Though we emerged victorious, the damage to Titan 2 was severe.
The left arm was almost destroyed, the right knee joint was critically damaged, there were twelve instances of artificial muscle rupture across the body, and three armor plates had fallen off. The final kick had tremendous impact, causing slight cracks in the visual sensors. If we relied on nanomachines for complete repairs, it would take two months before Titan 2 would be operational again.
Ideally, it should be transported to the factory for an overhaul… No, given the advanced manufacturing capabilities, it would probably be more practical to scrap it and replace it with a new unit from stock.
Regardless, I believe it performed admirably without long-range weapons or built-in armaments.
“Nozomu, Nozomu, you’re really there, aren’t you!?”
“Yeah, that’s right Galatea. I’m sorry I lied to you.”
I held her in my palm and brought her close to the torso of the crouched frame.
My essence is here, contained within the photon crystals inside this cranium – just binary codes.
“I am a mechanized human, one of the people who built the Canopy Holy Capital.”
This body is merely a tool for interfacing with the base reality, a replaceable instrument… though if I say it’s just a tool, Selene will get very upset, so let’s call it an important vessel.
“You really are a Saint, aren’t you?”
“Not really. I’m just a soldier from space, one of the defeated forces. So please, treat me the same way, just Galatea.”
“…Okay! I understand, Nozomu!!”
I wanted to hug her as she cried leaning against the armor, but doing so with this frame would likely cause more damage. Instead, I gently patted her back with the damaged manipulator. As a pilot of mobile weapons, I can handle delicate tasks like moving tofu without breaking it on my fingertips… though looking back, that training was quite mysterious – even such a gentle pat on the back should be possible.
[“The clan leader looks like the ‘pure mighty god’ now.”]
[“So, that’s enough talk from you, ‘hero of the great mother’. Besides, you’re still not tall enough to match.”]
[■■■■, it’s mutual.]
However, my new appearance didn’t just survive the test; it became even more popular among my peers. The Tech Gobs respect me even more, saying I’ve grown to match Tiamat 25 in size…
“It’s similar! To the story-telling god!”
“It’s not just that! The little god has descended too!!”
“It’s a festival! A celebration! Our hometown people will rejoice!!”
The fifteen Sylvanians were jumping around with great joy, expressing their happiness with their whole bodies. Perhaps they find this form more resembling the divinities they worship than the human forms that used to be predators… though it makes me feel a little awkward.
Though I have spent much time with Class A Type I exoskeletons that leave armor exposed, I usually spent my days off with a more humanoid Class C Type I form. Seeing how different the reception now is, I’m starting to consider whether I should change my frame.
Hmm, but Selene’s doll frame is very popular. She’s like a little goddess, and along with Tisy, she is gaining immense popularity, which even seems to make her a little proud.
“Well, I should go reassure the people of the Holy City.”
“Is it okay to move?”
“As long as I don’t strain it, yes. Alright, everyone, let’s go.”
I set Galatea down and grabbed the immense head of the dragon with the working right arm. Just its head is about one-fifth the size of Titan 2, so it’s incredibly large and heavy. The gravity control unit was mounted on the torso, so its function is currently diminished – I’ll check if it can be salvaged later – and it feels about as heavy as it looks. The head alone must weigh about 50 tons.
As I dragged it along, leaving a trail of white blood, I could see people from the city nervously watching our approach from a distance. They were likely overwhelmed by the dragon suddenly flying out and causing chaos beyond the horizon, and couldn’t stay calm enough to evacuate properly.
At the entrance of the town, I dropped the head with a thud and sat my massive body on top of it. The combination of flesh and alloy armor easily supported the body weighing over 300 tons, with a small amount of white blood gushing from the cut surface.
“O People, the danger of the dragon is past.”
I announced this through the external speaker, but it took the people a while to understand what was going on.
After a few minutes, they apparently processed the information and then rejoiced, coming out of the city. They surrounded the dragon carcass and me, celebrating the end of the calamity.
With this large dragon defeated, the smaller dragons had also fled. The audio snippets I picked up from the crowd, after filtering, revealed that they were attributing the mechanical god’s blessing and the revival of the guardian deity.
“I’m sorry for waking up late. Many lives have been lost, but the guardian has returned.”
Here, I internally grinned and thought of a small act of retribution.
The holy people, judging from their earlier behavior, had likely scattered at the dragon’s attack. They subjected others to much torment as heretics – there even was life-threatening trouble – so I’ll make good use of my current position.
Besides, it’s not like I can just return to my previous form. This body is powerful but is basically only good for construction work other than fighting.
“Come, let’s save the people. Whoever wishes to follow, come to the fore. Clear the path.”
After I rose from the dragon’s neck and began walking into town, I saw people crushed by collapsed buildings and debris. I used the heat sensors to dig out survivors from viable sites.
As a result, those who followed the guardian deity joined in the rescue efforts, carrying out trapped victims.
“As for the micro-mechanisms stock?”
“There’s only enough for the captain and Galatea, which is about fifty applications. With lower doses, we can stretch it to about two hundred applications.”
“How many can we produce with the small plant carried with the wolves?”
“Ten per hour, hardly enough, right?”
“Eventually, local medical personnel will arrive. Prioritize the seriously injured.”
