Chapter 8
"Phew...."
Late at night.
The flames burning the corpses still had not gone out, illuminating the front line.
"What are you doing?"
Unlike ordinary soldiers' quarters, the officers' quarters were set up on somewhat higher ground.
Having unpacked in his newly assigned quarters, Yan sat in a spot with an open view and smoked one of the last cigarettes he had left.
The owner of the voice that roused Yan from his thoughts was a girl white as if drained of all color.
It was Ren.
"Regretting. For saying something pointless."
Cain, who himself was a member of the knights feasting on the corpses of soldiers, acted as if he had nothing to do with it and tried to step away.
Yan had let his temper slip for a moment at that hypocrisy, but the aftermath was the problem.
He didn't know whether the man was truly generous or only pretending to be, yet making a remark that could cause trouble would do no good-that was Yan's thinking.
"I thought the dig-team quarters were over there?"
"Some unwelcome guest keeps bothering me. I ran away."
"Unwelcome guest?"
Into Yan's field of vision came someone, just as he echoed the question.
A knight glancing about as if searching for something.
Brown hair and a despicable look.
It was the knight called Randel whom they had met that morning.
"He keeps asking me to dine together, to take a walk together. A nuisance. Running away is the best plan."
"...He's a knight. What's wrong with going along with him?"
Even a passing connection with a knight was no small gain. A low-ranking noncom could still walk with his nose in the air among commoners in the Empire.
Knights who, before even reaching adulthood, stood shoulder to shoulder with high-ranking officers-their social status needed no further explanation.
The moment they were commissioned, proposals poured in from every prestigious family.
Ren's behavior in avoiding such a knight was something Yan could not understand.
"I like this side better."
Saying so, Ren plopped down right next to Yan.
Most men would have turned red at the scene, but Yan merely pushed her away with a look of annoyance, putting distance between them. This woman, full of mysteries, was still not someone he could trust.
"I get that I can move that thing. Just that short burst of movement left me on the verge of death, though."
"It usually takes over two years before you can perform combat maneuvers. Adapting this quickly was beyond prediction."
Ren spoke with no expression.
Yet the fact that her usually brief answers were growing longer suggested she truly had been surprised.
"Why me? Is being without mana the condition?"
"I don't know. The one who chose you was the Frame, not me."
Saying so, Ren looked toward the colossus kneeling in the distance.
The Frame had called to her?
A colossus that moved only by human hands had called to her?
"I reactivated the Frame while it was dormant, and at that instant its control persona sent a signal."
"What kind of signal? A signal to bring me inside?"
"A signal that only you can activate Glaepnir."
Glaepnir.
It was the name of the Frame he had heard when he first boarded it.
"During the battle earlier it kept saying things like 'get out' or 'avoid combat'-that wasn't you, right?"
"Not me. An AI loaded for data processing. Next time you board, talk to it. It'll be happy."
"Come on, talking to a colossus... whatever."
Phew-
He cut off his words and quietly exhaled cigarette smoke.
He had neither the heart nor the ability to pick apart every bit of that far-fetched story. He had no choice but to accept it.
"One thing's certain: only I can move that thing."
"Certain. Nobody except you can move it."
"Then that's enough. Next question."
He rose from his seat, dropped the finished cigarette to the ground, and crushed it underfoot.
Then Yan looked back at Ren.
"You said it would take two years to maneuver like today? I did it in a single day."
"Don't get cocky. Even in combat it's limited to five minutes. You can't fight properly with that."
"It's not arrogance, it's desperation. I need to control that thing perfectly right now."
At those words, Ren turned to look at Yan's face.
Her face was still expressionless. Yet Yan felt as if Ren were asking him-
'Have you lost your mind?'
"A way to fully adapt to the Frame in an instant-"
"Don't think of saying there isn't one. I'm someone who fought while physically linked to that thing."
Cutting off Ren's words, Yan clenched his fist as he remembered piloting Glaepnir.
"Something was blocking the movements. It wasn't just hard to control-I felt tied up, stifled."
At the relentless questioning, Ren's expression deepened.
"...."
Was she hesitating?
Watching Ren's prolonged silence, Yan tilted his head.
'Why is she taking so long?'
Shouldn't she want him to master the Frame as quickly as possible so that she too could relax?
