CH 97.6

While making a terrific noise, the clock tower class returns to its original position.

Alright, that’s it.

After bringing back the clock tower class to a halt, I turned to Professor Marino and he slowly nodded.

「Major General Slayra, may we?」

「I have no problem with it. 」

「Terminate startup test!」

「Terminating startup, complete! Standby mode, activate」

「Standby mode, activated!」

The clock tower class came to a stop with its belly flat on the ground just as it was before the startup test when I moved the lever.

「Terminate magic crystal supply」

「Magic crystal supply, terminated!」

With a clunk, I moved the lever for the magic crystal supply system, which was a little hard.

In about 5 more hours, the clock tower class will consume all the magic crystals and stop functioning.

With this, the startup test for the high ranking military officers was over.

「Startup test complete」

「Startup test complete!」

『Startup test complete! No abnormalities found』

「No abnormalities!」

After putting the safety device on the control panel, me, brother in law, and Professor Marino headed toward the dignitaries at the inspection table and were greeted with a loud applause.

Former major generals and lieutenant generals were given but even active generals were there.

I knew from the fuss made by the secret police that the project was a big deal but…..when I saw military leaders with lots of medals coming to inspect the project, I finally realized that the project to build a super behemoth had been attracting a lot of attention.

I am really glad that we didn’t fail.

The city class is only an expansion of the size of this clock tower class which made me feel a little relieved.

「It’s a great weapon and the fact that it’s big makes it much better.」

「No, no, the problem will be the energy supply. That’s going to use a lot of magic crystals which makes using magic carriage more efficient……」

「Can a magic carriage even cross the mountains? It might be able to cross a creek or two or but if there’s even a single mountain, you will need to completely change your strategy!」

「If we put a curtain around the legs, it could already be used as a simple main headquarters. Also, depending on the output, it might even be able to carry tanks. It would be great to eliminate the need to assemble new train tracks just to transport tanks.」

Even though the first prototype only walked, the high-ranking officers are already thinking of ways to utilize it for war.

Well, what could be more important to a military nation than war?

「Everyone, I hope you can take those considerations home with you. May we proceed as planned first?」

As soon as brother-in-law said that, the chatter among the dignitaries stopped.

「This is the first prototype and it is difficult to test its performance precisely because it plays the supporting role in the production of the second prototype. We would like you to understand that first.」

When the dignitaries gave a silent nod, brother-in-law nodded back and continued.

「First of all, let’s talk about the start up. It seems that if you fill up the magic crystal supply device on its back, it can keep running for five full days. Is that right, associate professor?」

「That’s right. It was completed a little over a week ago so it pains me to say that we haven’t been able to do much testing but……the consumption of magic crystals under load and startup conditions at the level of an operational test confirmed that it can last for 5 days and three hours. 」

I could see several military personnel frantically taking notes of my words, all of whom were colonel.

I hate it when field officers are treated like peons and forced to take notes……

「Next, loading capacity……」

Eventually, after explanations about this and that and endless questions about here and there, there was even a hands-on operating session with several generals……

The startup test, which started in the morning, did not end until the sun had completely set……

By the time Professor Marino and I were released from the political battle that followed, it was already midnight.

In the hands of these two exhausted and politically unskilled men, we somehow had clock tower class orders from three divisions firmly in our hands……

-0-

AN: Some of you may not have an idea of how big a clock tower class is so I’ll compare it with various things.

It is five times taller than a gundam.

It is twice as big as the first Godzilla, Ultraman, and wall maria.

It is the size of Ushiku Daibutsu and shin Godzilla.

Still, it is only one third of the height of the Tokyo Tower.