Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Take a high-mobility Titan as an example.
“W-whoa… isn’t this a bit too extreme? Is this really okay?”
“Let’s strip it further.”
They start by removing everything except the Titan frame, thrusters, and lower body needed for acceleration.
Ultra-light, streamlined armor is then installed to minimize air resistance. It’s not for defense at all, but purely for speed.
To equip high-output weapons capable of piercing heavy armor Titans, the frame of one arm is reinforced. The other arm is fitted with a secondary weapon for balance and suppression.
And then, for example, a bombardment-type Titan.
“It’s too big and heavy. It can barely even move properly.”
“I know. That’s exactly why it’s good.”
Hydraulic spike anchors are installed on the Titan’s feet for ground stability, and close combat is completely discarded. Both arms are removed and replaced with gun barrels focused entirely on firepower.
Additional external frames are attached, mounting missile pods and a massive railgun. If it can be bolted on, it’s added somewhere.
Everything is optimized for raw firepower.
This is a character build. Or more accurately, a Titan build.
In any system that allows detailed customization, even small adjustments can decide victory or defeat. A slight difference in mobility can expose you to attacks, and insufficient firepower means you can’t penetrate armor.
Now, compared to the previous version, there are far more parts and far more detailed variables.
Even installing thrusters alone requires careful planning. Fuel line routing, tank expansion, and weight distribution all matter.
When the information from all those components is digitized through the rapid-reading trait, the spatial awareness trait keeps assembling and disassembling configurations in the hologram.
This is on a completely different level compared to adjusting settings with a simple joystick.
Dozens of times more detailed tuning is possible.
There are more options than just bombardment builds.
A heavy armored Titan with maximized generator output and coolant discharge systems in the front.
A sensor-focused build that abandons combat in favor of extreme detection range.
“Deep?”
A support-type build that minimizes size and maximizes mobility to quickly assist allies in combat.
Finally, a jack-of-all-trades configuration that can handle multiple roles at a basic level. Not truly universal, but a hybrid. A Titan that does everything alone cannot exist.
“Hey, Deep?”
Got it.
In the game, this class was originally meant to be a freeform Titan-building session. A time to refine your final build and prepare equipment for it.
In the previous version of the game, participating in ranked battles unlocked certain gear. I wonder how it works here.
“Student Deep.”
Thunk!
He startled. His head snapped up. The room had gone silent. Professor Smeragi was standing just a hand’s breadth away, staring directly at him.
Normally, a beautiful woman being this close might have made his heart race. But not this time. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
He pushed his chair back and leaned away.
“Y-yes.”
“Have you ever been to war?”
What is she talking about now?
Confused, he shook his head quickly. His eyes trembled slightly.
“I see. So you’re saying you produced six different Titan builds in under an hour, despite never having been to war?”
“Y-yes…”
Only then did he look around.
Most students were working with only one hologram. Even the princess beside him hadn’t touched hers at all.
His sweat wouldn’t stop. He had been so focused he had completely lost awareness of his surroundings. He should have stayed subtle.
Professor Smeragi smiled faintly.
“Would you like to become my assistant?”
“N-no. I refuse.”
And then she froze, still wearing that same expression.
“Why not?!”
“I-it’s just… too much pressure.”
“Too much pressure?!”
Ran shot up from her seat. Curious glances turned toward them. Ian tapped Ran’s tray lightly, and she reluctantly sat back down with a frustrated expression.
“Just eat.”
Lunch time. He had originally planned to eat alone in a corner, but Ran had invited him.
There was no real reason to refuse, and he was also curious about what other departments were learning.
But he had overlooked one thing. Listening to other departments meant talking about his own.
So the topic of the assistant offer came up naturally.
“No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t make sense. An assistant position? People like us don’t have money or status. Why would something that good even exist?”
“I-I just… don’t want it.”
An assistant.
He had never even set foot in a university, but he understood the concept. A paid position where top students assist professors.
He needed money.
And the professor in question was Smeragi. If he got close to her through the role, it might greatly help with Titan customization.
There were clear benefits. But the problem was just as clear.
If he accepted an assistant position on his first day, the attention he would receive would only increase.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want the opportunity. It was that he hated the attention even more.
“Coward. Nerd.”
Ian muttered while looking at him. He didn’t bother responding and simply put his spoon down. His appetite was gone.
At that moment—
“Hey, you, lowborn!”
Thud!
A water bottle flew through the air and landed directly in his hand. The surrounding area went quiet for a moment, then the gazes quickly scattered.
Even he was surprised.
He looked up.
The attacker looked momentarily startled. It had been a calculated throw aimed at a blind spot. Without his spatial awareness trait, he wouldn’t have reacted at all.
But the attacker quickly regained confidence. Judging by the nobles standing behind him, he was clearly from a powerful family.
Black hair, green eyes. A handsome face, even for a man.
He already knew who it was. Not because he recognized the face, but because he was supposed to recognize it.
“Lowborn. You’ve been standing out too much lately. You know that?”
Aron Dyke. The fiancée of the princess. Eldest son of Duke Dyke, who commands the Eastern Front.
One of the top candidates for first place, having fought in the hellish Eastern Front since he was eighteen.
Still, it was ridiculous that they hadn’t even been told who the top-ranked student was yet. Normally that information is provided before admission.
Even the timing of the entrance exam being right before enrollment felt strange. Even for a game academy.
While he was distracted, Aron strode forward with a scowl. Ran flinched and stopped eating. Ian continued eating expressionlessly.
“Say something! Are you mute or what?!”
“I-I… didn’t… know…”
Aron paused.
“You’ve got a speech disorder?”
That sounded familiar.
Why is everyone so rude?
“I-I don’t. I’m just nervous.”
“Oh, really?”
Aron looked slightly relieved, then immediately frowned again and slammed his hand on the table.
Bang!
Dishes rattled. Ian’s spoon dropped.
“What did you do to make the princess sit next to a lowborn like you?!”
Honestly, I’d like to know too.
Before he could answer, Aron frowned again. Deep wrinkles appeared on his otherwise smooth face.
“Answer me!”
“I-I don’t know.”
“Eat.”
All three turned to Ian at the same time.
Ian pressed his foot onto the edge of the table.
“Let’s eat, you bastards.”
CRACK!
The table slammed into Aron’s body. He flew back, rolled on the ground, and then sprang back up.
“You bastard—”
Aron kicked the table and was thrown back again. Ian hadn’t moved his foot.
Engineers trained physically as much as pilots. Ian was tall and heavily built. The difference in weight classes was obvious.
“I-Ian!”
Ran quickly pushed Ian’s leg down. Nobles helped Aron back up. He gritted his teeth.
“Who the hell are you?!”
Ian pointed at him with his chin.
“This nerd. Engineer.”
Me?
Aron turned and pointed at him.
“You! You bastard, fine! Let’s settle this in the simulation duel class this Friday!”
Why am I fighting him now?
He looked at Ian in disbelief.
Ian answered as if it were obvious.
“Go for it.”
Who the hell are you to decide that?
Why is everything happening to me?
Damn it.