I had the tribal warriors set up tents and administered micro-mechanisms to patients classified as Triage Red – those who would likely die within thirty minutes without treatment.
Lord Berdy and others complained that the spiritual medicine was too precious to use, but now is the time to win favor, so please bear with it.
“Is there a Gear Priest among you?”
As I asked while inserting my shoulder under a collapsed building and slowly straightening it, several clergy members emerged from the crowd. Their simple attire suggested they were sincere missionaries who continued to stay and help after the dragon attack, not fleeing like some others.
“Could you run into the city and gather the seriously injured? We’ll do all we can to help. Of course, you have my permission to use my name.”
“H, yes, Guardian God-sama!!”
They must have been deeply honored by the direct address, as they prostrated themselves in prayer – the Tech Gobs appreciate that kind of gesture, too – before running off into the city.
For now, we’ll gather those who can be moved to the outskirts, and I’ll head into the city afterward.
“Guardian God-sama, people are buried over here!”
“That building has some people trapped in the first floor!”
“The building is going to fall!”
The centripetal force of the guardian deity is incredible. Even though the people themselves were victims of the disaster, many came to help with rescue operations, and I honestly appreciate it.
“Those people have the capacity; they can clear the area carefully by hand. For heavy rubble, my hounds will do the hauling.”
While the wolf units were clearing debris and transporting critically injured people, the day unknowingly transitioned into night.
With the streetlights not working, the rescue operations by ordinary people inevitably slowed, but lights and lanterns were pulled out from surrounding houses, creating a bright scene.
“Guardian God-sama, my father…”
“…I’m sorry, child. Those who have passed to heaven cannot be helped.”
But the deaths were significant. Then a boy, perhaps clinging to a shred of hope, came carrying what appeared to be his father’s body, crushed and torn apart in the chaos. Thinking of the emotions this boy must feel while holding his deceased parent’s remains made my heart ache, but even the micro-mechanisms couldn’t revive the dead.
“At least, let us honor them later. The parents are all called to heaven and healed. May the grace of the three great saints bless them.”
I gently stroked his head with my pinky and returned to the rescue operations. The image of the boy crying while hugging his father’s neck lingered in a corner of my memory, making me feel hurt.
No, don’t stop, moving a little will reduce these tragedies. If I wasn’t here, the canopy would have fallen. I should accept that this is a better outcome.
I’m no perfect saint; I’m just a defeated soldier doing the best I can with what’s in front of me. Know your place and do what you can.
“Let me pass! I belong to the Saien Knights!”
“Oh, the guardian deity, is it truly the guardian deity?”
“Guardian God-sama!!”
“Hm? Are you from the Magius Geanaite?”
By midnight, a dozen or so knights had arrived on the outskirts. All of them were splattered with white blood, having run around eliminating remaining enemies.
Crouching down, I questioned the elderly knight at the front.
“Your affiliation and name?”
“Saien Knights, Deputy Commander Bartolomai!”
“Got it, Bartolomai. Tell me… Are all your subordinates present? And your commander?”
“Commander Fontius has perished in battle, and Deputy Commander Arnold as well. I, being the most senior knight, have taken over the command.”
“Are these all the survivors?”
“Many were lost in the city’s chaos… Currently half of those we have control over are maintaining order below the Holy Capital.”
I remember Galatea mentioning that she belonged to the Northern Saien Knights’ First Brigade. If the knights were organized into divisions, they’ve suffered significant losses. Even if they were organized into squads like an armored division with four men to a squad, the survivors, including those left behind in the center, number only dozens, far surpassing the threshold for decimation.
What was Virgil thinking when he treated these valuable professional soldiers as expendable resources?
“Then I ask for your assistance, Knight Bartolomai. Help me with rescuing the injured.”
“Yes, this humble request is greatly honored, but… the Archibishop himself has asked for the Guardian’s presence…”
“I am under no one’s command. I’ll do what I believe is my duty.”
As expected, they want a meeting instead of assisting in rescue operations. But I am not subordinate to anyone here, and the politics within the sanctum be damned.
Rather, if they wish to call upon the “Guardian,” they should come to me, not summon me.
“When exactly did I become someone to be summoned?”
“Yes, that, I sincerely apologize!!”
“It’s not that I want to scold you. Either join the rescue effort or return to report. Choose.”
“Then I’ll do what I can! However, I would like to request to send a patrol group back to report…”
“I see no issue with that. Now, there are five people buried under that rubble. Use your Gear Armor’s and Gear Cannon’s full capabilities to save them.”
He gave me an archaic salute – he’s showing his palms, so it’s not the Unified Army style – and I returned the salute, assigning him to the rescue effort.
Sheesh, summoning me after branding me a heretic – these sanctified ones sure are presumptuous. Even if they don’t know I’m inside it, how dare they summon a legendary divine emissary who saved the town?
As I briskly returned to the rescue work, I quietly let my resentment towards the corrupt clergy burn.
Anyway, it’s scheduled for 18:00 on July 31, 2024.
[Planetary Exploration Addendum] The Unified Army of the Advanced Federation still has the practice of seppuku, though it’s more of an ordeal of extreme pain leading to demotion rather than execution. In practical terms, there is no death sentence. Instead, there’s a punishment called “self-frosting sentence,” which is a kind of “drone treatment.”
