Even as a joke, it was way too far.
My future’s shot. And yeah, part of me thinks dying might be better. But I’m not dragging some kid down with me. If the order to evacuate comes, I’ll follow it. Even if they tell us to fight, I’ll refuse. I’ll make sure he goes home to his sister.
Was it pride? Was it just him refusing to die like an idiot? Even Takafumi didn’t know. But one thing was certain: He wasn’t about to die in vain.
Nonetheless, that didn’t change the fact that his path forward was pitch-black.
“Ugh… What am I gonna do now…?” He let out a sigh, muttering to himself like a man already halfway buried in the ground. “Guess I’ll start prepping, at least…”
Before any order came down from HQ, Takafumi moved to instruct his team to start preparing to retreat. He was ready to take full responsibility, because that was the one thing he could do with pride. To not shame his own convictions. And more importantly, to get his employees, and the boy he’d dragged into war, out alive.
If things went wrong, he might not just lose his insurance—he could end up owing the military a hefty sum of money. Had he said those words aloud, Mogami Heavy Industries’ situation could have become even more desperate.
But as fate would have it, Takafumi never got the chance to issue that order.
Did he lose his nerve?
No. He hadn’t even gotten that far in his thinking.
Was he trying to use death as a way to escape responsibility?
No. His resolve hadn’t wavered.
Had he suddenly seen a glimmer of hope for the future?
No. There was no hope.
The reason Takafumi didn’t issue the retreat order was simple. Someone said something no one could possibly have expected, from a place no one could possibly have anticipated.
“This is Special Ensign Kawakami of Task Unit 2099. Commencing operation on schedule.”
“…The heck?”
There was no tension in his voice, no sense of desperation. The boy spoke in a flat, matter-of-fact tone, as if he was saying, “Lunch break’s over, so I guess I’ll head to class”—or in this case, “It’s time, so I’m carrying on as planned.”
“What the…? Is he…? Wait, no—that’s it!”
Takafumi wasn’t an idiot. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of military procedure could have figured it out.
HQ hasn’t issued new orders! He’s sticking to the plan!
No matter how the situation changed, if no new orders came down from above, soldiers followed the old ones. Even if the enemy had twice the expected numbers, deviating from your instructions wasn’t allowed.
After all, acting on your own was insubordination. And if you were a pilot in a mech like Mikage, that could get you executed.
Dammit! I didn’t think to check on him sooner!
Given Keita’s circumstances, it was obvious. He had to carry out his orders, no matter what. Disobeying wasn’t an option.
Maybe he’d even decided it was better to go down following his orders.
If he died fighting monsters, that would be a death in the line of duty. Whether they bumped him up two ranks posthumously or not, the military would likely pay his sister a sizable sum of money for having sent a student to his grave.
If you’re gonna die anyway, might as well make it count. Anyone would make the same choice. I know I would!
Takafumi understood exactly how Keita felt. After all, he’d been in that same mindset himself just a few moments ago.
And he regretted it deeply. What kind of adult was he, letting a kid he was supposed to be protecting face this? He seriously considered smashing his head into the nearest console.
But that impulse never took hold.
Why? Because once again, the unexpected happened.
“Moving to eliminate!”
“Bweh!”
“Huh?”
“Talk about spoiled for choice.”
“Brp!”
“What is he…? How…?”
What Takafumi saw was a black mech moving with more finesse than he could ever have imagined, taking on a horde of monsters and picking them off like a merciless hunter.
The mech rampaged across the battlefield as if it couldn’t have cared less about the man staring slack-jawed at it from behind the monitor.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick!”
“Bwam!”
“Doo-doo-doo!”
“Wraaah!”
Shot, kill. Shot, kill. Shot, kill.
Every time the mech fired, another monster crumpled to the ground.
“…You gotta be kidding me…”
Before he realized it, only two of the large-class monsters were left. And even those were on the smaller end of the scale, at ten meters tall.
“Don’t tell me he’s actually gonna pull it off!”
It wasn’t just the big ones, either. The medium- and small-class monsters were also getting caught up in the barrage. Though they hadn’t taken direct hits, plenty were still getting destroyed simply by being in the path of the collapsing giants.
“We can win! We can win this!”
Even Takafumi, who wasn’t a military man by any stretch, could feel it. The tide had turned.
And he wasn’t the only one who’d realized.
“All forces, prepare for combat. Tank squads and gunners, fire on my signal. Pilots, prepare shields to protect the artillery during the counterattack. Once we’ve fended them off, move in for the kill!”
The orders from HQ weren’t to retreat. Not this time.
There was no talk of sacrifices, of holding the line while others escaped. There was just one thing they had to do: Finish the job.
There wasn’t a hint of desperation in that voice.
At this point, even Takafumi could tell.
“We’ve done it! We’ve all but won!”
Survival? That was old news.
Casualties? Not anymore.
This was victory. A decisive, overwhelming victory.
An undeniable, spectacular victory delivered by a Monster-Armored Combat Unit built by Mogami Heavy Industries.
Insurance payouts? Compensation? Screw that! We’re still alive! In more ways than one!
With results like this, there was no way the military would drop Mogami now, and the banks would be lining up to lend them money. Heck, they’d probably come on their hands and knees.
“All units, attack! Standard models, stay on defense! Beast types, surround the battlefield! Don’t let a single one get away!”
“Roger!”
“Ha-ha!”
Takafumi couldn’t help but laugh, the despair having vanished from his voice.
After all, what else could you do in this situation? Just ten minutes ago, the future had looked pitch-black. Now it was bright as day.
“Command, this is Special Ensign Kawakami of Task Unit 2099. Requesting permission to return for resupply.”
“Huh? Oh, right, resupply! Okay, everyone, get ready to welcome home the hero! The one who saved our asses!”
“Yes, sir!”
Gone was the grim tension from earlier. Everyone in the hangar responded with bright, energized voices.
We really did it. We actually pulled it off!
Watching them, Takafumi felt it deep in his gut. They’d made it over the hump. The worst was now behind them.