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"here is......"

Everyone looked around curiously, then frowned slightly.Because the scenery surrounding the helicopter was different from what they expected.

Of course, since they were not told where this place was, it was impossible for everyone to have a clear imagination.I just had a rough idea of ​​where the helicopter airport should be.

However, Chen Ling was now surrounded by a spacious space with high walls on all sides.Looking up, you can't even see the sky.Various equipment that should be used to repair the machine body are placed next to the wall, and various agency personnel wearing work clothes are doing their own work.

"Is this a hangar?"

"That's right. This way, follow me."

After saying this, Kotori stepped forward, and the sound of her footsteps echoed all around.The crew members of "Flaxinus" followed her one after another, which reminded Chen Ling of the scene of the hospital director's rounds that he had seen in TV dramas before.

"Chen Ling, let's go too."

"Ah."

After Tohka reminded him, Chen Ling also took steps after Kotori.He looked around and walked into the hangar with the elves.

Then he walked through the hangar on the long corridor, passed through several doors with tight security measures, and arrived at the gate that looked like the entrance to the hangar.

"arrive."

Kotori glanced in the direction of everyone and then placed her palm on the device next to the door.

After a slight electronic sound was emitted, the huge door opened to the left and right - the contents inside came into view of Chen Ling and others.

"This is...!"

Chen Ling was slightly surprised when he saw the object. .

The elves behind Chen Ling also made sounds of surprise.

"Whoa whoa!"

"Haha, I see. You can go anywhere with this."

"Wow, that's so awesome. What is this? Sister, can I take a photo and use it as a reference for drawing comics?"

"Of course not. This is top secret!"

Erya said excitedly.Kotori rolled her eyes back at her.

However, it's not that I can't understand her reaction.After all, anyone who sees it for the first time will probably be surprised by what is in front of them.

The scene in front of everyone's eyes after the door opened was a spacious hangar as expected. However, what was parked inside was not the transport helicopter just like before, but a huge "ship".

ships.Not only Chen Ling, but everyone must feel that this description is a bit contradictory.

The avant-garde hull made of white and purple-blue, the gunports surrounding the center of the hull, the rear part of the hull that spreads out like a large tree branch, and countless shining metal "leaves" above.

Its appearance design concept is fundamentally different from that of the so-called "battleship".

However, when I think about it carefully, I think this is quite normal.Because the place where this ship sails is not the rough sea—but the sky that looks down upon everything.

"<Fraxinus>."

Chen Ling called out the name of the ship with a slightly trembling voice.

That's right.That is the aerial ship "Fraxinas" that "Ratatosk" is proud of.

This ship was first repelled by Eren about two months ago, and then was damaged in the battle with the reversed Origami.Now he is sitting in perfect posture.

No—Chen Ling denied his thoughts in his mind.

What he saw in front of him was indeed <Fraxinus>, but its shape was somewhat different from what he remembered.

"The shape is a little different."

Chen Ling said as if talking to himself.Kotori, who was standing in front of him, snorted twice.

"Thank you for seeing it. That's right, this is not the previous "Fraxinas", but an improved model equipped with the "Ratatosk"'s most advanced display device and with all its performance upgraded──named 〈Fraxinas EX (Excelsior)〉!”

After Kotori shouted loudly, Kannazuki spread her hands and feet behind her to match her voice, making a posture like the English letter "X".By the way, the other crew members stood symmetrically on both sides of her.The remaining Lingyin was spreading the paper flowers he took out of his pocket with an expressionless expression.

"E...Excelsior?"

"That's right. Although the direct cause of the damage to <Fraxinus> was the battle with Origami──but it's also true that it was beaten to a pulp by Eren's <Goetia> before, so I think it's just a matter of repairing it to its original state. It’s not enough. But it took a lot of time.”

Kotori said with a self-deprecating shrug.

"I see... If we take this, we can reach Rokuro's location."

"That's right. It'll be there in just one flight. It's ready to fly into the universe."

Kotori said this and made a gesture of throwing paper airplanes.

"Because the adjustments haven't been completed yet, it will take a while before we can set sail, but we should be able to enter the bridge now. Come with me, I want you to meet someone."

After Qin Li finished speaking, she hooked her fingers and called Chen Ling.Chen Ling tilted his head in confusion.

"You want me to meet someone?"

"Yes. But in a sense, you have met each other quite often, but this is probably the first time you have met in this way."

"what does it mean?"

"You'll know when you get here. Come on."

After Kotori said this, she walked directly under the hull of the <Fraxinus>.

"Huh? Is there anyone Chen Ling knows here?"

"I do not know."

Although Chen Ling looked confused, he still followed Qinli along with the crew and elves.

After making sure that everyone was directly under the ship, Kotori raised her head and made a sound.

"──Okay, please."

Then, as if in response to Kotori's voice, the bodies of Chen Ling and his group were surrounded by a faint light and a wonderful sense of floating.

The next moment, the scene inside the hangar that came into view suddenly changed to the scene inside the ship.

