Chapter 96: CH 89

Kou was inside Unit 5’s cockpit and was busy checking Kurt’s combat data.

The recording was cut off the moment Kurt came into the garage.

『I’m sorry, Kou. From this point on, the A-Carbuncle had already been deactivated, so the recording couldn’t continue.』

「This is more than enough. Thank you. Is Kurt-san safe?」

『I don’t know. He should be alive, at least. But I’m not sure whether or not he ended up being captured by the Stones.』

「I see. Thank you for helping me out even at a time like this.」

After thanking Asia, Kou got off from Unit 5.

It was currently stored within the hangar of the Cimon-class ship.

Kou had really wanted to come to Kurt’s rescue.

He had only met the elderly man once. However, Kurt was one of the few people Kou considered as his mentors.

Although it made him feel a sense of powerlessness, he was well aware that he wouldn’t have been able to make any sort of difference if he went to help Kurt alone. Right now, what he needed to do was to continue accumulating strength. Kou had once again steeled his resolve.

Soon after, he called everyone and told them to gather at the combat command center.

There was a need to decide on their next course of action moving forward.

「What’s the current situation?」

「The human side is set to call on all remaining Fortress Areas and Defense Domes to conduct an emergency meeting. The Stones demanded for all human territories on the planet surrender unconditionally. After that, they seem to have ceased any further activity for the time being. It’s possible that they’re unable to conduct such a large-scale deployment repeatedly.」

『Such an operation will undoubtedly have a large influence on the Stone’s front lines. The reason they are showing such zeal in convincing humanity to surrender is probably to make up for their shortage of available combat-ready forces.』

「Sporadic skirmishes between humans and the Stones are occurring at Defense Domes. This situation is happening in various areas around the planet.」

「Defense Domes?」

「If one side doesn’t distract the enemy by constantly engaging them on battlefields, there’s a danger that the other party might decide to mount a concentrated attack.」

Rick explained the reason for the situation to Kou.

「One common strategy is to purposely engage the enemy in a chosen conflict zone to force a stalemate.」

「It’s not a pleasant story to hear.」

「It’s a fairly common old trick. This current style of warfare probably resembles the style employed in the medieval era of Earth.」

「So the Stones won’t expand the front lines recklessly and will deal with the Defense Domes systematically instead huh.」

「That’s how it is.」

Planet Asia’s surface map was displayed on the screen, and the Defense Domes that were engaging the enemy were marked on the map.

「Now let’s discuss the problems we need to tackle first. Practically every remaining Fortress Area is seeking an exclusive defense agreement with Metal Iris. Other Underground Forces are also requesting an alliance.」

「What are we gonna do, Boss?」

「We won’t do anything for now.」

Kou answered immediately. Jenny seemed satisfied with Kou’s response. She displayed an approving smile.

「What’s your reason?」

「We’re still in the middle of our preparations. We also haven’t experienced many actual battles as a unified Force. First, we have to concentrate on protecting this base where Asia is located. Isn’t that so?」

「Right.」

「I don’t think there is any Force out there that has a good grasp of our actual strength yet. So they merely want to secure relations with the new hopefuls who managed to Rescue Asia ahead of the others. That’s probably what they’re thinking right now.」

「You’re pretty sharp, Kou.」

「I want the rest of humanity to defend themselves and fight of their own volition. If they get the wrong idea that we’re an army directly under Asia’s control, we might be put in the spotlight as some sort of savior and asked to protect the peace of the planet or something.」

「I personally give you a perfect score, Kou.」

Rick also nodded approvingly.

「Okay. Let’s correct this misunderstanding and decline their requests.」

「Thank you, Jenny.」

「As for the Silhouette Base, we’ve covered up all the surface access gates. The enemy might have already noticed that something is in this area, but they still shouldn’t have grasped our exact strength.」

「If they did notice us, then things won’t end with just small recon squads snooping around. The camp outside will be used as a decoy as planned. There are no nearby Fortress Areas around the mountains. There are a few Defense Domes, but they are all under enemy control.」

「Let’s make sure to use the undersea route when entering and exiting the base. Apart from the Cimon-class that will serve as our flagship, we’ll also employ a second ship of another class.」

Asia had provided them with the Aristides-class amphibious assault ships Aristides and Pericles. The second ship Pericles was still currently sealed. Kou decided to have Metal Iris employ the class leader Aristides for now.

「You’re telling me you have more spaceships?!」

Well, they also had a mobile arsenal ship in addition to the two amphibious assault ships, but Kou couldn’t allow himself to spill the beans on that one.

He had to be particularly careful not to reveal anything regarding Astraea. It was a ship that can double as a fully functional on-site mass production facility after all.

「There’s one, err…… small amphibious assault ship. For the time being, let’s use it as our main ship. Let’s also employ it for transporting supplies. It would be nice to have an actual cargo ship though.」

「Why did you hesitate earlier? Spill. Just how big is it?」

「About 500 meters. Asia did say it was small y’know……」

The stares of the others pierced Kou. They were pretty cold ones.

The class leader Aristides alone was more than enough to accommodate all the current forces of Metal Iris.

