Assault Colossus of the Nemesis Warfront

「Eh?」

「……This is all your fault, Kou.」

Blue then declared with a chilly tone.

Jenny finally managed to raise her face. It was totally bright red.

She then walked up to Kou, grabbed him, and began shaking him back and forth while complaining.

「You! What the heck do you mean by wanting to join us even while having this much power on your hands!?」

「C-Calm down first, okay?」

「You know! All of us! Actually! Wanted to work under you! You’re supposed to be our representative dammit!」

「Jenny, calm down. I don’t understand what you’re talking about.」

「Actually, it’s me who doesn’t get what you’re saying instead. No, I suppose I do have a general idea, but still.」

Rick still hasn’t stopped laughing. The situation must have really tickled his funny bone.

「In the first place, who does this ship belong to?」

「Right now, it’s registered directly under Asia. We’ve actually just registered it today. I was planning to hand it over to Metal Iris as soon as I got your permission, Jenny.」

「……」

Jenny’s beautiful face flushed red once again.

Blue finally couldn’t hold it in and started laughing as well. It was a girlish laugh that Kou heard for the first time.

「Ah, I can’t! I just can’t! Rick. Blue. Please take over and explain. Tell this fool that what he’s planning is impossible to the current us!」

「Kou. Fufu. How amusing. Err, I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I laughed this much.」

「I still don’t get why you guys are laughing in the first place.」

Kou could tell from the three’s expressions that he’s proposed something outrageous. Aki’s expression remained blank. Perhaps she knew what this was all about, Kou thought.

「If a super battleship like this was suddenly handed from Asia’s control directly to Metal Iris, then we would inevitably be seen as Asia’s troops. We’re gonna turn into a top-class Underground Force in one go.」

「Err. I did get it from Asia y’know. This ship, I mean.」

「Fufu. You really are far beyond common sense. Oh, this is just too funny.」

「Aki! I’m aware that you guys have been asleep for quite a long time, but at least teach this fool some common sense!」

Aki quietly looked away from Jenny while breaking into a cold sweat. She seemed to be aware of the problem, at least.

「Aki-san?」

Kou couldn’t help but turn to Aki. He somehow felt betrayed.

「……No comment.」

「Now, now. It’s fine, isn’t it? Anyway, us banding together is more or less a done deal. The only problem now is who among Kou and Jenny is going to act as our representative. Oh, and it’s impossible for me to be the leader, okay? I’m a Familiar after all.」

Rick pointed out the core of the matter. He was grinning widely. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation.

「Of course, it’s gonna be Jenny.」

「It’s gotta be Kou for sure!」

Thus, a pointless argument began between Kou and Jenny.

The one who ultimately resolved things was someone unexpected.

『Everyone. I am Dike, the one in charge of managing this ship. I will be in your care from here on out.』

「Dike.」

「Dike.」

「Dike. That means……」

Jenny and the other two fell into thought. At the same time, they muttered the name that was just given. In ancient Greek mythology, Dike was another name for Astraea.

『Regarding the matter of Metal Iris, the one who will serve as the main representative will be Jenny. Rick will serve as the vice-leader. Might I suggest employing Kou as a technical advisor of the Force who will not make public appearances as much as possible?』

「A technical advisor? Me?」

『Kou is not suitable to act as the main commander of a Force. Jenny is more suited to such a role. Rick. Please support the two of them when required.』

「Roger that. I have no complaints about serving as vice-captain. There are no Familiars who will refuse Dike-dono’s request.」

「I still can’t accept this!」

「Just give it up, Jenny. What Dike says makes sense. Kou is clearly not cut for being a commander.」

「Right, right. I’ll just act directly on the front lines. I’m more comfortable with that anyway.」

「I also sortie to the front lines myself you know? Oh, fine then. I understand. I’ll take up the post. However, Kou-kun. You’re gonna be the boss! It’s not like you to be a technical advisor anyway! It’s decided!」

「What the heck?」

「It’s OK if you act as the boss behind the scenes! Yeah! A Hidden Boss!」

『I believe it’s a role similar to Echigo’s Crepe Merchant [1], Kou.』

「You say the strangest things sometimes, Dike.」

『Role assignment complete. Well then, I shall now guide you to the base, everyone.』

「It’s decided just like that!?」

Nobody responded to Kou’s retort. It seemed things really were decided.

「Is the base also gonna be really amazing? It can fully accommodate this ship, right?」

「It’s larger in scale than a Defense Dome, but it doesn’t have an outdoor nature area, and it definitely isn’t as large as a Fortress Area. It’s also equipped with a space catapult for launching stuff out of the atmosphere…… T-That hurts Jenny. Please don’t pinch my cheeks!」

Jenny couldn’t help but stretch her hands out. She then pinched Kou’s cheeks with them.

Rick and Blue watched on with gentle smiles on their faces. It seemed they didn’t plan to get involved at all.

「Just what is it that you wanna do? Are you planning on taking over the world or something?」

「I just wanna help Asia and destroy the Stones.」

After hearing Kou’s replay, Jenny’s shoulders relaxed.

「Ok, Boss. If it’s what the Boss wants. Then I’ll properly serve my role as the captain.」

Jenny’s eyes were filled with mirth. However, she still didn’t let go of Kou’s cheeks.

「Hahaha. Boss. You really pushed such an unreasonable role on Jenny this time. So just endure the pinching. And as the vice-captain, I shall also endeavor to fulfill your goals.」

「Hello, Boss. Looking forward to working with you.」

Blue waved her hand softly as she addressed Kou. She distanced herself from the matter without hesitating.

「Shall we also call you Boss then?」

「I’m sorry, but please leave it at that, Aki.」

Aki asked the question with a straight face.

It seemed she was actually quite serious about it.

TL Notes:

[1] This is a reference to the main character of the Japanese period drama Mito Koumon which was aired from 1969 to 2011. Yeah, it ran for that long. The main character, Tokugawa Mitsukuni, was the former vice-shogun and feudal lord of the Mito domain. He disguises himself as Mitsuemon, a retired crepe merchant from Echigo.

He works behind the scenes and seeks out injustice (usually perpetrated by a corrupt merchant or gangster) in disguise in order to rectify them and only reveals his true identity when each case is near completion. Hence, the Hidden Boss reference.