---

It was a little earlier in time, on the dawn of the day when the Battle of Obitus took place.

The Count had to receive a messenger who had come to see him early in the morning. With the Great War approaching, messengers were frequent visitors, but it was customary for them to leave a mark announcing their visit.

However, this time, the messenger arrived without any prior notice. This could be interpreted as him having urgent news.

The Count headed to his office, set up a barrier to prevent the servants from coming near, and faced the messenger.

“Is there a problem?”

– The master intends to use Horizon as a discard card.

“A discard card? Is there a reason?”

The Count looked at the messenger with a puzzled expression. As far as the Count knew, Horizon was a card that had been carefully cultivated for a long time.

Although the recent unexpected actions had accelerated the plan somewhat, it was still within the expected range.

Therefore, it was a waste to use him as a mere discard card. Even considering his eccentric personality, his usefulness was undeniable.

– It is said that his usefulness has run its course. It seems that the master has found Fressia’s whereabouts.

“I see. Then, I will erase all traces of contact with Horizon.”

The Count erased everything he had been thinking about from his mind upon hearing the messenger’s words. If his master had already made a decision, he would simply follow.

That was the loyalty the Count held, and it was also the only way to survive.

– All that remains is to find the Colossus. The day is coming soon, so prepare accordingly.

The Count closed his eyes at the messenger’s words.

He felt a slight surge of emotion at the fact that the day he had long awaited had finally arrived in his lifetime.

The day he had dreamed of since hearing about his master from the previous Count was finally within reach.

Despite the passage of time and his advancing age, the Count barely managed to calm his trembling heart. For a moment, his face, which had briefly returned to his childhood, quickly turned cold.

“Understood. I will keep that in mind.”

– Then, please handle Horizon’s disposal well. I’ll see you next time.

The messenger disappeared without a trace, just as he had arrived. After watching the spot where he had left, the Count took out the communication magic circle connected to Horizon and cast a chain dispel spell.

This would erase all traces of the magic circle connected to Horizon, including any communication they had exchanged. Being part of a wealthy family was helpful in times like these.

However, since he had interacted with Horizon for quite a long time, there were many traces to erase. He summoned the shadow knights of his family and ordered them to erase everything related to Horizon.

Now, all that remained was to watch the arrogant Horizon crumble.

The Count felt strangely pleased.

***

In front of Gilbert, who was about to engage in battle, lay two artificial spirit cores. One was CT-777, who had become his comrade, and the other was Fressia’s core, recovered from the previous day’s battle.

He did not return Fressia to Ian immediately after the battle. While the previous day’s battle had boosted the morale of the Allied Forces, it did not mean they could overcome the difference in troop numbers.

If the difference in troop numbers widened in today’s battle, it would undoubtedly affect morale, so Gilbert planned to make a somewhat reckless move today.

To become an unbreakable hope for his allies and an insurmountable symbol of despair for the enemy.

To achieve this, he needed to show overwhelming performance, and for that, he delayed returning Fressia to Ian. It would be a matter for later if Ian went searching for Fressia.

His concern was not Ian. He only wished for as many of his allies as possible to return alive.

Since his previous life, his goal had been to ensure the safe return of his comrades, and he had flown desperately for that. Even in this world, where he piloted a colossal mech instead of a fighter, that did not change.

[How did I end up with this guy…]

Fressia also grumbled, but knowing his noble heart, she decided to cooperate with Gilbert. She knew from experience that his characteristic skill was exceptional.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it was better than Ian’s characteristic skill, but she had to admit that Gilbert’s skill was superior to Ian’s.

She didn’t know how he could control an officially contracted artificial spirit, but his performance was undeniable. She thought that if Ian could perfectly handle his characteristic skill, it might feel like this.

– All troops, prepare for battle.

Seraphina’s voice echoed through the entire magic channel. Looking ahead, the large army of the New Resistance was also lined up, watching them.

Perhaps after analyzing the previous day’s battle, light-armored colossal mechs were positioned among the heavy-armored colossal mechs in the front line. If they charged in with the same special attack as yesterday, they would be easily surrounded by the highly mobile light-armored colossal mechs and lost.

Gilbert quickly noticed this. No matter how much he could fly and move with his characteristic skill, he couldn’t exceed the mobility limits of a colossal mech.

– Launch.

The order to sortie was given, and Gilbert began to move in formation. This time, he was paired with Brynhild again, but he did not act outside the main force.

