V1C1

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Chapter 1, Izaya

A ton of towed shells were ejected at twice the speed of sound, turning into a fireball.

Captain Izaya Shironomiya, commander of the “Ibuki”, a flying destroyer that belonged directly to the royal family, stood at the forward observation post and watched the trajectory of the incoming fireballs.

There were three red-hot parabolas.

Like a projectile from the heavens, they raced across the starry sky, ready to strike Ibuki with their scythes of destruction.

Ibuki is currently flying in the floating zone. The ocean below is obscured by the colors of the night. Izaya’s crimson eyes reflect the eternal starry sky, the great galaxy, and the trajectory of the projectiles tearing through it.

Overhead, the enemy’s suspended light bombs emitted a silvery glow, illuminating the Ibuki as it flew through the starry sky. The enemy had already seen them, but the Ibuki, which had no main gun, could not see them because it could not fire light bombs.

A tense voice came from the lookout through a voice pipe.

“Enemy ships, open fire!”

The calm voice of Second Lieutenant Myuu Togakushi, a watchman at the open-air command post on the roof of the forward watchtower, came through the pipe.

“Twelve hundred and twenty degrees left. Distance 15,000. One battleship, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers. All are airships.”

The voice, quiet but strangely clear, conveyed an outline of the enemy. It was a feat by Myuu, who measured the distance only by the flashes of light that accompanied the firing.

“Course 220 degrees. Speed 23 knots. Single vertical formation. No marine fleet in sight in the vicinity.”

Myuu’s report continued to fly. In the hundreds of night exercises she has participated in so far, Myuu has proven the accuracy of her night vision. Izaya accepts Myuu’s report, believing her to be one of the best lookouts in the United Fleet. Without the maritime fleet, they could concentrate on the enemy air fleet alone.

Is this course of action to enter the Mariveles blockade?

It’s probably the advance team of the Grand Ocean Fleet. It may have the capability of reconnaissance.

Sensing the enemy’s intentions, she immediately grabbed the voice pipe leading to the communications room.

“This is the captain of the Ibuki. Ari Base Command. I have discovered the enemy squadron. Our course is 220 degrees and our speed is 23 knots. One battleship, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers. We are one hundred and twenty nautical miles northwest of Mariveles Fortress. It is believed to be the advance party of the Grand Ocean Fleet, which is planning to join up with the Far Eastern Fleet. This ship will now commence contact.”

The moonlight shining into the forward watchtower brightened her starry red eyes, white porcelain skin, silvery white hair flowing from the hem of her cap, and her large velvet cloak lined with red velvet. She wore a white blouse, a corset with a loin cloth, black shorts, and a sword belt around her waist with a large sword for honor. Her shiny white thighs and long legs were covered with military boots. Although she was only eighteen years old, the appearance of the first princess of the Hinoo Kingdom, with her combination of elegance and glamour, wavered in the blue moonlight.

While she was reporting, four towed projectiles were spreading their destructive wake across the starry sky.

These were the first round for trajectory measurement, so they were unlikely to hit. Unlike ships on the sea, which create a column of water in the vicinity when they land, when dealing with airships, a shell that misses will pass through space without creating a column of water, making it impossible to observe the impact. For this reason, it is standard practice in fleet air warfare to first check the trajectory of the projectile by using a towed projectile with a flaming trail in space, and then begin firing in earnest after adjusting the various parameters.

The eerie whirring sound of a towed projectile, which would have snapped the Ibuki in half if it had struck, approached and flew over the Ibuki at an altitude of 1,200 meters. The three tow trails, resembling the claws of an invisible giant beast, tore through the airspace a hundred and fifty meters ahead of the Ibuki and fell toward the sea.

All far away. But.

“Accurate.”

To Izaya’s murmur, Second Lieutenant Rio Kazenomiya, who was standing beside her, nodded.

“Father said it might have a fire-control radar.”

Rio’s words were calm, without a hint of battlefield tension. It was better than being nervous and screaming.

The forward lookout was pitch black so that the glass mirror would not obscure their view or let the lights leak out to the enemy. Without the moonlight, the two of them were invisible in the darkness. The only light is the thin radium glow of the instrument panel. They knew each other’s position by word of mouth, and searched the starry sky for the enemy ship that was 15,000 meters away on their port side.

Neither of them could see the ship that Myuu was looking at yet. However, they did see the flash of light that had just appeared. Izaya wanted to sail with the enemy fleet, that is to say, to run alongside it and strike it.

Izaya grabbed the voice pipe leading to the wheelhouse and said

“Fifteen degrees to the helm.

In a calm voice, she ordered a change of direction.

“Fifteen degrees to port rudder.”

At the same time as the response from the wheelhouse, a seven-colored spray of Cerasus particles erupted from Ibuki’s bow, and the ship slowly began to change course to the right.

“Return. Center rudder. Engineering, third warp speed.”

Waving her command rod to the wheelhouse and the engine command center, Izaya grabbed the microphone for the ship’s internal broadcast. She explained the current situation to the soldiers in the engine room, communications center, and galley, who could not see what was happening in the outside world.”

“Attention. This is the captain. While on patrol in the waters near Manira, the ship encountered the Gamerian fleet and came into contact with it. It is believed that the enemy is aiming to enter the port of Mariveles. We’ve already notified the command center, but there’s no point in just waiting for allied ships to arrive. This ship will now launch a long-range torpedo attack on the enemy fleet.”

As soon as she said this, the joyful cheers of the soldiers came back to her through the voice pipes.

“Your Highness!” “Your Highness!” “I’ll do my best, Your Highness!”

The soldiers accepted the recklessness of launching an air battle against an enemy fleet of five flying battleships with a single flying destroyer with an optimistic response. Izaya nodded broadly with a straight face and continued.

“Training is like actual fighting. Actual battle is like training. If you do it calmly, you can do it. That’s how much training we’ve had. Let’s all work together for victory.”

When she said this in an interesting way, more and more enthusiastic cheers came back from inside the ship.

“Your Highness!” “Your Highness!” “I’ll do my best, Your Highness!

In response, Izaya’s mouth curved up in a frown, wondering if they understood the situation.

In the Navy and Air Force, where military regulations are strict, the unnecessarily cheerful atmosphere of the Ibuki completely stands out. It is the captain who decides the nature of the extremely closefisted nature of a warship. Even though they follow the same military regulations, the personality of the captain creates a surprisingly different atmosphere in a warship.

About two years ago, Izaya boarded the Ibuki as the commander of the air raid, and last year she was appointed captain. Ever since then, Izaya has been trying to create a bright, energetic, and open atmosphere on this ship.

