𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐈𝐭?
Two machines were destroyed in an instant.
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“Fu, fu-heh. . . . . .”
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What remains are Chihaya and one more set of Psycholon and Husaria.
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“Yi-yikes, this is bad!”
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In a panic, Chihaya sends the All-Rounder into the forest. The following bullets brush aside the accumulated snow, kicking it up.
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“Light machine guns?! Flee into the depths of the forest!”
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Without needing to be told by the Husaria, the three machines run into the depths of the forest. At the same time, someone provides information via voice chat.
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“Just before, I saw a white 『Berlette』 hidden in the snow. There’s one enemy.”
“A Berlette, huh. A troublesome opponent.”
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Chihaya recalls the knowledge she just studied.
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Berlette is a sprinter-type Actanoid developed by Onaka Manufacturing.
It’s the only bestselling product among Onaka Manufacturing’s Actanoids, known for concept plagiarism and cheap, inferior products.
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Its features include a slender body, wide sleeve-like arm armor, and machine guns and long swords stored inside the sleeves.
Being a sprinter-type, its top speed is 160 kilometers per hour, quite fast. It can run at twice the speed of an All-Rounder.
It has a slim, feminine appearance, with many female actors using it. It’s a well-balanced machine in terms of attack and speed.
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Chihaya looks around at her allies.
Both the rounder-type Psycholon and the Lannoid-type Husaria are slow. The enemy Berlette is fast, but its armor is thin due to its lightweight design.
However, the sun will set soon. The Psycholon might be the only one able to fight at night.
The Husaria’s Actor speaks up.
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“Did you report to the New World Resources Agency?”
“I reported it, but it’s probably pointless.”
“Because there’s no Self-Defense Force nearby?”
“Right, this is your first Actanoid battle, isn’t it? Actanoids are construction machinery, so battles don’t occur. This is an accident.”
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Chihaya is rendered speechless by the Psycholon’s Actor’s words, and the Husaria’s Actor interjects.
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“But we’re being shot at with machine guns?!”
“That’s still considered an accident. The adult world is disappointing, isn’t it!”
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If civilians shoot at each other with guns, even if it’s between machines, it could violate laws like the Firearms and Swords Law.
Hence, Actanoid battles in the New World are processed as accidents, due to adult circumstances.
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Still, proper reporting is done to clearly establish themselves as the victims, so no false accusations can be made if they win. Often those who pick fights can cover them up, but in case of accidental combat, they can claim compensation.
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“What an unreasonable situation. . . . . .Fu-heh.”
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Chihaya inadvertently lets out a creepy laugh from the tension and slowly moves the All-Rounder behind the tall Husaria.
The Psycholon aims a sniper rifle 『Yoichi』, which is rarely useful in Actanoid combat, especially against a fast sprinter-type. It definitely won’t hit.
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“We have no choice but to drive them away.”
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Though he talks bravely, the odds of winning are slim.
And then, Chihaya starts to quietly distance herself from the Psycholon and Husaria.
Why?
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“. . . . . .I’ve, I’ve completed my request, so you’re strangers to me, right? I, I can run away, right? Fu-heh.”
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Yes, it’s for the sake of escaping. This socially awkward girl, in her own selfishness, was trying to run away.
However, the request has actually been fulfilled, and no escort request was accepted, and the chances of winning were hopelessly slim. Regardless of ethics, it was logical.
Chihaya types on the keyboard at an unprecedented speed.
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“――I’m running away.”
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Leaving only that very short sentence, Chihaya’s All-Rounder turns its back on the battlefield.
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“What?! You sh*t!”
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Someone swears in the voice chat.
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“I, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
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While reflexively repeating words of apology unheard by anyone, Chihaya looks tearfully at the rear camera for a moment.
The Psycholon falls as its body is shot through.
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A white, feminine silhouette of an Actanoid aims its right arm from the Psycholon to Husaria. The muzzle can be seen within the unique, sleeve-like armor that hangs below the hand.
It must be the light machine gun that Berlette is standard equipped with. Although it has a somewhat lower power and shorter range to reduce recoil, there is no chance of escape when being fired upon at a speed of one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour.
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The Husaria aims its self-defense pistol at the Berlette. The handgun 『Rock Driller』 can pierce the armor with piercing bullets. It’s enough to shoot through the Berlette’s armor.
But the Berlette jumps behind a tree with an uncharacteristically swift movement for a humanoid machine, dodging the pistol bullets while approaching quickly.
Having missed the carefully aimed first shot, the situation became one-sided.
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Equipped with a light machine gun that has a longer range than a pistol, the Berlette weaves between trees, firing continuously, instead of closing the distance as it did with the Psycholon.
Even though it’s touted as being capable of self-defense, the Husaria, which is not designed for frontal combat, was unilaterally riddled with bullets. Its armor thickness and speed were no match for the Berlette. It was a natural result.
The Husaria falls, riddled with holes from leg to torso, into the trunk of a tree.
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Two Actanoids were one-sidedly defeated. They, who had unilaterally slaughtered a fern-legged scorpion, in an instant.
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The bad compatibility of the weapons was part of it, but the Berlette’s Actor is skilled, it seems.
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“. . . . . .Huh? The All-Rounder ran away. Quick decision, huh.”
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The Husaria’s Actor praises in a resigned voice.
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“Well, I don’t think it’ll let you escape.”
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As the Husaria’s Actor prophesied, the Berlette chased with ferocious speed.
It was as if it intended to leave no witnesses alive.
Even though the Actanoid is destroyed, the Actor on Earth doesn’t get hurt. Chihaya, who had underestimated this, turns pale when proven wrong.
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“――Why?!”
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And thus, the game of tag in the snowy mountains begins.
Shooting would blow the profits, and if the machine breaks, there will be a deficit.
Furthermore, the opponent approaches at twice the speed of one’s machine.
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“It’s impossible.”
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Stepping hard on the pressure-sensitive mattress, Chihaya sheds tears.
There’s no way to escape with the All-Rounder. There’s no option but to fight, even if it means abandoning the profit.
Being a front-line Rounder machine, it can withstand machine-gun fire from outside its effective range for a while. There may be dents in the armor, and the repair costs would increase, but it’s better than being severely damaged.
There’s no choice but to prepare oneself. Prepare to fight.
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“Fu, fu-hehe.”
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Breaking into a tearful laugh from tension, Chihaya makes the All-Rounder aim its assault gun.
Not at the approaching Berlette from behind, but slightly forward at its feet.
Pulling the trigger. The bullets sprayed in full-auto stir up fine snow, hiding the All-Rounder’s figure.
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