Chapter 35 – Timing Rush

“Now, shall we get started?”

Standing before the production facility, I began to channel Mana into it.

Fwoooooosh—

[Specialized Production Designation Available]

[Small-Class / Medium-Class / Large-Class / Super-Large Class / Behemoth-Class]

This allowed me to modify the machine’s equipment to suit the production of a specific size class. Since the equipment could not be modified to a different size class later, it required caution, but…

There was no need to even hesitate.

‘Small-Class is definitely the way to go right now.’

If necessary, I could simply increase the number of production facilities later. For now, a Small-Class specialization—which included the Worker Bugs that served as the backbone of My Legion and the Observation Probes essential for information warfare superiority—was the best choice.

This was especially true when considering the Magitech Armor and Mountain Cavalry that I would be deploying in combat immediately.

‘[Small-Class] specialization.’

Fwoooosh—

As I made my decision, a considerable amount of Mana surged out of me. It was a relief that it was Small-Class; had it been Medium or Large, it wouldn’t have ended with just this much.

‘And from Super-Large Class onwards, multiple facilities had to operate simultaneously to produce a single unit.’

The Super-Large Class units, which I had barely managed to produce toward the very end of my previous life, were created by each facility producing one part at a time. Furthermore, from the Super-Large Class up, it was impossible for me to summon them directly.

‘And… I couldn’t even touch the Behemoth-Class.’

In my previous life, I had no major issues clearing out the Monsters, who were terrifyingly strong even at the Super-Large Class.

However, the problem was that I realized the true value of my ability too late, and consequently, the number of units I had was too small.

As a result, I couldn’t even maintain the front line against the endless onslaught of numbers. Supply issues, resource shortages, and Mana procurement problems all erupted into a total disaster, leading to a situation where I could no longer hold out.

Ultimately, the Behemoth-Class, which required a massive amount of Mana and resources, was something I unfortunately never got to see, let alone summon.

‘This time, things will be different.’

I thought, calming my mind.

Meanwhile, the facility was awaiting the next instruction.

[Small-Class Specialization Designation Complete]

[Would you like to specialize in the summoning of a specific machine?]

‘No.’

This meant whether I wanted to further specialize the facility to produce only specific units, such as Worker Bugs or Observation Probes, within the Small-Class category.

If I designated a specific machine type in addition to the size class, the Mana consumption could be lowered to the point where there was little difference from summoning them directly.

But not for now. I could designate them later, but for the moment, maintaining versatility was absolutely better.

‘Then… shall I try producing some troops?’

I began giving orders to the Worker Bugs waiting nearby.

“You guys are in charge of this facility from now on.”

“Ding!”

Summoning required a steady consumption of resources. While Mana could be supplied by the Mana Facility, materials like Steel and aluminum had to be continuously provided.

That was the purpose of the order. Having completed the production preparations, I guided my Mana to operate the facility.

“Going for a timing rush.”

Now that the production facility was complete, it was clear that I would gain the maximum advantage by pumping out numbers at the right moment.

[Repeat Production Order: Mountain Cavalry]

I first chose the Mountain Cavalry as the machine to produce.

In truth, the Magitech Armor was more overwhelming in every aspect, including Defense and front-line sustainability, but this was intended to be a war of attrition.

In other words, cost was the issue.

[Materials Used: Transparent PET Plastic, Aluminum]

‘I’ll stick with cheap PET plastic for the materials.’

This was specifically why I was using the Mountain Cavalry.

I had already consumed a significant amount of Steel during construction, and to use them in a war of attrition, I needed a high resource turnover rate, but I didn’t have that much Steel.

Plastic, however, was different.

Since there weren’t many uses for it, it had mostly been piling up, and there were few other ways to utilize it.

Moreover, as long as the spears and the core frame were made of aluminum, there wouldn’t be a significant drop in firepower. In short, it was a “you hit me once, I hit you once” strategy—a glass-cannon meta.

And… I planned to compensate for the lack of Defense in other ways. Also, because I chose cheap materials, this was possible.

[Target Quantity: 24 → 300]

‘Let’s ramp up the numbers significantly.’

As I confirmed the order.

Sssss— Vreeee— Pshhh—

The production facility began to move.

“Ding!”

“Ding-ding!”

Naturally, the Worker Bugs began busily transporting resources.

* * *

A dark night. I surveyed the middle school through an Observation Probe.

‘Sigh…’

A sigh escaped me.

The area around the middle school was piled with corpses. Along with the bodies of ordinary people that had been there originally, there were now the corpses of Looters who had died fighting among themselves.

Some of them had been mutilated and displayed here and there like ornaments, a common behavior of Looters.

Essentially, it served as a psychological barrier, a message saying, ‘We are this cruel, so if you don’t want to become a decoration, think twice before touching us.’

Of course, this would have absolutely no effect on the morale of my machines, which were not human.

Even though this was my second life after a Regression… I still shuddered at the Looters’ actions as I continued my reconnaissance.

‘It looks like the auditorium is being used as a warehouse.’

It was certain, seeing the forklifts diligently moving in and out. In other words, it meant that the auditorium had to be seized decisively.

The classrooms seemed to be used as group dormitories, and many people were staying in tents on the school field.

After ordering the Mountain Cavalry to head to the middle school as soon as they were produced, I checked the 260 units already in position.

Except for the south gate where the main entrance was located, they were evenly divided and positioned across the east, west, and north sides.

At the main gate were 12 Magitech Armors.

Sua was waiting slightly behind them; she was expected to be a great help in this operation.

