Clockwork Planet - Volume 03

by Kamiya Yuu

  They were the remnants of the Imperial Escorts and the soldiers rushing in from the other grids.

  They began their assault on the fortress soon after 50 minutes passed, before they could assemble their forces fully.

  From a military standpoint, they committed a critical error of sending in waves after waves–

  But for Marie’s side, it was a tough battle, for RyuZU and AnchoR were not present, and they had to defend the base through Vermouth in his prosthetic and the heavy-armed automata Halter.

  The duo blocked the incoming, desperate forces, and one would have to laud their efforts.

  But for Naoto–no, everyone felt worried.

  The limit had already passed. It was already two minutes past the next firing moment Naoto mentioned.

  Naoto did say that it would be 72 minutes ‘earliest’. Perhaps it would take more than 80 minutes–or perhaps it could be fired at this moment.

  But Naoto was more worried about–

  “Damn it–please, AnchoR, RyuZU…”

  Perhaps the delay of two minutes was out of AnchoR or RyuZU’s sacrifice.

  But he hoped that these two minutes were not earned with the biggest sacrifice in his life–

  On one hand, Marie with busy with the final adjustments during this time, and at the same time, yelled at Houko,

  “You hear me!? We’re going to heat up Grid Akihabara to 2,000 Degrees Celsius! Heat up the surroundings of that weapon to 30,000 Degrees!”

  –Am I sane? Marie wondered.

  She was more terrified of what she said than anyone else.

  But considering that she had to destroy that weapon, she felt that the temperature was too low–Marie shook her head.

  “The surrounding is heating up, and it’ll be done soon–but it’ll take around 30 seconds for the frame of Grid Akihabara to be demagnetized! After 30 seconds Houko, please use that terminal to give the command. The bypass will break, and the temperature will lower.”

  “Yes–I understand.”

  Houko nodded in response to Marie’s instructions.

  Naoto yelled impatiently.

  “Hey, Marie! Aren’t you done yet!? Hurry up!”

  “Got it! Right now–”

  Marie yelled, and right when she was about to proceed with the final step.

  Suddenly…she was tentative.

  It was true–that she learned.

  She gained the recognition of things she probably would not have known of. She gained the ability to see what she could not see.

  She accepted that she was not a genius, and decided to become a genius.

  But despite that, no, because of that–she was just a human.

  Her fingertip was holding the trigger that could possibly destroy the world.

  …Is it really alright? Did I not make a mistake? Am I being too conceited?

  It’s the first time I’m doing this, working on my instincts, an unprecedented mechanical construct.

  I never tested it–no, it’s impossible not to fail here.

  But–if I fail, Tokyo, this country will fall.

  I get the feeling that I might fatally affect this planet.

  With this fingertip of mine–I might become the human that would kill the most humans in history.

  Her teeth were rattling, the sensation on her fingertip vanished.

  The tense, agitated feeling scorched her mind, her thoughts unable to make a breakthrough, and she felt she could faint at any given moment.

  –There’s no doubt. This is the right thing to do.

  No matter how she tried to convince herself, the fear she had showed no signs of abating.

  Suddenly, she felt skeptical.

  –What were those guys thinking at first when they started the coup d’etat?

  They did do something that could have potentially destroyed the world. What drove them to–

  “…Hey Marie, hurry up. What are you dab…ah, need a toilet break?”

  I see–Marie understood.

  Once she understood, she found that the matter was terrifyingly simply.

  “This is the second time now. I’m going to kill you afterwards–!!”

  –It was rage.

  In her fury, Marie smashed the enter key.

  At that moment–the ‘Heaven’s Pillar’ let out a hum of a throbbing.

  Would it succeed or fail–Marie left those thoughts aside, and stood up.

  This should be enough IT should be able to stand.

  That’s how ‘Y’ did this–those two units are proof. That’s good enough!

  She turned her head around, and found Naoto happily tapping at the terminal.

  “Alright–! Now then, you’re in the way, so back down now♪”

  A clear tapping sound echoed.

  And with the impact and boom akin to that of a massive explosion, the air let out a howl on the other end of the barricade.

  The winds blew the ‘military’, becoming a tornado in the passage that let out a deep howl hitting the inner walls.

  –This was a downburst on a very small scale.

  Following that were keyboard sounds,

  “Everyone ! Let’s escape–from the hole on the floor–!!”

  Naoto yelled,

  At that moment, there was an upstream from the massive hole on the floor,

  And in the face of the typhoon-like winds, Halter said,

  “…Hey Naoto. The hole on the floor…so what?

  “We’re jumping down, of course. What else?”

  “Any parachute?”

  “None–that’s why I summoned the winds.”

  Naoto stood by the hole as the winds roared, saying,

  “A freefall from here, and we’ll be able to ride the wind and land below–I guess.”

  “…Guess?

  “It’s fine, fine, really. I say that we can do it. It’s just a mindset issue. Don’t give up, uncle.”

  “…Are you kidding me? Well, I didn’t ask you how we’re going to retreat at first–but this has to be a lie, right?”

  Halter groaned. One could hear from his tone that if it was his original cyborg body, he probably would have slapped his bald head.

