Chapter 23 (1/2)

23.LITTLE GIRL FIGHTS A MOCK BATTLE

(Changing Aiandinna to -> Iron Dinna)

The mercenary group Jakan was a small scale mercenary group of thirty two members, having the machiini [Hedgehog], which was piloted by the leader Golias, and a gnome and a Silphy as the core of the group.

Together with the Rozen group leaded by Maia, they had been hired by a n.o.ble of the south, lord Roua. However, he perished in his last battle, so their contract of protecting him was cancelled.

Even if the reason for his death was because his third son went too much forward because he wanted fame, the one they would be complaining to was already headed to the world of G.o.d, a world above heavens where the river of mana Naagarain.

Having lost their employer, they also lost their job.

Even with that said, there is no way they could immediately get another contract at the front lines. It wasn´t rare for one to get a bad contract if one was in rush to get employed, and it also seemed that there was still some time before the next a.s.sault, so they decided to return to the city of Morson and find an employer.

And then, it happened yesterday. They received a message from Maia, the leader of the Rozen mercenary group, which had been hired by the lord Roua together with them before. Hearing that they got hired with good terms by a certain mercenary group, Gilias accepted the invitation.

The Jakan mercenary group arrived at the neighboring city of Morson, which was where they were invited for the meeting.

“”…Hou.””

Golias glanced around. They were at a place that machiini pilots would sometimes use for training. It was wide enough that there wouldn´t be any problems even with the machiinis moving around. The ones present there was the Rozen mercenary groups with their fifty one members, and at a place slightly away from them were two machiinis and two elementals.

“”So that´s the Beladonna mercenary group Maia was talking about? Although their numbers of two machiinis and two elements are reasonable, don´t they have anybody else?””

If it was in close terrain, it was feasible for soldiers of living flesh to fight a machiini. Actually, if the soldiers had equipment specialized for dealing with machiinis, it wasn´t impossible for five people to bring a machiini down.

In addition, with the cooperation between machiinis and soldiers following along it it, it was possible for the soldiers to defeat the machiini in the gap made by the fight between them. The opposite was also possible. Because of that, although it still depends on the situation, it is thought that it is essential to have machiinis and supporting soldiers as a set.

“”Are the elements serving as subst.i.tutes?””

Although this was costly, this was also a good way to use elements.

Golias thought that maybe they were intending to hire them in order to supplement their forces. However, the black knight model machiini caught his eyes because of that.

As a mercenary, by the time you possess a machiini like that, you would certainly already be holding considerable power. At the time he saw it, Golias concluded that the pilot of the black machiini was the leader of the Beladonna mercenary group.

[Oh, so you came.]

However, the one that spoke when Golias approached them wasn´t the black machiini, but the small red machiini that was beside it.

“”What?””

Golias was confused. By looking at the positions they were standing, it felt as if the top of the Beladonna mercenary group was actually the small machiini. Despite how it still didn´t grow up, it indiscriminately wore a red painting that stood out. Golias thought that it would become target in the battlefield because of that, and thus it would get taken down right away. However, he first put those thoughts aside and asked.

[Golias of the Jakan mercenary group has arrived. Is the leader of Beladonna here?]

[Yeah, it´s me. I am the leader of Beladonna.]

It was the red machiini that had blatantly spoken before the one stepping forward.

“”So it was really the red one. It isn´t the black one?””

It couldn´t be helped that Golias was thinking like that. That machiini was still young.

“”Besides that, the voice seems to be very young?   ….It looks like a woman. That is if the one inside isn´t making that weird voice on purpose. Now that I look closely, that element used to be one of that n.o.ble´s slaves.””

Golias was remembering about it as he looked at the Salamas [Expressif]. It was an element that used to serve beside lord Roua. Golias remembered well that its pilot was very skillful despite the reckless explosions.

[Alright. Bela, are those there all you have? Is your mercenary group only four machiinis and elements?]

[Well, I´ve just started here, you see. There is a lot still lacking, but well, I am hiring you because of that, you know.]

Hearing those words, Golias responded.

[You´ve just started? Maia, you invited me for someone like that?]

[Well, that´s right.]

Maia answered Golias with just that. From those words, it could be felt the feeling of resignation. It was as if she already knew about that.

[I can make up with skill for what I lack of experience. I will have you compensate for the experience. There shouldn´t be any complaints about that, right?]

[As if there isn´t. First of all, even if you spout about your strength, there is no way I can believe with a shabby machiini like that.]

[Hyahyahya.]

Laughs resounded, being directed to Golias. Those were clearly laughs that were making fun of him.

[In that case, should I first show you my power?]

[What? Do you want to fight me?]

Golias´ machiini [Hedgehog] was three meters and eighty centimeters. It was a height that was like comparing an adult and a child when compared to Bela´s [Iron Dinna]. However, the proposal coming from [Iron Dinna] wasn´t a one-on-one fight against [Hedgehog].