Thinking so, Yan opened his mouth to press her again.
"You bastard!"
Cancel.
Thanks to the voice that had just rung out, Yan understood why Ren had fallen silent. Turning calmly, Yan saluted.
"Loyalty. Corporal Yan Verkut."
"Shut up! I'm not the least bit interested in your name or rank!"
With a deep sigh, Yan dropped the salute and looked at the man before him.
It was the knight Randel.
"Was it you who played dirty tricks on that Lady?"
"...Could you repeat that?"
"What trick did you pull that such a Lady is clinging to a lowly Penal Corps soldier like you!"
Randel had stormed over and was shouting; his face was so red it looked about to burst.
He had originally had pale skin-who knew a face could turn that red.
"As I thought, that's how it is. Now I understand!"
'Understand what?'
While Yan was left speechless by the sudden accusation, Randel, who had already reached a conclusion, pressed on.
"You shameless wretch! You seized the Lady's weakness to harass her!"
"...Pardon?"
The absurd interrogation made Yan forget for a moment that the man before him was his superior. Randel, blind with rage, didn't care and kept spouting ridiculous suspicions.
"I know you threatened the Lady so you could board that colossus!"
What nonsense was this?
Though Randel's accusations were absurd, to Yan this was a more serious situation than it seemed.
Yan might have received special treatment, but he was from the Penal Corps, while the other man was a knight directly under the Imperial Guard.
If that man spread suspicions, there was nothing Yan could do to stop him.
"Hey Ren. If you step forward and say it's not true..."
"Would that man back off if I said it properly?"
'Of course not.'
Ren's point made Yan's already aching head throb even more.
The man had surely seen her with him long ago and had been waiting for the right moment to strike.
Even the wild accusations were probably part of his calculation.
Just as Yan thought that, a group of people began to appear behind Randel.
They were his fellow knights.
"What's going on? Sir Randel."
"Why is it so noisy outside... cough! What is this stench!"
"Look over there. Even after erasing the brand, the foul stench of that vile creature couldn't be washed away."
Knights appeared before Yan's eyes, each adding a word.
Some of the knights, spotting Ren hiding behind him, gasped as they saw her face.
"Behold! I accuse this man of seizing control of that colossus by exploiting the weakness of an innocent lady, and then blackmailing her!"
"What?"
"How could such a thing be possible?"
The knights' questions and answers were clearly staged.
Wrong. Now that he was the target, escape was impossible.
Perhaps they had long resented how closely he kept to the Commander's side; the knights looking at Yan were filled with contempt.
'All this talk of knighthood, and underneath they're just thugs.'
He had survived ten years on the battlefield and finally thought he was stepping into the light. To say otherwise would be a lie.
But this was the result.
Even if a sewer rat crawled out seeking the light, to those who live in the light, it remains nothing more than a filthy rodent.
They saw it not as a neighbor to coexist with, but as vermin.
"Yan Verkut, heed me!"
Randel drew the sword at his hip with a grave expression.
Seeing that, Yan let out a sigh tinged with irritation.
"On the battlefield you threatened an innocent lady to steal an unknown colossus, then padded your record with false battle reports-shameless! I, Randel Belkuth, challenge you to a duel!"
With those words Randel leveled his sword at Yan.
A knight's duel.
A privilege granted to knights who ride colossi in the Emperor's name.
All investigations into the incident cease the moment it is declared, and all evidence loses legal force.
A private sanction that determines guilt or innocence through single combat between the challenging knight and the accused.
Once proclaimed, it becomes a knight's holy war-no one but the Emperor may interfere.
"Do you have proof? Where is the evidence that I did such a thing?"
"Evidence? Still trying to weasel out of it! I clearly...!"
"What is all this commotion!"
At Cain's voice every knight held their breath.
For a moment the argument stopped, but having seen the scene, Cain could only sigh.
"The duel declaration has already been completed...."
Only the Emperor may intervene in a knight's duel.
Anyone who violates that defies the Emperor's will.
"Corporal Yan. For now say you lost the duel. I'll do everything I can on my side to...."
"Sir. May I ask you one thing?"
Cain spoke hastily, as if trying to settle the matter.
Yet Yan seemed not to hear him, asking bluntly.
"What is it?"
