Chapter 65

We enter through the outskirts of a quiet city and head inward.

Ryuje unfolds her scythe-shaped gear and surveys the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

“Hmph….”

As she inspects the area and runs her fingers along the outer wall of a building, dust clings to her fingertips.

“…It seems this place has been abandoned for quite some time.”

While saying this, she observes the scenery around her.

The appearance of the city, unnoticed from a distance, becomes more apparent as we approach.

The closer we get, the more its true state is revealed.

Broken and cracked windows, doors left wide open and abandoned.

On the main road, broken-down and abandoned cars litter the streets.

Adding to that, human skeletons are scattered about, telling the tale of the invasion’s horrors.

All of it is heavily covered in layers of dust accumulated over a long period.

“It appears so. Given that it hasn’t been abandoned for just a day or two, it seems this area is no longer in use.”

Ryuje pinches some dust from the skull at her feet, her fingertips turning gray.

“How will you proceed, Edu? Since I’ve agreed to assist you, I’ll follow your instructions entirely.”

“Hmm… Let’s go further into the city first.”

After all, we can’t do or verify anything in this empty place.

Ryuje nods as if thinking the same thing.

“Right, we don’t know what might happen, so both of you stay alert.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Yes.”

We move through the alleys toward the urban area, careful not to catch the enemy’s eye.

As we move for quite some time, Ryuje suddenly stops.

“Hmm?”

Having noticed something, Ryuje raises her eyebrows and raises her arm to block our path.

“What’s wrong?”

“…They’re over there.”

She answers and leans slightly out from behind the building wall.

Nisia also peeks out, pressing against Ryuje.

“Let me see too.”

Holding onto Nisia’s shoulder, I raise my head.

Only then do I see what lies in the distance, but there’s nothing there.

“???”

“Over there. Can both of you see the open space to the right?”

“Yes.”

“The open space to the right…”

While listening to Ryuje’s words and furrowing my brows, I finally spot something.

An object that slightly shimmers as it reflects sunlight.

It has a large head shaped like a reclined diamond, with appendages extending from it.

“Aha, it’s a walking tank.”

“You’ve identified it correctly. That’s it.”

“Walking tank…?”

“Yeah, it’s called a tripod.”

The versatile walking tank, or tripod.

The most widely recognized weapon of the aliens, naturally used by the imperial forces as well.

It has a sturdy head armed with numerous weapons, mounted on three tentacle-like legs tightly woven with artificial muscles.

Equipped with optical camouflage for surprise attacks, barriers, and reinforced armor plating, its combat capability falls into the stronger category.

“Ah…”

Nisia sighs softly, as if understanding.

She turns her gaze from me to Ryuje.

“President, can you take that one out?”

“It’s possible but difficult, as it’s a resilient one. It won’t be destroyed in one go.”

So even tanks can be taken down.

Truly impressive, I ask her.

“You can destroy it, right?”

Hearing that, Ryuje suddenly flinches.

Her narrowed gaze turns to me.

“…I’m not some kind of bear.”

“What? A bear?”

Suddenly, what’s this about a bear?

Ah, could it be about that story with Freya tearing apart a tank or something?

“No, never mind. So, what will you do?”

Having cutely thrown a tantrum but realizing how embarrassing it was, Ryuje quickly changes the subject.

I couldn’t help but smile, but knowing it would irritate Ryuje if I poked at it further, I stop teasing.

“Hmm-”

Let’s think this through.

A tripod assigned to monitor the main road and an enemy cruiser stationed somewhere in the city’s airspace above.

Although they seem well-guarded on the surface, the buildings have been neglected, which could serve as cover for the enemy.

There must be some loophole somewhere—

Thinking this way, my eyes catch a manhole covered in dust.

“Oh- President, wouldn’t it be possible to enter through that manhole and move underground, approaching it from behind?”

“That’s reasonable. If we’re underground, it’s likely their sensors won’t detect us. Nisia, take a look.”

“A, yes.”

…

We pass through the sewer system and reach the rear of the tripod.

Sure enough, it seems quite negligent, not reacting even as we get quite close behind it.

Seeing this, I swallow my saliva.

“Edu, do you really intend to try this?”

Ryuje slightly anxiously asks me back.

“Yes, if there’s an opportunity, we should try, shouldn’t we?”

“That’s true… but…”

Her voice trails off.

The reason Ryuje is reacting this way is because I mentioned using my collection ability on this tripod.

The same ability that worked on broken invader tanks and armored vehicles. There’s a possibility it might work on intact enemy weaponry.

“Then, President, I’ll try my ability first, and if the enemy resists, please suppress it immediately.”

“Alright, understood.”

Ryuje steps back.

Exchanging glances with Nisia, she takes a deep breath and approaches the tripod step by step.

One step. Another step.

Just as we’ve considerably closed the distance, the long-awaited notification sounds.

– Notification, Collection function can be used. Will you use it?

‘Alright!’

I extend my hand toward the camouflaged tripod.

“Using Collection.”

– Collection function is being used.

The tripod begins to shine brightly with the notification. Soon, it vanishes from sight.

– Collection complete. E/HW-05 All-purpose Walking Tank has been added to your collection.

“Wow-”

Ryuje exclaims in amazement.

And where the tripod was, one alien remains sitting abruptly in a chair.

“Uhh, what the-?!”

Thrown into the air all of a sudden, the confused individual begins flailing about and falls.

“Ugh!”

The tripod pilot sits back up, rubbing his sore bottom. Ryuje’s scythe is pointed at his throat.

