4 - Exposition x Uproar

“So, what was that you said about a dedicated unit?” Ratio asked as she stuffed her cheeks with the shared food from everyone else.

“Exactly what we said, it’s a dedicated unit,” Ceru said, taking a sip of her tea before putting a teaspoon into her open mouth. “The companies are all developing their models of Stella Corpus, in the hopes that the Federation Space Force will officially adopt them and they can monopolize that market. Clear?”

“Mm,” Ratio said, nodding her head.

Amicitia also nodded.

“So,” Ceru said, “you can pilot live Stella Corpuses here in school, and the facilities to maintain them are well-equipped, and there’s even a practice area.”

Ceno pulls out her notebook and projects a 3D map of the training room to Ratio.

“Us students of the Pilot Department are, of course, training to become Stella Corpus pilots in the future, so in class, we use simulators and real machines to improve our piloting skills,” Ceru said.

At that, Ceno switches to a video of students in a simulated battle.

It was impressive to see those chunky humanoid machines shooting particle guns at each other while moving at high speeds.

“And, since it’s a class, the results will reflect on our grades,” Ceru finished.

Latio nodded obediently, while Amicitia held her head and groaned.

Ornit smiles wryly and comforts Amicitia by tapping her on the shoulder.

“There is a trend in school where companies lend prototypes developed in-house to the top performers,” Ceru said. “That is what we call a dedicated unit.”

“Wow, that’s so generous of them, isn’t it?” Ratio asked.

“That’s all you have to say about it?” Ceru said, glaring unintentionally at her. “In other words, here in Schola Sanctus these dedicated units—they are Stella Corpuses different from the training models, privately developed by companies and given as proofs of the top performers’ skills.”

“That’s why in a place like this~, it’s a real big deal to say you have a dedicated unit~,” Ceno finished.

“I see now~,” Ratio said, mimicking her.

If that’s the case, it’s only natural that some people would be interested when they hear that Ratio has a dedicated unit developed by a company.

“Hmm? But doesn’t that imply that dedicated units are only for top performers?” Ratio said.

“Yep,” Ceru said. “The dedicated units aren’t made for one specific pilot. According to the rumors, there are multiple models, and it seems that the type of model that suits a top scorer will be given to them after being adjusted to suit their style, and if your performance declines, you’re getting replaced.”

“Uwah,” Ratio groans, frowning. “The competition seems fierce.”

“That’s right on the money,” Ceru said. “If you want to show the usefulness of your company’s models, you have to use first-class pilots.”

The Stella Corpuses are just tools to be used, and no matter how high performance it is on paper, it won’t matter if the pilot is an amateur that can’t use it to its full potential.

This is a facility where pilots are trained, and by raising their motivation with the promise of special rewards, they become more engaged in their education. Even if someone doesn’t get the privilege of piloting a dedicated unit, if their overall grades improve, the level of recruits who will join the military after graduation will rise, and even if they get a job at a company, they’ll be able to immediately put those study and practice skills.

All in all, win-win for everyone.

However, as Ratio said, there is actually fierce competition under the surface, and it is a perilous affair, with students pulling each other down, executing schemes to undermine the opponent, and so on.

With all that, having a dedicated unit makes you the envy of the school.

“Eh, so you mean, that girl in the seat to my left…” Ratio started.

“You’ve certainly got a lot of free time,” the person in question interrupted.

“Huh?” Ratio asked.

She turned to look at the girl with sharp eyes and beautiful silver hair, bathed in sunlight.

“Um, Re-something, was it?” Ratio asked.

“… Regina Glawis. At least learn to put names to the faces of your classmates,” Regina said, her eyes narrowing even further.

“Oh, sorry,” Ratio said, feeling the pressure once more.

“… Rather more than that, you, you should be careful,” Regina said.

“Huh?” Ratio asked.

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“Dedicated unit pilots are being targeted,” Regina said.

“What!?” Ratio yelped.

Now that such a dangerous topic was suddenly thrown in, even the other four have shocked expressions.

“What do you mean by that?” Ratio asked.

“It means that you shouldn’t be asking about anything and everything so openly,” Regina replied. “Don’t be so naive. You’ll learn that much on your own.”

As Ratio tried to ask for clarification on reflex, she gets cut off.

“If you have a dedicated unit, you’ll have to mind the sparks falling on you, waiting to start a fire,” Regina said. “If you can’t do that, then resent your mistake in bringing a dedicated unit in such a grand and obvious fashion.”

And with this one-sided speech, Regina turns on her heels and takes her tray and food with her.

“Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean—” Ratio started, reaching out to Regina as she was about to get on the moving sidewalk.

“She’s right, you know? Wait a minute, ‘Your Majesty,’” a new figure said as she appeared to block Regina.

She must be well-trained. She’s a tall student with a supple body. Brown and red hair, and an ugly distorted expression.

“Iniuria Joculatus. Are you free now?” Regina glares up as if challenging her.

“Quite the greeting, ain’t it?” Iniuria says as she looks down with visible disdain.

Ratio is dismayed by the sudden volatility.

“It’s time to stop running away and fight, you coward,” Iniuria says.

“Don’t be selfish. I have no reason to fight you,” Regina said.

“Oh really?” Iniuria said “There is. It’s because… I want to kill you!”

Regina doesn’t waver even after being hit with raw murderous intent. She narrows her eyes and just stares at Iniuria.

“… Even a child’s selfishness is more elegant,” Regina said.

“What was that!?” Iniuria snaps.

“If you lay a hand on me…I will show no mercy,” Regina said.

Iniuiria’s cheeks twitch from silently rising anger.

It wasn’t fear, it was just slight bewilderment from receiving an unexpected counterattack from the weakling she was looking down on.

But it also becomes fuel for rage, and Iniuria’s body moves.

A clenched fist is drawn back then is driven right into Regina.

The surrounding students screamed, covered their mouths, and averted their eyes.

Regina quickly dropped her hips and raised both hands to intercept the punch.

And Ratio, who stepped in even faster than her, held a knife to Iniuria’s neck and stopped her.

“…!?”

As expected, Iniuria couldn’t hide her bewilderment and was forced to stop while her fist was mid-punch.

Even Regina, who was facing her, had her eyes wide open, stunned.

“Hey,” Ratio said.

Those who heard the voice felt an indescribable fear.

Some tremble, some sweat.

Iniuria clenched her teeth and glared at Ratio.

“This is the dining room. Take your fight elsewhere,” Ratio said.

“──!”

Ratio and Iniuria’s eyes met, she lets out a wordless groan and takes a large step back away from Ratio.

Still holding the knife, Ratio corrects her posture and glares at Iniuria.

“Fuck you,” Iniuiria curses as she spins on her heel.

She jumped onto the moving sidewalk and left.

“… Fue-fuh~,” Ratio slumped down with a faint voice, while everyone else couldn’t move.

“Ra-Ratio!?”

“Are you OK!?”

The other four grab her limp form and kick the knife out of her hand before they drag her someplace further away.

“So-Sorry… Chief, and Reita… said that…I needed this,” Ratio said. “So, I was practicing… ”

“Uwaaah, violence,” Amicitia whimpers.

Ornit and Ceno soothe Ratio as she’s teary-eyed and apologizing.

The tension leaves at once, and everyone relaxes.

The dining hall’s din restarts.

“What the hell was that…?” Regina said, leaving the place with a troubled expression.