Chapter 83

Short version:

The Empire of Vietnam.

In the latter half of the 19th century, it became a French colony, but during World War II, it achieved independence from colonial rule with the help of the Japanese military. It is a constitutional monarchy with a population of about 20 million, centered around Bao Dai, who played a central role in this process.

Vietnam has a strong connection with Japan, not only due to the support provided to Bao Dai during and after the war, but also because of the cooperation in infrastructure development. Additionally, during the First Vietnam War against the Republic of China (now the Chinese Federation) and the Second Vietnam War against the invading demon army, Japan and Vietnam fought side by side.

Furthermore, in recent years, Japanese expeditionary forces have been stationed in Vietnam, which has further strengthened the relationship between the two countries.

However, this strong connection is primarily between the central government and Japan, and not all locals are pro-Japanese.

Moreover, the wars fought in Vietnam differ from those in the previous life that Keita knows. As a result, the tropical rainforests in the country have not been destroyed, and there have been no health issues caused by defoliants. In a good sense, it is a country rich in greenery.

In this sense, Vietnam can be described as a typical Southeast Asian country that successfully gained independence after World War II.

It was late December, nearing the end of the year, when the perverts set foot on Vietnamese soil.

---

One day, a week before the New Year, Keita Kawanami, a boy who has started to be called a "hero," "savior," and "black pervert" in some circles, landed in Hue, Vietnam, accompanied by Masahiro Saigo, a genuine pervert.

"This is Vietnam. As expected, it's hot even in December."

"Yes, it is."

Although it is hot, the average temperature in December in Vietnam is around 25 degrees Celsius, which can be considered a comfortable temperature in a certain sense.

At the very least, it is certainly more comfortable than the extremely cold Far Eastern Russia during this period.

However, for Keita and Masahiro, who are used to thinking that "winter is cold," the lack of seasonal change typical of subtropical and tropical regions might feel somewhat strange.

"Well, it's better to work in this warm weather. It's better than shivering in the cold while doing maintenance."

"Yes, it is."

It might seem a bit indifferent, but from Keita's perspective, who is on the receiving end of the maintenance, that's all he can say.

Of course, Masahiro didn't express an opinion to seek Keita's input, so he had no complaints about Keita's response.

(Masahiro thought: From now on, we'll be modifying the machine for tropical and forest conditions. There are many challenges, but the biggest issue is the armament. With many obstacles, direct fire is disadvantageous, and close combat is difficult for the same reason. Using incendiary grenades to burn everything is a last resort, so we can't use them. Therefore, the main armament should be machine guns. However, I will definitely equip it with incendiary grenades as a last resort.)

Correction: Masahiro, who was focused on his work, didn't even hear Keita's responses.

Since he didn't hear them, he had no reason to be dissatisfied. Without dissatisfaction, he could focus on the machine.

From this perspective, he could be considered an extremely reliable mechanic for a pilot.

However, Masahiro's dedication is only towards the machines he builds. If necessary, he is prepared to have Keita burn everything, regardless of what the locals say.

This lack of consideration and mercy is part of what makes Masahiro who he is, but for those who have to carry out his orders, it is not a pleasant situation.

After all, the one who will be reprimanded for carrying out such orders is the one who actually does it.

Keita, who will ride in the machine maintained by such a dangerous mechanic and will be forced to burn everything to survive in an emergency, has already made up his mind.

(I don't know what modifications Masahiro will make, but he doesn't lie to the machine. I hope it won't be bad for me. Well, if it comes to it, I can burn everything. Yes, I will definitely carry incendiary grenades. No matter what the locals say, I will definitely carry them.)

Indeed, with a calm face, Keita was also fully prepared to burn everything in the end.

For Keita, no matter how much he is hailed as a hero, his priority is his own safety. If he dies, his sister Yuna will be left alone. So, in a real emergency, he has no intention of hesitating, regardless of what others say.

What about the people who might be caught in the crossfire?

Well, if you're in a combat zone, you'll be caught in the crossfire.

Evacuating civilians is the government's job. I don't know about it.

The return of the machine and Keita's survival. Although the process to achieve these goals may differ, the end result is the same for both perverts. From this perspective, they can be considered an ideal main mechanic and pilot team.

However, the potential harm to the surroundings in an emergency is a different matter.

Setting aside the dangerous thoughts that these perverts harbor internally.

On this day, Keita entered Vietnam without the guidance of the training battalion, due to the difference in proficiency levels between him and the others.

To elaborate, in military operations, to prevent fast and slow units from becoming separated, the entire unit typically moves at the pace of the slowest unit.

Given this, can Keita and the others move together?

The answer is, of course, no.

While it is unclear what the future holds, at the current stage, the others do not have the skill to move with Keita, who can hop and jump alone.

Therefore, from a unit management perspective, Keita must move at the pace of the slower members, which would mean a loss of his unique combat capabilities.

Thus, the military high command decided that, at this stage, it would be more effective to use Keita as an independent force rather than as a member of the training battalion. They ordered him to enter the area ahead of time to assess the situation and perform preliminary reconnaissance.

Some might see this as being sent to a place with no support, but that is not the case.

Vietnam is a pro-Japanese country, and the Fourth Division of the National Defense Army is stationed there. There are no issues with supplies or information gathering.

Moreover, the members of the Fourth Division, who are deployed as an expeditionary force, are elite soldiers.

With the support of these elite soldiers guaranteed, Keita has no objections to operating independently from his unit.

In fact, he feels more at ease without the responsibility of protecting his classmates.

(Masahiro Saigo? Thinking about him is pointless. If he deems it dangerous, he will run away on his own.)

While his trust seems somewhat careless, in reality, there is little Keita, a mere student, can do to help them in an emergency. On the contrary, it is more likely that the adults, who have more life experience and social standing, will protect Keita.

Given these circumstances, Keita has no intention of worrying about Masahiro and the others.

(For now...)

"Welcome to Vietnam. I am Katsunari Ayase, assigned to guide you, Sir Hero. My daughter is in your care."

"Thank you for your kind words, Colonel. I am Keita Kawanami, First Lieutenant of the First Division Training Battalion. I am also grateful for your daughter's care."

Although the greeting went smoothly due to prior notification, Keita's thoughts were:

(I will rely on this man, who is a guide from the Fourth Division and the father of one of my classmates.)

He was considering something rather dark, or so it seemed.

It's okay to rely on adults, because he is just a child.

Thank you for reading.