[Someone from Prince Richard’s faction has stepped forward!]

Gilbert reflexively checked the minimap upon hearing the voice through the public communication magic channel. Indeed, a blue dot classified as an ally was charging towards the New Resistance formation.

[Ian!]

Before Gilbert could identify the code, Fressia shouted. Having a formal contract with him, Fressia instinctively recognized Ian’s colossal mech.

Gilbert clicked his tongue. From the moment he used the characteristic skill “Your Mech is Awesome,” he was connected to Fressia, and her anxious emotions were directly transmitted.

He had anticipated the impulsiveness of the middle school route, but he didn’t expect it to return in this worst form. Or perhaps, the thought of losing Fressia had narrowed his thinking.

Recently, Ian’s impulsive actions had been significantly reduced by Fressia. In the game, she also took on the role of a guide, helping players grow correctly.

With Fressia gone, there was effectively no way to stop Ian’s rampage. If he thought Fressia had been stolen, it all made sense.

Gilbert had to make a decision in a very short moment.

Should he follow the original plan and advance in formation?

Or should he save Ian, who had acted impulsively?

From a rational standpoint, following the plan was the right choice. As the commander of Seraphina’s faction, he should avoid actions that deviated from the plan.

But Gilbert was fundamentally the kind of person who couldn’t leave a comrade who could be saved to die. The countless farewells he had experienced in his original world had fundamentally broken him.

Gilbert pondered endlessly, but he knew all too well what decision he would make.

[Gilbert! Ian is in danger! Whatever, whatever it takes…! Please help him!]

Fressia, who had a special place in her heart for Ian, began to plead desperately with Gilbert. Her usual prideful demeanor was nowhere to be seen, as if Ian, her contractor, was more precious to her than anything else.

Hearing this, Gilbert compromised, as if deceiving himself.

To win this war, Gilbert needed Fressia’s cooperation. Even if he had the characteristic skill to control her, it was different from her actively supporting him.

But with Ian rushing into danger, it was difficult to expect help from Fressia, who had lost her composure. To receive her full cooperation, Ian’s safety had to be secured.

In fact, even without that, he was confident he could manage as long as the conditions for using the characteristic skill were met, but Gilbert decided to deceive himself.

[Please… help him…]

“Keep that promise.”

[Gilbert…?]

“Commander. This is Commander Gilbert.”

Gilbert ignored Fressia, who was still out of sorts, and opened a direct communication line with Seraphina. He had decided to go save Ian, but he needed to report to Seraphina.

If Seraphina were to stop Gilbert’s actions here, things could escalate, but Gilbert trusted her.

[Has an unusual situation occurred?]

“Yes. Commander Ian has charged alone towards the New Resistance army.”

[I saw that. Commander Gilbert reporting this situation to me means you intend to go save Commander Ian, right?]

“Frankly, I can’t tell if Commander Ian’s actions are impulsive or part of Prince Richard’s strategy, but leaving him be could affect the morale of the entire Allied Forces.”

Seraphina’s expression on the other side of the communication magic screen changed with interest. She nodded as if to continue.

“It’s a problem beyond Commander Ian’s abilities. Yesterday, due to Squad Leader Brynhild and I stirring up the enemy lines, the enemy’s formation has changed. If this situation had occurred yesterday, even I would have abandoned the operation.”

[I understand that, but didn’t Commander Gilbert say it could be part of Prince Richard’s strategy? In this situation, Commander Gilbert stepping forward could interfere with the operation.]

Gilbert was at a loss for words at Seraphina’s remark.

He had added that it might be Prince Richard’s strategy because he wasn’t sure.

It was unlikely that the genius strategist known as Shinkyomyo Mountain had not anticipated Ian’s impulsive actions.

He thought of everything, including himself, as chess pieces on the chessboard of war.

Advancing one square at a time to eventually checkmate.

The mad genius who found joy in this act was none other than Prince Richard.

Therefore, Gilbert didn’t think Richard had failed to anticipate Ian’s impulsive actions. There must be a reason, and it was clear that he had either condoned or induced it.

Just induced?

Gilbert’s expression twisted at the sudden thought.

There are many factors that influence war, but the biggest one is the morale of the soldiers. No matter how well-trained or strong an army is, if morale hits rock bottom, they can lose wars they should have won.

That’s why commanders always had to pay attention to managing their soldiers’ morale.

There were two main ways to boost soldiers’ morale. The first was to give them hope that they could win.