Izaya believes that the famous quote by Prime Minister Ringland, “War is a game played with a smile,” is true. Life on a warship, with no guarantee of life tomorrow, tends to be dark. It is precisely because we must endure harsh and difficult days that we must try our best to act cheerfully and vigorously, otherwise we will not be able to fight as one for the Ibuki when the time comes.

Because she believes this, Izaya encourages the sailors of Ibuki to keep smiling, to act cheerfully and energetically, and to be considerate of each other. Corporal punishment, including iron fist punishment, was prohibited, and the control of shipboard morals was left to the discretion of the deck officers.

As a result, the 200 crew members of the Ibuki are able to maintain discipline and live happily together like a family.

Before she knew it, the Ibuki had become a fan club with Izaya and Rio, the two princesses, as her idols. Each member’s requests reach the forward watchtower through a voice pipe.

“Himesama,” “Himesama, a word, too,” “Give me a word, Hime.”

Hime is Rio’s nickname. Rio’s father, Genzaburo Kazenomiya, is the Chief of the Military Command and the younger brother of the King of Hinoo. Aboard the same flying destroyer as the two princesses from the direct lineage of the King of Hinoo, the two hundred crew members were divided into two groups, one favoring Izaya and the other favoring Rio, and spent their time exchanging the princess goods they had acquired during the landing.

In response to the requests, Izaya handed the microphone to Rio.

She had long chestnut brown hair and clear jade eyes. The corset skirt accentuates her breasts, especially on a woman like Rio, where the tie forms a sharp angle and the tip of the tie points indiscriminately here and there as she walks, causing the crew to revere her as a “broken compass”. Rio has an innocent smile and cheerful words of encouragement, without any consideration of how her face and style might affect the sailors.

“Let’s all do our best! If we do what we always do, we’ll make it! Let’s have a party together when we’re done!”

[Himesama!] [Himesama!] [I’ll do my best, Himesama!]

“Thank you, everyone! I love you all so much!”

[Oh!] [Aaah!] [Himesamaaa!]

Even though they are being bombarded by the enemy fleet, the inside of the ship has turned into a concert hall with Rio and her fans yelling and responding.

Idiots.

Izaya mumbles secretly in her mind, and invisible sweat trickles down her temples. She has been thinking about how she may have given them a little too much freedom, but at any rate, it was probably a good thing that wthey were all united in a deadly place and all fired up for war. So, Izaya took the microphone from Rio and put it to his mouth.

“Order…… Left air raiders, same navigation. I expect you all to fight hard, over.”

When she gave the order without any emotion, the loudest cheer of the day erupted inside the ship. Soon after, the lively commands of the soldiers came from all over the ship.

[Sixth pipe, good!] [Seventh pipe, good!] …… [Tenth tube, good!]

On the upper deck of the heavy destroyer Ibuki, there are four sets of four launchers from No. 1 to No. 5 on the starboard side and four sets of launchers from No. 6 to No. 10 on the port side.

Izaya grabbed the voice pipe to the air mine launch command center and said

“Target the enemy fleet, port side strike all together.”

From the other end of the pipe came the raspy voice of the Chief of the Regiment, Sergeant Onizuka Hibiki.

“Yes, Your Highness! Let’s do this you guys, show some guts!”

The two ” demons ” in his name were quite evident, as the sound of his voice, which seemed to tear eardrums even through the voice pipes, echoed through both forward and backward watchtowers. The cheers of the sixty air raiders on the upper deck responded.

[“Your Highnesss!” “Your Highnessss!” “Your highnessss!”]

Even aboard the Ibuki, the air raid crew was particularly hot and bothered, and no matter what he ordered, they would only respond with “Your Highness”. Izaya once again secretly twisted his head to ask if this was okay, but at any rate, the Ibuki’s will to fight was on fire. It was all good then.

At the same time, the darkness in the distance parted in a horizontal line.

[The enemy fleet is firing!]

A shout from the upper lookout, who was watching the battle area from the top of the floating body.

[Distance 15,000, same course. One hundred and twenty degrees to port, bearing two hundred degrees, speed twenty-one knots.]

At about the same time, Myuu, who was in the open-air command center above Izaya and the others, reported the distance, position, course, and speed. Myuu’s ability to instantly and correctly measure distance and speed using only the flash of light that accompanies a launch has saved Ibuki’s life many times in the past.

“Fifteen degrees to the rudder.”

Izaya calmly ordered a change of direction to the wheelhouse.

If the ship is 15,000 meters away, it is unlikely to be hit if it changes hands at the same time as it fires. Once again, the Cerasus particles sent the bow surging into the air at an altitude of 1,200 meters, and the Ibuki rolled to the left, literally dragging a rainbow trail.

In the distance, the twenty-four fire arrows, which control destruction, soar through the starry sky.

Each ship has a different colored trail. Battleships are red, heavy cruisers are green, and light cruisers are yellow. The hooked claws thrust upward into the sky were pulled upward, and twenty-four tug marks were swung down toward the Ibuki.

“Return. Air Raid Commander, fire your guns.”

Izaya hurried the Air Raid Commander on the bridge in front of the upper deck through the voice box.

[I can’t see the enemy ship yet, ma’am!]

Izaya’s voice was immediately answered by the rasping voice of the Air Raid Commander Kakitsubata. Izaya let out a mosquito-like sigh to avoid being overheard.

“We’re at a distance of 15,000, same speed, port side 120 degrees, 21 knots.”

She delivered Myuu’s report as it should have been heard by Kakitsubata.

[But the readings from the rangefinder are still …….]

“I want you to do exactly as Myuu says. Please, hurry up.”

If they lingered, the enemy would shoot at them. Frustrated, She waited for Kakitsubata to calculate the angle of fire.

[First torpedo speed, firing angle 30, opening angle 1 degree.]

Soon after, Kakitsubata’s voice echoed unreliably through Izaya and the launch tubes.

It’s the captain’s job to guide the ship to the perfect firing point, the Air Raid Commander’s job to determine the firing angle – the direction of the torpedo strike determined by the enemy ship’s course and speed – so that the enemy can hit the ship even if it evades, and Sergeant Onizuka, to do as he’s told.

[First torpedo speed, firing angle 30, opening angle 1 degree! It’s time to go to work, you guys, risk your lives for Her Highness, shoot even if it kills you, shoot and then die. ────!]

He scolded everyone in a loud voice. A moment later, dozens of sailors who were making final adjustments to the air mines on their respective launch tubes on deck, screamed back in a voice that was filled with emotion.

[I’ll do it, Your Highness!] [Please watch me, Your Highness!]

Izaya grabbed the voice pipe to the control room to position the ship at the best firing point.

[Incoming enemy fire!]

At the same time, twenty-four pillars of flame engulfed the perimeter of the Ibuki.

[…………!]

