278 – Robot Rock (1)
Theo’s colleagues and Croc’s Holy Knights entered through the back door of [Ford Company].
[Ford Company] Personnel did not expect that an outsider, not an official, would appear at the back door, so most of the combatants gathered at the front door.
Guard Captain Kroc stood at the forefront and commanded the people.
“Let’s push in quickly!”
Theo’s colleagues and Kroc’s Holy Knights were in ruins.
The Ford Company fighters who had gathered at the front door belatedly headed toward the back door.
However, they were counterattacked by Theo’s colleagues and Kroc’s Holy Knights who were already occupying the area, and many troops were lost.
After losing more than a third of his troops in an instant, Thomas, the interim general manager of [Ford Company], Realized that the current situation was not serious.
“You can’t contact Maitri?”
The direct subordinate lowered his head and answered while sweating profusely.
“······Yes, Thomas. As soon as the enemies broke in through the back door, I tried to contact you continuously, but you did not answer.”
“What is the current scale of the enemies?”
“There are about 100 Holy Knights led by Kroc and about 10 people believed to be Ellinia Academy students armed with high-quality artifacts. There is also a princess from the Wood Elves who uses spirits.”
“······.”
Thomas tapped the side of his forehead and was lost in thought.
‘I came with a purpose. Croc is a veteran, high-ranking paladin who has distinguished himself on numerous battlefields. ‘Not only is he in command, but he also has an elementalist.’
Powerful enough to engage in an all-out war with even the most top-tier warrior guilds. Even if Oswald was there, it would be difficult to stop.
After a while, Thomas sighed softly and said.
“How much has the robot learned in combat compared to the target?”
“Currently, it is about 30%, but are you really planning on investing them?”
“It can’t be helped. “We haven’t yet found a battle leader who can replace Oswald, and Maitri isn’t around either.”
Suha said with a serious expression.
“······But I think that’s a very short-sighted idea. “We may be able to defeat our enemies with our current level of learning, but the moment the true nature of the robot is leaked, the entire continent will turn against us.”
Suha’s sincere advice.
But Thomas’ thoughts did not change.
“You have to survive to plan the future. “Are we all going to die here and now?”
“······How about blowing up the base instead? Although the research we have done so far is a waste, we can continue the research as long as we are alive.”
It was a good idea, but Thomas shook his head. There was one space in the base that the subordinate, who lacked access to information, was unaware of.
‘We must prevent that place from being destroyed.’
Within [Ford Company], There was a space where great demons were worshiped.
If you blow up the base, it will of course be destroyed. Then, the angry great demons will slaughter not only themselves but all living beings nearby.
“You can’t do that.”
“······May I ask the reason?”
“I’ll let you know when I get out of here alive. “Get ready to send the robot into battle.”
Suha bit his lower lip and nodded his head.
“······Okay, Thomas. “I will prepare right away.”
* * *
Theo’s colleagues and Kroc’s Holy Knights advanced steadily. There were no more enemies coming to the back door.
“After a brief maintenance and rest, we will depart for the main gate.”
Paladin Croc said so and swung his blood-covered mace up and down.
Tuk, Tuk.
The blood that fell from the mace soaked the corpses of the enemies.
“I understand.”
Taylor answered and looked around at the others.
Jang Woo-hee appeared in his eyes. She clearly looked anxious from earlier.
“What’s wrong, Ms. Jang Woo-hee?”
“······It’s nothing.”
Jang Woo-hee closed her mouth again.
‘There was no one who looked like Hyoyeon. ‘She’s all grown up.’
Theo said that his friend Hyoyeon Woo is somewhere in this building.
So, rather than cutting down enemies like other people, Jang Woo-hee focused on observing the enemies closely. Because Woo Hyo-yeon could have become a combatant of the enemy.
“Then I’m glad. “Are the others okay?”
Taylor said to the other students. No matter how much they are prospective human butchers, the students are still children. It is different from the self who is accustomed to seeing death.
Isil Deo awkwardly raised the corner of her mouth and said.
“Well… I was often trained for this at the academy. Are you saying these guys are really bad guys? There is no need to take matters into your own hands when it comes to killing bad guys. And Deputy Director, our family has been living off the money from killing people for generations. “How could I, your future successor, not be okay with it?”