This is a teleportation device formed by <Flaxinus> using a manifestation device.It's not like Chen Ling has never sat on it, but he rarely uses it. After all, he can move it by himself.

After the teleportation, Chen Ling looked around and looked at the new <Flaxinas>.

It is surrounded by a bridge divided into upper and lower sections. The captain's seat is in the center, and the crew's seats are below. There are consoles and personal screens in front of the seats.

It is a bit more spacious than the previous "Flaxinus" and has an increased number of screens.But what Chen Ling cares more about is──

"Now you can teleport directly to the bridge."

Chen Ling looked at his feet and said.Chen Ling and his party were located near the entrance of the bridge, and a terminal similar to a teleportation device was set up on the floor.

He remembered that the teleportation device used to be installed under the ship, and you had to walk there to leave the ship.

"That's right. We have built several teleportation stations inside the ship, and you can choose where to teleport to. You can move between each teleportation station, and you can also teleport from the living area to the bridge in an instant."

"I see...so, who do you want me to meet?"

After Chen Ling asked, he looked around the bridge.He thought that the person who had just activated the teleportation device must be here, but he couldn't see anyone.

So, Kotori raised the corner of her mouth and smiled, raised her head slightly and said:

"Hello, long time no see, <Fraxinus>."

Then he said this as if he was talking to the ship he was on.

Result──

"──Yeah, long time no see, Kotori."

The screen flickered vaguely, and a girlish voice immediately came from the loudspeaker installed on the bridge.

"Um?!"

Facing this sudden situation, Chen Ling couldn't help but raise his body.The elves standing around also showed surprised expressions.

"What... what's going on?"

"It's interesting. According to what Kotori said, maybe you are..."

"Yes, as expected of you, your reaction is as sharp as ever."

What responded to Chen Ling was like the ship itself.

In fact, the other party has already seen this.

"As long as you can see it, let me introduce it to you. Everyone, she is the AI ​​of <Flaxinus>. This time, we will be able to communicate with her through dialogue."

The voice matched Kotori's and continued:

"Hello, long time no see... It's strange to say that. My code name is "Ju Ya", and I used to support you a lot. Please give me your advice in the future, Chen Ling."

Hearing this voice, Chen Ling felt an inexplicable feeling in his heart, but he still answered with a smile:

"──Okay...please give me more advice, Maria."

Chapter 575: Venomous tongue and blame-blaming Ju Ya, the two wet people meet

The elves crowded in front of the screen from behind Chen Ling.It wasn't Maria's face there, but because the letters "MARIA" were displayed on the screen, it looked like there was a personality living inside.

"Oh! This is amazing! How did you do it?"

"Oh~~~So there is such a thing. It's really amazing."

"Is this the voice that proposed those options? Is it true?"

"So, is it because of you that we occasionally hear Chen Ling say some off-kilter things?"

"I have to correct this. Those are options inferred based on various situations, but I usually propose three options. The ones who really made Chen Ling say something off-topic were those idiots and a certain pervert."

The elves surrounded the little Marie and started making noises.

Although, some of the words were very true, and even made Kotori raise her eyebrows slightly.

This AI is really good at scapegoating.If it hadn't released some unexplained options, they might not have even been able to choose. As a result, she was lucky and put all the blame on them.

Feeling that she and the others seemed to be taking the blame, Kotori couldn't help but speak out quickly.

"Okay, okay, don't bother Maria (don't listen to her blame). We still have work to do."

After Kotori finished speaking and calmed everyone down, he said to Maria:

"──So, how long will it take to set sail?"

"It will take another 10 minutes to adjust the body."

"There is no time. It will be done in one hour."

"You are still the same, there is no need to discuss it. Chen Ling is really pathetic."

"...It seems that even if the performance of the machine is improved, the sense of humor is still so-so. Let's adjust it again after this battle is over."

Even though the corner of Kotori's mouth twitched slightly, she said with an angry smile.Ju Ya didn't care at all about this, and this time she said to the crew:

"──The settings of the personal console are the same as before, but to be on the safe side, I would like to ask all crew members to confirm. Because this operation can be carried out at the same time as my adjustments."

Hearing these words, the crew members nodded.As a result, Ju Ya continued to add:

"Also, please try not to bring personal belongings to the bridge. The living area is your private space, and I have no intention of interfering with it. But I don't think there is a need for cursed dolls or beautiful girl dolls on the bridge."

Hearing these words, Shiizaki and Nakatsugawa showed shocked expressions.

"How...why is this like this!"

"You didn't have any objection before, right?"

"I just don't have the means to express my opinions. If you think you need these things anyway, please provide a reason within 1000 or [-] words."

"This...this can be used to curse the enemy when attacked..."

"If my wives are not by my side, I will not be able to be [-]% efficient at my work!"

"The reason is completely unreasonable and it will not be passed."

Ju Ya said coldly.Shiizaki and Nakatsugawa shouted:

"NO──!"

Perhaps seeing this, the other crew members—Mikimoto, Kawagoe, and Minawa—laughed.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Because we really don't need these things to perform the mission."