A mass of iron weighing between 200 and 1,000 kilograms, spewed out by the main guns of light cruisers, heavy cruisers, and battleships, rushed directly overhead at a speed of over 600 meters per second, far exceeding the speed of sound. The shock wave shook the 170-meter-long Ibuki up and down, left and right.

There was no direct hit. But it grazed directly above. Cerasus particles, reacting to the physical energy, kicked up a rainbow in the starry sky, and a tri-colored of scorched trails connected the heavens and the sea.

In the battle airspace painted with the color of flames, however, the Ibuki flies straight for the firing point.

“All the way. The next one is coming soon.”

Rio announces, pointing to the airspace to her left.

If you look hard enough, you can see a series of flashes of light, and again many scorched trails cut through the starry sky. Not even a minute had passed since the first shot was fired. It was a brilliant first observation rapid-fire shot by the enemy. A new burst of light flashed directly above the Ibuki, turning night into day.

The enemy is equal to us in morale and skill, but our technology is ten years ahead of theirs.

The only thing the our enemy has is courage.

They couldn’t change course because they had already communicated the angle of fire for the tubes. They had no choice but to continue on this course. It’s dangerous, but it’s the nature of a flying destroyer to shoot out air mines at the cost of its own life. The crew of the Ibuki was built for the purpose of engaging the fleet single-handedly. They would lose their purpose if they ran away at this point.

[Oi, Captain, change the direction of the ship. We’ll try again here!]

Kakitsubata shouted. It seems he was scared. But if they changed the direction now, they would have to measure the distance again and calculate a new angle of fire. There was no time for that.

“We’ll stay here.”

[You’re saying you’re going to jump into the battle field?]

“Yes.”

Kakitsubata shrieked back.

Instead of taking a direct hit and dying, the enemy was to be bombarded with 20 rounds of torpedos. The crew of the Ibuki have finished their preparations already. They didn’t say a word about it, until they were able to stab the enemy fleet with their own bodies.

Almost at the firing point. Izaya grabbed the voice pipe.

“Port side, begin firing!

At the same time as the order, the gunner on the navigation bridge sounded the ship’s internal buzzer.

The buzzing …… and the deafening warning sound filled the entire ship…

A moment after the buzzing stops, the gunner on the navigation bridge presses the fire button, and the captain on the upper deck raises his voice in the loudest voice of the night.

“Fire ────────!”

At the same time, the air mine launchers were raised at two-second intervals. The sound of air, like a giant balloon rapidly deflating, gushed out of the five tubes one after another, and the secret weapon of the United Fleet, the “air thunderbolt,” flew into the sea of stars in a spray of seven colors.

The oxygen-powered topedoes, which have the outer shell of a floating stone, travel at 50 knots from within the floating zone. Targeted airships cannot avoid them by climbing or descending because they cannot navigate outside the floating zone. It can only make horizontal maneuvers limited to an altitude of 1,200 meters.

As far as Izaya knew, this was the first time in the history of fleet air warfare that a long-range nighttime raid on an enemy ship 15,000 meters away was possible. Gameria’s torpedoes and air mines had a range of 5,000 meters, while Hinoo’s air torpedoes and air mines had a range of 40,000 meters. The enemy fleet would never have thought that the air mines would come from such a long distance. They hoped that the enemy lookouts will not notice the splashes of light that the air torpedoes were kicking up.

As a fan-shaped pattern of 20 firing lines was formed to cover the enemy ship’s expected course, Izaya grabbed the voice pipe to the wheelhouse and said,

“Full rudder! Maximum warp speed! We’re leaving the war zone!”

Once they’d fired, there was no use for them here. The only thing left to do was to flee at full speed out of range of the gunfire.

Feeling the frustratingly slow turn of the ship’s body, her eyes followed the air thunderbolts that had been launched from the rear of the ship.

As the seven-colored torpedo trails continued to fly, the twenty firing lines became more and more distant.

If the enemy continues to go straight ahead, it is sure to hit.

Don’t notice it.

At this moment, the seven colors of the Cerasus effect, which glow in response to the movement of objects, are troubling annoyance. If it weren’t for that, the air thunderbolts moving through the darkness would be invisible.

[Ten minutes left until the air thunderbolts hit!]

The voice of the officer on the navigation bridge was heard in one ear just as it was transmitted through the voice tube.

A light beam of destruction descended from the sky and enveloped the area around the Ibuki.

“……!!!”

At the same time, the Cerasus particles reacted to the powerful physical energy, creating an explosion of seven-colored droplets in the floating zone, which, combined with the wake of the three-colored trailing bullets, swirled and danced wildly. It’s was like being caught in a rainbow storm.

Beautiful ……!

This seven-colored storm was a monster that would instantly extinguish the lives of two hundred people, but Izaya recognized the beauty of destruction in it. It is not a bad way to die, being embraced by the burning arms of this monster. The sky of the battlefield is so far away from the ground that it even makes one feel such emotion.

[Incoming!]

The voice of the officer brought her back to her senses. They were completely caught in the enemy’s shell spray field. If they continued to be exposed for any length of time, they would soon be hit by a direct hit.

“Change hands every fifty seconds, ten degrees!”

[Ten degrees on the rudder!]

The exchange with the wheelhouse naturally became intense. A new seven-colored bow pattern was painted over the serrated tapestry created by the enemy shells, and the Ibuki changed hands for the first time today.

[Seven minutes till air thunderbolt hits!]

[Enemy ships are firing simultaneously!]

The voice pipes in the forward watchtower quivered with the voices of the watchmen one after another. The air thunderbolt trails of the 20 projectiles that were just launched from the back of the ship melted into the color of stars.

Again…

The red, green, and yellow colored sky throwing spears pierce the edge of Ibuki.

The rainbow storm struck with a shockwave.

[Incoming!]

A whirlpool of seven colors engulfs the Ibuki, and the ship is tossed about like a leaf in a stormy sea. The cables that connect the floating body to the ship’s hull make a deafening creak that sounds like the scream of the Ibuki.

In the midst of this dreamlike scene, two hundred deaths are steadily approaching.

[The dispersal field is narrowing, if we continue like this, we will be hit directly!]

The wolfish voice of Kakitsubata rang through the voice pipes. Swallowing her words to scold Kakitsubata’s useless comment, Izaya stomped her feet, endured the violent shaking, and put the voice pipe to the wheelhouse to her mouth.

“Five degrees to rudder!”

[Five degrees to rudder, come on!]

The ship repeatedly changed direction. It was just a matter of time before the enemy would observe the trajectory of the shells, adjust the firing parameters, and narrow the dispersal field. Nothing more could be done now except to escape from the enemy’s projected trajectory and run away at full speed while meticulously changing directions.

