3.
As mentioned before, what the military primarily seeks in weapons is not uniqueness that only a person with special talents can use, but versatility that can be used even by those without special talents.
Although the most important issue is whether one is compatible with the magic crystal to use the machine, which does rely on talent, it’s the minimum required aptitude, and it’s somewhat better than relying on just one person.
In short, what I’m trying to say is that the hybrid type I use, which underwent special growth in a single battle, has been evaluated as unsuitable for mass production.
If it had grown gradually over multiple battles, they could have observed the process, recorded it, and applied it elsewhere. But it grew—or evolved, as those involved call it—significantly all at once.
Therefore, the evaluation that it can’t be a model case for mass-produced machines is quite correct.
However, even if it can’t be mass-produced, a machine that can defeat a large number of monsters, including four large ones, on its own has grown even further. It’s very reasonable to want to test its performance.
Under such circumstances, I would normally be sent to the front lines again without delay, but this time, Mogami-san apparently stopped it.
Well, I had just blown up at them before, and moreover, even Mogami-san would be troubled if a machine without established maintenance know-how developed problems at the front. Additionally, we don’t even know if the machine’s growth update has finished.
If Mogami-san, who is both the developer and sponsor, says he “wants to observe it a bit more,” even the military can’t push too hard.
What was offered instead was the simulator of the hybrid type I had been using. Of course, the data from before the growth is still there, and it even reproduces the attacks of the large and medium monsters I saw up close in the latest version.
The latter data, in particular, is popular among students. Even students using standard or beast-type machines are asking to have it incorporated into their simulators.
I understand their feelings. For students who will be heading to the battlefield next year, the latest data is something they’d desperately want.
I’ve left those details to Mogami-san, so I’m not sure about the specifics, but apparently it’s so popular there’s a waiting list.
By the way, I’ve already provided the data to Isotani-san.
Well, I did receive 500,000 yen, so it can’t be helped.
It was amusing to see the contrast between Isotani-san, who was overjoyed to receive the latest data preferentially, and others, who was irritated at not being able to get the data.
So, these days, I’m attending school normally while keeping an eye on my constantly updating machine data, and defeating monsters in the simulator.
Training – Studies – Break – Training – Studies – Break – Training – Studies – Break. Days that don’t change much.
Peaceful times where I’m made to wear diving weights during training, or hit with the load to store the machine after simulator training, but without the dangers of actual combat, unlike before.
Yes. This is the (military) school life I had hoped for.
However, it seems I was the only one spending such peaceful time that I couldn’t help but say out loud, “I wish days like this would continue…”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“The prototype Unit 2 was seized?”
“…….Yes”
As I was about to leave the mech in the garage for a growth check and maintenance by the mechanics, Mogami-san, with an expression like he had just bitten into a bitter bug, told me in an unamused tone:
“It’s not like I can do anything about it even if you tell me.”
In reality, this was a matter between Mogami Heavy Industries and the military. As a mere student and test pilot, I had no right to interfere.
Of course, if it had been my own mech that was seized, it would be a different story. But this was the second prototype, a test machine without even a designated pilot. I had nothing to say about it.
If anything, I thought I should congratulate them, saying, “It’s great that you found a buyer for a mech without a pilot.” The problem was that Mogami-san didn’t seem happy about it. Not understanding what she was unsatisfied with, I asked directly, “What’s bothering you?” Her response was as follows:
“There’s no pilot, you know? And they won’t even let us maintain it. Get it? They’re taking away a mech no one can use, probably going to use it for purposes we didn’t intend, and then it’ll be destroyed somewhere we don’t know about and dismantled for mass production. Where’s the fun in that?”
“Ah, I see.”
Well, when he put it that way, I couldn’t help but agree.
To begin with, the hybrid type was a mech that even Isotani san, that considerate young lady, could only describe as “bizarre.” In fact, that was the only way she could describe it.
It didn’t bother me much, but apparently, the more familiar someone was with mech conventions, the more trouble they had piloting it. There were even suggestions to separate the mech control and weapons control systems, even if it meant making the unit a bit larger.
I thought that would basically make it a large tank, but if you looked at the mech as a pure weapon rather than an extension of the pilot’s body, the idea wasn’t completely off base.
[Even fighter jets and tanks separate mech control and weapons control. What’s wrong with a mech that requires even more precise control being a two-seater?] Some military personnel apparently thought this way.
But that was amateur thinking.
Sure, if you separated mech control and weapons control, one person could focus entirely on evasion while the other focused on attacks. However, the mech wasn’t just a machine-made weapon, but a biological weapon created from a corpse.
It required a link with a magic crystal to operate, and if that link was interfered with, it couldn’t even start up, as had already been proven. In fact, the system was so sensitive that it would shut down even if a non-pilot without a magic crystal sat in the cockpit—which is why you couldn’t fight with a third party in the cockpit.
