On that day, it seems that several attacks by the mutant species were repeated towards the "Holy Tree" several times.
　Since they've already thrown in their frame gear, it seems that a few of the lower-grade species are in a state of armor-sleeve discomfort.
　I've had Est-san call me every now and then to inquire about the situation. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on with your phone.
　The "Holy Tree" has also grown up quickly in a day and will soon be bigger than the trees in the forest.
　Once it has grown to that point, it can no longer be hidden. It will be noticeable from everywhere, and the mutants will have even more attacks.
　I sent Norn and Noir's black 'Crown' duo with Overgear 'Leonoir' and Prince Robert and Blau's blue 'Crown' duo with Overgear 'Dearbrow' as well, and sent them out to the forest of the 'Holy Tree'.
　Since I went over there once, it's nice and easy to use the 【Gate】.
　As of right now, there are three 『Crown』 over there guarding the 『Sacred Tree』. There's no way to deal with a half-hearted opponent.
　You'll be able to defend against attacks aimed at the "Holy Tree" by using a barrier that uses the power of spatial distortion.

So when do you think we'll be able to move in, that is?
'I guess so. As far as I'm concerned, two more days........ If that's enough, I don't think I'll be affected by the 'divine Demon Poison' anymore.
In the meantime, we'll stand by.... It's chagrinous.

　Hilda muttered as she wiped the sweat from her training with a towel. Even so. It's not just me, but also Hilda and Yae and the others are in danger. It's impossible to fight in that state that I experienced just yesterday.
　All of my fiancé's also receive the love of the gods in various ways. Without a doubt, they will be strongly influenced by the Divine Devil's Poison.
　Even any sword expert could be defeated by an amateur in a state of drunkenness.
　 As a matter of fact, that goddess is the one who might die from the influence of the "divine magic poison". It's a bad analogy.
　Even Nia and the others fighting in Isengard are not completely unaffected by it. They might be a little more unwell than usual or something. It's more or less because they have a connection with me. It's really a poison that thoroughly embodies the 'I hate you monk, I hate you even for your kesa'.
　The more the Sacred Tree grows, the stronger its cleansing power becomes. In time, its power will reach all of Isengard. That's when we will be on the offensive.
　The battle is near.
　Just as I was getting a hint of this, I received a call on my phone from Dr. Babylon.

'Yes, hello.'
''Fuyao-kun, it looks like things have turned out just as I expected. It seems that a new mutant species has appeared in Isengard.''

　A new mutant?　That can't be........




This.........!

　When I saw the figure reflected on the monitor of the "Institute", I was speechless. I had expected this, but when I actually saw it in person, the impact is still a certain way.
　The scene on the monitor is a camera image from the frame gear of Nia and the others in Isengard.
　Standing among a few lower level mutants that look like salamanders reflected there, is that thing a special mutant species?
　It's clearly humanoid, with a dark gold glow, two legs, two arms, and a head. But it's not the dominant species. Its size was the same as the Flame Gear... or even its appearance was similar. It even has a sword and shield, even though it is polite.

"A mutant of the Flame Gear type........
''It's probably modeled after the heavy knight [Chevalier] we captured in the last battle. Well, it looks like they arranged it quite well.

　The doctor replies as he moves the aromatic cigarettes up and down in his mouth.
　It is true that its form resembles that of a heavy knight. But that form is somewhat miserable. It's a distorted form. I'm sure you'll be able to see it from the color, but even without the color there is no way to mistake it for a heavy knight.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. What's the advantage of having a frame gear form?　If anything, I think it would be more like this, more like a human... let's say, a giant form like a cyclops or a troll.

　Indeed. If it's the same size and similar shape as the frame gear, then it should be modeled after something like a golem. It's not like they made it robotic because of its metallic texture, right? I don't even understand why they went to the trouble of capturing the frame gear.

'You didn't bother to take the form of a machine.......hmm?

　The sword of Est-san's Red Knight 《Red Links》 in the image slashed across the chest of the Flame Gear type mutant. The dismembered pieces fell to the ground.

''I see.......so that's how it is.
I don't know. What do you mean?

　Stop nodding to yourself and tell me what's going on.

Smaller things are harder to break than bigger things.
...and you'll understand.
Listen. The mutants ... the Freys, but also the lower class, the middle class, the higher class, and the dominant species. All of them have a weakness, a 'core' inside them. There's no doubt about this, right?