[Five minutes to go until the air thunderbolts land!]

The only thing that saved them was the reports from the measurement crew. Please endure for five more minutes, Ibuki. As Izaya prayed, the shout of the second watchman at the rear guard station reached her ears.

[The enemy battleship has changed direction!]

“What?”

Izaya who always maintains a calm demeanor, showed a slight agitation. She puts on her binoculars to look for the enemy’s shadow in the airspace behind the ship, and indeed, she could see the seven colors of the Cerasus effect in the airspace far, far away.

“…………!!!”

She barely managed to stifle a click of her tongue. As the watchman said, it is the seven-colored bow wave that is generated when a huge ship changes direction. That meant the enemy noticed the approach of the air thunderbolts and changed hands to escape the line of fire.

*That’s ridiculous.

The enemy easily saw through the first great long-distance torpedo attack in the history of fleet air battle. Although they shot so that they could hit the enemy even if the enemy avoided them, the long-distance torpedo strikes have a wider firing line interval, so it is not so difficult to avoid them if they are detected early.

On the other side, Rio also put her binoculars in the same airspace and commented.

“Did they see the lightning in the sky?”

“…….Night time and seven thousand five hundred meters away? You’d have to be Myuu to see it.”

“…… then …… radar?”

“…… Hmm. It’s possible.”

Izaya stifles her agitation and replies.

*If that’s the case, we’re in big trouble.

*We can win this battle.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard the ominous spinning sound again, and four burning pillars of fire shot up on the right side of the Ibuki.

“……!!!”

It was not opaque. But all of them were on the right side. If the ship was steered a little deeper earlier, the Ibuki would have been pierced by a flaming spear and shattered. Rio muttered to himself.

“I knew it, the radar sighting system ……!”

As soon as they changed course, the enemy detected them by radar and rained shells down on their altered direction. If it was using electromagnetic waves to measure and aim, it would be far more accurate and efficient than conventional observation fire based on human observation. Electromagnetic waves can detect matter in the airspace without regard to darkness or clouds. Electromagnetic waves can see what the human eye cannot.

Izaya barely managed to swallow the despair that was about to spill out of her.

Even Izaya’s slight moans and clicks of her tongue are transmitted to the rest of the ship through the voice pipes. The crew must not be able to sense the captain’s agitation.

She looked over the battle airspace and confirmed that the green and yellow trajectories were heading back to their previous position. That meant that the heavy and light cruisers were firing observation shots, while the battleships were the only ones that could fire radar targeting shots.

“Myuu, can you identify the enemy battleship’s ship type?”

Izaya asked Myuu, who was keeping watch just above, through the voice pipe.

[It’s not an existing battleship. It is believed to be a new type of flying battleship with a forty centimeter port side cannon.]

Izaya nodded her head in agreement. The airship basically had a port side cannon. Because the hull is suspending from the floating body by a suspension cable, if a swivel turret is mounted on the upper deck, the blast from the gunfire will damage the suspension cable. In other words, the enemy will not be able to fire while pursuing with the bow end facing us. If they continue to move away, they can escape the cannon’s firing zone.

[The enemy ship is also changing direction!]

[One minute till the air thunderbolts hit!]

While listening to the reports of the watchmen, Izaya continued her orders to flee at a maximum speed of 30 knots, while meticulously changing direction even further.

The bright red trajectory of the bullet was relentlessly and precisely scraping the Ibuki. No other flying battleship in night time combat could hit a fleeing enemy with such precision. Realizing that she was fighting against a formidable enemy, Izaya made a series of minor maneuver changes and concentrated on widening the distance between her and the enemy.

At close range, where her outstretched hand was almost ripped off, an enemy projectile flew past her, burning. The shock wave was so strong that it could blow away the people on the upper deck.

The starry sky wrinkled. Flames and tornadoes of seven colors danced in the airspace. The air raid crew clung to their launchers and waited for the storm of shells to pass.

The colors of the night are now painted with the seven colors of destruction, reflecting the beauty of a dreamlike battlefield. In the midst of the beautiful fluttering aurora of death and the swirling whirlwind of destruction, the Ibuki’s two stern propellers flared furiously as its suspension cables creaked in an attempt to escape the arms of the Angel of Doom.

[Ten seconds till the air thunderbolts land! Nine, eight. ……]

The countdown from the measurement staff began as they observed the path of the air thunderbolts.

Izaya’s voice trailed off as she prayed for a hit after she had maneuvered the Ibuki like a writhing sea snake.

“…… Four! Three! Two! One! Hit!]

At the same time, the three watchtowers above, behind, and in front of us all sounded at the same time.

[Hit! Hit! Hit!]

Izaya clenched her right fist tightly and stared into the darkness beyond.

Far off in the distance, the liquid metal of the air thunderbolts exploded in a spray of silver.

The slight flash of lightning disappears in an instant, and the darkness returns.

Myuu on the roof of the forward watchtower quietly announces.

[One shot landed on the front of the floating body of the light cruiser at the rear. The other nineteen firing lines have missed their targets.]

Izaya groaned and turned her 20cm binoculars toward the airspace beyond. In the midst of the stardust, the netting catches the enemy light cruiser with its air mines sticking out of its floating body.

◆

The fifth ship of the third squadron of the Gamerian Grand Ocean Fleet, the light cruiser Cherokee, was in chaos.

Ten days earlier, the Cherokee had left its base in Hawaii as the first squadron to join the Gamerian Far East Fleet, which was holed up in the Mariveles Fortress. Today, the Cherokee spotted an enemy flying destroyer on patrol in the nearby waters and opened fire. Just as they were enjoying the air battle show by unilaterally bombarding the fleeing enemy, a spray of metal jets suddenly erupted from the floating object, and the air torpedo that had directly hit them began to pierce them while twisting.

How could the air torpedo hit them?

It was impossible for an air torpedo to travel from a firing point 10,000 meters away. There must have been an enemy aircraft squadron buried in the vicinity, or else they would not have been hit.

They don’t know how, but they can’t stop when they’ve already been hit. If they don’t take action, the ship will crash.

The Cherokee’s captain was on the phone, listening to the reports of the ship’s damage, when he gave an urgent order.

“Lighten the hull, throw out all the bombs and shells! We’ll allow you to wear parachutes, but not to deploy, and anyone who does will be severely punished! Throw away everything that is not your own!”

He raised his voice and went to the anti-aircraft lookout point overhanging the navigation bridge. He looked up at the enemy air mines that stood at the front of the floating body and fiercely struck the interior. Where the hell did this nasty flying eel come from? The only way to deal with it is to lighten the hull and pray that the floating body does not break. The order for all hands to evacuate the ship was given just before the floating body could be completely destroyed.