Even if you tried to connect the nerves with clear assignments to avoid interference—say, connecting the mech control to the lower body and the weapons control to the upper body—you’d end up with a standard mech pilot highly stressed about not being able to move their lower body, and a beast-type pilot highly stressed about having something on their back. In other words, making it a two-seater would just create two hindrances.
Moreover, if you made it a two-seater, there was the question of “What about storage and growth?”
If you didn’t expect it to grow, that might be fine—in fact, since normal weapons don’t grow, it might even be easier to operate—but our mechs are weapons expected to grow and become more efficient at defeating monsters. So it’s not good if they can’t “store,” which is necessary for growth.
Then how about a riding style, with a standard type riding a beast type? Well, a 10-ton beast type couldn’t move satisfactorily with a 15-ton standard type that’s heavier than itself… and if you separated them into different mechs, neither could withstand the recoil of heavy artillery, making it pointless.
You could use it in a descent-like manner, carrying the pilot on its back before deployment, but that’s just a way of operating a beast type, not really related to the hybrid type.
I’ve digressed quite a bit, but the important points are that “no one has been able to move the hybrid type since I returned from Kyushu until now” and “the mech was taken away even though no one can operate it.”
“Of course, they won’t try to use it as is, but will dismantle it for mass production. The performance will be downgraded, but it shouldn’t be impossible to make the mechs themselves.”
“Is that so?”
I thought reproducing something so bizarre would be quite troublesome.
“They’re professionals too, you know. Besides, the base itself is just a standard type mounted on a beast type, connected with bones, artificial nerves, and artificial muscles. Technically, it’s not that difficult. Of course, the components and mixing ratios of the artificial nerves and muscles are trade secrets, but they probably don’t need to recreate those details precisely.”
“I see.”
Since it’s just an application of existing technology, professional mechanics should be able to dismantle it and understand its structure. Once they understand it, they can mass-produce a downgraded version.
It also aligns with the military’s needs—they want mass-produced units more than a single enhanced mech that can’t be mass-produced. Thinking about it that way, I can understand why the military would seize the prototype.
In fact, I think it’s a reasonable decision.
At the same time, I can understand why Mogami-san isn’t happy about it.
For a pervert who wants to create the best mech possible, there’s an acceptable line for degradation that comes with mass production.
Usually, mass-produced units that utilize data from prototypes are superior to the prototypes themselves, but that’s beside the point.
At the very least, the military that seized the second prototype will likely try to create a mech that prioritizes “being operable.”
That’s not interesting to Mogami-san, who has been rejecting those who want mechs by saying, “First, learn to operate the mech. We’ll talk after that.”
“But you didn’t just hand it over for free, right?”
“Of course not.”
Of course. Even if it was forcibly seized, taking it without payment would be a crime. Even in wartime, and even though Mogami Heavy Industries isn’t a zaibatsu, doing something like that to a company involved in weapon production would be more than just problematic. It could even develop into an issue where military higher-ups might lose their positions.
“Then, isn’t it good for the company?”
While there might be some concerns from a technician’s perspective, isn’t it good that the military wanted and took their product? Doesn’t that add prestige?
Am I thinking this way because I’m an outsider?
“It is for the company. You could say that what was ordered by the Second Division earlier was just taken as promised. But I don’t like their attitude.”
“That’s…”
It’s troublesome when you’re irritated about something unrelated to the military or the company. Well, it’s difficult.
“By the way, it was the Third Division that took it. They seem pretty desperate, so they might try something with you too.”
“Me? Why?”
“If you disappear, they won’t have to worry about someone else taking the credit, right?”
“Taking… it’s not even theirs to begin with.”
They could find plenty if they went to the seas of Kyushu or the Chugoku region. They should aim for those.
“If they understood that, they wouldn’t be going berserk.”
That’s incredibly convincing.
“Anyway, is it okay if I tell the boss and Miss Isotani about this… ah, I mean the homeroom teacher and the daughter from the family affiliated with the Sixth Division faction?”
Exchange information for protection. It’s called give and take. I only have two acquaintances who might serve as deterrents, but I suppose having any is better than none.
“Yeah, that’s fine. We’ll manage the mech here, so you focus on protecting yourself.”
“Understood.”
It would be good if the staff in the Third Division could mass-produce it.
Even better if pilots who can use the mass-produced mechs emerge.
The worst case is if they can’t mass-produce it and no suitable pilots appear, but I can’t be bothered to deal with that.
Or rather, it’s not something I should be dealing with.
If they want to make achievements, let them do it on their own.
Don’t drag me into it.
—Little did I know how naive my thoughts at this time were. I would come to realize this just two months after this conversation.
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