Ch.162162. Academy’s Downfall

Gilbert’s principle when piloting the god-machine was identical to his days as a fighter pilot. He focused on movements with substance rather than flashy maneuvers, all to reduce unnecessary waste.

While playing games, he would sometimes display various spectacular piloting techniques for fun rather than efficiency, but since opening his eyes in this world and boarding the god-machine, he moved according to his previously established principles.

It was the same now. Even while performing high-speed maneuvers toward Professor Alexander, Gilbert’s path was the shortest possible distance.

The current ground was far from pristine. The floor was cratered with debris from buildings destroyed by bombardment, remnants of broken god-machines from battle, and magical armaments and iron shells that had gone astray.

In simple terms of distance, moving in a straight line would be the shortest route, but given the current battlefield conditions, moving in a straight line would actually take more time.

For a skilled god-machine knight, considering all these factors when piloting was expected, and it became an important measure of one’s piloting proficiency.

In that sense, Gilbert excelled at calculating the optimal path. His innate talent was outstanding, and above all, he had abundant experience.

As soon as he assessed the battlefield situation, he found the shortest possible route and moved his god-machine accordingly.

CT-777 assisted by considering variables and adjusting the path of the god-machine as it moved relentlessly at high speed. Since Gilbert couldn’t anticipate every situation when plotting his course, he recalculated and modified his path with CT-777’s moment-to-moment assistance.

All of this happened in the span of a single breath. To a third party, it would appear as if the god-machine was moving as naturally as flowing water, but for Gilbert, this was simply the norm.

“Stop him! That god-machine is dangerous!”

One of the Resistance executives who had been pressuring Professor Alexander shouted upon seeing Gilbert’s god-machine charging at a terrifying speed. They realized his movements were extraordinary and moved to block him, but they were helpless against him.

Even when they deployed magical armaments to block his path, it was only momentary. Accepting CT-777’s path corrections that indicated impact points, Gilbert began using three-dimensional maneuvers and literally started flying.

Even the Resistance executives stood with their mouths agape, watching in a daze as the massive god-machine soared through the air.

Just 10 minutes.

The time it took to deal with dozens of god-machines was so brief it wasn’t even enough time to drink a cup of tea.

Of course, due to such intense movement, he soon reached his operational limit. No matter how optimally he moved the god-machine and reduced unnecessary movements, there were physical limitations.

The god-machine he was piloting was a general-purpose model supplied to the Academy, and as such, it had a low magical battery capacity.

In contrast, the god-machines the Resistance piloted weren’t the latest models, but they were active-duty machines with performance and operational time vastly superior to the general-purpose god-machines.

Normally, one would run out of power before shooting down dozens of machines, but the Gilbert and CT-777 duo managed to accomplish this difficult feat.

Gilbert stopped the machine, opened the darkening cockpit door, retrieved only CT-777’s core, and came outside.

“Cadet Gilbert!”

“Professor.”

“So it was you after all. I heard your god-machine piloting skills had reached a state of mastery, and I see that’s true!”

Professor Alexander, pushing back his sweat-soaked blonde hair, enthusiastically greeted Gilbert as he appeared. He was visibly excited, impressed by the marvelous piloting skills Gilbert had demonstrated.

He knew Gilbert’s god-machine piloting was excellent, but the skills he displayed in this extreme situation far exceeded what Professor Alexander had anticipated.

Gilbert was effortlessly demonstrating what the professor could barely manage in his prime before his injury. Alexander offered a prayer of thanks to the gods for how blessed the Academy—no, the Empire—was to have such talent.

“Not at all. I’m just glad you’re safe, sir.”

“I’m not sure if I am safe. Do you know what’s happening? I haven’t received proper information since I’ve been busy evacuating students after those Resistance fellows attacked.”

“As you suspected, they appear to be Resistance forces. The attack was so sudden that there have been quite a few casualties.”

“…I see.”

Alexander’s eyes darkened at the mention of casualties. Despite his desperate struggle to save the students, there were still deaths. He couldn’t hide his devastation and let out a deep sigh.

“Fortunately, the professors who boarded god-machines are responding, but they’re overwhelmed. I think you should join the battle too, Professor.”

“Understood. I’ll evacuate the students first and join immediately.”

“Have you seen Professor Briana, by any chance?”

“I saw her 30 minutes ago. She said she was heading to the hangar, but I haven’t seen her since.”

“Which hangar was it?”

“Hangar C.”

“Then I’ll join Professor Briana.”

“Alright. I’ll join you soon as well.”

Gilbert watched Alexander lead the students toward the shelter, then headed for a relatively intact fallen Resistance god-machine. When he forcibly opened the cockpit, he saw a Resistance member with blood on his head, eyes closed. Unluckily, he seemed to have died from a severe head injury after hitting the inside of the cockpit.