“Huk?!”

“Be silent. Don’t move. If you resist, I will cut you. The slightest trick and I will cut you, too.”

“…”

Still holding his bottom, he slowly nods, drenched in cold sweat.

His ride disappeared suddenly, and now, a giant scythe is pointed at his throat.

The sudden change in situation was clear for everyone.

“President, may I ask the questions now?”

“Hmm, go ahead.”

Ryuje steps back a little at my request.

As Nisia approaches the pilot, his appearance becomes visible.

His teal skin glistens from the sweat, and his terrified eyes blink ceaselessly.

His attire is a full-body suit resembling a compressed spacesuit, with additional panel armor for protection—the standard equipment for imperial infantry.

Probably prepared for situations where the tripod becomes disabled, it seems he isn’t wearing a specialized pilot suit.

“Hello, Mr. Alien?”

Smiling gently, I greet the pilot.

“You, who are you? How — how did you—”

“That’s none of your business. Starting now, answer my questions quickly. Got it?”

Cutting him off mid-ramble, I announce this.

“Wha, what are you asking me? I don’t know anything—”

“Tsk, come on. If you’re a tripod pilot, at least a NCO, you’d have knowledge. You’re already backing out, aren’t you?”

“??!”

His mouth gapes open in astonishment.

“How, how did you—”

“Of course, I know my ways. By the way, I already know that you belong to the Empire’s Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet.”

The pilot’s face pales again at being caught off guard.

I press forward slightly, slightly leaning my upper body towards him.

“Don’t try anything funny. It’ll be really unpleasant.”

“Y-Yes, I’m sorry!”

As Ryuje tells him this while moving her scythe, he hurriedly answers while reverting to his original position.

“That… that’s dangerous!”

I smile brightly towards him.

“Did you understand? Playing tricks will be bad for you?”

“Y-Yes, yes.”

The pilot responds quickly, clearly showing a noticeable change in attitude compared to before.

“Good, then let’s ask. First, what’s the force stationed in this city?”

“It’s… minimal.”

“Come on.”

I switch my gaze towards Ryuje, whose scythe moves closer to his neck.

“It’s… one cruiser, 2 infantry battalions, and one platoon of tanks, I swear!”

His frantic cry.

However, listening to him, I can’t help but tilt my head.

“Hmm, it’s surprisingly small?”

The force is much smaller than expected.

Even so, controlling such a large city with just that much power doesn’t make sense.

“It’s… true. The Third Fleet suffered heavy losses in the battle with the native organisms.”

The pilot stammers as he answers.

However, since I already know this information, I press him further.

“That’s not all, right? Come on, spill.”

“It’s… ”

Ssrrrrr-

“…Occupied areas must be maintained, but the number of cattle must be adjusted according to need!”

Cattle and adjustment.

Hearing this, my heart grows cold.

The term “cattle” is what the Ustansha call humans.

Adjustment naturally means…

“They reduced the number of controlled targets because troops were insufficient.”

Understanding it intellectually, yet deep down in my heart, rage boils.

“…Tell me the positions of other tanks and the shuttle routes to the cruiser. Right now!”

“That’s…”

“If you don’t answer soon, shall I cut off your head-”

“I’ll say it! The tanks are here and here, and the shuttle routes are this and that!!”

The pilot, with Ryuje’s help, hurriedly explains, even projecting a hologram.

I remember the information and signal Ryuje with my eyes.

Ssrrrrr-

The scythe neatly swings.

Blue blood spurts from the pilot’s neck, and his head falls with a thud.

“…President, let’s move quickly.”

“…Right, let’s go.”

…

The command bridge of the cruiser emits a striking atmosphere with its blend of gray and gold.

Amidst the complex machinery and tools, a man sat listlessly in the highest chair.

With fish-like, shiny skin and eyes protruding sideways, he was seemingly in a daze, but judging from his immaculate uniform, he was the ship’s captain and the ruler of the colony city below.

“You appear bored, Captain Toric.”

The deputy captain suddenly appeared from the side to strike up a conversation while chewing on something.

“Waiting here every day is disgustingly dull.”

“I understand, someone as valiant as you, Captain Toric, would find such standby duties boring.”

Saying this, the deputy captain wiggles his feelers as his head spins 360 degrees.

Although a fairly shocking sight, Toric doesn’t react since he’s accustomed to it.

“Hmm…”

“Would you like a snack? It’s soft and tasty, made from a young one.”

He offers a piece of meat.

It’s… a human arm.

Still not fully grown, from a small child.

“No, I ate a lot earlier.”

“Is that so.”

The deputy captain nonchalantly throws it into his mouth, his head spinning again.

“Hmm…?”

At that moment, the subordinates responsible for communications made an unusual sound, drawing the deputy captain’s attention.

“What is it?”

“There’s a shuttle approaching the ship, but it’s not at its scheduled flying time.”

“Hm?”

The deputy captain wiggles his feelers and falls into thought.

He looks at Toric.

“Captain, shall we give the berthing order?”

“Is there some urgent matter? Let it be.”

“Understood.”

The deputy captain complies with Toric’s words.

However, for some reason, an uneasy feeling arises.

Taking safety measures, he quietly whispers to the communications officer.

“Send the infantry waiting on the ship to the arsenal to check if there’s anything strange with the shuttle, and don’t report this to the captain.”

The communications officer nods at the deputy captain’s instructions.

With the safety measures in place, the deputy captain, shaking off the unease, takes a snack from the pile and puts it in his mouth.

What, could anything happen?