after the Combination Sequence is approved."
This time, Ren was supporting me as the mechanic. Claire was still bedridden; the doctor's diagnosis was overwork.
...I’m sorry, Claire. It’s my fault. I’ve put her through so many life-threatening situations lately that I’d forgotten to account for a normal girl's physical stamina.
"Leo? Please respond."
Oops, I was drifting off. I hit the button for Combination Sequence [Approved].
"Sequence approved. Let's head out."
"Combination will begin thirty seconds after departure. Launching."
The platform doors slid open, and the machine moved out.
"Infantry squads, deployment complete. Activating drones and turrets."
I didn't feel any G-force. It was surprisingly comfortable. As we smoothly exited the station into the larger tunnel, the combination process began.
"Commencing combination."
The combination of a giant robot was the height of romance. Asking whether it was actually practical was the pinnacle of boorishness. However, I still had to ask myself: Is the genre of this story bugging out?
The impact of the combination was minimal. With the satisfying clank-clank sounds I’d hoped for, the parts smoothly locked into place. With a heavy thud, the machine landed, and the combination was complete.
Suddenly, a transmission from an unknown source chirped in my ear.
"Who is this...?"
It was the Duke. He was still alive?
"I am a member of the Imperial Princess Veronica’s Personal Guard."
"...I see. I am finished. I can no longer feel my legs. ...I have a request. Protect Marma and my daughters."
"Understood."
"And do not allow them to make a clone of me. That is... an evil technology."
"I understand."
"Heh heh heh... You demons that rose from the ruins! Do not underestimate humanity! Guhahahaha! I’m taking you all with me! ...Ren, I'm sorry."
"The Linear Blazer my father is on is overheating... It’s going to explode!"
First, there was a blinding flash of light. Next came the physical impact. Almost simultaneously, a thunderous roar shook the tunnel. A massive plume of smoke rose in the distance, and the resulting blast wave kicked up a wall of soil. The crabs in the vicinity were instantly incinerated.
"Old man Duke!"
"Lord Groom! This is no time to be dazed!"
Major Piggett, piloting a Humanoid Heavy Machinery, shouted over the comms. I could see the next swarm of Crab-chans scuttling toward us.
"Right."
...Old man. You pissed me off by treating House Kamishiro as the enemy, but you were a man of your word at the end. I’ll make sure your final wish is granted!
"Steel Beam Ejection!"
Using the supply ejection system at the station, Ren sent me several heavy-duty construction steel beams.
What was I going to do with them? I was going to use them as clubs to beat these things to death!