  The distance between their location and the ground was approximately 60km.

  At this height, even Vermouth or Halter’s machines could not possibly escape unscath, let alone Naoto and Marie who were of human flesh and blood.

  But Vermouth patted Halter’s body lightly, and leaped into the air,

  “I’m making my move first! Let’s rrrrrooooo–!”

  The yell was contorted due to the Doppler effect.

  Halter’s sensors clearly picked up that Vermouth’s body was decelerating as he rode down the massive winds, gliding to the floor.

  Naoto, who pricked his ears to listen too, said,

  “Alright, looks like it succeeded. Then, I can fly–!!!”

  He yelped, and jumped into the air.

  After that, Halter seemed to have given up and he jumped down from the side of the hole.

  Finally, Marie was the only one left, and she turned to her good friend beside her, saying,

  “Now then–I’ll leave the rest to you, Houko.”

  “–Yes, I shall indicate all of you as high profile criminals. Do relax.”

  Houko smiled as she answered.

  This probably would be the last time they would meet–so Marie thought.

  The Princess of a country and a savage terrorist–there probably would not be a direct chance for them to meet again.

  From henceforth, their paths would never meet, for they would walk down different paths.

  I don’t regret this decision, but, just a little–right when marie was thinking of this, and feeling melancholic…

  Houko raised her left hand at Marie.

  She was wearing a silver watch on it.

  “–”

  Marie smiled, and began running off.

  The palm of her close friend was dangling in front of her, and as they passed, with
the sound of a hit–

  At that moment, Marie leaped out from the edge of the hole,

  Later on, the ‘military’ regrouped, barged through the barricade, and charged in.

  “Wha–”

  A brief voice of surprise was blurted out.

  The supersonic bullet accelerated by electricity–stopped in the air.

  Two sharp scythes reached out, blocking the bullet.

  A girl in black dress spoke with a clear singing-like voice,

  “It is the servant’s duty to obediently follow the Master’s orders. And also–”

  The black scythe spun along with the words.

  Then, Gennai’s right hand that was wielding the right hand was severed, flying into the air.

  “….It is the older sister’s responsibility to take care of the little sister, and stop her from being too reckless.”

  Saying that, the girl–RyuZU, bowed with an elegant motion.

  On the other hand, Gennai, whose arm was lopped off, looked utterly confounded, his face contorted.

  It was not due to the pain of losing his arm.

  “–Impossible…why did it not fire–!?”

  But because the impact of the main cannon primed to be fired did not reach him.

  And while Gennai showed no restraint in his emotions, RyuZU sneered, answering,

  “–I came here through the hole my sister opened–and in the meantime, severed approximately 18 of movements with this meager power of mine. Looking at how your gaudy expression is right now, that if your head is lopped off and put in an arts gallery as an exhibit titled ‘imbecile’, I suppose I did something that was of ill will to you–this truly is a blissfulness akin to ascending to the Heavens.”

  “…Sis…ter…why…?”

  Upon hearing the voice voice that was filled with static, RyuZU turned her vision down.

  Right below her was the sight of AnchoR, so thoroughly damaged, her limbs lost.

  RyuZU frowned as she saw that–and abruptly swung the black scythe.

  Bam!

  The scythe swung at with pace, hitting AnchoR hard on the head.

  The latter’s body stopped breaking apart, reverting back to being that of a young girl.

  “…It hurts…uu…you hit me…sister…”

  AnchoR, so worn out, twisted her body, inadvertently snivelling.

  AnchoR did not realize the change within her.

  She did not know that the moment she was hit, the black scythe of her older sister accurately cut off the Balance Wheel of the ‘Perpetual Gear’, stopping her ‘Steel Weight’–if the severed part was just a little off, she probably would not be able to move again.

  Without letting her little sister realize the close shave that happened, RyuZU nonchalantly replied,

  “–Yes, I did remind you that if you had no intention of returning, I would punish you.”

  “Ah…ahhn…uu”

  AnchoR realized the bad state she was in, and let out a little groan.

  RyuZU watched on with a smile, and then followed it up with a grim expression.

  Gennai, holding his arm and breathing erratically, bemoaned,

  “…I couldn’t win after all…?”

  “Against who? You never did lose to anyone.”

  The topaz eyes were giving off a snide glint.

  With elegance and spiteful mockery, RyuZU bowed like a posh lady, saying,

  “For you who had already admitted defeat to yourself right from the beginning, it was really unbecoming of you to have the misconception that you were fighting against Master Naoto, and I really do hope that you could have shrank this grave misunderstanding to a portable level, at least.”

  She paused.

  “–I should have caught up to AnchoR with ‘Mute Scream’, but there are two reasons why I did not do that. Thus, I do have to require you to apologize to me for having to endure your uncouth eyes.”

  As to be expected, Gennai did not move.

  But RyuZU did not mind as she knelt down beside AnchoR.

  “First off, to bring AnchoR back.”

  Once AnchoR entered ‘Steel Weight’, the initial burst of speed was something not even ‘Mute Scream’ could match up to.

  But as long as she continued with the self-destructive actions, her speed would naturally slow down.