“For something like that, your voice is shaking a lot, Mr. Isilder. “Sometimes, acknowledging your true feelings can make you feel more at ease.”
Isilder frowned.
“······Actually, I feel terrible. A bit much. That’s because they’re wearing masks, so they’re all human beings. Well, I don’t know how my father and mother killed people. “Dad says he got his first commission when he was 10.”
Neike patted the depressed Isilder on the back.
“It’ll be okay, Isilder! If you’re tired, you can take a break. “We are there, right?”
Looking at the still cheerful and cheerful Neike, Isil opened his eyes gently.
“······Why, Naike, you look happier than usual.”
“Oh, does it look like that? Now that I think about it, I think it’s kind of fun. “I guess it’s because I’ve been used to fighting since I was young.”
“······I don’t know what your brain looks like. “Looking at you makes me, who used to be depressed, feel like an idiot, ugh.”
Piel, Eisha, Irene, Alice, Alps, etc. Sympathized with Isilder’s words.
Neike scratched her head and laughed.
“hahahahaha, I’m glad I was of help, Isilder. Anyway, if you get tired later, take a break! Because there are other friends next to you.”
After some time, Croc ordered the advance again.
Everyone moved carefully, preparing for an unexpected enemy ambush.
However, the enemy could not even see a snout.
Isha said as she walked in the row behind her.
“Hmm, did everyone run away? Well then, I’m glad… Miss Sienna, are there any enemies around?”
“They say they don’t see any humans near Malone. By the way, when is Theo coming? “They said they would finish it and come back soon.”
At that time.
“······! Everyone ready for battle! “Unidentified object found ahead!”
Croc shouted.
Everyone’s eyes looked forward. Something in the shape of a man was approaching. Their exteriors, which totaled about 300, were covered with black elastic material.
“Uh, what is that? Ugh!”
The paladin holding the shield was pushed back. There was a huge arrow stuck in the center of the shield. It came from people in the shape of humans.
Croc shouted with his eyes wide open.
“It’s the enemy! “Everyone charge!”
The Paladins followed Croc as he ran out.
Theo’s colleagues also immediately joined the battle.
Neike and Piel joined the paladin with their swords raised, and Seria cast magic. Silder Lee, Woohee Jang, and Amy ran to find the enemy’s blind spot.
“Well, that is…”
Eisha’s expression hardened as she tried to pull the bowstring.
Isha’s trait [Sharp Vision] Quickly analyzed the shape beneath her elastic cloth.
“Do you see anything special, Miss Eisha?”
Seria, who was casting magic next to me, asked.
Eisha answered with a trembling voice.
“Ro…Bot. It is a magical creature that imitates humans created by this company. The article said that all we can do now is make simple movements, but what about movements like that…”
Robots of various sizes were skillfully dealing with the Paladins. Although one entity’s strength is inferior to that of a paladin, the two entities are somehow able to deal with one paladin.
Sentences she had read in the article suddenly appeared in Eisha’s mind.
─Carry out the master’s orders as instructed, without emotion.
─If you just inject mana, it will work continuously.
─Through learning, we constantly grow.
Eisha focused on the last sentence.
‘No, that’s ridiculous. No matter how much I learned, I can’t believe I can handle a Paladin.’
Now, each and every one of the Paladins led by Croc has a force comparable to that of a lower-ranking warrior.
As my thoughts reached that point, uneasy guesses continued to come to mind.
‘What happens if those robots continue to gain experience?’
Whoo──
Acer took a deep breath.
She decided to put her anxiety aside and do what she had to do now.
‘······Theo also had an idea, so he probably asked for our help.’
Eisha immediately pulled the bowstring.
* * *
How much time has passed?
I opened my eyes and looked around.
‘Where am I?’
There was nothing around. It is literally a white space with nothing in it.
I think he probably handed himself over to Ney and fell here.
‘It’s a strange place.’
When I was thinking like that.
Tap, knock.
A man appeared from afar. A familiar figure, he was naked and not wearing any clothes.
“Nice to meet you, another me.”
It was Theo.
He continued speaking while standing in front of me.
From Noble mtl dot com
“······No, should I call you the devil?”