Chapter 46: T² Stands on the Earth

The blue glow that accompanied T²'s appearance was a little more excessive than necessary. Half of that was to make sure the scene would look awesome if it ever got included in the game, and the other half was simply because I wanted it that way.

It had started as a spur-of-the-moment idea, but I'd ended up creating a seriously cool robot... or rather, I'd somehow managed to create one.

At this rate, wouldn't Tierra-chan's first SSR unit end up being her Pilot Version? That wouldn't be bad, but if that happened, I was worried she'd lose every last trace of her healer role. There were already more muscle-brained characters who could do nothing but punch things than anyone could count, and honestly, I didn't think I could compete with them. If possible, I'd rather they hold off on implementing Pilot Tierra-chan...

"Well, looks like that worry was completely unfounded."

『Suggestion: Tierra, this unit will handle the controls. It is recommended that Tierra remain seated in the cockpit.』

"Oh, right. Yeah. Of course."

Yes. Yes, that's right.

The moment I actually tried piloting it, I tripped over nothing and missed every attack. I was an absolute disaster.

I was ashamed of myself for thinking I could pilot T² better than anyone else.

Well, it wasn't as if someone without even a driver's license could climb into a giant robot and pilot it successfully on their first try.

Just two minutes after I started piloting, Tetoma itself declared me unfit for combat and switched to automatic control. I'd been reduced to a glorified ornament whose only job was to sit in the cockpit.

"Is this how craftsmen feel when mass production puts them out of a job?"

『Negative. Tierra is not a craftsman.』

"Don't tell me... are you trying to say I'm terrible at piloting?"

『Query: The purpose of using the phrase "don't tell me" is unclear. Tierra's piloting is unquestionably terrible.』

I'm going to smash you.

"I wonder if everyone else is okay..."

"Kizuna-san, I am just as worried as you are. However, worrying won't make the situation any better. For now, we must focus on our own task and accomplish our objective as quickly as possible. We can go to their aid afterward."

"I see. You're right, Lies-san."

We were heading to the Great Forest to warn the elves that the Machine City was going to attack them.

We needed to evacuate the noncombatants outside the forest, and we also wanted to convince the elves that this wasn't the time to cling to their ancient rules.

However, we'd already been turned away once without even being given a chance to speak. This time, they might try to drive us away by force.

As Lies-san had said, this was a dangerous mission with a high degree of difficulty. We had to stay focused.

"Come on, don't worry! Everyone's definitely going to be okay! My gut tells me so!"

"Thank you, Pahal-san. You're right. For now, we just have to trust everyone... Whoa?! What the heck?!"

Suddenly, countless vines wrapped around my arms and legs.

They were unbelievably strong and powerful for something that looked like a plant. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't break free.

"Lies! Use fire magic on the surrounding trees!"

"...Understood! Ring of flames, spread out and burn everything to ashes!"

"They're letting go! Thank you, Pahal-san, Lies-san!"

Pahal-san's usual carefree voice had been replaced by a desperate shout.

Responding to her command, Lies-san unleashed a ring of flames that attacked all the surrounding trees at once. The vines that had wrapped around me vanished immediately afterward.

"Those are Tree Soldiers! They're plant-based weapons designed to repel intruders from the forest!"

"Plant-based weapons?! Does that mean the elves are attacking us?!"

"There's no doubt about it. Honestly, the elders are way too stubborn. They need to do some brain training, or they'll end up senile!"

By the time I noticed, the surrounding trees were approaching us on roots that moved like legs. Their branches and vines writhed freely like the tentacles of an octopus, seemingly waiting for us to let our guard down.

And on top of that...

"It appears we're completely surrounded..."

That's right. It seemed every plant around us had transformed into a Tree Soldier, and we'd been thoroughly encircled.

"Kizuna-san! We have no chance of winning if we fight all of them head-on!"

"Then we'll break through at one point! Pahal-san, use a barrage of attacks to pin down the entire enemy force! I'll exploit the opening and use magic to punch a hole through the encirclement! Lies-san, buy us time until I'm ready to attack!"

"Understood!"

"Leave it to me!"

If I unleashed my strongest attack on a single point, I should be able to create an opening, even if only for an instant.

First, we had to escape this desperate situation...!

"Damn it, there are too many of them!"

"Yes. Even when we break through the encirclement, they surround us again almost immediately..."

"Well, every plant in the Great Forest is part of their fighting force. Honestly, I figured this would be pretty tough."

No matter how many times we escaped, we were surrounded again almost immediately, and we couldn't make any progress at all.

Worse, after one battle after another, our magic power was completely depleted. If this kept up, we'd be in serious trouble.

"We can't afford to be held up here...! There has to be something, some way to turn this around...!"

Meanwhile, Rene and the others were fighting while overwhelmingly outmatched. Thinking about that only made me more impatient, and I couldn't get my thoughts in order.

What should I do?! How can we get out of this?!

"Good grief, I can't just stand here watching you! This way, big brothers!"

"Huh?"

In an instant, the voice of a young boy who hadn't yet gone through puberty rang out through the forest. Something large and black swept across my field of vision, and then something like a wire was fastened around my waist...

"This is going to be a little rough, so be careful not to bite your tongue!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

...We were dragged away at tremendous speed, and somehow managed to break through the encirclement.

"...Owww. Are you okay, Lies-san? Pahal-san?"

"Y-yes. I'm perfectly fine."

"I'm a little dizzy... I'm totally wiped out..."

Even so, Pahal-san's voice sounded as energetic as ever.

Thank goodness. It seemed all three of us had made it out safely.

"What on earth just happened...?"

『All three individuals confirmed safe. Mission complete.』

As I tried to figure out what was going on, a mechanical voice came from above us.

The source was a machine with a deep, dark-green body and a crimson mono-eye.

Its color was different from the machines we'd fought so far, but its appearance was unmistakably...

"A mechanical soldier?!"

"They've already reached the Great Forest...!"

Lies-san and Pahal-san immediately took up fighting stances. I followed a moment later, preparing myself for battle as well...

"Yep. Good work, Hatch. ...Oh, don't worry, big brothers. Hatch isn't an enemy."

With a *thwap*, a young elven boy gracefully leaped down from the mechanical soldier's back and stepped between us and the machine.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Himeros. Himeros Waunero. That was a close call, wasn't it, big brothers?"