　I nodded at the doctor's explanation. What's the point now?

"So, this 'nucleus' will grow in proportion to its body size. Are you sure about that too?

　Yeah, well, that's for sure too. The lower class species are about the size of a baseball to a softball, the middle class are about the size of a basketball to a balance ball, and the higher class can grow to be two to three meters in diameter. On the other hand, the 'core' of the dominant species is about the size of a large cherry.

That frame gear," he said, "how big is that 'core'? How big do you think that 'core' is?
'What?　That thing........is probably about an intermediate species. So........this much?

　 I indicated with my hand that it was a little bigger than a basketball. He looks at it and shakes his head to the side. Isn't it?

No. That's probably the only 'core' in that frame gear.

　The doctor indicated with his little thumb and forefinger that it was about two centimeters across.

'Is it that small⁉︎?'
Look here. Look at the feet of the Red Lynx. What do you see?

　He stared at the screen that the doctor indicated. Then the golden fragments that were scattered around the Red Knight's feet regenerated as if they were being absorbed, and a golden skeleton rose up in a heap.

''Nah⁉︎''
It's well done. So this FRAME GEAR and the Golden Skeleton are two in one. The nucleus must be in the golden skeleton, the pilot. The 'core' must be in the pilot skeleton. The regeneration ability itself doesn't seem to be affected by the size of the nucleus. In other words, unless this golden skeleton is destroyed, this pseudo-frame gear cannot be destroyed either.

　I see. But that golden skeleton's 'core' is only the size of a marble. It's extremely difficult to crush it with frame gear during a battle. No, I guess it's fine to stomp it out.
　I immediately contact Est-san and tell him what I found out.
　The red knight in the monitor who received it mercilessly stomped out the golden skeleton that was trying to return to its own alter ego.
　At the same time, the fallen frame gear begins to dissolve, emitting black smoke. It's just as the doctor had guessed.

It's not in very good taste. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to call it a "fake knight" or a "fake knight". This fake knight faux-knight is paired with that golden skeleton, yet it has no intentions. It's exactly like the relationship between Frame Gear and the pilot. However, Frame Gear doesn't disappear even if the pilot is killed.
'The only way to defeat that fake knight is to go for the cockpit?

　I think my [Apports] can attract the nuke, but [Apports] needs to accurately recognize what it attracts. In order to pull out a nucleus that you can't see, you have to use your 'divine eye' to discern it.......

I'm sure the easiest thing to do would be to do what the Red Knight just did, drag out the golden skeleton and crush it. Or maybe an attack that would wipe out the entire cockpit.

　Lean's Grim Gerde could be defeated with Vulcan fire or something like that, but Else's fighting Gerhilde, Yae, Hilda and the others' Schwertrite and Sieglune are mainly swords, so it's going to be difficult.
　After all, stomping out the cockpit after defeating them would be the easiest way to go.

''There's a troublesome guy here........''
'No, not really. Look at that.

　On the monitor the doctor was pointing at, a heavy knight named "Chevalier" in the Red Cat's specification was fighting with a fake knight named "Fakes" with sword and shield. What does this mean?

Don't you notice?　This fake knight has metamorphosed and won't attack me. If it was a normal mutant, he could have turned one of his arms into a blade arm and extended it.

　Speaking of which......... I'll regenerate, but I won't stretch my arms out or pervert at will. Why?

'Perhaps that kind of ability is dependent on the size of the core. That golden skeleton's small core and large body. I don't think it has the power to metamorphose.

　I see. A small nucleus is all that's left of the Golden Skeleton's main body's metamorphosis. Then it could be said that the fake knight itself is easy to fight.
　In the monitor, the heavy knight again slashed the false knight's body in half. It is a good idea to have a good time with them. Then, immediately the false knight melted into a sludge and began to disappear while raising black smoke.

''Hmmm.... It's not a very smart fight.
I don't think you can ask for smarts in a fight.

　It's true. But the feeling of chasing after the fallen enemy is really something.....
　In the meantime, the attacking mutants seem to have been eradicated. The heavy knights sheathed their swords.
　I get a call on my phone right away. It's Nia.

"Yes, hello?
"Hey, man, what's going on with the food?　We're not getting any good hauls out here, and you want us to starve to death!
Oh, I forgot.
"What the...
No, not to get it ready. Just to get it there. I'll get it to you in a minute.