The high-temperature liquid metal in the warhead of the air thunderbolt melted the surface of the floating body, and a drill was thrust into the melted surface. The front part of the eight-meter-long warhead had already drilled about three meters into the floating body.

The sailors brought out their sniper rifles and shot at the air thunderbolt, but it only made a hole in the outer shell and did not explode. The other sailors, trying to reduce the weight of the ship as much as possible before the floating body collapses. The bottom bomb tank opened and started dumping bombs into the empty sea. The gunners lifted the shells with several men and threw them overboard from the port side.

“Hurry, it’s about to explode, hurry!”

As the captain froth-at-the-mouth scolded, the projectile penetrated eight meters deep into the floating body, where it triggered the delayed-action fuse.

A muffled explosion sounded, and a crack appeared in the front of the floating body. Liquid metal seeped into the crack as the body was filled with liquid metal. The weight of the 5,000-ton hull from which the floating body is suspended accelerated the breakdown, and within ten minutes at the latest, the floating body would crack. If this happens, the floating body will lose its floatation and will have no choice but to crash into the sea.

“No! Run! Runnn!”

The sailors threw off their duties at their own discretion, put on their parachutes, and leapt into the air from the port side, descending 1,200 meters into the ocean below.

“Don’t run, you guys, we haven’t decided to crash yet!”

The captain’s shout of anger did not reach the panic-stricken sailors. The captain’s shouts of anger did not reach the panicked sailors, who ran to the parachute depot, fastened their parachute belts to their bodies, and leapt into the air to escape the crashing ship.

“You idiots ……!”

Gritting his teeth, the captain looked at the floating body. The spot where it was hit was in front of him. They might lose about a quarter of the floating body, but if they kept it light, they could avoid crashing. The turret clusters on this airship were designed for just such a situation, and if unlocked, could be dropped into the ocean. The captain was thinking, how he could avoid the disgrace of being hit by a single destroyer and crashing, when suddenly, the front quarter of the floating body fell off in a heap.

A moment later, the front suspension cable, which had lost its support, flew into the air, and the hull itself tilted downward as if it were pinching forward.

“Damn it! Ouch!”

The sailors who lost their balance and slid on the deck threw themselves into the air, screaming, and opened their parachutes to descend.

“Drop all the hanging turrets! Lighten up and we won’t crash, don’t panic!”

The captain grabbed a voice pipe and shouted to the internal control team to abandon the four hanging turrets at the bottom of the ship. As he listened to the creaking of the suspension ropes hanging from the center and rear of the hull, he realized with the soles of his shoes that the emergency measures were gradually working and the hull was getting lighter.

“We’re wrecked, but we’re not going to crash, and if we run, we’ll be punished severely.”

While scolding the sailors at the top of his voice, the captain confirms that the worst is over. If the hit had been in the middle, the floating body would have broken in half and the hull would have fallen 1,200 meters into the ocean below. Since only a quarter of the ship’s frontal area was ripped off, they could offset the damage by reducing their weight by a quarter. At this rate, they’ll probably have to remove and discard two of the port side guns, but it’s better than losing the engine. As long as they have the engines, they can rebuild the ship again.

“I’m going to ask the heavy cruiser to tow us out. Mariveles is just around the corner, I’m sure it can hold out.”

The captain bit down on his frustration and vowed that he would have to report the existence of this mysterious air torpedo to his superiors later. ……

◆

Izaya took her eyes off the binoculars when she saw the light cruiser, which had been struck by an air thunderbolt, ditch its four drooping turrets and two port guns in midair while tripping forward, and was being towed away by a friendly heavy cruiser.

“I’ve wrecked it. The enemy’s ship will fall. I hope our allies can get to them in time before they enter the fortress.”

According to a telegraphic message, the Second Maritime Fleet, which had been cruising in the nearby waters, was on its way to this airspace as soon as possible. The enemy fleet, which had to tow a light cruiser, would inevitably slow down and would be captured by the Hinoo fleet.

The Ibuki has already completed its departure from the battlefield airspace and has shifted to a second alert position, waiting for the arrival of its allies while maintaining visual contact.

“That’s good work. We had one ship, and they had five.”

“…… Ah. …… But I’m curious about that battleship. ……”

Izaya muttered to herself. For the first time in the history of fleet air warfare, the new flying battleship completely detected the long-range torpedo attack, and avoided the projectiles far in advance. Will the Hinoo United Fleet be able to intercept such a monster when it comes in with ten or twenty ships in a row?

At the nautical chart table beside her, Rio looked over today’s air battle route, which was written in automatic writing.

“In two hours, friendly and enemy will meet here.”

Rio unfolded the nautical chart of the waters around Mariveles and informed Izaya of the expected enemy airspace. Izaya nodded and said,

“Let’s stay 30,000 meters away and keep in touch. When the air battle begins, I want to approach and fire an air thunderbolt from closer than before.”

“All right.

“Give me the bow direction, distance and angle for the attack. I’ll draw up a effectiveness chart later.”

“Aye.”

Izaya grabbed the voice pipe for the ship’s internal broadcast. She gave a summary of the air battle to the engineers and accountants who were unable to see it.

“Attention. This is the captain. On the 115th, this ship encountered a fleet of five battleships and other ships of the Gamelia fleet, and launched a long-range torpedo attack from a distance of 15,000 meters, destroying one enemy light cruiser. This was the first time in the history of the fleet’s air warfare that a torpedo strike had hit a target from such a long distance. I would like to commend you for your courage in not flinching under the intense bombardment.”

When she announced this, the cheers of sailors working in various places came back loudly through the loudspeakers.

[Your Highness!] [Your Highness…!] [Your Highness, all hail the Princess!]

Waiting for the usual exclamations to subside, Izaya continued to speak.

“The ship will maintain a distance of 30,000 meters from the enemy fleet and continue to make contact. When the friendly fleet encounters the enemy fleet, we will return to the battlefield. I expect you to continue to fight hard. That is all.”

Once again, the Ibuki was filled with loud cheers and words of encouragement from the soldiers around her as they prepared for the next battle. Thinking that this cheerful atmosphere was the Ibuki’s weapon, Izaya picked up the voice tube to the air mine launch station.

“It was a brilliant torpedo strike. This is the result of your daily efforts.”

When she announced this, Onizuka let out a loud laugh.

[We will do it again next time! Right, you guys!?]

The Air Raid crew on the upper deck, as usual, shouted “Your Highness!] Izaya’s expression tightened and she sent new instructions to Onizuka.

“Port launch tube, load the next round. I want to take out that new battleship next.]

“Haha! You guys, hurry up and load the next round! Her Highness isn’t done yet, so put new ones in your launch tubes!]

[Uahhh!!] [Waaa!!]