  If RyuZU was to accelerate and hit AnchoR at that moment, the impacts of moving things under different time axis could have damaged AnchoR.

  Thus, RyuZU did not show up, but immediately gave chase once AnchoR jumped down. She went straight for the little sister who caused so much devastation–but even so, it took her quite some time.

  –And also, she continued,

  “Secondly, I do not wish for you to die while unconscious. I really cannot allow myself to do such a merciful act”

  With a beaming smile, RyuZU indicated this, and sensed a change.

  The surrounding temperature was rising.

  “–Thank goodness, AnchoR.”

  “….Eh…?”

  Looks like she has yet to realize, RyuZU nodded quietly in her heart.

  –It was thanks to AnchoR that Naoto and the others lived on, and managed to do it.

  You shall be properly reward RyuZU quietly noted to AnchoR in her heart, and smiled, before saying to Gennai,

  “Now then…as for this old body in a pitiful state, I can grant your wish and let you be cooked as it you–or perhaps I should say, that if possible, I do wish to see your flesh burned, your blood boil, and your eyeballs reduced to white filth as you die, until I reach my temperature limit–”

  Saying this, RyuZU hugged AnchoR,

  “But though this is really against my personal wish, Master Naoto commanded that killing is bad for AnchoR’s emotional education, and a certain girl wishes to preside over your fate.”

  At that moment, the black scythe raced.

  The weapons and equipment on Gennai were reduced to scrap. The black scythe then twisted like a whip, smacking the back of his head with the back of the blade.

  “…!”

  Naturally, Gennai passed out, and was nimbly picked up by RyuZU’s scythe.

  “…How filthy. There is a need to clean up later. I did use my fastest speed possible to shake off the blood and fat from sticking off when I chopped the arm off…but this is merely an issue of feeling. It will be a great help to me if you do not move.”

  RyuZU turned around.

  She embraced AnchoR tenderly, and with the old man dangling, backtracked at full speed.

  “Ahh, do pardon me if you are burned because we could not escape in time, for it shall be an accident.”

  A few seconds after RyuZU and the rest left the scene.

  –A sun appeared in the center of Grid Akihabara.

  The photosphere was at 2,000 Degrees Celsius–and the core was exceptionally hot, at 30,000 Degrees. The sun devoured the massive weapon along with Grid Akihabara, scorching the landscape, removing the magnetism–

  Epilogue – 00:00 – Saver

  Under the moonlight, the sounds of waves echoed quietly.

  The place was Grid Ariake–a port city in Tokyo facing the outer sea/

  There were port facilities built at the edge surrounding Grid Ariake, spinning in the completely opposite direction to go along with the slowly spinning Grid. In ancient times, this place was called–Odaiba.

  The commotion during the day ensured that the port was devoid of people, and at a corner of Odaiba, inside a dock that was like a warehouse.

  That was the rendezvous they had agreed to meet at beforehand, and at this moment–

  “Aaaaaannnnnnnnnn~~cccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooo——RRRRRR!?”

  Naoto’s wail echoed throughout the dock, as though doomsday had arrived.

  Hard to blame him however.

  Right in front of his eyes was a thoroughly worn out and battered AnchoR, who lost her limbs and was only left with a frame.

  Naoto dumped everything he had in his hands, and leaped toward
s AnchoR, lying down on the large platform.

  Marie observed the situation from behind, and even she could not help but turn pale and gasp.

  –That was a terrible amount of damage.

  No matter how one might try to soften it–that was some ‘heavy damage’.

  If it was an ordinary automata, it would certainly be scrapped without mercy. Considering the amount of time and effort to repair this damage, it might be more efficient to build a new one–if it was just an ordinary automata.

  Marie glanced at Naoto.

  Naoto’s hands were quivering as he touched AnchoR, nodding gently,

  “…It’s alright. Really, barely, any fatal wounds on you. I remember everything about your structure, AnchoR, even the wires. I’ll–and Marie…will definitely be able to fix you…haaa…”

  “Really…thank goodness?”

  Naoto collapsed limply on the floor, and Marie too earnestly heaved a sigh of relief.

  And suddenly–Marie realized that she did not have any difficulty dealing with this girl.

  Right when she was feeling lost, Naoto lifted his face towards RyuZU,

  “…Thanks RyuZU. Thanks for stopping AnchoR.”

  RyuZU bowed elegantly, replying,

  “As the servant, this is to be expected. Also, this is for the sake of my deluded little sister.”

  “I’ll patch you up too, RyuZU…it’s tough being the older sister, isn’t it?”

  –In response to Naoto’s words, RyuZU gasped quietly.

  RyuZU herself took quite some damage when she entered the ‘Yatsukahagi’ to stop AnchoR–however, the reason why RyuZU was taken aback, was not because Naoto’s ears picked up on that.

  –Her exalted Master swore to repair her–for her master’s ‘continued growth’, RyuZU, felt more delighted than the prospect of her being repaired, and again, she bowed.

  “…So…rry…”

  At that moment, AnchoR, in Naoto’s arms, gave a weak voice.

  Upon hearing the interrupted voice filled with noise, Naoto frowned, and Marie too looked down.

  Before they could speak, AnchoR continued on,