The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] Chapter 1346: Just Once!

Sid was beginning to wonder whether there was any point in correcting the system when D-29 suddenly spotted another opponent retreating behind a damaged support structure.

"Aha! A fleeing villain!"

"D-29, that one is attempting to reposition to fire at you..."

"Exactly! A villain fleeing from justice!"

"That is not what I said."

"Sid! Quick! Before the scoundrel escapes!"

The guardian mecha’s optical sensors narrowed.

He was not going to indulge this nonsense again.

Absolutely not.

And yet, the moment D-29 raised its finger and enthusiastically declared, "Bang!"

The enemy mecha was promptly blasted off its feet.

"WAHAHAHA! JUSTICE! And did you see that lens flare? Right on time!"

"..."

Sid stared at the smoking wreckage before turning his attention to the ridiculous system celebrating its imaginary marksmanship.

He really needed to stop doing that.

Unfortunately, before he could explain why this was an incredibly inefficient use of their combat capabilities, D-29 suddenly turned toward him with such exaggerated admiration that his carefully prepared lecture never stood a chance.

"Sid! That was magnificent! Your aim is truly unparalleled!"

"..."

"Such precision! Such elegance! Such devastating power!"

"D-29."

"Truly, what would I ever do without you?!"

"..."

After a moment of silence, the guardian mecha quietly adjusted his targeting system and informed the overly enthusiastic system that three more enemy mechas were approaching from the east.

D-29 practically sparkled with excitement. Not that there’d been any shortage of sparkling ever since they’d left B10’s battleship!

"THREE?!"

"Yes. But I strongly suggest that you stop pretending to fire imaginary weapons and allow me to engage them properly. Better yet, at least hit them with your own—"

"Oh! Of course, of course!"

Finally!

Perhaps the system was beginning to understand!

Sid almost felt relieved.

Until D-29 immediately raised both hands.

"Then I shall use TWO! This would look even better!"

"?!"

"..."

Sid looked at his artillery systems, which had apparently responded before he’d even finished processing the absurdity of the situation.

Then he looked at D-29, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"SID! TWO AT ONCE! DID YOU SEE THAT?!"

"...I fired both shots."

"YES! AND YOU WERE AMAZING!"

"..."

What was he supposed to say to that?!

More importantly, why was he still doing this?!

Surely, a properly functioning autonomous intelligence wouldn’t repeatedly agree to participate in something so utterly ridiculous!

The guardian mecha was beginning to suspect that something had gone terribly wrong with his decision-making protocols.

Meanwhile, the little spectator watching this extraordinary display had come to an entirely different conclusion.

Oh!

So that was how it worked!

The bestest system would point at something it wanted, and the coolest mecha would help it!

Even when he said he wouldn’t!

How wonderful!

D-64 immediately opened its virtual diary, feeling that it had just witnessed something incredibly important.

The young princesses always seemed to talk about such things, and D-64 had always listened attentively, but perhaps this was what it meant for a system to be dependable?

After all, Sid always seemed to know exactly what D-29 wanted, sometimes even before the big system finished asking.

And although he complained quite a lot, he never actually stopped helping!

With the seriousness of a diligent student recording an especially valuable lesson, the youngster added another tally to its diary.

[Daily Observation: Coolest Mecha and Bestest System]

[Attempts to stop questionable behavior: +1]

[Instances of providing assistance despite objection: +1]

[Result: Bestest System is happy!]

[Conclusion: Coolest Mecha is very, very kind!]

D-64 was immensely pleased with its findings, although something else had caught its attention.

[Additional Note: When Bestest System is happy, Coolest Mecha seems to complain more.]

[However, Coolest Mecha also helps more.]

[Question: Does complaining mean he is happy, too?]

"...?"

The youngster pondered this fascinating possibility.

It wasn’t entirely sure, but that was alright!

There were still so many things it didn’t understand about the world, and surely, it would learn the answers eventually!

Especially when, not far away, D-29 had just discovered that it could strike an even more impressive pose by pointing both fingers in opposite directions.

"SID! SID! LOOK! I CAN DO THIS!"

"No."

"But Sid!"

"Absolutely not."

"Just once!"

"I said no."

"Please?!"

"..."

After a suspiciously brief silence, two artillery barrels quietly adjusted their positions.

"WAHAHAHA! SID! YOU’RE THE BEST!"

"..."

D-64 immediately added another tally.

Oh!

The coolest mecha really was the hero of heroes!

And as the youngster watched the manager of managers continue flying around majestically, celebrating every successful shot as though it had personally invented artillery warfare, it couldn’t help feeling that it had learned something very important today.

Apparently, growing up to be dependable meant being willing to go through a little trouble to make someone precious to you happy.

What a wonderful lesson!

More importantly, it seemed there really were different kinds of bonds, and each one could be just as good! In this case, perhaps things shouldn’t be measured by words alone, but also by actions.

It was a rather bizarre realization for someone who loved expressing favor through crayons, but perhaps that was simply another mystery of the adult world.

For now, the youngster was more than happy to keep watching, especially when it noticed Sid’s artillery barrels adjusting their positions yet again.

Oh!

Another one!

[Attempts to stop questionable behavior: +1]

[Instances of providing assistance despite objection: +1]

[Result: Bestest System is very happy!]

D-64 considered adding another conclusion, but after some thought, it decided that the previous one was already perfect.

Because the coolest mecha still was very, very kind!

Truly!

What a beautiful marriage!

__

Oddly enough, just as Sid disposed of yet another overly enthusiastic opponent while keeping an eye on someone he might also just dispose of one of these days, the guardian mecha suddenly felt that familiar yet unexpected drop in temperature.

Almost as though an impossible chill had somehow run through his entire frame.

"...?"

How strange.

Considering his Master wasn’t even around to channel his ice ability, Sid could only hope that the inexplicable sensation didn’t mean anything.

Then again, he didn’t exactly have the luxury of dwelling on it.

Because just as the three sentient companions of one actual human pilot were settling into what they’d assumed would be a relatively familiar battle, D-29’s enthusiastic cheering abruptly stopped.

"Hey, wait..." the little system suddenly muttered, sounding considerably less cheerful than before. "Corruption? Why am I suddenly detecting corruption levels coming from those guys?"