Chapter 169. Military Helicopter
The Type 26 driven by Shizuku was a considerably simplified helicopter. It was a machine that required the activation of multiple instruments and various checks before it could be moved. But it had been simplified to the point where playing a game felt more challenging due to its operability.
[I've seen this operating manual before. Isn't it the same as the Type 88 Aerial Assault Boat?]
Sending thoughts exclusively to Serika and Yukihana through the channel. I felt sorry for the Sakimori-san, but I thought conversation within the group would be awkward, so I made sure they wouldn't hear. This kind of consideration was what made a good wife, I thought with a smirk.
[Ah, I see. As expected of Shizuku, that's right, because this is a machine I developed.]
[It reminds me of a reincarnation novel making a profit in reversi.]
[Nobody's going to sue for patent infringement, so it's fine.]
Serika's unabashed response made me secretly relieved that she had returned to her usual self. Facing the guards, she truly becomes a mess, so I'm more surprised than anyone.
[I hope it doesn't break as easily as the Type 88.]
[It shouldn't break easily. That helicopter is]
[It's pointless, Serika. It's destined to break.]
I puffed my cheeks at Serika and Yukihana's conversation, which seemed exasperating. That's not true. If handled like glasswork, it should be fine.
As if to assert my capabilities, I exhaled sharply and raised the lever to its maximum, converting mana into fighting spirit.
[High Up]
I sent my fighting spirit into the helicopter and activated the combat technique. It's a simple technique that causes the aircraft to rapidly ascend, almost tilting the nose directly upwards at high speed, often causing the helicopter to crash due to imbalance.
I quickly surpassed the height of the enemy helicopter at the lowest altitude in the front and then surpassed the height of the two enemy helicopters behind to provide support from a higher altitude.
[Multi-Machine Up]
Further enhancing the helicopter's performance, I tilted the aircraft and descended upon the enemy like a raptor hunting its prey.
"Yukihana."
"Understood."
I saw through the front panel camera the scene being captured by the front camera, and I could tell that Yukika-chan was about to attack with the machine gun. I gently pushed the lever down and watched Yukika start firing the machine gun.
The heavy bass of the machine gun resounded, and the enemy noticed they were detected and hurriedly took evasive action, but it was too late as Shizuku's eyes shone coldly.
I predicted the future position of the enemy helicopter maneuvering at high speed and used a combat technique.
[Hyper Blitz]
Using a combat technique on one of the trajectory bullets that hit, I imbued it with a crimson aura. Just one shot. Originally, it would only have made a small hole in the helicopter's armor, but it tore through space and hit its mark.
It pierced through the aircraft, flew towards the dilapidated building behind, and exploded, creating a crater and scattering dust.
"The first one down."
Among the remaining two, the high-altitude helicopter released its stealth and began firing its machine gun. Shizuku tilted the lever and evaded while maneuvering.
"The one below is coming up!"
"Hmm... Since I feel like the captain is on the high one, should we take down the lower one?"
With a faint smile at Yukihana's warning, I switched targets. The captain should be in a safe place. He shouldn't be directly involved in combat with the guards below.
I confirmed the enemy's position on the camera monitor. This aircraft has cameras installed in various places, displaying on the panel wherever the enemy is positioned, ensuring there are no blind spots, and making it user-friendly.
The enemy helicopters displayed on the camera were trying to surround Shizuku from left and right.
"I never imagined that combat techniques could be applied to weapons. Such straightforward movements. Let me teach you what real war is like."
"Shizuku, don't bring down both of them, okay?"
"Atos, Tozun, commence attack!"
"There's no one like that."
Yukihana didn't ride along, so I was disappointed, but it was okay.
Two helicopters were maneuvering towards us, aiming their machine gun barrels and firing. The sound of gunfire echoed, and they were trying to block our escape route by shooting at our future positions, showing quite a high level of skill. It's pointless, though.
[Hard Armor]
By using a combat technique, the helicopter's armor was hardened. Despite being hit by numerous shots and making a noisy racket, there was zero damage. The armor, reinforced by the combat technique, had not even a dent, let alone a hole.
"Besides combat techniques that increase human defense, there are also combat techniques that increase the defense of weapons."
[Accelerated Roll]
With a mischievous smirk, I tilted the lever sharply to rotate the helicopter horizontally. My body spun round and round, but neither Shizuku nor Yukika flinched. Our vestibular systems weren't so fragile as to be disturbed by such movements.
It's an unbelievable maneuver. It should have stalled and crashed, but there was no sign of crashing, as we circled around the enemy while rolling.
"This one's for the taking."
With a smirk, Yukika pressed the button on the missile launcher, and flames spewed from the missile as it flew.
Spewing flames and leaving a trail of smoke in the sky, The missile hits the enemy helicopter's fuselage and explodes. The helicopter turns into metal fragments, falling apart as it descends.
"That makes it two."
Shizuku murmurs softly, turning the nose towards the last helicopter. Perhaps intimidated by their comrades' demise, the enemy turns away, attempting to retreat.
[Shizuku, I want the Type 22 helicopter. Can you make it happen? I want to know how it's equipped with the cloaking function. I had the Type 26 made by imbuing my magic alloy with the 'Concealment Invisible' skill of someone. Each one is handmade, you know? But I didn't do that for the Type 22. It's related to mana. I want to know how they acquired that power.]
"Understood. This is Serika-chan's request. Under the oath not to approach within 5 meters of Bōjin-san, the contract is established."
Shizuku's eyes gleam as she comes up with a good idea. She's a subtly cunning girl.
[Well, never mind.]
But surprisingly, without hesitation, Serika declines, puffing out her cheeks.
[Isn't this where we start negotiating, Serika-chan? That's not like you.]
Though she thought it was unlike Serika-chan, an unexpected response came back.