　No, no, no, no. I was careless.
　You can't fight on an empty stomach. Particularly in a battle at a distance, the availability of food can decide the outcome of the battle. Well, in our case, distance is irrelevant.
　The empty space in the laboratory there is no empty space. The floor is covered with papers and tools and parts. Clean it up, right?
　I had no choice, so I went out into the corridor and laid out the dishes made by the head cook, Claire-san & Lou, one after another from [Storage]. A barrel of drinks and a little bit of liquor too. I put them in 【Storage】 so they're hot and freshly made.

"Hey, man, don't pick at it. You are mean.
It's just one plate. I haven't eaten anything yet.

　Before I knew it, the doctor picked up a plate of fried rice 《chaihan》 from the side and was munching on it with a spoon.

''[Gate]

　The door of transference spread out on the floor of the dishes that had been arranged and sank to the floor with a swoosh.
　I should have been transferred to the front of the "Holy Tree" in Isengard where Nia and the others were.
　Immediately, Est-san called me and thanked me for my help. This is also a necessary expense, so it's no problem. It's about time we put our knights in and take turns.
　I go to the knight's quarters and call the first member I've decided on. I can't neglect the defense of the country, so I'm going to keep half of them.
　I send out about fifty knights, led by Nicola-san, the deputy commander.

'This is a simple tent and various food items. Although it's made small by the [Prison], it will return to its original size when 'released' over there. Don't forget to call me at the appointed time. Also, your physical condition may become strange, but be sure to let me know if there's anything small wrong.
Ha. Copy that.

　I hand Nicola a dice-like 【Prison】 that shrinks to about two centimeters. Nia's portion is also included in this.
　When Nicola-san put the [Prison] into her pocket, she turned around and gave the order to the knights.

''Then let's go on an expedition. All hands on board!

　The knights boarded the 49 heavy knights called in from Babylon, the Chevalier, and Nicola climbed aboard the Black Knight, the commander's plane, the Knight Baron.
　Nicola's black knight 《Night Baron》 is equipped with the newly completed "Flight Gear" in shield form. It should be able to handle any flight-type mutants that appear.
　When I open the large 【Gate】, the Flame Gears march in with a thud and move into Isengard one after another.

''Then, Your Majesty. I'm going to go.''

　Finally, Nicola-san uttered that from the external speaker and disappeared behind the [Gate].

''You've gone. I wish I could have gone too.

　Norn, or rather Nolue-san, the same deputy leader as Nicola-san, murmured in frustration as the wolf tribe's ears twitched and its tail wagged.
　In response, Rain, the leader of the group, cautioned in a stern tone.

If the two deputy commanders leave, then who is going to be in charge here? We have our own role to play.
Don't say that. You'll be coming in late, right, Rain? Isn't it unfair that I'm the only one who gets to stay at home?
''That's not what you say. It's His Majesty's decision....

　Hey, hey, the contradiction is coming our way. Because I can't take the leader, the two deputy leaders and the three of them to the other side.
　The old man Baba and the old man from Yamagata are there, but they are not technically members of the Order.

I'm sorry, but you have to give up this time. It's not a substitute for that, but I'll send sweets to the absentee unit every day until Nikola-san and the others come back.
'What!　A daily seat... I'm sorry, sir, but you have to tell me that.　I like the pudding à la mode.

　Mr. Nolue starts wagging his tail. That's cash.

"Umm......... Until we leave, will I get a sweet too........?

　Ms. Lane, who cautiously turns her gaze towards you. It seems that she is also crazy about sweets. Well, it's a good thing it's on the side. I don't want to be resented for it.
　Tomorrow, we'll send out knights from other countries to make a frontline base under the Sacred Tree.
　You are going to be able to find a way to get the best out of this.

　It was December 14, 15, Genroku 15.
　The drums of Yamaga-ryu resound through the night in Edo.
　For the purpose of dispersing the grief of our late lord Asano Takumi no Kami, we, Ako, the forty-seven surviving retainers, the first of the forty-seven retainers, will have Kira-dono's head grade.

　This is not the time to be drunk with the world of the Chushingura. In general, in this setting, the position of Asano's Takumi no Kami, who was forced to commit ritual suicide, is me, isn't it? It's not a good omen.
　Well, hopefully, none of them will come back without a shortage of men like the Ako Roshi, and they will be forced to commit ritual suicide. Oops, so the analogy is wrong.
　Anyway, we all have to come back in one piece. With a newfound determination, I headed to the kitchen of the castle to make the requested sweets.