2
“Damn it. It’s heavy!”
On this day, in the forest that served as a training ground, borrowed from a noble acquaintance of Takafumi’s, light sounds of “pa-pa-pa-pa-pa” echoed, contrasting with a clearly disgruntled voice.
The owner of the voice is, of course, me.
The reason I’m so annoyed that I’m voicing my complaints is, naturally, because of the weight interfering with my movement… no, it’s because of what they call the “auxiliary arms.”
“I can move it. I can move it, but!”
Indeed, by applying the command system, I can move the auxiliary arms and attack with weapons held in their hands.
However, the movement is extremely sluggish.
It’s difficult to freely control auxiliary arms extending from the shoulders in the first place, and moreover, this powered suit was originally designed for group operation, so it doesn’t prioritize mobility, which is also a problem.
If there were ten companions here, I could probably conduct tests assuming the original role.
But unfortunately, I’m alone here.
And being alone, I can’t resign myself to being just a fixed gun turret that stands still and shoots—though I shouldn’t resign myself to being a fixed turret even if I weren’t alone.
I can do the same as with the Mikage-type: shoot, then move. Shoot before stopping. That much is possible.
I’ve also attached wire anchors, so I can repeatedly accelerate and decelerate while jumping to throw off the enemy’s aim.
“The acceleration is good. The jump power is there too. But it’s not maneuverable!”
If I suddenly look left or right, the auxiliary arms block my vision, and the auxiliary arms interfere, creating gaps of more than a beat in my attacks.
To move these unconsciously would require truly enormous amounts of time and a considerable amount of magic power.
However, naturally, to give magic power to a powered suit, I need to defeat monsters that possess magic power.
It doesn’t have to be medium-sized or larger. Even small types have some magic power, so if I defeat them like pest control, magic power would accumulate little by little.
But if I fight monsters in this state, I’ll definitely die.
Far from gaining experience points. Before that, I’ll just die normally.
It might be fine at first, but I have a strong premonition that accidents will happen when I get used to it.
In other words? It’s defective. Thank you very much.
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“…It’s impossible.”
At least in the current state, it’s unusable.
I have no choice but to make that judgment.
“Even you can’t handle it, huh.”
“Yes. As you can see.”
I don’t think I’m incompetent as a test pilot, though.
But I think identifying these kinds of flaws is also part of a test pilot’s job.
“What are the problems?”
“If I just stand still and shoot, there’s no problem. So if you think of it as a powered suit with firepower, it’s not bad. However, the auxiliary arms get in the way for mobile combat.”
“Hmm.”
It might seem like there’s no problem since it fits the concept in a way, but that’s not the case.
This powered suit is different from conventional ones that target small types; it aims to be a “powered suit capable of defeating even medium types through firepower generated by four arms.”
Naturally, it won’t be defeating just one medium type. Moreover, they intend to engage in group combat.
If we can’t evade or defend against enemy counterattacks, it’ll end in mutual destruction.
And a single counterattack could vaporize dozens of allies. That would make preparing a new type meaningless.
Therefore, minimum evasion ability or defensive power is required, but evasion is in this sorry state.
As for defensive power, that’s also difficult.
“There’s a shield, so it might be okay, but I really don’t want to take attacks from medium types or larger in this state.”
“I suppose not.”
Of course, there’s a shield made by processing large-type armor for powered suit use.
And large-type armor is supposed to be able to defend against medium-type attacks.
That’s just according to specs, though.
Even though it’s my job, I don’t want to risk my life testing the shield’s durability, and Mogami-san would be troubled if I died from something like that.
So I’ll give up on the shield. If I’m going to make use of this, there’s probably only one option left.
“If you absolutely want to use auxiliary arms…”
“If?”
“Could you make the shoulder parts larger and store them inside when not in use? Or fix them to the upper arms and detach them only when shooting?”
They’re in the way because they’re constantly dangling around. I think it wouldn’t be bad to extend the auxiliary arms only when shooting.
Like the enemy’s hidden arms from a certain robot anime.
“Oh? I’d like to hear more details about that idea.”
“I don’t mind. First of all…”
With Mogami-san and his team, my ideas might only become a breeding ground for gimmick equipment, but equipment made that way is never wasted.
Besides, I think the people who will actually use it should be the ones to worry about operational methods. Opinions derived from actually using it and worrying about it should make this powered suit better… hopefully.
Good luck, future soldiers.
TLNOTE:
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