What Gilbert and Brynhild had done the previous day was that method.

And the other way was to give the soldiers a reason to win.

This method included the commander’s speeches, but there was one thing more certain than that.

It was none other than stimulating camaraderie.

In life-threatening situations, emotions towards comrades dramatically rise. In moments of shared life and death, they were comrades on the same boat, colleagues who had to navigate the battlefield together.

And the moment camaraderie is most stimulated is when a comrade is about to die at the hands of the enemy. Even if they only knew each other by face, within the framework of being allies, they were family.

Gilbert, upon recalling this, vaguely guessed what Prince Richard’s strategy was.

Sacrificing an ally to strengthen internal cohesion.

In other words, Ian is a discard card for Prince Richard.

Of course, this was just speculation and Gilbert’s conjecture. Even if Prince Richard was a madman about war, he wasn’t the type to use an ally as a discard card.

While strategic sacrifices were often demanded, he never discarded them like this. Of course, this was limited to the game, so in reality, it was hard to say.

[Commander Gilbert, I understand you have many concerns, but the longer a commander ponders, the less time there is to make a choice. Think only of whether your choice will help me.]

Gilbert alternated between looking at Ian’s colossal mech, which had reached the New Resistance’s front lines, and Seraphina’s face. Seraphina’s expression showed no intention of denying Gilbert’s request.

“First, please remember that there is a possibility that this is not Prince Richard’s plan. But either way, it doesn’t matter. If that reckless charge was part of Prince Richard’s scheme, there is meaning in interfering with it.”

Gilbert, remembering the lack of time, hurriedly continued.

“Although the purpose of this war is to subjugate the New Resistance, it has a stronger flavor of a throne succession battle. Winning is a priority, but there is no need to watch the strategy of Prince Richard, a potential competitor. If Commander Ian is not acting according to plan, it is the right decision to stop him for the sake of the Allied Forces’ morale.”

[You intend to use saving an ally in danger as a pretext.]

Seraphina already knew that Gilbert’s proposal would benefit her faction. He had always acted for her faction, or more precisely, for her, so she thought this time would be no different.

As expected, Gilbert’s explanation was exactly what she wanted to hear.

[Very well. Commander Gilbert. Help Commander Ian. But remember, your safety comes first.]

“Understood.”

As soon as Seraphina’s permission was given, Gilbert pulled the control stick and drove his colossal mech towards Ian, who was fighting against the front lines.

[Magic bullets will come from the 3 o’clock direction ahead.] From the moment the decision to save Ian was made, Fressia regained her composure and began to provide support.

She, an artificial spirit, began to detect the subtle mana just before the activation of magic armor and marked the expected firing positions on the screen.

With the number of colossal mechs, the screen was filled with red hit markers, a sight that would overwhelm anyone who saw it.

But Gilbert remained unshaken even as he looked at the numerous hit markers. With CT-777’s additional briefing, he began to dodge all the hit markers.

Fressia, who watched this, was secretly astonished. She had marked the hit markers on the screen but didn’t expect him to dodge them all perfectly.

She knew he wouldn’t get hit because she trusted his skill, but she expected some to be blocked by a magic barrier.

Is this possible?

Having encountered many talented colossal mech knights over the years, Fressia had never seen one like Gilbert. His mana capacity was clearly low.

Not to go far, compared to Ian, his mana capacity was only about half. Yet, he was using that limited mana efficiently to perform this unbelievable piloting.

A realm beyond precision.

Fressia began to admire and be captivated by his piloting.

Let’s see how far you can go.

Deep within her, emotions she had suppressed began to seep out as she watched Gilbert’s piloting.

Fressia, an artificial spirit, had never shown her full performance before. Only a handful of knights could keep up with her support, and even then, none had done so perfectly.

Now, she had met a knight who might require her to bring out her full performance. It was only natural for Fressia to feel excited and increase the pitch of her support.

Meanwhile, the situation was the same for Gilbert.

CT-777 was undoubtedly an excellent artificial spirit, but there were still areas where it needed to grow.

In contrast, Fressia was literally a super artificial spirit, beyond the boundaries of an ordinary one. Her processing speed was several times faster than CT-777’s, and most importantly, she could meet the conditions for activating Gilbert’s characteristic skill.

The best piloting skill and the best support from an artificial spirit.

With both of these, Gilbert truly became the Avatar of the Battlefield.

 

---