[Hehe. Because I'm serious about aiming for you.]
Serika returns a pink-colored affectionate feeling, and Shizuku bites her lip, reconsidering her thoughts.
[Tsk... Alright, no jokes. I understand. Let's fight fair and square. For now, I'll capture the pilot of the Type 22.]
[Ah, let's have a fair and square fight to see who becomes Sakimori's wife, shall we?]
Moved by Serika's sincerity, Shizuku decides to fight seriously. Serika feels the same. Their hearts become one.
[I'd like to ask about your definition of 'fair and square'... but let's leave it be.]
[..........]
[..........]
The calm inquiry of the composed Yukihana didn't reach the ears of the two who were determined to fight fair and square. Or rather, they didn't want it to.
Just by that, Yukihana understood the standards of their fair and square, glaring at them with a stern gaze.
Shizuku cuts off her thoughts, opens the canopy, and lets the wind into the cockpit, causing the combat helicopter to shake.
"Yukihana-chan'll take over the controls as I jump over."
As the enemy helicopter flees, Shizuku puts her foot on the helicopter's body.
"Understood. Ah, I've driven the Type 88 before, so I'll be fine."
Watching Yukihana climb from the rear seat to the front seat, Shizuku nods.
"Here I go."
With her hair fluttering in the wind, Shizuku takes a deep breath and jumps out of the helicopter. Concentrating her fighting spirit on her legs, she steps into the air, stopping as if there were a floor beneath her.
[Air Step]
A ringing sound echoes as ripples form in the air where Shizuku steps, allowing her feet to stop in mid-air as if there were a floor, and she starts running swiftly.
[Accelerator]
Leaving afterimages behind, Shizuku accelerates faster than the helicopter and catches up to the enemy helicopter.
The Type 22, like the Type 26, is a two-seater, and as she approaches from the side, she sees a panicked expression through the window.
"You're slow, too slow. Did you think a mere human wouldn't catch up to a helicopter? If so, you've realized that was a mistake."
Drawing the Oboromizu short sword at her waist without hesitation, Shizuku thrusts it through the canopy at the pilot in front. With a scratching sound, the sword pierces the canopy and then the throat of the panicked pilot.
Without confirming the enemy's death as blood gushes out, she quickly swings the stabbed sword from side to side.
With a clang, the canopy shatters and scatters backward.
"Y-You monster!"
The pilot, with a terrified and contorted face, tries to draw his handgun, perhaps to mask his fear or perhaps out of desperation, and shouts.
"It's you who's the monster. Did you think that just because you boarded a helicopter with high-level skills, you could surpass a mere human? That's excessively foolish. You're too foolish to the point of being a monster in my eyes."
Balancing on the edge of the helicopter, swaying her glamorous hair, Shizuku gazes contemptuously at her opponent. Her gaze is icy, with a freezing stare.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Pointing his handgun at Shizuku, the pilot looks at her and, perhaps sensing something, his expression turns to one of terror, trembling as if he's plunged one foot into madness, and pulls the trigger.
But he can't penetrate Shizuku's barrier. By slightly tilting her body, she changes the angle of the mana automatic barrier. The bullets slide off the tilted barrier.
"With your power, you can't hit me with bullets even at close range. Want to try? Since I can't stop time, it might be a chance for you to defeat me."
As Shizuku calmly utters these words, the enemy, having exhausted all his bullets, continues to pull the trigger futilely. Even when the bullets run out, he keeps pulling the trigger in vain, trembling. But then, he speaks in a trembling voice.
"I-I surrender. Please spare my life in exchange for my surrender!"
"Of course, I'm known for keeping promises. So, who and where are you from?"
Tilting her head with a gentle smile, Shizuku receives the answer from the trembling pilot.
"I'm from the Minamoto family! I was ordered to eliminate the bothersome Amatsugahara Corporation's top. I hadn't heard they were this strong."
"Yes, doubts."
Kicking and snapping the pilot's neck, Shizuku tosses aside the trash in the pilot's seat and sits down.
[Understood. These people aren't from the inner town. Despite knowing our power, they wouldn't hand over an old model helicopter. At least it should be a new model. In other words, it's an expedition from another region. If they could come by helicopter, it would be close enough to be in Chiba City?]
Adjusting the helicopter's posture by pulling the lever, Shizuku checks the controls and smiles mischievously. There's a silver bell hanging incongruously in the helicopter's cockpit. And it's a mana-releasing bell. A very familiar bell.
[There's a Concealment Bell here. Did you use this... I see. You analyzed that it extends to the vehicle you board.]
[Well, it was a simple answer, anticlimactic.]
The Concealment Bell is a magical tool that can use Invisibility, which often appears in dungeons. The downside is that it randomly breaks. However, it's useful against low-level monsters because it also affects vehicles they board. For high-level monsters, they default to using mana detection, so it's pointless as they pretend not to notice and approach a surprise attack.
If they're from Chiba, it means they're invading dungeons. The dungeons where this bell drops are Class C. Chiba City is nurturing skill holders quite well.
[Yukihana, there's a radio communication from the controller.]
[You've been monitoring the radar closely, haven't you? Sakimori-san, did you hear that?]
Although it was strange that there was no interception or inquiry despite flying without permission, they were indeed being monitored. Probably, the radar was suspicious when four helicopters became two.
While Shizuku wonders about it, Sakimori-san sends his thoughts.
[Did you forget to close the thought channel midway? Well, never mind. Respond that Yukihana is from Ashikaga. Land the acquired helicopter in front of the headquarters. Things are getting interesting. It's late at night, but I'll see the old man.]
With a cunning and sinister laugh, Sakimori-san's thoughts cut off.
It seems that Sakimori has decided to retaliate, so Shizuku operates the helicopter and heads back.
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