“Ms. Sua, are you ready?”

“Yes. I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Then I’ll ask you to start right now.”

“Yes… h-uuuh!”

Sua took a deep breath.

Fwoooooosh—!

At that moment, she drew out a considerable amount of Mana.

Crunch! Crack!

Not only that, I had instructed her to absorb two Stomper Mana Stones, which were relatively high in purity, to pump up her Mana.

Giving it her all, she condensed all the surrounding water vapor to create a sudden, thick fog that covered the entire middle school.

Swoooosh—

“I… I can maintain this for about five minutes.”

Sua looked pale, seemingly exhausted by the rapid consumption of Mana.

“That is plenty.”

But her role was already complete.

‘Now it’s my turn.’

I began issuing orders to my machines.

‘Operation start.’

The signal was given by the 12 Magitech Armors at the main gate.

Tat-tattattat—

Gunfire began to ring out from the main gate.

“What’s happening?!”

“It looks like the sentries at the main gate are under attack!”

“W-what? Who on earth is—!”

“I’m not sure, but—”

“Anyway, wake the guys up!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

The Looters were in a state of chaos due to the sudden Ambush.

However, the main gate was merely a decoy.

“Wake up! Wake up! Enemy attac— Ghuuuk!”

Unable to finish his sentence, a Looter looked down at his chest. A thick Javelin was embedded right in the center of his chest.

“W-what the hell is th—”

His eyes momentarily followed something… translucent and short, moving through the dark night fog.

But soon, the light faded from his eyes.

And that wasn’t all.

“T-there’s something there!”

“B-be careful— Aagh!”

Starting with him, screams erupted from all directions.

‘Just as planned.’

I grinned as I heard those sounds.

Taking advantage of the attention being focused on the main gate, the Mountain Cavalry leaped over the walls.

Since they were made of transparent PET plastic, they were barely visible on a night with such thick fog.

Defense is only effective against an opponent you can see. When the opponent is unaware of your presence, there is only a one-sided attack.

This was especially true given the initial chaos of the Ambush, combined with the dark night and the fog.

“Aaaaagh!”

“Ghuuuk!”

For the five minutes the fog lasted.

A night of invisible terror, filled with screams, continued.

* * *

“Haa… haa…”

Sua breathed heavily, looking exhausted.

“The fog… will clear soon.”

She reported to me.

“You did great.”

As she said, the fog began to lift slowly, revealing the blood-soaked battlefield. The night was still dark, but it was only then that the forms of the Mountain Cavalry became clearly visible.

“Watch out! There are some kind of plastic monkeys!”

“Damn it, we were being taken down by these weird things!”

“It doesn’t matter as long as we can see them!”

And so began Phase 2.

The surviving Looters began to fight back fiercely.

“Their Defense is weak! Just push in!”

“Kill them all!”

Thump! Crash!

Once it became a full-scale battle, it seemed the Looters hadn’t become Looters for nothing. The number of Mountain Cavalry began to decrease rapidly.

Just as the number of nearby Mountain Cavalry had visibly dwindled.

“Haa… haa… haa… Are they all gone now?”

They uttered the words that should never be spoken.

“M-more are coming!”

“Over the walls! Again! About the same number as before!”

“I’m out of Mana!”

“Damn it! Damn it!”

In contrast… my numbers were only just beginning.

* * *

The moment the third wave of Mountain Cavalry arrived.

Most of the Looters lost their will to fight.

Some tried to flee, but no Looter could escape the eyes of my Observation Probes. I identified them from afar, and the black Mountain Cavalry, whose only trait was speed, caught up and cleaned them up.

The result was a perfect victory. By the time I finished off the last one, the sun was beginning to rise.

“Phew.”

I let out a sigh.

Sua was quiet, so I glanced at her; she was trembling, staring at the middle school field illuminated by the rising sun.

‘It might still be hard for her to accept…’

In a single night, 200 corpses had been created. It was a familiar occurrence for me, but for her, who lacked experience, it was different.

“Ms. Sua. This was necessary. Now that they’re gone, the ordinary people in this area will have a much easier time living… In the end, you’ve contributed to Humanity.”

I presented the grander logic.

It wasn’t a lie.

In my experience, Looters who had crossed the line of doing whatever it takes to survive continued to cause problems even if they were accepted into a group.

I wasn’t pretending to be a saint.

Everyone carries a small Looter in their heart. In the end, struggling to survive is exactly that.

That didn’t mean I was making excuses for them. Rather, these people were the ones who had become Looters faster than anyone else in the changing situation.

If you really think about it, my only crime was taking what I could as the strong, according to their own logic.

Sua seemed to understand that intellectually.

“Y-yes. Uh, I… I know.”

“…”

We watched the sunrise together in silence for a moment.

“You worked hard today… please head back first.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry.”

I decided to send her back first.

* * *

Meanwhile… there was something else I wanted to check.

The auditorium, which the Mountain Cavalry had seized first before the enemies even noticed, preventing them from smuggling out supplies. The place they had been using as a warehouse.

“Let’s… see what we have here.”

Entering the auditorium while shielding my eyes from the rising sun…

I let out a scream of joy.

“Wow.”

With pallets lifted by forklifts, the interior of the auditorium was packed with supplies, stacked several layers high up to the ceiling.

And it was all the good stuff: food, clothes, shoes, bags of cement, and more.

After confirming the immense scale of it…

“This… with this much, we can take in more ordinary people.”

A satisfied smile naturally spread across my face.