He pulled out the Resistance member’s body with one hand, threw it outside, closed the cockpit door, and activated the god-machine.

[Trait skill “Your Machine is Awesome” is activating.]

As the trait skill activated, Gilbert felt a liberating sensation as if he had thrown off something suffocating. Normally when moving a god-machine, he felt like he was carrying heavy sandbags, but when the trait skill activated, it felt like he had put down that weight.

The performance of the trait skill “Your Machine is Awesome” was that superior. Even Ian’s trait skill “Integration” couldn’t provide such dramatic efficiency. The penalty for the trait skill was not easy to overcome, but the benefits when activated were tremendous.

[Gil. Are you modifying the mission?]

“Make finding Professor Briana the top priority. She’ll be key to resolving this situation.”

[Confirmed. Mission modified. Expanding search area to accomplish the mission.]

After modifying the mission, Gilbert moved the god-machine.

With even smoother movements under the influence of the trait skill.

***

Briana, whom Gilbert was desperately searching for, was engaged in battle with Resistance forces while piloting a god-machine. When she saw the large-scale god-machine unit attacking at the beginning of the raid, she quickly ran toward the hangar.

Though she hadn’t fully assessed the situation, her battlefield habits kicked in as she prioritized and executed what needed to be done immediately.

Even for someone called the Sword Saint, facing modern god-machines unarmed was impossible. She might handle one or two somehow, but there were dozens visible to her now.

In such a situation, facing them unarmed would be suicidal, so she prioritized boarding a god-machine. She was one of the Academy’s greatest assets, so this approach gave the best chance of resolving the situation and saving the students.

But despite acting quickly, she encountered a god-machine guarding the hangar when she arrived. Thinking it might be coincidence, she went to another hangar sector, but the situation was the same.

Briana began to sense something strange. Unable to make judgments based on uncertainty, she headed to yet another hangar sector. The result was the same—Resistance god-machines were stationed there.

This is strange. It’s almost as if…

It’s almost as if they know the locations of all the Academy’s hangars.

After visiting several more hangars and encountering the same situation, Briana had to acknowledge it: the enemy knew all the Academy hangar locations.

Briana frowned, uncharacteristically. There was only one implication if they knew the hangar locations.

There was an insider.

Come to think of it, it was suspicious how easily the Academy’s security system had been breached. This wasn’t the first attack on the Academy.

After the first attack, all security systems had been renewed and strengthened. The First Prince’s inspection team had recently conducted an audit, so it was difficult to believe there were problems with the security system.

Considering how desperately the inspection team had looked for flaws to criticize, it was unlikely they had made a mistake. So the conclusion remained the same as before.

There was a Resistance insider in the Academy, helping them destroy it.

Briana gritted her teeth at the unexpected appearance of a traitor. Having been away from the battlefield for so long, she had become too complacent. Living in peace, she had excluded the insight into situations and suspicion of allies.

But what was done was done, and regret would always come too late. Briana focused on resolving the situation first and searched for a hangar that might have an opening.

During this process, she encountered Professor Alexander and learned that other hangars were also occupied. There weren’t many hangars left. While heading toward one, Briana, who had been preparing for the worst, fortunately met faculty members who had secured a hangar.

When she heard how they had managed to secure the hangar, Briana couldn’t hide her inner pride.

Gil. You stepped up again.

The one who had saved them as they rushed toward the hangar risking their lives was none other than her exclusive disciple, Gilbert.

She heard that he had been taking a test when the attack occurred and was now fighting the Resistance alone with his god-machine. He was also looking for her, probably judging that her strength was necessary to resolve the current situation.

Feeling proud of her disciple’s achievements, Briana finally boarded a god-machine. Once aboard, she contacted Gilbert, who would be anxiously searching for her.

[Master?]

“I heard you were looking for me, Gil.”

[Yes. It’s impossible for me alone to calm the situation.]

“Have you assessed the enemy’s strength?”

[Estimated at hundreds of machines. Not many professors have boarded god-machines in the current situation. Of course, if we include students, the numbers would be significant, but few students would be capable of fighting.]

“You’re talking about the performance gap between the machines.”

[Exactly. That’s why we need you, Master.]

“Understood. I’ll join you now.”

[Confirmed. Then I’ll change direction to annihilating them.]

“First, I’ll establish a command structure.”

After this brief exchange, Briana opened the communication network. Though concerned an insider might be listening, having no command structure at all was more dangerous.

She quickly established a command hierarchy and left the hangar. It was time for her to be not Professor Briana of the Academy, but Briana the Sword Saint of the Empire.

***

One hour after Sword Saint Briana joined the battle.

They were able to annihilate all the Resistance forces that had attacked the Academy.

Their number was a staggering 300.

In other words, the battle against 300 god-machines ended in victory thanks to the professors led by Briana and the students centered around Gilbert.

The fact that the Academy suffered near-devastating damage was secondary.