Feeling a chill run down his spine from the unusual excitement of the sixty Air Raiders, Izaya put back the voice pipe, pleased to see that their fighting spirit had not yet waned.

In the end, however, the second fleet air battle did not take place that night.

When the commander of the Third Squadron of the Grand Ocean Fleet learned of the approaching fleet, he moved the crew of the Cherokee to another ship, detached the hull from the floating body, and threw it into the sea. Then, towing only the floating body, they swept past the Hinoo fleet at maximum speed and entered Mariveles. Since floating bodies were a rare natural resource that could not be manufactured in factories, the ship’s crew abandoned the intact hull and took the damaged floating bodies. As a result, the Ibuki sank the light cruiser Cherokee with a long-range torpedo attack.

Later that day, the United Fleet Headquarters examined the effectiveness chart prepared by Izaya, and decided to assign a commander of air raid to assist Lieutenant Kakitsubata. The new commander, who had been assigned to Ibuki, was a new second lieutenant who had achieved remarkable results in the year since his appointment.

◆

The bay at Ari Air Base.

At an altitude of 1,200 meters, the Ibuki swayed in the summer breeze, its bow like a carp streamer.

A pier was built at an altitude of about 1,200 meters on a mountain at Ari Air Base, where inland fireboats frequently traveled between the base and the airships. Here at the base, the 2nd Squadron of the United Fleet was currently anchored, engaged in the Filfin(?) Sea Blockade.

A month has passed since the start of the war between the Hinoo Kingdom and the United States of Gameria, and there has been a lull in the war.

At the beginning of the war, the Hinoo United Fleet and the Far Eastern Fleet of Gameria clashed off the coast of Luzon Island. The battle, known as the “Battle of Luzon”, was won by the overwhelmly strength of the United Fleet. The eight defeated ships of the Far Eastern Fleet fled to the Mariveles Fortress in Filafin.

Currently, the Hinoo United Fleet is trying to blockade the shipping lanes of Filfin, effectively taking 30,000 stationed soldiers of the Far Eastern Fleet of Gameria hostage, and fishing out the Grand Ocean Fleet of Gameria at anchor in Hawai. The Ibuki’s mission is to patrol the shipping lanes between the Mainland and Filafin. Today it will anchor at the Ari Air Base to refuel and load supplies, and tomorrow it will begin another month of patrols in the open sea.

It had been two weeks since Izaya had wrecked one of the Gameria’s light cruisers in a massive long-range torpedo attack, and today she was awaiting the arrival of a new commander.

Izaya was alone on the navigation bridge of the Ibuki, holding the evaluation form for the commander of the Air Raid Division in her hand with a stiff expression on her face.

“Why …… are you …… on this ship?”

It’s an impossible appointment.

There are too many problems. She didn’t understand how this man had gotten to this point.

Izaya took another look and checked the top line of the evaluation chart.

“Kuroto Kurono, rank: Second Lieutenant, age: 18.”

There’ no doubt about it. The childhood friend who proposed to her eight years ago and kicked him down the embankment is coming aboard the Ibuki as the commander of the Air Raid Division.

“Why?”

She repeats the same question once again.

It’s not the first time she’s seen Kuroto in eight years…….

It’s been almost two years since they’ve met.

From the age of twelve to sixteen, Izaya studied at the Anasting Naval and Air Force Academy in Gameria, and in the spring of his sixteenth year, just before graduation, she met Kuroto once in New York.

At that time, Kuroto was a very successful investor in his homeland, and was busy spending his days with many friends. Although he seemed to be troubled about his future career path, if he had continued to be an investor in Gameria, he would have been able to live without any inconvenience. She didn’t understand why Kuroto, who was among the wealthy and less than the one percent of Gameria’s population, returned to Japan to serve as a second lieutenant in the Navy and Air Force.

“What are you up to?”

Kuroto has money. If he used his money to bribe high-ranking government officials and fraudulently claim his career, it might not be impossible for him to be appointed as the commander of the Air Raiders at the tender age of 18. In addition, the world will never forget the high treason incident. He must have known that if the eldest son of the former imperial family, who had plotted to overthrow the royal family, returned to Hinoo, he would be accused of being a traitor and an unpatriotic person.

Izaya checked the biography section of his evaluation chart.

In his fourth year, he completed the entire course at the Udagawa Naval Academy as a special student and qualified as a second lieutenant candidate, but due to family reasons, he moved to the United States of Gameria. After living as an immigrant, he returned to Japan in the summer of 1936 at the age of 16. In October, he entered the Ministry of the Navy as a cadet of the Special Service Agency. In March 1962, he embarked on the flying destroyer ” Nozuchi” as the chief of air mines. In June 1963, just prior to the Battle of Luzon, he wrote an analysis report that accurately predicted the enemy’s course, which was a factor in the Nozuchi’s great success. In July, he was appointed as a commander of the Ibuki …….

I’ve just read the report that Kuroto gave two days before the Battle of Luzon, and he predicted the marching formation and course as accurately as if he was the enemy commander. Lieutenant General Takeshi Takamura, commander-in-chief of the Second Air Raid Squadron, accepted Kuroto’s opinion, waited for the enemy, and dealt a near-destructive blow to the Gamelan Far East Fleet.

I think that’s honestly amazing. He was praised as the “future commander-in-chief of the United Fleet” from an early age, and this is a true demonstration of his deductive abilities that are akin to foresight.

However, his background is questionable in many ways.

“What is the Special Service Agency?”

I’ve never heard of such a department in the Ministry of the Navy. Moreover, only five months after joining the ministry, he was somehow aboard a warship. Normally, you would spend a year aboard a warship as an ensign candidate for training, but it’s impossible for them to skip that process and suddenly appoint you as a second lieutenant.

He must have done something illegal behind the scenes.

Kuroto has enough money to do that. If they didn’t ask him about it, he wouldn’t be able to live with us in Ibuki.

Izaya looked through the glass window on the navigation bridge.

Beyond the blue sky, about two kilometers away, the flying destroyer Nozuchi, which had just arrived at the Ari Air Base last night, was moored in the air along with its companions.

From the upper deck, she could see an internal fireboat being released and slowly rowing into the air toward the Ibuki. Kuroto was riding in that small boat.

Izaya’s heart skipped a beat.

She couldn’t understand her own reaction.

Izaya clenched his fist against her chest, bit her lip, and stared at the approaching fireboat.

Suddenly, the words of the proposal of eight years ago returned.

[If I marry you and somehow eliminate Kazuma, and become your family’ s son-in-law, I will be able to become the King.]

A chill ran down Izaya’s temple.

Don’t tell me you haven’t given up on that foolish dream yet?

Rather than becoming a millionaire in Gameria, Kuroto may have infiltrated the Navy and Air Force to become the King of Hinoo…….