"You said your name is Randel 'Belkuth'-are you certain?"
Randel, looking puzzled, answered.
"Can't even remember what I just said? Fool. Of course it is! I am Randel Belkuth, youngest son-in-law of the premier knightly house of the Empire, the Count of Belkuth!"
When he spoke of his lineage his voice brimmed with confidence.
Surely that woman Ren now realized what a high-born man she faced.
A perfect victory. All that remained was to show the mercy of the strong.
"Kneel and confess your crimes! Then I shall personally show you mercy...."
"I accept the duel. Set the date."
Yan spoke quietly.
At the unexpected response Randel's eyes widened.
"Wh-what?"
Cain, who had been sighing and drawing near, was the same.
"Corporal. I understand your head's running hot, but your opponent is a knight who uses mana. Here you...!"
Cain's attempt to dissuade Yan was cut short.
So great was his shock that he took two steps back.
"Corporal Yan...?"
On Yan's face now hung a bright smile he had never seen before.
***
"Kieek! Hurry up! Move it!"
"Move, you idiots!"
Elf Kingdom military maintenance yard.
Goblins scurried here and there carrying armor plating.
Draped only in rags, the goblins lugged metal chunks bigger than themselves, on the verge of collapse.
"Ki, kii..."
One goblin carrying a metal block lost balance and fell. Yet instead of aid or rest he was met with curses and the whip.
"You there! Who said you could rest!?"
Crack!
A leather whip lashed the goblin's back with a sharp sound.
"Kieek! Kieeeek! S-sorry!"
The goblin collapsed, unable even to scream.
Those driving the goblins were hulking figures with green skin.
Orcs.
"By sunrise we must have the knights' colossi ready! Understood!?"
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Unlike the goblins, the orcs wore proper uniforms and work clothes.
It was their task to weld and attach the armor plating the goblins brought, repairing the colossi.
"Turk!"
"Sir Delranel!"
Hearing his name called, the orc in uniform turned at once.
Poison-laced Elf knight Buertael was looking at him. His muscular frame was more akin to an orc's than the slender build of other elves.
"Remove every spike and lance from my Frame and fit chains instead."
"Hm! Chains, you say?"
Maintenance foreman Turk repeated in surprise.
Buertael folded his arms, gazing at his Frame in the light.
"The humans have a monster. A monster so huge our weapons barely scratch it."
"The goblins back from the front keep saying the same all day. They claim they saw a demon...."
Turk trailed off, looking at a lance leaning in the corner.
Colossus weapon technology was secret; they had taken this one before the humans could capture it. Every time he saw the twisted lance he felt a chill.
"Hmph! Monster indeed. Its output and armor were beyond imagination, but it moved like a slug. We can take it down."
Buertael clenched his teeth as he spoke.
'To think I felt fear before mere humans.'
Crunch.
He, who never lost composure before the Silver Knight, had for an instant lost himself to terror-a disgrace he could not bear.
"Buertael. Next battle, I'm going out too."
A voice came from behind him.
So cold it might have been another elf's. But seeing the resolute face, Buertael smiled.
"Delranel."
When he first returned claiming a monster had appeared, the other royal guards raged.
The one who lost to humans and abandoned his Frame was now boasting?
Delranel, who had endured every insult for disgraces unimaginable to an Elf Kingdom knight.
"Your eyes have come back to life. Looks like you're fully prepared?"
But after today's battle, no one blamed him.
They had seen the vanguard knight Buertael's spear blocked, seen that spear crumple like paper before their eyes.
"Right. I faced that thing twice and only trembled in fear. Unlike you."
"I understand. Reluctant as I am to admit it, that monster is real. It sent chills down my spine."
Only those who faced it directly could understand that fear. Buertael clenched his fist as he spat those words.
Seeing the faint tremor that still remained, he gritted his teeth again.
"I heard the plan from the commander. I'll go with you."
"Good. Let's go hunt that monster together."
As they spoke, a signal flare carrying information from the front lines shot up toward the elf main camp.
Headquarters, having confirmed the Silver Knight's presence, reported they were sending five more colossi as reinforcements. But the Silver Knight was no longer their target.
Buertael, Delranel.
Those who looked at their Frames with steely expressions now had a new target: Yaan's colossus.
Glaepnir.