A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 124

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“Alright then, now that we know what the real purpose for the mock battle was, let’s go over each others’ thoughts on it,” said Grandpa Elvis, looking to Alice.

“Yes. First of all, there was something before the battle started… Takeo-sama, what was that?” asked Alice.

“Uhh… what was what?” asked Takeo.

“You were so different from your usual self that it terrified me,” said Alice.

“You’re talking about what’s called the “face of a warrior”, according to Harold… Personally, I didn’t think it was strange – I was simply observing you, Lady Alice,” said Takeo, smirking.

“Ugh… Just thinking about it now makes me scared,” said Alice.

“Haha. And that’s why you started crying after the mock battle, right?” asked Takeo.

“You what?” asked Grandpa Elvis.

“T-Takeo-sama! Why would you mention that!”

“…Well… Nevermind, it was nothing,” said Takeo.

..

.

“…Cough. Not only that, Takeo-sama, you looked extremely aggressive,” said Alice.

“Hmm.. yes. I could see that from the top of the castle gates, as well,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Aggressive?… I wasn’t that invested in winning… You were quite confused about me, weren’t you, Lady Alice?” asked Takeo.

“It’s your fault, Takeo-sama,” said Alice.

“Hmm, yes, it seems there was a great difference in attitude from the outset,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“On top of that, he wouldn’t even talk to me,” said Alice.

“I know myself. I knew that if I opened my mouth, I might say something to give myself away,” said Takeo.

“Hmm, yes. The first lesson of combat is to not show your hand by talking too much,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“And so, we started the battle with my turbulent state of mind,” said Alice.

“Hmm yes, and to immediately attack with a rifle is bold,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Shocked you, didn’t I?” said Takeo, looking at Alice with a smirk.

“Shocked me?! I thought my heart was going to stop! I never thought for a moment that the battle might start like that,” said Alice.

“For me, it was a matter of how to come out swinging against Lady Alice. I thought about it for a long time.  I knew she probably had an extremely fast reaction time… I was thinking that I couldn’t give her a moment’s notice. I made a mist screen and crouched down into a shooting position. To slow her counter-attack, I thought that it would be good to keep my body a lower target than she would be expecting when the mist cleared. It looks like my plan worked out quite well,” said Takeo.

“But, Takeo – what would you have done if Alice charged at you immediately anyway?”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“I was ready to fire away with my rifle if she came straight at me. On the other hand, I was ready to take a heavy blow and be blasted away if she charged from either side,” said Takeo.

“What? You accepted the fact that you could be blasted back?” asked Smith, surprised.

“Yes. If I kept in mind the very real possibility of being blasted back, I would be able to move myself along with the attack, and not take such a devastating blow. On top of that, I’d be able to take a recovery position quickly,” said Takeo.

“I see,” said Smith, nodding.

“Lady Alice stopped for you, though.” 

“I thought he would cut in towards me, so I took up a readying position,” said Alice, and sighed.

“And when the mist cleared, Lady Alice was standing there before me, so I aimed for her left thigh and fired, but it deflected off of her,” said Takeo.

“Hmm, yes. It had no effect on her, whatsoever,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“It really did only leave a slight dent. But still, it was the first time anyone ever left a mark on my full plate of armor,” said Alice.

“Is that true?” asked Smith.

“Personally, I don’t like participating in mock battles. This one and the last one with the goblins are the only two I’ve done,” said Alice.

“I thought for sure that you had much experience in that kind of setting,” said Smith.

“No, I don’t,” said Alice, “and not only that, I don’t see any need for it,” she said.

“…I see,” said Smith, “It’s true that you aren’t a soldier, Lady Alice, so you may not need to learn about tactics.”

 “That’s right,” said Alice.

“Hmm. Yes. Lady Alice, you’re no soldier, and so you don’t need to learn about war strategy and tactics,” said Grandpa, “Or should I say, you’re not a student of war, and yet, you’re a natural.”

“Life isn’t fair, is it?” asked Takeo.

“Do you really feel that way, Takeo?” asked Alice. She stared at Takeo with demanding eyes.

“Wait, do you consider me a regular Joe?” asked Takeo.

“Definitely not,” both Alice and Smith said, together, while Takeo smirked.

“Well, anyway, I managed to hit her with a bullet, but… I was very nervous,” said Takeo.

“What? Takeo-sama, you were nervous, too?” asked Smith.

“Yes. I had never been a battle before, after all. Ah… Well, I did fight against those platoons the other day… But it was my first time shooting at someone with a rifle. If you manage to hit someone in the wrong place with a gun, you can kill them, you know… To shoot at someone you love… I guess it would make anyone feel uneasy. It was a good experience, though,” said Takeo. He sighed.

“Is that right?” asked Smith.

“Yes, Master Smith, you should experience it at some point, too. It’s a horrendous thing to attack a friend. This was my first time aiming at someone on the battlefield, but anyone can hurt a person without even realizing what they’re doing. From moment to moment, you’re in danger of being killed on the battlefield. And so, I recommend training yourself to get used to hurting people in battle without even thinking twice,” said Takeo.

“I understand. I will be sure to try,” said Smith.

“If I were to give one more piece of advice, it would be to face off against someone of a higher rank,” said Takeo.

“What? Why?” asked Smith.

“You wouldn’t fight seriously unless it was against someone you couldn’t easily win against, would you, Master Smith? If you’re training in half-jest, you’ll never gain any experience. And going all out against someone of a lower rank? That’s just bullying,” said Takeo.

“Ugh… When you put it that way, you’re right,” said Smith.

“Well, then, let’s fight tomorrow, you and me. I wonder if Harold is free,” said Takeo.

“What!?” cried Smith.

“Alright, then – tomorrow,” said Takeo, cheerfully.

Grandpa Elvis and Frederick watched over this exchange with warm, protective smiles.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]