A normal person would dismiss this idea as “absurd.”

But this is Kuroto Kurono. It’s just a matter of time before his unrealistic delusions of grandeur become reality.

Kuroto’s natural talent is such that at just 16 years old, he has taken over the world’s largest financial district, Wall Street. In his homeland, newspapers and magazines praised Kuroto’s abilities, calling him a “prophet” and an “Oriental magician”. His extraordinary deductive abilities were also demonstrated on the battlefield, where he was able to read the enemy commander’s mind as an amateur, leading to the great battle victory for the Nozuchi.

I admit that Kuroto has outstanding abilities.

However, if his power is directed in the wrong direction, it could destroy this country.

We must first determine Kuroto’s true intentions. If he is harboring evil ambitions, he must be removed from this ship, or even from the Hinoo Navy and Air Force, as soon as possible.

Just as she was repeating the question to herself, a fearless young officer stood in the doorway of the navigation bridge.

“Excuse me.”

Izaya’s heart thumped loudly again.

She tried to keep her composure, trying not to let him know how upset she was.

“…………”

Izaya turned around and looked at the boy.

It had been two years since she had seen Kuroto, but he had grown even taller than when she had met him in New York, and his face had become even more fearless. Underneath his unkempt hair, his shining blue eyes showed no emotion.

“I’m Second Lieutenant Kuroto Kurono, and I’ve been assigned as the commander of the ‘Ibuki’ air raid division as of this date.”

Izaya returned the greeting and salute in the manner of a military man.

“I’m Izaya Shironomiya, captain of the Ibuki. I expect your best efforts.”

“Yes.”

He lowered his right hand as a courtesy to his superiors, but his gaze passed through Izaya to the wall on the other side of the room. The atmosphere he wore was reminiscent of worn out crystal. If it were polished properly, it would shine beautifully, but there were scratches and scuffs all over the surface. The 18-year-old boy, who looks like a fallen angel from some exotic mythology I once read, is dressed in a Type 2 Navy, Navy and Air Force uniform and stands there like a lifeless doll.

*Something fishy is going on …….

Izaya’s doubts continued to ring.

She made sure that it was just the two of them on the bridge and scrutinized her eyes, covering all of the voice pipes so that no one could hear their conversation here.

“…… So? ……What are you planning to do here?”

She asked him point-blank. But Kuroto kept his eyes fixed on the wall beyond Izaya.

“I’ve been assigned to this ship by the Ministry of the Navy.”

He replied immediately in a stranger’s manner.

“You wanted to be on this ship, didn’t you?”

“As you know, captain, soldiers don’t have the authority to decide where they want to go.”

“You made a lot of money in Gameria, didn’t you? What happened to your investments? Did you stop?”

“I’ve come back to help the nation out of concern for Hinoo’s future.”

Bullshit, you’re such an auspicious person. She stifled her desire to say so and continued her questioning.

“I saw your evaluation. It says that you joined the Special Service Agency of the Ministry of the Navy, but there is no such agency in the Ministry of the Navy.”

“It’s not known to the public because it’s classified. Only a few high-ranking officials know about it.”

“Well. How did you manage to get into a secret agency so quickly after your return?”

“A high-ranking military commander thought highly of my abilities.”

“What was his name?”

“The name of the official is …… His Highness, Kazenomiya.”

Izaya interjected. He is the father of Rio and the current commander-in-chief of the military. It’s true that Genzaburo had a high opinion of Kuroto’s abilities since he was a child.

“…… You didn’t come to Ibuki of your own free will, did you?”

“Ha. It was by sheer coincidence that I met His Highness.”

Kuroto replied blankly that it was a coincidence.

He probably has special connections with other high-ranking officials in the Ministry of the Navy, including Genzo. Through him, he was able to manipulate the personnel department into assigning him to the Ibuki. The purpose of this is to deceive Izaya and incorporate himself into the direct lineage of the Imperial family in order to take the throne of the King.

The wicked proposal rang in Izaya’s head once more.

[You must, marry me.]

[I don’t need you. I need your bloodline. Marry me, Izaya, so that I may become King.]

It was horrifying and gave her goose bumps.

I can’t let my identity be used for the shallow purposes of Kuroto.

But no matter how many questions you ask, Kuroto will just dodge and dodge and never tell you what he really wants. It’s obvious that behind his expressionless face, he is mocking Izaya, saying, ” I’ll never tell you my true intentions, you stupid bitch.”

If I don’t force him to reveal his true feelings, my life will be in danger. No, this country is in danger.

Izaya let out a deep breath, adjusted her breathing, and then her red eyes flashed as if they were going to make a noise.

“You say you never speak your mind, no matter what.”

“I’ve only been speaking my mind.”

“Don’t kid yourself. I know you’re lying to me.”

“No, I’m not lying.”

After all, it was impossible to get him to open up with words alone.

Izaya made up his mind.

The only way to get him to reveal his true intentions is to torture him.

It’s a vile method, but I have no choice but to use it to protect myself, the royal family, and this country.

“Myuu!”

“What?”

At the moment she called out, Myuu, who was in the open-air firing command center on the roof of the navigation bridge, peeked her head upside down through a round opening in the ceiling and answered.

“Please stick to the plan.”

“Yes?”

Without using a ladder, Myuu dropped head first down the stairs, spun her body in the air like a cat, and landed noiselessly on her bent knees and palms.

“!?”

A slight flicker of agitation flashed across Kuroto’s face. The Ibuki officer and watch commander, Second Lieutenant Myuu Togakushi, stood up slowly with his eyes closed.

She is a female officer in a Type 2 military uniform. Her long eyelashes were trimmed raggedly under her shoulder-length black hair, and she kept her eyes closed, motionless as if she were an ornament. Even though she didn’t open her eyes, her appearance was like a noble statue of a god, separated from the world, as if she was here and at the same time far away in the sky. Without uttering a single word, or even bringing Kuroto into view, an uncanny cold air centered on Myuu spread throughout the navigation bridge.

At the same time, Izaya gave the order.

“Do it!”

“Ha!?”

In a moment, Myuu suddenly appeared behind Kuroto’s back.

“No!”

He realized that Myuu had strapped her to his back.

“You’ve forgotten. I’m sure you’re aware that I know all of your secrets.”

With a devilish grin, Izaya stood in front of Kuroto and bent the fingers of her hands into claws.

“You can’ t be serious ……!”

Kuroto realized what Izaya was doing.

They were childhood friends who had played together for as long as he could remember. They know about each other’s abilities, and they also know that they come at a price. The more different abilities you are born with, the more weaknesses you have that ordinary people can’t have.

What is Kuroto’s weakness?

“Coochy-coo. Coochy coochy.”