「……I think we should stop being surprised every time. Anyway, let’s make good use of it. It’s a very good thing to be able to freely deploy two spaceships.」

「We’ll use the amphibious assault ship as our main transport huh.」

「It sure is one extravagant transport. But we’ll use the Cimon-class when deploying to the front lines. It’s easier to use the amphibious assault ship for transportation and hauling cargo. The Cimon-class is just too big.」

Rick had given his approval.

「About the recruitment of personnel, are you really only recruiting Nereids and Therianthropes? Are you focusing on elven ears and animal ears or something?」

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Blue grinned mischievously as she jokingly asked. It was pretty rare for her to utter the words “elven ears” voluntarily.

「That’s not it. The situation has become like this. I want to recruit people who can work effectively and comfortably with Familiars. We’ll recruit humans later.」

「So you plan on making Familiars the interviewers when recruiting humans later, right? You’re the same as usual.」

「Since Familiars are able to read people’s emotional reactions, they will ensure that no humans with malicious intent will get selected. I’d really like it if plenty of people with good natures applied. I think the main strength of Metal Iris is the solid cooperation between Familiars and humans.」

「Please leave it to me and the rest. It’s a proposal that I’m more than happy to agree with.」

「It looks like you really thought things through, Kou. I’m relieved.」

Rick and Blue’s words made Kou embarrassed.

「Let’s concentrate on accumulating strength for now. Even if the enemy currently isn’t making any major moves, they still might suddenly decide to forcibly push the front lines.」

Everyone nodded in response to Kou’s words.

Kou walked inside the Cimon-class ship as if dragging heavy weights on his feet.

He had to do what was necessary, but it was both mentally and physically taxing for him.

He returned to his room and sank onto the bed.

He then put one arm over his eyes and brooded.

The next thing he knew, Voy was already curled up on the floor.

「If it’s hard for you to sleep, I’ll lend you my stomach.」

Voy got up, said those words, and plopped down on the floor to sleep again.

He was definitely a considerate bear who couldn’t leave Kou to brood alone.

「We’re here too.」

Aki (who was in dog form) and Aimer appeared from beneath the bed.

Aki laid down near Kou’s pillow.

「Everyone… I really made you guys worry huh.」

「It’s fine. It’s natural to feel down during hard times, Kou.」

Nyanta didn’t end her sentence with her usual “nyaa” and gave off the air of a quiet and smart girl.

Aimer also laid down beside Kou.

No one among them spoke or made any sound.

Everyone just snuggled near Kou and accompanied him in silence. That was all they did. They didn’t say any more words of consolation. They just stayed by Kou’s side.

It made Kou happy.

「About Kurt-san… I keep going back to what happened to him. I watched those Familiars fight to protect Kurt-san. I watched them get torn apart. The employees too. All in order to protect Kurt-san……」

Kou didn’t know if the rest were still awake, but he still began talking to them.

「Mm.」

Nyanta, who looked like she was sleeping, responded with her eyes still closed. Aimer hugged Kou tightly.

「I wonder if I can bear something like that. I’ve been thinking, you see. What if everyone…… if everyone dies like that in order to protect me?」

Voy seemed to be fast asleep. Even though he was a bear, he sure slept like a raccoon dog.

Aki opened her eyes and gazed gently at Kou.

「We were born to be like that after all. But it’s impossible for you not to care, right, Kou?」

「Yeah. You sure know me well, Nyanta.」

「A cat’s sense of empathy is amazing you know?」

「Yeah, I do know.」

Nyanta pounced onto Kou’s chest. Aki was shocked by her sudden move. She seemed frustrated about getting beaten to the punch even though she made the first move.

「But we also can’t bear to see Kou fight alone. Please keep that in mind as well.」

「Understood.」

「I think… I think the Familiars who fought to the end that day were really happy that they managed to save Kurt-san’s life. But the me right now can also understand Kou and Kurt-san’s feelings.」

「……」

「Kou, we’re here for you. We might not be able to pilot a Silhouette. We might not be able to support you directly. But we really want to be of use to you. Aimer also feels the same.」

Aimer nodded in agreement.

「It doesn’t matter if it’s a tank or a helicopter. Any weapon that Kou thinks is suitable for us. –We wish for you to come up with a way for us to walk side by side with you. I’m aware that what I said is selfish. Sorry, Kou.」

「–But aren’t cats naturally selfish?」

「That’s right nyaa.」

Nyanta hugged Kou even tighter. Kou responded by hugging Nyanta and Aimer back.

「I understand. –For everyone to be together. For everyone to survive together. I’ll definitely think of a way. Thank you.」

The two didn’t answer back. They merely kept tightly hugging Kou.

Voy raised his head, smiled in satisfaction after seeing Kou and the girls, and curled up to sleep again.

Aki moved beneath the bed, turned back to humanoid form, and crawled out again.

「That sure is a nice atmosphere! But I’m joining in too! Excuse me!」

After saying so, Aki hugged Aimer and Kou together, with Aimer sandwiched in between. Aimer seemed pretty happy though. Nyanta displayed a triumphant smile as she watched her little sister’s actions.

Kou pulled Aki closer. Aki’s dog ears fluttered happily when he did so.

Nobody spoke anymore after that, and they all fell peacefully asleep.

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