Izaya tickled Kuroto’s armpits with both hands while saying “Coochy-coo” with her mouth.

A moment later, Kuroto was flapping his legs and twisting his upper body.

“Oh, no!”

His face flushed in agony. But Izaya doesn’t stop her merciless act.

“Coochy-coo. Coochy-coo.”

“Damn you ……!”

Myuu with her exquisite body movements fixed the joints of Kuroto and did not release him.

“If you want me to stop, just tell me. I’m not sure what your purpose is in becoming a soldier. What are you planning to do on the Ibuki?”

“I’m not plotting anything.”

“Myuu, do it.”

“Hmm.”

Myuu kept Kuroto in a stranglehold and breathed into his ear.

“Aaaaaaa…..”

Myuu’s voice was strange, and Kuroto jerked back, but her hold on him was not broken. He was not able to speak coherently, and his neat face was twisted.

“You, stop it.”

“You still have the same sensitive skin. Aren’t you even more sensitive than when you were a child?”

“You coward, you should be ashamed!”

With tears in his eyes, Kuroto blamed Izaya for what she had done, but Izaya’s smile deepened and she began to enjoy it even more.

“Tickle, tickle, tickle…”

She tickled him and blew into his ear.

“Aaaaaa…..”

Kuroto’s arms and legs twitched and he let out a muffled cry.

“Tell me the truth. What happened in Gameria? What is the purpose of your return to Hinoo? How did you take over the Ministry of the Navy?”

” What the hell are you talking about?

In the midst of this merciless torture, the third female officer on the navigation bridge, Second Lieutenant Rio Kazenomiya, peeked out.

“Did you get here yet, Kuro-chan? What are you doing ……?”

She looked curiously at Kuroto, who was in agony as Myuu strangled him from behind, and Izaya, who was running her fingertips over his body.

”I’m going to interrogate him. Rio, help me with this.”

When Izaya said this, Rio immediately understood the situation and smiled, clapping her hands together in front of her face.”

“Ah. We used to play like this when we were kids. It brings back memories.”

Then, as if it was a natural thing to do, she put her hands on Kuroto’s military uniform, took it off without hesitation, and began to run her fingers directly over his thin chest.

“You like it here, don’t you, Kuro-chan?”

“Ahh!”

Rio looked down at the fainting Kuroto, who was flapping his legs in agony, with a natural smile on her face.

“Haha. You’re so happy. Are you happy? Are you happy here?”

Thinking that Kuroto was happy, she stroked his bare navel area.”

“No, don’t.”

The two princesses and their bodyguard played with Kuroto’s sensitive skin.

Kuroto becomes teary-eyed and writhes violently, but Izaya’s tasteful nature is awakened and she enjoys the torture more than the interrogation.

“Is this it? Is this the right place?”

“Oh, my God.”

“That’s the navel, right? Kuro-chan, navel’s better, right?

“Oh, my God.”

“Oh…”

“Aaa…”

The three beautiful girls breathed into his ear, and he let out another muffled squeal. Izaya was enjoying himself, but she realized that if she continued like this, he might have a psychological problem, so she stopped the torture and told him.

“What happened in Gameria? What means did you use to get back to Hinoo? If you tell me honestly, I’ll forgive you.”

Kuroto, with his upper body completely stripped, lies innocently on the floor, the ends of his arms and legs twitching, breathing heavily.

“…… cowards. …… Shame on you, …….”

His cheeks flushed light red, tears of regret welled up in his eyes, and he bit his lip.

“It’s your fault for hiding things from your superiors. I can’t be on the mend with a subordinate who has something hidden in his stomach. Since you’re riding on the Ibuki, answer all my questions honestly.”

Izaya slumped down and put on a resolute expression. The captain has all the authority on a warship. Those who do not follow the captain’s orders will have their careers tarnished and their career prospects affected.

Adjusting his ragged breathing, Kuroto raised his body, clutched his uniform in front of his chest, and turned his head to stare at Izaya through a gap in his hair.

If he resisted, the three of them would play with him forever, and eventually his mind would collapse. While cursing the fate of his own sensitive skin in exchange for his insular intelligence, Kuroto made up his mind.

“What do you want to hear about …………? Just say it.”

“Okay. It’s good to be honest. Myuu, let him stand up.”

Myuu helped Kuroto to undo his stripped military uniform and stood him up on the nautical chart table as a chair. Since there are no chairs on the narrow bridge, the it is often used as a chair because of its reasonable height.

He breathed hard a few times, looked resentfully at Izaya, and let out a long sigh.

“…… what a dirty trick.:

He threw away his soldier’s mask and spoke bitterly as he used to do when they were playing together.

Izaya chuckles in satisfaction.

“Isn’t attacking the enemy’s weaknesses a basic tactic?”

Kuroto clicked his tongue in frustration and spoke arrogantly to his commanding officer, even though he was a lieutenant.

“You probably won’t believe me when I answer your …… questions.”

“Really? That’s a hell of a story.

“…… I learned in Gameria that there are some people in the world that my common sense cannot measure. The reason I came back to Japan is to fight them.”

“…… Who is that?”

Kuroto closed his eyes and paused for a moment, then slowly opened them and said in a serious tone.

“There is a monstrosity in Gameria, a monstrosity that will drag the great powers into war with its will, and that will pursue its ridiculous wishes without regard to the death of millions of soldiers on its side. I believe that this monster was involved in the outbreak of war between Hinoo and Gameria. If we lose the war, the royal family, the government, and the people will all become the property of the monster. I swore to stop this monster with all my abilities. That’s why I’m here. There is no other purpose.”

Izaya gulped as she listened to Kuroto’s words.

The content was ridiculous, but Kuroto’s attitude was the most sincere she had ever seen.

There was no insincerity in the glances they exchanged. From the depths of his eyes, Kuroto appealed to them that the monster really existed.

After a few moments of silence, Izaya looked around at the group and announced.

“…… Let’s leave this to the duty officer and go to the officer’s quarters. I want to listen to you slowly.”

Rio nodded with a serious look on her face.

“…… It’s a bit of a long story. You have to go back to when I emigrated to Gameria.”

“No problem. Tell me everything that happened in Gameria. Who is the monster? Why are you in conflict with it? Why did you go back to Hinoo after so much success?”

Kuroto nodded, looking tired. Myuu said curtly, “I’m going back to my duties,” and climbed the ladder back to the open-air firing command post.

The remaining three went to the officer’s quarters directly under the navigation bridge and listened to Kuroto’s recollections. ……

Notes:

I was a little inconsistent in editing when it came to some terms such as: (air raid, air raiders, air raid crew, etc.). MTL sucks when it becomes too technical. I promise I’ll be more consistent in the later chapters.

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